How do bathtub repair kits work?

Bathtub finishes can fade, chip, and crack over the years, but a bathtub repair kit can be used to return the tub to a like-new appearance. This is accomplished by applying epoxies or enamels to the surface of the tub with a paintbrush, roller, or a spray can in order to fix cast iron, porcelain over metal, fiberglass, or acrylic tubs.

Can all bathtub materials be repaired?

All common bathtub materials can be repaired with a bathtub repair kit. However, it's important to know what the bathtub is made out of because the repair process can differ depending on the material.

How do you know what your bathtub is made out of?

If you can't tell whether the tub is cast iron, porcelain over metal, fiberglass, or acrylic from a visual inspection, try pressing on the side of the tub to test the flexibility. If it gives, then it's likely made of acrylic or fiberglass. You can also hold a magnet to the tub to determine if the tub is made of cast iron or porcelain over metal. If the magnet sticks, then you know the tub isn't acrylic or fiberglass.

The 8 Best Tub Repair Kits of 2023

The 8 Best Tub Repair Kits of 2022 — The Spruce / Sabrina Jiang

A good tub repair kit is an easy DIY solution for fixing cracks, chips, scratches, and minor holes while sealing the spot against corrosion, leaks, and further wear. We researched dozens of tub repair kits, assessing ease of use, formula, compatibility with different tub materials, and effectiveness.

Our best overall pick, the HomeTinker Tub & Shower Repair Kit, can be used on several tubs and shower types, comes in three color series to match with dozens of shades and is non-toxic and odor-free.

Here are the best tub repair kits.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

HomeTinker Tub & Shower Repair Kit at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Refinishing:

Rust-Oleum Tub & Tile Refinishing Kit at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Fiberglass:

Keeney Tub Repair Kit at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Porcelain:

Bathworks Tub and Tile Chip Repair Kit at Home Depot

Jump to Review

Best Inlay Kit:

NuTub White Bathtub Inlay Kit at Lowe's

Jump to Review

Best Paint:

Rust-Oleum Specialty Tub and Tile Spray Paint at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Hot Tubs:

Plast-aid 80100 Plastic Repair Kit at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Budget:

AiBast Tub, Tile and Shower Repair Kit at Amazon

Jump to Review

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust The Spruce

4.6

Amazon

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For a tub repair that is effective and spot-on in terms of color matching, consider this popular tub repair kit from HomeTinker. Their Tub & Shower Repair Kit can be used on a wide variety of tub types, including acrylic, fiberglass, ceramic, porcelain, enameled steel or cast iron, and gel-coated.

While many tub repair kits are available in standard color selections like white, bone, or almond, the reality is that tubs come in a wide range of shades, and these colors aren’t always a perfect—or even close—match. If you’re afraid of your tub touch-up sticking out like a sore thumb, then this refinishing kit, which allows you to mix your own custom color product, is a great match. A stark white base formula can be tinted using one of two different dyes to match tubs that range from black to milky white.

While it may sound daunting, the Home Tinker Tub & Shower Kit is a great DIY tub repair kit. It also stands out for its odorless formula.

Price at time of publish: $30

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To take on more than just an isolated chip or scratches, consider using a tub refinishing kit—like this two-part product from Rust-Oleum. Following a multi-step process, you’ll be able to refinish your tub in a smooth, white epoxy in a single day, but you’ll have to wait three days before exposing the surface to water.

Rust-Oleum Tub and Tile Refinishing 2-Part Kit covers up to 110 square feet and can also be used for sinks and tile surrounds. It’s worth noting that once you mix the included jars of the product together, it should be used within six hours. Since two coats are recommended and you can re-apply after an hour or two of dry time, you should be able to easily complete this process within the timeframe. The key to success is to do proper prep work on your tub and follow the directions.

Price at time of publish: $42

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Popular for their affordability and durability, fiberglass tubs are still subject to chips and cracks. If your fiberglass tub suffers a mishap, give it a quick fix with the Keeney Tub Repair Kit. A gel coat putty and hardener provide strong, durable adhesion for cracks and will fill small holes up to 18 square inches.

The formula is available in white or bone color options, though it may not be an exact match for your tub. Even still, this fiberglass tub repair kit provides a smooth finish and an easy way to mask imperfections and extend the life of your tub.

Price at time of publish: $17

The 11 Best Bathtubs of 2023

Bathworks Tub and Tile Chip Repair Kit in White

Homedepot

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If your porcelain tub has become chipped or scratched, you may be concerned about corrosion and an unsightly appearance. To restore your tub’s appearance, the Bathworks Tub and Tile Chip Repair Kit is a popular pick that comes in five shades to match the appearance of your porcelain tub.

The chip filler compound and its cream hardener work together to cover up to a dozen chips, and it hardens within minutes—though full curing time will vary. Following the manufacturer’s directions, use the topcoat paint to cover the repaired spot. It dries to a glossy finish, making this tub repair kit a good pick for porcelain tubs—although it can be used on fiberglass or ceramic materials as well.

Price at time of publish: $39

The 8 Best Bathtub Cleaners of 2023

Courtesy of Lowe's

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If you need to repair the floor of your tub, an inlay kit may be your best bet for a fresh start—without having to replace your entire tub. The NuTub Inlay Kit provides everything you need to repair the floor of your bathtub. It’s a great solution if you have many cracks, scratches, or chips you want to hide on the floor of your bathtub.

Each kit includes a PVC inlay that measures 16 x 36 inches, along with the adhesive, sandpaper, and other accessories you’ll need to complete your tub repair. You can use this tub repair kit with practically all types of common tub materials, including porcelain, fiberglass, enameled steel, and acrylic.

Price at time of publish: $96

The 8 Best Small Bathtubs of 2023

Rust-Oleum Specialty Tub and Tile Spray Paint

Amazon

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To make it easier to cover corrosion and stains, an aerosol paint specifically designed for tubs and tile is a popular option. Rust-Oleum Specialty Tub and Tile Spray Paint is a single-step product that saves time and doesn’t require you to mix formulas together and wait hours in-between applications. It leaves a glossy, smooth surface and adheres to fiberglass, porcelain, and ceramic surfaces.

This epoxy acrylic formula dries on the surface in just 15 minutes, which is among the shortest drying times of tub repair kits. However, it still requires three days of curing time before being exposed to water. Keep in mind that each can only cover about 15 square feet. It’s ideal for limited areas of touch-up or small fixtures (like a sink), but for larger applications, you’ll need multiple cans—up to seven cans to cover an entire bathtub.

Price at time of publish: $23

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While standard tub repair kits work well for household fixtures, a hot tub that is exposed to water constantly requires a special type of product. Plast-aid Plastic Repair Kit is an easy-to-use option for sealing cracks in your hot tub shell. Keep in mind that the surface will need to be clean and dry at the time of the repair.

The two-part formula requires mixing before application and becomes thick quickly. Once cured, it offers water resistance and durability—even for wet environments. No color options are available, but you can add acrylic paint to blend the repair.

Price at time of publish: $17

Amazon

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Fixing small flaws in your tub, tile, or sink doesn’t have to be an expensive professional investment when you opt for a DIY tub repair kit, like this version from AiBast. The two-part formula combines to create a durable epoxy that you can apply to porcelain, fiberglass, acrylic, or enameled steel tubs. Once hardened, it’s waterproof and durable enough to withstand up to 143 pounds of pressure.

It cures quickly when compared to some other tub repair kits on the market; 18 to 24 hours is the recommended cure time, depending on the air temperature. This product is an affordable but effective way to correct flaws in the surface of your tub, sink, or tile, but keep in mind that it’s only available in a bright, white formula that matches glossy porcelain tubs or tiles best.

Price at time of publish: $20

The 11 Best Shower Kits of 2023

Final Verdict

If you want a tub repair kit that will leave behind a blended repair spot, then the DIY color-matching kit from HomeTinker (view at Amazon) is your best bet. Use the included dye to create a durable, water-resistant epoxy that is a close color-match for your existing tub, shower, or sink. On the other hand, if you're looking for a quick option for touch-up paint, the Rust-Oleum Specialty Tub and Tile Spray Paint (view at Amazon) is an excellent choice.

Material

While most bathtub repair kits can be used on the most common bathtub materials, it's still important to know what your bathtub is made out of. The reason for this is that the application method, surface preparation, and curing time can differ depending on the bathtub material. Common materials include cast iron, porcelain, fiberglass, and acrylic.

Cast-iron tubs are probably the easiest to spot because a magnet can be used to identify whether the tub is made of metal or not. Porcelain over metal tubs will also attract the magnet, but porcelain tends to chip more than the enamel covering a cast-iron tub.

Porcelain bathtubs consist of a steel tub covered in a thick coating of porcelain. Due to this design, many people refer to these tubs as porcelain over metal bathtubs.

Fiberglass bathtubs are great if chips are a concern because fiberglass is chip-resistant. However, this non-metallic material will still crack and fade over time, requiring repairs.

Acrylic tubs look and feel similar to fiberglass, with a flexible shell that gives when the sides of the tub are pressed in, unlike a rigid, cast-iron tub. Acrylic is easy to repair, but it's also susceptible to fading and cracking.

Coverage

Not every bathtub is the same size or requires the same amount of product to repair the tub and give it that like-new appearance. This means that it's necessary for you to pay attention to the coverage that the product requires in order to ensure that there aren't any spots that are too thin, showing the old tub finish underneath.

Typically, a bathtub repair kit will provide enough epoxy or enamel refinishing product to apply two coats to the average bathtub. However, if the tub has been significantly damaged or experienced a high level of wear over the years, it may require three coats to renew its appearance. Inspect your tub beforehand and determine how much epoxy or enamel you will need to make the repairs.

Application

The application method is another factor that needs to be taken into consideration. Most bathtub repair kits include an epoxy or enamel product that can be applied with a paintbrush or roller. This allows the user to quickly and effectively apply the refinishing product as easily as if they were painting. You can also find bathtub repair kits that have a spray-on refinishing product that is even easier to use than a paintbrush and roller. Just make sure to tape off or otherwise cover the areas of the bathroom that you don't want to be coated in refinisher, including the floor and walls.

Drying and Curing

Each bathtub repair kit will have individual instructions indicating how long it will take for the treatment to dry. When the surface is dry, it can be lightly touched or brushed up against without damaging the epoxy or enamel. However, it is not durable enough for someone to take a bath or shower.

Refer to the product instructions to find out how long until the repair fully cures. On average, it will take about 2 to 4 hours for the epoxy to dry, though some spray-on products may only take 20 minutes. Most bathtub repair treatments can then take up to 48 hours for the treatment to fully cure. Do not use the bathtub during this time to avoid damaging the repair.

FAQ

How do bathtub repair kits work?

Bathtub finishes can fade, chip, and crack over the years, but a bathtub repair kit can be used to return the tub to a like-new appearance. This is accomplished by applying epoxies or enamels to the surface of the tub with a paintbrush, roller, or a spray can in order to fix cast iron, porcelain over metal, fiberglass, or acrylic tubs.
Can all bathtub materials be repaired?

All common bathtub materials can be repaired with a bathtub repair kit. However, it's important to know what the bathtub is made out of because the repair process can differ depending on the material.
How do you know what your bathtub is made out of?

If you can't tell whether the tub is cast iron, porcelain over metal, fiberglass, or acrylic from a visual inspection, try pressing on the side of the tub to test the flexibility. If it gives, then it's likely made of acrylic or fiberglass. You can also hold a magnet to the tub to determine if the tub is made of cast iron or porcelain over metal. If the magnet sticks, then you know the tub isn't acrylic or fiberglass.

Researching the latest products and trends to make the most of your home, Erica Puisis has been writing for The Spruce since 2017. A regular wanderer at big box home improvement stores and an official helper to her handyman husband, Erica is no stranger to DIY projects and enjoys researching and recommending the right products to help you get the job done.

Additional reporting and research for this article was done by Timothy Dale, a long-time home improvement expert specializing in plumbing, construction, and product recommendations, among other topics.