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Is Bathtub Replacement Right for You?

Michael Spreitzer
A classic bathtub with tiling on the wall showing what might be replacing showers.

A steamy debate has been brewing in bathroom remodels: Should you replace a bathtub with a walk-in shower — or keep the tub? Or have both?

Before making a change, consider a few pros and cons. In the world of real estate, such bathroom matters could make a difference in your home’s marketability and resale value.

Bathtub vs. Shower: Advantage Shower

More homeowners are ditching their oversized, unused bathtubs to accommodate a larger shower, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s 2025 Bath Trends Report. The NKBA surveyed design experts, remodelers, product manufacturers, and more. The results show that the most popular bathroom remodel update over the next three years will center on replacing a bathtub with a walk-in shower.

“[Showers are] where homeowners are investing their money” in bathroom remodels, whether it’s enlarging the size or embracing the groutless shower trend, says Angie Hicks, cofounder of Angi.

Sherri Drew, vice president of design studios at Tri Pointe Homes, says she has noticed the trend toward larger walk-in showers among new-home construction buyers. Homeowners are investing more money in upgrading their primary suites. They’re notably fancying up their showers with add-ons like double showerheads, steam showers, or upgraded tiles.

Homeowners often prefer showers for everyday use but also because they accommodate a wide range of ages and household members with mobility issues, according to the NKBA survey. Further, space limitations might be part of the push to replace a bathtub with a shower, since showers tend to fit more easily into tighter areas.

Bathtub vs. Shower: Advantage Bathtub

Real estate pros offer strong justification to keep at least one tub in your home. Although a luxury shower — with a seat — is a selling point in real estate, many households want at least one bathtub in the home, says Michelle Doherty, a real estate professional at Real Living at Home with @properties in Arlington, Va. “It really depends on the beds and baths situation in the home.”

“I have had clients turn to me after we’ve done a walk-through of a lovely home and say, ‘Where’s the tub? Where am I going to wash the kids? Where am I going to wash the dog?’” says Kathryn Bishop, an agent and REALTOR® at One Luxury Properties in Sherman Oaks, Calif. A bathtub makes homes at all price levels more marketable, she adds.

A subset of Drew’s new-home clients view bathtubs as a valuable upgrade, even if it means a smaller shower, Drew says. Some clients want a freestanding tub — which is open to all the sides — to make it a focal point in their primary bathroom.

What to Consider Before Bathtub Replacement

It’s easy to focus on aesthetics and personal preferences when deciding whether to replace a bathtub with a shower. But other factors come into play: the resale value of your home even if you don’t have immediate plans to sell, the objective pros and cons of each option, replacement costs, and specifics about your household, home, and neighborhood.

Bathtub Replacement and Home Resale Value

A bathroom is considered a full bathroom if it includes four parts: a shower, a bathtub, a sink, and a toilet, Bishop says. If one component is excluded from the total, the bathroom is typically called a three-quarters bath. That distinction could affect how a home is marketed and perceived by buyers. Even if you don’t anticipate selling your home soon, ripping out a bathtub could affect how buyers view your home if you do decide to sell someday.

Resale value is an important factor, Bishop says. “Yes, you have showers now, but what if you decide to sell? You’re not going to put the tub back in.”

Bathtub Replacement Pros and Cons

Bathtubs and showers each have pluses and minuses that homeowners care about.

Shower, Bathtub Replacement Costs

Most homeowners focus on cost in deciding what to rip out and what to upgrade. Removing an outdated tub for a shower, for example, can cost on average $3,000 but could go as high as $8,000 or more, according to Angi. Costs greatly depend on the size of the area, plumbing requirements, and the style, accessories, and materials selected. For example, a tiled walk-in shower will cost more than a smaller, prefab shower stall, Angi notes. In addition, the larger the shower, the higher the costs. That goes for any custom add-ons, like penny tiles.

For homeowners seeking to upgrade their bathtub, the materials selected and style also will greatly sway costs. For a freestanding tub, homeowners pay an average, $2,000 to $3,000, as well as installation costs, according to Angi cost estimates. For an even grander clawfoot tub, homeowners may pay $10,000 or more. Standard bathtub replacements — typically in rectangular or oval shapes with a showerhead above —tend to be the least expensive option, between $200 to $800, according to Angi.

Bathtub Replacement FAQs

If you’re weighing your bathtub and shower options for a bathroom remodeling project or a new home, consider these seven questions:

  1. How many bathrooms does my home have, and is there a bathtub and a shower in one or more? Although a full bathroom is defined as having a bathtub and shower as well as a sink and toilet, if you have a bathtub or shower available in different bathrooms, that might work.
  2. What makes sense based on my household? If you have kids or pets or both, a bathtub is likely a necessity. If you have senior household members, a walk-in shower, is a good choice.
  3. What’s the composition of my neighborhood? If you live in an area with households that have kids, pets, and bathtubs, you won’t want to be at a competitive disadvantage when you sell your home.
  4. What’s my budget? Removing a bathtub can cost thousands of dollars. You might consider keeping but upgrading the tub. Shower installations depend greatly on size and features.
  5. What are my space limitations? You may be able to manage both a bathtub and a shower if you reduce the scale. Also, consider modern hybrid options, like smart tub-shower combinations, space-optimizing configurations, and modular bathroom systems.
  6. What are my priorities? If your personal preferences outweigh marketability and future home value, you might want to go with them. Just be aware that reversing some decisions might be too expensive to be practical.
  7. What does a local real estate agent advise? Real estate professionals have expertise in these matters and are eager to help you make decisions that work for you while maximizing your home’s value and marketability. They also know your local market. “Look at your location,” Bishop advises. “Look at who lives in your neighborhood. Look at who’s going to be your potential buyer in the future and factor that into your decision.”

If you opt to upgrade a bathtub or shower instead of replacing a bathtub. Here are trends to consider.

Some homeowners favor freestanding bathtubs for spa-like and wellness qualities, but they tend to serve more of an “aesthetic purpose than a functional purpose,” NKBA’s report notes. For example, 70% of respondents surveyed by NKBA report a preference for soaking tubs because of the physical and recovery benefits. Also, some remodelers are choosing a cold plunge rather than a warm soak. For example, Kohler’s Ice Bath touts benefits of ice bathing such as speeding muscle recovery and boosting mood.

Some additional bathtub add-on trends, according to NKBA’s report, are:

For home remodelers who favor the shower, the message is clear: Make it easy to maintain. More than half of respondents surveyed by NKBA said their top goal with the shower was to minimize upkeep cleaning. “Low maintenance is a key concern, and it’s motivating homeowners to opt for certain materials,” says Marine Sargsyan, staff economist with Houzz.

One notable trend that aligns with low maintenance is groutless shower walls and groutless tile. Angi’s State of Home Spending Report called out “groutless shower tile” as a top trend in bathroom renovations.

“Grout is becoming less and less,” Hicks says. “We’re seeing a lot of tile going in this direction of either very little grout or larger tiles that don’t require as much grout. It’s a game changer in making it easier to clean.” A popular choice is pencil-line grout that you can barely see, she says. “[Showers] can become a mess with the grout even getting black mold or mildew growing on it. If you don’t have grout, it doesn’t grow there.”

Here are additional shower remodeling trends highlighted by Fixr.com:

An alternative to choosing between a bathtub and a shower is combining them. There are more trendy ways to combine a bathtub and a shower than tubs that are sunken or recessed into the shower. For example, with a wet room, you can install a freestanding tub in an enlarged shower. Wet rooms are an emerging trend that has become more popular with bathroom remodelers. Thirteen percent of renovators added one in 2024, says Sargsyan.

Before you decide whether to replace a bathtub with a walk-in shower, talk to a real estate agent about how the change might affect your home’s marketability and resale value in the future. Keep in mind that instead of bathtub replacement, an upgrade is less expensive and can maximize what you have.

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