TL;DR: The main bath materials in the UK are acrylic, reinforced acrylic such as Carronite, enamelled steel, cast iron and stone resin composite; acrylic is the lightest and usually the cheapest, while cast iron and stone composite are the heaviest and dearest.
- Acrylic is light, warm to the touch and comes in the most shapes; our acrylic baths start at £313.
- Carronite is Carron's reinforced acrylic, stronger and more rigid than standard acrylic.
- Enamelled steel is hard-wearing but feels colder; we do not currently stock steel baths.
- Cast iron holds heat for a long time and lasts for decades, but needs a strong floor.
- Stone composite is heavy and solid; we sell one composite stone bath, the Imperial Marlow.
The main bath materials in the UK are acrylic, reinforced acrylic such as Carron's Carronite, enamelled steel, cast iron and stone resin composite. Acrylic is the lightest and usually the cheapest, steel sits in the middle, and cast iron and stone composite are the heaviest and most expensive. The right one depends on your budget, your floor and how you like to bathe.
We sell acrylic, Carronite, cast iron and one composite stone bath. Prices below include VAT and are correct at the time of writing.
Bath materials compared
| Material | Weight | Warmth | Durability | Price band | Do we stock it? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic | Light | Warm to the touch | Good; light scratches can often be polished out | Budget to mid | Yes |
| Reinforced acrylic (Carronite) | Light | Warm to the touch | Stronger and more rigid than standard acrylic | Mid | Yes, from Carron |
| Enamelled steel | Medium | Cold to the touch, loses heat faster | Hard, glossy surface; enamel can chip if struck | Budget to mid | Not currently |
| Cast iron | Very heavy | Slow to warm, then holds heat a long time | Lasts for decades; enamel can chip if struck | High | Yes, from Imperial |
| Stone resin composite | Heavy | Holds heat well | Solid and dense; matt surfaces can often be restored | Mid to high | One model |
Acrylic baths
Acrylic baths are vacuum-formed from a sheet of acrylic and reinforced underneath. They are the most common bath in the UK because they are light, warm to the touch, easy to clean and made in almost every shape and size. A built-in bath in our range starts at £313 for the Duravit D-Code 1500 x 750mm, and our acrylic freestanding baths start at £1,184. The quality of an acrylic bath depends on the sheet thickness and the reinforcement, so a cheap, thin bath can flex. See all our acrylic baths, or read our acrylic freestanding baths guide.
Carronite: reinforced acrylic
Carronite is Carron's own reinforced acrylic. It is stronger and more rigid than standard acrylic, and Carron gives it a 40-year warranty, compared with 20 years on its standard 5mm acrylic baths. On the Carron Arc single ended bath at 1700 x 700mm, the bath alone is £471 in standard acrylic or £807 in Carronite. Carron's freestanding Celsius and Halcyon baths, and all the Carron whirlpool baths we sell, are made in Carronite. Browse the Carron range.
Acrylic or steel bath?
A steel bath is pressed from a sheet of steel and coated with vitreous enamel, the same kind of glassy coating used inside cast iron baths. It has a hard, glossy surface that resists scratches and cleaning products. On the other hand, steel feels cold when you first get in, loses heat faster than acrylic, can be noisy as it fills, and the enamel can chip if something heavy is dropped on it.
Acrylic is warmer, quieter and comes in more shapes, and any scratches are usually easier to deal with. For most homes, acrylic or Carronite is the better all-round choice. We do not currently stock steel baths.
Steel, enamel and metal freestanding baths
Steel roll top and enamel freestanding baths are less common than acrylic or cast iron ones. If you want a metal freestanding bath, our options are cast iron. The Dovedale comes in polished cast iron from £6,580, the Radison Aluminium is a cast iron bath with a polished aluminium exterior at £12,600, and the Bagiloni is available with a solid copper finish. We do not list a nickel freestanding bath, but several of our cast iron baths come with polished or brushed nickel feet.
Cast iron baths
Cast iron baths are cast in a mould, enamelled inside and finished outside, often in primer ready to paint. They take a while to warm up but then keep the water hot for a long time, and a well-kept cast iron bath can last for generations. They are very heavy, so the floor needs checking, and they cost more: ours start at £2,995. See our cast iron baths, our cast iron bath buying guide and our cast iron vs acrylic comparison.
Composite, stone resin and cast stone baths
Composite baths, also called stone resin or cast stone baths, are made from crushed stone or minerals bound with resin and cast in a mould. They are dense and heavy, hold heat well and have a solid, smooth feel, often with a matt finish. They are usually made as freestanding baths with thin, crisp edges, and some makers offer resin roll top baths too.
We sell one composite bath: the Imperial Marlow Double Oval Classic, moulded in composite stone, in white at £5,500.
Quarrycast and Tungstenite baths
Quarrycast and Tungstenite are trade names that particular bath makers use for their own stone or mineral composite materials. They belong in the same family as other stone resin baths: heavy, solid and good at holding heat. We do not sell these brands, but we can talk you through the composite option we do stock.
Frequently asked questions
Is an acrylic or steel bath better?
For most people, acrylic. It is lighter, warmer to the touch and quieter, and comes in more shapes. Steel has a harder surface but feels colder, and its enamel can chip.
What is a composite bath?
A composite bath is made from crushed stone or minerals bound with resin. It is heavy, solid and keeps water warm. Our composite option is the Imperial Marlow at £5,500.
Which bath material is the most heavy duty?
Cast iron is the heaviest and longest lasting. If you want a robust bath without the weight, choose a reinforced acrylic such as Carronite, which is stronger and more rigid than standard acrylic.
What is a Carronite bath?
A Carronite bath is a Carron bath made in Carronite, Carron's reinforced acrylic. Many Carron baths are offered in standard acrylic or Carronite, and the Carronite versions carry a 40-year warranty.
Talk to us about the right material
Every project starts with a free one-to-one consultation, where we look at your room, floor and budget and give you a clear, itemised quote. Visit our showroom at 32 Manor Park Rd, Birmingham B36 0DJ (Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm), call 0121 794 2553 or book your free consultation online.