As time passes, we’ll see our parents and family members changing. They used to carry you on their shoulders and now need a cane to help them maintain balance while standing. These changes lead us to significant investments to modify our homes, like buying a walk-in tub. But with so many options available, choosing the best walk-in tub for your needs can become overwhelming.
Walk-in tubs involve money, and with helpful DIY kits, they also require labor and time from your part. So, it’s natural if you struggle to choose the right pick among all the senior-friendly bath options.
Nothing could be more stressful than spending money on a walk-in tub, waiting for it to arrive, and discovering it doesn’t fit your bathroom. Hence, to avoid these unpleasant situations when buying a walk-in bathtub in the USA and Canada, there are several things you need to consider.
3 tips when choosing the best walk-in tub for your needs
1. Assess your mobility challenges and needs
Googling “the best walk-in tubs 2025” and buying one among the dozens of pages is easy. The issue comes when you find out the chosen tub doesn’t fit the needs of your senior family member.
Although your current mobility challenges are the most critical factor when choosing the best walk-in tub for your needs, some people may get distracted by fancy features and forget to check the bathtub’s specifics.
For example, if you have a cane user or someone who struggles to lift their legs, but you get a tub with a door swinging inward, they may have more issues getting into the tub. This happens because inward doors occupy more space in the tub, making moving more difficult. Hence, when looking for senior-friendly bath options, consider their mobility before clicking “buy.”
To avoid frying your brain over outward or inward doors, consider DIY walk-in tub kits from The Step Through Store when choosing the best walk-in tub for your needs. You can buy them in a combo with QuickTub covers that let you seal the cut-out bathtub again without inconvenience. They fit easily over the low-threshold insert without needing professional installation or significant remodeling.
2. Consider other life circumstances you’re planning around
Consider who will be using the tub. Will it be just you? Your senior parents? It will be a family-shared tub? This will help you determine which of the many senior-friendly bath options will be best for your family’s lifestyle.
For instance, say you live with your parents and have two bathrooms with bathtubs. One is in your main suite, hence you likely won’t need a walk-in tub, but the other one is shared by your kids and your parents, who need to bathe sitting. You should remember these things when choosing the best walk-in tub for your needs regarding bathing space and features.
Likewise, consider your current financial state before browsing for the best walk-in tubs 2025. If you don’t shop with your finances in mind, you may end up stressed with credit or a tighter household budget because you get dazzled by the “best walk-in tub.”
If this is your case, or similar, consider DIY walk-in tub kits. These kits allow you to cut out a portion of your tub and replace it with a lower threshold insert. Since they are designed for you to install without requiring professional assistance, they are less expensive than a typical walk-in tub, reducing the stress over choosing the best walk-in tub for your needs.
3. Your bathroom’s size
Replacing your tub can go wrong in several ways. Hence, no matter which of the senior-friendly bath options you choose, you must always measure your old tub and your bathroom. Consider also your door’s size, as some packages may not fit through the door, and you will end up having to make several trips to carry all the parts.
If you choose to replace your shower cabinet with a walk-in tub, measure the shower dimensions and the extra space you may need to fit the new bathtub. If you go the DIY route, you still need to measure your current tub to ensure the insert fits and you don’t risk leaks.
How to choose the best walk-in tub DIY kits for your home
The Step Through Store offers three sizes: small, medium, and large walk-in tub conversion kits. Hence, as with any other kit or walk-in tub installation, you need to measure your tub rail when choosing the best walk-in tub for your needs, to guarantee the insert fits appropriately.
Likewise, you also have to consider your tub design. Is it flat or curved? The insert is a straight piece, so if your tub’s front is curved, the insert may expand through the tub wall more at some sections.
Measuring the tub rail and curve
The tub rail is the main factor in determining which DIY conversion kit is best for your tub, as it measures the part of the wall you will cut out and replace for the insert kit. Still, remember that in most tubs, the rail gets wider and curved as they reach the bottom, so it’s crucial you measure the rail from its widest point when buying this home improvement for seniors.
How do you measure the tub rail when choosing the best walk-in tub for your needs?
Follow these steps to ensure you measure the rail at its widest point, not just the top.
- Measure down 10 inches inside the tub rail wall and mark it.
- Place one end of the level on the 10” mark.
- Align the top bubble on the level to ensure you’ll measure at the level.
- Run the tape measure from the aligned level to the opposite edge of the rail.
- Write down your measurements and compare them to this chart to determine which kit size suits your current tub.
Find the walk-in tub conversion kit you need in The Step Through Store
Our mission is to help you nail your home improvement for seniors and provide your aging family members with a safer, more comfortable, and accessible bathroom. In our online store, you’ll find essential products to help you enhance your bathroom’s safety and comfort on your own.
Our walk-in tub conversion kits are among the easiest and least expensive ways to get a new walk-in bathtub and improve the quality of life in their homes. Our website has all the information you need to install one. We ship to the USA and Canada, so what are you waiting for to improve your bathroom’s safety?
Still, if you have questions about choosing the best walk-in tub for your needs, contact us at (866) 500-4084!