Shower Bench Ideas

Shower benches are common in luxury bathrooms. A place to sit at the end of a long day while enjoying a hot shower, a shower bench adds turns your space from a bathroom to a spa. But shower benches aren’t just for the luxe — it’s easy to add this feature to your shower for a range of budgets. Below, you will find shower bench ideas from affordable, portable options to custom-built benches.

What Are Shower Benches For?

Shower benches can serve a number of purposes:

• Relaxation: A shower bench is a place to sit and enjoy your hot shower. If you have a steam shower, adding a bench basically upgrades the space to a steam room. 
• Seating: Shower benches serve a practical purpose, too. If you have an elderly family member who needs to sit while bathing, a shower bench does the job. It can also be used by other bathers while shaving or drying off.
• Storage: If you don’t have a shelf to place your shower supplies on, a small shower bench is the perfect place to store shampoos, body washes, soaps, razors, and other items needed while bathing.  

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Types of Shower Benches

Shower benches can either be portable or built-in. Both came in a wide range of sizes, styles, and materials. Here is what to know about both types.

Portable Shower Benches

Portable shower benches come in a variety of sizes, from smaller foot stools to larger benches that can seat two people. Plastic shower benches are easy to clean and light enough to move in and out of the shower if necessary. If you are searching for a medical-grade shower bench, it will be made from plastic.

Wooden shower benches are also popular for portable benches. They’re great options for storage spaces or a place to prop your foot as you shave and bathe. Wood might not seem like a good material to keep in the shower, but teak is a durable wood that can handle humidity and moisture. If you are building a portable shower bench as opposed to buying one, make sure you use solid teak so it won’t wear down or rot.

Built-In Shower Benches

Built-in shower benches are beautiful for walk-in showers that have the space to accommodate them. They are permanent features in the bathroom and flow seamlessly into the rest of the shower with matching tile. 

They can be a rectangular block or even a curved corner seat that is fixed to the floor. For more design interest, consider a floating seat. If your shower has a beautiful window, play it up with a shower bench that acts as a nook below the window.

Best Tile For Showers

Trying to find the best material for your shower bench? These are the tile options we recommend for showers.

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How Much Do Shower Benches Cost?

The cost of a shower bench is going to depend on whether it’s a portable one that can be purchased at the shore or a custom shower bench that’s built into your walk-in shower. 

• A plastic shower bench ranges in price from $50 – $100. Medical grade shower benches will also have rubber feet so the bench doesn’t slip or move. There are versions more similar to a chair with a back and arm rests, though these can be at the higher end of this price range.
• Teak shower benches can cost $50 – $550. This price range is impacted primarily by size and accessories. A larger bench with a shelf below the seat and other places to store soaps and shampoos will be more expensive than a small wood shower seat.
• A built-in shower bench costs between $300 to $1,000+. This is a custom job completed by a contractor. The final price depends on any demolition needed, the material you have chosen, and the size of the bench. 

If you’re looking to add a built-in shower bench while doing a full demolition of the bathroom, check out our step-by-step guide to build a custom shower.

Built-In Shower Bench Ideas

If a luxe built-in shower bench is the route you want to go, there are some things you’ll need to consider before getting to work. 

Shower Bench For an Existing vs New Shower

First, are you adding a custom shower bench to an existing shower, or is it being added as a part of a larger renovation job? If it’s the former, make sure you have access to the same tile you have in the shower in order for it to have a cohesive, matching look.

It’s important to choose a tile that is slip- and water-resistant. This ensures the tile will not only last for many years, but that you and your family won’t slip and injure themselves in the shower. Ceramic and porcelain tile are great choices as they check those primary boxes, as well as being affordable and coming in a variety of colors and shapes. 

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Is Your Shower Large Enough For a Built-In Shower Bench? 

You don’t want to go through the work of adding this feature only to find you barely have any room to move while showering. The standard shower bench is 17 to 20 inches tall and 15 to 16 inches deep. 

However, everyone is different, and depending on your height and what you want to use the bench for, this can be adjusted.

Can You DIY a Shower Bench?

A portable shower bench is possible to DIY, but a built-in shower bench is best handled by a professional unless you have a significant background in this type of work. 

Trying to decide which route to go? Start by calculating the cost of supplies to do it yourself, then consider the hourly rate of a professional working on the project. You may find that you’ll be swayed one way or another after looking at the numbers. And of course, ask for quotes from three to four contractors.