Published 19 August 2026
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Most bath and shower falls happen in the two seconds you are on one leg getting in or out. A bath step cuts that step in half, so you lift one foot 10cm instead of 25cm, and you keep your balance. It is one of the cheapest changes you can make to a bathroom and one of the most effective. Here is how to choose one, and five worth buying.
How to choose a bath step
Measure the step you are trying to halve. A standard UK bath rim is 50 to 60cm from the floor. A single 10cm step turns that into two smaller lifts. If your bath is high or your hip and knee movement is limited, look for a stackable step you can build up to 20cm.
Wide beats tall. A platform of at least 40cm by 30cm lets you put a whole foot down and turn on it. Small steps encourage you to place your foot near the edge, which is how people tip.
Non-slip on both faces. The top surface needs a ribbed or textured tread that works wet, and the feet need rubber that grips a wet vinyl or tiled floor. Check both, not just the top.
Decide if you need a rail. If you already have a grab rail on the wall by the bath, a plain step is fine. If you have nothing to hold, buy a step with its own handrail rather than reaching for a towel rail or basin, neither of which will hold your weight.
Check the weight rating and the material. Polypropylene steps in the 150kg class are the norm. Avoid wooden or fabric-topped stools in a bathroom, and avoid anything that flexes when you press a corner.
The best bath steps
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Best overall: NRS Nuvo Adjustable Bath and Household Step
The Nuvo is stackable, so you buy one now and add a second unit later if the height stops being enough. Big non-slip platform, ribbed top, rubber feet, and NRS is a clinical supplier rather than a general homeware brand. It works just as well at a back door or a conservatory step as at the bath.
The catch: no handrail, so you need something else to hold. Around £31.
| Photo | Title | Price | Buy |
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| NRS Nuvo Adjustable Bath & Household Step – Stackable, Non-Slip Platform for Safer Access (Up to 10cm Height) | £27.27 |
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Best budget: Aidapt Stackable Bath Step
A 10cm polypropylene step with non-slip feet and a soft-touch top, and the cheapest sensible option on this page. Also stackable, so two of them give you a 20cm rise for under thirty pounds. If you just need to take the edge off a standard bath rim, this does the job.
The catch: the platform is smaller than the Nuvo, so place your foot deliberately. Around £15.
| Photo | Title | Price | Buy |
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| Aidapt Stackable Bath Step – 10cm Polypropylene Mobility Aid with Non-Slip Feet & Soft-Touch EVA Foam | Safe, Visible, Lightweight Support for Getting In & Out of Bath | £14.80 |
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Best with a handrail: Easylife Safety Step Stool with Handrail
A 28cm step with an 89cm rail attached, which means the thing you hold and the thing you stand on cannot move independently of each other. That is a real safety advantage over a step plus a wall rail if your walls are tiled and you have nowhere solid to fix into.
The catch: at 28cm this is a full step rather than a half step, so it suits getting up to a level rather than halving a bath rim. It also takes up floor space. Around £23.
| Photo | Title | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Easylife Safety Step Stool with Handrail, Bath Stool, Mobility Step, h28cm, 89cm Rail - Fully Guaranteed | £22.99 |
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Best for doorsteps and outside: NRS Healthcare Mobility Care Outdoor Half Step
An 11cm outdoor-rated plastic half step, built to sit at a back door or a garage threshold and stay there through a British winter. Heavy enough not to skate on a wet path, and the tread is properly aggressive.
The catch: it is the most expensive step here and it is overkill indoors. Around £71.
| Photo | Title | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
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| NRS Healthcare Mobility Care Outdoor Plastic Half Step 11 cm (4.5 inch) | £60.34 |
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Best with a handle: FORTEMOTUS Bath Step with Handle
A step with an integrated vertical handle, useful at a bedside as well as a bath. Lightweight enough to move between rooms, which the outdoor half step is not, and the handle gives you a point of contact without drilling anything into a wall.
The catch: a lightweight step with a handle is only as stable as the load you put through the handle, so pull up rather than lean out. Around £46.
| Photo | Title | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
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| FORTEMOTUS Bath Step with Handle - Sturdy Lightweight Step Stool for Bedside for Adults, Non-Skid Rubber Platform Stepping Stool, Safely Supports up to 330 Pounds,White | £45.95 |
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Frequently asked questions
How high should a bath step be?
Aim to halve the lift, not remove it. For a typical 55cm bath rim, a 10cm to 20cm step is right. Going higher makes the step itself hard to get onto and leaves you standing on a small platform at height, which is worse than the problem you started with.
Are bath steps safe on a wet floor?
They are if they have rubber non-slip feet and you keep the floor free of talc, bath oil and loose mats. Test it before you rely on it: press the step firmly with your hand and try to slide it. If it moves at all on a wet floor, it is not the right step for your bathroom.
Can I get a bath step from the NHS?
Yes. Bath steps and boards are routine issue from council occupational therapy services after a home assessment, and equipment provided that way is free. Ask your GP or your local council adult social care team. Buying one yourself simply avoids the wait.
Bath step or bath board, which do I need?
A step helps you get over the rim while standing. A board lets you sit on the rim and swing your legs over. If your problem is lifting your leg, buy a step. If your problem is standing or balance, buy a bath board. Many people end up using both.
Can two bath steps be stacked?
Only if the manufacturer says so and the steps are the same model. The Nuvo and the Aidapt are both designed to stack and lock together. Never improvise a stack from two different steps or from anything that is not designed to interlock.
If getting over the rim is no longer realistic, look at bath lifts or a walk-in shower. See all our bathroom mobility guides.
Published 19 August 2026
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