The rule Valley agents go by
Keep one tub in the house. Families with small children want a tub somewhere, and almost nobody needs two. If you have a hall bath with a tub and a primary bath with a tub, converting the primary to a walk-in shower is what most buyers hope to find.
We do not quote national percentages on this. They usually come from surveys about full remodels, not conversions. What we can tell you is what local agents tell us, and it is consistent.
It depends on who buys on your street
| Area | Converting the primary bath tub | Converting the only tub |
|---|---|---|
| Sun City and other 55+ communities | Strong plus | Usually fine. Many buyers want no tub |
| Family areas such as Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek | A plus if the hall tub stays | Risky. Keep the tub |
| Mesa, Tempe, Glendale, central Phoenix | A plus | Neutral to slightly negative |
If you plan to sell in the next couple of years
- Convert the primary bath and leave the hall tub alone.
- Choose porcelain tile and a fixed glass panel.
- Stay with neutral colors and skip unusual tile.
- Add a bench and blocking for grab bars. Older buyers notice.
A finished, clean shower photographs well and takes one item off a buyer's list of things that need updating.
If you are staying
Build the shower that works for you. If stepping over the tub is getting harder, your safety over the next ten years matters more than a guess about a future buyer. A low-threshold shower with a bench suits you now and suits the people most likely to buy a single-level Valley home later.
If the tub you want to remove is the only one in the house, talk it over with us first. Sometimes the better plan is to convert a different bathroom, or to replace the old tub with a new one that has a lower side and a grab bar.
Cost and time
A tub-to-shower conversion runs $7,900 to $16,500 and takes 3–5 days. The lower end is premium acrylic walls with a framed door. The upper end is porcelain tile, a niche and frameless glass. Our resale guide goes deeper, and at the free visit we will give you an honest opinion for your house and your street.
Key facts
- Rule of thumb
- Keep at least one bathtub in the house
- Best tub to convert
- The one in the primary bathroom
- 55+ communities
- Buyers prefer walk-in showers
- Conversion cost
- $7,900–$16,500
- Time on site
- 3–5 days
Related questions
Where we do this work
Services: Tub-to-Shower Conversion · Walk-In Shower Remodel
Bathroom remodeling in Gilbert, Mesa, Sun City, and across the Valley.