RDC Renovation & Design Concepts is a flooring and bathroom remodeling company in Phoenix, Arizona, that builds showers from its Bell Rd showroom. We can talk through which tub stays at the free estimate. The work itself is priced on our tub-to-shower conversion cost in Phoenix page.
Key takeaways
- Removing a bathtub usually does not hurt resale when another tub stays in the house.
- Removing the only tub is the real risk, because some buyers with young children want one.
- In an NAHB buyer survey reported by NAR, 42% of first-time buyers called a shower stall plus a tub in the primary bath desirable. Another 30% called it essential.
- We found no US sales study that gives a dollar figure for removing a tub, so treat any percentage you read with care.
Quick answers
Does removing a bathtub hurt resale value? Usually not if another tub stays in the house, but removing the only tub can narrow your buyers. We found no US sales study that gives a dollar figure.
Does removing a tub reduce home value if it is the only one? It can, for buyers with young children who want a tub, and the effect depends on your market. It does not stop a sale.
Do you need a tub in a master bathroom for resale? No, but some buyers want one. In an NAHB survey reported by NAR, 42% of first-time buyers called a shower stall plus a tub in the primary bath desirable.
What the question really asks: a home's value is what its likely buyers will pay. A tub matters to some of them more than others. So the useful question is not whether tubs add value. It is who buys in your area, and what is left in the house after the tub goes.
Does Removing a Bathtub Hurt Resale Value?
Removing a bathtub usually does not hurt resale value when another tub stays in the house. It can when that tub is the only one. We found no US sales study that puts a dollar figure on it. At RDC in Phoenix, we can talk it through at the free estimate.
The National Association of REALTORS says removing a tub "could actually hurt a property's resale value, depending on the buyers you're trying to attract." That page is from April 2022 and is marked as archived.
Does Removing a Bathtub Devalue Your Home if It Is the Only One?
Removing the only bathtub can devalue your home for buyers with young children, because they lose the option entirely. It does not stop a sale. It narrows who wants the house, and the effect depends on your market and your price range, so ask a local agent first.
If the only tub is also in your only bathroom, plan with extra care. RDC can discuss options that balance access with resale before you commit. A tub can stay in a hall bath while the primary bath changes.
| Your house after the work | Resale risk | What to think about |
|---|---|---|
| A tub stays in another bathroom | Low | Buyers who want a tub still have one |
| Primary tub removed, hall tub stays | Low | A larger shower, with a tub still in the house |
| The only tub removed, two or more baths | Moderate | Some family buyers will notice; ask a local agent |
| The only tub in the only bathroom removed | Highest | Weigh daily use against a possible sale soon |
| You need a step-free shower now | Secondary | Safety comes first |
A planning guide, not a study. We found no data that rates these situations.
Is a Tub Necessary in a Master Bathroom?
A tub is not necessary in a master bathroom, but some buyers still want one. In an NAHB survey reported by NAR, 42% of first-time buyers called a shower stall plus a tub in the primary bath "desirable". Another 30% called it "essential". Those figures come from the 2021 edition of What Home Buyers Really Want.
That leaves room both ways. A garden tub nobody uses can become a walk-in shower. If you are a bath person, keep the tub. RDC's guide to bathroom remodel mistakes to avoid in Phoenix treats the unused tub as a planning choice.
Can You Sell a House Without a Bathtub?
You can sell a house without a bathtub, and nothing in a sale requires one. The difference shows in how the bathroom is described. Redfin defines a three-quarter bath as "one sink, one toilet, and one shower or tub". Ask your agent how a shower-only bath gets listed.
A tub-to-shower conversion RDC built in Scottsdale.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Bathtub With a Shower?
Replacing a bathtub with a shower at RDC costs $9,000 to $14,000 for a tiled conversion. A jetted tub or a garden tub plus corner shower adds about $3,000 to $5,000. A curbless entry usually adds about $3,000, depending on the existing floor and drain.
The full breakdown is on the tub-to-shower conversion cost in Phoenix page.
On the resale side, the Phoenix bathroom remodel cost guide reports that a midrange Phoenix remodel recouped 79% of its cost. That figure covers a whole remodel, not a tub removal, so do not read it as a tub number.
Please note: these are typical ranges and can vary. Final pricing is set individually for each customer based on their specific project, after a free measure and a written estimate.
When Removing the Tub Is Still the Right Call
Removing the tub is still the right call when someone in the house struggles with the step. It also fits when you plan to stay for years. AARP reports that falls happen mostly at home and mainly in the bathroom. A resale question years away should not outweigh a safety question today.
- Safety. See aging-in-place walk-in showers in Phoenix for curbless and low-threshold options.
- Daily use. If everyone showers and the tub sits unused, the space is working against you.
- A long stay. The longer you stay, the less a future buyer's preference matters.
- The choice itself. Walk-in shower installation in Phoenix compares a shower with a tub in more detail.
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Removing a Bathtub in Arizona
In Arizona, the answer depends on who buys in your neighborhood, and no state-level study settles it. A retirement community and a family suburb are different markets.
Does Removing a Bathtub Hurt Resale Value in Phoenix?
In Phoenix, removing a bathtub is lowest risk in a home with two or more bathrooms where a hall tub stays. Ask a local agent about your own street. The median Phoenix home was built in 1985, per the American Community Survey 2020-2024.
A conversion in Phoenix takes 5 to 8 working days when the drain stays in place. Add 2 to 3 days if it moves. RDC is fully insured, and each project comes with its 1-year workmanship warranty. Call or text (602) 788-1446 to book a free measure.
Seeing Shower Options at the North Phoenix Showroom
The Bell Rd showroom, Suite 101 in North Phoenix, shows full-size tile for showers and floors across roughly 1,200 sq ft. No appointment is needed Sunday through Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM; on Saturday the showroom is closed. Ask which tub should stay, and we will talk it through.
Tub Removal in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Mesa and Peoria
RDC's conversion price is the same across the Valley. What differs is the home and the buyer you would be selling to.
- Scottsdale. RDC has converted a tub to a gray tile shower with black fixtures there. See Scottsdale bathroom remodeling.
- Paradise Valley. In a large primary bath, a separate tub can stay beside a larger shower. See luxury bathroom features in Paradise Valley.
- Mesa. See Mesa bathroom remodeling for bathroom work there.
- Peoria. Lowering the shower step or curb is the most common request RDC gets, which can solve access with no tub removed. See tile and walk-in showers in Peoria.
- Sun City West. Tub-to-shower work is among the most common requests RDC gets there. See Sun City West flooring and tile.
A tub in the finished room: a dark green subway tile surround in a Phoenix bathroom.
Sources
- National Association of REALTORS, Survey: First-Time Buyers Still Want a Bathtub (April 15, 2022, archived), reporting NAHB's What Home Buyers Really Want, 2021 Edition.
- Redfin, What Is a Half Bath vs. Three Quarter vs. Full?
- AARP, August 31, 2023; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B25035.