The reason why walk in tubs are so expensive is due to the more labor required to make the walk in tubs as well as other factors which include the engineering and and inclusion of various luxury and safety features.
Walk in tubs are more labor intensive than traditional tubs are to manufacture and also have additional safety features and luxury features.
Walk in tubs are often equipped with safety features like non slip flooring, anti scald valves as well as features for luxury and comfort such as heated seats, aromatherapy and hydrotherapy jets.
These additional features in a walk in tub add to the higher cost of the walk in tubs when compared to traditional tubs.
The materials used to make walk in tubs which include fiberglass and acrylic also require specialized techniques for reinforcement and shaving, which also drives up the costs of manufacturer.
Walk in tubs are also not as widely used or bought like traditional tubs so they cost more due to less less demand.
Higher end walk in tubs that are better quality and more durable are often more expensive than the lesser known brands of walk in tubs.
And installation costs for walk in tubs can cost more than installing traditional tubs as walk in tubs can be more complex to install than a traditional bathtub and may require adjustments and changes to electrical work and plumbing, which can also lead to higher labor costs and higher costs for materials and installation.