Sometimes—okay, a lot of times!—I crave an all-over body rub. What could be better than a soft tissue massage with thousands—no, millions!—of tiny bubbles?
An air tub can be worth the money if what you seek is an overall body massage. Air tubs vary greatly in price from $1,000 to $15,000, so you should be able to find one in your price range that enhances the health benefits that you can get from soaking in a regular hot bath.
Legend has it that Marilyn Monroe would bathe in 350 bottles of champagne at one time. So it’s all relative; it probably won’t cost you any more than it cost Marilyn to get that sensation from an air tub.
How Much Does an Air Tub Cost?
Air tubs come in the same varieties as any other tub type: You can find contemporary freestanding air tubs, alcove air tubs, corner air tubs and many more kinds. However, compared to its no-jet counterpart, an air tub will run significantly pricier.
On the high end, an extra-large drop-in air tub for two can run about $15,000 USD while a standard-sized acrylic air tub can start at $1,000. With such a huge variation in cost, you can probably find an aerated tub that is worth it for you.
If you compare a regular freestanding soaking tub with its aerated counterpart, you’ll generally add $500-$1000 USD to the price. For example, a beautifully-designed air tub from Empava comes with 95 pinhole airstreams to massage you and is double-walled to maintain the water temperature as you soak. It runs for about $1,200 on Amazon. (See it here.) You could expect to find a non-jetted contemporary freestanding acrylic tub of the same size for $800.
Air Tub Pros and Cons
When weighing the pros and cons of an air tub, you’ll want to compare benefits and drawbacks to both a non-jetted bathtub and a whirlpool. Benefits include hydrotherapy, a built-in heating element, mold resistance, and quiet sound. Drawbacks include installation cost, price, lack of targeted massage, and the possibility that additional floor supports may be needed.
| Air Tub Pros | Air Tub Cons |
|---|---|
| Hydrotherapy to soothe muscles and joints | Installation can be complicated and expensive. |
| Heating element allows you to set temperature | Slightly more expensive than a whirlpool tub |
| Running pumps prevents bacteria build up | No targeted massage |
| Quiet relative to some whirlpools | May require additional bathroom floor supports |
Air Tub Pros
Hydrotherapy
An air tub is a type of bathtub that offers hydrotherapy to soothe muscles and joints, increase circulation and activate the lymphatic system. The effervescent bubbles invigorate the body, and the gentleness of the massage may make the air tub an ideal for someone with chronic pain or the elderly.
Another great benefit of the air tub is that it will leave you with the feeling of a “runner’s high,” because it releases endorphins. According to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine:
“A hot soak increases the production of endorphins in the body as well. Endorphins are the body’s “pain killers” and are associated with feelings of elation or happiness. Endorphins also stimulate the immune system, alleviate pain, and help tissues heal faster.”
Increased circulation also benefits people with arthritis and diabetes.
Heating Element
Air tubs usually have a heating element to ensure the bubbles that soothe you are always warm. Some brands offer an upgrade called Hydro Fusion that will keep your bath water within 1 degree of the temperature that you set.
Mold Resistant
With an air tub, simply running the pumps once the bathwater has drained should completely clear any sitting water around the jets and prevent bacteria from building up.
Also, some air tubs have an “automatic purge cycle” that blows air through the lines once the tub drains. With this feature, you don’t need to worry as much about bathroom mold.
Quiet
Air tubs are quiet relative to some whirlpools. (However, it is possible to get a whirlpool with a nearly silent pump motor.) For many people, this is a huge consideration. A noisy tub can directly contradict the purpose of a soak: intense relaxation.
Air Tub Cons
Installation
Installing an air tub can be quite a bit more complicated (and expensive) than installing a standard tub without jets. You’ll need to consider where to place the air system, and you’ll need an electrician, in addition to a plumber, to hook up the jets.
Price
An air tub itself will be significantly pricier than a non-jetted tub and just a bit more expensive than a whirlpool tub. Because of the more complicated installation, you’ll spend more than you would installing a non-jetted tub. According to homeadvisor.com, a contractor will spend an average of 18 hours installing a jetted tub and charge between $60 and $85 per hour.
No Targeted Massage
If you’re looking for a powerful, targeted massage on a particular area of your body, you won’t get it with an air tub. You’ll need a whirlpool for that.
May Need Floor Supports
If you’re getting an air tub that holds more water than a standard-sized bathtub, you’ll need to consider if your bathroom floor will require additional supports in order to hold the weight of the full bathtub and the bather. A ground floor bathroom is less likely to need more support. But if you do need more floor support, you’ll pay $100-$300 per each added joist.
Air Tub vs Whirlpool
Air Tubs and whirlpools are like apples and oranges. They are both in the same tub family, and they both involve jets, but that’s where the similarities end.
Unlike whirlpools that stream water from the jets, air tubs push out only air. Many air tubs enable you to adjust the force of the bubbles shooting out of the stream, though probably at their most powerful, they still won’t provide the force of a whirlpool jet. Because that’s not the point of an air tub.
Vigorous, Targeted Massage vs Whole Body, Soft Tissue Massage
You can aim a whirlpool jet at a particular sore muscle for a vigorous targeted massage, while an air tub provides an all-over body massage. Although a whirlpool jet releases a targeted stream of water that feels more forceful, don’t underestimate the power of an air tub.
For sure it feels more gentle and the soft tissue massage is dispersed across your body. But I once talked to a showroom saleswoman in a bathtub store, who told me she’d recently tried an air tub that had a microsilk feature. Unlike the massaging power of a hot tub, she said the air tub felt like a gentle vibration.
Terin Lewis of Expressions Home Gallery in Austin, Texas tells me she sells more air tubs than whirlpool tubs:
The air tub is more popular now. There’s a brand called Jason Hydrotherapy that makes a microsilk feature that cleanses your skin and breaks down the outer layer of your skin. If you own a microsilk air tub, it will wash your hair and skin so well that you won’t need shampoo or soap.
The Jason Hydrotherapy air tub even washed off her spray tan. That’s how Terin Lewis knew it was really powerful!
Some companies allow you to customize where you place the whirlpool jets in the tub. This way, you can be sure the jets target any trouble spots you might have.
Number of Jets
Air jets are smaller than whirlpool jets and are usually located along the lower perimeter of the tub or on the bottom. With an air tub, you can get 10-30 dime-sized jets. Some air tubs allow you to adjust these jets for more or less power. With whirlpools, usually there are fewer jets, commonly 4-16.
Heat
Unlike a whirlpool tub that may or may not come with a heating element, air tubs almost always have a heater.
Maintenance
An air tub can be easier to maintain and clean than a whirlpool, which can collect mildew in the lines, unless you purchase a whirlpool with antimicrobial piping. To clean a whirlpool tub, you add a cleaning solution while the tub is running. Air tubs, on the other hand, are self-cleaning and self-drying.
Best Air Tub – Empava 48″
This tub is great for so many reasons. First of all, it’s designed in the Japanese style, so you’ll soak up to your neck and maximize the hydrotherapeutic benefits.
There are 48 air jets that deliver an all-over body massage and relaxation.
Finally, it is double-walled with a rolltop and contemporary style that is simply showstopping!
Infinity Bathtubs
If you’re looking for a luxury bathtub for your primary bathroom, but an air tub doesn’t seem right, consider other luxury tubs such as an infinity bathtub. These gorgeous tubs run the water over a ledge where it’s collected and pumped back in the tub. Some come with LED lights and even misting fog. Read much more about infinity bathtubs here.
Or maybe you’d like a Japanese soaking tub or a copper claw foot or a customized whirlpool with water jets. Click the button below to shop our favorite luxury tubs on the market.
Getting a New Tub as Part of a Bathroom Remodel?
Are you buying a new tub as part of a bathroom remodel? Read How to Choose a Bathtub in 8 Easy Steps.
You may also want to read Expensive Bathroom Remodel? Here’s How to Save Big. And be sure to download the Bathtubber’s handy cheat sheet with 8 genius hacks that can save you thousands of dollars on everything from installing a new bathtub to picking a bathroom vanity. Simply fill out the form below. You’ll have it in seconds.
Are There Any Cheaper Alternatives to a Spa Tub?
If you’re not quite ready to make the plunge and buy an air tub or a whirlpool tub, there are some fun options that can give you the feeling of living in luxury while staying on a very strict budget.
Did you know that you can transform your regular old bathtub into a Jacuzzi? It’s true. Check out these tips for how to buy a kit. If you’re handy or have someone handy in your life, this can be quite an exciting project.
However, if you don’t want to literally change your bathtub into a Jacuzzi, I highly recommend a Jacuzzi bathtub mat. This item runs around $100 and really is like a combo air tub and whirlpool. It lays on the bottom of your bathtub and, though it doesn’t have actual jets, it squirts up streams of air that are quite powerful—stronger than most settings on an air tub. (Here’s my absolute favorite Jacuzzi bath mat.)
Cleaning the Air Tub Basin
As we mentioned, air tubs are self-cleaning and self-drying, so you don’t need to worry about generating any bathroom mold from the jets.
But how should you clean the tub basin? Well, that will depend on what type of bathtub material your tub is made from. Is it acrylic, cast iron or fiberglass?
Consult the manufacturer’s guidelines for best results. If you’re looking to try a natural cleaning solution before turning to chemicals, consult The Bathtubber’s guide to cleaning your tub.
Can You Use Regular Bath Products in a Jetted Tub?
You can use some water-soluble bath products in a jetted tub, but you’ll want to avoid bath oils that can clog the jets and make them hard to complete their self-cleaning capabilities. Here are some low-foam bath products you can safely use in an air tub or a tub with water jets:
Spa Bomb Gift Box by InSPAration
Get 6 five-ounce moisturizing bath bombs that are spa safe and come in scents like “Eucalyptus Mint,” “Cucumber Melon,” and “Lavender.” These bath bombs are Ph neutral and don’t contain any harsh chemicals. They won’t change your water chemistry and won’t foam or bubble, but they will disperse a wonder scent across your spa. This product is safe for all jets.
Natural Dead Sea Salts by Relax Spa & Bath
These Epsom salts infused with healing essential oils will not damage, stain or affect your jetted tub’s equipment. What they will do is decrease your stress and tension, while inducing self-healing and detoxification. This Dead Sea Salt product comes in formulations such as “Green Tea” to invigorate you, “Verbena Lime Coconut” to awaken you, “White Musk Vanilla Jasmine” to create allure, and “Lavender Palmarosa” to instill you with a sense of calm.
Spa & Bath Aromatherapy by InSPAration
These aromatherapy products are water-soluble and safe for all jets. They don’t contain carrier oils and won’t leave a residue but the pleasant fragrance will cover any chemical smell in your tub and enhance overall relaxation. Available in scents called “Tropical Island,” “Heavenly Honeysuckle,” and “Romance.”
If you’re using bubble bath, you’ll want to use a lot less than normal. Look for a water-soluble solution. If you’re not careful, you could end up with a wall of bubbles. (This is me standing in front of a wall of bubbles I created by accident. Consider this your warning.)
So Are Air Tubs Worth The Money?
The bottom line is how desperately do you want the benefits of hydrotherapy? Will you be satisfied with an overall soft tissue massage, rather than a targeted whirlpool jet deep tissue massage? And will you actually get in the tub on a regular basis?
If the answer to these questions is yes, in order to determine whether an air tub is worth it for you, you’ll need to answer another question: Can you afford the expense of the tub itself and floor reinforcement needed plus the installation cost?
You may need to do some mental trade-offs to convince yourself: Try out statements like “I won’t need a weekly massage so I’ll save expenses there,” or “My health is worth any price.” See what rings true for you.
If forking over the extra dough to buy an air tub is making you tense, then it’s a counterproductive purchase. However, if you can swing the funding, you’ll greatly enjoy the mental wellness and physical health benefits.
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