The Best Cheap Walk-In Tubs of 2024
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June 5, 2024
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My caregiving clients want walk-in tubs that will allow them to enter and exit comfortably and safely — given that falls are a leading cause of injury and death for adults 65 and older, according to the CDC. With an average price tag of around $7,000, however, walk-in tubs are far from a small purchase.
In this guide to the best affordable walk-in tubs, I’ll walk you through the cheapest and best tubs on the market. Bathing safely shouldn’t break the bank. I’ll also include some ways to get financial assistance on your tub purchase, since Medicare typically won’t cover it. Getting a high-quality walk-in tub may seem financially unattainable, but I’ll show you all the hidden ways to keep it affordable.
Pro Tip: Not concerned about higher prices? Check out my rundown of the best walk-in baths overall.
How Much Do Walk-In Tubs Cost?
Walk-in tubs can range from around $1,500 on the low end to nearly $33,000 on the high end. If you buy a tub from a manufacturer directly, the cost will most likely include installation; however, if you purchase from a big-box store like Home Depot, you’ll usually have to pay for installation separately, which can often exceed the costs of the tub hardware itself.
Some models come with a lot of bells and whistles, such as air and water jets, chromotherapy, aromatherapy, and Bluetooth speakers — this will increase the cost. I recommend to my clients to set a budget beforehand and include costs not just for the tub itself, but also installation.
Walk-in bathtub prices vary based on the model, manufacturer, and state of your bathroom; the best way to find out how much a tub will cost is to get an estimate from a retailer directly. Estimates are free, typically, so there’s no harm in asking!
Our Favorite Cheap Walk-In Tubs
- Ella’s Bubbles : Lowest Starting Costs
- American Standard : Best With 0 Percent Financing
- Safe Step : Best With Lifetime Limited Warranty
The Best Cheap Walk-In Tubs of 2024
Ella’s Bubbles - Lowest Starting Costs
What We Like Most:
- 4.89 out of five rating from customers at the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- Pricing starts at $4,780
- Affordable financing available
- 10 hydro-massage jets for healing and comfort
Starting price: $4,780
With Ella’s Bubbles, you can choose from over 20 models, including options with doors that swing inward or outward, tubs that seat one or two people, wheelchair-accessible tubs, and more. Soaking tubs start at just $5,265, while options with luxury features like jets start around $5,500. Because Ella’s Bubbles is a manufacturer, installation is included in the costs. Other retailers offer models with more features, but Ella’s Bubbles has a variety of more affordable tubs. And if you still need help covering the cost, the company offers financing with 0 percent APR. Most of my clients have taken advantage of this option, as it’s difficult to have thousands of dollars upfront while on a fixed income.
If you’ve ever checked out company ratings at the BBB, you may have noticed that they tend to be negative — and angry. But that’s not the case with Ella’s Bubbles. Customers gave the company, which has been based in Chicago since 2005, a 4.89 out of five rating; this is much higher than any other company on this list. The BBB itself gave the company an A+ rating along with accreditation. Moreover, my clients also had excellent experiences with the company, from buying tubs over the phone to getting them installed. That should make you feel more comfortable investing in a walk-in tub from Ella’s Bubbles.
Pros
- More than 20 models to choose from
- 0 percent financing available
- Options for adults who use wheelchairs
- Lifetime limited warranty
Cons
- Not everyone will qualify for 0 percent financing
- No bells and whistles, such as chromotherapy or Bluetooth speakers
American Standard - Best With 0 Percent Financing
What We Like Most:
- Low step-in height
- 0 percent financing
- Discounts available on tubs and installations with higher-price models
- $1,000 referral fee if you refer another customer who buys and installs a tub
Starting price: $5,225
If price is the biggest sticking point for you, the most affordable option from American Standard is the Gelcoat walk-in tub; this tub has a low step-in height, a quick drain, and a handheld shower wand for those hard-to-reach areas. It also has a built-in seat for comfortable bathing, plus a safety grab bar so you can get up and down easily. While the tub only has a lifetime warranty on the door seal, it has a 10-year warranty on the tub shell and a five-year warranty on all of its other components. I prefer everything to have a lifetime warranty, so this is a slight drawback of this tub from American Standard. Still, my clients looking for the most affordable tubs without the bells and whistles appreciated American Standard’s low barrier for entry, pun intended.
Additionally, American Standard offers 12-month financing with 0 percent APR. One big caveat, however, is that the offer is available only for tubs that cost $10,000 or more, so you’d have to pick a more expensive model to get the financing deal. After the first year, the interest rate is 17.99 percent for the next 84 months. That’s pretty steep, so we recommend paying it off in the first year. The company also offers a discount of up to $1,800, plus a $1,000 referral bonus to anyone who refers a friend who purchased a tub and has it installed. Many of my clients have benefitted from this bonus; consider it a new side hustle, as the kids say. To learn more about this provider, read our American Standard review.
Pros
- Tub prices start at $5,225
- 0 percent interest in the first year
- Discounts for referrals
- Comfortable for one person
Cons
- Nearly 18 percent interest after the first year
- Financing is available only for tubs that cost $10,000 or more
Safe Step - Best With Lifetime Limited Warranty
What We Like Most:
- Basic options have luxury features such as jets, bidets, aromatherapy, and more
- Four-inch step-in height
- A+ BBB rating
- $750 per person discount available (up to $1,500 per household maximum)
Starting price: $7,500
The cheapest option from Safe Step is its basic walk-in tub, but you won’t be able to get an exact price unless someone comes to your home to give you a quote. Prices for a walk-in tub range from $4,500 to $8,000, but installation ranges from $3,000 to $10,000, so the total will be $7,500 at a minimum.
Safe Step’s cheapest option is basic, but it still includes some luxury features like 10 water jets. However, the tub is mainly focused on safety, with features like:
- Anti-slip floor and seat
- Four-inch step-in height before installation
- Handheld shower wand
- Quick drain
- Sanitary gel coat
- Two grab bars
The price includes installation, and the tub comes with a lifetime limited warranty. Its 2.79 customer rating from the BBB leaves something to be desired, but it has an A+ rating from the BBB itself and has been accredited since 2009. With 15 years in business, there’s little risk in getting a free quote from Safe Step.
To learn more about this provider, read our full review of Safe Step walk-in tubs.
Pros
- Water jets
- Safety features such as grab bars and a low step-in height
- Quick drain
- Lifetime limited warranty
Cons
- Low BBB customer rating
- Only two walk-in tub models to choose from
Honorable Mentions
While I’ve had clients with positive experiences from all of the walk-in tubs mentioned below, I didn’t include them on this list for a reason. I’ll summarize why below.
- Kohler: While Kohler has some affordable models that start at $5,500, installation will add another $2,500 to $8,000. This is a better option for someone focused on design who has a larger budget.
- Amazon: Amazon offers the lowest-priced walk-in tubs on this list, with models starting at a mere $1,500. However, I don’t recommend this option, as you’re on your own in terms of installation, which will cost thousands more — not to mention the headache of getting it into your bathroom.
- Home Depot: Similarly to Amazon, Home Depot offers walk-in tubs starting at $1,600, but you’ll have to figure out installation on your own. Additionally, Home Depot only offers curbside delivery, so you’ll need to hire someone else to carry the tub into your home.
- Ameriglide: Ameriglide offers walk-in tubs as well as conversion kits, which let you transform your existing tub into a walk-in one. It’s true that walk-in tubs start at only $2,219, but that price does not include shipping or a seat inside; the latter may make it difficult for seniors to stay safe in the tub.
Our Methodology
To create this list, we looked at 12 different walk-in tub manufacturers and evaluated them based on the following criteria:
- Safety features: Safe walk-in tubs must include antislip floors, grab bars, low step-in heights, and quick drainage; all of this will help prevent you from falling while in the tub.
- Comfort: Features such as air and water jets, chromotherapy, aromatherapy, shower wands, and built-in towel bars make walk-in tubs as comfortable as possible for the average bather.
- Overall value: Walk-in tubs are certainly not a small-ticket item, but pricing isn’t the only factor I keep in mind. The cheapest option may not be the best if it’s low quality or doesn’t include installation.
- Customer satisfaction: Through both conversations with my caregiving clients and research derived from online reviews, we accounted for each brand’s reputation.
Financial Assistance for Walk-In Tubs
Can you use Medicare or Medicaid insurance as financial assistance for walk-in tubs? The answer is no, typically, since neither considers walk-in tubs to be durable medical equipment. There are other options for certain groups, however, including:
- Housing Improvement Program: Are you an American Indian or Native Alaskan? If your income is 150 percent of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty line or below, you could receive thousands of dollars in assistance.
- Older Adult Homes Modification Programs: The Office of Healthy Homes provides state and local governments with funds to help older adults improve their homes to make them safer. Low-income adults ages 62 and older can apply for funding. Visit the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website to apply.
- USDA Rural Repair and Rehabilitation Program (Single-Family Housing Repair Loan): If you’re a low-income homeowner, you may be able to get 20-year loans for up to $40,000 — or a $10,000 grant — for a tub. But note that, if you get a loan, there is a fixed interest rate of 1 percent.
- Other Options: From state-based programs to veterans’ programs to Habitat for Humanity, there are many charitable organizations that provide older adults with financial assistance for walk-in tubs. Make sure you’ve explored all your options before paying out of pocket, especially if you have to obtain a high-interest loan.
You’ll never know exactly how much a tub will cost until you request an estimate from the manufacturer or retailer, so reach out directly to get a price — and don’t be afraid to negotiate!