Buying guide for best bathtub caddies
Nothing completes a relaxing bath better than a good book and a glass of wine. A bathtub caddy is like a little table for your tub. It enables you to turn a simple soak into a luxurious, spa-like experience by keeping candles, soaps, books, essential oils, drinks, snacks, and even electronics within reach and out of the water.
This simple accessory can turn your bath into a treat, but not all bathtub caddies are the same. They differ in size and configuration, and some work better than others. The price of bathtub caddies doesn’t vary greatly, but you still want to make sure your choice has the features you need.
This guide offers some helpful information as well as a few recommendations to make your shopping easier.
Key considerations
Materials
You’ll find bathtub caddies made of bamboo, teak, stainless steel, or plastic.
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Bamboo: Many luxurious-looking bathtub caddies are made of bamboo. This fast-growing natural material is water resistant and durable, but it isn’t impervious to mold or warping. Bamboo bath caddies need to dry completely between uses.
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Teak: Teak is another natural option. This tropical hardwood is very durable, and the oils in the wood make it water resistant. The drawback is that teak is the most expensive option.
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Stainless steel: Stainless steel bath caddies are also durable, and they resist rust. Some include attachments like a stemware or tablet holder. These caddies can be a little more versatile than bamboo, but their basket design can allow smaller items to slip into the tub.
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Plastic: Plastic caddies are waterproof and less expensive, but they aren’t likely to be as versatile or durable or have as many features as caddies made from other materials.
Size
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Width: While all bathtub caddies are long enough to span a tub (left to right), they vary in width (front to back). Many are about nine inches wide, but others can be as narrow as six inches. The width can make a big difference in the usefulness of a bathtub caddy in terms of what it can hold.
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Adjustability: Most tubs are between 30 and 32 inches wide. A bathtub caddy is designed to sit on the rim of the tub and needs to be long enough to fit across this width. An adjustable caddy is useful, particularly if your tub is a nonstandard width. Some caddies don’t extend past about 33 inches, while others can extend up to 42 inches.
- Weight: Bathtub caddies aren’t heavy, but the difference in weight from one style to the next might surprise you. Plastic or stainless steel models are the lightest, at about two pounds or less. Bamboo and teak caddies weigh about twice that, between four and five pounds.
Did you know?
The adjustable sides of most bathtub caddies collapse or fold flat to make the caddy smaller for storage.
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Bathtub caddy features
Book/tablet stand: This holds your reading material at an angle while you bathe. Some stands allow you to change the angle of the book. The stand should lie flat on the caddie when not in use.
Book/tablet cover: Some bathtub caddies come with a transparent plastic cover that you slip over your book or tablet to protect it from splashing.
Spa trays: Spa trays allow you to hold bath bombs, soaps, and other items. They may also have a candleholder or cell phone holder. You might want a bathtub caddy that has a removable spa tray so you can more easily store the caddy while keeping your bath add-ons organized.
Cupholder: A standard cupholder in the caddie keeps a beverage handy and doubles as a candleholder. Many caddies also come designed to specifically hold a wine glass or two. Some of these holders secure the base of the glass. It requires you to slide the glass in and out of a slot, but it’s fairly reliable and sturdy. Some other caddies have a clip-style holder designed to secure a wine glass by its stem.
Cell phone holder: Some bathtub caddies have a slot designed to hold a cell phone upright for viewing movies or talking on the phone.
Grips: You may enjoy the natural feel of bamboo until it slides into the tub. Silicone, rubber, or another grippy material on the bottom of the caddy will help hold it in place. Grips can also protect your tub from scratches.
Bathtub caddy prices
Inexpensive: A basic plastic or stainless steel bathtub caddy starts at about $15. Most of these models have book stands and cupholders but not many other features.
Mid-range: If you’re looking for a bamboo bath caddy, you’ll need to spend about $25. Some of these models are made of a combination of bamboo and metal. They offer expandable arms for the best fit on your tub and have several organizational features.
Expensive: The best bath caddies on the market don’t cost much more than the mid-range models, at about $30 to $40, but these may be more durable. High-end features include removable spa trays and extra soap dish holders.
Tips
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Look for a bathtub caddy that can do double duty. A bathtub caddy with foldable legs can double as a desk for using your laptop in bed.
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Look for a bathtub caddy with a removable soap dish. Being able to remove the soap dish to wash it separately will help keep the caddy cleaner.
- Look for a wooden caddy that’s well lacquered and rated “mold free.” It will last longer.
FAQ
Q. Is a bamboo caddy better than teak?
A. While teak contains natural oils that help to make it water resistant, bamboo, which is a fast-growing grass, is lighter weight, easily grown, and free of toxins. Even though bamboo won’t last as long as teak, bamboo is a good choice because it is beautiful, affordable, and more eco-friendly.
Q. Is a bathtub tray the same thing as a bathtub caddy?
A. Yes. The two items generally serve the same function of providing you with a small tabletop for your tub. Bathtub caddies are designed to hold food, drink, book, grooming aids, soaps, candles, and other accessories, while a tray has fewer features.
