Bathtubs: The Ultimate Buying Guide

Bathtub shopping is exciting… and it’s also dizzying, thanks to practically endless options in material, installation, system, shape, and all sorts of add-ons that you’ve never even considered. It’s enough to make you want to close your eyes, flip to a random page in a catalog or scroll through a random website, and pick whichever one your finger lands on.

Not sure where to start?

Right here is a good place.

Our bathtub buying guides clearly describe and illustrate the pros and cons, options, maintenance instructions, price ranges, and recommended brands of every type of tub. Check them out to learn everything you need to know and make a confident, informed decision.

Materials

Solid surface

A solid choice for many reasons – durability, warmth, low maintenance, seamless beauty – solid surface offers loads of benefits and options. Read our solid surface tub guide to see why it’s one of today’s most popular choices.

Acrylic

Affordability does not equal cheap quality. Acrylic tubs enjoy massive popularity thanks to its many benefits, including low weight, softness, and easy-clean properties, all at a budget-friendly price. Learn all about this versatile material in our acrylic tub guide.

Copper

Looking for luxury? The search ends here. Copper is the unbeatable choice for elegance and beauty in the bathroom, and it’s eco-friendly, hard-wearing, and naturally hygienic to boot! Check out our copper tub guide for all the details.

Cast iron

Classic, timeless, heavy-duty, and beautiful – how much more can you expect from a tub? Enameled cast iron has been the tub material of choice for over a century; find out why it’s still at the forefront of the bathtub market in our cast iron tub guide.

Installation

Drop in

The drop in tub is the most commonly purchased type of bathtub. It’s available in countless configurations, shapes, and sizes, and it offers virtually boundless design options! Consult our drop in tub guide to learn all about this versatile choice.

Corner

This space-saving wonder means that your bathroom can accommodate a bathtub. Who knew? Corner tubs free up floor space, improve the flow of the room, and offers lots of bathing and deck space. Find the right one with help from our corner tub guide.

Freestanding

Instant focal point! A freestanding bathtub is striking and sophisticated, turning heads for all the right reasons. These tubs offer numerous benefits (in addition to their eye-catching appearance); check out our freestanding tub guide to see if freestanding is the right choice for you.

Style

Slipper

Wondering how the slipper tub got its shape and its name? Why it’s so popular? How long it’s actually been around? Our slipper tub guide will answer all of your questions (and then some!) and guide you to a fabulous bathtub purchase.

Clawfoot

A footed tub is the ultimate elegant bathroom fixture, but its advantages go way beyond nostalgic charm. Whether you’re refinishing a vintage piece or looking for a brand-new model, our clawfoot tub guide will tell you everything you need to know.

Tub Shapes

Oval. Rectangular. Square. Round. Slipper. Corner. Hourglass. Who knew there were so many tub shape options? (And that’s not all of them!) Read our comprehensive tub shape guide for a clear, all-in-one-place list of pros and cons before making your decision.

System

Air Tubs

Ready for a spa day? You can have one every day… in your very own bathroom. An air tub provides full-body relaxation and a host of other advantages, including easy maintenance and compatibility with bath products. Learn everything there is to know from our air tub guide.

Soaking Tubs

Sometimes simplicity is superior. If a long, deep, comfortable bath is what you dream of, a soaking tub – specially designed for soothing, prolonged soaks – will make your dream come true. Consult our soaking tub guide before you buy.

Tub Systems

Whirlpool tub, air tub, or soaking tub? That’s the first – and most important – question for most bathers. Whatever your bathing preferences, there’s a tub for you! Our tub system guide provides a comprehensive comparison of the different types of bathtubs.