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Best Bedside Commodes: Folding, Drop-Arm and Extra-Wide Models Compared
A bedside commode is a portable toilet with a seat, a bucket and a frame, placed next to the bed so you do not have to walk to the bathroom at night. It is useful after surgery, during an illness, or when the walk is too far or too dark to be safe. A night-time trip to the bathroom is one of the walks a commode can shorten.
The five picks below include a steel folding commode, a 3-in-1 that can also sit over a toilet, two drop-arm models for sliding on from a wheelchair, and an extra-wide model rated to 500 pounds. All were in stock on Amazon for delivery to ZIP 10001 when we checked. Choose by weight limit, seat height and whether you need the arms to move out of the way.
| Best for | Pick | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Drive Medical Folding Bedside Commode | Check price |
| Best with a listed height range | Drive Medical Folding Steel Commode 3-in-1 | Check price |
| Best elongated seat | Medline 3-in-1 Folding Commode with Elongated Seat | Check price |
| Best drop-arm | Medline Drop Arm Commode Chair | Check price |
| Best for 500 pounds | DMI Drop Arm Extra-Wide Commode | Check price |
Best Bedside Commodes
Best overall
Drive Medical Folding Bedside Commode
- Limit
- 350 lb (Drive)
- Seat
- 13.5 W x 15 D in (Drive)
- Bucket
- 7.5 qt with cover and splash shield
- Weight
- 13.5 lb (Drive)
- Warranty
- Limited lifetime (Drive)
- Model
- 11148-1
The Drive Folding Bedside Commode is a steel frame with a snap-on seat and lid and a 7.5-quart bucket with a cover and splash shield. Drive says it supports 350 pounds, and the legs adjust with push pins.
It is Amazon's number one bedside commode, with 37,079 reviews averaging 4.6, and it is the lowest-priced of the five.
Why We Picked It
It has the most reviews of any commode we found by a wide margin, a maker page that gives its numbers, and the lowest price of the five. Drive's page lists the seat at 13.5 inches wide by 15 inches deep, the frame as welded powder-coated steel, and the weight at 13.5 pounds, light enough to carry between rooms. Drive gives it a limited lifetime warranty.
What to Know Before You Buy
Drive's page does not list a seat height range, so check the push-pin settings against the height you need once it is built. The seat is the smallest of the five at 13.5 by 15 inches, and the arms are fixed, so it is not for sliding on from a wheelchair. It has a plastic seat, lid and arms on a steel frame.
Best for: Most people who need a night-time toilet beside the bed.
Skip it if: You transfer from a wheelchair or need an extra-wide seat.
Good for
- Lowest price, 37,079 reviews at 4.6
- Maker page with full specs
Watch Out for
- Fixed arms
- Seat height range not listed by Drive
Best with a listed height range
Drive Medical Folding Steel Commode 3-in-1
- Limit
- 350 lb (Drive)
- Height
- 17 to 23 in (Drive)
- Seat
- 13.75 W x 16.25 D in (Drive)
- Between arms
- 18.23 in
- Weight
- 13 lb (Drive)
- Model
- RTL11158KDR
Drive's page lists this steel commode at 350 pounds, with a seat height of 17 to 23 inches and 18.23 inches between the arms. It comes with a 7.5-quart bucket, a cover, a splash shield and a carry handle.
The Amazon listing says it can also be used as a raised toilet seat or a toilet safety frame.
Why We Picked It
It is the only pick where the maker states the height range, 17 to 23 inches, so you can check it against your bed and your own height before you buy. Drive lists the seat at 13.75 by 16.25 inches and the weight at 13 pounds, and says the frame is welded steel made using recycled materials.
What to Know Before You Buy
The 3-in-1 uses come from the Amazon listing. Drive's own page does not mention them, so check how Drive says to use it over a toilet before you rely on that. It costs a little more than the plain Drive, and its arms are fixed.
Best for: Someone who wants a stated height range and might also use it over a toilet.
Skip it if: You need drop arms or a seat wider than about 14 inches.
Good for
- Height range stated by the maker
- Carry handle on the bucket
Watch Out for
- 3-in-1 use is a listing claim
- Fixed arms
Best elongated seat
Medline 3-in-1 Folding Commode with Elongated Seat
- Limit
- 350 lb (listing)
- Seat
- Elongated, 16.5 in deep (listing)
- Between arms
- 19 in (listing)
- Included
- Seat, lid, bucket, splash guard
- Frame
- Steel
- Sold by
- Amazon
The Medline 3-in-1 has an elongated seat, 16.5 inches deep, and 19 inches between the arms, according to the Amazon listing. It includes the seat, lid, bucket and splash guard, and is rated for 350 pounds.
The listing says it can also be used as a raised toilet seat or a toilet safety frame.
Why We Picked It
The elongated seat is longer than the Drive seats, which some people find easier to sit on, and 19 inches between the arms is a little more room. It comes complete in one box.
What to Know Before You Buy
It costs more than the Drive and has 179 reviews, far fewer than the Drive. The listing says it is treated with Microban and states that this does not protect users from bacteria or viruses, so clean it as you would any commode. We could not open Medline's page, so every figure comes from the listing.
Best for: Someone who wants an elongated seat and a bit more room between the arms.
Skip it if: You want the most-reviewed model or drop arms.
Good for
- Elongated seat
- Complete kit
Watch Out for
- 179 reviews
- Listing only, no maker page
Best drop-arm
Medline Drop Arm Commode Chair
- Limit
- 350 lb (listing)
- Arms
- Padded, drop-down
- Height
- 18 to 22 in (listing)
- Size
- 23 D x 23.5 W x 31 H in
- Weight
- 20 lb (listing)
- Sold by
- Amazon
The Medline Drop Arm Commode has an arm on each side that lowers, so you can slide across from a wheelchair or a bed. The listing says it has a foam-padded seat and a height of 18 to 22 inches with push buttons.
It is steel, rated for 350 pounds, and has a removable pail and a splash guard.
Why We Picked It
If you move on and off sideways, an arm that lowers means you do not have to lift over it. The padded seat is softer than the plastic seats on the Drive models, which the listing says is meant for short-term use. The listing adds that you can take the bucket out and use it over a regular toilet.
What to Know Before You Buy
At 20 pounds it is the heaviest of the first four, and it is priced above the Drive models. Amazon showed only 4 left in stock, with more on the way, when we checked. We could not open Medline's own page, so every figure comes from the listing. Check that the arms lock back up before each use, as you would for any drop-arm model.
Best for: Sliding across from a wheelchair or the edge of a bed.
Skip it if: You never transfer sideways and want the lowest price.
Good for
- Arms drop for side transfers
- Padded seat
Watch Out for
- Priced above the Drive models
- Listing only, low stock when checked
Best for 500 pounds
DMI Drop Arm Extra-Wide Commode
- Limit
- 500 lb (listing)
- Seat
- 23.25 W x 18.5 D in (listing)
- Height
- 20 to 24 in (listing)
- Size
- 29.5 W x 20.5 D x 29.25 H in
- Bucket
- 5 L with lid
- Model
- 802-1204-0300
The DMI is the widest and strongest pick. The listing gives the seat as 23.25 inches wide by 18.5 inches deep and the rating as 500 pounds, with a release button that drops the arms from both sides.
It has a 5-liter bucket with a lid and a carry handle, and the legs adjust from 20 to 24 inches.
Why We Picked It
It is the only pick over 350 pounds, and the seat is about 10 inches wider than the Drive's. Both arms drop, so a wide transfer is easier, and the listing says the feet are non-slip. The listing gives overall dimensions of 29.5 inches wide, 20.5 deep and 29.25 tall.
What to Know Before You Buy
It is the most expensive of the five, and the 5-liter bucket is smaller than the 7.5-quart buckets on the Drive models. At 29.5 inches wide it needs more floor space beside the bed, so measure the gap. The listing names HealthSmart International as the manufacturer, and we found no maker page, so every figure is from the listing.
Best for: A larger user who needs a wide seat and a 500-pound rating.
Skip it if: The room beside the bed is narrow.
Good for
- 500 lb rating
- Wide seat and drop arms
Watch Out for
- Most expensive of the five
- Listing only, smaller bucket
Compare the 5 Picks
| Pick | Limit | Seat | Height | Arms | Bucket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drive Medical Folding Bedside Commode | 350 lb | 13.5 x 15 in | Not listed | Fixed | 7.5 qt |
| Drive Medical Folding Steel Commode 3-in-1 | 350 lb | 13.75 x 16.25 in | 17 to 23 in | Fixed | 7.5 qt |
| Medline 3-in-1 Folding Commode with Elongated Seat | 350 lb | Elongated, 16.5 in deep | Not listed | Fixed | Included |
| Medline Drop Arm Commode Chair | 350 lb | Padded | 18 to 22 in | Drop-down | Removable pail |
| DMI Drop Arm Extra-Wide Commode | 500 lb | 23.25 x 18.5 in | 20 to 24 in | Drop-down | 5 L |
What the CDC and MedlinePlus Say
The CDC says more than 1 in 4 older adults falls each year, that fewer than half tell their doctor, and that about 37% of people who fall report an injury that needed medical treatment or limited their activity for at least a day.
The CDC's "Check for Safety" checklist has two lines for the bedroom that apply to night-time trips. If the light near the bed is hard to reach, it suggests a lamp close to the bed. If the path from the bed to the bathroom is dark, it suggests a nightlight so you can see where you are walking. A commode shortens that path, and the same advice about light still applies to it.
MedlinePlus, in its "Bathroom safety for adults" page, says raising the toilet seat height can help prevent falls, and names a raised seat that fits over the toilet or a commode chair as two ways to do it. Neither source tells you which commode to buy, so use the measurements below, and ask a doctor or occupational therapist if you are unsure about the transfer.
Put it where you can reach it without stepping over anything. Keep the path from the bed clear, and put a lamp or nightlight where you can reach it from the bed, as the CDC suggests.
How to Choose a Bedside Commode
Weight Limit
Four of the five are rated for 350 pounds. The DMI is rated for 500 pounds on its listing. Choose a limit above the weight of the person using it.
Seat Height
Only the Drive RTL11158KDR gives a height range on the maker's page, 17 to 23 inches. The Medline drop arm lists 18 to 22 inches and the DMI 20 to 24 inches on their listings. Set the height so the seat is level with the bed edge or a little above it, and check that the legs are locked at the same setting on all four sides.
Fixed Arms or Drop Arms
Fixed arms give you something to push on and cannot move out of the way. Drop arms swing down so you can slide across from a wheelchair or the bed. The Medline drop arm and the DMI have them.
Seat Size
The seats run from 13.5 inches wide on the Drive 11148-1 to 23.25 inches on the DMI. Compare the width with the person's hips and the space beside the bed.
Bucket and Cleaning
The Drive models come with a 7.5-quart bucket with a cover and splash shield, and the Drive RTL11158KDR adds a carry handle. The DMI bucket is 5 liters with a lid and handle. Empty it after each use.
Use as a Raised Seat
The Medline and Drive 3-in-1 listings say the commode can go over a toilet as a raised seat or safety frame, with the bucket removed. Only the listings say so, so read the maker's instructions for that use before you rely on it.
Bedside Commode Questions
Who Needs a Bedside Commode?
People who find the walk to the bathroom too far or too dark, or who are recovering from surgery or an illness. MedlinePlus lists a commode chair as one way to raise the toilet seat height, which it says can help prevent falls. A doctor or occupational therapist can say whether you need one.
What Is the Difference Between Fixed and Drop Arms?
Fixed arms stay put. Drop arms lower, so you can slide across from a wheelchair or the side of a bed. The Medline drop arm and the DMI are the two drop-arm models here.
Can a Commode Go over a Toilet?
Some can. The Medline 3-in-1 and the Drive RTL11158KDR are described in their listings as usable as a raised toilet seat or a safety frame, and the Medline drop arm listing says to remove the bucket for that use. Drive's own page does not mention it, so check the maker's instructions.
How Do I Make the Walk Safer at Night?
The CDC suggests a lamp close to the bed and a nightlight on the path to the bathroom. Keep the floor clear, and see our guides to raised toilet seats and shower chairs for the bathroom itself.
How Do I Clean and Empty the Bucket?
The Drive models come with a 7.5-quart bucket with a cover, a splash shield and a carry handle on the RTL11158KDR, and the Drive listing suggests liners for faster clean-up. The DMI listing says its 5-liter bucket lifts out for emptying and can be rinsed with mild soap and water. Empty it after each use, and follow the maker's cleaning instructions for the frame and seat.
How High Should I Set the Seat?
Drive's page gives a seat height of 17 to 23 inches for the RTL11158KDR, and the listings give 18 to 22 inches for the Medline drop arm and 20 to 24 for the DMI. A common starting point is a seat level with the edge of the bed or a little above it, so you can slide across and stand without a drop. Set all four legs to the same hole and check that the push pins are locked.
Our Take
The Drive Medical Folding Bedside Commode is the best pick for most people. It is rated for 350 pounds, Drive's page gives its size and weight, and 37,079 reviews average 4.6 stars. The trade is a fixed pair of arms and a seat height that Drive does not state, so check the settings when you build it.
The Drive RTL11158KDR is worth the small extra cost if you want the height range in writing, 17 to 23 inches, and a carry handle on the bucket. The Medline 3-in-1 adds an elongated seat and 19 inches between the arms, but it has only 179 reviews and no maker page we could read.
If you move sideways, spend more. The Medline drop arm has padded arms that lower and a foam seat, and the DMI has a 23.25-inch seat and a 500-pound rating. Measure the space beside the bed before you buy the DMI, since it is 29.5 inches wide.
The Bottom Line
The Drive Medical Folding Bedside Commode is the best all-round bedside commode, with the Drive RTL11158KDR for a stated height range. Choose the Medline drop arm for transfers from a wheelchair, and the DMI for an extra-wide seat and 500 pounds. Put a lamp and a nightlight on the path as the CDC suggests, and see our guides to raised toilet seats and shower chairs.