Safe Step Walk-In Tubs Review
Getting in and out of regular bathtubs can be hard for seniors, especially for those with mobility issues or visual impairments. Walk-in tubs offer a safer alternative. With a low step-in height through a sealed door, walk-in tubs make falls less likely, which are a major cause of injuries and deaths in adults 65 and older. It also allows seniors to age in place rather than going to assisted living facilities. In this guide, I reviewed walk-in tubs for their safety and comfort features, as well as their pricing and installation process, which are factors you want to consider when choosing a walk-in tub.
Today, I’ll take a close look at the walk-in tubs from Safe Step. Unfortunately, you won’t find them in any store or showroom, so you won’t be able to see one in person before you buy. Still, the tubs are high-quality, with safety features such as grab bars and a low in-step height and comfort features like air and water jets. This review includes the company’s current offerings as well as an in-depth look at pricing and features. Keep reading to learn if Safe Step has the walk-in tub for you.
FYI: Not sure which walk-in tub provider to choose? Read our rundown of the year’s best walk-in tubs, in which we compare the features, costs, and performance of the industry’s top brands.
Safe Step Walk-In Tubs: Key Takeaways
- Safe Step walk-in tubs combine safety and comfort, making them a great addition to any older adult’s bathroom.
- You can expect to pay anywhere from $2,500 to $8,000 for a Safe Step walk-in tub. With installation, count on a total cost of around $7,500 to $13,000.
- Safe Step walk-in tubs performed well in our tests and start at a lower price than American Standard walk-in tubs.
What Is Safe Step?
Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Safe Step is one of the leading manufacturers of walk-in tubs and showers. One thing that separates Safe Step from some of the competition is that all of their walk-in tubs are made in the U.S. Manufacturing products in a Tennessee factory rather than overseas helps the company ensure a higher level of quality.
Each Safe Step walk-in tub is built with the most advanced safety features in addition to therapeutic features that can elevate your average bath into a luxurious experience. It’s this combination of safety and comfort that makes Safe Step tubs an effective means through which older adults can remain safely in their homes.
Safe Step Pros and Cons
To make a long (and luxurious) story short, here is what I really liked about Safe Step in addition to a couple of things I didn’t like so much.
What I Liked
- Knowledgeable customer service: If you’re intimidated by the prospect of purchasing and installing a brand-new walk-in tub, then fear not! Safe Step has you covered. Every step of the way, from selecting a tub to installing it, you’ll be guided by Safe Step’s professionals, who turn the whole ordeal into a cakewalk.
- Advanced safety: Each Safe Step tub comes standard with the grab bars, low-entry threshold, and anti-slip surfaces that we’ve come to expect from walk-in tubs. However, they also throw in some useful safety features such as anti-scald technology and overflow drains.
- Luxury features: When it comes to walk-in tubs, you might think they’re all about safety. And while Safe Step certainly delivers on this front, the hydrotherapy, chromatherapy, and aromatherapy features of their walk-in tubs ensure that safety does not come at the cost of comfort.
- Lifetime warranties: If you’re purchasing a tub, odds are that you plan to keep it for a long time, so that’s why I appreciate Safe Step’s lifetime warranty. It covers not only the tub itself but also the door seal, faucets, water pumps, heaters, blowers, parts, and labor. All this is to say that Safe Step is there to help long after your tub has been installed.
What I Didn’t Like
- No showrooms: While the Safe Step experts can deftly recommend and install one of their walk-in tubs, I wished that they were available through some type of physical store. This way, I would have been able to actually see the tub before my installation appointment.
- No pricing on the website or over the phone: To get any sort of price estimate, you’ll have to schedule an in-home visit with Safe Step. In contrast, Kohler’s walk-in tubs provide transparent pricing information on their website.
How to Purchase a Safe Step Walk-In Tub
Unlike some companies such as American Standard, which offer walk-in tubs from brick-and-mortar retailers like Home Depot, you can only purchase Safe Step tubs directly from the company. On one hand, this is disappointing because it means you don’t get to see the tub in person before making your decision. On the other hand, that means the information you get about your tub and the installation process comes directly from a Safe Step representative rather than a third-party retail employee. Safe Step’s professionals will have no trouble guiding you through the process.
To start, I’d recommend taking a look at Safe Step’s website. Here, you can find all sorts of information on the company and its products, in addition to some testimonials from satisfied customers. This is a great way to get acquainted with Safe Step and figure out if they are the right company for your needs. You’ll notice, however, that Safe Step does not list any pricing online. To get an estimate, you’ll have to call and schedule a free consultation.
The Safe Step Consultation
If you’ve ever purchased a used car, you’re probably familiar with high-pressure sales tactics, the type that requires bartering and a high degree of uncertainty. Luckily, I found the Safe Step consultation is a far cry from this. At no cost, one of their specialists will come directly to your home. They will assess your bathroom and figure out which of their models will be the best fit for your space, taking into account existing plumbing and electrical systems.
In addition to helping you consider physical constraints, your Safe Step consultant will ask you some key questions about safety and comfort features, ultimately helping you decide which model is right for you.
The More You Know: Safe Step will remove an existing tub or shower as part of the installation process.
Types of Safe Step Walk-In Tubs
Although every Safe Step model can be customized to suit your specific needs, they can be broken down into three overarching categories. Here’s an overview of each:
- Walk-In Tubs: The problem with traditional tubs is that stepping over a bathtub wall can be potentially dangerous. This is especially true for those with mobility issues. A Safe Step walk-in tub addresses this issue through the use of a low-entry threshold. This makes entering the tub as easy as stepping up a small stair, and the textured seating keeps you comfortable and safe throughout your entire bath.
- Walk-In Showers: Similar to a walk-in tub, a Safe Step walk-in shower gets rid of treacherously high tub walls, allowing for safe entry and exit from your bathing. Unlike the tubs, however, a walk-in shower does not fill a basin with water. Instead, it operates through a traditional showerhead and the optional addition of shower wands, making bathing both safe and a breeze.
- Hybrid Tubs: Combining the best of both worlds, a Safe Step hybrid walk-in tub shower combination gives you the convenience of a showerhead with the luxurious comfort of a bathtub. As with all Safe Step models, your safety is ensured with a low-entry threshold.
Safe Step Pricing Overview
The cost of a Safe Step tub will vary by the specific model, its features, and your location. Installation costs, in particular, can vary greatly by the bathroom. But here’s a general range of what you can expect to pay for a walk-in tub, shower, or combination from Safe Step, including installation.
| Product/service | Price range |
|---|---|
| Walk-In Tub | $2,500 – $8,000 |
| Walk-In Shower | $4,000 – $10,000 |
| Hybrid Tub | $2,500 – $10,000 |
| Installation | $5,000+ |
| Total | $7,500 – $13,000* |
*The price ranges are estimates; actual costs will vary.
FYI: National data from Angi, formerly Angie’s List, shows that a normal price range for walk-in tubs is $4,000 to $22,000. You can save money by buying a smaller tub, or a tub without extras like air and water jets.
Safe Step Features
Together, working with a Safe Step specialist, you’ll figure out which additional features you’d like to have in your tub. However, they explained to us that there are several features that come standard with every unit. Here’s a closer look at those:
Safe Step Standard Features
Here’s a closer look at features included in all tubs:
- Wide Door: Safe Step tubs have some of the widest doors available on the market, yet another way that those with mobility issues can easily enter the tub.
- Low-Entry Threshold: Entering and exiting your walk-in tub is both easy and safe with Safe Step’s low-entry threshold, which is the same on all of their tubs. The low threshold makes bathroom falls less likely. According to the Centers for Disease Control, bathroom falls have a larger physical impact among people 65 and older compared with younger age groups.
- No-Strength Locking Handle: It’s true what they say: A walk-in tub is only as good as its seal, unless you want to risk spilling a tubful of water on the floor. Luckily, the Safe Step door seal is airtight, and you can control it with the no-strength locking handle. Designed to minimize strain, this handle is perfect for those with aches or arthritis.
- Quick Drain Release: Using similar stress-relieving technology as the locking handle, the quick drain release makes it a breeze to clear the water from your tub. It also utilizes pumps to clear the water out more quickly. In my experience, this tub drained up to nearly 40 percent quicker than its competitors.
- Grab Bars: Each Safe Step walk-in tub features two grab bars that help you maintain balance and prevent falls.
- Anti-Slip Surfaces: Both the floor and seat in your tub will feature a textured surface that allows you to keep your balance without sacrificing comfort.
- Sanitary Gel-Coat: Coated in a layer of mold-resistant gel, each Safe Step tub is a breeze to clean.
Safe Step Luxury Features
In addition to the solid safety features, Safe Step reps explained to me the company’s high-end comfort features that will turn your baths into a luxurious experience. Here’s a rundown:
- Hydro-Jet Water Therapy: Placed throughout your tub are 10 separate hydro-jets that soothe your body through the propulsion of water. It turns your tub into a hot tub of sorts. What’s more, you can even change the speed and location of the jets in order to target specific body parts such as the legs, feet, or back.
- Air jets: In addition to water jets, air jets are great for relieving pain, improving circulation, and hydrating your skin.
- Chromotherapy: Using a system of multicolored lights, you can relieve your mind of stress with Safe Step’s chromotherapy system. These lights can alternate between seven different colors, though my personal favorite would be blue.
- Aromatherapy: Whether or not you believe in the healing power of essential oils, I think we can all agree that smells such as peppermint or lavender are relaxing. Safe Step’s aromatherapy systems allow you to drop in your favorite oils, which it then diffuses throughout your tub.
- Heated seat and backrest: Make your hot bath even more relaxing with a heated seat and backrest, which will keep you warm even when your tub is filling and draining.
FYI: As aging in place becomes more popular among older adults, so do walk-in tubs. According to a press release from Business Wire, the market for walk-in tubs will reach nearly $942 million by 2028, up from about $752 million in 2022.
Safe Step vs. American Standard Walk-In Tubs
Safe Step and American Standard are two of my favorite walk-in tub manufacturers. Both providers offer a wide range of safety and luxury features from their tubs, as well as the option to get a free in-person quote for the job.
American Standard, however, offers a much wider range of models: nearly 90. In fact, American Standard has so many different models that we’d strongly recommend reaching out for a consultation to help you navigate the best options for your situation. That said, if you want professional installation from the manufacturer itself, your model choices will decrease to three from American Standard, which is a similar selection to Safe Step’s. Aside from these three, you’ll have to handle installation on your own.
Recap
It’s hard to find much to complain about when it comes to Safe Step walk-in tubs. The company’s walk-in tubs marry safety with comfort in a way that users of any age can appreciate, and for that reason, they rank highly in my choices for best walk-in tubs. If you’re looking for a surefire way to make your bathroom safer and remain in your home for longer, then look no further than a Safe Step walk-in tub. If you want to learn more about walk-in tubs in general, read our latest guide to walk-in bathtubs and showers, or our list of tips for buying a walk-in bathtub.
Our Methodology
Here’s how we rate and review walk-in tubs such as Safe Step.
Safety
Since the main purpose of walk-in tubs is to prevent falls, it’s essential that the tub has a low step-in threshold, ideally no more than a few inches high. Additionally, tubs need grab bars so seniors can easily get in and out of the baths, and textured floors so seniors don’t slip once they’re in the tub.
Comfort
Of course, safety isn’t our only concern. Baths should be relaxing, so we look for tubs with built-in or optional features like air and water jets, chromotherapy, aromatherapy, and a heated back and seat.
Installation
Unless you want the hassle of removing your old tub and installing a new one, or hiring a third-party contractor to do it for you, it’s easiest if the tub manufacturer also handles installation. Installation shouldn’t take longer than a day, and ideally, it’s included in the cost of the tub.
Cost
We look for walk-in tubs that cost around $5,500 and up, giving preference to companies that allow customers to customize their tubs and choose only features they can afford.
Customer Reviews
Last but not least, we look at third-party reviews on Trustpilot, Consumer Affairs, and the Better Business Bureau to see what real customers have to say about the tubs. Overall ratings should be three out of five stars or higher.
Safe Step Frequently Asked Questions
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Exactly what is the cost of a Safe Step walk-in tub?
Unfortunately, there is no concrete answer to this question. Although you should anticipate spending anywhere from $7,500 to $13,000 in total for your walk-in tub, the only way to know for sure is to call Safe Step and receive a free estimate. Safe Step’s estimate will include the cost of installation, so you can rest assured that you won’t have any surprise costs later down the line.
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What is covered under my Safe Step walk-in tub warranty?
Safe Step’s walk-in tub warranty covers the following parts for the tub’s lifetime:
- Blowers
- Door seal
- Faucets
- Heaters
- Labor
- Parts
- Tub including any manufacturing defects
- Water pumps
Caulking, however, is only covered by a two-year warranty.
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Does Safe Step offer any type of discount on their walk-in tubs?
As of February 2025, Safe Step does offer a discount of up to $1,500 off, plus a free showerhead, making the tub a hybrid. This offer is only available for a limited time, however. Always available is Safe Step’s lowest price guarantee: If you find a lower price for a comparable tub, the company will refund the difference and give you $100. There are also discounts for people with sciatica, diabetes, nerve problems, arthritis, and other health issues, a rebate of $750 per person or $1,500 per household. Finally, the company offers discounts to AARP members, seniors, and veterans, although the exact amounts of the discounts aren’t listed on their website.
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Do Safe Step walk-in tubs come in more than one size?
Yes, Safe Step walk-in tubs come in more than one size:
- Smallest size: 47 inches long, 28 inches wide
- Average size: 51 inches long, 28 inches wide
- Largest size: 53 inches long, 31 inches wide
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Who should purchase a Safe Step walk-in tub?
Safe Step walk-in tubs are ideal for any person who suffers from mobility issues. Their easy access and built-in safety features ensure a worry-free bathing experience.
