Search what to buy before hip replacement surgery and you will find shopping lists thirty items long, half of them things you will never touch. This guide covers the small set of items that hospital and orthopedic-association patient materials actually recommend for hip and knee replacement, what to look for in each one, roughly what it costs, and the free changes that matter more than any purchase.
Timing first: work through home preparation one to two weeks before your surgery date, so you have time to test everything and swap out anything that does not suit your home (MedlinePlus, NIH).
One honest caveat before the list. No studies have directly tested whether a home-prep checklist changes your recovery outcome. This is safety and comfort guidance based on what hospitals and surgeons commonly recommend — not a claim about how fast you will recover.
The shopping list, with typical prices
| Item | What to look for | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Reacher / grabbing tool | Lightweight, 26–32 in, secure jaw grip, rotating head | $10–$25 |
| Long-handled shoehorn | Rigid, 12–24 in handle | $8–$15 |
| Raised toilet seat | Adds 3–6 in of height, locks onto the bowl, armrests optional | $25–$70 |
| Grab bars | Rated for 250–300 lbs, screwed into wall studs — not adhesive | $15–$40 per bar |
| Shower chair or bench | Non-slip rubber feet, wide stable seat; a bench extending outside the tub eases transfers | $30–$90 |
| Long-handled sponge + shower hose | Handle 12 in or longer; handheld hose if your shower lacks one | $10–$25 |
| Walker bag or basket | Attaches to the front bar, fits phone and water, does not block your view of the floor | $12–$25 |
| Firm seat cushion (if needed) | Raises the height of a chair you already own | $15–$30 |
Item specifications above come from AAOS patient education (AAOS OrthoInfo, “Preparing Your Home for Joint Replacement Surgery”) and MedlinePlus discharge guidance (MedlinePlus). Prices are our own typical-range estimates, not source figures.
Fall-proofing beats gadget-buying
Falls are one of the biggest risks in the first weeks after joint replacement, so clearing your walking paths matters at least as much as anything you buy.
- Remove every loose rug, mat, and electrical or phone cord from the floors and walkways you will use (AAOS OrthoInfo).
- Set up a temporary living space on one floor so you can avoid stairs for the first stretch of recovery, and limit stair trips to about once a day if you cannot (AAOS OrthoInfo; MedlinePlus).
- Put a sturdy, firm-backed chair with armrests in every room you will use — kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living room — so there is always a safe place to sit (MedlinePlus).
- Check your bed: low enough that your feet touch the floor when you sit on the edge, and firm enough that you do not sink in (MedlinePlus).
- Keep a phone within reach at all times — a cordless or cell phone works well (MedlinePlus).
The bathroom is the room to get right
Hard surfaces, slippery floors, and low seating make the bathroom the highest-risk room after surgery. Install safety bars or handrails near the toilet and inside the shower or tub, and if you have more than one floor, set up a bathroom or a portable commode on the level where you will spend most of your time (AAOS OrthoInfo; MedlinePlus).
Two details people get wrong: grab bars need to go into wall studs rather than relying on adhesive, and a raised toilet seat needs to lock securely onto your existing bowl so your hip or knee does not have to bend as far to sit or stand (AAOS OrthoInfo). If your surgical team has given you bending precautions, tell them what you are planning to buy and let them sanity-check it.
Build one recovery station
Pick one spot — usually a favourite chair or one end of the couch — and make it the base. Put the things you use often within easy reach, between waist and shoulder height, so you are not bending down or stretching up on your toes (AAOS OrthoInfo; MedlinePlus). Keep your phone, a notepad and pen, your medication list, and the remote controls within arm's reach (MedlinePlus).
Kitchen: make cooking optional for two weeks
Prepare roughly two weeks' worth of meals ahead of time — cook and freeze, buy ready-made, or line up a delivery service (AAOS OrthoInfo). Stock up on canned or frozen food and household staples like toilet paper and shampoo so you do not need to shop right after surgery, and move food, dishes, and supplies into cupboards between waist and shoulder height (MedlinePlus). Anything you reach for daily — glasses, the kettle — belongs on the counter, not in a high cabinet (MedlinePlus).
Line up help before surgery day, not after
This is the part people leave until it is too late.
- Arrange a ride home from the hospital and to follow-up appointments, since you will not be able to drive right away (AAOS OrthoInfo, “Getting Ready for Joint Replacement”).
- If you live alone, ask a family member or friend to stay with you for the first several days (AAOS OrthoInfo).
- Arrange help with bathing, using the toilet, cooking, errands, and shopping for the first couple of weeks (MedlinePlus).
- Sort out pet care — a dog-walker, for example — for anything you will not be able to manage at first (AAOS OrthoInfo).
- Ask your care team about a temporary disabled parking permit if you will need one (AAOS OrthoInfo).
This kind of practical planning is part of the “maximizing functional independence” discussion that surgical guidelines recommend having before your operation (NICE NG157).
What to pack for the hospital
Pack a few days early so surgery morning is not a scramble. Mayo Clinic's packing guidance covers loose-fitting comfortable clothing and a robe or sweater; comfortable non-skid shoes or slippers, ideally slip-ons or elastic laces; toiletries; glasses, hearing aids, or dentures; any walker, cane, or crutches you already use; a phone charger; a full list of your medications, over-the-counter products, and supplements with doses; and any forms, records, or imaging your care team asked you to bring (Mayo Clinic).
Ask your surgical team directly which medications to take or pause the morning of surgery, and whether the hospital has its own packing instructions. That conversation overrides this list.
Next steps
- Get the full room-by-room version, including a printable PDF: the free home prep checklist.
- Know what comes after surgery day: the hip replacement recovery timeline and the knee replacement recovery timeline.
- See how the prep exercises are structured in the free sample prehab week.
Everything in one place, for $49
The full JointPrep program walks you through the weeks before and after knee or hip replacement — prehab and post-op plans, the home prep checklist, warning signs, and every module cited. One payment, no subscription.
Frequently asked questions
What should I buy before hip or knee replacement surgery?
The commonly recommended set is a reacher, a long-handled shoehorn, a raised toilet seat, grab bars, a shower chair or bench, a long-handled sponge with a handheld shower hose, and a walker bag (AAOS OrthoInfo; MedlinePlus). Check with your surgical team first — some supply equipment, and some advise against specific items.
When should I get my home ready?
One to two weeks before your surgery date, so you can test everything out (MedlinePlus).
Do I really need a raised toilet seat?
A seat adding three to six inches of height means your hip or knee bends less to sit or stand, which is why AAOS lists it among common home-prep items (AAOS OrthoInfo). Whether you need one depends on your toilet height and your team's precautions.
Are adhesive grab bars good enough?
AAOS guidance describes bars installed into wall studs and rated to hold roughly 250–300 lbs (AAOS OrthoInfo). Treat suction or adhesive bars as towel rails, not as something to put your weight on.
Does preparing my home speed up recovery?
No study has directly tested that. Home prep is safety and comfort guidance based on what hospitals commonly recommend, and pre-surgery planning for functional independence is part of published surgical guidance (NICE NG157) — but it is not a promise about your outcome.
How much should I expect to spend in total?
Using the ranges in the table, a full set of new equipment typically lands somewhere around $100–$250, and less if you already own a suitable chair, a walker, or a handheld shower hose. Ask whether your insurance or hospital covers any of it before buying.
Sources
- AAOS OrthoInfo, “Preparing Your Home for Joint Replacement Surgery” (infographic) — https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/globalassets/pdfs/preparing-your-home-for-joint-replacement-surgery_infographic_final.pdf
- AAOS OrthoInfo, “Getting Ready for Joint Replacement” — https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/globalassets/pdfs/getting-ready-for-joint-replacement.pdf
- MedlinePlus (NIH), “Getting your home ready — knee or hip surgery” (2024) — https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000167.htm
- NICE NG157, “Joint replacement (primary): hip, knee and shoulder” (2020, reviewed 2024) — https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng157/chapter/Recommendations
- Mayo Clinic, “Your Mayo Clinic packing checklist” — https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/your-packing-checklist
Disclaimer. This article is general education, not personalized medical advice, and it does not create a clinician–patient relationship. It is written by a final-year medical student and certified personal trainer, not by your treating clinician. Confirm every item and every change with your surgical team before your procedure. Questions about this article: support@jointprep.com. JointPrep is a product of Finding Well LLC.