Designed to provide extra storage for toiletries, the best shower caddies are durable, easy to clean and sturdy enough to support multiple shampoo and soap bottles. And if you want a caddy to install in your shower (as opposed to one you tote around), it should also attach securely to your walls. Our top pick for most people is the Simplehuman Adjustable Shower Caddy, a sleek, rust-proof option that comes in three sizes.
The best shower caddies are stable, spacious, easy to keep clean and sleek.
Illustration: Forbes / Image: Retailers
Before you start shopping, first consider which of your toiletries you want to store in the caddy, advises Lauren Nearpass, co-counder of Summer 365, a consulting service that helps families find summer experiences. “Is it just a 3-in-1 shampoo-conditioner-body wash situation, or do you also have a brush, a leave-in conditioner, some lotion, a razor and shaving cream?” she asks. Aside from size, you also want to think about material. Plastic is great for portable, under-sink caddies since the material easy to clean and doesn’t hold on to moisture, though it isn’t the most attractive. Stainless steel, on the other hand, is sleeker, though it can attract rust. Ahead, here are the very best shower caddies for any bathroom, whether you’re shopping for your first apartment or college dorm.
A Sturdy Stainless Steel Option That Comes In Multiple Sizes
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Simplehuman Adjustable Shower Caddy
Material: Stainless steel | Size: 5.9 x 14.5 x 27.6 inches (adjustable)
Finding a shower caddy that fits in your shower, cleans easily and looks good is difficult enough, but it’s a particular pain when you add a new shampoo or soap to your rotation and realize that it’s too tall for the caddy you have. That’s why the Simplehuman Adjustable Shower Caddy is brilliant. Not only does it come in medium, large and extra-large, but it also has shelves that operate on a sliding system. In other words, you can move the shelves to accommodate taller bottles, ensuring you always have enough clearance spaces between shelves.
Best Corner Shower Caddy
A Nifty Solution To Add An Extra Shelf In Your Shower
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OXO Good Grips Stronghold Suction Corner Basket
Material: Plastic | Size: 4 x 10.7 x 8 inches
If you don’t need to store a whole lot in your caddy—or you’re simply looking for a more minimalist option—a corner caddy is the way to go. Whereas subpar options tend to slip or come crashing down as steam slowly loosens the adhesive or suction cup, that’s not an issue with the OXO Good Grips Stronghold Suction Corner Basket: This lightweight pick has suction cups activated by a lever, making them extra secure and sturdy. The caddy base is also made from plastic, which is easy to clean and won’t attract mildew or rust.
Best Shower Caddy For Dorms
An Inexpensive That's Great For On-The-Go
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Madesmart Soft-Grip Tote
Material: Plastic | Size: 11.6 x 9.8 x 8.4 inches
This is the shower caddy that Nearpass recommends most to campers, and it’s just as great for college students living in dorms. “The plastic ones have structure and can easily go in and out of the shower, and sit on the floor inside the shower, and the ones we like have holes in them for water drainage,” Nearpass says. This Madesmart pick fits all those criteria, and it’s inexpensive enough that you could even buy multiples to organize different products or store cleaning supplies under a sink. It also has feet, meaning it’s raised slightly above the shower floor, which allows it to dry out quicker.
Best Hanging Shower Caddy
A Smart, Sleek Option That's Designed For Maximum Storage
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OXO Good Grips Aluminum Hose Keeper Shower Caddy
Material: Aluminum| Size: 4.1 x 16.9 x 28.6 inches
If our top overall pick for shower caddy doesn’t suit your needs, look to this three-tier shower caddy from OXO—it’s a sturdy, sleek unit that looks like it could come from the Apple store. It has a rust-proof anodized aluminum finish and two systems for making sure your caddy stays put: a grippy hook to secure it to your shower head and suction cups to keep it stuck to the wall. It also includes holes for bottles in the bottom of its shelves, meaning you can store shampoo and body wash upside down for maximum efficiency.
Best Tension Shower Caddy
A Highly Adjustable Caddy With Plenty Of Storage Space
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OXO Good Grips Quik-Extend Aluminum Pole Caddy
Material: Aluminum | Size: 3.9 x 12 x 62.3 inches
A tension shower caddy is an easy way to add multiple shelves to your bathroom, making it especially great for larger households. While pricey, the OXO Good Grips Quik-Extend Aluminum Pole Caddy is incredibly sturdy, spacious and easy to clean. What’s more, the shelves (there are four of them) are ventilated, meaning that you won’t get as much accumulation of soap scum, as well as adjustable. They also have a few special features, including a soap tray, razor holder and hooks.
Best Over-The-Door Shower Caddy
An Attractive Caddy That Saves Space
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Umbra Bask Shower Caddy
Material: Plastic | Size: 11 x 3.5 x 4 inches
This Umbra shower caddy’s design is simple but smart: It connects three plastic baskets on an aluminum chain that hooks over the door. The plastic baskets are deep and perforated at the bottom, so you don’t have to worry about shower water accumulating in the bottom. The caddy is also inexpensive, which would make it ideal for a first apartment or vacation home (or anyone who’s on a budget).
Best Heavy-Duty Shower Caddy
A Sturdy Option That Can Fit It All
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Simplehuman Corner Shower Caddy
Material: Aluminum| Size: 13.2 x 30.5 x 8.5 inches
If you need to fit a lot of toiletries in your shower, experts recommend using a caddy that isn’t hanging off your shower head; too much weight can cause the head to slip off, or even cause plumbing problems. Rather, consider this clever Simplehuman Corner Shower Caddy, a model that fits on the corner of your tub and provides for two large shelves for storage. The shelves have a wire design and include spots to hang razors or washcloths, and the legs are non-slip.
Best Adhesive Shower Caddy
A Drill-Free Option That's Great For Renters
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Kincmax Shower Caddy Bathroom Shelf
Material: Stainless steel | Size: 5.1 x 12.6 x 5.1 inches
Featuring a rust-resistant coated stainless steel construction, this caddy includes two basket shelves you can put up anywhere that makes sense in your bathroom, plus four movable hooks. Sweetening the deal, the adhesive doesn’t require drilling, suction cups or screws: You simply place the adhesive strip where you want the shelf to hang, wait for it to secure to the wall and hang the shelf. No muss, no fuss. Since you can remove the adhesive (with a little heat), this caddy is a great option for those who live in rental apartments.
Best Free-Standing Shower Caddy
A Chic, Minimalist Caddy That Adds Style And Storage
Amazon
Yamazaki Tall Shower Caddy
Material: Steel| Size: 7 x 5 x 26.5 inches
A good way to make sure your shower caddy doesn’t rust is to have a caddy that doesn’t live in the shower. The Yamazaki Tall Shower Caddy is meant to sit next to the shower, not inside it, and provides an attractive, convenient solution to store all your toiletries. Available in both black and white, the caddy comes equipped with three shelves to easily store all your shower necessities.
Forbes Vetted’s home editors are experts when it comes to bathroom products. We’ve published tons of stories covering all the essentials, from shower heads to bath towels to bidets.
The author of this article, Margaret Eby, is a writer and editor who’s tested all kinds of products for Forbes Vetted, including bidets, pillows and coffee grinders.
To supplement her research, Eby reached out to Lauren Nearpass, co-counder of Summer 365, a consulting service that helps families find summer experiences.
We regularly review all our stories to ensure our product selections remain up to date. This list was last refreshed in June 2024.
How Do You Clean A Shower Caddy?
Metal or plastic shower caddies can be cleaned easily with soap and water. For plastic caddies, avoid abrasive cleaners like bleach or ammonia; these can cause plastic to discolor and weaken over time. If your caddy is really dirty, many of them can go directly into the dishwasher, as well. If your shower caddy has gotten rusty, simply scrub with a mixture of white vinegar and water to get the rust off.
How Do You Choose A Shower Caddy?
First, take a look at your shower accessories. How many things do you use and how much room will they occupy? If you’re really precise you can measure them against the capacity of shower caddies you’re eying, but even a general idea is a good start. Second, think about where you want the caddy to go. Under the sink? Over the door? In the corner? Then measure the space to make a selection. Lastly, evaluate your overall bathroom style and choose an option that fits right in your decor.
