Walk-In Tubs vs. Walk-In Showers: Which Is Right For Your Home?

Whether you’re remodeling your bathroom or are looking for a safer bathing solution, there are pros and cons to choosing either a walk-in tub or a walk-in shower. Considerations like mobility concerns, bathroom layout and design, desired features, short vs. long-term care needs and more are important when weighing your options. This guide will help you understand the benefits and primary differences between a walk-in tub and walk-in shower.

Benefits of Walk-In Tubs

Revitalize your body and mind in a walk-in bath designed for accessibility and convenience. From improving bathing safety and wellness to increasing your home’s resale value, there are many benefits to installing a walk-in tub in your home.

• Reduce Risk of Falls: The bathroom is one of the most common places where seniors fall in their home. The anti-slip flooring, grab bars and low threshold of a walk-in tub help you maintain your balance for a lower-stress, lower-risk bath.
• Deep Soaking: Soaking in the bliss of a warm bath can improve mood and sleep quality and promote deep muscle relaxation.
• Hydrotherapy: Targeted jets of water deliver pressure at adjustable intensity for relief from aching joints and muscle pain.
• Cardiovascular Health: Air therapy jets on some walk-in tubs help boost circulation while soothing, hydrating and softening skin using millions of tiny oxygen-enriched bubbles.

Benefits of Walk-In Showers

Bathing convenience and safety are at the forefront with walk-in showers. The designs are versatile and modern and bring a spa-like experience into your home with features like a tension-melting rainfall shower head.

• Versatile Design Options: Choose from simple to luxurious walk-in showers, with customizable wall and fixture materials, colors and add-on accessories to aid comfort.
• Ease of Use: Getting clean is as easy as stepping in, rinsing off and stepping out, without a traditional tub’s high wall to navigate. Handheld shower wands will aid in your bathing routine for rinsing hard-to-reach areas.
• Water Efficiency: Many walk-in showers use low-flow shower heads that save on water without sacrificing bathing enjoyment.
• Easy Maintenance: The minimalistic design of walk-in showers keeps mold and mildew at bay, with wall options that are easier to clean than traditional bathroom tile and grout. The shower base often sits at a slight angle to funnel water into the drain, reducing standing water.

Comparing Accessibility & Safety Features

Walk-in tubs and showers help seniors age more comfortably at home, regardless of their mobility. Both offer an accessibility upgrade to your bathing experience compared to their traditional counterparts. Both feature low step-in entries, which reduce strain and the risk of falling while entering or exiting.

Still, there are key differences between the features on a walk-in tub and walk-in shower that are helpful to consider while shopping.

Walk-In Tub Safety Features

Most walk-in tubs include a mix of features focused on safety, therapeutic comfort and convenience. These work together to deliver a stress-free bath that improves accessibility and total-body relief, especially for people with arthritis or limited mobility.

The ultra-low threshold and built-in door in a Safe Step Walk-In Tub make it easy to step in and out of your bath, while the anti-slip floor keeps movement secure.

Other key features include:

• Built-in grab bars
• Anti-scald technology
• Handheld shower wand
• No-strength locking handle

Walk-In Shower Safety Features

Many of the safety features of a walk-in tub can be found in the walk-in shower, such as grab bars and a low step-in base. Everything you need will be within reach with conveniently placed storage shelves, while body massage jets use targeted streams of water to nourish your full body.

Other key walk-in shower features include:

• Durable shower walls
• Built-in fold-away seat
• Handheld shower wand
• Anti-slip flooring

Space & Design Considerations

Walk-in tubs and showers both fit within the same or similar footprint to a traditional tub, though walk-in showers tend to have a more space-saving design. Walk-in showers will also be best for those who use a wheelchair, though some types of walk-in tubs can be wheelchair accessible.

Walk-In Tub Designs

Walk-in tubs won’t have the same range of design options compared to walk-in showers, though they will fit in most bathrooms and deliver a consistently practical, safety-oriented bathing experience. Choose between an inward and outward-swinging tub door, depending on your bathroom layout and needs.

If you’re looking for the benefits of a walk-in tub with the ability to take a standing shower, consider a tub-shower combo. The hybrid design includes a shower head mounted above the tub for the best of both worlds.

Walk-In Shower Designs

Enhance the style of your bathroom with a modern walk-in shower. Choose between a wide range of wall colors and materials, bases, shower heads, fixture finishes and convenience features. Walk-in showers fit in most bathrooms and come with a sliding glass door, panel or curtain, depending on the specific model.

You can even install a fold-away shower seat if you’re looking for the ability to shower sitting down.

Comparing Installation & Maintenance

The installation process is similar for walk-in tubs and showers. Renovations will be minimal unless you decide to change the location of your plumbing or are re-tiling, adding new walls or making other significant changes. Keep in mind that installation may or may not be included in the price of your new tub or shower.

Routine maintenance is crucial to ensure the longevity of the product and reduce bacteria build-up, no matter what type of tub or shower you have. Read our product care guide for a full breakdown.

Maintenance tips:

• Use the handheld shower wand to rinse away soap scum after each bath or shower
• Wash and wipe down surfaces once per week with a mild cleaner
• Perform a deeper clean each month to remove build-up and, for walk-in tubs, purge the hydro jets
• Avoid harsh chemicals that may void your product warranty

Cost Comparison

Seniors looking to age comfortably at home will find a reliable solution in a walk-in tub or shower. Many may find that the upfront costs outweigh and eliminate the need for pricier long-term care such as assisted living.

In general, walk-in showers are less expensive than walk-in tubs, though can vary depending on the manufacturer, model and add-on features. Explore our pricing guide for more information.

Consider Resale Value & Market Trends

Safe bathing solutions like walk-in tubs or showers can increase your home’s resale value. This is one of the many financial advantages of remodeling your bathroom. As you plan, consider the bathing preferences of those you live with and who may move in, as many homeowners will also want a tub in one of the home’s bathrooms (if you opt for a walk-in shower).

Trust Safe Step for Your Walk-In Tub or Shower Needs

We’ll help you find the safe bathing solution right for your home. At Safe Step, we offer a range of customizable walk-in tub and shower models to fit your needs. Upgrade and get our best-in-class lifetime warranty, innovative product designs and professional installation, with 95% of projects completed in as little as one day. Get started today with a free quote.