A long soak in a steaming hot bath is surely the number one way to relax your muscles and soothe your mind when life gets stressful. If you're lucky enough to have a bathtub at home, a tray where you can place your iPad, book, or even a glass of wine will add a touch of total luxury to your bathing routine.
If you're not sure what to look for in a bathtub tray - sometimes also called a bath bridge or a caddy - then let us guide you through the buying basics. We've searched Amazon, eBay and John Lewis for the best ones available in the UK, from modern white wooden trays to natural bamboo caddies with plenty of storage space. With one of our recommended products, you can ensure that every bathtime will be blissful!
Quick List - Top Bathtub Trays
Blooming Lily
A Chic Bamboo Caddy That's Incredibly Durable
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Bathtub trays are all the rage on Instagram and Pinterest, but how do you know which one to choose? We've broken the basics down in this buying guide, so you'll know what's out there and which features will best suit your needs. Read on for more info!
Obviously your bath tray is likely to get a little bit damp, no matter how careful you are, but some materials are more durable than others when it comes to getting splashed. In this section, we'll explore the pros and cons of some of the most popular options.
Lots of bath trays found online these days are made from bamboo. This material is particularly popular because it's sustainable - bamboo grows at an extremely fast rate, requires zero fertiliser, and regenerates itself.
As bamboo is a grass, it's pretty water-resistant compared to other materials. It's also relatively affordable, beautiful to look at, and can be stained darker if desired for a more dramatic effect. The only downside to bamboo is that it's prone to getting scratched, so take care when moving things around on your tray.
Rubberwood, a medium-density tropical hardwood sourced from rubber trees, is another material that's risen in popularity recently when it comes to homeware. Not only is it durable and lightweight, but it's budget-friendly too.
Bath trays made from rubberwood are generally just as sturdy and secure as bamboo ones and are often treated to make them more resistant to drips and splashes from the tub.
If want a beautiful tray to match the rustic theme of your bathroom, try one made from walnut. This type of wood is typically treated with a protective coating to prevent damage from regular use.
Whilst a walnut wood bath tray will need to be carefully dried and stored away from damp places, it should last for a long time providing you care for it properly. It'll look absolutely charming with a few candles placed on top, don't you think?
Some bath trays come with stainless steel grids on either side of the main wooden section. These may feel more like your typical bath caddy for soap and flannels, rather than the glamorous wine and romance novel style trays you tend to see online, but they do have certain advantages over fully wooden ones.
The main benefit of a stainless steel section is the fact that you can put wet items here and they'll drip dry over the bath without causing any damage. The steel section itself will also dry quickly, which is always a bonus!
The standard bathtub in the UK measures 70 cm in width, but larger ones can be as wide as 107 cm. It's, therefore, a good idea to measure your bathtub before you start shopping and make sure you purchase a tray which will fit across it. Remember, a bath tray that's too wide may hang over one side - this isn't only impractical, it's unsafe too!
We've included the dimensions of each tray in the specification table below its review, so you can work out which ones will fit your bath best. You might also want to consider an extendable bath tray if you have a larger bath, though it is worth noting that these are generally more costly.
Below we've listed some other features that you might want to look out for in a bath tray. You may love the idea of a product with lots of places to put things, or perhaps you're satisfied with a simple slot for your phone. Either way, we've got you covered!
Watching an episode of your favourite show whilst submerged in a bubble bath has got to be the ultimate way to chill out! So, many trays have a special stand or slot where you can comfortably place your tablet while you relax.
For those who love to read in the tub, look for a stand that'll prop up your book - some even have extra clips to keep your paperback open firmly at the right page.
Preventing your smartphone from slipping beneath the bubbles is a tricky task at bathtime. That's where trays with a designated slot for your phone come in!
Check out whether the tray you like has this particular feature, and use our handy specification tables to see whether your phone will need to lie down flat or can be propped up. The latter is much better for scrolling through Twitter, watching videos, or even a quick FaceTime with a loved one - we're not judging!
If you enjoy a glass of wine at bathtime, you'll want to choose a tray with a special space to hold it. Trays usually have one of two options: a section where you can place the base of your glass, or a slot which supports the neck of the glass and leaves the stem hanging down below the tray.
Both options save you from leaning out of the water to reach your wine, but the neck support one is slightly safer as the body of the glass is closer to the tray's surface. It's totally up to you which type you go for though!
Lots of the bath trays you can find online have extra space for other bits and pieces - bathing accessories, a scented candle, a cup of tea, or even a small bowl of snacks! If you like to have everything organised on your bath tray, it's always a good idea to have as many sections as possible.
It's also worth noting that a separate soap dish is a particularly popular addition to a lot of caddies, as it keeps the suds away from your gadgets. Designated tea light holders are common too - perfect for creating a spa experience at home!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Moon & Lagoon Bamboo Over Bath Bridge | ![]() | Beautiful, Ergonomic, and All-Inclusive | |
2 | Blooming Lily Bathtub Tray with Wineglass Holder and iPad stand | ![]() | A Chic Bamboo Caddy That's Incredibly Durable | |
3 | Hutchings Strong and Stable Bath Tray | ![]() | Packed With Extra Features to Make Life Easier | |
4 | woodluv Extendable Bath Tub Caddy | ![]() | An Elegant Tray With a Soap Holder Included | |
5 | Hankey Bamboo Bathtub Caddy | ![]() | Ideal for Relaxing in Larger Bathtubs | |
6 | John Lewis & Partners Rubberwood Bath Bridge | ![]() | Pretty and Practical, With an Optional Bookstand | |
7 | Trixes Premium Bamboo Bath Caddy | ![]() | An Affordable Option with Spots for Snacks and Gadgets | |
8 | GaragemanMakes Rustic Wooden Bath Caddy | ![]() | Stunningly Stylish Yet Simple | |
9 | ToiletTree Products Stainless Steel and Bamboo Bathtub Caddy | ![]() | Perfect for Readers and Wine Lovers | |
10 | bambuswald 100% Natural Bamboo Bath Caddy | ![]() | A No-Fuss Tray With Plenty of Space |
Topping our list with its huge range of features is this amazing bamboo bath tray! The ergonomic handles and slip-proof pads make it practical as well as easy on the eye. Reasonably priced and made with superb quality materials, it can be used in a number of ways.
The bookstand has a bar which will hold pages open, the slide-in wine glass holder keeps your Pinot Grigio secure, and it has plenty of space for bath accessories. It even comes with a soap dish and pumice stone included for the full spa experience. If you ask us, this tray has everything you could possibly need at bathtime!
For a more rustic or rainforest-chic look, why not try this stained bamboo bath tray? The sustainable material means it has eco-friendly credentials, plus it's highly durable and water-resistant.
Measuring 70cm, this tray should fit onto most standard bathtubs, but can be extended out to 105cm for those who are blessed with a broader tub. Slot your wine glass in by its base, prop up your tablet and phone, and enjoy some much-needed me-time!
Bring a touch of spa-day luxury into your bathroom by investing in this top-quality bamboo bath tray. It comes with plenty of useful features, including a bookstand with clips and even a soap tray on the side!
This particular tray has space for a candle or mug of hot tea, as well as a slot for your wine glass when you really need to unwind. Unfortunately, this product isn't extendable so make sure it'll fit your bathtub, as it's a little wider than the standard size.
Crafted from sustainable bamboo and painted bright white, this tray would definitely suit a bathroom with a minimalist theme. It can be extended from 75 cm to 109 cm in width and has a slot especially for your favourite wine glass.
Further handy features include a secure stand for your book or iPad, a standing phone holder, and a separate soap holder which will keep your slippery hands away from your gadgets.
Lie back and relax with this extendable caddy which adjusts from 70cm to 106cm, depending on the width of your bath. With a slot for a book or a tablet, it's ideal for reading or watching a film from amongst the bubbles.
As well as having a slot for the base of your wine glass and a place to lie your smartphone flat, there's even space for a little candle or a small snack bowl. This tray will make a fantastic gift for a loved one or a well-deserved treat for yourself!
We really love this neutral-coloured caddy with a bookstand that can be collapsed if you're not using it. There's loads of space on the tray too; enough for a glass of wine, a scented candle, and your smartphone.
This tray is pretty big, measuring 105cm, but it's not adjustable so it's only suitable for wide tubs. Whilst it's on the expensive side, we'd say it's worth the money - rubberwood is eco-friendly and water-resistant, making this tray a great long-term investment!
This bamboo tray is the perfect width for the average bath tub and has room for all your bathtime essentials: a wine glass holder, a slot for your phone that'll prop it up, and space for a snack bowl or mini candle.
Unfortunately, this tray doesn't extend so do measure your bathtub before you click "add to basket"! Despite this, the charming varnished finish and the handy wooden slats which stop things slipping around make this a worthy mention in our top 10.
This lovely, simple wooden bath tray is made to order via Amazon for only £22. The walnut wood gives it a glamorous aesthetic, plus it conveniently has designated slots for a wine glass and four little tea lights.
By purchasing one of these handmade trays, you'll be supporting an independent seller - that's something we'll always recommend! It's just a shame that this product doesn't have more snazzy features, otherwise it would be much higher on our list.
This tray combines a bamboo base with stainless steel extensions, so looks perhaps a little less romantic than other choices on our list. Still, it's practical and extendable, so we'd say it's not all about looks!
With an 18cm book holder that holds your novel open at just the right page and a slot to keep your wine glass safe between sips, we think this tray is a cracking choice for any bathroom. The extremely high price is the only downside to this otherwise fantastic product!
Whilst this tray doesn't have all the fancy features of others that you'll see on our list, it's easy to care for and store when not in use. It's also relatively cheap compared to other bath caddies, making it perfect for those on a budget.
It's a shame that there's no specific slot for a wine glass but, as you can see in the picture, there's plenty of room for one. Make sure you double-check the size of your bath before buying too, as this product measures 68.5 cm which is a little less than the average tub width!
For more ideas to transform your bathroom from a humid hellhole into a cosy haven, have a read through these articles! Our guides will introduce you to all kinds of fab products that'll make refreshing your bathroom easy and fun.
So, which bathtub tray have you picked out as your favourite? Whichever one has caught your eye, we know you're going to love using it to watch a film and sip a glass of wine amongst the bubbles. Self-care is always worth splashing out on!
Author: Annie Hopkins
No. 1: Moon & Lagoon|Bamboo Over Bath Bridge
No. 2: Blooming Lily|Bathtub Tray with Wineglass Holder and iPad stand
No. 3: Hutchings|Strong and Stable Bath Tray
No. 4: woodluv|Extendable Bath Tub Caddy
No. 5: Hankey|Bamboo Bathtub Caddy
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