The best bathtubs you can buy

• The bathtub isn't just a simple household fixture but an important vessel for washing and relaxing. With many different styles and models to choose from, you can find the right one for your family and home.
• It's important to think about what your needs are when it comes to a bathtub. Are you looking to save space with a corner tub? Do you plan to sit up or recline while bathing? Do you need a place to put bath items like soap and shampoo bottles?
• With bathtub prices ranging from the mid-hundreds into the thousands, be sure to consider how the tub is constructed, from materials to drain location, and what is necessary to install it.
• The American Standard Cambridge Integral Apron Bathtub is our top pick. It is durable, comfortable, space-saving, and great for washing up the kids and having a leisurely soak.

Aah … after a long day, wouldn't you love a relaxing soak in the tub? Or is your reality more along the lines of kids' bath time, aka wet playtime, and if you're lucky, a quick shower for yourself? No matter how you use the bathtub, conventionally and unconventionally (e.g., washing the dog, cleaning Lego, holding live fish), it should fit your needs and your bathroom. This humble household fixture is a large investment, and there are so many different kinds out there.

Bathtubs are constructed of various materials, like acrylic, porcelain on stainless steel or cast iron, solid surface resin, copper, stone (e.g., marble), and even wood. But what really sets models apart are their types, which include:

• Alcove: Commonly used in homes, the alcove tub is installed against the three walls within a bathroom's recessed area. Usually the tub's fourth side (the skirt or apron) is exposed. Affordable, family-friendly, and space-efficient, this model can be used for general bathing and showering.
• Drop-in: Named after its method of installation, this model is dropped into a pre-existing structure. At least three of the tub's four walls are covered by the structure, which is more decorative (e.g., tiled to match the rest of the bathroom's decor) than the tub itself. Depending on the structure's design, one side of the tub - covered by a finished skirt - might be exposed. Drop-in bathtubs can be set in a structure within an alcove, along a single wall, or in a corner.
• Corner: Designed to fit into a bathroom's corner, this type of tub can save space, utilize unused space, and provide a comfortable and cozy (think: heart-shaped tub for two) place to stretch out. Corner tubs can be drop-in or freestanding models.
• Freestanding: Often the focal point of the bathroom, freestanding tubs are large (take up lots of space), heavy (your floor must be able to support it when filled with water), and often elegant (here's the payoff!). This model has the most flexibility in location. Although it can to be positioned in an alcove or corner, it usually sits away from the bathroom walls, sometimes even in the center of the room. Freestanding tubs can stand directly on the floor, on a low pedestal, or for a truly vintage decorative look, claw feet.
• Soaking: If you want to immerse yourself - not just splash in a quick bath - look for a soaking tub. At least 20 inches high but often more, this model is taller than a standard-size bathtub (around 14 to 18 inches) and designed for the average adult to lie down, relax, and be covered almost completely (obviously the head needs to stay out!) with water. Luxurious and soothing, soaking tubs are large and heavy.

Other tubs with more bells and whistles include the walk-in tub, designed with a sealing door for elderly or physically disabled people unable to climb into a regular bathtub; the whirlpool, with therapeutic water jets for massage; the air tub. like a whirlpool but shoots air bubbles instead of water; and a combination whirlpool/air tub. You may not need these specialty tubs, but when you shop for any bathtub consider:

• Size: How much room do you have to fit it? How many people do you want it to hold at one time?
• Location: Where do you plan to put it? In the corner, tucked in an alcove, against a wall, away from any walls, or in the middle of the bathroom?
• Plumbing placement: Your tub's location will be limited by your bathroom's plumbing rough-in. With a skirted tub, you need to pay attention to the tub drain's location (on the right or left side or the end) to make sure it will fit with the rough-in.
• Use: Will it be used for quick washes or long soaks? Does your household have bathers of different ages and sizes or just adults?
• Ergonomics: How is climbing in and out of the tub? Is it comfortable to sit up and/or lie down in? If you want a place to put bath items like soap, shampoo bottles, loofah sponges, and back scrubbers, does it have a convenient place like a ledge?

Before you dive into the deep pool of bathtubs, read on to learn about different models recommended highly by home decor and plumbing experts as well as consumers.

Here are the best bathtubs you can buy:

• Best overall bathtub: American Standard Cambridge Integral Apron Bathtub
• Best drop-in bathtub: Kingston Brass Aqua Eden 60-Inch Acrylic Alcove Tub
• Best soaking tub: Woodbridge 67-inch Freestanding Soaking Tub
• Best claw-foot bathtub: Sinkology Heisenberg Copper Bathtub
• Best corner bathtub: Kohler Proflex Drop-In Corner Bathtub

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