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Quick answer: Nobody has run a trial that pits a non-slip mat against a shower chair, so the honest answer is that the data point to where falls happen, not to a single winning product. In the CDC’s national emergency-department study, the tub or shower accounted for 68.3% of bathroom injuries and falls caused 81.1%. A non-slip mat fixes the surface; a shower chair or transfer bench removes the standing and the stepping over the tub wall. For people who feel unsteady, adding a seat and grab bars to a mat is a common-sense step up, though no trial compares the combinations. A Cochrane review also found that home-hazard changes cut falls only in people already at higher risk (rate ratio 0.62 for higher-risk people, no effect when people were not selected for risk).
Mats, shower chairs and transfer benches are often presented as alternatives. They are not, and the research on each is thin. This guide sets out what is known about bathroom falls, what each product does and does not do, and how to choose. We compare published specifications and independent sources; we did not test these products ourselves. For the wider picture of why bathroom falls are so common, see bathroom falls after 60.
What the fall data show
The CDC’s 2011 report in MMWR used 2008 emergency-department records and estimated 234,094 nonfatal bathroom injuries among people aged 15 and over. The pattern matters for choosing equipment:
| Finding | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Share of bathroom injuries caused by falls | 81.1% | CDC MMWR |
| Share occurring in the tub or shower | 68.3% | CDC MMWR |
| Share occurring around the toilet | 23.4% | CDC MMWR |
| Injuries during bathing, showering or getting out | 37.3% | CDC MMWR |
| Injuries when getting into the tub or shower | 2.2% | CDC MMWR |
| Rate per 100,000 people, ages 65 to 74 | 112.1 | CDC MMWR |
| Rate per 100,000 people, ages 85 and older | 515.3 | CDC MMWR |
Two things stand out. Injuries are concentrated in bathing and in getting out of the tub or shower, with getting in accounting for only 2.2%, and the rate climbs steeply with age. The CDC authors recommended non-slip strips or mats and grab bars inside and outside the tub or shower. This is a description of where injuries occur and not a trial of a product, so it tells you which moments to make safer.
What the trials say
The 2023 Cochrane review of environmental fall interventions (22 trials with 8,463 community-dwelling older adults) found that home fall-hazard reduction probably cuts the rate of falls by 26% overall (rate ratio 0.74). The effect depended on who was studied: 38% fewer falls in people selected as higher risk (rate ratio 0.62) and no reduction in people not selected for fall risk (rate ratio 1.05). Reviewers rated the higher-risk finding as high-certainty evidence. The review’s examples of hazard reduction include non-slip strips, but it does not break out shower chairs or bathroom mats as separate products, and it found no trials of home modifications measuring falls as an outcome in the task-enablement category. So the evidence supports targeting equipment at people with a history of falling or balance problems, but it cannot tell you which bathroom product is best.
Comparison: what each product does
The table lists function and what the sources say. We did not compare brand specifications, because weight ratings, seat sizes and materials vary widely between models and manufacturers’ pages were not consistently available to read; check those on the product page you are looking at.
| Option | What it does | What the sources say |
|---|---|---|
| Non-slip mat or strips in the tub | Adds grip under bare feet | MedlinePlus advises suction mats or rubber silicone decals in the tub and a non-skid mat outside it; the CDC report also recommends non-slip strips or mats |
| Shower chair or bench | Lets you sit while washing, reducing time standing on a wet surface | MedlinePlus advises sitting on a bath chair or bench when showering; no trial of its own was found |
| Tub transfer bench | Spans the tub wall so you sit and slide across instead of stepping over | Not mentioned on the MedlinePlus page; the logic follows from the CDC finding that most injuries happen on the way out (37.3% bathing or exiting) |
| Grab bars | Gives a fixed handhold for getting up and out | MedlinePlus advises two bars, mounted vertically or horizontally, never a towel rack; the CDC report recommends bars inside and outside the tub or shower |
Who each option suits
A non-slip mat may be enough if
- You are steady on your feet, have not fallen recently, and just want better grip. The Cochrane results suggest that equipment changes have little measurable effect in people who are not at higher fall risk (no reduction, rate ratio 1.05), so do not expect a mat to be a major protection.
- You shower rather than bathe and your tub or shower base has a flat floor.
Search for a mat: non-slip bathtub mats on Amazon. Whatever you choose, look for one that grips with suction cups and check that it lies flat.
A shower chair may suit you if
- You tire standing, feel unsteady with soap and water, or have joint pain that makes standing uncomfortable.
- You have a walk-in shower or a stall with a low threshold.
Browse options: shower chairs with backs on Amazon.
A tub transfer bench may suit you if
- You have a standard tub with a high wall that is hard to step over, and getting out is the hard part.
- Someone helps you with bathing and needs a safer way to move you in and out.
Browse options: tub transfer benches on Amazon. A bench needs enough room for its legs to stand on the floor outside the tub, so measure first.
Downsides
- Mats can lull you. A mat that curls, traps soap scum or has loose suction cups can itself be a trip hazard. Check it and clean it regularly. This is a practical point and not a trial finding.
- Chairs and benches need space. They need a spot that suits your bathroom, and a hand-held shower head makes them far more useful, since you cannot reach fixed controls easily from a seat.
- Weight limits matter. Capacities vary by model, so read the limit on the specific product and do not assume.
- Cost and coverage. Insurance coverage for bathroom equipment varies. We could not confirm a rule on Medicare’s own pages, so check with your plan.
Safety and clinical caveats
If you have had a fall, feel dizzy when standing, or have a condition affecting balance, ask your clinician about a home safety assessment by an occupational therapist; the Cochrane review’s strongest results were in people at higher risk (high-certainty evidence, rate ratio 0.62). Sudden dizziness can have medical causes; see why you may feel lightheaded after 50. Keep the water heater no hotter than 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius) to prevent burns, as MedlinePlus advises, and do not use a towel rack as a handhold. This article is general information and not individual medical advice.
A sensible order of upgrades
- Fix the surface first: a flat mat or strips in the tub, and a non-skid mat outside it.
- Add grab bars anchored into the wall structure, not suction bars or towel racks.
- Add a seat if standing in the shower is tiring or unsteady, and a transfer bench if the tub wall is the problem.
- Re-check each item every few months, since mats wear and fittings loosen.
Frequently asked questions
Is a shower chair better than a non-slip mat?
No trial compares them. The CDC found that most bathroom injuries happen in the tub or shower and during bathing or exiting (CDC MMWR). A mat improves grip, while a chair removes standing time, so many people need both.
Do non-slip mats prevent falls?
The CDC report recommends them (MMWR) and MedlinePlus advises them (MedlinePlus), but we found no trial that tests mats alone. A Cochrane review found hazard reduction worked mainly in people at higher risk (Cochrane).
What is the difference between a shower chair and a transfer bench?
A shower chair sits inside the tub or shower. A transfer bench has legs both inside and outside the tub so you sit down outside and slide across, instead of stepping over the wall. A transfer bench is not mentioned on the MedlinePlus page we read, so the advice here rests on where injuries occur.
Will Medicare pay for a shower chair?
We could not confirm Medicare’s rule from a primary page, so check with Medicare or your plan before you buy. Coverage rules for bathroom equipment can vary.
Are grab bars more important than a mat?
Both are recommended in the CDC report (MMWR). MedlinePlus advises two bars and warns against using a towel rack as a handhold (MedlinePlus). Our bathroom falls guide covers placement.
If you are adding grab bars too, see why suction models are labeled balance-only in our guide to suction cup vs installed grab bars.