Walk-In Shower vs. Bathtub: Which Is Right for Your Home?

If your tub hasn't been used for a bath in years, you've probably wondered whether to swap it for a walk-in shower. If you love a soak but climbing in is getting harder, a walk-in tub might be on your mind. Here's how the three options compare.

Getting In and Out

A standard tub asks you to step over a wall that's usually 14 to 16 inches high. A walk-in shower has a low threshold you step over, and a walk-in tub has a door and a seat at chair height. If anyone in the house has trouble with balance, knees or hips, either walk-in option is safer than a standard tub.

Cleaning

With grout-free walls, a walk-in shower is the easiest to keep clean: a glass door, a base and smooth walls. A tub adds a deck and a corner that collect soap scum.

Space

A walk-in shower fits in the same 5-foot alcove as most tubs and usually feels larger, because there's no tub wall breaking up the room. A walk-in tub also fits most standard alcoves.

Resale

If your home has another tub, converting one to a shower rarely hurts resale, and buyers often like a large, modern walk-in. If it's the only tub in the house and young families are likely buyers, keeping a tub can make sense. A tub-shower combo is a good middle ground.

Install Time

Most standard tub-to-shower conversions, shower replacements and tub replacements are done in 1–2 days on site. Some walk-in tubs need a dedicated electrical circuit, which we'll tell you about at the consultation.

Quick Guide

Choose a walk-in shower if you mostly shower and want the easiest entry and cleaning. Keep a tub if you bathe kids or pets, or it's your only one. Choose a walk-in tub if you want to keep soaking but need a safer way in and out.

See Both at Home

At your free consultation we measure your space and show you shower and tub options side by side, with one clear written price for each.