10 Best Caulk For Shower Surround & Bathtub Reviews 2023

The suddenly appeared leak or moldy corners of the home bothers everyone. To make a perfect repair of those, you need to pick the best caulk among thousands of choices.

When it comes to picking up the right caulk for your problem, it is a bit tricky and tiresome. But we have a solution for you! The objective for which We're putting our hands together and writing the piece is to guide you to choose the best caulk for shower surround.

Top 5 Shower Caulks Compared Head to Head:

A Brief on Caulk

Caulk is an adhesive used for sealing the corners and gaps around your house. This is generally used in the shower, kitchen, door, and windows. Different types of caulks are needed for different places.

This low-cost material made our tasks easy to seal the corner joints and other gaps as well as to enhance the visual representation of our house.

Our Best Caulk For Shower Picks:

For determining the best sealant products for shower surround, we've spent days researching and analyzing the products.

1. Best All-Purpose: Sashco 13010 Clear Lexel Adhesive Caulk

The Sascho Lexel Adhesive Clear Caulk is one of the most popular and efficient caulk available now.

It comes with super-elasticity that allows you to put the caulk in a moving place without any worry of further breaking or leaking.

This adhesive filler sticks to the surface firmly, making it one of the most abuse-resistant caulks available at a reasonable price point.

Also, It survives the abrasive cleaning tools and has the protection against scratches.

This is the best for people searching for a caulk that can create tight seal and survive despite using rough and harsh cleaning chemicals.

This waterproof caulk sticks to the wet surfaces as well, and thus you need not wait for the wet area to dry out. A perfect fit for bathtub!

The waterproof coating allows you to use this product outside of your home at the monsoon too.

It is made with ultra-clear adhesives with a great mold-resistant formula which protect it from mold growth for an extended period.

Plus, You can use this caulk as a replacement for adhesives as well. This caulk is more reliable than a chemically reacting adhesive as it can stick to the surface firmly as long as you don’t use caulk removing chemicals.

This all in one caulk doesn’t freeze at cold temperature thus won't break after the freezing winter is gone. The caulk comes with 10.5-ounce pack, which is a perfect fit for the standard sized caulking guns.

If you are new to caulking or don't want to bother if the caulk will fit your job or not, then Sascho Lexel 13010 is best for you.

Benefits & Drawbacks

• Waterproof Sealant
• Super Elastic & Ultra Clear sealant
• Mold & Mildew Resistant
• Can be Applied to the Wet Surfaces
• Doesn’t Freeze in Cold Weather
• Convenient for Shower & Kitchen
• Not Good For Places where Water remains for long period.

2. Best Tub & Tile: Loctite 1515861 Polyseamseal Adhesive Caulk

The US-made Loctite Shower Caulk is highly durable and  exceptionally optimized to use in the shower interior. It comes with high adhesive strength to seal any leakage or gaps in minutes.

It is a waterproof tile caulk and allows you to use in the wet and humid surfaces.
This waterproof tub specialist can survive both cold and warm water without any damage to it.

Plus, This tile caulk contains mildewcide that prevents mildew from sticking onto it. So, it keeps your floor healthy for longer period than usual.

The Loctite white caulk is long-lasting and extremely flexible, which makes it one of the best caulk for the shower.

Loctite is best for using around the shower, tiles, bathtub and kitchen sinks made of ceramic.

Benefits & Drawbacks

• Optimized for Shower Stalls
• Ultra Sealing Formula
• Waterproof Caulk
• Mildew Resistant
• Long Lasting
• Not Convenient if you use warm water in the shower.

3. Best Squeeze Apply: Flex Shot Rubber Adhesive Bathtub Caulk

This squeezable tile caulk doesn’t need any caulking gun to apply! If you are caulking in your own home or repairing little leakage, this caulk is the go-to item for you. You can save about 25 bucks of a caulking gun using the best bathroom caulk.

This rubber adhesive caulk won’t crack even if you apply it in a thick layer. So, compared to the other caulks, this one stands out when you have to fill a larger crack. You can use it in sandwich layers, one small bead on top of another to cover more depth.

The Flexshot is very flexible allowing the caulk to remain in places where tensional or contractional forces are common.

As it comes with a high quality mold-resistant formula, you don't require any additional treatments to keep the floor healthy and mold free. This caulk perfectly seals the plastic and ceramic tiles and give you the perfect rubber seal.

Plus, this caulk is very handy for people who like to craft or decorate items with sticky caulks. Its tube and precise applicator ensures precise and drip free caulk application on plumbing fixtures.

Another incredible feature is that you can reuse this caulk if the cartridge has some caulk left in it.

However, you can not use it in caulking guns. So, it's not feasible to use the caulk for a long period. That's why we don't recommend this caulk for professionals.

Best for quick fix jobs at cheap price as no caulk gun is required for this to apply.

Benefits & Drawbacks

• Rubber based bathroom caulking
• Can be Used Without a Caulk Gun
• Reusable
• Flexible and Long Lasting
• Perfect waterproof seal
• Not Suitable for Professional Works

4. Best For Exterior: GE Silicone 2+ Caulk Window & Door Caulk

This silicone sealant is a fast drying product, made from 100% silicone and entirely water resistant.

It will survive both summer and winter when used on shower doors or shower walls.

As it is very flexible when dried, this tops the list for the best silicone caulks in the market.

This waterproof silicone sealant is permanent and a perfect suit for outdoor use. Thus, you don’t need to change the caulk each year due to deterioration.

This caulk is made following the ASTM C920 Class 25 specifications. The ASTM provides the standard of the elastomeric joint sealants allowing users to rely on it without overthinking.

This product guarantees protection against mildew and mold growth for a decade. So, you need not worry about cleaning this caulk for a whopping 10 years!

This all-purpose sealant is ready for water after only 30 minutes of application. So, for making an instant repair in your busy shower, this fast drying bathroom caulk can help you a lot. And you don't need to be worried about water damage.

Best for using on Outdoor exposed to both heat and cold temperature. The unique feature that sets it apart from other products is its high resistance against mold & mildew.

Benefits & Drawbacks

• Heat & Water Proof
• Made of 100% Silicone
• Ideal for Shower Exterior Sealing
• Flexible Against Heat and Freezing Cold
• Mold Resistant
• Low curing time
• Did not find any bad thing of it.

5. Dap 18128 Alex Plus Acrylic Latex Caulk

If you are looking for a paintable caulk for your bathroom, then this premium caulk will come at #1 against all other acrylic caulks of this list.

You can paint on this caulk after 30 minutes of application that allows you to do the painting and decorating work faster than ever.

The manufacturer made it mold and moisture resistant so that the caulk remains the same for a long time with its superb quality.

The moisture-free coating survives different types of painting chemicals and act as a shield against any kind of mild abuse on it. Plus, it acts as a waterproof barrier as well.

The manufacturer also provides 35 years of durability guarantee. So, it clearly indicates that the caulk is long-lasting and well made for different weather conditions.

Plus, it complies with the ASTM Spec C-834-91 which authenticates its validity and effectiveness.

This caulk is white when it is first used and can be painted afterward for aesthetics.

Best for using with paint. Dries fast and paint looks natural when applied on this compared to colored caulks.

Highlighted Features

• Paintable Caulk
• Prevent mold & mildew
• 35 Year Durability
• Can be used in Both Interior & Exterior
• Complies With ASTM Spec C-834-91

6. Sashco 10016 Big Stretch Flexible Caulk

Saschco 10016 caulk is incredibly flexible. Rather than cracking in tensional force, it stretches.

This USA made long-lasting caulk dries fast, allowing you to do the work quicker and smoother. The fast-drying caulks are best for outdoor and flexible surfaces because of the uncertainty of the weather.

You can use this sealant on metal to seal any crack on it. The caulk will work fine for temporary protection of the metal.

This caulk is also a paintable one but not as optimized as DAP 18128.

You can paint this sealant after seven days of applying it on the surface. You can see the difference now, Can’t you? 30 minutes wait period vs 7 Days! A huge difference, indeed.

Highlighted Features

• Paintable Caulk
• Crack free caulk
• Long-Lasting
• Good For Vinyl Siding
• Made in USA
• Dries Fast

7. Best Clear: GE GE284 Silicone 2+ Kitchen and Bath Caulk

This caulk is clear and has minimal effect on the high-end metal finished works. It is 100% silicone, meaning the caulk creates watertight seal and handy for the wet areas.

You can expose the caulk to the water within 30 minutes of the application, making it one of the best caulk for shower. Low curing time, isn't it?

The fast dry formula is quite handy when you have to use the kitchen sink or bathtub faucet within a few moments of caulking.

This is a crack and shrink-proof caulk allowing the user to use it in the places with expansion and contraction behavior. It is ideal for a wide variety of bathroom and kitchen areas.

Since you can use this as a glue tube and do not need any caulking gun, you can apply the caulk with ultimate precision.

It is claimed as a low odor, and low volatile organic compounds (VOC) caulk means you’ll not feel uncomfortable using this waterproof silicone caulk.

The caulk will work with all its power even if it is exposed to extreme heat.

So, you can use this silicone made caulk on the outdoor also which is exposed to the direct sunlight.

Best for outdoor repair jobs as this one is also a squeeze apply model. But Flex Shot Rubber Adhesive caulk is better than this GE caulk when you consider squeeze application only.

Highlighted Features

• 10-year Mold Protection
• Fast Dry Within 30 Minutes
• 100% Silicone and Waterproof
• Low in Smell
• Shrink and Crack proof
• Use Without Caulking Gun

8. Color Matched Caulk by Colorfast

The Colorfast Ind. made caulk is one of our top 10 picks for the caulks and comes at number #1 when it comes to the versatility of colors.

The best thing about this colored caulk is its versatile caulk color options. You get as many as 31 different color options on this.

Adding to that, this siliconized acrylic latex caulk is convenient for both indoor and outdoor usage, which made it one of the most popular caulking tubes.

It comes with a standard 10.3 oz. cartridge tube allowing you to apply the caulk with a caulking gun pretty easily.

If you are looking for both the essential features like mildew resistance and color options, this is a go-to for you. It also features moisture and UV protection which, in our opinion, is an excellent addition to the material.

You can buy from 31 color variants this caulk comes with to apply in your bathroom tiles floor.

This one stands out among all other contenders with its 31 different color variants. If you paint the surface anyway, then DAP is better product than this Colorfast caulk.

Highlighted Features

• Multi-Colored Polymer Caulk
• Good For Indoor and Outdoor use.
• Moisture and UV resistant
• 31 Different Color Options
• A bit hard when dried
• 10% more waste than the regular caulks

9. Tremco 116 Vulkem Polyurethane High-Performance Sealant

For the people looking for a perfect construction-grade sealant, this Tremco primerless adhesive is a great deal for them.

It features some unique characteristics that can not be found in any other caulks. Because of its unique features and application, it can't be used widely on any type of surfaces.

This polyurethane sealant is one of the most flexible products in its category. The company claims 25% movement capability of this adhesive caulk.

Adding to that, you can use this caulk both indoor and outdoor, but you have to keep in mind one crucial thing. The surface where you are putting this sealant must be well ventilated for the best result.

Apart from that, its chemical vapor is a thing that must be taken into consideration when applying on an indoor surface. Make sure you do not need to reside there for at least a week after application.

It is highly flexible and do not need any primer for using it.

Though it is one of the feature-rich products of its category, it falls behind for its horribly slow curing time. It takes 6 hours to dry up the upper layer and 30 hours for full dehydration.

Please note that this is not a regular caulking tube; instead, it should be used on masonry, precast, and other construction-related things.

Highlighted Features

• Flexible Sealant
• Can be used with a traditional caulking gun
• Construction sealing material
• Do not need primer for using it.
• Drying time is too much
• Can't be used in all types of materials

10. MasterSeal NP1 Gray Polyurethane Caulk

The flexibility it comes with is a thing you will be a fan of. It provides almost 35% flexibility when dried!

This self-adhesive caulk is mold and mildew resistant.

Since it is incredibly adhesive and sticks to any type of surfaces, it messes too much. It is challenging to control the bead size when you are not a professional in using this kind of adhesives.

The difficulty in the use made us place this at #10. But you can certainly try this out if you want excellent adhesion with almost all of the features we have discussed throughout this article.

Highlighted Features

• Highly Adhesive Caulk
• Mold and Mildew resistant
• Good Flexibility
• Low wastage
• Difficult to use it on the surface
• Can't be painted.

Best Shower Caulk Buying Guide

In this buying guide, We’ll show the exact method that We have used to pick the top 10 products-

1. Mold & Mildew Resistance

When the caulk is used in the shower stalls or bathroom surfaces, it often comes in touch with the water.

If the caulk is not smooth enough, the water will stick to the rough areas of the caulk causing mold growth. Mold makes the area unhygienic.

It will also be uncomfortable for you when you see the dark spots at the edge of the acrylic tub or shower.

So, the best caulk for shower surround needs to be extremely protective against mold. And when it comes to pipes and fittings close to the septic system, the caulk must fulfill this criteria too.

The other uses of caulk, such as exterior and decorative caulk, also demand this feature. But since those are not exposed to the water, the growth of mold on those will be much slower than the bathroom.

So, next time you pick an ideal sealant for your shower stall, make sure it is mold and mildew resistant.

2. Water Resistance

This is an unskippable feature if you are planning to apply caulk for sealing a leakage or filling any broken area. Although most of the caulk out in the market come with this feature, you need to ensure the one you choose makes waterproof seal.

If your caulk is not waterproof, mold will grow on it very fast, and you’ll have to bear the burden of replacing it with fresh caulk in a quick time.

3. Elasticity

The caulk must be elastic so that it doesn’t break when it is in moving situations. If you’re picking up the caulk for the ceramic tiles floor or a bathroom wall which is permanent in its place, then you can skip this test (if you want).

But when you intend to use that on the shower doors or window frames, your caulk must have the elasticity to survive the contractions and expansions. On the contrary, shower grout is needed for using on tile floors of shower and bathroom.

We recommend picking up an elastic caulk for non-moving places also. This feature protects the new caulk from cracking or coming out in a small portion.

4. Heat & Cold Proof

This is a universal criterion for picking up the caulk. If you want the caulk for the shower stalls or bathroom, you must see whether the caulk can survive both hot and cold weather.

If the caulk is not weatherproof, then it is very likely that you put the caulk this year and see that the caulk is coming out of the surface in the next year because it can't make a strong seal.

5. Caulk Application

As you can find two different types of caulk tubes in the market. One which needs a caulking gun to apply the caulk and the other which doesn't.

If you need to use the caulk for repairing a small portion of your bathroom, you should consider buying caulk tubes which do not require caulking guns to apply. These are called squeeze tube caulk.

But if you have a whole bunch of work or planning heavy duty caulking jobs, you must have a gun to apply the caulk. In such conditions, you need to buy caulks that come in a standard-sized cartridge.

Choose a caulk that is easy to apply and easy to remove with a utility knife or a putty knife, in case anything goes wrong. Silicone rubber caulks are best when it comes to removing caulks as they come out of the surface easily without requiring you to use a razor scrapper.

6. Color of The Caulk

Color is another important factor when you are repairing a small portion. You need to buy a caulk tube that comes in the same color as previously applied caulk and matches the color of the bathroom tiles or sink.

Most of the caulks come in two color options, i.e., clear and white. If you want to go beyond these colors, you can consider buying paintable caulks or other colored caulks.

Clear kitchen caulks or bath adhesive is a great option if you love minimalist designs.

7. Caulk Drying Time

The fast dry is a must-have feature for the shower caulking. You can not restrict yourself from using the shower for a long period.

So, picking a slow drying caulk won't work for you. You need to pick a caulk that provides all the above features and dries fast. So that you do not need to wait for days to use the shower or bathroom.

8. Shower Caulk Price

When you are purchasing anything, it is a must to check if the price is reasonable or not.

The materials used in the caulks are easily found on our planet, and the production cost is meager. So, it is good to check the price if it is at a reasonable price point.

How Much Caulk Do You Need?

The formula is the “size of the tube in milliliter / (depth of the caulk surface in millimeter x width of the caulk surface in millimeter)”= The Number of linear meters you’ll be able to caulk with a tube.

If I give you an example, that will make things crystal clear.

Suppose,

• The caulk tube is 250 ml
• The depth of the caulk surface is 8 mm
• the width of the caulk surface is 6 mm

So, the equation will be 250/(8×6)=5.21 linear meters can be caulked with a 250 ml tube with a width of 6 mm and depth of 8 mm.

N.B. You should consider 5-10% wastage when you decide on buying tubes of caulk.

Types Of Shower Caulk

There are about a dozen types of caulk available in the market. Each class has some unique features and some drawbacks. I’ll discuss most popular of them under this heading.

1. Acrylic Latex Caulk

This caulk has a nickname, the painters caulk. You can rightly guess now that this caulk can be painted which made this one of the favorite caulks for the painters. This is the perfect shot for repairing small holes in any place. The type generally used in the interior building materials and wood.

This caulk can be painted right after putting it in the place which makes it the no #1 choice for the professionals.

2. Vinyl Latex Caulk

This is a similar type of caulk which we’ve discussed earlier. When the earlier one is easily washed away with soap and water, this can’t. Vinyl latex lasts longer than the acrylic caulk and thus it is a pick for those who are building something permanent.

But as I said, every type has some drawbacks. It is not flexible like the acrylic tile sealant and thus can crack easily with expansion and contraction.

3. Silicone Caulk

You will suffer a lot of hassle finding a pure silicone caulk, most of the caulk manufacturer now uses unique formulas that mixes silicone with other addons to get better result in terms of durability, heat absorption and moisture resistance.

The silicone is extremely flexible and sticky, which made this a raw material of caulk manufacturing. These are waterproof, mold and mildew resistant, and have a remarkably long lifespan compared to other caulk types.

Where To Buy Caulk For Bathtub and Shower Surround

Oh! That’s an interesting topic. You can pick caulk from the market or lying in your bed! I’ll say how…

1. Amazon

You’ll find this name in every ‘where to buy’ article, and this article is not at all different. The Amazon store is the world’s largest online shop who’s now expanding its business to offline also.

You can get your desired product, especially different types and sizes of caulk there with a customizable search engine of Amazon, which allows you to filter the products by price, seller, and ratings.

2. eBay

eBay is another online marketplace from which you can order your desired caulk. They have more than 150 million active buyers across the globe, that show the credibility of the company in buyers' mind. So, you can go for that also.

They also offer consumer to consumer shopping, making them a bet for the people searching for a second or cheaper choice of the desired product.

3. Walmart

Walmart is another leading e-commerce website finding a way to beat the other leaders of the industry. They also have versatile product variations, including different types and sizes of caulk and sealants.

Walmart shop is not much different from the Amazon store except its wide circulated shopping outlets. They also allow you to choose between the products wisely with their well-optimized website.

4. Your Nearest Hardware Shop

Since caulk is a common home improvement product and requires often, you can find this item in your nearest hardware store. Though they won’t offer you the customer reviews and other benefits which you’ll get from the online stores.

They are the best choice if you want your caulk instantly. But if you want the perfect one after researching about the product, I would recommend you to go for the online option.

Final Words

The invention of the caulk has changed many things across the globe on the construction works. This product costing you less than ten bucks can make a lot of tasks easy which you couldn’t handle with this money if it was not invented.

Thanks to the European People of 16th Century who left the formula of this impressive product for us.

The caulk resists mold and made our task easier to seal things in bathroom surfaces, showers, and other cermaic fittings.

In this buying guide, we’ve outlined the best caulking products available in the market for shower stalls and tub.

We’ve selected these items with in-depth research on various factors and AB testing, which ultimately led the selection as one of the best on the globe.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shower Caulk

I’ve added some faq below, go through those to make your concepts clear.

1. What kind of Caulk is Completely Waterproof?

The Silicone Caulks are entirely waterproof. These caulks are perfect for wet places like the bathroom, shower, and tub. Apart from knowing, you should consider buying the best silicone caulk for the high-grade result.

Make sure the manufacturer labeling the caulk as waterproof to be sure about this fact.

2. Can You Use Window & Door Caulk in The Bathroom?

As the silicone caulks are best for exterior uses like windows and doors, you can use these in your bathroom too.

Caulks are made by different formulas considering their uses in diverse places. So, if you’re planning to use the window and door caulk in the bathroom, you should see whether the caulk is mold resistant or not.

If the caulk can resist mold and is waterproof, you’re good to go.

3. How Long until Caulk is Waterproof?

Fast dry caulks can be waterproof within an hour or two when the others can take up to 24 hours to be fully waterproof.

So, it is wiser to wait a night before pouring water on the freshly applied caulk. Time to cure caulk can vary depending on weather conditions as well.

4. What Kind of Caulk Do You Use for Baseboard?

Latex made caulks are the best for baseboard. These caulks stick to the baseboard quite nicely and have a lesser impact on the beauty of the interior.

Since caulks can't be sanded, you should see whether you can replace caulk with spackle or joint compounds in surfaces like baseboards or drywall.

See our take on best drywall sander to get an idea about sanding stuff too.

5. How Big a Gap Can I Fill with Caulk?

How big a gap can you fill with the caulk depends on the caulks you’re using and its strength. If the caulk is strong enough and can stick to the surface nicely, caulks can fill a gap up to an inch.

Though you can fill that much depth with the caulk, you’ll lose a lot of money buying caulks.

You’ll see the caulk is filling 1/6 inch depth in a regular press on caulk tube, it is recommended not to use caulks for filling the gaps larger than half an inch.

6. Does Caulk Expire?

Though the caulks can stick to the surface for a hundred years, caulk does go bad.

Caulks can go bad if it is not used before a year or two depending on its storage method and ingredients. So, for the best use of the caulks, use within the expiry period labeled on the packaging.

7. What Happen to The Bad Caulk?

When the caulks are expired, you’ll see the caulks are dried in the tube and you’ll not be able to apply those old caulks on the surface. Some old caulks can have a bad chemical odor after expiration, but most does not give you any clue about its expiration.

The result of applying bad caulk are- it won't create strong bond, especially to the nonporous surfaces. Plus, the cure time will be extended and caulk will come out of the surface as the temperature changes.

8. Which Caulk is Best For Shower?

As you’re aware that the caulks on the shower will be in touch of water frequently, the caulks for the shower must be 100% waterproof and durable.

Considering the moisture in the shower, it is evident that there will be a faster growth of molds if the precautions are not correctly taken.

So, the best caulk for shower must be 100% waterproof and has reliably prevent mold growth. These two criteria are more or less familiar to each type of caulking. 

In our opinion, Loctite 1515861 is the most perfectly made caulk for the shower surround. See the review #2 for details about this.

9. Why Caulk Baseboard?

As I've discussed, the caulks are for filling the larger cracks and filling the gaps in between walls. When you place the baseboard on the home, you'll see there is a gap between the wall and the board.

The gap can cause to grow mold when it comes to the touch of moisture and dust. It is necessary to put caulk on gaps to prevent mildew and mold.

10. What is the Consequence of Not Caulking?

If you do not caulk, you'll see the growth of mold in the gap within a few months.

Other than protecting the mold, the caulk tightens the bond between the parts. So, if you do not put caulk in the proper place where it is needed, the construction or improvement work will not sustain for long.

You'll see the gaps are increasing day by day and ultimately, two different sides of the gap are breaking apart.

11. Does Silicone Caulk Conduct Electricity?

Silicone is used as an insulator in electronics so that current does not pass through it. As par as silicone caulks applied in the house, these caulks do not conduct electricity.

But if you are insulating some high voltage line with it, this can act like a semi-conductor and pass-through electricity.

In home, silicone caulks will not conduct electricity rather will act as insulation. But for industrial or high-voltage places, you can’t know. It can conduct electric current.