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This is a guide for residential bathtub grab bar placement (such as in a private home / residence), where grab bar placement is completely up to the discretion of the user.
For commercial bathtub grab bar placement (such as in a public facility) that must abide by Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) placement guidelines, please read our ADA Bathtub Grab Bar Placement Guide.
For basic slip prevention in a bathtub, at a minimum, we recommend two (2) bathtub grab bars in the following tub wall locations:
For advanced slip prevention in a bathtub, we recommend four (4) bathtub grab bars in the following tub wall locations:
To learn more about where we recommend placing each bathtub grab bar, continue reading below:
Why is it important?
Which bar shape, length, and quantity do I need?
Where should I place and install the entry grab bar?
Any other recommendations?
Why is it important?
Which bar shape, length, and quantity do I need?
Where should I place and install the side wall grab bar?
Any other recommendations?
For basic slip prevention in a bathtub, you can stop reading. If you would like to achieve advanced slip protection in a bathtub, continue reading for the next two grab bar bath wall locations.
Why is it important?
Which bar shape, length, and quantity do I need?
Where should I place and install the side wall grab bar?
Any other recommendations?
Why is it important?
Which bar shape, length, and quantity do I need?
Where should I place and install it?
Any other recommendations?
When considering bathtub grab bar placement, if possible, we recommend a few simulations with the person who will be using the grab bars. Have the person step into and out of the bathtub (over the bath wall lip), have the person sit down into the bathtub (or onto the bath seat). This full bathing simulation will help you notice exactly where grab bars should be placed to provide the most assistance to the individual. Bathtub grab bar placement ultimately comes down to the user’s preference for hand grip location, the length of the bath, and the number of surrounding support walls.
For additional grab bar shapes, we recommend exploring our complete line of bathtub grab bars.
If you have a shower & bathtub combination setup, we recommend you also explore our shower grab bars.
A peened grab bar is a grab bar that has a brushed stainless steel finish with a textured surface that provides additional surface grip. Peened grab bars are especially helpful if the grab bar is going to be installed in an area that may be wet or if the user’s hands may be wet, such as a shower or bathtub.
The peened surface feels a bit more rough and textured than a standard smooth surface grab bar.
People generally refer to peened grab bars as non-slip grab bars, anti-slip grab bars, safety grab bars, and slip resistant grab bars.

Peened grip grab bars are ADA compliant. The textured finish actually does not affect ADA compliancy. However, some local ADA laws may actually require peened grip surfaces in public commercial bathrooms.
Yes, peened grab bar grips are created specifically for shower grab bar and bathtub grab bar applications, whereby the grips are generally grabbed with a wet hand.
During the grab bar fabrication process, the peening process consists of sand-blasting metallic balls with high pressure air onto a large portion of grab bar metal surface, which produces slight indentations. This sand blasting significantly enhances the gripping surface of the grab bar by increasing friction and reducing slippage.
Peened grab bars are similar to knurled grab bars by the fact that both surfaces have a textured finish. However, peened grab bars have a sand blasted and lighter textured grip as compared to knurled grab bars, which have a much deeper diamond pattern cross cut into the metal surface.
Grab bars are available in various surface textures to achieve varying levels of grip and appearance. The four types of grab bar grip options are as follows:
The most popular grab bar grip type is smooth finish. This is hands down the most widely purchased grab bar for commercial and residential use.
Yes, suction grab bars are safe, however, they do have their limits and installation obstacles.
Suction cup grab bars are very popular shower grab bars because of its easy installation that does not require tools, fasteners, or drilling.
Suction grab bars are generally designed to assist with stability and balance rather than to support the whole weight of an adult in case of a fall.
The major issues surrounding suction cup grab bars is the fact that the suction discs can not be mounted on the following surfaces:
The suction discs must be mounted on a flat, non-porous and smooth surface that has no texture. These surface requirements make suction cup grab bars unfeasible for many shower wall environments.
Suction grab bars found online may list weight capacities as high as 250 to 300 pounds. However, there are many suction grab bars that do not support up to 250 pounds. It really depends on the manufacturer and type of suction grab bar you are looking for.
Suction cup grab bars work on any non-textured surface, however, they are not recommended for use on drywall. Rather, they are recommended on non-porous / non-textured shower and bath wall surfaces.
No, suction grab bars generally are not ADA compliant. The limiting factor is usually not meeting ADA weight capacity requirements. Many suction grab bars do not support up to 250 lbs of weight.
Suction cup grab bars are most commonly used on non-porous and smooth surface walls in showers and baths.
At GrabBars.com, we do not recommend suction cup model grab bars. We have heard of stories where suction cup grab bars do not remain attached when a user grabs one to break a fall. Suction cup grab bars look nice and are easy to install, but when the floor is rushing to meet you, they may not be of much help. Suction cup grab bars generally have a much lower weight capacity than stud-mounted grab bars. Additionally, many shower wall surfaces are not ideal for suction cup securing. When possible, we recommend that our customers purchase stainless steel grab bars for stud-mounting. If you do purchase a suction grab bar, please use it for stability rather than to support full body weight.
For the best grip and non-slip grab bar surface features, especially for wet hands in the shower or bath, we recommend peened or knurled grab bars, which feature textured surfaces. A slip-resistant grab bar surface can reduce the risk of slipping or falling, thereby reducing the likelihood of injury, enhancing patient safety and reducing liability risk for facilities.
In 2018, new test data revealed that satin-finish “smooth” grab bars provide superior grip performance in wet areas as compared to “peened” grab bars. In September 2018, a test commissioned by Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc., and performed by Bureau Veritas Consumer Product Services, Inc., concluded that the slip-resistance of a satin-finish “smooth” grab bar surface provides similar traction to a peened-finish grab bar when grabbed with a dry hand. When grabbed with a wet hand, the surface of the satin-finish “smooth” grab bar was found to provide 10 percent more traction than the surface of the peened-finish grab bar.
As a result of these findings, we at GrabBars.com are updating our recommendation for non-slip grab bars to include the standard “smooth” grip.
Grab bar weight capacity varies by grab bar type, and most importantly, by the strength of the backing that the grab bar is mounted on.
According to federal ADA guidelines, it is required for a grab bar to be able to support up to 250 lbs (114 kgs) when installed in public places. This is because a grab bar is meant to support the user’s full body weight.
Grab bars are only as safe as their mountings! The stronger the mounting, the more weight a grab bar can hold. When considering what is a strong grab bar, you should focus on the grab bar mounting rather than the actual grab bar and shape itself.
Grab bars mounted into wall studs provide the most stability and security and have a weight capacity of 300 to 500 pounds.
Grab bars come in various diameters, also known as thickness. Diameter size is determined by multiple factors, including ADA requirements, location of use (commercial vs. residential), and hand size. Typical ADA bathroom grab bars are available in following 2 diameters:
1¼” thickness. (Most popular residential use grab bar. Better for smaller hands. Slightly less expensive than the larger diameter version.)
1½” thickness. (Most popular commercial use grab bar. Better for larger hands. Slightly more expensive than the smaller diameter version.)
These two grab bar diameter sizes make up about 95% of the commercial and residential grab bar market.
ADA compliant grab bars must have an outside diameter gripping surface (known as thickness or diameter) or cross section if not circular in the range of 1¼” – 2″. Any grab bar with a thickness over 1½” diameter is uncommon. Any grab bar with a thickness of less than 1¼” is considered an assistive device and is not actually classified as a grab bar or ADA approved.
For commercial applications (such as public bathrooms), the most popular grab bar thickness is 1½”. For residential grab bars (such as in home use), the most popular grab bar thickness is 1¼”.
Grab bar grip thickness is a best fit solution. We recommend 1¼” grab bars for adults and children as the narrower diameter is better suited for smaller hands to grasp. Grab bars with 1¼” diameter are recommended for home use and commonly used by the elderly.
Larger diameter grab bars require more material during the fabrication process, which makes the product slightly more expensive than a grab bar with a smaller diameter. Our most economical grab bars are 1¼” diameter, however, the cost reduction compared to its 1½” counterpart is very small.
⚠️This is a guide for residential shower grab bar placement (such as in a private home), where placement is at the discretion of the user and not subject to ADA law.
For commercial shower grab bar placement (such as in a public facility), where grab bar placement must abide by ADA handicap placement guidelines, read our ADA Shower Grab Bar Placement Guide.
For basic slip prevention in a shower, at a minimum, we recommend two (2) grab bars in the following shower wall locations:
For advanced slip prevention in a shower, we recommend four (4) shower grab bars in the following shower wall locations:
Why is this grab bar placement important?
Which bar shape, length, and quantity do I need?
Where should I place and install the entry grab bar?
Any other recommendations?
Entry Wall Grab Bar Placement
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Why is this grab bar placement important?
Which bar shape, length, and quantity do I need?
Where should I place and install the side wall grab bar?
Any other recommendations?
Side Wall Grab Bar Placement
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Why is this grab bar placement important?
Which bar shape, length, and quantity do I need?
Where should I place and install it?
Any other recommendations?
Front Wall Grab Bar Placement
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Why is this grab bar placement important?
Which bar shape, length, and quantity do I need?
Where should I place and install it?
Any other recommendations?
Back Wall Grab Bar Placement
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When considering shower grab bar placement, if possible, we recommend a few simulations with the person who will be using the grab bars. Have the person step into and out of the shower and while in the shower, have the person pretend to shower and wash their hair, grab the shampoo bottles, and pretend to twist the shower handles. This full shower simulation will help you notice exactly where grab bars should be placed to provide the most assistance to the individual. Shower grab bar placement ultimately comes down to the user’s preference for hand grip location, the size of the shower, shower type (walk-in vs. tub combination), and the number of shower walls.
For additional grab bar shapes, we recommend exploring our complete line of grab bars.
Showers:
Bathtubs:
Toilets:
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