Home Rooms Bathroom Bathtub
ByErica Young
Updated: May 17, 2024
Nothing makes a bathroom feel luxurious quite like a soak-worthy tub. Prepare to relax your worries away with the best bathtubs.
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Who hasn’t entertained a fantasy of sinking into a freestanding clawfoot tub to escape the world for a while? Choosing a bathtub creates a beautiful focal point in your bathroom and can produce a spa-like experience every time you take a luxurious soak.
Keep in mind that the type of bathtub you choose often hinges on the configuration of the bathroom. That means considering room dimensions, wall space (or lack thereof), access to plumbing pipes and the overall design and infrastructure of your house.
If you’re working with new construction, there’s a little more freedom to design the tub of your dreams. But if you’re remodeling an existing bathroom, the bathtub material and size choices may be limited. Whatever the situation, we have the best bathtub for you.
Best Overall
Avalon NativeStone Freestanding Cement Bathtub
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Best Budget
Grayley Alcove Soaking Bathtub
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Best Drop-In Bathtub
Kohler Archer Drop-In Soaking Bathtub
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Best Clawfoot
AKDY Clawfoot Soaking Bathtub
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Best Bathtub-Shower Combo
Utile by Maax Marble Carrara Bathtub and Shower
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Best Freestanding
Rebecca Soaking Bathtub
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Best Walk-In
Mansfield Restore ACR Walk-In Tub
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Best Whirlpool
Empava Freestanding Whirlpool Bathtub
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1/8
Pros:
- Design is ideal for soaking
- Made of sustainable lighter-weight material
- Thick walls provide insulation
- Handcrafted one-of-a-kind look
Cons:
- May require resealing
- Much more expensive than many
Installation Type:Freestanding |Bath Therapy Type:Soaking |Size:62 in. x 36 in. x 21 in. | Shape:Oval |Material:Concrete composite
TheAvalon NativeStone tubhas a chic and sophisticated design that makes it one of the best bathtubs, but it’s also made of a proprietary sustainable material that combines jute and concrete. It weighs 40% less than traditional concrete, which saves money on shipping and stress on your floor. This tub comes in five natural colors that will beautifully showcase whatever faucet you choose.
2/8
Pros:
- Budget-friendly price
- Made of durable acrylic
- Simple style
- Comfortable backrest angle
Cons:
- Some might not like the warm touch of acrylic
- Depth could make stepping into the tub difficult for some
Installation Type:Alcove |Bath Therapy Type:Soaking |Size:60 in. x 32 in. x 22 in. | Shape:Rectangular |Material:Acrylic
For an all-around, affordable, alcove-style winner, look no further than the Grayley Alcove Soaking Bathtub from the Wyndham Collection. It scores on its competitive price, its easy-to-clean acrylic material, the molded lumbar support and its simple installation. The built-in tile flange means you can easily choose your favorite tile to surround the tub for a custom finish.
3/8
Pros:
- Low step-over height
- Made of durable acrylic
- Features a reversible drain
- Available in five finishes
Cons:
- Textured bottom can be harder to clean
- Drain assembly sold separate
Installation Type:Drop-In |Bath Therapy Type:Soaking |Size:60 in. x 32 in. x 19 in. |Shape:Rectangular |Material:Acrylic
Drop-in tubs generally allow for a deeper soak with a lower step-over height and as they don’t have sides, they can be used in a variety of placements. If you have a more custom look in mind, consider a drop-in tub, such as Archer from Kohler. It consists of only the shell, offering the design flexibility you crave (however, if your subfloor is compromised, consider the final weight before committing). The Archer features Craftsman-style beveled edges and a textured non-slip bottom.
4/8
Pros:
- Charming vintage style
- Heavy-duty acrylic and reinforced fiberglass
- Pop-up drain included
Cons:
- Not as deep as other models
- Elongated back might be difficult to fit in some bathrooms
Installation Type:Freestanding | Bath Therapy Type:Soaking|Size:68.9 in. x 27.9 in. x 30.3 in. | Shape:Oval |Material:Fiberglass
For a vintage-style bathroom or a historic home, a clawfoot tub is a must. This clawfoot bathtub makes for a charming soaking station, and the glossy black finish and chrome feet give it a modern twist. Keep in mind that cleaning a bathtub with feet is a little more difficult as dust and debris can gather underneath the tub. And if you have sloping floors, it might not be a practical choice.
5/8
Pros:
- Convenient all-in-one kit
- Faux grout is easy to clean
- Walls easily slip together and lock into place
Cons:
- Doesn't have the high-end feel of real marble
- More expensive than other combos
Installation Type:Bathtub & Shower Combo |Bath Therapy Type:Soaking |Size:32 in. x 60 in. x 81 in. |Shape:Rectangular |Material:Acrylic, Fiberglass
This marble-look bathtub and shower gives you the convenience of an all-in-one bathtub-shower combo with the look of tile. The fiberglass walls are molded with faux grout lines that are much easier to maintain than real grout. The acrylic tub features a non-slip bottom and discreet armrests for added comfort.
6/8
Pros:
- Sleek design to work with many styles
- Extra-deep for full immersion
- Adjustable base to ensure level installation
- Comes in three lengths
Cons:
- Might be too big for some bathrooms
- Not slip-resistant
Installation Type:Freestanding |Bath Therapy Type:Soaking |Size:60 in. x 32 in. x 23 in. |Shape:Oval |Material:Acrylic
The Rebecca freestanding tub makes a statement with its simple, elegant style. It’s sure to be the focal point of your bathroom. The acrylic finish feels warmer than enamel, and the gently reclining sides allow for mega relaxation. A side-mount faucet placement is prime for a statement fixture—and your toes will never brush that cold metal in your warm bath.
7/8
Pros:
- 6.5-inch step-in height
- Features a seat and sloped backrest
- Made in the USA
Cons:
- Handles and rails not included
Installation Type:Walk-In |Bath Therapy Type:Soaking |Size:51.5 in. x 30 in. x by 40 in. |Shape:Rectangular |Material:Acrylic
This walk-in tub takes top marks for the low step-in height, right or left drain location and acrylic material with fiberglass reinforcement. Despite being easy to climb into, it offers a substantial depth, making it an ideal spot to soak and relax the day’s worries away. There’s a spacious integrated seat with a sloped backrest for added comfort. As if it wasn’t already one of the best bathtubs, this walk-in has adjustable leveling legs to make installation as painless as possible.
8/8
Pros:
- Has hydro-massage water jets
- Freestanding design
- Faucet and showerhead come pre-drilled and pre-installed
Cons:
- Pump not included
- On the pricier side
Installation Type:Freestanding |Bath Therapy Type:Whirlpool |Size:71 in. x 33.8 in. x by 22 in. |Shape:Oval |Material:Acrylic
This is not the outdated jetted bathtub from years past! The Empava Whirlpool Bathtub has a sleek, freestanding design, with water jets discreetly located near the bottom of the tub. The hydro-massage system features seven jets to target aches and sore areas, and the tub’s 71-inch length leaves plenty of room to stretch out and relax. Unlike other bathtubs, the faucet is included along with a handheld shower head with three soothing spray settings.
What to Consider When Buying a Bathtub
- Size: The available space determines a lot when it comes to purchasing a bathtub. “With a smaller-sized space, some people choose to have a dual shower/bathtub, while those with ample space have the luxury of choosing a freestanding style,” says Katie Simpson, interior designer at Mackenzie Collier Interiors in Phoenix. You’ll also need to consider the height of your potential tub’s walls, especially if you have little ones or someone with balance issues in your household who may struggle to get in and out.
- Material and weight: These two elements usually go hand in hand. Concrete and cast iron are typically expensive and extremely heavy, but their durability makes them among the best bathtubs you can buy. Fiberglass is lighter and stronger (and requires less maintenance), but can be prone to scratches or warpage over time, according to Arnold Long, general operations manager at Mr. Blue Plumbing. “While higher-quality materials, like cast iron, natural stone and copper, are very popular and desirable, they tend to be too heavy for many homes,” he says.
- Shape: Are you considering a traditional, rectangular alcove tub or a freestanding tub, perhaps with a shower elsewhere? Do you want a corner tub or a deep soaker? Whatever you’re thinking of purchasing, keep in mind that the shape can influence the overall style of the room. “Oval and round tubs tend to lean more modern,” Simpson says, “while rectangular tubs are more traditional.”
Types of Bathtubs
- Alcove bathtub: An alcove bathtub fits into a three-wall nook in your bathroom with only one exposed side. This is ideal for smaller bathrooms where you don’t want the tub taking up too much space.
- Drop-in bathtub: A drop-in bathtub “drops in” to a pre-built deck, so it lacks finished sides and consists of the shell only. This is one of the best bathtubs for people that want a custom look that blends seamlessly with a bathroom’s existing design.
- Freestanding bathtub: If you want to make a statement in your bathroom, consider a freestanding tub. From vintage clawfoot to sleek and modern basins, they come in a variety of styles. A freestanding tub doesn’t connect to any walls and is usually paired with a freestanding floor-mounted faucet—but all of this means the setup will take up a lot of floor space.
- Walk-in bathtub: Often used by older adults or folks with disabilities, a walk-in bathtub is easier to get into through a watertight door, eliminating the need to step over the side. Often, walk-in tubs include additional accessibility and safety features, such as a seat and grab bars.
Why You Should Trust Us
Erica Young is passionate about home decor, organization, cleaning, landscaping, and DIY projects. She also specializes in home trends, lifestyle topics, and parenting humor. She regularly contributes to Family Handyman, Taste of Home, POPSUGAR, The Belladonna, Your Tango, The Organized Mom, Reader’s Digest and Curbly. Young is also a veteran at product testing and finding the best products to feature, including this list of the best bathtubs.
How We Found the Best Bathtubs
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject-matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we comb through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
FAQs
What is the most durable material for a bathtub?
Cast iron is the most durable bathtub material, but it might not be the best choice for everyone. Made with iron ore and coated with enamel, cast iron is resistant to scratching, chipping, denting and staining. However, it’s worth noting that a cast iron tub is extremely heavy (and expensive). For a durable, lightweight material, opt for acrylic.
How much does it cost to install a bathtub?
To install a new freestanding, drop-in or alcove bathtub, you can expect to spend about $500 to $2,000 or more, plus labor. This doesn’t include walk-in bathtubs, which usually require more labor and custom design.
Can I install a bathtub myself?
Yes, you can install a bathtub by yourself, but it’s not for beginners. You should have some experience working with plumbing (P-traps and faucets) and basic carpentry skills. If you replace the shower valve and have copper supply lines, you’ll also need to know how to solder.
Originally Published: September 30, 2021
Author
Erica Young
Erica Young is a freelance writer specializing in home trends and lifestyle topics. Erica contributes regularly to Family Handyman and Taste of Home. Her byline has also appeared in POPSUGAR, The Belladonna, Your Tango, The Organized Mom, Reader's Digest and Curbly.
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