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As a former athlete who now has fibromyalgia (aka a lot of tension, a lot of sore muscles), I live for a good hot bath. My new apartment has a jet tub, and the first time I used it, I stayed in for a solid hour. I once booked an eco-spa hotel as the last stop of a solo trip solely because it had a gigantic in-room jacuzzi spa tub. I even carried bath salts with me for the entire two weeks I was traveling.
If you love a good bath, are obsessed with Epsom salts for necessity (and bath bombs for fun), then you’re the audience for this article. I’m not even looking for bath amateurs here: bath trays are for people who are, or aspire to be, Bath Professionals. People who plan to bring a book or movie, bring a wine glass or beer, bring a face mask, bring treats, and hunker down in that blissful hot soup. (You are also welcome if you’re a bath dabbler or amateur, I don’t actually discriminate.)
Here are the best bath trays we could round up for you, so you can improve your bath game and stop trying to place this stuff on a little stool or balance it perilously on the side of your tub. I’ve divided them into two categories: affordable and flexible, perfect for the more casual bathtub reader, and luxurious, most made with real materials and either very sturdy, gorgeous, or handmade instead of mass-produced, especially perfect for gifting. Enjoy!
First Things First: Affordable and Flexible
This bathtub tray is Wirecutter’s #1 bathtub tray pick! It has extenders for any bath size and is flexible and compact. $50
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Prefer to go plastic? This white plastic caddy allows for easy drainage and upkeep, and is adjustable for many sizes of tub—plus it’s easily stored! $32+
This beautiful teak bathtub tray is not only adjustable—it’s also foldable, for convenient storage, while having all the nooks and crannies you need. $50
Don’t care about pretty wooden aesthetics as long as it holds your stuff? Go for a convenient, metal bath caddy at an affordable price! $25
Do you not trust a tray—or yourself—to keep your stuff out of the tub? Get this freestanding stand instead, for maximum flexibility. You can even adjust the height as you please! $36
Let’s Bring it Up a Notch: Luxurious
This gorgeous caddy is water-resistant, made of durable acacia to last you a long time, and (let’s face it) very pretty. $104+
Sometimes simple really is best. This sleek, modern acacia tray is everything you need, and it looks fantastic. $70
Do you see these other trays and say, compartments are well and good, but I’d rather spread out? Do you journal in the tub? If so, this gorgeous, wide, walnut bathtub tray is definitely for you. (You can get it without the wine holder too.) $93
This handmade olive wood tray is made of a unique piece of wood, and can be personalized. You can also choose nearly every size to fit your tub perfectly. $94+
This made-to-order bath caddy is made with a live edge of wood, decorated with stunning resin artwork. You can choose various options for wine holders, phone holders, and more, too. $227
Have fun, and I hope your baths are cozy and the water stays warm! For more bath content, check out our description of the ideal way to read in the bath, or design your ideal bubble bath and get an awesome reading suggestion out of it.
