Walk-in Shower vs Tub Conversion: Which Adds More Value?

You are staring at the old, unused bathtub in your master bathroom. It takes up a massive footprint, you haven't taken a bath in three years, and stepping over the high edge is becoming a chore. You are ready for a sleek, modern walk-in shower.

But then the nagging doubt creeps in: "Will removing the bathtub hurt the resale value of my home?"

It is the most common dilemma we hear when discussing a bathroom remodel in Lakewood, CO. For decades, the golden rule of real estate was that a home must have a bathtub in the master suite to be considered a full bathroom. Today, that rule is officially dead.

In this guide, we are comparing a walk-in shower vs tub conversion to see exactly which option adds more value, better ROI, and better daily functionality to your home.

The Real Estate Perspective: Do Buyers Want Bathtubs?

The answer to this question depends entirely on which bathroom you are remodeling.

According to recent surveys by the Houzz Bathroom Trends Study, nearly 80% of homeowners who remodel their master bathroom choose to upgrade their shower, and a massive portion of those explicitly choose to remove their bathtub to make room for a larger, spa-like walk-in shower.

The Master Bathroom Rule

If you are remodeling your primary suite, a large walk-in shower adds significantly more value than a standard bathtub. Modern buyers in Lakewood—whether they are young professionals moving into Belmar or empty nesters settling in Applewood—want luxury and convenience in the master bath. They want dual showerheads, custom tile benches, and frameless glass. They do not want a cramped shower/tub combo.

The Golden Exception

There is only one rule you must follow: You must keep at least one bathtub in the house.

If you are selling a 3-bedroom home in a family-friendly neighborhood like Green Mountain or Bear Creek, buyers with toddlers or dogs will walk away if the house doesn't have a single bathtub. As long as you leave a tub in the guest bathroom or hall bathroom, you are completely free to convert the master tub into a massive walk-in shower without hurting your home's resale value.

Walk-in Shower Benefits: Why Homeowners Are Converting

Why is the tub-to-shower conversion the most requested remodeling project in Colorado? Here are the three primary reasons:

• 1. Making Small Bathrooms Feel Bigger: A standard bathtub visually cuts a room in half. A shower curtain or frosted sliding door acts as a wall. By replacing the tub with a walk-in shower wrapped in clear, frameless glass, your eye can travel all the way to the back wall. This makes a small 5x8 foot bathroom feel incredibly spacious.
• 2. Aging in Place and Safety: Stepping over an 18-inch bathtub apron on a wet floor is a major slipping hazard. For homeowners in Morse Park and other established Lakewood neighborhoods looking to "age in place," a walk-in shower (especially one with a low-curb or curbless design) is a necessity. It is significantly safer and allows for the installation of sturdy grab bars and built-in bench seating.
• 3. Easier Maintenance: Scrubbing the curved, grime-collecting corners of a bathtub is backbreaking work. A modern walk-in shower with large-format porcelain tile means fewer grout lines, no shower curtains to wash, and a sleek surface that can easily be wiped down with a squeegee.

Cost vs ROI: Is the Investment Worth It?

Converting a tub to a shower is not as simple as ripping out the fiberglass and slapping down some tile. It requires pulling a Jefferson County plumbing permit to upsize the drain pipe (bathtubs use 1.5-inch drains; showers require 2-inch drains by code), pouring a new waterproof pan, and laying custom tile.

A professional conversion in Lakewood typically costs between $8,000 and $15,000 depending on the materials you select.

So, what is the Return on Investment (ROI)? In the Denver metro area, midrange bathroom remodels generally recoup 60% to 70% of their cost at resale.

However, the intangible ROI is massive. When buyers tour a home and see an outdated pink bathtub with a plastic surround, they immediately calculate the cost of a remodel into their offer. When they see a brand-new, glowing custom tile walk-in shower, it creates the "wow factor" that triggers emotional, full-price offers.

When Should You Keep the Tub?

While we install dozens of walk-in showers every month, there are a few scenarios where we recommend keeping a bathtub:

1. It is the only tub in the house: As mentioned above, removing the only tub in a 3+ bedroom home in a family neighborhood is a mistake that limits your buyer pool.
2. You take baths weekly: It sounds obvious, but don't remodel for a hypothetical future buyer if it ruins your daily routine. If soaking in a tub is how you decompress, keep it! Consider upgrading to a deep, freestanding soaking tub instead.
3. Tight budget constraints: If you have a strict budget under $5,000, it is much cheaper to leave the existing tub in place and simply update the surrounding wall tile or reglaze the tub itself, rather than paying for the plumbing modifications required for a shower conversion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Reading

• Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost in Lakewood, CO
• How Long Does a Bathroom Remodel Take in Lakewood, CO?