There are tons of different materials that you can choose from when you are selecting a new tub, with the most popular being acrylic. The greatest features of acrylic bathtubs are their light weight, ease of installation, easily repairable finish, and comparatively lower cost. And that’s why such tubs are all over the market. The tricky thing here is being able to look through all of the best acrylic bathtubs out there and pick the one that is right for you.
Which is where we come in! We have done all of the hard work for you and spent hours finding out all there is to know about acrylic bathtubs and reading through several hundreds of product reviews. Finally, we’ve come up with the best of the best acrylic tubs around. Our tops can cover anyone, from those who are looking for a tub with a simple clean design, to those who would like to add some luxurious touch to their bathrooms by picking a freestanding tub, to those who’d like to relax in a whirlpool.
In this article, we’ll give you an overview of our top picks in the table with the Carver Tubs AR7242 as our Editor’s Choice, as well as in-depth reviews of these tubs, so that you can find the right one for your needs. If you are beginning your tub buying journey and need to do a bit of research, don’t worry! We have that covered too. At the end of this article is a detailed buying guide which will provide you with everything you need to know to find the perfect tub.
Perhaps you don’t have the amount of room necessary for a corner tub, but you would still like to enjoy a bathtub system that includes a heater and plenty of jets. Well then, this is the tub for you! It offers all of the same features as the above corner tub while maintaining a much smaller profile. This makes it an ideal choice for someone with a smaller bathroom which is looking for a spa-like bathing experience that doesn’t take up a ton of room.
This drop-in style tub is nice and long, which would allow most adults to stretch out with ease. Being a drop in tub with a lot of features, this could be a tricky tub to install. If you do choose this tub, don’t be afraid to get a professional’s help on the install!
If you are looking for the best acrylic bathtub overall, then look no further than this offering from Kohler. It is a simple design, which has a textured bottom for grip, lumbar supports, and armrests for a comfortable bathing experience. It is also one of the lightest tubs out there, weighing in at a mere 79 lbs.
This is also one of the most family-friendly acrylic tubs on the market today. Since it is an alcove style tub, it features more waterproof surfaces than other tub types. If you have ever had to bathe a young child, you’ll understand how essential this is. They do, after all, seem to get water everywhere! This is also a super simple tub to install, both because it is cheap and because it has a simple design.
Here we have another tub from American Standard, which is extremely similar to the previous entry. Of course, the biggest difference between these two tubs is that this one does not feature any jets. This is both a positive and a negative. The lack of jets might not allow you to get the massage of your dreams while you bathe, but it will save you a ton of money on your purchase, which is always a huge plus.
This tub also features contoured arm grooves, which makes it easy to kick back and relax. This drop-in style tub is also one of the widest and longest on the market, making it ideal for both adults and children. Though, since it is a drop-in style tub, it is a bit more difficult to install than some others on our list. It is also on the heavy side, which might make it difficult to lug upstairs unless you have plenty of assistance.
Yet again, here we have one of the most elegant and eye-catching acrylic tubs on the market today. Unlike our previous entry, which could only hold around 50 gallons of water at a time, this tub ups the ante and can hold a massive 60 gallons! If you are looking for a tub to take extended soaks in, then this just might be the perfect one for you.
Just like most stand-alone bathtubs, this one is relatively narrow. This is because they are designed to only hold one person at a time. This person should be an adult as well, as the high sides could be a problem for young children to manage. This also applies the parents of those children as well, as the high sides might make it impossible to easily reach in and wash their kids easily.
Now, a soaking tub is all well and good; you might be thinking, but what if I need more help relaxing my joints and muscles? Well, you could always look for a tub that has some jets, just like this one. This tub has multiple sets of jets, located at prime spots to help you get a wonderful massage, all while you soak in the tub in the comfort of your own home! This tub will allow you to run your jets at on speed only, right around your back and legs.
Yet again, this is a tub that is meant for one person at a time. It would not work too well for children since the jets are not designed for youngsters. It is also a bit on the narrow side, making it less than ideal for a larger individual. However, this is also one of the easiest tubs to maintain, thanks in large part to the American Standard’s patented EverСlean antimicrobial finish, which is a huge time saver.
If you are in the market for a tub that will not only allow you to soak your weary bones after a long day but also is a bit of a showpiece in your bathroom, then this might be the tub for you. It features an elegant and simple design which is appealing to the eye. Even though this tub looks good though, where it really shines is its capacity. It can hold over 50 gallons of water. This makes it a great tub to soak to rejuvenate your body. Plus, if you accidentally add too much water before you get it, it has a built-in overflow system to reduce the risk of spills.
This would not be a good tub for children, however, as its depth could be problematic for a parent trying to wash their kid. It is also not a tub for a larger individual, as it is relatively narrow in comparison to some of the tubs on the market today. Installing this tub might get a bit tricky too, especially since it is so heavy. If you want to get this thing up the stairs, make sure you have some help.
This is by far the best corner style acrylic tub available today. It offers up plenty of seating and stretching room. Not only that, but it comes with a large number of jets, 12 in all, that are set strategically throughout the tub to ensure they can provide comfort to any body part that might need a soothing massage. This tub also gives you the ability to choose from three different jet speeds. This is, of course, not the only reason that this is such a fine tub. It also features a heater, which would make extended soaking sessions that much more enjoyable.
Due to its larger size, this is one of the heaviest whirlpool tubs out there, which might make installing it a bit of a challenge. Another big positive for this particular tub is its long warranty. The tub body is covered for five years, while the Jets are guaranteed for two.
In this section, you’ll find everything that you need to know to ensure that you are getting the perfect acrylic bathtub for your needs. Let’s start by answering one of the first questions that are probably on your mind right now!
Acrylic is one of the most popular materials on the market today. This is mostly because it is a high-quality product, with a price that puts it more in the middle of the road as far as bathtub materials go. It is more expensive than fiberglass, but not as expensive as other materials such as porcelain and cast iron. As with any material, there are several pros and cons to consider for an acrylic bathtub. Luckily, the pros heavily outweigh the cons.
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In this section of our buying guide, we’ll cover all of the ins and outs of finding the right acrylic bathtub. That way, you’ll be able to find the perfect tub for your household and family.
As you have seen throughout your life, every bathroom is unique. This also applies to the tubs in those bathrooms. As such, there are several different bathtub types that you need to consider to make sure you get the one that works for your bathroom.
Something else aside from the aesthetic look of your bathroom that will help to determine the type of tub style you need is how you intend to use it. For instance, if you are only the occasional bath taker, you wouldn’t want to get a stand-alone or corner tub, since you will also be taking showers.
This also holds true if you have kids, who tend to make a bit of a mess when they bathe. For that kind of situation, you would want to use an alcove tub for sure, since they are easier to keep clean.
The size of your tub is dependent on two things. The first is, of course, the size of your bathroom and where your tub needs to fit. If you have a larger bathroom, then this isn’t too big of a deal. If, however, your bathroom is overly small, you’ll need to get a tub to match.
The other consideration for tub size is who will be using it. If you are only going to be using this tub to bathe your children, for instance, then a smaller tub won’t be that big of a deal. On the other hand, if you intend to stretch out and take a nice long relaxing soak, you’ll want a tub that allows you to do so.
The beautiful think about an acrylic bathtub is that they are relatively easy to install, though some types are more difficult than others. By far, the easiest is the stand alone tub, since you only need to attach it to the water and drain and you are good to go.
The next easiest install is the corner or alcove tub. Once these tubs are put in place, they need to be sealed with silicone around their joints and connected to the water and drain. By far the most difficult install is the drop-in tub. For it to be installed correctly, you need to build a frame for it to be placed into. It then needs to be sealed and connected to the water and drain. Some other form of waterproofing should also be done around this tub type since it won’t cover any of the surrounding areas.
[wpsm_box type=”red” float=”none” text_align=”left”]Make sure that you take these different installation concerns into account before you purchase your tub. Otherwise, you will end up either having a difficult install for yourself or an over-budget install for your contractor.[/wpsm_box]
Depending on the size of the tub you choose, the weight may vary greatly. If, for instance, you select a larger tub with tons of extra features, then it will be heavier than bare bones, smaller size tub. The weight of tub that you can handle is largely dependent on where you live and what floor of your home you want your tub on.
[wpsm_box type=”blue” float=”none” text_align=”left”]If your home is solidly built, and you have help to install your bathtub, then the size and weight are of no concern. If, however, you have a smaller residence and you need to install your tub on your own, you might want to aim for a lighter model. Acrylic tubs, on the whole, are not heavy, especially when compared to porcelain or cast iron tubs. It is still something to take into consideration, however.[/wpsm_box]
The type of floor that you get in your tub is again, dependent on who is going to be using it. If all you intend to do with your tub is take peaceful soaks, then a smooth-floored tub should do fine.
Conversely, however, if you have young children or individuals with bad balance, you might want to look for a tub that has a textured floor. While you might think that you can just get bath math to save a bit of money, they tend to lose suction and slip after a while. A textured floor will provide the necessary amount of grip to make sure that no one takes a spill in the tub.
Again, depending on what type of bathing experience you are looking for, there are several different extra features that you can choose from. This includes textured floors, different depths to provide seating, grooves to support your neck and back while you recline, and, of course, everyone’s favorite, jets.
These extra features will add a bit to the price of your tub, so make sure you keep your budget close in your mind when you are looking through them. You also should be honest with yourself and only get features that you truly need, rather than getting things that sound great, but won’t really get used.
Possibly the greatest reason to get an acrylic tub is their durability, as acrylic tubs do not scratch or mar very easily.
[wpsm_box type=”green” float=”none” text_align=”left”]If you do happen to accidentally scratch or ding your acrylic tub, it isn’t actually all that big of a deal. Since the interior and exterior of the tub are the same color, you will have to try really hard to notice any imperfections.[/wpsm_box]
The thin layer of acrylic itself lacks the strength that is needed to bear the expected weight. So acrylic bathtubs usually are reinforced with such materials as fiberglass to increase their durability. It adds to their weight, though.
Even though acrylic tubs are extremely durable, that doesn’t mean that something won’t go wrong with them. That is why it is good to look for tubs that come with some sort of warranty. That way, if some unforeseeable damage occurs for your tub, you will be able to get it fixed or replaced with no additional cost to you.
Well, there you have it! Now you know everything there is to know to be able to look through the best acrylic bathtubs and pick the perfect one for your needs. Acrylic tubs are, after all, relatively cheap, easy to maintain, and come in all sorts of different shapes, sizes, and configurations. This makes them a wonderful choice if you are in the market for a new tub. Hopefully, after reading this article, you can get the perfect tub for you and your family. Good luck, and thanks for reading!
