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Where to Put Grab Bars: Placement, Height and Mounting
A grab bar is only useful if it is where your hand goes and fixed to something that will hold. Three public sources give the rules: MedlinePlus, the CDC's "Check for Safety" checklist and the ADA Standards. Here is what each says.
How Many and Where
MedlinePlus, in its "Bathroom safety for adults" page, recommends two grab bars in the tub area. One helps you get in and out of the tub, and the other helps you stand up from a seated position. It says to fix them to the wall vertically or horizontally and not diagonally. The CDC's checklist asks whether you need support getting in and out of the tub or up from the toilet, and suggests grab bars next to and inside the tub and next to the toilet.
That gives a short list of positions: one at the edge of the tub, one inside the tub for standing, and one beside the toilet.
How High and How Thick
The 2010 ADA Standards, published by the U.S. Access Board, give measured numbers for grab bars in public buildings. A horizontal bar should be 33 to 36 inches above the finish floor. A round bar should be 1-1/4 to 2 inches in diameter, so your hand can close around it, and it should sit 1-1/2 inches from the wall. The bar must not rotate in its fittings, and it must be free of sharp or abrasive edges.
A private home does not have to follow the ADA, but these numbers are a good starting point. Adjust the height to the user: a shorter person may want a bar lower than 33 inches, and a vertical bar at the tub edge usually runs from about the height of the tub wall upward.
What Holds It up
The ADA's strength rule is 250 pounds of force applied at any point on the bar, its fasteners, its mounting device or the structure behind it. In practice, the wall is the weak link. The Moen and Amazon Basics listings tie their 500-pound ratings to a stud or another secure mounting surface, and Moen sells SecureMount anchors for where there is no stud.
MedlinePlus is plain about the alternative: do not use towel racks as grab bars, because they can't support your weight. The same goes for soap dishes and the edge of a sink. Find the studs with a stud finder, screw into them, and follow the maker's instructions for anchors where there are none. If you are unsure, ask someone who installs bars.
A suction bar is a different product. None of the bars in our guide uses suction, and the ratings in the listings apply to bars screwed to the wall.
Common Mistakes
- Diagonal bars. MedlinePlus says to fix them vertically or horizontally.
- Using a towel rack. It is not rated to hold your weight.
- Mounting into tile alone. The bar needs a stud or another secure surface behind it.
- Too thick or too thin. The ADA range is 1-1/4 to 2 inches in diameter.
Choosing a Bar
Our grab bar guide compares five stainless steel bars from 12 to 36 inches, with their diameters and the mounting condition for each rating. For the rest of the bathroom, see the bathroom fall prevention checklist.
