Should You Remove Your Bathtub for a Walk-In Shower?

The Appeal of Walk-In Showers

Walk-in showers are popular for good reason:

• Easier accessibility — no more climbing over a high tub wall, making them ideal for aging-in-place
• Modern aesthetic — clean lines, tile work, and glass doors create a spa-like feel
• Low maintenance — less grout, no tub to scrub
• Space efficiency — can make a small bathroom feel larger
• Safety — reduced slip-and-fall risk compared to tub/shower combos

For many homeowners — especially empty nesters and retirees moving to or aging in place in Northern Wisconsin — a walk-in shower is a smart, practical upgrade.

The Bathtub Question: It Depends on Your Home

When Removing a Tub Will Hurt Resale Value:

1. If it's your only bathtub — Families with young children need at least one bathtub. If your home only has one full bathroom and you remove the tub, you're eliminating a significant portion of potential buyers. In Northern Wisconsin's family-oriented vacation home market, this can be a major drawback.

2. In larger family homes (3+ bedrooms) — A three-or-four-bedroom home in Ashland or Washburn is likely marketed to families. Families expect at least one bathtub. Removing the only tub from a family-sized home can reduce your buyer pool by 20–30%.

3. In vacation and lake homes — Northern Wisconsin lake homes often serve multi-generational families. Grandparents want walk-in showers, but parents need tubs for kids. If there's only one bathroom, you're creating a problem.

When Removing a Tub is Less Risky

1. If you have multiple bathrooms — If your home has two or more full bathrooms, removing the tub in one while keeping at least one tub elsewhere is generally safe. Converting a secondary bathroom to a luxurious walk-in shower can actually be a selling point.

2. In smaller homes (1–2 bedrooms) — Smaller homes and condos in Superior or on the South Shore often attract retirees, singles, or couples without children. These buyers prioritize accessibility and low maintenance over bathtubs.

3. In ranch-style or one-level homes — Northern Wisconsin has many ranch-style homes popular with retirees. If your home already appeals to an older demographic, a walk-in shower can actually increase value by improving accessibility.

4. Aging-in-place upgrades — If your target buyer is 55+, accessibility features like curbless showers, grab bars, and non-slip tile are valuable upgrades. Our region has a strong retiree and vacation-home market — play to that audience.

The Northern Wisconsin Market Reality

Our region is unique. We have a strong vacation rental and second-home market, many retirees and aging-in-place homeowners, older housing stock (lots of homes built in the 1960s–1980s), and rural properties with single bathrooms.

If you're renovating a lake cabin or a rural property with only one bathroom, think twice before removing the tub. Your buyer pool includes families with kids who want to enjoy lake life.

But if you're updating a home in a retirement-friendly area like Ashland or Bayfield with multiple bathrooms, a walk-in shower is a smart move.

What We Recommend

Best-case scenario: Keep at least one tub in the home. If you have two bathrooms, convert one to a walk-in shower and keep the tub in the other. This appeals to the widest range of buyers.

Compromise option: Install a tub/shower combo in one bathroom, walk-in shower in another. This gives families what they need while still offering a modern, accessible option.

If you only have one bathroom and remove the tub: Be prepared for a smaller buyer pool. You'll appeal to retirees and empty nesters but may lose families. Price your home accordingly and market the accessibility features heavily.

Red flag: Don't install a cheap, builder-grade shower. If you're going to remove a bathtub, invest in quality materials — tile (not acrylic panels), frameless glass, good lighting, and proper ventilation. A cheap shower will hurt value more than keeping an old tub.

Questions to Ask Before You Renovate

• How many bathrooms does my home have? If it's just one, reconsider.
• Who is my likely buyer? Families? Retirees? Vacation renters?
• What's the norm in my neighborhood? Look at comparable homes — do they have tubs?
• Am I planning to sell soon, or stay long-term? If you're staying 10+ years, renovate for your needs.
• What's my budget? A high-quality walk-in shower (properly tiled, with good fixtures) costs $8,000–$15,000. Will you recoup that on resale?

The Bottom Line

Removing a bathtub for a walk-in shower won't automatically kill your resale value — but it can narrow your buyer pool if you're not strategic about it.

The safest approach: keep at least one bathtub in your home, especially if you have 3+ bedrooms or only one bathroom. If you have multiple bathrooms, feel free to create that spa-like walk-in shower in one while keeping a tub in another.

Remember: not every renovation is about resale value. If you're planning to stay in your home for many years, prioritize what works for your lifestyle. Just be aware of the trade-offs if you decide to sell down the road.