Does a Shower Remodel Cost More With a Bathtub? Remodel Budgeting 101

For nearly every homeowner, cost determines how and when to tackle a bathroom remodel. You know you’re ready to upgrade that tub or shower, but you aren’t sure if it would be more affordable to invest in a walk-in shower or a tub-and-shower combo. Ultimately, keeping your shower remodel cost within a certain range is your top priority, but you’d love the freedom to design your bathroom exactly how you want it.

At ZINTEX Remodeling Group, we’ve completed tens of thousands of tub and shower remodels in houses just like yours. We’re here to assure you that your shower remodel cost can be pretty comparable with or without a bathtub, starting at around $11,000. Read on to learn more about walk-in shower costs vs. tub-and-shower combo costs and how to design a remodel within your budget.

Table of Contents

• The Three Main Types of Shower Remodels
• Comparing Price Points: Walk-In Showers vs. Tub-and-Shower Combos
• Top Design Choices That Impact Your Tub or Shower Remodel Cost

The Three Main Types of Shower Remodels

First, let’s take a quick look at the three main types of shower remodels. We’ll cover the basics of each remodel and a few signs that each remodel might be right for your family.

Walk In Shower Replacements

First up is the walk-in shower replacement, sometimes referred to as a shower remodel. This type of remodel involves replacing an existing walk-in shower with an updated walk-in shower.

You’ll probably want to consider a walk-in shower replacement if:

• You don’t like the aesthetic design of your current walk-in shower
• Your current walk-in shower doesn’t have the safety features you need, like reinforced grab bars or built-in shower seating
• Your current walk-in shower is damaged, the waterproofing system is compromised, and/or you’re noticing mold growth
• You aren’t interested in adding a bathtub because no one in your family would use it

Tub and Shower Replacements

Another popular choice is the tub-and-shower combo replacement, sometimes referred to simply as a bathtub replacement. This type of remodel involves replacing a tub-and-shower combo with a new tub-and-shower combo.

You might want to consider a tub-and-shower replacement if:

• Your current tub and shower is more than 15 years old and is showing signs of age and wear
• Your current tub and shower doesn’t have the storage or safety features you need for maximum functionality now and in the future
• You or another member of your household will make use of the bathtub

Tub to Shower Conversions

Tub-to-shower conversions are one of our most popular services. This type of remodel involves removing an existing bathtub or tub-and-shower combo and replacing it with a walk-in shower.

This is a great remodel to choose if:

• Your existing tub takes up too much space in your small bathroom
• You are looking for a disability-friendly shower that doesn’t have a tall ledge you have to step over
• You want a modern, sleek, low-maintenance bathroom and don’t need the soaking feature of a traditional bathtub

Comparing Price Points: Walk In Showers vs. Tub and Shower Combos

How much do each of these remodels actually cost? At ZINTEX, we break down all of our remodeling service costs into three categories: basic, intermediate, and deluxe.

As you can see, the cost of a walk-in shower remodel is not far off from the cost of a bathtub replacement or tub-and-shower combo. In fact, the cost of a walk-in shower installation can be a bit higher than the cost of a tub-and-shower installation thanks to complex installation requirements.

Top Design Choices That Impact Your Tub or Shower Remodel Cost

Including a tub in your shower remodel design ultimately isn’t the choice that’s going to impact your shower remodel cost the most. Let’s take a look at the design choices that will determine where your remodel lands in that price range of about $11,000-$20,000+.

Changing Your Tub or Shower Footprint

If you’re going from a tub-and-shower combo to a walk-in shower (or, inversely, going from a walk-in shower to a tub-and-shower combo), you may want to change the footprint of the design. In other words, you may want that new tub or shower to take up more or less space than what you currently have.

While it’s not always that financially impactful, changing your tub or shower footprint can add to your total remodel cost. This is especially the case if it means relocating your drain line or restoring previously covered subflooring.

Changing Your Tub or Shower Location

What if you want to change the layout of your bathroom entirely? Maybe you’ve always felt like the location of your tub or shower disrupts the flow of your bathroom or makes it harder to use and clean.

Moving your tub or shower to a different spot in your bathroom will undoubtedly drive up the cost of your remodel. This is because to move this kind of fixture, we’ll need to relocate your plumbing and drain lines, which is a pretty big endeavor. (The same goes for moving the location of a toilet.)

Using Premium Design Materials

What about design choices that have less to do with layout and more to do with aesthetic? At ZINTEX, we specialize in acrylic showers and acrylic tubs, and you can choose from a range of acrylic wall colors and patterns.

Premium acrylic wall panels that resemble materials like marble will cost more than a basic color like white or almond. For a higher cost, you can also get etched patterns that give your acrylic shower the look of tile (without the hassle of exposed grout).

Adding Custom Accessories

Finally, let’s talk about customizing your tub or shower with upgrades and accessories. This can include upgrading from a standard alcove tub to a premium tub, but it can also include adding accessories like:

• Corner shelves and caddies
• Soap niches
• Grab bars
• Foot rests
• Built-in shower seating

Accessories will increase your shower remodel cost, and we recommend starting with the must-have accessories you need for practical reasons and seeing how those impact your estimate. If you’re under budget, that’s a great time to incorporate want-to-have accessories like extra storage.

Design Your Own Tub or Shower With the ZINTEX Price Estimator Tool

Our customers are often surprised to discover that walk-in shower costs and tub-and-shower combo costs are pretty comparable. Both start at around $11,000 and go up based on your custom design choices. Whether you want to keep the soaking option of a bathtub or simplify functionality with a walk-in shower, cost doesn’t have to be a prohibitive factor.

What’s next? At ZINTEX Remodeling Group, we’re dedicated to customer education, even in areas that other bathroom remodeling companies tend to stay quiet about. That’s why we’ve built our free, easy-to-use online estimator tool. Pick your remodel type and design features and get an instant quote straight to your inbox: