The 5 Best Toilet Safety Rails [Ranked]
Toilet safety rails, or bathroom safety frames, are indispensable bathroom assistance devices for individuals suffering from mobility impairments, injuries, balance issues, arthritis, or just general old age.
They generally install over or under your commode and provide strong hand rails to enable its users to securely raise and lower themselves to and from the toilet.
There are a couple different styles- the Drive Medical standalone toilet safety rail actually slides against the base of the toilet and require no installation.
While the Medline brackets on to the rear of the toilet seat and the Carex itself is like a walker that fits over the toilet. Which of these you prefer will depend on your particular requirements- some take up less floor space than others and whether you prefer a free-standing rail or not.
Our Top Pick: The Vive Toilet Safety Rail
The Vive is a solid option- it supports up to 300 lbs, fits regular and irregular-sized toilets, includes a lifetime warranty and is easy to assemble.
One user who weighs over 300 pounds and stands at over 6 feet tall who deals with hip and shoulder injury issues is in love with his device.
Vive Video Overview
He says that his caregiver would never be able to lift him off of the toilet if he found himself unable to summon the strength to rise- so the Vive safety rail is an indispensable bathroom safety tool for him.
That said, let's take a look at five be best-selling bathroom safety frames on the market today and see how they compare.
Contents
Toilet Safety Rails Compared
| Toilet Safety Rails | Our Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | The Medline Toilet Safety Rail | 3.9 | $ |
 | The Drive Medical Toilet Safety Rail | 4.3 | $ |
 | The Drive Medical Stand-Alone Toilet Safety Rail | 4.4 | $ |
 | The Carex Health Brands Bathroom Safety Rail | 4.7 | $$ |
 | The Vive Toilet Safety Rail | 4.5 | $ |
The Best Toilet Safety Rails For 2023
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
A toilet safety rail is designed to help assist those in need of assistance in using the toilet. The Medline Toilet Safety Rail was created with the senior citizen and the handicapped in mind- generally, anyone that suffers from an impairment that hampers their use of the toilet. These bathroom handrails have closed cell foam armrests that add comfort as well as an easy grip for support.
These toilet handicap rails are adjustable from 26” to 31” in height and they are able to accommodate any standard or elevated toilet seat. These toilet support rails are easy to clean because they are made from aluminum which also makes them lightweight yet sturdy at the same time.
The frame of these handicap safety rails securely mounts to the toilet bowl with their adjustable bracket that can be adjusted anywhere from 18” to 24”. Can support up to 250 pounds of weight.
Those who have used these toilet handicap rails like how easy they are to put on the toilet and how easy they are to adjust to a comfortable height. Customers also like the stability of the toilet safety rail because it gives them a feeling of security especially if there is no one else around to help them in the bathroom.
A few who had bought these bathroom handrails felt that the armrests didn’t feel all that durable and a little wobbly when used.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Easy to adjust
- Mounts securely onto toilet bowl
- Easy to clean
- Lightweight
Cons
- Armrests don't seem very durable
- Seemed wobbly when used
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
Small and compact safety handrails used for assisting seniors or handicapped with using the toilet. The Drive Medical safety handrails are inexpensive yet sturdy and they have very comfortable handles that are soft and padded for added comfort. The width of these handicap safety handrails can be easily adjusted in order to fit most toilet seats and can be adjusted from 16.5” to 19.5”.
The overall dimensions for these toilet support rails are 16.25” x 19.5” x 11.5” and they can support up to 300 pounds in weight. These handicap safety rails are easy to assemble and install and require no tools at all to put on the toilet seat. If you have poor balance, arthritis, injury problems or any kind of limited mobility this might be a product to consider.
Those who have used these toilet safety handrails have commented on how sturdy the arms are and how easy it is to install them onto your toilet seat.
Users also like that they are compact enough to not be in the way after they’ve been installed. Customers who have purchased these toilet support rails like that there is no need for any kind of special tools to attach them to the toilet making them quick and easy to install.
Pros
- Good price
- Easy to install
- Compact
- No tools required to install
- Sturdy
- Has soft padded handrails
Cons
- No cons to report for this product.
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
This is a stand-alone toilet safety rail which needs no attachment to the toilet itself. The Drive Medical Toilet Safety Rail stands on and has a nice magazine rack as an added feature. This freestanding handicap safety rail will fit a standard toilet as well as those with elongated toilet seats.
The armrests of these toilet safety rails are nicely padded to add extra comfort for the user. This stand-alone toilet safety rail is easy to assemble and set up. The dimension between the arms is 21” and the height of the arms from the floor is 25.5” and it can hold up to 300 pounds. The padded armrests are not just comfortable but are easy to grip because of the soft padding.
Some who have bought this product like that this toilet safety rail doesn’t attach to the toilet and can be easily moved to be used for other things like chairs that have no arms.
Users have commented on how sturdy this toilet safety rail is but says that it really doesn’t fit all that well for toilets that are elongated. Because it doesn’t attach to the toilet some users have used it for travel as well making it easier and safer to use on toilets in hotels.
Pros
- Easy to assemble without special tools
- Sturdy
- Padded armrests for comfort and easy grip
- Has magazine rack
- No need to attach to toilet
- Good for travel
Cons
- Doesn't work well with elongated toilets
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
This toilet safety rail is one that stands on its own- which means there is no need to attach it to the toilet so it can be moved out of the way when not needed. The Carex Health Brands handicap safety rail is one that can be used for both the toilet and standing at the bathroom sink for added support when needed.
These toilet support rails provide safe and sturdy support for sitting down and get up from the toilet and can provide extra support for seniors or those with limited mobility to stand safely in front of the sink as well. It is easy to assemble without using tools. The dimensions for this handicap safety rail measures 20” x 23.2” x 33” and weighs 9 pounds.
Those who have purchased these toilet safety rails like that it is extremely easy to put together and like that it is a stand-alone which makes it faster to install because there is no need to waste time attaching it to the toilet. Those who have used these handicap support rails enjoy how sturdy they are making using the toilet a lot safer.
Some users have also noted that these support rails can be used in the shower making them more versatile than some other models.
Pros
- Sturdy
- Easy to use
- Easy to assemble
- Lightweight
- Can be easily transported
- Versatile can be used in shower
Cons
- No cons were reported on this product.
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
Sitting and standing can be made easier with a toilet safety rail for seniors and those with mobility issues. The Vive Bathroom Safety Rail is designed for elderly users as well as users who may have a variety of different handicap issues that might make it difficult to use the toilet without assistance.
These handicap safety rails have a universal fit which means they can be used with regular toilets as well as irregularly sized toilets. The armrests have extra padding for comfort as well as for a better grip. This is a freestanding unit so it can be removed any time it needs to be. It is well built and can support 300 pounds with ease and is easy to use even for those who are tall and have a larger build.
It also includes a nice feature- a magazine rack that can be put on either side of the handicap safety rails.
One of the key things that most users have noted about this toilet safety rail is just how sturdy and well built it is. Users like the comfortable rubber grips found on the armrests because they feel it gives them added security when trying to sit down and stand up.
Owners of the product also like that it is freestanding so it can be used in more places than just the toilet. Another key thing most users appreciate about these toilet safety rails is how simple they are to assemble. There have been some users who commented that if you don’t push it all the way back to the toilet tank it can slip on tile floor, however.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Easy to use
- Comfortable armrests
- Good rubber grips on armrests
- Extremely sturdy
- Easy to move to other locations
Cons
- Can slip on tile if not pushed all the way back to toilet tank
Buying Guide
Toilet safety rails are essential products for the elderly or otherwise incapacitated individual who needs extra security and stability while raising and lowering themselves from the toilet. Many are comprised of strong steel or aluminum tubing with rubber-tipped casters and typically textured hand grips, all of which contribute to the ease and safety of its use. There are many bathroom safety aids on the market today- so you're pretty fortunate in that respect if you are looking for some help in the bathroom.
Installing a toilet safety rail under a toilet seat
In terms of installing a toilet safety rail beneath the toilet seat, what you will need to do is to remove the toilet seat by unscrewing its nuts and bolts. Then you will place the toilet safety bracket frame in between the toilet seat and the toilet fixture- so that the bracket faces the back portion of the toilet.
Once you replace the toilet seat with its original bolts and nuts, tightening well, your bracket should be installed and you could slide the toilet safety rails into the frame, snapping it into position at the height is most comfortable for you or the individual who will be using it.
It's important that you make sure the heights are adjusted equally- you wouldn't want there to be any imbalance issues because the foot pieces are not set at equal heights. That said, each toilet safety rail will have its own instruction manual specifying how best to install it- and depending on the toilet you have, if it is a little bit nonstandard- you may need to have a professional take a look at how best to install your toilet safety rail.
The different styles of toilet safety rails
Some toilet safety rails have aluminum legs that grip onto the floor, while others like the Drive Medical toilet safety rail, actually install and sit beneath the seat itself, and still others are like walkers that just slide over and against the base of the toilet.
User feedback
Users recommend that prior to purchase you measure the width of the toilet seat area you're going to install it as well as the width of your body when you are sitting on the commode. If the width is wider than the toilet safety rails product dimensions specifications, you won't be able to fit in it, or at least the fit will be tight and uncomfortable and you won't be able to easily get up and down out of it.
Pro Tip: If you need to purchase a toilet, according to A Proud Home, American Standard toilets are a popular, well-reputed option (Source).
Another tip users have is that they frequently check in on the toilet safety rails' nuts and bolts- making sure that they are tight, that the seat is stable and operational- this ensures that day or their loved ones will not have an accidental fall from a faulty assembly. Yet another user describes how his 85 year-old mother is now able to use the toilet by herself after having purchased one of these medical commode safety rails.
They described having found her several times on the toilet- unable to raise herself and stuck there for several hours. Yet another user, writing of her elderly sister, says that she preferred the Drive Medical safety rail over one with legs because it took up less space and was less of a tripping hazard for her handicapped sibling.
One other buyer writes that if the user only has use of one hand or arm, there might be some balance and coordination issues when using the safety rail- this is something you may want to consider prior to purchase.
Final thoughts
Indeed, there are a variety of different styles available- whether you want a standalone bathroom safety rail that essentially loops below the base of the toilet, or one that brackets onto the back of the toilet seat, these are considerations that you will have to mull over prior to buying one.
Some take up less floorspace than others, while if you purchase the toilet safety frame that slides over the toilet it's easier to install for individuals that are living alone and just need a plug-and-play option.
