You can buy a freestanding tub in the Bay Area from kitchen and bath showrooms, plumbing supply houses, big-box stores and online fixture suppliers that deliver locally. Fixture Physician, the fixtures department of RemodelER, is one of the online options: it sells tubs and tub fillers and delivers across the San Francisco Bay Area. Before you order from anyone, verify five things: that your floor can carry the tub when it is full, that the drain in the floor lines up with the tub's drain, which type of tub filler your plumbing allows, whether your water heater can fill the tub, and whether the tub will physically fit through your doors and up your stairs. A freestanding tub cannot be taken apart, so check the delivery path as carefully as the plumbing.
Where can you buy a freestanding tub in the Bay Area?
- Kitchen and bath showrooms. You can sit in display tubs to judge depth and back angle. Most are ordered rather than taken home.
- Plumbing supply houses. Order through a counter that can also supply the drain and rough-in parts.
- Big-box stores. A smaller range, usually shipped to the store or your home.
- Online suppliers with local delivery. A wide range of sizes and materials, ordered with the filler and drain. This is how Fixture Physician works.
If you can, sit in a tub of similar length and depth somewhere before you commit. Comfort depends on interior dimensions, which are always smaller than the outside measurements.
What should you verify before you order?
| What to verify | Why it matters | How to check |
|---|---|---|
| Filled weight | Water weighs about 8.3 pounds per gallon, on top of the tub and the bather | Add tub weight, water capacity times 8.3, and occupant weight; have your contractor confirm the floor framing |
| Drain location | The floor drain must sit directly under the tub's drain outlet | Give your plumber the tub's specification sheet before the floor is finished |
| Tub filler type | Floor-mount, wall-mount and deck-mount fillers need different plumbing | Decide the filler with the tub, before rough-in |
| Hot-water capacity | A large soaking tub can outrun a small water heater | Compare the tub's capacity with your water heater's size or flow rate |
| Delivery path | The tub arrives in one piece | Measure every door, hallway turn and stair landing against the crated dimensions |
| Interior size | Outside length does not tell you how it fits your body | Read the interior length and water depth to the overflow |
| Overflow and drain kit | Some tubs include them, some do not | Read the "includes" line and order the drain in the same finish as the filler |
| Material | Acrylic, cast iron and stone resin differ in weight and heat retention | Check the material and the shipping weight on the specification sheet |
Will your floor hold a freestanding tub?
Work it out before you fall for a particular tub. Water weighs about 8.3 pounds per gallon, so a tub that holds 60 gallons carries roughly 500 pounds of water. Add the weight of the tub and the person in it, and remember that all of it rests on a small footprint. An acrylic tub is the lightest option. Cast iron and stone resin tubs are far heavier before any water goes in.
On a concrete slab this is rarely a concern. On a framed floor, and especially on an upper story, have your contractor or a structural engineer confirm that the framing under the tub can carry the filled weight, and add blocking or reinforcement if it cannot.
Which tub filler works with your plumbing?
- Floor-mounted fillers stand beside the tub. They need hot and cold supplies brought up through the floor and their own rough-in valve, which is straightforward in new construction or over a crawl space and harder on a slab.
- Wall-mounted fillers work when the tub sits close to a wall. The spout has to reach far enough to clear the tub's rim, so check the spout reach against the tub's position.
- Deck-mounted fillers only suit tubs with a wide rim or pre-drilled holes made for them.
Like a shower valve, the filler's rough-in parts go in before the floor or wall is finished, so the filler has to be chosen at the same time as the tub.
Can your water heater fill it?
A common rule of thumb is that about two-thirds of a bath is hot water. Compare that figure with the capacity of your tank water heater: a deep soaking tub can ask for more hot water than a smaller tank holds. With a tankless heater, the question is flow rate rather than capacity, so check how long the fill will take. It is better to know this before the tub is installed than after the first lukewarm bath.
How does buying from Fixture Physician work?
Fixture Physician sells kitchen and bathroom faucets and sinks, shower heads, valves and trim, toilets, tubs and bath accessories. Browse tubs or shop by brand; each finish is listed as its own product. We operate online, so each product page carries the photos and specifications to check against the list above.
Prices shown on the site are MSRP. Add the tub, filler and drain to your project and send one quote request, and we reply with your actual project price, which is below MSRP. We deliver to jobsites across the Bay Area, and the same quote can include the tile, vanity and other fixtures for the room. Our freestanding tub buyer's guide covers shapes and materials in more depth.
Frequently asked questions
Do freestanding tubs need a special drain?
They need a drain that can be connected from above, because there is usually no access beneath the tub once it is set. Freestanding tub drain rough-in kits are made for this. Your plumber installs the lower part in the floor first, and the tub connects to it when it is set in place.
How much space should be left around a freestanding tub?
Enough to clean the floor and the outside of the tub, and to reach the filler comfortably. Check the manufacturer's installation guide for any minimum clearances, and mark the tub's footprint on the floor with tape before the plumbing is roughed in.
Does Fixture Physician deliver freestanding tubs to homeowners?
Yes. Fixture Physician delivers to jobsites across the Bay Area for homeowners and contractors alike. Because a tub is large and heavy, confirm the delivery path and who will carry it inside when you request your quote.
To start, browse tubs, add your choice to your project and request one quote, or call (408) 830-4458.