If coming home from an exhausting day at work to a long, hot bath sounds like the most relaxing thing you could do, then having a luxury bathtub is sure to appeal to you. With the best luxury bathtub, you can have room to stretch out in hot water, lay your head back on the rim of the tub, and even get a water massage. Unlike regular bathtubs, you’ll never find yourself cramped with space or lacking features that help with relaxation in a luxury bathtub.
We spent tens of hours researching luxury bathtubs, poring over technical specifications and user reviews of the most popular tubs. The result is our list of the 5 best luxury bathtubs on the market today, highlighted in the table below. In order to help you find the right luxury bathtub for your bathroom, we considered a number of different features of these tubs. Most important, luxury bathtubs must combine quality and comfort – so we looked at how each tub on the market today achieves that. Along those lines, we considered especially luxurious features like water jets for massages and built-in music systems that can help you relax. The ARIEL Platinum Whirlpool Bathtub was our favorite in terms of features it offers, and we included four more awesome tubs for you to consider.
More features: 14pcs bottom and back Whirlpool acupuncture water jets; 1.5 hp motor; onboard FM and Bluetooth with built-in speakers; LED chronotherapy lighting
This luxury freestanding bathtub from ARIEL is surprisingly well priced for all of the features you get with it. To start, the tub comes with a waterfall faucet and drain fixtures, finished in chrome, already installed on the rim. The included LCD screen allows you to control the built-in speaker – you can choose between playing from the onboard AM/FM radio or connecting to your phone via Bluetooth. Taking the bells and whistles one step further, this tub even comes with LED lighting so that you can color the water for an even more relaxing aesthetic.
The tub is quite large, at nearly six feet long and three feet wide. Users report that they were able to comfortably fit two people in the tub. However, keep in mind that the enormous 91-gallon capacity means that you’ll need a similarly large hot water heater in order to fill this tub – and that can be a problem for many households. Even if you do have enough hot water for this tub, it can take upwards of 10 minutes to fill.
The luxury bathtub is equipped with 14 air jets to massage you while in the tub. Users found that these jets worked quite well and are designed so that they won’t turn on unless the water is above the jets.
The main issue to watch out for with this bathtub is durability. Some users reported problems with the electrical system, including the pump and computer wiring. ARIEL only provides a short one-year warranty and customers had mixed results in trying to get replacement parts from the company when something broke.
More features: 6 different water jets; in-line heater; legs-only massage; built-in safety grab bar; textured bath floor; Quick Drain®
This unique bathtub from American Standard allows you to walk into the tub, rather than forcing you to climb into the tub over the rim like most other luxury bathtubs. That’s a major advantage for anyone who suffers from impaired mobility – or even if you just need a hot bath to soothe aching muscles. Plus, the floor of the tub is textured to prevent slipping and there’s a built-in grab bar for safety.
The downside to this design is that the dimensions of the bathtub are somewhat odd. The tub is only 52 inches long, which is shorter than most standard bathtubs and is hardly long enough for most men and moderately tall women to extend their legs fully. In addition, you may need a tub extender (sold separately) to fit this bathtub into the standard 60-inch tub space allotted in many bathroom designs. Keep in mind also that the tub is made of fiberglass, which allows it to be lightweight but is not as aesthetically pleasing or durable as acrylic.
That said, users were very happy with the massage capabilities that the tub’s semi-seated design enables. Six different jets target your back, sides, and calves for a full body massage. For days when your legs are sore, you can even turn on just the leg jets.
Another advantage to this tub is the built-in heater, which reduces the demand on your home’s hot water heater. The heater also allows you to keep water heating as you soak, so you don’t have to end your bath because of slowly cooling water.
More features: 26 air bubble massage injectors; 8 fully adjustable and directional water jets; electronic touch pad control
This luxury air massage bathtub from Avano is designed to give you the ultimate whirlpool experience. The tub is built with fully 26 air bubble injectors and eight water jets that can be adjusted for intensity and direction. All of this is controlled easily with an electronic touch pad so you don’t have to break your meditation to adjust your air massage.
The tub is constructed fully from acrylic and is designed to match the dimensions of most standard bathtubs. That said, keep in mind that this tub is not freestanding, so you’ll need to have it professionally installed in your bathroom. Users also note that while the tub is plenty large for a single person and long enough for most people to stretch out, it isn’t wide enough to comfortably fit two people.
Beyond the jets, there isn’t much to this bathtub – and in many ways that’s a good thing. This bathtub is highly durable and there are few problems that can crop up with the electrical system, unlike for the ARIEL bathtub.
The biggest thing to watch out for with this luxury bathtub is the price. It’s by far the most expensive bathtub in our review, and the cost of installing it in your bathtub pushes the actual price even higher. You’ll also need to purchase a faucet and drains separately. Given the high price, it would be nice to see Avano offer a lifetime warranty rather than only a 10-year warranty.
More features: adjustable leveling feet; smooth glossy finish; overflow included
This freestanding acrylic bathtub from MAYKKE has a modern aesthetic that only serves to enhance the feeling of relaxation that you’ll get from it. The tub is simple and beautiful, with few bells and whistles to distract you from the simple comfort of a hot bath. That said, keep in mind that this bathtub does not have jets, so you won’t be able to give yourself a massage while using this tub.
The tub is rather large, at 67 inches long and 28 inches wide, making it spacious for a single person. However, users note that it is somewhat cramped for two people and tall men may have trouble fully spreading their legs in this tub. That said, the 48-gallon capacity means that most homes have enough hot water to fill this tub in a single go.
When it comes to filling this tub, you can rest easy knowing that it has a built-in overflow valve. That means you can leave the bathroom while the water is running and not have to worry about the room flooding before you return.
Keep in mind that while the tub itself is relatively inexpensive, it does not come with a faucet. In addition, MAYKKE offers a surprisingly short one-year warranty, which does not give much in the way of peace of mind – even though users did not report any issues with this luxury bathtub.
More features: solid brass with chrome finish overflow and pop-up drainage parts included
This modern luxury bathtub makes a nod to the bathtubs of times gone by with intricately decorated claw feet. The feet are made of solid brass and finished with chrome to match the overflow and pop-up drainage valve. However, keep in mind that the feet do not have adjustable leveling in case your bathroom floor is not perfectly level.
The tub is designed to be slightly larger than a standard bathtub, which is ideal for stretching your legs but requires some careful measurement of the space in your bathroom. If you can fit it, the 30-inch width is spacious for a single person. Despite this spacious design and the brass claw feet, the tub weighs in at just 110 pounds – which makes it very easy to install in an upstairs bathroom compared to other options.
Like the MAYKKE bathtub, this tub has a built-in overflow so that you don’t have to worry about stepping out of the bathroom while the tub is filling. The 50-gallon capacity is also within the reach of most household water heaters, so you don’t have to worry about ever stepping into a cold bath. Keep in mind that you’ll need to purchase a faucet separately for this tub.
Best of all, this tub helps you relax by coming with a limited lifetime warranty. That takes a lot of worry out when purchasing this tub, especially considering the budget-friendly price.
Now that you’ve learned more about our five favorite luxury bathtubs, how can you decide which one will provide the ultimate level of relaxation and comfort for you? Luxury bathtubs span a wide range of designs, construction materials, and features, so it’s important to have an idea of what you’d like out of your bathtub before you commit. To help, our buying guide will explain everything you need to consider when choosing a luxury bathtub.
A luxury bathtub needs to be more than simply a place to get clean – it needs to be a place where you can feel completely at ease, where you can stretch out your body, and where you can tune out any of the things beyond the tub that cause you stress.
What that means for what a luxury bathtub needs to provide differs according to what helps you relax. If you find a massage to be the most relaxing thing you can imagine, a bathtub with multiple massage settings like the Avano tub may be the most appealing to you. On the other hand, if music helps you tune out your worries, a tub with a built-in music system like the ARIEL tub may offer the most relaxation.
Keep in mind that the tub itself should be easy to use and look good within your bathroom. If you have a difficult time filling the tub with water or starting your massage, that’s not going to help with relaxation. In addition, if the aesthetic of the tub matches with your bathroom and your own sense of style, that can contribute to feeling more harmonious overall.
Hopefully, you have an image in mind of what a relaxing soak in the tub looks like for you. But when it comes down to actually getting the luxury bathtub that matches your mental image, there are a few important things to keep in mind.
Size can make or break a luxury bathtub, and it’s one of the most difficult things to get exactly right. Your bathtub needs to be long enough that you can fully stretch out in the tub, but not so large that you feel like you’re in the middle of a swimming pool. At the same time, the tub should be wide enough that you can stretch out your arms to the sides, but not so large that you can’t wrap your arms around the tub rim. To complicate matters even further, your bathtub needs to fit in your bathroom while still leaving plenty of space for you to walk around.
With all that in mind, the best way to start with sizing a luxury bathtub is to figure out the maximum dimensions that will work for your bathroom. From there, you can determine a minimum length based on how long your legs are when fully extended out in front of you.
Keep in mind that if you plan to bring a partner into the tub, you’ll need extra width for the two of you to sit side by side.
Bathtubs can be made from a wide variety of different materials, each with different costs and advantages. Acrylic bathtubs, like those from MAYKKE and Ancona, are relatively common because acrylic is both cost-effective and durable. While acrylic lacks the high-end aesthetic of cast iron or porcelain, it is much lighter as well and the finish can be easily fixed if it gets scratched.
Fiberglass, which is used to build the American Standard bathtub, offers the same advantages as acrylic but at an even less expensive price. However, fiberglass tubs are thinner than acrylic tubs, which makes them notably less durable. For most people, it’s worth opting for acrylic over fiberglass because you don’t ever want to have to worry about your bathtub cracking and leaking.
Higher-end materials, like cast-iron, porcelain, ceramic, and even stone, are also available. However, bathtubs made from these materials tend to be extremely expensive and heavy, making them hard to install and not as suitable for upstairs bathrooms.
The depth and water capacity of a luxury bathtub are important to consider along with the size of the tub. You want the water to be deep enough relative to the seat or tub bottom that you can sink in up to your neck, without water splashing over the rim of the tub every time you move around.
A tub that’s not deep enough will leave most of your body exposed, which can even make you cold if you get wet and don’t remain submerged in the warm bath.
Where shopping for a luxury bathtub gets fun is in looking at all of the extra features available on these tubs. While some people may prefer the simplicity of a standard bathtub like the luxury freestanding bathtubs from Ancona and MAYKKE, others will love bells and whistles like massage jets and built-in stereo systems. The tubs from ARIEL, American Standard, and Avano all offer massage jets, although they vary depending on the style of massage you prefer. The ARIEL tub also offers an LCD screen that can be used to play music from a built-in radio or via Bluetooth – although this functionality can also be mirrored by putting a portable speaker in your bathroom.
The aesthetic of your luxury bathtub is important, especially if clashing colors and styles in your bathroom will prevent you from fully relaxing. Many people prefer the look of modern freestanding bathtubs, like those from MAYKKE, Ancona, and ARIEL. In addition, it’s possible to order finishes in colors other than white for many acrylic bathtubs.
One extra way to relax in your new luxury bathtub is to know that you’re safe from defects or damage. Most luxury bathtub manufacturers provide warranties on their tubs, although these can vary significantly. For example, Ancona offers a lifetime warranty on its tub, while MAYKKE and ARIEL offer one-year warranties. Keep these warranties in mind when comparing the prices of otherwise similar tubs.
Luxury bathtubs vary widely in price depending on the materials they are made of, their sizes, and the features they offer. The Ancona and MAYKKE tubs, which don’t have any bells and whistles, are relatively budget-friendly at just over $1,000. On the other hand, tubs with a huge array of massage jets and a unique design like the tub from American Standard can cost close to $4,000.
Our three overall favorite luxury bathtubs on the market today are the ARIEL Platinum Whirlpool Bathtub, the American Standard Walk-in Whirlpool Bathtub, and the Avano Luxury Suite Whirlpool Bathtub. The Avano bathtub offers an incredible array of air and massage jets to help soothe aching muscles and put you into a deeply relaxed state. The American Standard tub is an ideal choice for the mobility impaired because it has a textured floor and grab bar to prevent slipping – not to mention you don’t need to climb over the rim to get into it. It also offers a nice array of massage jets, particularly for tired legs. We feel the ARIEL bathtub is the overall best luxury bathtub because it offers a huge variety of features at a very modest price. In addition to massage jets, the ARIEL tub comes with LED lights, a built-in LCD screen and speakers for music, and a pre-installed faucet.
