Garden Tub vs Soaking Tub vs Standard Tub: Cost & Size Comparison

You’re remodeling your bathroom, you’ve ripped out the old tub, and now you’re staring at three very different options: a garden tub, a soaking tub, or a standard tub. They all hold water. They all let you take a bath. But the similarities pretty much end there.

The price gap between these three tub types is significant. A basic standard tub runs $200 to $600 for the unit alone. A garden tub starts around $700 and can push past $3,000. A soaking tub? Anywhere from $600 to $5,000 or more, depending on material and style. And that’s before installation.

This guide breaks down the real costs, dimensions, pros, and cons of each tub type so you can pick the right one for your bathroom, your budget, and how you actually use it.

What Is a Garden Tub?

A garden tub is a large, freestanding or alcove bathtub designed primarily for soaking, but it’s wider and shallower than a true soaking tub. Think of it as the bathtub equivalent of a king-size bed. It takes up a lot of floor space and gives you room to stretch out.

Garden tubs became hugely popular in the 1990s and 2000s, especially in master bathrooms of suburban homes. You’ve probably seen them: those big oval or rectangular tubs, sometimes raised on a platform, often sitting under a window. Builders like D.R. Horton, Lennar, and Pulte dropped them into master baths as a standard luxury feature for years.

Typical garden tub dimensions run 60 to 72 inches long, 40 to 48 inches wide, and only about 14 to 18 inches deep. That width is the defining feature. You get a lot of surface area, but the water depth is relatively shallow compared to a soaking tub.

Most garden tubs don’t include jets, though some models from brands like American Standard or Jacuzzi can be ordered with whirlpool options. The standard garden tub holds 60 to 80 gallons of water.

What Is a Soaking Tub?

A soaking tub is built for one thing: getting you deep into hot water. These tubs are deeper than garden tubs, typically 17 to 22 inches of water depth, with some Japanese-style soaking tubs (called ofuro) reaching 27 inches or more. The key difference is vertical depth, not horizontal spread.

Soaking tubs come in freestanding, drop-in, and undermount configurations. Popular shapes include oval, rectangular, and round. Materials range from basic acrylic to cast iron, copper, stone resin, and even solid wood for traditional Japanese models.

Brands like Kohler (the Underscore and Veil lines), Badeloft, WOODBRIDGE, and Signature Hardware dominate this market. A freestanding acrylic soaking tub from WOODBRIDGE runs $800 to $1,500 on Amazon and Home Depot. A cast iron Kohler Underscore? You’re looking at $2,500 to $4,500 for the tub alone.

Soaking tubs typically hold 80 to 120 gallons, which means your water heater needs to keep up. That’s a detail a lot of homeowners overlook until they’re sitting in a half-filled tub of lukewarm water.

What Is a Standard Tub?

The standard bathtub is what you’ll find in 90% of American homes. It’s a 60-inch long, 30 to 32-inch wide, alcove-style tub that sits between three walls. Water depth is around 14 to 16 inches. It does double duty as a shower enclosure in most installations.

Standard tubs are made from fiberglass, acrylic, porcelain-enameled steel, or cast iron. The most common budget option is a fiberglass or acrylic alcove tub from brands like Sterling (by Kohler), American Standard, or Delta. These run $200 to $600 at Home Depot or Lowe’s.

Nothing fancy. Nothing exciting. But they’re practical, affordable, and fit into virtually any bathroom layout without major modifications.

Cost Comparison: Garden Tub vs Soaking Tub vs Standard Tub

Here’s where the numbers get real. Tub cost is just one part of the equation. Installation, plumbing modifications, and finishing work can double or triple the price of the tub itself.

A few notes on those numbers. Floor reinforcement matters more than most people think. A cast iron soaking tub filled with water and holding a person can weigh over 1,000 pounds. If your bathroom is on a second floor, you may need a structural engineer to evaluate the joists. That evaluation alone costs $300 to $500, and any reinforcement work adds $500 to $1,500 on top of it.

For a full breakdown of what tub replacement involves, check out our guide to bathtub replacement costs.

Size Comparison: Dimensions That Matter

Size dictates everything in a bathroom remodel. The tub you want and the tub that fits are sometimes two different things. Here’s how the three types stack up.

Garden tubs eat up bathroom floor space. That 48-inch width means you need a bathroom that’s at least 8 feet wide to fit the tub and still have room to move around comfortably. Most standard bathrooms in homes built before 2000 simply don’t have the footprint for a garden tub without taking space from an adjacent room or closet.

Soaking tubs are more flexible on floor space because they go deep, not wide. A freestanding oval soaking tub with a 32-inch width fits in roughly the same footprint as a standard tub. You just need adequate clearance around the tub for plumbing access and cleaning.

Garden Tub vs Soaking Tub: Pros and Cons

Garden Tub Pros

• Spacious and comfortable for stretching out horizontally
• Good for two-person bathing
• Wide ledge area for candles, bath products, and decor
• Lower price point than high-end soaking tubs
• Available in alcove and drop-in configurations for easier installation

Garden Tub Cons

• Uses a lot of floor space (24+ square feet)
• Shallow water depth means less full-body immersion
• Falling out of style in newer home designs
• Large water volume means longer fill times and higher water bills
• Can hurt resale if it crowds the bathroom layout

Soaking Tub Pros

• Deep water immersion for genuine therapeutic benefits
• Smaller footprint than garden tubs
• Modern, on-trend design that adds resale value
• Available in a wide range of materials and styles
• Freestanding models create a visual focal point

Soaking Tub Cons

• Expensive, especially in premium materials (cast iron, stone resin, copper)
• Very high water usage (80 to 120 gallons per fill)
• May require a larger water heater (50+ gallon tank or tankless unit)
• Heavy when full, possibly requiring floor reinforcement
• Taller walls make entry and exit harder for older adults or those with mobility issues

Which Tub Is Best for Resale Value?

This is where the conversation has shifted dramatically over the last decade. In the early 2000s, garden tubs were a selling point. Builders put them in every master bath because buyers expected them. That’s no longer the case.

Today, many homeowners are ripping out garden tubs and replacing them with large walk-in showers. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) data consistently shows that buyers prefer oversized showers in the master bath. A freestanding soaking tub in the corner is a nice design touch, but a giant platform garden tub? That reads as dated.

If you’re renovating to sell within the next few years, here’s the hierarchy:

1. Large walk-in shower + freestanding soaking tub (best ROI, if space allows)
2. Large walk-in shower only (strong ROI, works in smaller master baths)
3. Freestanding soaking tub (good, modern look)
4. Standard tub/shower combo (fine for secondary bathrooms)
5. Garden tub (losing value in most markets)

One exception: luxury homes over 3,000 square feet in southern and southeastern markets (Texas, Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas) still see demand for garden tubs, especially from buyers relocating from the Northeast who associate them with master bath luxury. But even in those markets, the trend is shifting.

Not sure if replacement is the right call? Our replacement vs refinishing guide walks you through the cost trade-offs of each option.

Installation Considerations

Plumbing

Standard tubs use existing drain and supply lines with minimal modification. Garden tubs and soaking tubs often require the drain to be relocated, especially freestanding models that sit in the center of the room. Expect $200 to $1,000 in plumbing work for non-standard tub installations.

Freestanding soaking tubs need floor-mounted or wall-mounted faucets, which adds $300 to $900 for the fixture and installation. A basic deck-mounted faucet for an alcove or drop-in tub is much cheaper, typically $100 to $400 installed.

Structural Support

Standard acrylic and fiberglass tubs weigh 60 to 100 pounds empty. No structural concerns there. But a cast iron soaking tub weighs 250 to 400 pounds empty, and a filled cast iron tub with a bather can hit 1,200 pounds. That’s concentrated on roughly 15 square feet of floor space.

Second-floor installations of heavy tubs almost always require a structural assessment. First-floor installations on a concrete slab are generally fine. First-floor installations over a crawl space? Get it checked.

Water Heater Capacity

This catches people off guard. A standard tub needs about 40 gallons of hot water. A garden tub needs 50 to 65 gallons. A deep soaking tub? 70 to 100 gallons of hot water for a comfortable bath. If your water heater can’t deliver, your expensive new tub becomes a frustrating experience.

Solutions include upgrading to a larger tank (50 or 75-gallon), installing a tankless water heater (Rinnai, Navien, and Rheem are the big names), or adding a point-of-use tankless unit dedicated to the tub. Budget $1,000 to $3,000 for a water heater upgrade, installed.

Material Options and How They Affect Price

The material you choose has an enormous impact on both price and longevity. Here’s a breakdown of the most common options across all three tub types.

Acrylic is the sweet spot for most homeowners. It’s light enough that floor reinforcement isn’t needed, durable enough to last 15 to 20 years with proper care, and available in enough styles to cover standard, garden, and soaking tub designs. Brands like WOODBRIDGE, Empava, and FerdY offer solid acrylic freestanding soaking tubs in the $800 to $1,800 range.

Cast iron is the heirloom choice. A Kohler Bellwether or American Standard Cambridge cast iron tub will outlast the house. But the weight and cost make it a commitment. And getting a 350-pound tub up a flight of stairs? That’s a two-person-minimum job, and some contractors charge extra for it.

Garden Tub Removal: What It Costs to Switch

A growing number of homeowners are pulling out their garden tubs and going a different direction. If that’s you, here’s what removal and replacement typically involves.

Garden tub removal costs $300 to $800 for labor and disposal. If you’re replacing it with a walk-in shower, the total conversion runs $3,000 to $8,000 depending on the shower size, tile work, and plumbing modifications. Replacing a garden tub with a freestanding soaking tub is usually $2,500 to $7,000 installed, since the plumbing location often needs to move.

The biggest cost variable is what happens to the platform or surround. Many garden tubs sit on a raised platform with tile surround. Demolishing that platform, patching the subfloor, and installing new flooring adds $500 to $2,000 to the project.

Which Tub Should You Choose?

Choose a standard tub if: You’re on a budget, the tub is for a secondary bathroom, or you need a shower/tub combo. It’s practical, affordable, and universally functional. No one ever regretted a basic tub in the hall bath.

Choose a garden tub if: You have a large master bathroom (100+ square feet), you want a roomy tub for stretching out or bathing with a partner, and you don’t mind the extra water usage. Just know it won’t impress most future buyers the way it would have in 2005.

Choose a soaking tub if: You want deep, full-body immersion. You value the therapeutic benefits of a hot, deep bath. You have (or are willing to upgrade to) a water heater that can handle 80+ gallons of hot water. And you appreciate modern bathroom design. Freestanding soaking tubs are the current design favorite, and they’re likely to remain popular for the foreseeable future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a garden tub the same as a soaking tub?

No. A garden tub is wider and shallower, designed for spreading out horizontally. A soaking tub is deeper and narrower, designed for full-body immersion. Garden tubs typically have 14 to 18 inches of water depth, while soaking tubs reach 17 to 27 inches.

How much does it cost to install a garden tub?

Total installed cost for a garden tub runs $1,400 to $5,800, including the tub, labor, plumbing modifications, and any necessary floor reinforcement. The tub unit itself costs $700 to $3,000 depending on material and brand.

Can I replace a garden tub with a walk-in shower?

Yes, and it’s one of the most common bathroom renovations today. The conversion costs $3,000 to $8,000, including demolition, plumbing rework, shower pan installation, tile work, and glass enclosure. The project typically takes 3 to 5 days for an experienced contractor.

Do I need a bigger water heater for a soaking tub?

Probably. A standard 40-gallon water heater won’t adequately fill most soaking tubs. You’ll need at least a 50-gallon tank, or ideally a tankless water heater rated for 8+ GPM. Budget $1,000 to $3,000 for the upgrade.

Are garden tubs outdated?

In terms of design trends, yes. Large platform garden tubs peaked in popularity in the early 2000s. Most interior designers and real estate professionals now consider them dated. Freestanding soaking tubs and large walk-in showers have replaced them as the preferred master bath features. That said, if you love your garden tub and use it regularly, there’s nothing wrong with keeping it.

What size bathroom do I need for a garden tub?

You’ll need a master bathroom of at least 80 to 100 square feet to comfortably fit a garden tub, though 100+ square feet is ideal. The tub itself takes up roughly 24 square feet of floor space, and you need clearance around it for access and cleaning.