Shower Vs Bathtub Resale Value 2022

In this detailed guide of shower vs bathtub resale value, I will explain why and what makes a shower or a bathtub valuable as far as reselling is concerned!

Remodeling a bathroom is perhaps one of the most beneficial investments that a homeowner can make. Not only is there potential to add storage space, but functionality can be improved, as can energy efficiency, and any existing problems can be remedied.

Perhaps the most important thing is that it adds resale value to your home. What you may not have known is that choosing between a bathtub and shower can have a significant impact on the resale value of the home.

So, which is the better choice? This guide will give you the answers that you have been looking for when it comes to bathtub versus shower installations.

Shower Vs Bathtub Resale Value

Advantages of Installing a Shower

Both showers and bathtubs have their own distinct advantages. It is important that you keep in mind the practical value of each when installing them, not just what it may do for your personal preferences.

Less Space Required. For most standard-sized showers, you are looking at about 9 square feet. Compared to the standard bathtub, which takes up 13 square feet, that can make a sizable difference.

On properties that don’t have a ton of space to begin with, those extra feet can really add up. With the lesser space used, there is also room to make the shower bigger.

There is nothing quite like having a walk-in shower or even using that extra space to add in a double vanity or other feature that could appeal to buyers.

Less Water Used. Energy and water conservation are hot button topics these days. If you are looking to be smarter about water usage, a shower is the better route.

Using a standard-sized bathtub can consume anywhere from 25 to 40 gallons of water. Don’t even think about how many gallons a whirlpool tub uses.

Showers, meanwhile, consume about 17 gallons for an 8-minute shower (the average length). Over time, that difference can really add up, especially when it comes to your water bill.

Easier Access. Walking into a shower is generally pretty effortless. You either move the curtain aside or open the door, turn the water on, set your temperature, and step in.

Showers also tend to be better options for those with mobility issues or disabilities as they can have non-slip tiles, grab bars, or even benches.

Bathtubs require a little bit of climbing. For most, that’s not a big deal, but for the aforementioned demographic, it can present challenges.

Moreover, slips are more common in bathtubs. To combat that risk means adding a bath mat, which can be a harbor for grime and even black mold.

Advantages of Installing a Bathtub

On the flip side, bathtubs have their own unique set of advantages. Just remember that the choice will ultimately come down to personal preference. But the bathtub has a few important features that make it the more popular choice.

Cheaper Install. While showers save space, they are also quite a bit more expensive to install. The prices can vary based on the selection and additions, but the average bathtub can run between $500 and $8,000.

A shower, on the other hand, can run from $600 to $12,000. Materials and design play an important role in the costs, too.

If you go with a walk-in shower, that can cost as much as $10,000 depending on the materials and labor required. Tubs don’t have nearly the level of customization but don’t have costs nearly as high.

Better Resale Value. Though there is an increase in feature-heavy walk-in showers, most buyers are still looking for homes with a bathtub. It kind of depends on the home as a whole, too. Smaller homes tend to do better with showers, for instance.

On the whole, however, buyers are looking at homes that have a bathtub installed. The nicer the tub, the better the resale value.

Safe for Kids. Those with families typically want bathtubs because they are safer for children. Moreover, it is easier to babyproof a tub than it is for a shower.

For parents who are always thinking about the safety of their kids, being able to make a tub child-friendly can be a selling point.

Better Health Benefits. One of the biggest reasons that bathtubs tend to be the more popular option has to do with the health benefits. There have been many studies showing the litany of benefits that soaking in the tub can offer.

Even if it were used as a stress-reliever at the end of a hard day, that is something the shower can’t quite match. Adding in essential oils, Epsom salts, and a plethora of other additives only increases the relaxation factor.

Three-Quarter Bath Versus Full Bath: What Gives You More Value?

Bathtubs have proven to be a significant value addition for homes. That said, there are some features that comprise a tub that add to that value. That said, there is an important distinction to make when it comes to bathrooms.

You may hear sellers (or even other buyers) talk about ¾ baths or full baths. The thing is, many people misconstrue them, adding to the confusion. Here is a brief breakdown of each.

Full Bathroom. For a bathroom to be considered a “full” bathroom, there are four components. A full bathroom will have a toilet, a sink, a bathtub, and a shower. If any of those items are missing, the bathroom is not a “full” bathroom.

¾ Bathroom. The ¾ bath is missing one of those items, hence the name. Bathrooms that have a tub, but not a shower, would fall into the ¾ bath category. The same goes for those with a shower but no tub. There is an impact on the value because of these features.

Better Value? There is an understandable misconception about the costs of a ¾ bath versus a full bath. Common sense would say that the full bath would be more expensive to install, but that actually is not the truth.

The true answer here is that it depends on the buyer. Some prefer showers while others prefer a bathtub. Full baths obviously offer the best of both worlds, but buyers are becoming more staunch in their preferences between the two.

Does Removing a Bath Devalue Your Home?

While it may not seem like much of a factor, your bathtub can weigh in on the value of your home. The key is to get into the mind of potential buyers to understand what they are looking for as they search for a home.

For the most part, the resale value of a home depends on certain trends. For instance, oversized walk-in showers had become particularly popular in the past few years. Despite this, a lot of buyers wanted to have a tub in their home.

The vast majority of buyers, those with young children or those desiring multiple bathrooms, see the tub as something of a required feature.

Which brings us to whether or not those looking to sell would want to have a tub in their home. The answer is very clear: yes. Bathtubs retain their value despite the trends in the home-buying market.

Still, it will ultimately come down to personal preference. But homeowners can safely guess that buyers will be looking for at least one tub out of their next home purchase.

As a homeowner, you may be done with your bathtub and decide that you want to convert it into a shower. But after hearing about the value that bathtubs bring to a home, you may be hesitant to make that decision.

There are important questions to ask as the homeowner. Consider how long you will be staying in the home. Is installing a shower worth it or would you be better off keeping the tub in place for the value?

If you plan on staying in the home for a long time, why not go with the option that suits you best instead of worrying about potential resale value?

Perhaps the most helpful tool for determining whether or not to add a bathtub is the return on investment (ROI).

That ROI may not be quite as important to those who are not selling for the foreseeable future. But those looking to make a move in the coming years would have to make a decision. The one caveat as a seller is who you are selling to.

What is your market? If you are seeing parents with small children, not having that tub might be a deal-breaker for them. Bathtubs being safer and more practical for children can make all the difference.

Which Is the Better Choice?

Those reading this are probably looking for a definitive answer. At the end of the day, the general rule of thumb is that you can replace a tub in the home with a shower so long as there is still a remaining tub somewhere else in the house.

When it comes to selling the home for a premium amount, the difference can come down to something like the tub. If you are looking to sell your home in the near future, installing a bathtub may be a great idea for increasing the resale value of the home.

Still not sure about bathtubs? There are several surveys out there that illustrate the preference of bathtubs. One study showed that 70% of millennials have a preference for whirlpool tubs.

Compared to 62% of Gen Xers, 47% of boomers, and 44% of seniors, it seems like bathtubs skew younger and younger. Finally, consider this one last thing.

When you are selling a home that has a bathtub, you aren’t just selling that bathtub. You are selling a certain lifestyle and all the things that come with it.

If you are looking to sell and want to get top dollar, making those seemingly small changes that appeal to broader lifestyles is the way to go.

Do your homework before performing any changes. Find out what kind of tubs buyers are leaning toward these days so that you can make the most informed, valuable decision possible. When all is said and done, you should find your home more appealing to potential buyers.