Comparison guides
Freestanding bath or fitted bath: what changes at first fix
A fitted bath sits panelled against the wall with its waste and overflow hidden; a freestanding bath stands clear with exposed feet or a plinth and needs its services planned before the floor goes down. One is forgiving of late changes, the other is not.
Worth checking on site
Cleaning all round a freestanding bath needs genuine clearance on every side; against a wall it functions more like a fitted bath despite the style.
Frequently asked
Does a freestanding bath need a stronger floor?
The filled weight sits on a smaller footprint than a fitted bath's full base, so joist capacity is worth checking on upper floors.
Can a fitted bath be changed to freestanding later?
It usually means new floor-standing taps and a waste run to a different point, so it's a proper re-plumb rather than a swap.
How to choose
A freestanding bath fixes the tap and waste position at first fix, move the bath later and the floor pipework has to be exposed and moved with it.
A fitted bath can absorb small positioning tolerances behind its panel, which suits a room where exact setting-out isn't finalised until later.
Cleaning all round a freestanding bath needs genuine clearance on every side; against a wall it functions more like a fitted bath despite the style.
Keep reading
Talk through freestanding or fitted bath with the person doing the work
Send a short description of the room and what you want to change. We'll come back with practical options rather than a brochure.