Learn what caulk is right for your bathroom project and enlist one of our picks for good-looking, long-lasting results.
The truth is that laying down the perfect bead will do little good if you don’t use the right caulk for the job. This viscous, waterproof paste is primarily used to seal joints where two surfaces meet or to fill cracks to keep out air, moisture, and dirt.
To defend your shower or tub against these threats, the garden-variety latex caulk commonly used on drywall, window frames, and wooden doors simply won’t cut it. The best caulk for the shower or tub has special properties that keep it pristine and structurally intact in the unique environment of the bathroom. Read on for aspects to consider when buying caulk for your bathroom project and see why we find the following products top-notch:
- BEST FOR LARGE JOBS: Gorilla Silicone Sealant Caulk
- BEST FOR SMALL JOBS: Red Devil DuraGuard Kitchen and Bath Siliconized Acrylic Caulk
- BEST MILDEW PREVENTION: GE Sealants & Adhesives Advanced Silicone Kitchen & Bath Sealant
- QUICKEST AND CHEAPEST: DAP Acrylic Latex Caulk with Silicone
- BEST COLOR OPTIONS: Loctite Polyseamseal Acrylic Caulk with Silicone
Important Qualities in Caulk for Showers and Bathtubs
Material Options
Caulk made of pure silicone or siliconized latex/acrylic (i.e., latex or acrylic caulk with added silicone) adheres well to common shower and tub materials, including porcelain, ceramic, stone, fiberglass, and glass.
- Choose pure silicone for a more durable caulk job that you don’t intend to paint afterward. It’s more waterproof and flexible, so it better resists rot, rarely cracks with thermal expansion (when the shower or tub material expands or contracts with temperature changes), and lasts longer (40 or more years). However, it doesn’t take paint well and is about 10 percent more expensive than the alternative.
- Siliconized latex/acrylic caulk, on the other hand, is easier to apply and correct than sticky pure silicone, which can be a real pain if you make a mistake during application. But it’s less moisture-resistant and more likely to crack with thermal expansion, so your caulk job will be more short-lived (30 to 40 years).
Packaging Options
Caulk is sold in small squeeze tubes or large cylindrical cartridges, each type suited for different scale projects and requiring a unique application. Generally, cartridges are suited for large caulking jobs, such as sealing the perimeter of a tub, as they contain more caulk by volume and afford more precise application. But they must be loaded into a caulking gun and dispensed by pressing down on the gun’s trigger. Squeeze tubes are better for small-scale projects, such as filling a crack in the shower floor. The caulk can easily be applied by hand with a simple squeeze of the tube, but it has a smaller coverage area because there’s less of it by volume.ADVERTISEMENThttps://d577a48b54f24693265ac7e854cc6766.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Mildew and Mold Prevention
Most pure silicone and siliconized latex/acrylic caulks are formulated with mildewcides and fungicides (chemicals that destroy mildew or fungus, respectively) to minimize the formation of stain-causing mildew or mold on the caulk. But for a rot-proof caulk job, check the packaging for the terms “for bath,” “mildew-proof,” or “mold-proof,” along with the number of years the caulk can be expected to hold up to mildew and/or mold.
Color Choices
Both pure silicone and siliconized latex caulk are sold in a variety of colors, including clear, white, cream, and brown. Painting over caulks labeled “paintable” gives you even more color options. Clear caulk, the most versatile choice, blends into showers and tubs light or dark; it’s your best option if you want to ensure that there is no contrast between the color of the caulk and the shower or tub. White caulk, which pairs well with most shower and tub colors, is a good option if you’re caulking a white shower or tub or have darker fixtures and don’t mind a color contrast between the caulk and the shower or tub.
Dry and Cure Times
Pay attention to two timeframes listed on the caulk package: dry time and cure time. Dry time refers to how long it takes for the caulk to dry to the touch, whereas the cure time refers to when the caulk will fully set and ready for use and exposure to water. Pure silicone and siliconized latex/acrylic caulks have similar dry and cure times—anywhere from half an hour to 12 hours to dry and two hours to 10 days to cure. If you’re caulking the only shower or tub in the house, choose caulks with dry and cure times on the low end of these ranges so that your bath won’t be out of commission for long.
Our Top Picks
Photo: amazon.com
BEST FOR LARGE JOBS: Gorilla Silicone Sealant Caulk
Heavy-duty caulking jobs, such as sealing the joints of a shower or tub or filling large cracks, call for this pure silicone caulk that can last as long as you own your home. Sold as a 10-ounce cartridge, the clear caulk boasts a flexible, waterproof, and rot-resistant formula that withstands whatever bath time throws at it without cracking, yellowing, or molding. The sealant goes on with a caulking gun and adheres well to fiberglass, glass, and other common shower and tub materials. It dries in 30 minutes and cures in one day.
Photo: amazon.com
BEST FOR SMALL JOBS: Red Devil DuraGuard Kitchen and Bath Siliconized Acrylic Caulk
Whether touching up a small span of crumbling caulk around your bathtub or filling a hairline crack on the shower floor, speed your way through small or detail-oriented tasks without sacrificing durability with this squeezable caulk. The flexible, rot-resistant siliconized acrylic formula boasts long-lasting protection against temperature changes and mildew. Available in a 5.5-ounce tube, the white caulk goes onto porcelain, ceramic, glass, and more materials by hand and can be painted. The caulk dries in one hour, cures in three days, and lasts up to 35 years.
Photo: amazon.com
BEST MILDEW PREVENTION: GE Sealants & Adhesives Advanced Silicone Kitchen & Bath Sealant
Mold and mildew are no match for this 2.8-ounce tube of rot-resistant pure silicone caulk. This waterproof caulk provides up to 10 years of protection from stain-causing mold and mildew. Its squeezable formula goes on as a smooth, consistent bead—with minimal odor—and easily adheres to stone, metal, and other common shower and bath materials without staining. It dries in 30 minutes and cures in six hours.
Photo: amazon.com
QUICKEST AND CHEAPEST: DAP Acrylic Latex Caulk with Silicone
This 10.1-ounce cartridge of paintable siliconized acrylic caulk strikes the best balance between looks, affordability, and durability. Available in clear, white, and slate gray, the caulk goes on with a gun and adheres well to glass, ceramic, metal, and stone. It dries in 30 minutes, cures into a mildew- and mold-resistant seal in a speedy two hours, and can last 35 years or even longer. A bonus? Its exterior-friendly formula makes it suitable for use in an outdoor shower used for bathing or rinsing off after pool time.ADVERTISEMENThttps://d577a48b54f24693265ac7e854cc6766.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Photo: amazon.com
BEST COLOR OPTIONS: Loctite Polyseamseal Acrylic Caulk with Silicone
Although the caulk in this 10-ounce cartridge is paintable, it comes in seven already attractive hues, from clear to brown, straight out of the cartridge. Whatever color you choose will stay crisp and crack-free, as the flexible siliconized acrylic caulk locks out air, moisture, dirt, dust, and pests that would damage other caulks. The formula effortlessly goes onto metal, plaster, and other materials with a caulking gun. It dries in 30 minutes, cures in one day, and can last for 40 years.
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