Freestanding Bathtub: Choosing, Sizing and Planning
A freestanding bathtub is a decision to treat the bathroom as a living space. It does not hide in an alcove or behind a tiled panel; it claims floor space and in return becomes a piece of furniture. Casa Padrino offers freestanding baths from a compact 124.5 cm copper model to a 198 cm Baroque marble bath, in cast marble, natural marble, acrylic, ceramic, copper and composite materials. You will find the complete range in our bathtubs category.
This page is written as a planning guide. Most disappointments with freestanding baths have nothing to do with the bath itself. They come from things that should have been settled earlier: too little clearance around the tub, a waste outlet in the wrong place, a floor that was never checked for the load, or a staircase the bath cannot get up.
Settle those four points before ordering and the bathroom will work for decades. Skip them and you may end up rebuilding. Everything else is a matter of taste, and there the choice is wide: from the clawfoot shapes on our Victorian bath tub page to modern egg and oval forms.
A modern freestanding bath in high gloss white cast marble, 180 x 75.5 cm, in front of a stone wall. Pictured: Casa Padrino freestanding luxury bathtub high gloss white 180 cm
How much space a freestanding bath really needs
The appeal of a freestanding bath is that you can walk around it. To create that impression it needs room. A good guideline is a clear zone of 60 to 80 cm on every side, and a little more on the side where you step in, because that is also where the towel, a stool and the route to the shower tend to be.
Pushed too close to a wall, the bath loses exactly the effect it was bought for and starts to look like a fitted bath someone forgot to box in. In a small bathroom, a shorter bath with proper clearance is the better solution than a long model that fills the room from wall to wall.
In practical terms, a bath of 170 x 75 cm that is meant to stand truly free needs roughly 290 cm in its long direction and 215 cm across. If the room is smaller, placing one long side closer to the wall is acceptable, as long as both ends remain open. This is often the right compromise in British bathrooms, which tend to be narrower than their continental counterparts.
Choosing the right length
Our freestanding bathtubs start at 124.5 cm and reach 198 cm. The right length depends on two things: the height of the people who will use it and the size of the room.
- 124.5 to 150 cm: compact baths for small rooms, such as our short copper model and acrylic and composite baths of 150 cm
- 160 to 175 cm: the most popular range, comfortable for most adults, including many cast marble and copper models
- 177 to 180 cm: generous baths that suit taller bathers and need a spacious room
- 190 to 198 cm: statement baths in cast or natural marble for large bathrooms and suites
A point that is often overlooked is the volume of water. A long, deep bath holds considerably more than a compact one, and the hot water system has to deliver that amount in reasonable time. For our egg shaped bath in graphite, for example, the stated capacity is 275 litres, for the copper effect double ended bath 200 litres. Before ordering a large bath, talk to your plumber about cylinder size and recovery time.
Materials and what they mean in daily use
The material determines weight, how warm the bath feels and how it should be cared for. Our collection covers a broad spectrum.
Cast marble, a mineral casting with a polished surface, is the backbone of our modern range. These baths come in high gloss or matt white in lengths from 160 to 190 cm, and the stated empty weights lie between about 111 and 172 kg. On many models the exterior can be ordered in another colour on request. A related material, described as silk stone, is used for our egg shaped bath in graphite of 170 x 80 cm, which weighs 92 kg and comes with a push to open waste and overflow.
Natural marble is the uncompromising choice: massive, unique in its veining and with a cool, refined touch. We offer marble baths in white, grey and anthracite, a round marble bath of 150 cm diameter and Baroque marble baths with carved lion heads. The heaviest of them, a grey Baroque bath of 198 cm, weighs around 1,000 kg, which makes structural planning essential.
An egg shaped bath in graphite: 170 x 80 cm, 92 kg, with push to open waste and overflow. Pictured: Casa Padrino Freestanding Luxury Egg Shaped Bathtub Graphite 170 cm
At the other end of the scale are acrylic baths. Our acrylic models weigh roughly 41 to 52 kg, the double ended bath in glass fibre reinforced acrylic with copper effect 49 kg. They feel warm to the touch, are easy to carry and are often the only realistic choice for upper floors in older buildings. Copper baths, worked by hand, bring a warm metallic presence, and our Italian ceramic baths combine a smooth surface with classic claw feet.
Weight and structure: the question to settle first
A full bath with a person in it puts several hundred kilograms on a small footprint, and with marble the empty weight alone can be considerable. On a concrete floor in a modern building this is rarely a problem. On suspended timber floors, common in Victorian and Edwardian houses and in many period conversions, it needs checking.
Ask a structural engineer or experienced builder to assess the floor, using the empty weight of the specific model, the volume of water and the weight of the bather. Where weights are stated on our product pages, they make that calculation straightforward. If the assessment shows a limit, an acrylic or composite bath is the natural alternative: a similar form at a fraction of the weight.
Water supply and waste
A freestanding bath is supplied in one of two ways. Either by a floor standing bath filler placed beside the tub, which needs connections coming up through the floor, or by wall mounted taps with a long spout, if the bath stands close enough to the wall. Many of our baths are designed specifically for wall or floor mounted taps, and several are supplied without taps, so the choice is yours.
Both options must be decided before the floor is finished, because the pipework lies within the floor build up. Changing your mind later means lifting the floor again. Mark the exact position of the bath and agree it with your plumber before screed and tiles go down. Matching floor standing taps are presented on our page about freestanding bath taps, and the shop category bathtub taps shows the full selection.
Natural marble in grey, 178 x 100 cm: each bath is unique in its veining. Pictured: Casa Padrino Freestanding Luxury Marble Bathtub Gray 178 cm
Delivery: getting the bath into the house
Freestanding baths are delivered by freight carrier. Before ordering, check door widths, clearance heights, the width of the stairs and above all the turning space on the staircase, because a bath cannot be tilted like a box. In older houses with narrow, winding stairs, this is the critical point.
Depending on the material, plan for two to four people to carry the bath into place, and for natural marble even more support. Tell us about the access conditions before you order, so that delivery can be organised accordingly. If in doubt, a lightweight model that two people can carry is the safe solution.
Where to place the bath in the room
Three positions have proved their worth. Centred in front of a window, the bath stands against the light, its silhouette comes into its own and the view from the bath leads outside. Free in the middle of the room, it becomes a clear centrepiece, which suits generous bathrooms and overwhelms small ones. Diagonally across a large corner, it saves walking space and still keeps a distance from the walls.
In all three cases, the view from the bath should land on something pleasant, a window, a fireplace or a well designed wall, not the door. The floor around the bath should tolerate splashes. Matching pieces are found in the categories washbasins and bathroom furniture, and a heated towel rail or radiator in the right style completes the room, from traditional radiators to modern designs.
Style is the last decision, not the first. Clawfoot and slipper baths suit period homes, and our guide to the Victorian bathroom, including the high level cistern toilet, shows how to build a whole room around them. Egg shapes, ovals and softly drawn rectangles in white, black or graphite suit contemporary spaces. Between the two sit metallic baths in copper and gold tones, presented on our gold bathtub page.
A double ended freestanding bath: copper effect outside, white inside, 173.5 x 73 cm and 200 litres. Pictured: Casa Padrino Luxury Bathtub Copper / White 173.5 cm
Casa Padrino: freestanding bathtubs for homes and projects
Casa Padrino is an international supplier of luxury furniture and interiors, from Baroque classics and Art Nouveau to contemporary design. Our bathroom range brings together freestanding bathtubs, washbasins, taps, radiators, toilets and bathroom furniture, much of it in manufactory quality and some of it made in Italy. We deliver across Europe and internationally, to private clients as well as hotels, architects and developers.
For projects with several bathrooms we coordinate models, finishes and schedules directly with architects and interior designers, and we are happy to discuss special colours where a model allows it. Discover the full collection at www.casa-padrino.de.
Our bathroom series at a glance
- Victorian bathroom
- Traditional radiators
- Designer radiators
- Luxury towel warmer
- High level cistern toilet
- Freestanding bath taps
- Victorian bathtub
- Gold bathtub
- Luxury washbasin
- Luxury vanity unit
Frequently asked questions about the freestanding bathtub
How much space does a freestanding bathtub need?
Allow a clear zone of 60 to 80 cm around the bath, a little more on the side where you get in. For a bath of 170 x 75 cm that means roughly 290 by 215 cm if it is to stand truly free. If space is tight, a shorter model or a position with one long side nearer the wall is the better answer.
Which length should I choose?
Around 150 cm suits small rooms and shorter bathers. 160 to 175 cm is the most popular range and comfortable for most adults. 177 cm and above suits taller people but needs a spacious room and a hot water system that can fill a larger volume.
Will my floor take the weight?
Concrete floors usually will. Suspended timber floors in older houses should be checked by a professional, especially for marble or cast marble baths. Use the empty weight of the model, the water volume and the bather as the basis for the assessment.
What is the lightest option?
Acrylic. Our acrylic freestanding baths weigh roughly 41 to 52 kg empty, the copper effect double ended bath 49 kg. That makes them suitable for upper floors and for houses where access is difficult.
Which taps do I need?
Either a floor standing bath filler beside the bath, which needs connections through the floor, or wall mounted taps with a long spout if the bath stands near a wall. Many of our baths are designed for exactly these options. Decide before the floor is laid.
Is a waste included?
That depends on the model. Some baths include waste and overflow, such as the egg shaped bath with push to open waste or the double ended bath with click waste in chrome. Others are supplied without taps and waste. The product page states what is included.
Will the bath fit up my stairs?
That is the critical question in older houses. Measure door widths, clearance heights, stair width and the turning space on landings, because a bath cannot be tilted like a box. Tell us the measurements before ordering so we can plan delivery accordingly.
Can a freestanding bath stand in a bedroom?
Yes, in suites and open plan layouts this is a popular concept. You need a floor that can carry the load, carefully planned supply and waste, and a floor finish that tolerates splashes. As always, the connections must be fixed before the floor is built up.
How do I clean a freestanding bath?
Warm water, a soft cloth and, if needed, a mild cleaner without acids. Avoid limescale removers, scouring products and anything based on vinegar or citric acid. In hard water areas, a quick wipe after use prevents marks, and on natural marble oily bath additives are best avoided.
Do you deliver to the UK and to hotels?
We deliver internationally to private clients, hotels, resorts and developers. For larger projects we agree models, finishes and schedules directly with architects and interior designers.
