Baths

Baths and Bathtubs: Popular Options Explained

Whilst showering has overtaken bathing as the most popular form of washing for UK residents in the last couple of decades, a 2024 poll showed that over 30% of respondents took a bath at least one time per week. With this in mind, the humble bathtub is still a fundamental part of bathroom design, whilst new and innovative layouts have cropped up to accomodate the change in bathing habits.

The most common type of bathtub found in the home is the single ended rectangular bath; a typical size being 1700mm x 700mm, or a slightly smaller imperial size of 5 feet 6 inches in older homes. The "single ended" moniker refers to the position of the waste hole. On a single ended bath, this is located at one end, along with the taps, allowing the user to relax at the opposite end. Single ended baths come in many shapes and sizes, but the majority of homes will be able to utilise sizes between 1500mm and 1800mm.

Another popular tub design - this time more contemporary - is the shower bath. This bath layout often includes a larger showering end, often in the form of a wider part, leading to the overall shape of the bath changing from rectangular to "P" (curved) or "L" (square) shapes when viewed from the top-down. These baths are a great choice for a smaller UK bathroom, and they allow the bath to become dual-purpose: both bathing and showering can take place in a single contained unit, rather than a separate shower enclosure.

For something a little more luxurious rather than practical, look no further than a freestanding bath. Not only do these baths add a wow factor to any room, they come in wildly different designs that suit your overall decor. If you are creating a traditional bathroom, you will find roll-top tubs with ornate leg sets that make you feel like you are in a boutique hotel. For the ultra-modern homeowner, an oval or square freestanding bath can be a focal point to build around, without having to butt up against 2 or 3 walls like a typical inset tub.

Popular Bath Materials: Acrylic and Steel

Most modern baths are manufactured from sanitary grade acrylic - generally 4mm or 5mm thick - though this can vary between manufacturers. Some baths aimed at specific care markets may increase to as much as 8mm thickness. Acrylic is an excellent material for a bath - its lightweight, durable, and easy to shape into many different designs. Acrylic is also a fairly good insulator, so its warm to the touch and keeps your bath warmer for longer. This is an important consideration when you consider the average bathing time is around 35 minutes, based on a 2024 poll.

Whilst acrylic baths boast many benefits, not least their cost-effectiveness, their lightweight nature can also be seen as a drawback to some users. This is where Carronite, and other similar reinforcements, bridges the gap between a typical acrylic bath and steel or cast iron construction. The patented Carronite reinforcement from Carron is a toughened, multi-layer composite that makes acrylic baths stronger, more durable, and even better at retaining heat. The end result is a far stronger tub, and many other manufacturers have followed suit in the intervening years to offer a similar strength enhancement. In our opinion, a reinforced acrylic bath is comparable in longevity to a steel bath.

Steel enamel baths are a premium option when it comes to bathing. Not only are they heavier than their acrylic counterparts, but they are eco-friendly too, due to being crafted from recycable materials and incurring a lower carbon footprint during manufacture. An empty steel bath is cold to the touch, and due to its weight, may not be suitable for your flooring type without modifications.

Baths: Key Considerations

We offer over 1000 different baths from top, industry-leading brands and our own exclusive collections. It can be daunting to choose an option when so many are available. And, in some cases, many models look almost identical to each other.

If you are performing a like-for-like replacement and you do not want the upheaval of re-routing pipework, you'll want to opt for a bath that matches the size of your existing tub, ensuring that the waste hole location is in the same place - and tap holes too, if they're mounted on the bath.

If you are creating a brand new bathroom layout, decide what your primary function of the bath will be, and go from there. Do you want a separate shower enclosure? If not, choose a P-shaped or L-shaped bathtub, and customise the panels and screen to suit your bathroom decor. Do you have a large space available? If so, consider choosing a double-ended bath, where the waste hole is located in the centre of the long side. This leave either end of the bath open for laying down, or even allowing you to create a designated showering area in a separate location to the bath taps.

For those looking to create a bathroom for life, or a bathroom to be used by users of varying ages, you should also consider models that utilise an anti-slip surface, and/or a set of grips to aid entry and exit. We even offer various easy-access bathtubs with integrated doors, designed specifically with accessibility in mind.

Baths: Common Pitfalls and Misunderstandings

The majority of baths on our website come with a leg set or frame included with the tub, but be sure to check each individual listing. Where we cannot include a leg set with the bath, it is clearly available as an optional extra. Whilst legs are often included, front and end bath panels are typically not. This allows more customisation - choosing colours or designs that fit your bathroom vibe. It also allows for the possibility of the bath being tiled in - a method popular in continental bathrooms and wet rooms.

Many modern baths are not supplied with pre-drilled tap holes, due to taps and fillers becoming popular as wall-mounted options. On an acrylic bath, drilling taps holes in a place of your choosing is trivial. On a steel bath, you may find that pre-drilled options are available, ensuring that you do not need to drill into the steel enamel to install your taps.

Another core component of any bath is the waste hole. On a standard bath, a waste is often not included, giving you a multitude of different options for the style, colour and operation type you prefer (such as pop-up, press-top, etc). Some wastes even come with built-in fillers, so they perform the same action as a tap, negating the need to install separate taps. On certain unique baths, where a specialist waste is required, it may be included with the tub. Check your desired listing for more information on whether a bath waste is included.

Baths: Final Thoughts

It can be difficult to choose the right bath when so many options are available. The shape, length and width of the bath are obvious considerations. Aside from these, look in to the internal shape of the bath - often curved, square or D-shaped. Does this fit in with your wider aesthetic? Does a double ended model leave you with more room to relax? Does an L-shape shower bath allow you the space you need, or could you install a separate shower enclosure?

Whatever design or style you opt for, we are confident that you will discover all the technical data, add-ons and information needed to help make the best decision. Furthermore, our competitive ensures that you will not need to look anywhere else once you set your sights on a stylish new bathtub!