Sarah is a freelance writer with a focus on health and wellness. She has written for publications like Women's Health, Healthline, and Parents. She taught creative writing for five years, and has a bachelor's degree in English from Southern Connecticut State University.
Oluseun Olufade, MD, is a board-certified orthopedist. He teaches as an Assistant Professor of Orthopedics at Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia.
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It might seem like a walk-in tub is something of a luxury item, but for people with mobility issues, chronic pain conditions, difficulty balancing, or other physical disabilities, a walk-in tub can be a helpful tool in regaining some independence and privacy in the bathroom.
The Kohler Walk-in Bath is an amazing pick for anyone looking for independence and style in their bathroom. If you're looking for a more budget-friendly pick, we recommend the Ariel Bath Soaker Tubs.
Like so many other home health aids and fixtures, though, a walk-in tub can be an investment—there are many features to consider, some necessary and some not, making it hard to know what you need.
“A walk-in tub can potentially give someone with mobility issues more independence than a standard tub provides, but there are other options for them, too,” says wellness design consultant Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS, MCCWC, author of Wellness by Design: A Room-by-Room Guide to Optimizing Your Home for Health, Fitness, and Happiness, who notes that the most important features in any bathroom for someone with mobility issues include a wide seat or bench, handheld shower head, and even a bidet to make personal hygiene as simple as possible. We researched dozens of walk-in tubs and reviewed them based on their safety features, material, size, reservoir capacity, and price.
These are the best walk-in bathtubs on the market today.
Handheld showerhead and safety rails
Includes a lifetime limited warranty
Low entry threshold is still 3 inches
For a walk-in tub that combines clean, spa-like aesthetics with key safety and comfort features, we recommend the Kohler Walk-in Bath because checks all the boxes—promising to look as good in your bathroom as it makes you feel while using it.
In addition to looking good, the Kohler tub is also practical: safety features include handrails for stability, textured surfaces to prevent slips and falls, and wide doors to accommodate a range of sizes and mobility needs. As far as comfort goes, you can enjoy a handheld showerhead, whirlpool jets, and a heated backrest. We also love that Kohler tubs are made in the U.S.A. and that installation by Kohler is included in the pricing for the walk-in tub.
Essentially, it’s a luxury tub for a mid-range cost that emphasizes both safety and comfort, making it an all-around good choice regardless of what your unique needs or preferences may be.
Material: Marble/fiber blend | Size: 52 to 60 inches long by 28 to 32 inches wide; 39 inches high | Installation Method: Full installation by Kohler included | Water Depth/Capacity: 31 inches
Wide range of tub varieties
No adjustable jets or massaging features
If you need a walk-in tub to accommodate a physical disability, mobility challenges, or balance issues, you might be want to splurge on one that has a bunch of extra features—or you might be looking for the most basic tub on the market, one that’s safe, high-quality, and gets the job done without a lot of fuss and frills.
The Ariel Bath Soaker Tubs, such as the 3052 model, are affordable, quick-draining, and available in several different sizes and customizations, making them an excellent choice for the person who just wants a reliable walk-in tub that’s easy to operate. And while the lack of company installation is often a deterrent, in this case, it’s a bonus for cost-conscious buyers: you can choose your own installation team or plumber and potentially save even more money throughout the process.
Material: Fiberglass and acrylic | Size: 52 inches long by 30 inches; 40 inches high | Installation Method: Consumer is responsible for installation | Water Depth/Capacity: 30 inches
Unique microbubble circulation to soothe your skin
Adjustable showerhead can be used sitting/standing
Includes foot massaging jets and a bidet
Hard to find information about dimensions/installation
The Safe Step Hybrid Tub gives you the best of both worlds; it features a walk-in tub and shower, using the hybrid tub to sit down and soak or stand and shower, depending on your mobility needs.
On top of all the basic safety features, like handrails, anti-slip surfaces, and an ADA-compliant seat, the Safe Step Hybrid Tub also comes standard with some seriously luxury features that be used therapeutically or recreationally. Microbubbles can soothe and exfoliate, foot massaging jets can relax and relieve chronic pain, and the rainfall shower head can make rinsing off both gentle and effective. Plus, the Hybrid Tub includes one rare feature—a built-in bidet for personal hygiene during your bath.
Material: Fiberglass and acrylic | Size: Not listed | Installation Method: Installation offered by SafeStep | Water Depth/Capacity: Not listed
One-touch control of air/water jets
Door swings outward to accommodate wheelchair users
Low entry threshold and ADA-compliant seat height
Hard to find information about dimensions/installation
If you regularly use a wheelchair or need to be able to move directly from a wheelchair into the tub, you’ll need an outward-swinging door with a wide opening to enable you to slide from your chair onto the seat of the tub. The American Standard Walk-In Tub makes this easy, with a wide outward-opening door, ADA-compliant seat height, low threshold entry, and reliable grab bars.
We also like that the American Standard Walk-In Tub includes a contoured backrest, which seems like a comfort feature but can actually be a mobility one as well.
“Built-in neck rests, shoulder rests or backrests can help provide more support than the standard seat,” says Melissa Prestipino, PT, DPT, clinical director of Therapeutics Unlimited in Sparta, New Jersey. “[They’re] good for patients with balance issues or abdominal and core weakness who can’t properly support themselves.”
Material: Fiberglass or acrylic | Size: 48 to 60 inches long by 28 to 32 inches wide; 37 to 40 inches high | Installation Method: Installation by American Standard or consumer | Water Depth/Capacity: 34 inches
Installs in corners or 60-inch spaces
5 different soaking, massaging, and jetting options
Microbubble therapy system for exfoliation
Even if you need a walk-in tub for practical reasons, that doesn’t mean bathing needs to be a boring experience. Massaging jets and microbubbles aren’t just made for luxury, in other words: “Hydrotherapy massage jets are good for people with arthritis or people who have pain or tightness in their joints or muscles [and] therapeutic jets can promote skin exfoliation for people with skin conditions,” explains Dr. Prestipino.
If it’s bubbles and jets you need, then Ella’s Bubbles walk-in tubs can deliver, with 14 hydro jets, 16 air jets, and four therapeutic jetting options, including foot massaging and infusion microbubbles. (There’s also a setting for simply soaking, jet- and bubble-free). If you want your walk-in tub to feel like a jacuzzi but include all the necessary safety and comfort features of a therapeutic tub, this is the walk-in tub for you.
Material: Acrylic | Size: 55 inches long by 30 inches wide; 38 inches to 42 inches high | Installation Method: Installation by Ella’s Bubbles or consumer | Water Depth/Capacity: 55 to 75 gallons
Customizable for a variety of add-ons
Hard to find information about pricing
There are some safety features that come standard with most walk-in tubs, like handrails, low entry thresholds, and ADA-compliant seating. Non-slip surfaces, too, are important—and standard for most units—but if slip-and-fall prevention is one of your top concerns due to balance or mobility issues, we recommend the walk-in tub by Boca.
In addition to non-slip flooring and seating, Boca also builds their tubs with the lowest entry threshold available: only 2 inches, which means you barely need to lift your legs to enter the tub, reducing your risk of trips, slips, and falls. They have also designed their tubs with a mold-, mildew-, and bacteria-resistant finish, which means the tub surface is less likely to accrue slippery build-up over time.
Material: Gelcoat and fiberglass | Size: 30 inches wide by 51 inches long by 36 inches tall for standard; petite/wide/deep sizes available | Installation Method: Full installation by Boca included | Water Depth/Capacity: Not listed
Petite size for small spaces
Basic model; has no special features
Fast drain is an add-on feature
One of the biggest concerns many consumers have about purchasing a walk-in tub is fitting it into their bathroom, particularly if your bathroom is small or oddly shaped (like overly narrow or long). AmeriGlide offers a few sizing options for walk-in tubs, but their small/medium size comes in at only 26 inches wide and 53 inches long, making it one of the more petite options on the market and designed to fit snugly into tight spaces.
Because of its small size, the tub doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles to offer (it has no jets or quick-draining capabilities, for example), but if the size is your number one concern, AmeriGlide tubs are safe and reliable ways to outfit your small-space bathroom with a walk-in tub.
Material: Fiberglass | Size: 26 inches wide by 53 inches long by 38 inches high | Installation Method: Installation by AmeriGlide or consumer | Water Depth/Capacity: 50 to 60 gallons
Aromatherapy, chromotherapy, and microbubble features
Self-cleaning jets to reduce mold/mildew
Larger capacity; uses more hot water
Hard to find information about price/specs
For some consumers, needing to install a walk-in tub is an opportunity to bring a little bit of spa-like luxury into their home. If that sounds like you, you may want to consider one of the slide-in access models by Independent Home; not only do they have all the basic safety and comfort features, they also boost some cool extras, too, like chromotherapy and aromatherapy.
“Chromotherapy is color therapy used in conjunction with water—multicolored lights shine in the water, which can help improve your energy and mood,” says Dr. Prestipino, “[while] aromatherapy walk-in tubs let bathers try out essential oils to create an aromatic experience.”
Although these features aren’t necessary for people with mobility-only issues, they can be helpful for users who have stress-related concerns or even mental health issues, like anxiety and depression, in addition to their physical restrictions. At the very least, these added features can’t hurt—they can only add to the luxury experience of using a walk-in tub.
Material: Fiberglass | Size: 32 inches wide by 54 inches long by 40 inches high | Installation Method: Full installation by Independent Home | Water Depth/Capacity: 80 gallons
The Kohler Walk-in Bath has nearly everything you could want or need in a mobility-friendly bathtub: a low entry, handheld showerhead, massaging jets, all the required safety features, and a heated backrest. Anyone looking for a jacuzzi-style bathing experience might want to consider Ella’s Bubbles Deluxe Walk-In Bathtub.
When selecting walk-in tubs, we spoke with physical therapists and spent hours combing the web for the best and most effective products. After taking all of our options into consideration, we determined which to feature based on a few key criteria as recommended by the experts: safety features, material, added features, and reservoir size.
Once we narrowed down our options, we compared each tub's benefits to its price tag. While some choices on our list may be more expensive, we wanted to give a wide range of options that would fit all needs and budgets. Based on all of these factors, we compiled this list of the best walk-in tubs.
Because of the structure of most walk-in tubs, users typically need to stay inside the tub until it’s fully drained. But depending on the capacity of your model, that could take a while. This could pose both a safety hazard—if your model doesn’t allow you to open the tub door until all the water has drained—and a body temperature hazard.
“The fast-fill and drain technologies work quickly to prevent you from getting cold, [which is] beneficial for people with circulatory issues who have trouble keeping warm,” says Dr. Prestipino.
Look for a tub that will accommodate your needs, whether that's keeping you warm for longer or allowing you to exit quickly.
While a walk-in tub can help people with mobility and balance issues regain some independence and have bathing be a positive experience, it also poses several safety hazards if it’s not built and used correctly. Whatever model or style you choose, Dr. Prestitino points out a few features you should make sure are included for maximum safety:
If you have mobility or balance issues, Dr. Prestipino recommends making sure your walk-in tub comes with a handheld showerhead. This is just as much an issue of safety as it’s one of comfort and convenience.
“Most walk-in bathtubs feature hand-held showerheads to make bathing easier for people who have trouble standing,” she explains. “The person can stay seated safely to bathe, [which is] better for people with balance issues.”
This might seem like a luxury feature, but since it can take a long time for walk-in tubs to fill up—and many people using them have joint pain—having heated surfaces can actually be important for some users.
“Heated seats [and backrests] are preferred if you have a walk-in tub that takes a while to fill,” says Dr. Prestipino. “People with joint arthritis or low back pain can benefit from heat and [may need to keep] their body temperature warmer."
The door on a walk-in tub will either swing inward toward the inside of the tub or outward. There are pros and cons to both, so this is a personal choice you should consider based on your individual needs.
“Inward-opening doors require less bathroom space, are easier to close, and can help reduce leaks, [but] they do require that the tub be drained before the person exits the tub,” explains Dr. Prestitino.
By contrast, she says that someone in a wheelchair may find it easier to use a tub with an outward-opening door because that makes it easier to transfer into the tub seat; it also makes it easier to get out of the tub, especially in an emergency since you’re not forced to let the entire tub drain before you can open the door.
Typically, Medicare will not pay for a walk-in tub. Dr. Prestipino says that in order for an item’s cost to be covered by Medicare, it has to be deemed Durable Medical Equipment, or DME; these items need to be considered medical necessities and prescribed by a doctor for use in-home.
“DME is almost always covered for patients who are sick or permanently disabled,” explains Dr. Prestipino, “but walk-in bathtubs are not considered DME by Medicare... [so] Medicare will not pay for the cost of a walk-in tub nor will they contribute to the cost of installation.”
In some rare cases, Dr. Prestipino says Medicare may consider reimbursing a patient for the cost of a walk-in tub, but only if your doctor determines it’s a true medical necessity and provides proof of your diagnosis and proof of the need for this particular item.
“There is still no guarantee that Medicare will cover the costs [and] if this situation does occur, there is no advance payment by Medicare,” warns Dr. Prestipino, “only a [possibility of] reimbursement after purchase and installation.”
Not typically. It’s not impossible, but the effort may actually be more difficult than embracing a full-on renovation.
“Tubs and showers usually have drains in different locations, so it isn’t a simple swap out,” says Gold. “There are firms that specialize in replacing tubs with showers, particularly in primary bathrooms, [but] I haven’t come across any that do the opposite.”
Gold adds that this doesn’t mean those companies don’t exist, or that it could never be done, but that it would be much harder to find someone to make a shower-to-tub swap. And again, it may end up being more expensive to locate a contractor to do a highly-customized project than simply undergoing the standard renovations required to install a walk-in tub elsewhere.
There are basically three categories of conditions that could be helped by the installation of a walk-in tub: chronic pain conditions and mobility or balance conditions.
“Soaking in any type of tub is a form of hydrotherapy,” says Gold, “which can benefit numerous conditions, including arthritis, joint and muscle pain, and [stress-related pain].”
People with diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, nerve disorders, sleep disorders, and permanent injuries may also benefit from hydrotherapy. As for other conditions, people with mobility issues may have concerns about standing in a shower or getting in and out of a standard tub, so a walk-in unit can help them feel more confident about bathing themselves.
Sarah Bradley has been writing health content since 2017—everything from product roundups and illness FAQs to nutrition explainers and the dish on diet trends. She knows how important it is to receive trustworthy and expert-approved advice about over-the-counter products that manage everyday health conditions, from GI issues and allergies to chronic headaches and joint pain.
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Medicare. Durable medical equipment (DME) coverage. n.d.
University of Michigan Health Library. Hydrotherapy. Updated November 16, 2020.
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