Should you ditch your bathtub for a walk-in shower? | Canada Voices

Bathtubs. It’s almost easy to take their presence for granted, like salt and pepper shakers on the dinner table. But while nearly every home seems to have a tub, the bathroom mainstay may not survive modern cleansing rituals.

A 2026 report on North American bath trends found that more than half of industry experts believe it’s worth scrapping a bathtub for a larger shower, while a Houzz report from last year found that a quarter of those who recently renovated their bathrooms removed their tubs. Should soakers be circling the drain? We asked the experts.

How did bathtubs become ubiquitous?

The oldest known bathtub is more than 3,500 years old: a terracotta basin from the palace of Knossos in Crete. While that particular tub was reserved for royalty, baths became more common during the early 20th century with the rise of indoor plumbing and enamelled cast iron.

Showers, on the other hand, are a postwar upstart. They didn’t become a household staple until after the Second World War, when more homes were equipped with efficient water heaters and reliable water pressure.

How could there be any debate about bubble baths?

True, it’s hard to argue with the giddy joy of lying back in a mountain of bubbles, perhaps with a good book or some hot cocoa. According to a 2025 Polish study, that’s the best thing about baths: While showers are often associated with words such as “quick” and “hygienic,” baths evoke feelings of pleasure and relaxation.

Chad Falkenberg, co-founder of Vancouver interiors studio Falken Reynolds, has noticed that some of his clients have strong attachments to their baths. Recently, one insisted on having a tub in her bedroom, adjacent to the bed. A single professional, she has panoramic views of Vancouver’s picturesque English Bay.

“She wanted to enjoy the view from basically everywhere in her condo,” Falkenberg said, “including the tub, which she uses all the time.”

What could be better than that?

It’s not that simple. Falkenberg pointed out that preferences for bathing or showering often come down to one’s phase of life. “When people are busy, working or going to school, it’s often hard to find time to sit and soak. That’s when it’s more common to think: ‘Maybe I should just get rid of the tub,’” he said.

As folks age, other issues arise. For one, the side walls of bathtubs are a common trip hazard. Canada’s aging population may help explain a recent survey finding that almost half of Canadians coveted walk-in showers, versus only 22 per cent who wanted free-standing tubs.

Tripping and slipping is scary. Anything else?

According to Jason Tetro, a microbiologist and author of the book The Germ Files, showers are a more effective way to wash.

“It’s just physics,” he said. “A shower has consistent water flow, whereas a bath accumulates all that you’ve removed – a residue of oils, dirt, grime and unhappy bacteria.”

Tetro didn’t go so far as to say baths should be avoided – far from it. But he emphasized that towelling away the dirty bath water is an important step in the process.

“Just realize that the shower is going to give you that immediate feeling of clean,” he added, while “a bath will get you clean, but it might not feel that way until after you pat yourself dry.”

Got it. Ultra-adsorbent towels required.

There’s more. Jiaying Zhao, Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Sustainability at the University of British Columbia, underscored that baths tend to use a lot of water – an issue at a time when droughts are becoming more common.

According to her, the average bath in North America uses about 150 litres of water. A standard shower head, meanwhile, releases about 10 litres of water a minute and the average North American showers for about eight minutes – using about half as much water as a bath.

“By showering less than 15 minutes, you save water compared to a bath,” she said.

For even better efficiency, Dr. Zhao recommends using a low-flow shower head, which reduces water consumption by a further 20 per cent or more.

And it’s not just water usage where showers have the edge.

“Heating the water for a bath can also use a lot of energy, especially with a gas boiler,” she said, adding that electric heat pumps are better. “A cold shower would be even less energy intensive, but that’s not an enjoyable way to start the day.”

So bathtubs are dirty, water-sucking trip hazards. They don’t sound worth it, even for the bubbles.

Don’t pull the plug yet. Tillie Kwan, co-founder of Vancouver’s Studio Balcaen Kwan Architecture and Design, has only removed one bathtub from a home.

“It was for a husband and wife who both agreed they don’t like baths,” Kwan said. “But most people keep their tubs for resale. They want the flexibility in case they end up selling to someone who wants a bath.”

Do bathtubs really affect resale?

According to Adil Dinani, a sales representative with Royal LePage West Real Estate Services in Coquitlam, B.C., the answer is an unequivocal yes.

“You might be able to get away without a bathtub in a one-bedroom condo,” he said, “but with family homes, I’ve seen sales fall through because there wasn’t a tub.”

The main reason? Kids. “Bath time just doesn’t work in a shower,” said Dinani, the father of a two-year-old and an eight-year-old. “My wife and I spend more time in their bathroom than ours. For us, a tub is a must. That rubber duck has to go somewhere.”

Final verdict?

Ditch the tub if germs give you the ick as much as the thought of wasting water.

Don’t if you have time to take a load off, or if you have shower-averse little ones.