Walk-in tubs are within the 1,200 – 10,000 price range, and within that range are three tiers of accessible models that offer more features and customizations as you go up that price ladder.
These price ranges are based on what we saw at Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Menards stores. Let’s start with the lower tier models and work our way up to get an understanding of what it is you get for your money’s worth.
Cost Range of $1,200 – $2,400
For clarity’s sake, it is worth mentioning that this cost range includes low-threshold and barrier-free showers. You can find quality accessible showers with an acrylic build if all you need is a built-in seat, or one that could house a wheelchair for handicapped seniors and veteranswithin a safe showering environment.
For $1,129, you can get a seated shower from American Standard[Model#: 3060SH.RW]which supports sideways-access for wheelchair-bound users.
If you need an accessible bathing enclosure that you can soak in without the additional hydrotherapy features found on mid-tier models, you’ll easily find one to add to your bathroom. Finding a unit that fits your body’s measurements within this price range, however, can sometimes be tricky but not always.
If you’re particularly taller than most folks, American Standard has an offer on two standard soakers[Model#: 3052.100]with left and right door orientations while providing a water depth of 30” to immerse your body fully – both of which cost $2,439 and $2,469, respectively, and they can be found at your local Home Depot.
Cost Range of $2,400 – $5,000
Mid-tier walk-in bathtubs usually have one of, or a combination of, the therapeutic features that include air baths, whirlpools, chromatherapy, and aromatherapy. Soaking in a tub has therapeutic benefits on its own but not to the degree that air baths and whirlpool massage systems provide. Models in this tier cost more than standard soakers because they incorporate multiple jets and injectors to be placed strategically throughout the sides of the tub, making the manufacturing process more delicate and time-consuming. Theoretically, the more features you add to the unit, the pricier it’s going to be.
The more affordable option:
Ariel’s walk-in whirlpool and air bath incorporates the best of both worlds in one unit for hydrotherapy lovers. It’s available for left and right-handed users at a $2,355 price tag from Home Depot.
The more accessible option:
Universal Tub’s wheelchair-accessible whirlpool bath tub contains adjustable hydrotherapy jets to accelerate healing in sore muscles, bones, joints, and damaged tissue. As with some models in its price range ($4,883), it allows lateral access for wheelchair-bound seniors and veterans.
For more walk-in tub options and variety of walk-in tubs, search the web with the appropriate key term (i.e: “hydrotherapy walk in tub”). If you’re looking for special deals on models loaded with therapeutic features and luxury items, check out sites like HomeDepot.com, or get free quotes on such deals from SeniorTubs.com.
Price Range of 5,000& Over
Walk-in tubs that cost 5K and up usually constitute multiple therapeutic features and wheelchair-accessibility.
A great example of a model that supports seat-to-seat transfer for handicapped users is Universal Tubs’ wheelchair accessible air bath ($5,148). What makes this unit extremely supportive of a handicapped senior’s bathing independence is that the outward swinging door paves the way for the entire seat – from the slightly reclined backrest down to the footrest – making it easy to transfer oneself from seat to seat.
