Bathroom remodeling comparisons
The three comparisons that decide most bathroom budgets are tub versus shower, tile versus acrylic wall systems, and custom versus stock vanity. Houzz found 34% of renovating homeowners upgrade the tub, 26% keep it, and 25% remove it entirely - and of those who remove it, 82% use the space to enlarge the shower.
Tub vs. shower. Removing the last tub in a house is the decision people most often regret at resale, especially in family neighborhoods. If you have a second full bath with a tub, removing this one is low risk. Houzz shows the market moving toward showers: among tub removals, 82% enlarge the shower with the recovered space.
Tile vs. acrylic system. Acrylic and composite wall systems install fast, have fewer grout joints, and are easier to keep clean. Tile lasts longer, is repairable, and is what most buyers read as "nice." The honest tradeoff is speed and grout maintenance versus longevity and appearance. Both fail identically if the waterproofing behind them is wrong.
Curbless vs. low-curb shower. Houzz found low-curb showers at 44% and curbless at 20% among upgraded showers. Curbless is genuinely better for accessibility but requires recessing or sloping the floor structure and unforgiving drainage detailing. It is not a finish choice; it is a framing choice, and it has to be planned before demolition.
Custom vs. stock vanity. 55% of homeowners choose custom or semi-custom, per Houzz, but stock has gained share four years running. In a standard-size bathroom with a standard plumbing rough-in, stock is often the right call and frees money for the shower.
Choosing bathroom remodeling between the options
The judgement calls that decide the bill, before anyone quotes you.
- Keep one tub in the house Removing the only bathtub narrows your buyer pool. With a second tub elsewhere, convert freely.
- Judge shower systems on the substrate, not the surface Ask both a tile setter and an acrylic installer the same question: what waterproofing goes behind this? The better answer is the better contractor.
- Decide curbless before demolition It affects joists, drain placement, and floor buildup. Adding it later means redoing the floor.
- Spend the vanity savings on the valve and the fan Stock cabinets are fine. A leaking valve inside a finished wall is not.
All bathroom remodeling comparisons
Tub vs Walk In Shower
Acrylic vs Tile Shower
Porcelain vs Ceramic Tile
Single vs Double Vanity
DIY Bathroom Remodel vs Pro
Prefab vs Custom Shower
Freestanding vs Alcove Tub
LVP vs Tile Bathroom Floor
Where these figures come from
Sources last checked
- 2025 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study (PDF) · retrieved 2026-07-25
- This Old House - Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost (2026) · retrieved 2026-07-25
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