What drives the price
- What is behind the wall. A bar has to be screwed into solid wood, not just tile and board. If there is no framing where the bar needs to go, we add blocking or use an anchor rated for the job.
- The wall surface. Drilling porcelain tile takes the right bit and patience. Acrylic and fiberglass walls need backing behind them.
- How many bars and what finish. Brushed nickel, matte black and brushed brass all cost more than plain chrome.
- Whether the wall is open. During a remodel the blocking costs very little. After the tile is up, every bar is a careful retrofit.
Grab bars inside a remodel
| Project | What is included | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Tub-to-shower conversion | Grab-bar-ready blocking in every package, decorative grab bar in the middle package and up | $7,900–$16,500 |
| Accessible bathroom | Two decorative grab bars, fold-down bench, handheld on a slide bar | $9,500–$28,000 |
If you are remodeling now and do not want bars yet, ask for the blocking anyway. It lets you add a bar in the right spot years later without opening the wall.
Where the bars should go
Most showers need three:
- A vertical bar at the entry, for stepping in and out.
- A horizontal bar on the back wall, for standing and turning.
- An angled bar beside the bench, for sitting down and getting up.
We use bars 1¼ to 1½ inches in diameter, rated for 250 to 300 pounds, and the installer puts his full weight on each one before we leave. If an occupational therapist has advice on placement for you or your parent, we follow it.
What not to rely on
Suction-cup bars and towel bars are not grab bars. A towel bar was never meant to hold a person, and a suction cup can let go without warning. If someone needs to put weight on it, it needs to be anchored into the structure of the wall.
Some Medicare Advantage plans include a home-safety benefit that may cover grab bars. Call your plan and ask. Original Medicare generally does not pay for them.
Key facts
- Lowest-cost time to add bars
- During a remodel, while the wall is open
- Accessible bathroom with two grab bars
- From $9,500
- Bar rating we install
- 250–300 pounds, anchored into blocking
- Typical number of bars
- Three: entry, back wall, beside the bench
Related questions
Where we do this work
Services: Accessible & Aging-in-Place Bath · Tub-to-Shower Conversion
Bathroom remodeling in Sun City, Mesa, Glendale, and across the Valley.