We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we believe in. Pricing and availability are subject to change.
The best walk-in tubs, according to mobility experts
Home is the place where you're supposed to feel safest. But as you get older, fall risks lurk everywhere: on loose stairs, in cluttered hallways, and especially in the bathroom. Falls are the number one cause of injury in adults ages 65 and over, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Thanks to an abundance of slippery surfaces, the bathroom is the most common place for falls to happen.
Could a walk-in tub help you avoid a bathroom spill? Yes, says Christopher Norman, a geriatric nurse practitioner with the National Council on Aging (NCOA). "They are designed to reduce the risk of falls and injuries, making them a great choice for people who have arthritis, nerve issues from diabetes, other types of disabilities, or those who are aging and find they are struggling with a traditional tub," he says. Low thresholds, non-slip floors, and built-in seats are just a few of the features that make these tubs safer than traditional bathtubs.
Today you've got a lot of options when it comes to choosing a walk-in tub. Several manufacturers offer their own versions, with enough features and price points to make your head spin. To help you make a smart choice based on your needs and budget, we've asked health care, architectural, and home renovation experts to share their picks for the best walk-in tubs. We've broken down our picks by budget, features, wheelchair accessibility, and fit for small spaces.
The best walk-in tub
Cost: Varies depending on customization | Type: Walk-in tub, walk-in shower, hybrid walk-in tub with shower | Step-in height: 4" | Wheelchair accessible: Yes | Safety Features: Low threshold, anti-slip floor and seat, built-in grab bars, anti-scald technology | Jets: Hydro Massage Jets and Air Bubble GentleJets | Capacity: 50 to 70 gallons
The Safe Step Walk-In Tub gets high marks for combining safety, convenience, and a wide range of features that fit just about every need. If you're not sure which model is right for you, the company offers a free in-home consultation to get you started. They'll also handle the installation.
When it comes to safety, American Standard has it covered. The 4" threshold of their walk-in tub makes it easier to get in and out without tripping. An anti-slip floor and seat prevent falls while you soak, while the anti-scald technology helps you avoid painful burns. Plus, the tub is coated in a sanitary gel coat to stop mold, mildew, and bacteria growth.
The Safe Step tub has no shortage of luxe extras, too. Customizable features like the MicroSoothe Air Therapy System with millions of oxygen-rich bubbles to invigorate your skin, aromatherapy, and chromotherapy (soothing colored lights) ensure that bathtime is never boring. If you choose the tub-and-shower combo, the rainfall shower head will make it feel like you're on vacation every day.
- Ultra-low threshold and other safety features
- Free in-home consultation and quote
- Customizable features like aromatherapy and chromotherapy
- Pricing is only available when you call
- Some customers complain about high-pressure salespeople
- Customer service isn't always responsive
Other walk-in tubs we evaluated
The Home Depot
Cost: $1,988 | Type: Walk-in soaking tub | Step-in height: 6" | Wheelchair accessible: No | Safety Features: Grab bar, slip-resistant floor | Jets: Whirlpool and air jets available | Capacity: 50 to 60 gallons
Builder's Choice proves that you don't have to compromise on quality to save money on a walk-in tub. At just under $2,000 for the 53-inch model, this is one of the most affordable walk-in bath options on the market. While the tub is priced thousands of dollars less than some of its competitors, it doesn't skimp on safety features. A grab bar, slip-resistant textured flooring, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant contoured seating all come standard.
While this tub doesn't offer aromatherapy and other bells and whistles like more expensive products, you can create your own spa-like ambience by adding aromatic oils and bath salts, which the manufacturer says are safe to use with the tub. Plus its European-style handheld shower head can reach 5 feet for easy hair washing.
The Builder's Choice walk-in tub has earned almost five-star reviews from purchasers on The Home Depot's website. "Looks good and works great for an affordable tub," wrote one buyer. Another noted that the tub "was very easy to install."
- Low cost
- Safety features
- Fast delivery
- 10-year warranty
- Lacking in comfort features
- Can be difficult to drain
Cost: Less than $10,000 for a standard tub without installation, up to $25,000 or more for a premium tub with extra features and installation | Type: Walk-in tub with shower | Step-in height: 3" | Wheelchair accessible: No | Safety Features: Ultra-low Threshold, easy-to-grip handrails, easily-accessible controls | Jets: BubbleMassage Air Jets, Hydrotherapy Jets | Capacity: 50 gallons
Kohler is a top pick of Jesse Andrews, owner of New England Home Pros, a Londonderry, N.H.-based company specializing in bathroom remodels. Reputable brands like Kohler "offer quality and style options," he says. You have lots of choices with this highly customizable walk-in tub, including how you bathe. Stand under the gooseneck shower arm, or sit and wash with the hand shower that adjusts to three different spray settings.
This tub distinguishes itself from the very first step—the 3" threshold is among the lowest of any walk-in tub on the market. Kohler has designed its tub/shower combo for maximum comfort, with whirlpool and BubbleMassage air jets to soothe sore muscles in your back, legs, and feet, and a heated backrest to warm your neck and shoulders while you soak.
The company must be doing something right, because customers give Kohler walk-in baths nearly 5 stars on the ConsumerAffairs website. Some rave about the "helpful and knowledgeable" sales staff; others about the "top-notch installation." If you ever have any problems, Kohler's lifetime warranty promises that the company will repair or replace the defective part, as long as your tub was installed by a Kohler Certified Installer.
- Works as a shower and bath
- Customizable features
- Lifetime warranty
- Helpful installation
- High price
- Must be installed by a Kohler Certified Installer
Bed Bath & Beyond
Cost: $5,365 | Type: Wheelchair-accessible walk-in tub | Step-in height: 4.5" | Wheelchair accessible: Yes | Safety Features: Outward-swinging door, grab bars | Jets: Air and hydro massage options| Capacity: 45 to 85 gallons
This tub comes equipped for safety, convenience, and comfort. It has an extra-wide outward-swinging door for easy wheelchair access, and its low threshold makes getting in and out safe and easy. Grab bars are mounted on the wall and deck for extra stability and to prevent falls.
A fast-fill faucet and dual drains fill and empty the tub quickly. The Auto Purge Self Cleaning system is another innovative feature that turns on automatically after each use to keep your tub free from the moisture and excess water that could otherwise cause mildew buildup. An additional Ozone Sterilization System disinfects and prevents odor.
The Ella Transfer is so much more than a basic walk-in tub. It massages from top to bottom with 17 air massage jets, 13 water massage jets, and optional foot massage jets. The inline water heater and intensity control dial keep the water at a consistently comfortable temperature. If you want to splurge a little, you can add features like a heated seat and backrest, as well as chromotherapy.
- Air and water jets
- Extra-wide outward-swinging door
- Available in different sizes
- Built-in self-cleaning and disinfecting
- Takes up more room than other tubs
- Limited warranty
American Standard
Cost: $5,486 to $12,075 | Type: Gelcoat walk-in tub with whirlpool system | Step-in height: 5.25" to 6" | Wheelchair accessible: No | Safety Features: Built-in safety grab bar, slip-resistant floor | Jets: Water jets | Capacity: 45 to 80 gallons
With a 150-year history of offering high-quality and innovative bathroom designs, American Standard has earned its reputation as an industry leader. While Norman won't endorse any specific brand, he says American Standard is one that often gets positive feedback from customers for its quality and customer service.
The jetted whirlpool tub comes in different sizes to fit a variety of budgets and space constraints. It comes with safety features like a grab bar and non-slip textured floor, plus comfort features like a Whirlpool massage system and aromatherapy. American Standard's patented Quick Drain empties the bathwater in two minutes, so you don't have to sit there shivering. Plus an Ozone Self-Cleaning Sanitation System helps to keep your tub clean and working efficiently.
Every tub is professionally installed by certified and trained specialists. They'll show you how to use your model before they leave, and will take away your old tub. Just in case you ever have a problem, American Standard offers a 10-year warranty on the tub shell and a 5-year warranty on all other components.
- Features like massaging jets and aromatherapy
- Quick draining
- Professional installation
- High cost
- Warranty is limited
Cost: $3,866 | Type: Small walk-in tub | Step-in height: 6" | Wheelchair accessible: No | Safety Features: Grab bar, anti-slip floor | Jets: Water and air jets available | Capacity: 46 gallons
At 26" x 46", this is one of the most compact walk-in tubs available. It's a great option for apartment dwellers or those with a small bathroom. The size also makes it convenient for a caregiver to access the tub on all sides.
The AmeriGlide Sanctuary will save you money as well as space, since it's reasonably priced compared to other walk-in tubs. While this walk-in tub is small, it still offers safety features like a grab bar and anti-slip floor. Comfort features like water and air jets are also available, though you'll pay extra for them. Another option is a fast drain system that empties the tub in less than a minute.
Just in case you run into trouble with any of the tub parts, the company offers a warranty of various lengths. There's a lifetime warranty on all door seals, a 10-year warranty on the tub, 5-year coverage on the pump and motor, and a one-year warranty on the faucets. AmeriGlide also has a price guarantee. Within 10 days of purchase, if you find the same tub at another retailer for a lower price, they'll refund 110% of the cost difference.
- Easy to fit in small spaces
- Competitively priced with price guarantee
- Offers financing options
- Features cost extra
- Narrow seat
How we picked the best walk-in tubs
To compile this list of best walk-in tubs, our team scoured the internet, comparing models, features, and prices. We collaborated with health care, architectural, and home renovation experts and thoroughly researched the many options available. To get a sense of the customer experience, we read through a multitude of reviews — good and bad.
Types of walk-in tubs
Walk-in tubs come in a few different types to accommodate a variety of needs and bathroom sizes. Here are some of the main types available:
Soaker tubs: This is the most basic tub design. As the name suggests, the walls are extra high to let you soak in water up to your neck. Usually these tubs lack frills like water jets and air jets.
Whirlpool tubs: These tubs release sprays of heated bubbles (air walk-in tub), water (hydrotherapy walk-in tub), or both to massage sore muscles. The whirlpool gives the tub a Jacuzzi-like feel.
Walk-in tub and shower combo: These tubs add a wall-mounted shower to give you the choice of taking a bath or shower. The shower side usually has a glass enclosure to prevent water from spraying out.
Bariatric walk-in tub: These tubs have wider doors and seats to accommodate people who weigh more than 300 pounds.
Wheelchair-accessible walk-in tub. For people who use a wheelchair, these tubs feature extra-wide doors that open out (instead of in, like soaker tubs) to allow an easy transfer from the wheelchair to the bath seat.
What to look for in a walk-in tub
When comparing your walk-in tub options, safety, comfort, and convenience should top the list of considerations, says Jenny Marrs, a national designer at the bathroom remodeling company, Re-Bath. Here are some safety features she recommends:
A low step threshold
Non-slip surface
Grab bars
Quick-drain system
Wide doors (if you need wheelchair-accessibility)
If budget allows, you can add upgrades like these:
Heated seat
Air or water massage jets
Handheld showerhead
Consider your health when looking at comfort options. "If people have chronic back pain or different forms of arthritis, the whirlpool or air jet tubs will be more beneficial for them," says Dak Kopec, PhD, an architectural psychologist and professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. A bariatric tub could offer a better fit for people with obesity.
For your peace of mind, check that the tub comes with a warranty. "A walk-in tub is a significant investment that can last years. If something goes wrong, you want to know you'll be covered," Marrs says.
Does Medicare cover walk-in tubs?
Standard Medicare plans typically won't cover walk-in tubs because they're considered "convenience items," says Norman. "However, some Medicare Advantage plans might cover costs if the tub is deemed medically necessary." Medicaid, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and organizations like Rebuilding Together also offer financial assistance to help pay for walk-in tubs.
FAQs
What is the average cost of a walk-in tub install?
The cost for the tub "ranges from $3,000 for a basic tub to $15,000 for a high-end model with jets and chromotherapy lighting," says Andrews. Installation will add another $1,500 to $3,000, depending on your bathroom layout and electrical needs.
How does a walk-in tub work?
Walk-in tubs have a low threshold so you can enter without having to step over a high rim like a regular tub. The door can swing either inward or outward. You get in and close the water-tight door. Then you sit on the seat while the tub fills. After you're done bathing, you drain the tub, open the door, and get out.
How to get a free walk-in tub for seniors
Visit your local senior center to find out what kinds of financial assistance programs are available for walk-in tubs, suggests Kopec. "Oftentimes they have a social worker who's able to negotiate the Medicare and Medicare Advantage systems," he says.
Do walk-in tubs leak?
The door of a walk-in tub is designed with a watertight seal to prevent leakage. However, if the tub is poorly designed or installed incorrectly, there is a chance that it might leak. Leaks can also happen as the seal weakens over time. "Regular maintenance and making sure you get it installed professionally can help to avoid these issues," says Norman.
How to install a walk-in tub
It's easiest to hire a professional to install a walk-in tub for you. But if you're a do-it-yourselfer, you'll need to go through a multi-step process. First, you'll remove the old tub (if there is one). Then, ensure that the plumbing and electricity are properly installed. For that, you may need help from a plumber and electrician. Put the tub in position and make sure it's level, and then install the faucets and other fixtures. Finally, you can add moldings and trim to give the tub a more finished look.
What are the problems with walk-in tubs?
One problem with many of these tubs is the time they take to fill and empty. "Since you have to sit in the tub while it is filling and draining, it can become cold and uncomfortable," says Marrs. "This is why we recommend adding heated surfaces to make your experience more comfortable."
Meet our experts
Christopher Norman, MSN, APRN, is a geriatric nurse practitioner with the National Council on Aging.
Dak Kopec, PhD, is an architectural psychologist and professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Jenny Marrs is a national designer at Re-Bath who has expertise in ADA-compliant bathroom design.
Jesse Andrews is owner of New England Home Pros, a home remodeling company in Londonderry, N.H.
If you're looking for any shopping advice, drop us a line at shopping.editors@aol.com and our Shopping Editors will be in touch!
