Best Walk-In Tubs of 2025

Pamela Toto

Professor and director, occupational therapy program, University of Pittsburgh

Traditional bathtubs and tub/shower combinations present a challenge because they require good balance, strength and flexibility to step in and out of the bathtub (and even greater strength, flexibility and balance to actually sit in the bathtub basin and get out of the tub.) A walk-in shower (full remodel, no threshold to enter) eliminates the need to 'step over' the bathtub edge to enter and exit, eliminating the associated risk of falling during that transition. Being able to bathe and shower independently and safely is important for our physical and mental well-being. In addition to keeping us clean, it also increases our quality of life and allows us to engage in our homes and communities confidently.

There are many types of walk-in tubs, and it’s important to consider each option since not all of them will be ideal for solving all individual mobility challenges. For example, many have raised surfaces that individuals must step over to enter or exit the tub, increasing the risk of a fall or injury.

Leon Watts III

Learning and development specialist, University of Southern California

When individuals have limited mobility, they are likely to have experienced at least one fall already. If an individual has experienced a hard fall resulting in an injury, they may develop a fear of falling again that heightens their risk of future falls. They might also require assistance to perform many of their daily functions, like transferring and bathing. Assistive devices like walk-in bathtubs increase a person’s confidence and reduce the risk of another fall, helping caregivers provide safer service for themselves and the person they care for.

Quality of life is another factor to consider when purchasing a walk-in tub. Buyers must ask if the product can help provide additional safety, comfort and enjoyment while bathing. When mobility challenges have become a factor in someone’s life, what is the reduction of a risk of falling or injury worth? I can assure everyone that additional safety and comfort can cost less than injuries on many levels.

The population of those aged 65 and older is growing by 12,000 every day. Longer lifespans are changing how younger and less physically challenged people consider purchases like a walk-in tub. Luckily, more manufacturers and models exist for buying these assistive devices than years ago.

While there are many benefits associated with walk-in tubs, they may not be the best solution for everyone. A person’s ability to safely use a walk-in tub and their home’s ability to allow easier installation could drive up costs, making the purchase less likely.

Marilyn Rantz

Professor emerita, nursing, University of Missouri

Staying active and independent is critical at any age, especially as we get older. Walk-in tubs address one of the biggest safety risks in the bathroom – stepping over the high edge of a traditional tub. This movement can be difficult and even dangerous for those with limited mobility. Walk-in tubs eliminate that high step, making it safer and more manageable. I recommend that anyone considering one thoroughly test it out by sitting in it and stepping in and out. Taking these steps will ensure it’s a helpful solution. It’s vital that a walk-in tub provides the right clearance and stability.

Pamela Toto

Professor and director, occupational therapy program, University of Pittsburgh

The primary type of injury would be a fall-related injury. The most common fall-related injuries for older adults are hip fractures, wrist fractures and head injuries (e.g., hitting their head on the fall).

Leon Watts III

Learning and development specialist, University of Southern California

These features offer people, with or without assistance, more independence and safety confidence:

• Reduced risk of tripping: A walk-in tub allows a person to get into a bathtub with an entry threshold of 4 to 7 inches, reducing the risk of tripping. Conventional tubs have an 11- to 18-inch exterior entry measurement.
• Reducing falls: Walk-in tubs provide a non-slip floor and a regular, chair-height, non-slip seat for the tub’s occupant. Grab bars or handles strategically built into the tub unit provide safety and stability.
• Safer assistance from caregivers: There is less risk of injury while transferring or lifting a person into the tub by a caregiver.

Corinna Loeckenhoff

Professor, psychology and gerontology, Weill Cornell Medicine

Multiple psychological barriers might discourage older adults from investing in a walk-in tub even though it would be beneficial from an ergonomics/fall prevention perspective and within their financial means.

First, there is a barrier to acknowledging that one is experiencing age-related physical limitations because it conjures up stereotypes of frail older adults. From a self-image perspective, getting a walk-in tub may make people feel like they’re “getting old,” and they may want to distance themselves from that idea.

Framing the purchase of a walk-in tub from a positive angle, such as noting that it can help maintain independence in later life, can help address those concerns. There is also a social stigma around disability that is known to prevent people from using other forms of assistive devices (walkers/canes, hearing aides), and this likely extends to walk-in tubs. In this regard, people may be more willing to get a walk-in tub if it’s in a part of the house that is hidden from casual visitors.

More broadly, older adults tend to avoid/postpone decisions that they find stressful. Rather than explicitly deciding against a walk-in tub, they may postpone purchasing one and arrange themselves with the status quo. This decision subjects them to avoidable pain and puts them at a higher risk of potential falls. Again, putting a positive angle on the decision (highlighting benefits in terms of convenience and maintaining independence) may help to overcome decision aversion.