I'm kind of shocked that "Soaker" got 4 times as many votes as "Jetted" .. wonder why. Guess #1 question is what are their relative prices, for similar sizes? That would also include the cost of electrical connections for the jetted tub. I'd also be curious to know the difference in water usage & water heating cost, per additional inch depth of a tub (starting with some standard depth), if someone takes a long bath twice a week.

Personally I like a more contemporary jetted tub.

@Dytecture - That takes up a ton of space .. and what about "access"? With a very wide surround like that, it makes access difficult for anyone who isn't "athletic ".

I prefer the lower maintenance on a soaker tub.

Jacuzzi baths have a bad reputation over here for having problems, for being more difficult to clean and for being a bit old fashioned.

@studio10001 .. not sure what you mean. When I was in my 40s, I broke the heel of my right foot, and had a cast for 8 weeks. I was able to get into a traditional tub wearing a neoprene "legging", but I don't know if I could have risked climbing in & out of a tub like the one in the photo.

astrea, was responding to your first query re. preference, was all.

I have an older jetted tub and I quit using the jets because of the yuck that is in the pipes that blows out when you turn it on. I just wish I could convince my husband to rip it out but he never will. Go with the soaker!

@ghome - Every once in a while, you have to fill the tub above the jet level, add a good cleanser, and run it for a little while .. then drain & use a toothbrush around the jets. Yes, it is a pain in the neck!

I don't like the noise of a jetted tub -- the opposite of relaxing. I think they're ok outdoors but not in the bathroom. Regardless of which you choose, realize that they take forever to fill, use a lot of water, and tend to cool rather quickly. I think they're both over-rated. If I could afford it, i'd put a soaker tub right outside my bedroom.

the freestanding soaker tub we use at builder pricing is $1380.00 the jetted tub is a little less expensive but there is added cost in electrical and tiling the tub deck. so I would say that they are about equal price.

Air tubs are an alternative to jetted tubs.

Norm - I thought that air bubblers were supposed to be the next best thing .. but they don't seem to have become that popular; why is that?

Bello - If the freestanding soaker just "sits there", why is it more expensive than a jetted tub?

I don't think they are advertised enough. I have used Kohler models and folks loved them.

How do they compare price-wise to jetted tubs?

astraea: I have asked the exact same question with no good answer!

I'm glad Norm brought up air tubs. We both love ours and it does get a lot of use. Not sure about the price comparison to standard jetted. I didn't and wouldn't even consider one. The biggest downside to me is that when the airjets are running, it IS a bit loud. Given a choice, an air tub would probably always get my vote.

Here is an example: Kohler Sunward model 1162 jetted $1300

Kohler Sunward model 1162 air tub $1700

All the gunk that gets in the jet system grosses me out so much.

So the air tub is $400 more; I seem to remember hearing that they were more expensive. I was just hunting around for info, and came across a blog .. where someone who owned an air jet tub said they're not as clean as they lead you to believe either. My guess about why the soaker is more expensive, is that they renamed deep tubs "soakers", made them trendy .. and were able to jack up the prices!

Been there, done that… don't. You won't use it. Design a private outdoor space, with an adjoining shower, and do a hot tub. I don't mean a party hot tub, but one that you would use personally. I would never do a tub like that inside my home…ever again.

With the jetted tubs you really need to fill them above the jets with a bleach solution and run them for 10 minutes or so. Then you have to drain it, and fill it back up with plain water, run to rinse, and drain it again. That should be done every month if it is used frequently, in my opinion.

What Norm said might help me get over the gunk idea but it still makes me feel dirty. I would have to take a shower after and never dunk your head under the water.

Incorporating a handheld shower to rinse off with is not a bad idea.

I have two jetted tubs in my house and use neither. No matter how often they are cleaned with the proper cleaner, they still get gunky. Ugh. I haven't tried the air jet tubs and hear they are better but I think the look of soaker tubs is better anyway.

Low maintenance and easy cleaning are important to me so if there are new and improved jetted tubs that incorporate these features then that would be my first choice. #BeSeenBeSafe

We have had a jetted tub and a hot tub. We loved the jetted tub for a relaxing soak but rarely used the jets due to noise. A deep soaking tub is wonderful for warming up after skiing, soothing sore muscles and relaxing. Pick one that is deep enough to cover your shoulders and long enough to stretch out your legs but not so wide that it takes forever to fill. Plan on needing a larger capacity hot water heater. Hot tubs are generally more social spaces. Save the jets for a hot tub where they seem more effective and the noise is less annoying.

I just bought a house with a jetted tub. If I don't use the jets can I add bubblebath? I'd rather have a soaker tub and will most likely change it out but in the meantime I really want to take bubblebaths.

A long deep soaker tub! I'm tubless at the moment (4yrs) and really really miss it. I'd take a bath 4-5 a week.

Neither...large shower with overhead, handheld heads and body sprays. Heaven!

Thank you to all who have left comments. You've all convinced me to go with a soaker over a whirlpool. We are remodeling an older home and don't have room for separate tub and shower (oh how I wish we did!). I thought newer models would be more quiet (guess not the case). This would be our daily shower/tub. This spurs yet another project though - hot tub in the backyard! Thank you for the discussion.

I know this is an older thread but we are having a house built and under selections I see jetted and I see soaker for tub. I like taking bubble baths now but I'm reading you can't do that with a jetted tub is that correct? And that they make too much noise and are hard to clean. Can you put any kind of bath salts or stuff in the jetted tub I'm guessing I don't have to do bubble baths. Just not sure what to get

I'll take jetted any day.

Our jetted tub shoots out black crud :(. So gross

Any "tub" should be used as the Japanese do, shower and scrub yourself, rinse well, then soak. If there's scum on the water you weren't clean enough.

I still am undecided! I called the store our tubs is coming from and she said the newer acrylic model which we are getting isn't real loud and that if I called her one day and gave her an hours notice she would fill it up for me and turn it on when I got there. She said they are not hard to clean and black stuff won't come out of the jets and I can put bubble bath in it when jets are off I think she said I forget now.

But anyway I have a choice of soaker or Jetted and it's not extra and in my master bath today I saw where they have it roughed in for Jetted I think my husband said and I haven't decided. But most are saying soaker and I have never had a jetted tub and I just thought I may like it and if not I won't use the jets and then use it as a soaker tub it's not costing me anymore to have it. But I still wonder what people are doing now a days since this thread is old. I have to decide soon! My hall bath already has the insert in it and my master has a small stand up shower insert in there already.

The filth coming out of the jacuzzi jet nozzles turned me off from taking baths. Even with the recommended bleach cleaning little bits of filth still comes out of the nozzles. Unless you can stick something into the nozzles and snake clean the tubes there is still soap scum, dead skin, mold, and mildew in them. It's even worse if you don't use or clean the jets regularly. If I had the money I would remove it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB2c5XCcXG0&ab_channel=JohnWearing

Unless you have a therapeutic reason for a jetted tub the additional maintenance is not worth it. You still have to clean the jet housing (more fun with a toothbrush).

I owned an Aquatic whirlpool tub in my old house. Oh how I miss it since I have moved! I plan to install another one in my new house when I remodel. It had an in-line heater to keep the water hot and it had jets that were easily removed for cleaning although I didn't have to do that often. It had a waterfall tub spout that filled the tub very quickly and the jets had 2 settings for high and low. I never had filth shooting out of them like other people have said and there was never any odor or mold either. Cleaning it after a bath simply involved a washcloth and a cup of water for wiping down and rinsing the inside. Once in a blue moon when I felt like it, I would fill it, add a little bleach and let it run for 10 minutes for a deep cleaning. It was such a relaxing tub, if I could have taken it with me I would have.

There are special cleaning products for removing biofilm in jetted tubs. It's just maintenance.

I was so unsure of what of I wanted when we had our house built. I had a choice of Soaker or Jetted which was no extra cost. Most people said no it's too much maintenance and the Jets get dirty and moldy and the lady at the bath store told me about cleaning with the bleach the 1st time and every so often. She also said without the jets on I could take a regular bubble bath. So I decided never had jetted might as well try it if I don't like it I'll use it as a soaker tub. I only used it once with the jets on and I liked it and then I did a bubble bath once without the jets on. I am glad I did the jets. I got me a bath pillow and it's so relaxing I just never find the time to use it often. LOL!

I am quite puzzled as to why the outdoor hot tub does not get gunk in the jets and the indoor one does ? Is it because you use soap inside ? if so I think you should have a plain bathtub for washing with soap and never allow soap in the jacuzzi.