Should I keep a bathtub in at least one bathroom for resale value in the Toronto housing market?

Yes — the strong consensus among GTA real estate professionals is that you should keep at least one bathtub in the home, even if you prefer showers. Removing every tub from a house can reduce your buyer pool and potentially cost you at resale, particularly among families with young children, which is a massive segment of the Toronto housing market.

The reasoning is straightforward. Families with children under 8–10 years old overwhelmingly prefer a bathtub for bathing kids. In the GTA's competitive real estate market, where single-family homes in Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, Mississauga, and Brampton are priced for families, eliminating the only tub turns your home into a harder sell. Buyers mentally calculate the cost of reinstalling a tub — typically $5,000–$12,000 depending on the scope — and may either pass on your home or factor that cost into a lower offer.

That said, the rule applies to the whole home, not every bathroom. The current GTA design trend strongly favours walk-in showers in the master ensuite, with a tub retained in the main or secondary bathroom. This gives you the best of both worlds: a spa-like shower experience in your primary bathroom and a tub for kids, soaking, or future buyers in the secondary bathroom. A freestanding soaker tub in the ensuite is also a popular high-end option in Toronto, running $1,000–$5,000 for the tub plus $500–$1,500 for plumbing and installation.

When Removing All Tubs Might Be Acceptable

There are two scenarios where going tub-free may not hurt resale. First, condos — many Toronto condos, especially studios, one-bedrooms, and smaller two-bedrooms, have only one bathroom with limited space. Converting a cramped tub/shower combo to a walk-in shower in a condo often improves the unit's appeal because buyers in that market segment (young professionals, downsizers) prioritize a functional shower over a tub they'll rarely use. Second, accessibility renovations — if you're aging in place and need barrier-free showers throughout, your health needs outweigh future resale considerations.

For a typical GTA detached or semi-detached home with two or more bathrooms, keep a tub in at least one. If you're renovating the main bathroom and considering a tub-to-shower conversion, make sure the ensuite or another bathroom retains a tub. The renovation cost to convert one bathroom to a walk-in shower runs $5,000–$18,000 in the GTA depending on whether you choose an acrylic insert or custom tile, while the ensuite tub stays in place as your resale insurance.

The Ontario Building Code does not require a bathtub in residential homes — this is purely a market-driven recommendation based on how buyers in the Greater Toronto Area evaluate properties. Your real estate agent can give you neighbourhood-specific guidance, but the general rule holds across most GTA submarkets.

Browse bathroom renovation professionals in your area through the Toronto Construction Network directory at torontoconstructionnetwork.com/directory?category=bathroom-renovations.