Showers open up the space. In a smaller bathroom, a tub does little more than make the bathroom feel cramped and pokey. Removing the tub during your bathroom renovations allows you to turn that hard to access, under-used or out-of-date bathtub into a fully functional, easy to access shower.
Homeowners are using bathtubs less and wanting a fresh look and style when remodeling. They feel these showers are convenient and provide additional safety.
Many younger homeowners are opting for shower-only bathrooms, valuing the time and space savings over the option to soak in a tub. Additionally, the trend toward smaller, more urban homes with limited bathroom space means that showers often win out.
Many younger homeowners are opting for shower-only bathrooms, valuing the time and space savings over the option to soak in a tub. Additionally, the trend toward smaller, more urban homes with limited bathroom space means that showers often win out.
The short answer is, it depends. Understanding the potential buyer of your home is key. If your neighborhood attracts many young families, removing the tub could indeed lower your home's resale value. However, there are situations where this might not be a significant concern.
According to recent data, homes with at least one tub tend to sell for more money than those with showers – and the difference can be quite pronounced in some parts of the country. Keep in mind, though, that this is just one factor among many that you'll need to consider when making this decision.
Hotel bathrooms are getting more spacious, and shower footprints are increasing. In 2021, the curbless walk-in shower will take center stage, and because showers are gaining space, built-in bathtubs are being removed. There are several other reasons why tub-to-shower conversions have become the new standard.
Although there are conflicting opinions on this issue, one thing is for sure: The era of oversized jetted tubs is over. In fact, tubs have already overstayed their period and are more of a style statement in your bathroom than being actually useful.
The short answer is no, they are not going out of style. Freestanding baths are very much still popular, with people purchasing them all the time to give their home a more luxurious feel.
In larger properties with multiple bathrooms, the absence of a tub in just one of the rooms might not be as detrimental. But if you just have the one bathroom, which is the norm for many homes, removing the only bathtub could significantly diminish the home's appeal to certain buyers.
Unfortunately, unless you're taking 20-minute showers—more on that later—baths just can't measure up in terms of water usage. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a full bathtub requires about 70 gallons of water, while taking a five-minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons.
A: While there is no right or wrong answer, it is helpful to examine your personal habits, lifestyle and space considerations before deciding to keep or ditch the bathtub. In any case, there are many shower options that can compete with bathtubs when it comes to resale value.
Increasingly, homeowners are getting rid of their tubs for lavish, high-end showers. Small spaces and homes owned by millennials and kid-free adults are particularly more apt to agree with the bathtub becoming obsolete. They simply ditch the tub.
Though trends come and go, it's safe to say that replacing a tub with a walk-in shower modernizes the overall look of your space. Offers better accessibility and safety. Stepping into a tub-shower combo is awkward and the surface could be slippery.
Childhood aversion – Childhood aversion to baths and showers is not uncommon. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as a fear of getting water or soap in their eyes, a dislike of having their hair washed, a dislike of the change of temperature and sensory issues related to water.
Although not as popular among adults, bathtubs are still the most effective way to bathe young kids and pets. For young families, a bathtub is practically a necessity. Most children younger than 8 have a difficult time using a shower. In addition, baths are much more efficient when cleaning up multiple kids at once.
Gray is officially out in 2025, and gray-on-gray bathrooms are no exception. Tajik explains, “This look is not only monotonous, it's cold and uninviting. It also seems a bit dull and lifeless for many homeowners' tastes.
Like any other bathtub, the soaker tub offers a pleasant and relaxing bathing experience. The main difference between a standard bathtub and a soaker tub is that, in the soaker tub, your whole body is submerged, giving you ultimate relaxation. There are various sizes available based on your preferences.
Why do people put a bath in the bedroom? Despite the awkward logistics, there are a few big reasons to bring the bathtub into this space – warmth, comfort, and intimacy. Despite the practical considerations, there's a growing allure to incorporating a bathtub into the bedroom.
Labor and material costs are at massive highs
Meanwhile, supply chain and inflation issues are ongoing. Hotels reported a 79% cost increase of cleaning and housekeeping supplies, according to a November 2021 American Hotel & Lodging Association survey of about 500 hotel operators.
But if you're staying in a hotel, you may wonder exactly how clean the bathtub actually is ― or what it's cleaned with. According to a report on Safehome.org, shower curtains and shower floors (including bathtubs) have 60 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.
Whether a shower or tub is better for resale is a common question many homeowners consider before removing a tub. Real estate professionals advise that as long as it's not your only bathtub, converting a tub to a shower shouldn't hurt (and might even help) your home's resale value.
There is no code that requires a bathtub in a residential home.
A bath can significantly increase the value of your home as it makes it competitive in the real estate markets. Potential homebuyers may be impressed with the unique features of your home but without a bathtub, they can easily turn down your offer.