If You Love Taking Baths but Don’t Have a Tub, I Just Found the Perfect Solution

I’ve lived in five apartments in just as many years. I know it sounds extreme, but it’s pretty common in New York City. In that time, I’ve come up with some apartment non-negotiables, like in-building laundry and natural light. In the number one spot on my must-have list, however, is a bathroom with a tub.

Since I was a teenager, I’ve been a dedicated bath taker — when I’ve actually had access to a bathtub. I didn’t realize how much I’d miss having the option to relax in a bubble bath when I signed the lease on my first studio apartment, which had only a stand-in shower. After that, I moved into a place with roommates, and sitting in a bathtub we all shared didn’t really hold much appeal. 

I live alone again now, and after a years-long bath drought, I finally have a tub. (The drain oddly doesn’t close, but I’m going to find a way to make it work if it’s the last thing I do.) I know not everyone is so lucky, so if you’re stuck with a stand-in shower and desperately missing baths, TikTok showed me a solution (no renovation needed!) that I can’t believe I never thought of: portable bathtubs.

In the viral video, the creator sets up a makeshift tub in her shower, all thanks to this $54 Amazon find (that’s a lot cheaper than I would’ve guessed!). They fill it up using their showerhead, and once they toss some Epsom salt and a bath bomb into the water and deck it out with some bath accessories, it looks just as calming as any standard setup. 

With a candle lit and the lights off, I would never be able to notice the difference! The TikTok user provided the link to the tub they use, and it fits anyone under 6’2” once it’s assembled. It also measures 46 x 23 x 23 inches, so make sure to measure your shower before adding it to your cart. (Amazon also has half-size portable tubs if your shower is on the tinier side.)

It’s even ideal for small spaces, since you can fully collapse it between uses, which multiple shoppers praised in their reviews. “It feels like a mini spa experience at home,” another wrote. “The build quality is great, and I was surprised by how well it maintains the water temperature. It’s also easy to clean and drain afterward.”

If you want the assurance that comes with more reviews, you can spend about $20 more on this Amazon’s Choice pick, which looks almost identical and functions more or less the same. It has over 100 five-star ratings. “I sat in it for about an hour and a half and it held the water’s temperature well,” one of them says. “So comfortable too. I thought it would be weird and flimsy but it’s not. I could lean back and enjoy.”

I started doing some digging on TikTok to see if others have tried portable tubs — they have, so I guess I’ve just been out of the loop — and I discovered that somehow I missed that inflatable bathtubs are also a thing. Granted, it’s probably a bit bulkier to store, but it might be worth it. I sure think it is after watching the viral video below. As a number of commenters point out, it looks even cozier than a regular tub. (You can score the same one in the post for $60 on Amazon.)

If you’re tub-less — or simply have roommates and want a tub that only you use — this portable bathtub idea is definitely worth a try. Speaking for myself, if I can’t figure out my own bathtub’s drain, I’m buying one of these ASAP! It’s for self-care, OK?