Home › Guides › Bath Safety
Best Grab Bars for Showers and Bathrooms: Five Compared on Size and Mounting
A grab bar is a fixed handle you hold when you get into the tub, out of the shower or up from the toilet. Unlike a chair, it never moves, which is the point: you put weight on it. The CDC's home checklist recommends grab bars next to and inside the tub and next to the toilet, and MedlinePlus says two are needed in the tub area.
The five picks below are all stainless steel, in lengths from 12 to 36 inches. All were in stock on Amazon for delivery to ZIP 10001 when we checked. A bar is only as strong as the wall behind it, so the mounting counts for more than the model.
| Best for | Pick | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Moen Home Care 24 Inch Grab Bar (8724) | Check price |
| Best long bar | Amazon Basics 36 Inch Grab Bar | Check price |
| Best 1.5-inch bar | Amazon Basics 18 Inch Grab Bar, 1.5 Inch Diameter | Check price |
| Best short bar | Moen Home Care 12 Inch Grab Bar (8912) | Check price |
| Best 2-pack | Gotega 16 Inch Grab Bars, 2 Pack | Check price |
Best Grab Bars
Best overall
Moen Home Care 24 Inch Grab Bar (8724)
- Length
- 24 in
- Diameter
- 1.25 in
- Load
- 500 lb (Moen), tied to a stud or SecureMounts (listing)
- Hardware
- Concealed screws
- Warranty
- Limited lifetime (Moen)
- Model
- 8724
The Moen 8724 is a 24-inch stainless steel bar with a 1.25-inch diameter and concealed screws. Moen's page says it supports up to 500 pounds and gives it a limited lifetime warranty.
Moen says its SecureMount design allows installation at any angle, with or without studs; the Amazon listing says the 500 pounds applies when it is installed into a stud or with SecureMounts, which are sold separately.
Why We Picked It
It is the only bar here with a maker page that states the diameter, the load and the warranty. A 24-inch length is long enough for a vertical bar at a tub's edge or a horizontal bar on the wall, and the 1.25-inch diameter sits within the range the ADA Standards allow, 1-1/4 to 2 inches. It has 6,092 reviews at 4.8 stars.
What to Know Before You Buy
The 500-pound rating depends on the mounting. The listing ties it to a stud or to SecureMount anchors, and the anchors are not included, so budget for them if there is no stud where you want the bar. Moen's page was unclear about whether anchors are needed, so read the instructions in the box before you drill.
Best for: A tub or shower wall where you can screw into a stud.
Skip it if: There is no stud and you do not want to buy anchors.
Good for
- Maker page with diameter and load
- 6,092 reviews at 4.8
Watch Out for
- Anchors sold separately
- 500 lb needs a stud or anchors
Best long bar
Amazon Basics 36 Inch Grab Bar
- Length
- 36 in
- Diameter
- 1.25 in
- Load
- 500 lb when installed in a stud or secure surface (listing)
- Finish
- Brushed stainless
- Warranty
- 1 year
- Sold by
- Amazon
The Amazon Basics 36-inch bar is the longest here, with a 1.25-inch diameter. The listing says it supports 500 pounds when properly installed in a wall stud or another secure mounting surface, and that it has a 1-year warranty.
It is brushed stainless steel, and the listing says it meets the ADA specifications.
Why We Picked It
A 36-inch bar spans a wide range, so you have something to hold as you step in, stand and turn. It is the longest and, with 5,460 reviews at 4.7 stars, one of the most reviewed. Its diameter sits inside the ADA's 1-1/4 to 2 inch range.
What to Know Before You Buy
A long bar needs two mounting points on studs, and the stud spacing at your wall decides where it can go. The warranty is 1 year, against Moen's limited lifetime, and the details come from the listing alone. The ADA Standards allow 33 to 36 inches above the floor for a horizontal bar in public buildings, a useful reference for height at home.
Best for: A wide wall where a long horizontal bar will reach two studs.
Skip it if: The wall is short or the studs are in the wrong place.
Good for
- Longest bar here
- 5,460 reviews at 4.7
Watch Out for
- 1-year warranty
- Listing only, no maker page
Best 1.5-inch bar
Amazon Basics 18 Inch Grab Bar, 1.5 Inch Diameter
- Length
- 18 in
- Diameter
- 1.5 in
- Load
- 500 lb when installed in a stud or secure surface (listing)
- Weight
- 1.3 lb
- Warranty
- 1 year
- Sold by
- Amazon
This Amazon Basics bar is 18 inches long with a thicker 1.5-inch diameter. The listing gives the same 500-pound rating for a bar installed in a wall stud or another secure surface, and the same 1-year warranty.
It weighs 1.3 pounds and is brushed stainless steel.
Why We Picked It
A thicker bar is easier to grip for some hands, and 1.5 inches sits in the middle of the ADA's allowed 1-1/4 to 2 inch range. At 18 inches it is a good length for a short vertical bar at a tub's edge or beside a toilet. It has the second-best rating here, 4.8 from 4,121 reviews.
What to Know Before You Buy
A bar this short has only a small span, so it gives you one place to grip, not a path. Use two, as MedlinePlus advises, or a short bar with a long one. The load rating is tied to the mounting in the listing, and the warranty is 1 year.
Best for: A short vertical bar at the edge of a tub or next to a toilet.
Skip it if: You want one bar that covers a long wall.
Good for
- 1.5-inch grip
- 4.8 from 4,121 reviews
Watch Out for
- Short span
- Listing only, 1-year warranty
Best short bar
Moen Home Care 12 Inch Grab Bar (8912)
- Length
- 12 in
- Diameter
- 1.5 in (listing)
- Load
- Not in the listing text
- Hardware
- Concealed; anchors SMA1005CH sold separately
- Weight
- 5.76 oz
- Model
- 8912
The Moen 8912 is the shortest and cheapest bar here, 12 inches long with a 1.5-inch diameter and concealed mounting hardware.
The listing says it is made to be used with Moen SecureMount Anchors, sold separately, where you cannot screw into a stud.
Why We Picked It
It is a low-cost way to add a hand-hold in a spot where a longer bar will not fit, such as a short wall beside the shower valve. It has a 4.8 rating from 3,556 reviews, and the listing says it suits bathtubs, showers and toilets.
What to Know Before You Buy
The listing text gives no weight rating for this bar, so we cannot tell you its load, and we could not open a Moen page for it. Twelve inches gives a small grip area, so it is a supplement to a longer bar and not a replacement. Plan on buying the SecureMount anchors if there is no stud.
Best for: A short wall or a second hand-hold beside the controls.
Skip it if: It will be your main bar, or you need a stated weight rating.
Good for
- Lowest price
- 4.8 from 3,556 reviews
Watch Out for
- No weight rating in the listing
- Anchors sold separately
Best 2-pack
Gotega 16 Inch Grab Bars, 2 Pack
- Length
- 16 in, pack of 2
- Load
- 500 lb pulling force (listing, no mounting stated)
- Grip
- Knurled
- Hardware
- Concealed screws, plastic plugs in photo
- Weight
- 0.54 kg
- Sold by
- MoveCatcher
The Gotega pack has two 16-inch stainless steel bars with a knurled, textured grip. The listing says the surface grips even with wet hands, and that the screws are concealed.
The listing says each bar takes up to 500 pounds of pulling force, but it does not say what it must be mounted into.
Why We Picked It
MedlinePlus says to fit two grab bars in the tub area, and this pack gives you both for less than the price of a single Moen 24-inch bar. The knurled grip is a texture you can feel when your hands are wet.
What to Know Before You Buy
Moen and Amazon Basics both tie their 500-pound ratings to a stud or another secure surface, and this listing does not. The photo shows plastic wall plugs with the screws, so find the studs and screw into them rather than relying on plugs alone. It is sold by a third party, MoveCatcher, we found no maker page, and the rating is 4.4 from 3,633 reviews, the lowest here.
Best for: A budget pair of bars for a tub, if you can screw into studs.
Skip it if: You want a stated mounting condition and a longer warranty.
Good for
- Two bars for less than one Moen
- Textured grip
Watch Out for
- Mounting condition not stated
- Third-party seller, 4.4 rating
Compare the 5 Picks
| Pick | Length | Diameter | Load | Pack | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moen Home Care 24 Inch Grab Bar (8724) | 24 in | 1.25 in | 500 lb (stud or anchors) | 1 | Limited lifetime |
| Amazon Basics 36 Inch Grab Bar | 36 in | 1.25 in | 500 lb (stud or secure surface) | 1 | 1 year |
| Amazon Basics 18 Inch Grab Bar, 1.5 Inch Diameter | 18 in | 1.5 in | 500 lb (stud or secure surface) | 1 | 1 year |
| Moen Home Care 12 Inch Grab Bar (8912) | 12 in | 1.5 in | Not listed | 1 | Not listed |
| Gotega 16 Inch Grab Bars, 2 Pack | 16 in | Not listed | 500 lb (no mounting stated) | 2 | Not listed |
What MedlinePlus, the CDC and the ADA Say
MedlinePlus, in its "Bathroom safety for adults" page (reviewed April 2026), recommends two grab bars in the tub area, one for getting in and out of the tub and one for standing from a seated position. It says to fix them to the wall vertically or horizontally and not diagonally, and warns that towel racks are not grab bars because they can't support your weight.
The CDC's "Check for Safety" checklist asks whether you need support getting in and out of the tub or up from the toilet, and says to have grab bars put in next to and inside the tub and next to the toilet. The CDC also says more than 1 in 4 older adults falls each year, and that a single fall doubles the chance of another.
The 2010 ADA Standards, published by the U.S. Access Board, give measured numbers for grab bars in public buildings. A round bar should be 1-1/4 to 2 inches in diameter, sit 1-1/2 inches off the wall, and a horizontal bar should be 33 to 36 inches above the finish floor. The bar, its fasteners and the wall behind it must hold a 250-pound force at any point, and the bar must not rotate in its fittings. A private home does not have to follow the ADA, but these numbers are a useful reference.
The wall is the weak point, not the bar. Moen and Amazon Basics tie their 500-pound ratings to a stud or another secure mounting. Find the studs with a stud finder, screw into them, and use the maker's anchors only where there is no stud. If you are unsure, ask someone who installs them.
How to Choose a Grab Bar
Where to Put Them
Follow MedlinePlus and the CDC: one bar to help you step in and out of the tub, one to help you stand up in it, and one next to the toilet. Fix them vertically or horizontally, not diagonally.
Length
A short bar, like the 12-inch Moen, gives one place to grab. A 24 or 36-inch bar gives a path along the wall. The picks run from 12 to 36 inches.
Diameter
The ADA allows 1-1/4 to 2 inches for round bars. The Moen 24 and the 36-inch Amazon Basics are 1.25 inches, and the Moen 12 and 18-inch Amazon Basics are 1.5 inches. Choose the one that fits your hand.
Grip Surface
A smooth stainless bar can be slippery when wet. The Gotega has a knurled grip, and the others are brushed or smooth stainless.
Mounting
Read the load rating with its condition. Moen's bar says it needs a stud or SecureMounts for 500 pounds, Amazon Basics says a stud or other secure surface, and the Gotega names no condition. Suction-cup bars are a different product, and none of our picks is one.
Grab Bar Questions
How Many Grab Bars Do I Need?
MedlinePlus says two in the tub area: one for getting in and out of the tub and one for standing up from a seated position. The CDC's checklist adds grab bars next to the toilet. Fix them to the wall vertically or horizontally and not diagonally, as MedlinePlus says, and choose lengths that suit the wall: a 24-inch bar for a vertical grip at the tub's edge, for example, and a longer one for a horizontal run.
Can I Use a Towel Rack as a Grab Bar?
No. MedlinePlus says plainly not to use towel racks as grab bars because they can't support your weight. A towel rack is fixed with small screws into tile or drywall, and a grab bar has to be fixed into a stud or another secure mounting. The same goes for soap dishes and the edge of a sink. Fit a real grab bar next to the tub and the toilet.
How High Should a Grab Bar Be?
The ADA Standards put a horizontal bar 33 to 36 inches above the finished floor. That applies to public buildings, but it is a good starting point at home, adjusted to the user's height.
Do I Have to Screw It into a Stud?
The makers' 500-pound ratings are tied to the mounting. Moen's listing says 500 pounds when installed into a stud or with its SecureMount anchors, which are sold separately, and Amazon Basics says a wall stud or another secure mounting surface. If you cannot find a stud where you want the bar, use the maker's anchors and follow the instructions in the box exactly.
Are ADA Grab Bars Required in a Home?
No. The ADA Standards, published by the U.S. Access Board, govern public and commercial buildings and do not bind a private home. They are still a useful reference because they give measured numbers: a round bar 1-1/4 to 2 inches in diameter, 1-1/2 inches from the wall, 33 to 36 inches above the floor for a horizontal bar, strong enough for a 250-pound force at any point.
Will a Stainless Steel Bar Rust in the Shower?
Moen's listing says its bar is corrosion-resistant stainless steel with a limited lifetime warranty, and the Amazon Basics listings say the bars are designed to resist rust and corrosion. Stainless steel is the usual choice for a wet room. Wipe the bar and check the screws or covers from time to time, and replace any bar with a loose mount or visible damage.
Our Take
The Moen Home Care 24-inch bar is the best pick. Moen's page states the diameter, the 500-pound load and a limited lifetime warranty, and 6,092 reviews average 4.8 stars. Plan for a stud, or for the SecureMount anchors, which cost extra.
The Amazon Basics 36-inch bar is the one to buy for a long wall, and the 18-inch bar gives you a thicker 1.5-inch grip for a short vertical position. Both have a 1-year warranty and listing-only specs. The Moen 12-inch is a cheap second bar, but its listing gives no weight rating.
The Gotega pack gives you the two bars MedlinePlus advises for the price of one Moen, but its listing names no mounting condition and it has the lowest rating of the five. Fit it into studs, not plugs.
The Bottom Line
The Moen Home Care 24-inch bar is the best all-round grab bar. Choose the Amazon Basics 36-inch bar for a long wall and the 18-inch for a short vertical one. Put two in the tub area and one by the toilet, screw into studs and never use a towel rack, as MedlinePlus advises. See also our guides to shower chairs and raised toilet seats.
Related Reading
Sources
- MedlinePlus: Bathroom safety for adults (reviewed 2026-04-09)
- CDC: Check for Safety, A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults (2017)
- CDC: Facts About Older Adult Falls
- U.S. Access Board: 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, section 609 Grab Bars
- Moen: Home Care 24 in Concealed Screw Grab Bar 8724