The 14 best bathtubs in 2021

A closeup of a tub in a tiled shower with the water falling from the showerhead

The Home Depot
  • Here are the all-time bathtubs of 2021
  • Our testing methodology
  • The best alcove bathtub
  • The all-time driblet-in bathtub
  • The all-time corner bathtub
  • The all-time freestanding soaking bathtub
  • The all-time walk-in bathtub
  • FAQs
  • Check out our other abode renovation guides

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  • When shopping for a bathtub, consider the size of your bathroom and how yous intend to use your tub.
  • The best bathtubs come from brands similar Delta, Kohler, and Rejuvenation.
  • Consider calling a professional person to install your new tub since it can involve catchy plumbing.

Whether you enjoy an occasional deep soak or regularly treat yourself to bubble baths, a comfy and well-built bathtub is an essential fixture of your home. It's a big investment, and then it's important to carefully weigh how y'all intend to apply information technology, your budget, and the amount of available space.

The about mutual kind of bathtub is an alcove tub, which is surrounded by walls on three sides. You can add a showerhead to an alcove tub to maximize space and utility. Other types of bathtubs include drib-in, corner, freestanding, and walk-in tubs.

The best bathtub for you depends on many factors. The biggest things to consider are the size of your bathroom and where y'all'd like to identify the tub. Certain materials, like cast fe, are heavy and you may need to reinforce your floor. The location of your plumbing and the size of your water heater may too bear on what type of tub yous buy. Finally, you'll want to consider whether you want certain features, including massage jets or accessibility options such equally grab confined or seating. Learn more than nearly the differences among bathtub types, factors and features to consider, how to install a bathtub, and other bathtub FAQs.

For each type of bathtub, nosotros included a few options then yous can discover the all-time ane for your needs, budget, and mode. Alex Rennie contributed previous reporting to this piece.

Hither are the best bathtubs of 2021

  • Best alcove bathtub: Delta, Bootz, Kohler
  • Best drop-in bathtub: American Standard, Kohler
  • Best corner bathtub: Clarke, Ariel, Laurel Mountain
  • Best freestanding soaking bathtub: Birch Lane, Wyndham Collection, Vanity Art, Rejuvenation
  • Best walk-in bathtub: Universal Tubs, Access Tubs

Our testing methodology

The Home Depot

We consulted Kerrie Kelly, National Lath Chair of the American Society of Interior Designers, and Tricia Fraser, a merchant and bathtub expert at The Habitation Depot, for insights into the bathtub-ownership procedure.

Taking their communication and our own research and feel into account, we chose two to 3 options covering a variety of materials, budgets, and styles for each category. We likewise looked at whether the retailer offered dwelling installation and other services that brand it easier to buy a bathtub.

The all-time apse bathtub

The Home Depot

You're probably almost familiar with the ubiquitous alcove bathtub. At that place are plenty of options to cull from, and we love them because they're usually pretty affordable.

The popular alcove bathtub is made from acrylic and is built with reinforced support to make installation easy and prevent cracks. Information technology comes in both left and right drain designs, and so make sure to double check which one your bath supports. Note that the drain and overflow assembly aren't included.

Enameled steel tubs are highly durable and resistant to scratches and stains, then they might be adept for people with kids or dogs who love bath playtime. The soaking depth isn't very deep (viii.5 inches) but if you need a very affordable tub and are because turning this into a shower-bath combo, it's a good choice.

The VIllager is Kohler's most popular bathtub, made from enameled heavy-duty bandage iron and featuring integrated lumbar back up for top comfort. At 14 inches tall, information technology'south ADA-compliant and like shooting fish in a barrel to step over.

The best driblet-in bathtub

Amazon

A drop-in tub requires a trivial more than space than an alcove tub because it doesn't bear on your walls. It has a slightly more sleek look and tends to be more than expensive.

This drop-in tub, made of acrylic and fiberglass, combines an extra-deep bathing pool with a functional ergonomic design. It'south extra long (72 inches) and deep (18.5 inches) and has molded armrests and a 25-degree slope for reclining.

The Devonshire is convenient because it has a reversible bleed, which ways yous can rotate the tub on either the right or left side. The acrylic is sturdy, and it has a decent soaking depth of 14 inches. There are too other colors available if you don't want a classic white tub

The all-time corner bathtub

The Domicile Depot

Corner bathtubs make the almost of limited infinite. These days, they normally accept built-in jets and then you tin enjoy a bath and massage without going to the spa. Extra features like jets or lights do make corner tubs more expensive.

Information technology'due south not easy to find a whirlpool tub for under $1,000, which is why and so many reviewers appreciate the value of this deep tub. It can hold up to 105 gallons of h2o and has seating for three people. The xviii.5-inch soaking depth generously lets you sink into the water and settle into the tub.

This acrylic and fiberglass tub has all the bells and whistles: 14 whirlpool massage jets, comfy capacity to fit two people, a built-in Bluetooth speaker, a hand shower, and two headrests. There'southward fifty-fifty a heater included to keep your h2o warm as you savour a relaxing jet massage.

This is a bones soaking tub if yous don't care for massage jets but still want to save space. It's fabricated from high-gloss acrylic for a simple look and has a textured skid-resistant floor.

The best freestanding soaking bathtub

Wayfair

Freestanding bathtub styles range from vintage and elaborate to modern and minimalist. Whatever your personal style is, go on in mind that freestanding tubs take up a lot of space and can be heavy since many tend to be made from bandage iron.

With its deep red, curved body and polished claw anxiety, the tub will be the elegant centerpiece of your bathroom. It measures 67 by 32 inches and is made from acrylic and fiberglass. It comes with an overflow and pop-upwardly drain, but you lot'll need to buy a flexible bleed hose separately.

Choose from iv different trims (brushed nickel, matte black, polished chrome, and shiny white) for this sleek white acrylic tub. It measures lx past 32 inches and claims to be warmer to the touch than a steel or enamel tub.

Another simple option, this tub comes in two lengths — 59.ane and 67.three inches. It comes with everything you need, including an overflow, pop-up bleed, leveling legs, and flexible drain hose, and it's adequately lightweight at 90 pounds, making information technology easier to install.

With its cake anxiety, this model is a mod take on the clawfoot tub for people who are still seeking an elevated design. Information technology'due south made from enameled cast iron and is long (67 inches) and deep (31 inches) — ideal for fatigued-out soaking sessions.

The best walk-in bathtub

The Home Depot

Walk-in tubs are designed with accessibility and ergonomics in mind, so you lot don't demand to elevator your leg over a ledge. Not but are they easier to enter, they often feature comfortable benches, a grab bar, and other add-ons to enhance your bathing feel.

Equipped with 12 massage jets, a quick-fill faucet, showerhead with 60-inch achieve, and chromatherapy (colored light) lighting, this walk-in tub is as luxurious as it gets. The watertight door comes with a lifetime warranty guarantee, while the drain quickly empties the 70-gallon capacity tub in under a minute.

The 68-gallon capacity bathtub comes with a water heater, and there are like shooting fish in a barrel touch controls to suit the water flow and massage jets to your liking. Information technology also includes an extension kit that lets yous expand your bachelor tub space.

FAQs

What are the dissimilar kinds of bathtubs? How do I know which ane is best for my bathroom?

Apse bathtub: An alcove tub is surrounded on three sides past walls, so y'all get in on the exposed side. It'due south normally the almost affordable and space-efficient.

Driblet-in bathtub: A drop-in tub is "framed past materials similar cabinetry, tile, or solid surface slabs and 'drop-in' to a deck," said Kerrie Kelly, National Board Chair of the American Social club of Interior Designers. Although it might be surrounded by walls like an apse tub, its sides exercise non really touch the walls directly.

Corner bathtub: A corner tub is often three-sided or heart-shaped, with two of the sides in the corner of your space. It'southward best for small spaces.

Freestanding bathtub: A freestanding tub tin exist placed anywhere in the room and is often the focal indicate. It can stand directly on the floor, on a low pedestal, or on claw feet. It takes upwardly a lot of infinite and tends to be heavy, so you might need to reinforce your floor, only information technology has the about eye-catching and elegant look of all the tub types. Both Kelly and Tricia Fraser, a merchant and bathtub expert at The Home Depot say freestanding tubs are growing in popularity and the biggest trend in bathroom design recently.

Walk-in bathtub: A walk-in tub is for people who tin can't step into a regular tub. It has a watertight door and "typically has safety features, like a grab bar, sideslip-resistant textured flooring, and ADA-compliant seating. These tubs tin too offer a therapeutic massage experience with features like jetted whirlpool or jetted air," said Fraser.


What to consider when buying a bathtub

The main factors to consider equally you decide which bathtub to buy are:

Bath size: Take measurements of your bathroom and doorway. Depending on the amount of infinite available, yous may simply be able to buy certain tub styles.

Plumbing location: The location of your plumbing rough-in limits where you tin can identify your tub. The drain location needs to work with your tub's pattern.

Water heater size: "Confirm that your water heater can handle the size of tub you are looking to fill up. Make sure your h2o heater is large enough to fill about 2/3 of your tub with warm h2o," said Kelly. This is peculiarly important if you opt for a deeper soaking tub.

Fabric: Fabric affects the toll, feel, and longevity of your tub. The most common bathtub materials are acrylic, fiberglass, porcelain-enameled steel, and porcelain-enameled cast iron. Acrylic is long-lasting, lightweight, affordable, and widely available in many colors and styles. Fiberglass is the most affordable but not every bit durable. Both enameled bandage iron and steel are very durable and resistant to scratches and stains, but cast atomic number 26 has fifty-fifty greater oestrus retention, keeping your bath h2o hot for a longer flow of time.

Weight chapters of your floor: If your tub is going on the second flooring, you might need to reinforce the flooring based on what materials y'all choose. Acrylic tubs are lighter in weight, while cast fe tubs are a lot heavier.

Extra features: Features similar whirlpool jets, catch confined, and seating will bring the toll of your tub upwardly but add to the overall experience of your bath.


What are the standard measurements for a bathtub?

According to Fraser, a standard tub measures 60" x 30". The average water depth is xvi inches. Corner, freestanding, and walk-in baths tend to be deeper. Every bit y'all look at dissimilar sizes, consider the heights of anyone who volition use the tub, how many people will usually be in the tub at once, and if you lot prefer to curl upward or splay out in the water. If you're in a physical store or showroom, it always helps to climb into the tub to examination the ergonomics and experience out the size for yourself.


How much does a bathtub cost?

It all depends on the materials and features, but a bathtub usually starts at $200 and averages around $300 to $500. Corner, freestanding, and walk-in tubs tend to be more than expensive and tin cost thousands of dollars.


Should I install a bathtub by myself or call a professional?

We love a DIY project, simply it's best to call a professional person for this 1. Because bathtub installation involves plumbing and tiling expertise, "incorrect installation tin can result in water damage or an unleveled tub," said Fraser.

If yous do have prior plumbing experience, Fraser's advice is "to double check the door width to make sure you tin move the tub into the bath, exist knowledgeable on basic plumbing and framing, and know your existing flooring and plumbing's condition."

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Disclosure: Written and researched past the Insider Reviews team. Nosotros highlight products and services you might find interesting. If y'all buy them, nosotros may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. Nosotros may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to examination. This does not drive our conclusion every bit to whether or non a product is featured or recommended. Nosotros operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@insider.com.

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