Shower Chairs, Stools and Bath Seats: How to Choose the Right Seat

Being able to sit down to wash makes showering and bathing safer and far less tiring. There are many ways to do it, from a simple stool to a wheeled shower chair, and the right one depends on the space, how the user gets on and off, and whether it needs to work in a bath or a shower. This guide covers the Roma Medical range we stock.

Start with three questions

• Shower or bath? Shower stools, chairs and wall seats are for a shower tray or wet room. Bath seats and bath boards are for an existing bath.
• Does the user need a back and arms? A stool is compact but gives nothing to lean on. Arms help with sitting down and pushing up to stand; a back gives support while washing.
• How much space is there? In a small shower, a wall seat that folds away or a compact stool keeps the floor clear for anyone else using it.

Shower stools and benches

Stools are the simplest option: light, easy to move and quick to set to the right height.

• Roma Compact Aluminium Shower Stool: a small round-seat stool for tight showers, adjustable from 40cm to 52cm, rated to 100kg.
• Roma Aluminium Shower Stool: a wider seat with built-in hand holds, adjustable from 49cm to 57cm, rated to 100kg.
• Roma Belmont Adjustable Shower Stool: side handles to hold when sitting and standing, adjustable from 49cm to 64cm. The metal seat version is rated to 190kg, the plastic seat to 125kg.
• Roma Folding Shower Bench: a 50cm wide bench that folds away for storage, rated to 136kg.

Shower chairs with a back and arms

• Roma Fixed Height Shower Chair: a moulded seat with fixed arms at a 41cm seat height, rated to 140kg.
• Roma Telford Adjustable Shower Chair: a padded backrest and arms, with legs that adjust from 46cm to 61cm, rated to 127kg.
• Roma Fold Away Shower Chair: a gap-front seat, backrest and arms on height adjustable legs (48cm to 60cm) that folds flat to store, rated to 100kg.

Wall-mounted seats

A wall-mounted seat fixes to the shower wall and lifts up out of the way when not in use. It needs a wall that can take the load: solid masonry, or a stud wall reinforced behind the tiles where the bracket goes.

• Roma Lift Up Moulded Shower Seat: folds flat to the wall. The wall-only version (4278) is rated to 114kg; the version with support legs (4278D) shares the load with the floor and is rated to 160kg.
• Roma Wall Mounted Shower Seat with Adjustable Legs: a wall bracket plus adjustable legs for a 48cm to 56cm seat height, rated to 160kg.

Mobile shower chairs

A mobile shower chair can be wheeled into a level-access shower or wet room, and many double as a commode over the toilet. Braked castors hold it in place while in use.

• Roma Mobile Shower Chair: a moulded seat with fixed arms on four braked castors, rated to 140kg, with an optional sliding footrest version.
• Roma Mobile Shower Chair with Detachable Arms: arms lift out for sideways transfers, rated to 140kg.
• Roma Dual Mobile Shower Chair: an upholstered aperture seat with a removable bowl, so it works as a shower chair and a commode, rated to 160kg.
• Roma Paisley Gap Front Shower Chair: a padded gap-front seat for easier washing, flip-up arms and footrest, rated to 160kg.
• Roma Windsor Self-Propelled Shower Chair: 60cm rear wheels so the user can move themselves, plus a gap-front seat and removable bowl, rated to 160kg.

For heavier users, the Romachair shower commode chairs are rated to 250kg and 318kg.

Bath seats and bath boards

If the bath is staying, a bath board or bath seat makes it far easier to use.

• Bath boards rest across the bath rim so the user can sit, then swing their legs over the side. The Roma Heavy Duty Bath Board has a side handle and pegs that fit baths 41cm to 63cm wide; the Roma Slatted Bath Board comes in 66cm, 68.5cm and 71cm widths. Both are rated to 190kg.
• In-bath seats sit on the bath floor to raise the seat, so there is less distance to lower down and get back up. Choose the Roma Derby Bath Seat (15cm or 20.3cm high, 190kg), the Roma Slatted Bath Seat (15cm, 20cm or 30cm high, 114kg) or the Roma Spa Bath Seat (25cm high, 100kg).
• Rotating bath seat: the Roma Rotating Bath Seat sits across the bath and turns, locking in four positions, so the user can swing their legs in rather than stepping over. Four seat widths, rated to 125kg.

Getting the height right

For a stool or chair, the user should sit with their feet flat on the shower floor and knees at roughly a right angle. Too low and standing up is hard work; too high and their feet will not reach the floor. For a bath board, measure the inside width of the bath at the rim, and for an in-bath seat check how far the user can comfortably lower themselves.

Where to start

Browse Shower Chairs & Stools, Shower Seats and Bath Seats & Bath Boards, or everything together in Bathroom Aids. For grab rails and drop-down rails to go alongside, see Grab Rails. If you are unsure which model suits, contact our team.