Choosing the Right Bathtub: All About Types, Styles, and Materials

Soaking away stress and making a home more attractive to buyers are just some benefits of having a bath in your home. A bathroom with only a shower, toilet, and sink is considered a three-quarter bath versus a full bath, and not having a full bath can be a dealbreaker for some buyers. 

Ready to buy a bathtub but want bathtubs explained fully to make an informed choice? Here we’ll explain bathtub types, materials, and how to measure to get the right bathtub with enough space for relaxation and storage, even in smaller bathrooms. Learning how to choose a bathtub has never been easier!

Best Tub Types for Specific Circumstances 

Here are some common cases that may help you choose a bathtub quicker. We’ll go into detail about every type later on.

• Most comfortable overall: An oval slipper tub with enough room for stretching out; jets and heat add even more comfort
• Families with children or pets: Shower-tub combos with handheld shower head sprays
• Older people: A walk-in tub or an ADA-compliant tub — all the better if it is also a whirlpool tub or a hot tub
• Taller people: A soaking tub, such as a Roman tub or garden tub, or an extra-long tub (such as 70 inches)
• After-sport relaxation: A combination whirlpool and hot tub 
• Small bathrooms: An alcove bathtub, particularly a shower-tub combo
• Vintage-style bathrooms: A Victorian claw-foot tub
• Larger bathrooms in need of a strong focal point: A freestanding tub
• Most budget-friendly: Alcove tubs (but note that drop-in alcove tubs can require a more complex installation than undermount alcove tubs, as all sides of the tub come unfinished)

Bathtub Installation Types

Freestanding Bathtubs

These are not attached to any walls. A freestanding tub sits on the floor and is often a focal point. Freestanding tubs work better in a large space, as they require room all around, and typically are more expensive than attached tubs.

• Freestanding flat-bottom bathtubs. A flat-bottom tub sits directly on the floor. The tub shape is typically sculptural and can be rounded or more linear
• Clawfoot bathtubs. Clawfoot tubs are supported by four pegs or feet. This tub style became popular within affluent homes in the early 1900s. Today it has a vintage vibe and is often found in Victorian-style homes
• Pedestal bathtubs. Rather than feet, a pedestal bathtub is raised on a plinth or pedestal for a more solid and sturdier look

Built-In Bathtubs

A built-in bathtub is permanently attached to at least one wall, and typically two or three walls.

• Drop-in bathtubs. Drop-in tubs are sunk into a prepared deck, or wall surround, that supports them. A drop-in tub can also be an alcove tub depending on the wall surrounds.
• Undermount bathtubs. An undermount bathtub is installed beneath a rim and has a deck or other surround; it sits on feet or directly on the floor
• Alcove bathtubs. An alcove bathtub is recessed and has a three-sided enclosure. An alcove bath is the most common setup, as it saves space, and is the least expensive
• Corner bathtubs. Usually, triangular or wedge-shaped, corner tubs fit into a corner — meaning a corner tub is bounded by two walls
• Recessed bathtubs. Traditionally, a recessed bath is built so that all or part of the tub rests below the floor, for full submersion. In modern times, however, recessed bathtubs can be recessed into an alcove with a three-wall surround

Drain Location

It’s important to select a bathtub with the correct drain location for your plumbing: right side, left side, or center, based on the view from facing the tub. Most drop-in tubs have a reversible drain, meaning the tub can be placed with the drain on the left or right side.

Soaking bathtubs. Soaking tubs are deep and wide enough to submerge the body fully.

Roman bathtubs. A Roman bathtub, also called a garden tub, originally was a tiled recess in the floor. However, today Roman tubs and garden tubs typically are types of soaking tub, meaning much deeper and wider than a standard tub, rather than being recessed into the floor.

Hot tubs. The water in a hot tub can be heated for extra relaxation. Hot tubs often are also jetted tubs.

Whirlpool bathtubs. Also called spa tubs or jetted tubs, whirlpool tubs have multiple whirlpool jets that shoot out water for a massage. Note that Jacuzzi is a brand of jetted tubs, not a type of jetted bathtub itself.

Air bathtubs. An air tub shoots multiple jets of compressed air around the tub. Tubs with air jets create a relaxing massage.

Bath-shower combos. To save space, the bath can have a shower head above, comprising a single unit, versus having a separate bath and shower.

Important note: Whirlpool and soaking tubs take more water to fill than other tubs, so make sure your water heater has enough capacity.

Walk-in bathtubs. Walk-in tubs have a water-tight door that can be opened and closed for easy entry and exit.

ADA-compliant bathtubs. An ADA-compliant tub allows a person with limited mobility to enter and exit easily. For tubs with a built-in seat, there should be 30 inches of clear floor space in front of the tub for a parallel approach and 48 inches for a perpendicular approach, and 60 inches of clear-space width. Grab bars are required on the tub’s head wall and control wall too.

Carefully measure the length, width, and depth of available bathroom space to see what tub will fit. Account for a minimum of 4 inches between the tub and the walls, whether you have a three-sided wall surround or just two walls. Also account for clearance that’s a minimum of 30 inches wide and 60 inches long for a parallel approach, and 48 inches wide and 60 inches long for a perpendicular approach.

Standard Bathtub Sizes

• Alcove tubs: 60 inches long, 30 inches wide, and 14 to 16 inches tall
• Soaking tubs: 60 to 72 inches long, 30 to 32 inches wide, and 15 to 22 inches tall
• Whirlpool tubs: 60 inches long, 30 inches wide, and 18 to 24 inches tall
• Corner tubs: 60 inches long and wide based on points of the triangle shape; 22 inches tall

However, there is a range of bathtub sizes to suit various bathroom sizes and personal preferences.

Popular Bathtub Sizes (by Length)

Small

• 48 inches
• 54 inches
• 58 inches

Standard

• 60 inches

Large

• Extra Long: These are ideal for 6-foot-tall or taller people.
• Two-person bathtubs
• Soaking tubs
• 72 inches

Latest Trends

According to the most recent U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends report, freestanding flat-bottom tubs were the most popular type in 2023. ADA-compliant are also in demand as homeowners increasingly plan for aging in place. Freestanding and soaking tubs, particularly an oval bathtub shape, are the most popular in 2024. 

Spa-like bath features are increasingly popular, so expect a rise in soaker tubs, whirlpool tubs, hot tubs, waterfall tub fillers, and other luxury features. 

Popular Tub Colors

• White
• Off-white
• Black
• Gray
• Blue

Popular Tub Styles 

Contemporary: Sculptural and elegant, often freestanding, typically in white

Modern: Sleek, clean lines, a thin rim, often freestanding with a flat bottom, typically in white

Traditional: Symmetrical, with classic lines; can have claw feet or a pedestal; copper and cast iron are popular materials

Farmhouse (including rustic): Simple and utilitarian; can be alcove with an apron or freestanding; white, copper, and wood are popular 
Other bathtub styles include transitional, industrial, coastal, Asian, Scandinavian, and eclectic.

When choosing a bathtub material, it’s important to consider:

• How much weight your bathroom flooring can handle. For instance, a porcelain-enameled cast iron tub is much heavier than a typical acrylic tub
• Durability. Cast Iron and Steel bathtubs are the most durable
• Heat retention. Cast iron tubs and enameled cast iron tubs retain the most heat; copper also retains heat well
• Ease of cleaning and maintenance. Acrylic is the easiest tub material to clean and maintain

Most Common Bathtub Materials

Acrylic/Plastic bathtubs: Budget-friendly, easy to clean and maintain, last about 15 years, can warp over time, and be prone to scratching.

Cast iron bathtubs: Made by pouring molten iron into a mold; heavy, durable, retain heat well, can be pricey, finish can come in many colors. 

Copper bathtubs: Luxurious look and shine, will patinate over time without maintenance, naturally antimicrobial, retains heat well, heavy, pricey.

Enameled steel bathtubs: Heavy, durable, more affordable than cast iron, enameled finish can come in many colors.

Fiberglass bathtubs: Inexpensive, easy to maintain, thin and flexible, prone to scratches and discoloration over time.

Porcelain bathtubs: Porcelain enamel bathtubs typically have a base of cast iron or steel and are smooth and easy to clean, have a sheen, are more slippery than some other types, don’t retain heat well.

Stone resin bathtubs: A composite made of crushed stones bound by polymer resin and minerals; nonporous; resist mold, bacteria, stains, and scratches; can be pricey, Reinforced plastic also is a composite material.

Stone bathtubs: Real stone tubs are heavy, expensive, and high-maintenance but have a unique and luxurious look.

Solid surface bathtubs: Solid surface is an engineered material blending natural minerals and synthetic resins that give the touch a smooth texture. Solid surface tubs are popular for being non-porous, hygienic, and retaining heat. 

Recommendations for Bathtub Materials

• Most durable: A cast iron tub, a steel tub, or a copper tub — these are the best construction materials for longevity
• Most luxurious-looking: Copper or another shiny metal, such as nickel; carved stone bathtubs (such as cultured marble)
• Budget-friendly: Acrylic tubs or fiberglass tubs
• For hard water: Porcelain bathtubs (glazed) or enameled cast iron bathtubs, which resist limescale
• For a warm or rustic look: Wood, but be aware of the maintenance required