Carex Universal Bath Seat and Shower Chair Review 2025

Do you struggle to get into and out of the bath or shower and take care of business while you’re there because of some mobility issue? If so, you’ve probably been looking for a simple, cost-effective solution to your problem, and you may have even considered a shower chair.

The problem is that there are so many to choose from that it can be tough to find the ‘right’ option.

If that’s where you are, you will like what you read in this review. While the Carex Universal bath seat and shower chair aren’t perfect, they are extremely well made, and even better, they get around one of the most common limitations in this type of medical aid.

Read on if you’re looking for a simple, no-frills solution to make bathing easier and hassle-free. We think you’ll be impressed with this one, even if you ultimately opt to go in a different direction.

Key Features of the Carex Universal Shower Chair and Bath Seat

This design is about as simple as it gets. It has four legs and a seat with a built-in handle. That’s it. If you’re looking for something pretty to make a good accent piece for your bathroom, this isn’t the bath seat you want. Similarly, the Carex Universal bath seat and shower chair will leave you unimpressed if you’re looking for something loaded with extras.

On the other hand, if all you want and need is a simple medical aid to make bathing easier, safer, and more convenient, this sturdy little stool delivers in style. Before we dig deeper, let’s pause briefly to examine the core stats that define the model.

Chair Specifications

Here they are:

These are awesome numbers across the board. The seat height range can be set 2” below the big and tall range and extends well into that territory. The overall dimensions are small enough that the stool can fit inside a standard-sized bathtub, and it will fit into almost all showers, though if you have a tiny pocket shower, that might be a bit of a struggle.

The seat width is superb, and unlike most shower stools, the seat depth is also outstanding. Even better, check out the maximum supported weight!

Most of these types of stools support between 250 and 300 pounds of user weight, and this one is well above that, which is superb and makes it a good fit for more than 95% of the market.

Finally, the chair is light enough to be easily relocated when you’re not using it.

Nothing about any of these numbers is even marginally problematic, and that’s outstanding.

Adjustability, Comfort, and Extras

Let’s start with comfort because there’s almost nothing to say. The Carex Universal shower chair and bath seat are heavy-duty molded plastic stools. It’s about as comfortable as you might expect. 

Fortunately, you won’t be spending much time sitting on this stool, so its relative lack of comfort isn’t a deal-breaker.

The chair only has one adjustable feature, which we discussed above. The length of the legs can be adjusted, which impacts the seat’s height. It’s a good feature addition that adds to the versatility of the design.

In terms of extras, there are a few different things to talk about. First, you’ll find drain holes in the seat, keeping you from sitting in a slowly expanding puddle while bathing. It is a small thing, but it is a very nice touch.

Second, the stool has built-in handles on the sides. This is a good addition, but there are no rubberized grips where your hand is supposed to go, and we wish they were present. 

It’s a small addition that would add tremendous value to the chair because when it’s wet, the handles are bound to be slippery. If you’re already unsteady on your feet, that’s a recipe for potential disaster, so use them carefully!

Finally, the feet have two excellent features: First, they’re rubberized, which gives the stool a good grip on the bottom of your tub or shower, making it virtually impossible for it to slide away from you when you’re getting into or out of it.

Second, each foot has a built-in leveler, like the ones on your washer, dryer, and stove.

This is excellent because, of course, most tub and shower bottoms are curved. You can tweak each foot to ensure your stool is perfectly level, increasing its stability—a small detail but an excellent addition.

Some Assembly is Required

While this stool will arrive at your door in a box and unassembled, it can be put together in minutes without any tools, making it one of the simplest assembly processes we’ve ever seen. It will probably take you longer to get the pieces out of the box than it will to get this stool ready for its first use, which is fantastic.

Carex Universal Bath Seat Pros and Cons

There’s nothing not to like about this stool. The only thing holding it back is that while Carex is a good company with a solid reputation, they’re not one of the best-known players in the market.

Still, if you’re not brand-conscious, there’s not a thing in the world wrong with this well-priced stool.

Carex Universal Bath Seat and Shower Chair Review Conclusion

We like just about everything about this little stool. The Carex Universal bath seat and shower chair is a simple, sturdy, rugged design. Sure, it won’t win any beauty contests, but that’s not what it was designed for, and the fact that it supports significantly more user weight than many of its peers is superb. We recommend it.

Recommended Reading

NOVA Shower and Bath Chair with Arms Review

We evaluated the NOVA Shower and Bath Chair with Arms, which is exceptionally designed for serious mobility issues.

Nova Bath Bench with Red Safety Handle Review

We evaluated the Nova Bath Bench with Red Safety Handle, which is a great choice for serious mobility issues.

Official Manufacturer Support

REFERENCES AND RESOURCES

• Carex, Official Brand Website.
• Carex Universal Bath Seat Assembly Manual.
• What Are the Advantages of a Shower Vs. a Bathtub?, SF Gate.
• 10 Tips for Creating a Safer Bathroom for a Senior Loved One, InHomeCare.com.