By Manasa Reddigari and Tom ScalisiUpdated Jun 15, 2023 4:53 PM
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While DIYers can obsess about caulking technique, 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 (e.g., where the tub meets the wall) or to fill cracks (which commonly crop up in the shower floor) 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.
With so many kinds of bathroom caulk available, it can be tough to figure out which is the best for your situation. We performed hands-on testing with the following caulks in order to suggest only top-notch products. Read on for aspects to consider when buying caulk for your bathroom project and see why we find the following products to be some of the best caulk for showers.
Originally, we were going to set up a bunch of fiberglass boxes and caulk all the seams with the different types of caulk, but we scrapped that idea in favor of replacing a shower. So we ordered a shower and set about installing it, using the caulks to waterproof the enclosure.
Each of the caulks (except for the bronze one) was used to caulk a seam inside the shower, and we checked each seam at the designated time to ensure it was dry. Next, for caulks that were paintable, we applied them to the scrap shower we removed and let them dry. After they dried, we painted them and tested their flexibility.
With those tests behind us, we had a good idea of which products were a hit or not. We used those tests and personal experience to develop our list of the best caulk for a shower.
There is a lot to know about choosing the best caulk for a shower or a tub, and shopping for just the right product can feel overwhelming. To help, we performed hands-on testing with all of the following products. After using them, we chose certain awards that we felt best fit their strengths. Use our observations and the above considerations when looking for caulk for your shower space.
Gorilla’s adhesives tend to be a step above the competition, and the same is true for this clear sealant caulk. This 100 percent silicone caulk adheres to most bathroom surfaces easily to create a mold- and mildew-resistant barrier. It remains flexible throughout its life, and it won’t shrink or crack like some siliconized caulks might. It dries in just 30 minutes, making it useful for quick repairs or even full bathroom installations.
During testing, we found Gorilla caulk & seal to be a top-quality product. It applied easily and created a strong bond for the shower surround. Once dry, we found it was barely noticeable, and the fact that it remains flexible and won’t yellow leads us to believe it’ll stay unnoticeable. While it’s not paintable, this product will work on any seam that needs to be waterproof but doesn’t need a coat of paint. We also liked that it flowed well, was easy to tool, and was not too sticky to tool with a wet finger.
Be advised that this product is not suitable for use in aquariums or on brick, masonry, metals, or cement.
Get the Gorilla caulk for shower on Amazon or Walmart.
Anyone shopping for an affordable caulk that will get the job done for less than half the cost of some of its competitors may want to check out DAP Kwik Seal Plus. This siliconized latex caulk creates a 100 percent waterproof barrier and features Microban for antimicrobial protection that fights stain-causing mold, fungus, and mildew. Its paintable formula requires 2 hours of drying time before applying paint, and then 24 hours before showering. According to the manufacturer, this option has outstanding adhesion to ceramic and plastic tile, porcelain, metal, cultured marble, drywall, metal, painted surfaces, glass, fiberglass, and wood.
Kwik Seal Plus is affordable, but it’s not low on quality. We liked how easy this product was to apply, but it was even easier to clean up—a wet rag is all it took to clean some excess from the tub surface. While the 2-hour dry time seems to betray the product’s “Kwik” moniker, our applied caulk appeared to dry slightly faster (about an hour in our conditions). This allowed us to test it with paint on a spare surface. It passed this test well, taking paint without issue.
Get the DAP Kwik Seal Plus caulk for shower at The Home Depot.
Cracks, leaks, and other shower woes can happen in some challenging spaces, and getting a caulking gun into position can be tricky. However, with a 2.8-ounce or 10.1-ounce tube of Advanced Silicone from GE, DIYers can make repairs in both tight and large spots. This shrink- and crack-proof caulk features a 100 percent silicone formula that remains flexible and waterproof for up to 10 years. It is low-odor and adheres to metals, plastic, wood, glass, tile, and fiberglass, and it dries in 30 minutes.
Here’s what we noticed about the GE Advanced Silicone: It might be a lot of work to caulk a whole shower with these tubes, for but small repairs, they’re incredibly convenient. They’re easy to use yet still apply consistent beads of silicone. While we prefer our shower caulk in white, this clear silicone was barely visible and created a strong, flexible seal.
Get the GE Advanced Silicone caulk for shower at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Ace Hardware, or Walmart.
Moldy or mildewy showers aren’t very appealing, and this product from Mold Armor can help prevent them from occurring. The Mold Armor Mold-Free Caulk has a silicone formula with fungicides to create a 100 percent waterproof bond while also protecting those nooks and crannies from mold and mildew for 20 years. It can be applied to glass, wood, granite, ceramic, painted surfaces, fiberglass, marble, metal, and aluminum. It applies easily, thanks to the convenient squeeze tube, and it’s water-ready in 30 minutes and completely dries in 24 hours.
When we first used this product, we thought we got a dud: The first inch of caulk that we squeezed from the tube was clear, despite the tube’s “white” designation. However, as we kept squeezing, the caulk turned white and all was well. This product was easy to apply, and the 5.5-ounce tube is a nice meet-in-the-middle between a small tube and a large caulking gun. We liked that this product created strong, flexible barriers and took only 30 minutes to dry. While it’ll take 20 years to prove that this product is as mold-resistant as it claims, it works very well as a shower caulk.
Get the Mold Armor caulk for shower on The Home Depot.
A quick-drying caulk doesn’t do much good if a DIYer has to redo it when it shrinks and cracks. That’s not the case with GE’s Supreme Silicone. This special, low-odor formula creates a waterproof and mold-resistant barrier that doesn’t shrink, crack, or yellow over time. And, better yet, it does it while drying in just 30 minutes, but users should wait up to 24 hours for the best results.
We used the Supreme Silicone along the longest seam in our test tub and shower, and we were very happy with the result. Not only did it flow well, but it was also reasonably easy to clean up after (for a silicone caulk). Our bead dried in 30 minutes, and the bright white caulk gave the seam a nice finished look. We did have a relatively large gap in the bottom of the surround that we needed to apply a bit extra to, and the 30-minute dry time was a big boost. The only downside that we found is this product isn’t paintable.
Get the GE Sealants & Adhesives caulk for shower on Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Ace Hardware.
DAP’s White Alex Plus Caulk features a special formula bolstered by added silicone for additional water resistance. The purpose of this formula is to create a waterproof product that also accepts paint well and dries in 30 minutes.
In full disclosure, this is an excellent caulk. However, it’s more suitable for the trim around the shower than it is for the seams or gaps actually within the shower. We have personal experience with this caulk, and we know it does have a tendency to shrink slightly, meaning it could leave a seam open to water penetration.
While we did test it, and it worked well, we know it will shrink a bit once fully cured. For that reason, it’s better to keep it out of the shower, but it will do just fine in the rest of the bathroom space.
Finding the best caulk for a shower or tub requires thorough knowledge of the types of caulk on the market, the formula of the caulk, and if it offers the best long-term solution to mold or mildew. To determine the best option for a given bathroom space, consider some of the factors below.
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.
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.
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.
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 mold.
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 that range in color from light to 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 a tub or have darker fixtures and don’t mind a color contrast between the caulk and the shower or the tub.
Pay attention to two time frames 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 be 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 2 hours to 10 days to cure.
If only caulking the shower or the tub in the house, choose caulks with dry and cure times on the low end of these ranges so that the bath won’t be out of commission for days.
While the hands-on reviews can be extremely helpful for many shopping for shower caulk, every situation is different. Often specific questions arise, so below are answers to some of the most popular questions about caulk for showers and tubs.
Yes, there is a difference. Although the terms are used interchangeably, caulk and sealant differ in elasticity. Both fill cracks or seams, but caulk is more rigid and sealant is more flexible. Sealant can hold up better in areas where materials expand and contract.
You should caulk any areas of the shower enclosure where water can get in, especially when the existing caulk begins to crack or crumble. This ensures that the shower will never leak and cause light to extreme water damage.
The best way to keep shower caulking white is to make sure it has no cracks to let mildew in. Keep the caulk clean and scrub stubborn stains off with a soft brush like a toothbrush. To clean naturally, try a paste of baking soda mixed with water or vinegar, or use bleach or your regular bathroom cleaner. A caulk or grout pen can hide some stains that remain after cleaning.
Any sign of mold or mildew on or around shower caulk is a sign that water can be getting through. Clean it thoroughly and evaluate the existing caulk to see if it needs replacing, taking proper safety precautions when removing the moldy caulk.
If mold is a problem in a shower, choose a silicone sealant for the best chance of keeping water and mildew out. Ventilate the bathroom to remove moisture from the air when showering and re-caulk as needed to make sure water does not seep through cracks in the caulk.
Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he popularized and became synonymous with “do-it-yourself” home improvement.
Over the course of his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair, and live better each day—a tradition that continues today with expert yet accessible home advice. The Bob Vila team distills need-to-know information into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101s, and more. These home and garden experts then thoroughly research, vet, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.
Tom Scalisi is a full-time DIY and construction writer for many of the largest websites in the industry, including BobVila.com, This Old House, Family Handyman, and Forbes. He also owns and operates a pest control blog, RiddaBugs.com. He spent years working in the trades and industrial building maintenance.
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