Will Removing My Tub Affect Resale Value?
Nov 25, 2025Do you need a bathtub for resale value? Does a house have to have a bathtub? We asked the Experts.
Planning a bathroom update often starts with one big question: Will removing my tub affect resale value? If you’re considering a walk-in shower tub replacement, there’s good news. The consensus: Removing a bath won’t hurt your resale value unless it leaves you with no bathtub at all.
But resale value isn’t the only consideration in this decision. We interviewed real estate agents and veteran Improveit designers for their professional insight. Their advice is that safety, accessibility, and your own personal preferences should take precedence, along with important cost considerations.
How Removing a Bathtub Affects Resale Value
Many buyers still like the idea of having a bathtub in the home, but today’s real estate and remodeling markets show a major shift: Modern walk-in showers are often equally or more appealing than traditional bathtub layouts. In fact, many new homes are being built without bathtubs at all, especially in primary bathrooms. So, do you need a bathtub for resale value or not?
The most consistent answer is that buyers appreciate having at least one tub somewhere in the home, but a tub-to-shower conversion typically adds appeal through modern looks and improved function. “If the home has at least one other bathtub, converting a tub to a shower usually doesn’t hurt resale,” says Columbus, Ohio Realtor Billy Fristo with Howard Hanna Real Estate. “In fact, if the home already has another full bath with a tub, then converting a tub to a walk-in shower will often improve marketability.”
Several Improveit designers also have real estate experience, including Vinnie Pestano who agrees on the value of a walk-in shower. “The other homes on your street were probably built very much like yours,” he says. “So when it’s time for a buyer to put in an offer and pay a good price for your home, having that differentiator of an updated bathroom can actually be helpful.”
Current Buyer Preferences to Consider:
- Urban and downsizing buyers often prioritize spacious, contemporary showers for daily use and easy upkeep.
- Suburban family markets generally prefer at least one full bath with a tub for bathing children.
- Luxury buyers may favour spa-like primary suites, which could include a soaking tub, an expansive shower, or both.
Demographic Factors to Keep in Mind:
- Households with young children appreciate a bathtub on at least one level of the home.
- Aging-in-place buyers prioritize accessibility, choosing low-threshold showers with grab bars over stepping into a bathtub.
Prioritize Your Needs When Removing a Bath
While it’s smart to consider resale, designing for a future, unknown buyer can lead to choices that don’t serve your household well. “We never know what the real estate market will be in 5 or 10 years, or even 2 years from now,” Pestano says. “Trying to prepare your home for a buyer that doesn’t exist yet is not a strategy that typically works in the homeowner’s favor.”
Alex Sale agrees. “Setting aside home value, my focus and my priority is on the comfort and safety of the homeowners I work with,” she says. As a veteran Improveit designer, real estate professional, and member of the American Society of Interior Designers, Sale says your own wants and needs should always be the priority.
“Your bathroom is a place where you spend a lot of time,” she says. “If your hip is bad or you’re enduring pain or the fear of falling every time you take a shower, those should be your priorities. Don’t remodel your bathroom – or choose not to remodel – based on people you’ve never met.”
Safety, Accessibility & Long-Term Cost Considerations
For many homeowners, the decision to remove a bathub is about safety more than style. Stepping over a tall tub can be a daily challenge and increases the risk of slips and falls. Switching to a low-threshold shower can improve stability and independence at home, often at a much lower cost than long-term care.
“If you’re considering removing a bathtub because a shower is a safer place for you to bathe, what’s the loss in resale value compared to the added cost of a care facility?” Sale asks, noting that more and more homeowners are looking to stay in their homes as they age. “It’s important to think about how long you can safely stay in your home if you don’t make the change to walk-in shower. The potential lost home value from removing a bathtub is nothing compared to the extra expense of a care facility.”
In short, it’s often a better investment to convert a bathtub that isn’t working for you than to risk a fall and face extended, expensive care. If you’re asking again, “will removing my tub affect resale value,” weigh the safety benefits against potential market preferences.
Safety Benefits of Walk-in Showers:
- Low thresholds reduce the hazards of stepping over a high tub edge.
- Grab bars, anti-slip floors, and integrated or fold-down seating support secure movement.
- Improveit shower systems are designed for durability and easy maintenance, simplifying cleaning and reducing risk.
Cost Comparisons to Consider:
- Project pricing for removing a bath and installing a walk-in shower varies by materials, plumbing, and customization.
- Assisted living and nursing care can cost thousands each month. Any minor impact on resale from a tub removal is often outweighed by the cost of care after an injury.
- Investing in accessibility can help prevent falls, making a walk-in shower tub replacement a value-conscious decision with both immediate and long-term benefits.
Will Removing a Bathtub Affect Resale Value
Does a house have to have a bathtub? Not necessarily. If your home has more than one bathtub, converting a secondary tub to a walk-in shower is typically a neutral or positive for resale. Updated, accessible bathrooms are highly attractive to buyers seeking modern design and low-maintenance living. Removing your only tub can narrow appeal in some markets, but your current needs and wants outweigh those of potential future buyers.
Pestano sums it up nicely: “Removing a bath doesn’t automatically lower home value,” he says. “It simply shifts your buyer pool. When it’s time to put your home on the market, your pool of potential buyers simply shifts toward people who love walk-in showers.” With that in mind, make sure you’re remodeling so you can get the most enjoyment out of your home now.
Our designers and real estate partners consistently see this in practice: Replacing an unused tub with a thoughtfully designed shower rarely hurts value. In fact, it can broaden interest among buyers who prefer clean, contemporary finishes and safer, more functional spaces.
FAQS: Bathtub & Resale Value
Yes, especially if your current tub goes unused or feels unsafe, and you have at least one other bathroom with a tub. A professional walk in shower tub replacement improves safety, convenience, and style while maintaining overall marketability.
Homes with at least one tub often attract more family buyers. At the same time, buyers increasingly value accessible, modern showers. Keeping one tub and converting another bathroom to a shower gives your home flexibility and broad appeal.
No! Removing a bathtub can reduce your buyer pool in certain areas, but many new homes are being built without bathtubs at all. Like other amenities, such as swimming pools and fireplaces, buyers will be drawn to the type of bathroom layouts they prefer, including walk-in showers.
Many homeowners are updating old tubs to low-threshold showers to improve safety and modernize their bathrooms. Common upgrades include grab bars, anti-slip floors, seating, and integrated shelving. Oversized and outdated garden tubs are also a popular item to remove and replace with a walk-in shower. Additionally, many new homes are being built without bathtubs.
Costs depend on materials, labor, plumbing, and custom features. Improveit offers personalized quotes after an in-home assessment so you know exactly what your tub-to-shower conversion will cost.
It can influence your buyer pool. If you keep at least one bathtub in the house, a conversion is typically neutral or positive. If you’re asking, “do you need a bathtub for resale value,” the safest plan is to retain one and design the rest of your bathrooms for your daily comfort and safety.
No! Many new homes are being built without bathtubs at all, particularly in the primary bathroom. And as homeowners decide to age in place, more people are converting bathtubs to walk-in showers for convenience and safety. Your bathroom layout is personal to your needs, and any remodeling should be done with that in mind.
Plan Your Tub-to-Shower Conversion with Improveit
Ready to explore a walk in shower tub replacement? We’re here to help you make a smart, budget-conscious choice. Improveit offers high-quality materials, professional installation, and designs that blend safety with style. Whether you’re focused on accessibility, a fresh look, or both, we’ll guide you through options that fit your needs.
Call 855-637-2999 or click here to schedule your free consultation to get personalized advice, transparent pricing, and a design plan tailored to you! If you’re still wondering, “will removing my tub affect resale value,” we’ll help you weigh the pros and cons so you can move forward with confidence.
