Choose a soaking tub by how much water it holds over you, whether it fits your body, and whether your house can fill it, carry it and hold it up. The ten checks below run in that order. Each one gives the real numbers from the 2026 technical data sheets for all 27 Badeloft tubs, so you know what a soaking tub asks of your bathroom before you buy.
Quick answer: the 10 checks at a glance
For a reclining soak, look for 14 to 17 inches of water to the overflow. For an upright soak, look for 20 inches or more. Then make sure the interior length fits your height, your water heater can deliver about 70% of the tub's capacity in hot water, and your floor can carry the filled weight. Across our range that weight runs from 977 to 1,919 pounds with a 200-pound bather.
| Check | What to look for | Across Badeloft's 27 tubs |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Depth to overflow | 14 to 17 in to recline; 20 in or more to sit upright | 13.1 to 17.0 in on reclining tubs; 23.4 in on the BW-08-S |
| 2. Posture | Lie back (western) or sit upright (Japanese) | 25 reclining tubs; 2 upright tubs, both 47.2 in long |
| 3. Interior length | Inside length against your height, tried in Body Fit | Up to 64.5 in of interior length (BW-11) |
| 4. One bather or two | 70 in or longer, wide well, centered drain | 5 two-person tubs, 70.8 to 74.8 in long |
| 5. Room | Tub length plus 12 in of wall; 21 in clear in front, 30 in is better | 47.2 to 74.8 in long |
| 6. Filler and drain | Floor or wall filler; a drain that lines up with your waste pipe | Centered drain on most; offset or end drain on 5 models |
| 7. Hot water and heat | First-hour rating at or above 70% of capacity | 43 to 98 gal of hot water; stone resin holds heat up to 40% longer than acrylic |
| 8. Weight and the way in | Filled weight against your floor; narrowest side against doors and stairs | 977 to 1,919 lb filled; 21.2 to 31.3 in carried on edge |
| 9. Budget | Tub, filler and installation together | $3,290 to $3,890 in white; gray and black $300 more |
| 10. Test at full size | Paper floor template and a material sample | Both free |
Is a soaking tub worth it?
A soaking tub is worth it if you will take long baths in it and your home has a shower somewhere else. It is a poor buy if it replaces the only shower in the house, or if nobody in the home takes baths. A soaking tub gives you more water over your body than a standard tub, and that is the only reason to pay for one. Our guide to soaking tubs vs regular tubs sets out the trade in detail. If the answer is yes, use this table to find your starting point, then run all ten checks.
| If this is you | Start with | Then check |
|---|---|---|
| You want to lie back and read | A 66 to 72 inch reclining oval | Interior length (3) and hot water (7) |
| You want water to your shoulders | A Japanese-style tub with a seat | Posture (2) and the way in (8) |
| You are over 6 feet tall | Tubs with the longest interior | Interior length (3) in Body Fit |
| Two of you will bathe together | A two-person tub, 70 inches or longer | Hot water (7) and weight (8) |
| The bathroom is upstairs in an older house | The lightest tubs when full | Weight (8) before anything else |
| You are replacing an old tub | A tub whose drain lines up with your waste pipe | Filler and drain (6) and budget (9) |
1. Check the depth to overflow, not the rim height
Depth to overflow is the number that decides your soak. It runs from the floor of the tub to the overflow opening, and the water stops rising there. Rim height and bathing well depth are always bigger numbers. Our BW-01-L stands 22.0 inches tall and has a 17.4-inch bathing well, but it holds 15.0 inches of water. Across our tubs the overflow sits 1.1 to 3.2 inches below the rim of the well.
How deep should a soaking tub be?
No building code or industry standard sets a depth, so judge it by your posture. For lying back, 14 to 17 inches of water to the overflow covers most adults. For sitting upright, you want 20 inches or more. Our reclining tubs hold 13.1 to 17.0 inches, and the Japanese-style BW-08-S holds 23.4 inches. A standard tub holds about 12 to 14 inches. See what counts as an extra deep soaking tub, and how depth trades against length and weight in our deep bathtubs buying guide.
2. Decide how you want to sit: lie back or sit upright
Pick your posture before you compare tubs, because it sets length and depth at the same time. A western soaking tub lets you lie back against a sloped end in about 14 to 17 inches of water. A Japanese ofuro-style tub sits you upright on a seat in 20 inches or more, in a much shorter tub. You give up the stretch and gain several inches of water.
Our two upright tubs are both 47.2 inches long. The BW-08-S has a 7.5-inch built-in seat with 15.9 inches of water above it, and it stands 30.7 inches tall, so a bath step makes getting in easier. Both upright tubs cost $3,590 in white. The other 25 Badeloft tubs recline. Our Japanese soaking tub guide explains who the upright soak suits, and the Japanese soaking tubs collection has both models.
3. Match the interior length to your height
Compare your height with the tub's interior length, not its outside length. The outside number includes the thickness of the walls and the slope of the ends, and the gap varies a lot between shapes. Our BW-01-L and BW-02-L are both 66.9 inches long outside. The BW-01-L lists 40.9 inches of interior length and the BW-02-L lists 52.5. That is 11.6 inches of legroom between two tubs of the same size. The longest interior we make is the BW-11, at 64.5 inches in a 68.9-inch tub.
Data sheets measure interior length in different places, some at the base and some at the rim, so the quickest check is to see yourself in the tub. Every Badeloft tub page has a Body Fit button. Set your height and weight, choose sitting up, reclined or lying back, and it shows a figure your size in that tub in 3D, with the water at the overflow line. Try it on the BW-11, the BW-02-L or the BW-08-S.
Is a 60-inch soaking tub big enough?
For one adult who sits partly upright, usually yes, but the interior length decides it, not the 60. Our 61.0-inch BW-08 has 54.7 inches of interior length, more than several of our 66.9-inch tubs. The 62.9-inch BW-03-M has 43.7. If you are over about 6 feet and want your legs straight, start with the longer tubs in our guide to tubs for tall people and the extra long soaking tubs, then check them in Body Fit.
4. Decide whether it is for one bather or two
A tub for two needs about 70 inches of length, a wide well and a centered drain, so neither of you leans against the drain. All five tubs in our 2 person soaking tubs collection run 70.8 to 74.8 inches long. The BW-01-XXL is the biggest, at 74.8 by 47.2 inches and 140 gallons, with room to sit side by side. The narrower ovals with slopes at both ends, such as the BW-02-XL and BW-03-XL, suit two people facing each other.
Two bathers change the house checks too. The BW-01-XXL needs about 98 gallons of hot water to fill, and it weighs 2,119 pounds full with two 200-pound adults in it. Our guide to what size tub fits two adults covers the layouts.
5. Make sure the room takes the tub
A freestanding tub needs its own length plus about 12 inches of finished wall, 6 inches at each end, so you can clean behind it and reach the drain. A floor-mounted filler at one end needs about 12 inches at that end instead. In front, the International Residential Code asks for 21 inches of clear floor, and 30 inches gives you room to step out and dry off. A 66.9-inch tub therefore wants about 79 inches of wall, and a 72.8-inch tub about 85.
How much room do you need for a soaking tub?
Add 12 inches to the tub's length for the wall, and add the tub's width plus 6 inches behind it and 21 to 30 inches in front for the depth of the room. A 72.8 by 32.7 inch tub like our BW-01-XL needs roughly 85 inches of wall and 60 to 69 inches of room depth. If your wall is under about 72 inches, our smallest soaking tubs that still soak compares every Badeloft tub under 60 inches, our guide to bathtubs for small spaces turns room size into tub length, and the small soaking tubs collection lists them.
6. Plan the tub filler and drain before the floor goes down
Decide where the water comes in and where it drains while the floor is still open. A freestanding Badeloft tub has no faucet holes, so it takes a floor-mounted or wall-mounted tub filler, sold separately. A floor-mounted filler needs supply lines brought up through the floor at the spot you choose. A wall-mounted one needs the wall open behind it.
Most of our oval tubs have a centered drain. The BW-06-L, BW-06-XL, BW-09 and BW-12 have offset or foot-end drains, and the BW-08-S drains in its footwell, offset 9.8 inches. If you are replacing an old tub, pick a drain position close to your existing waste line, because moving a drain is often the biggest cost in the install. Every data sheet asks for 3 inches of clearance around the drain pipe at the finished floor, and tells your plumber to measure the actual tub before roughing in.
Our guide to tub fillers covers the styles, and we stock freestanding tub fillers at $890 to $990. The optional EZ-Drop-in drain makes the connection from above the floor; see how to install a freestanding tub with it.
7. Check your hot water supply and how the tub holds heat
Your water heater has to deliver enough hot water to fill the tub in one go. Every Badeloft data sheet asks for a hot water supply of at least 70% of the tub's capacity. Across our range that is 43 gallons for the 62-gallon BW-02-S, about 50 gallons for a typical 72-gallon oval, and about 98 gallons for the 140-gallon BW-01-XXL. Compare that number with your heater's first-hour rating, which ENERGY STAR defines as the most hot water a fully heated tank can supply in one hour, not with the size of the tank.
Say your heater has a first-hour rating of 60 gallons and you are choosing between a 72-gallon oval and an 88-gallon tub. The 72-gallon tub needs about 50 gallons of hot water and fills hot. The 88-gallon tub needs about 62, so the last of the fill runs lukewarm unless nobody has showered first. Either pick the smaller tub or plan a bigger or faster heater into the budget.
What is the best material for a soaking tub?
For long soaks, stone resin. Badeloft stone resin holds bath heat up to 40% longer than acrylic, based on independent testing, so a deep tub needs less topping up. It is a composite of natural marble and limestone minerals bound in acrylic polymer, non-porous and hand-buffed to a matte or glossy finish. Our data sheets list cUPC certification and conformance to CSA B45.5 and IAPMO Z124 for composite bath fixtures. Acrylic is lighter and costs less but loses heat faster. Cast iron holds heat well but is the heaviest to carry and support. Our comparison of stone resin vs acrylic tubs goes through each trade.
8. Check the filled weight and the way in
A full soaking tub weighs far more than the empty one, and the floor has to carry the full number. Our tubs weigh 240 to 551 pounds empty. Filled to the overflow with a 200-pound bather, they weigh 977 to 1,919 pounds. That counts the tub, its full capacity of water at 8.34 pounds a gallon, the figure behind the U.S. Geological Survey's water density data, and the bather.
| Badeloft tubs by length | Models | Depth to overflow (in) | Capacity (gal) | Hot water at 70% (gal) | Empty (lb) | Filled + 200 lb bather (lb) | Price, white |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 60 in | 5 | 13.9 to 23.4 | 62 to 79 | 43 to 55 | 260 to 341 | 977 to 1,159 | $3,290 to $3,590 |
| 61 to 63 in | 6 | 13.1 to 16.4 | 64 to 83 | 45 to 58 | 240 to 357 | 990 to 1,205 | $3,290 to $3,390 |
| 66 to 69 in | 10 | 13.9 to 17.0 | 71 to 110 | 50 to 77 | 273 to 511 | 1,073 to 1,562 | $3,390 to $3,490 |
| 70 to 75 in | 6 | 13.9 to 16.9 | 72 to 140 | 50 to 98 | 302 to 551 | 1,102 to 1,919 | $3,490 to $3,890 |
All figures from Badeloft's 2026 technical data sheets; prices are list prices for white on 22 October 2026, and gray and black cost $300 more. Filled weight is the empty tub plus its full capacity of water at 8.34 pounds per gallon plus a 200-pound adult.
On a concrete slab the floor is rarely the question. On a wood-framed upper floor, compare the filled weight with the 40 pounds per square foot that Table R301.5 of the 2021 International Residential Code uses as the design live load for rooms other than bedrooms. Our 72.8-inch BW-01-XL puts 1,227 pounds on about 16.5 square feet, roughly 74 pounds per square foot of footprint. Joists spread that load and plenty of floors carry tubs like this, but every Badeloft data sheet asks you to confirm the floor supports the filled weight. Show your contractor or a structural engineer the number before you order.
Then measure the way in. A tub goes through a door or up a stair on its narrowest side. Most of our tubs are 21.2 to 25.2 inches carried on edge, which clears a standard 30-inch door with its roughly 27.5 to 28 inches of clear opening. The two 47-inch upright tubs are 27.5 and 27.6 inches whichever way you turn them, and the BW-12, with its 31.5-inch backrest, is about 31.3. Measure every door, hallway turn and stair between the street and the bathroom, including the width between handrails. Our bathtub dimensions guide covers the full delivery path.
Badeloft tubs ship by freight and arrive curbside with a liftgate, so plan for enough people, or your installer's crew, to carry 240 to 551 pounds into the house. Check the ship date on the tub's page before you book the installer.
9. Budget for the tub, the filler and the install
A freestanding soaking tub costs the tub, the tub filler and the installation, and the installation varies the most. Badeloft tubs cost $3,290 to $3,890 in white, and gray and black cost $300 more. Size, not material, sets our price: across all 27 tubs the spread in white is $600, and the top of it is the 140-gallon BW-01-XXL.
| Line | Badeloft price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tub, white | $3,290 to $3,890 | Includes the pop-up drain and overflow |
| Tub, gray or black | $300 more | Same tub and finish options |
| Freestanding tub filler | $890 to $990 | Floor-mounted; a wall-mounted filler also works |
| EZ-Drop-in drain | $199 | Optional |
| Bath step | $330 | Useful with the 30.7-inch-tall BW-08-S |
| Installation | Not sold by Badeloft | Depends most on whether the drain moves and on the floor |
How much does a soaking tub cost?
A Badeloft stone resin soaking tub costs $3,290 to $3,890 in white, before the filler and installation. The installation is the part to price carefully, and moving the drain is usually the largest single line. Our guide to bathtub installation cost builds that number line by line. We make tubs and do not install them, so we earn nothing from the install either way.
10. Test the tub at full size before you order
Order the free full-size paper floor template for each tub on your shortlist and tape it down where the tub will go. It shows the real footprint against your door swing, toilet and vanity, which a tape measure on an empty floor does not. Add the free material sample to see the matte or glossy finish in your own light. Order both from the free material sample and template page.
Whether a tub will fit, and whether a buyer can see one before ordering, are the two questions homeowners ask our support team most about tubs. Use the template for the room and Body Fit for your own size. Every Badeloft tub carries a 10-year residential warranty (2-year commercial) and a 14-day return window, and moving a paper template is a lot easier than putting a stone resin tub of 240 to 551 pounds back on a freight truck.
- Pick your posture and your depth (checks 1 and 2).
- Shortlist tubs whose interior length fits you in Body Fit (check 3).
- Measure the wall, the doors and the stairs (checks 5 and 8).
- Check your heater's first-hour rating and your floor against the tub's numbers (checks 7 and 8).
- Tape down the template and live with it for a few days before you order.
FAQs
How do you choose a soaking tub?
Start with depth to overflow and posture: 14 to 17 inches of water to lie back, 20 inches or more to sit upright. Then check the interior length against your height, your water heater against 70% of the tub's capacity, and your floor against the filled weight. Finish with the paper template in the room.
How deep should a soaking tub be?
Look at depth to overflow, not rim height. About 14 to 17 inches of water suits a reclining soak, and 20 inches or more suits an upright, shoulder-deep soak. Badeloft's reclining tubs hold 13.1 to 17.0 inches, and the BW-08-S holds 23.4 inches.
How much does a soaking tub cost?
Badeloft stone resin soaking tubs cost $3,290 to $3,890 in white, and gray and black cost $300 more. Budget separately for a tub filler, which we sell for $890 to $990, and for installation, which depends most on whether the drain has to move.
Are soaking tubs worth it?
Yes, if you will take long baths and your home has a shower elsewhere. No, if the tub would replace the only shower in the house or nobody bathes. A soaking tub is worth paying for only when you will use the extra water depth.
What is the best material for a soaking tub?
Stone resin is the best choice for long soaks if your floor can carry it. Badeloft stone resin holds bath heat up to 40% longer than acrylic. Acrylic is lighter and cheaper but cools faster, and cast iron holds heat but is the heaviest option.
How much room do you need for a soaking tub?
Allow the tub's length plus about 12 inches of finished wall, 6 inches at each end. In front, leave at least 21 inches of clear floor, the residential code minimum, and 30 inches if you can. A 72.8-inch tub needs about 85 inches of wall.
Can you replace a regular tub with a soaking tub?
Yes. A freestanding soaking tub can replace an alcove tub if the room has the extra wall length, the floor can take the filled weight, and the drain can be connected where the new tub's drain sits. Choosing a tub whose drain lines up with the existing waste line keeps the plumbing cost down.
Find your soaking tub at Badeloft
Every Badeloft tub is cast in stone resin, finished by hand, and comes with a published technical data sheet, a free full-size template and Body Fit, so you can run all ten checks on a real tub before you buy. When you know your posture, your interior length and your numbers, compare all 27 in our freestanding soaking tubs collection.
References
- ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA): "Residential Water Heaters Key Product Criteria," glossary entry for First Hour Rating (FHR). https://www.energystar.gov/products/water_heaters/residential_water_heaters_key_product_criteria
- U.S. Geological Survey, Water Science School: "Water Density." https://www.usgs.gov/water-science-school/science/water-density
- International Code Council: "2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 3 Building Planning," Table R301.5 Minimum Uniformly Distributed Live Loads. https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IRC2021P2/chapter-3-building-planning