Drop in and relax
A drop in tub has unfinished sides and a built-in ledge, allowing you to customize your bathroom with tile or stone surrounds.
Bathtub replacement costs range from $1,980 to $9,350, with average costs around $5,660, including removal, installation, and all finishing work.
Your drop in tub needs a custom wood frame and surround materials, giving you flexibility in size, shape, and bathroom design.
Hiring a local bathtub installation professional ensures your custom enclosure is built correctly and your tub is installed securely and safely.
If you love the look of a customized bathroom, a drop-in tub could be the key to making your vision a reality. Drop-in tubs have unfinished sides, allowing you to build a custom surround around it—think of a unique look with tile or stone. However, these tubs take more work to install than other types. This guide explains what you need to know about drop-in tubs and how they differ from other options for your bathroom remodel.
A drop-in tub has a built-in ledge around the edges with no finished sides. This allows you to “drop” the tub into a customized enclosure, like a drop-in sink. This enclosure consists of a wood frame finished with tile or stone to create a unique look for your bathroom. Alternatively, you can place a drop-in tub and its support structure in an alcove and finish the exposed side.
Drop-in tubs are available in various bathtub materials like fiberglass and acrylic, come in a range of shapes and sizes, and the surround is customized for your bathroom. This flexibility allows you to create unique bathroom designs with the freedom to choose the surrounding materials.
Remember that you’ll need to budget for more materials and labor to install a drop-in bathtub with a custom surround. You can hire a local bathtub installation pro to build the tub enclosure and ensure it’s installed correctly.
Freestanding bathtubs are exactly what they sound like—bathtubs that stand on their own with no surrounding support structure. A classic freestanding bathtub is a claw-foot tub. Unlike a drop-in tub, there’s no additional work needed to construct an enclosure or finish the sides of a freestanding tub. A drop-in tub requires a frame, and then it’s “dropped in,” and the ledge around the edge of the tub rests on the structure to hold the tub in place.
An alcove tub is standard in most bathrooms and is surrounded on three sides by the bathroom walls. In some designs, one or more surrounding walls are pony walls—also known as partial walls, half walls, or short walls—or cabinets. Alcove tubs are finished on the exposed side, so they’re easy to install and don’t require much custom work to complete the project.
Drop-in tubs offer more versatility than alcove tubs because they come unfinished on the sides, and the enclosure in which they are housed is custom-built. The high level of customization that comes with a drop-in tub makes it ideal for homeowners who want a unique bathroom design. On the other hand, if you want a wallet-friendly tub that can be installed quickly, an alcove tub is a better option for your bathroom.
Jason has helped me with multiple household projects, with the most recent being new door installation. He has always showed up on time and organized and has done an incredible job! Jason is very professional and he's now my go-to for anything around my house that needs to be fixed or...
Huff Garage Rescue, LLCCole has been handling plumbing and general contracting for our four properties over the past three years, and he’s always done a great job. Most recently, he installed a sink and countertop in our retail store where none existed before, and it turned out exactly how we needed. He’s...
ANB Renovations LLC1st Choice Renew is simply the best! We hired them for a complete home renovation, and they transformed our space into something truly amazing. The team attention to detail and commitment to quality were evident throughout the project. They were easy to work with, very responsive, and always...
Save A DimeThis company went above and beyond with their work, chimney sweeps are usually pretty messy, but the clean up was spot on.!! Josh explained every thing that he was doing, and the things that he was checking to make sure the chimney was safe for me and my family. He was very professional,...
Supreme brick & chimneyCustom Paint Jobs LLC turned our outdated bathroom into a modern masterpiece.
Custom Paint Jobs, LLCExcellent customer service and knowledge. I was recommend to him from my neighbour. My front door and window came in great and were installed beautifully perfectly, I m very satisfied with their excellent work, so decided to order one more big bow window for my living room. I cant wait for...
Window Depot USA of Central OhioIf I could give 10 stars for Kitchen Tune Up, I would. I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Kitchen Tune Up and the entire team involved in the process of my kitchen project. They went above and beyond as far as service and quality with my cabinets, paint, countertops, and...
It was wonderful working with Yordy and his team. They were very professional and are experts in what they do. They have completed the work on time, with better quality and with in fairly reasonable price. We just started with backsplash work , but liking his work, we went on to provide...
Flooring SolutionsWe were having 2”x 2” tile installed . There was a small installation error and the new additional replacement tile was from a different lot and the colors didn’t match. Joe assured us that he would rectify everything , which he did without hesitation. We decided to go with the 18” x 36” tile...
CarifaTileThey work that 360 did on my kitchen cabinets is nothing short of amazing. I still cannot believe the difference from before and after. Jon and Jeff were both so incredibly professional throughout the whole process and their communications with me were constant and consistent. These guys...
360 Painting ColumbusFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Discover the cost of whirlpool tub installation, including average prices, key cost factors, and tips to help homeowners budget for their project.
Hot tub costs vary, depending on the type of spa you choose. Learn how much hot tubs cost in 2026 and how to save on new hot tub prices.
Deciding between an undermount tub versus a drop-in tub requires some thoughtful consideration. Luckily, we broke it all down for you.
Get immersed in the most popular types of bathtubs, from alcove to freestanding to walk-in. Learn about features and get tips for choosing the perfect bathtub.
Whether you’re renovating or building a new bathtub, learn the standard bathtub sizes and styles to choose from to create a relaxing and functional space.
Weighing the pros and cons of freestanding bathtubs? Learn the good, the bad, and the costs to decide which bathtub best fits your bathroom and budget.
