Walk-in tubs: what one really costs, and what nobody tells you.
Starting at $12,000 installed for the tub and the labor. Here's exactly what that covers, what's extra, and why the "$3,500 installed" numbers online are fiction.
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Manufacturer product example, shown for the product look.
The lineup
Six sizes. Two door styles. White or biscuit.
Every model has a low step-in, a built-in seat, a watertight door, and a handheld shower. The decision that matters most is which way the door swings.
Grove · 28×48
The compact one. Fits where a standard tub won't, and the inward door seals tighter the fuller it gets.
Alexis · 30×53
Our most-installed size. Replaces a standard 60-inch tub alcove with room left for a wall surround.
Zurich · 30×52
The door swings out, so there's nothing to step around. The easiest transfer from a walker or wheelchair.
| Model | Size (in) | Door | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grove | 28 × 48 | In-swing | Small bathrooms, tight alcoves |
| Geneva | 30 × 52 | In-swing | Standard alcove, mid-size bather |
| Alexis | 30 × 53 | In-swing | Standard alcove, most popular |
| Buckingham | 30 × 60 | In-swing | Full 60-inch alcove, more legroom |
| Zurich | 30 × 52 | Out-swing | Walker or wheelchair transfer |
| Lincoln | 32 × 52 | Out-swing | Wider seat, wheelchair transfer |
In-swing vs. out-swing, honestly
In-swing doors use water pressure to seal, so they're the most leak-proof design and need no clearance outside the tub. The tradeoff: you step in past the open door, so you need to be steady on your feet.
Out-swing doors open toward the room, leaving the full opening clear. That's the one to choose if you transfer from a walker or wheelchair. You'll need floor space for the door's swing, and we check that at measurement.
Jets, or no jets?
Every model comes as a soaker, with hydro jets, or with dual air-plus-hydro therapy. Jets need a dedicated GFCI circuit, which is why electrical shows up in the add-on table below. If you mainly want a safe soak, the soaker version saves real money.
Colors: white or biscuit on every model.
Pricing
$12,000 installed. Here's the line between included and extra.
Included in the starting price
- The walk-in tub, white or biscuit, soaker configuration
- Removal and haul-away of your existing tub
- Installation at the existing drain and supply locations
- Hookup by a licensed plumber
- Handheld shower and the tub's built-in grab bar and seat
Priced separately, in writing, before you sign
| Hydro or dual air-hydro jets | Model-dependent |
| Fast-drain pump and/or heated backrest | $1,000–$2,000 |
| Water heater upgrade (often needed) | $1,800–$3,500, tankless to ~$5,000 |
| Dedicated 20/30-amp GFCI circuit for jets or heat | $200–$1,200 |
| Bathroom door widening | About $2,000 |
| Drain reroute in a slab | $500–$2,000+ |
| Wall surround (PuroStone, tile-look panels, or tile) | Priced per wall system |
| Drywall, tape, paint, flooring touch-up | $800–$2,000 |
| Ancillary parts and permit | About $400 |
Honest math
Why you'll see "$3,500 installed" online, and why nobody installs one for that.
Search "walk-in tub cost" and the big cost-guide sites will tell you $3,500 to $10,000 installed, average $6,000. Here's the problem: a walk-in tub worth putting in your house costs the installer about $3,500 before it leaves the warehouse, and a correct install by a licensed plumber is another $3,500 of labor. That's $7,000 of cost with zero profit, zero overhead, and zero add-ons.
So a "$3,500 installed" tub is one of two things: a tub-only price with no installation, or a tub that costs a few hundred dollars to make. You don't want either in a room where you'll be sitting in water with the door closed.
Our $12,000 is cost plus a normal contractor margin. It isn't the cheapest number on the internet. It's the real one.
A quick sanity check for any quote
- Is the tub named, with a size and a door swing?
- Is the water heater addressed, yes or no?
- Is door widening addressed, yes or no?
- Is the wall surround included or separate?
- Is there a written workmanship warranty, separate from the tub's?
If a quote can't answer those five, the number on it isn't finished.
Buyer beware
Walk-in tub pricing got you down? Here's how the game is played.
The pattern is familiar if you've sat through one. A TV ad or mailer promises a tub for around $9,995. A salesperson arrives for a "free consultation" that runs three hours. The real quote comes out around $29,950. Then the theater starts: "let me call my manager," a discount that only exists if you sign today, a second drop when you hesitate, and a monthly payment that's never tied to a total price.
None of that is illegal. It's just designed so you never get to compare.
What we do instead
- One visit, usually under an hour. We measure, we look at the plumbing, the door, the water heater, and the electrical.
- A written, itemized price you keep. Take it to a competitor. We'd rather be compared than trusted blindly.
- No closer, no manager call, no today-only pricing. The number is the number next week.
- The same crew that quoted it installs it.
The honest tradeoffs
What living with a walk-in tub is actually like
You wait to fill
You sit down, close the door, then run the water. Six to fifteen minutes depending on your water heater. A heated backrest makes that wait pleasant instead of chilly.
You wait to drain
The door can't open until the tub is empty: five to ten minutes on a standard drain, a fraction of that with a fast-drain pump.
It's a tub first
The handheld shower works, but it's for rinsing while seated. If you mostly shower, a low-barrier shower is the better buy and we'll say so.
Questions we get every week
Walk-in tub FAQ
How long does a walk-in tub take to fill and drain?
You step in, close the door, then fill. Expect roughly 6 to 15 minutes to fill depending on your water heater, and 5 to 10 minutes to drain before the door can open. A fast-drain pump and a heated backrest are the two upgrades that make the wait comfortable. We'll tell you this at the estimate, not after.
Will my water heater keep up?
Often not. A walk-in tub holds more water than a standard tub and you're sitting in it while it fills. If your tank is small or old, budget $1,800 to $3,500 for an upgrade, or up to about $5,000 for tankless. We size it at measurement.
Do I need to widen my bathroom door?
Frequently, yes. Many walk-in tubs don't fit through a standard 24-inch bathroom door. Widening typically runs about $2,000 including the door and trim, and we'll know before we quote.
Is a walk-in tub or a low-barrier shower better for aging in place?
For most people, a low-barrier shower. You can use it standing today and seated with a handheld later, there's no waiting to fill or drain, and it costs less. A walk-in tub is the right call if soaking or hydrotherapy is the point. We sell both and we'll tell you which fits.
Does the $12,000 include everything?
It includes the tub and the labor to remove your old tub and install the new one at the existing drain and supply locations. Wall surround, jets, heated backrest, fast drain, water heater, electrical, door widening, and finish work are priced as add-ons, in writing, before you sign.
Can I finance it?
Yes. Most walk-in tub projects qualify for monthly payments from about $200 a month on approved credit through a third-party lender. Ask for current terms at your estimate.
Ready for a real number on a walk-in tub?
We'll measure the alcove, the door, the water heater, and the electrical, then put the whole price in writing. You keep the quote.
Request a free in-home estimateOr call or text 214-974-8375 · Financing from about $200/month on approved credit