---
title: "Shower-to-Tub Conversion: Adding a Tub Back"
url: https://remodelbycuttingedge.com/shower-to-tub-conversion/
date: 2026-10-11
modified: 2026-10-11
lang: en
author: "Blane Perun"
description: "Converting a shower back to a bathtub in Southwest Florida: tub sizes, drain and valve changes, slab work, water heater checks and resale."
image: https://remodelbycuttingedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cutting-Edge-Bonita-Bay-Bathroom-After-c-1024x705.webp
word_count: 916
---

# Shower-to-Tub Conversion: Adding a Tub Back

![Shower-to-Tub Conversion Adding a Tub Back by Cutting Edge Kitchen & Bath](https://remodelbycuttingedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cutting-Edge-Bonita-Bay-Bathroom-After-c.webp)Bath Conversions · Bonita Springs & Naples
# Shower-to-Tub ConversionAdding a Tub Back
Conversions From$8.5KBased on our Tub-to-Shower Conversion packagesDesign VisitFreeLiDAR scan and photo-real 3D renderBuilt ByOur CrewsLicensed Florida GC, 500+ SWFL remodels
By **Blane Perun**, Owner · Cutting Edge Kitchen & Bath·20 years property management · 500+ SWFL remodels · Updated October 2026

The short answer
A shower-to-tub conversion replaces a stall shower with a bathtub, either a tub-and-shower combination or a freestanding or alcove soaking tub. Owners do it for young children, for resale, or simply to have a place to soak. The key questions are whether the space fits a standard 60-inch tub, where the drain sits relative to the new tub, whether the water heater can fill it, and what happens to the existing shower valve and waterproofing. On a slab, moving the drain means cutting concrete.

[Part of our Tub-to-Shower Conversion guide →](/bath-conversion-bonita/)

![Hall bathroom with new alcove tub and tiled shower surround in Bonita Springs](https://remodelbycuttingedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cutting-Edge-The-Vineyards-Bathroom-After-c.webp)Tub-to-Shower Conversion · Cutting Edge Kitchen & Bath

## How Does a Shower-to-Tub Conversion Work?
Most conversions happen in a secondary bath where a previous owner removed the tub. If the original alcove is still about 60 by 30 or 32 inches, an alcove tub with a tiled surround and a shower head drops back in with a new valve, drain and overflow. When the shower is larger, a deeper soaking tub or a tub plus a separate small shower may fit. In primary baths, a freestanding tub placed in open floor space is the usual choice, filled from a floor-mounted or wall-mounted faucet.

The work starts with demolition down to the studs and slab, removing the old pan and wall waterproofing. The plumber relocates the drain to match the tub, sets a new valve at the right height for a combination unit, and adds a diverter if both tub spout and shower head are used. Walls get new backer board and waterproofing, then tile or solid-surface panels. Glass can be a fixed panel, a hinged door or a curtain for families bathing small children. Our bath conversions start from $8,500.

| Tub option | Typical size | Best for | Notes |
| ---------- | ------------ | -------- | ----- |
| Alcove tub with shower | 60 × 30 or 60 × 32 in | Hall baths, kids, resale | Fits most original tub alcoves |
| Deep soaking alcove tub | 60 × 32 in, deeper basin | Adults who soak and still want a shower | Check water heater capacity |
| Freestanding tub | 55–72 in long | Primary baths with open floor | Needs floor or wall faucet and clearances |
| Drop-in tub with deck | 60–72 in plus deck | Spa look, stone surround | Takes more space; deck adds cost |
| Tub plus separate shower | Varies by room | Larger primary or Jack-and-Jill baths | Often requires layout changes |

Explore *Bath Conversions.*
See our Good, Better and Best bath conversion packages for tub-to-shower and shower-to-tub projects.

[See Conversion Packages →](/bath-conversion-bonita/)[Set an Appointment](/contact/)

## Do Southwest Florida Buyers Expect a Tub?
Many local real estate agents advise keeping at least one bathtub in a home, especially in family-oriented communities where buyers with young children are part of the market. In communities with mostly retirees and seasonal owners, walk-in showers are often preferred. If every bathroom in your home has been converted to a shower, putting a tub back in the hall or guest bath can widen the pool of interested buyers, while keeping the walk-in shower in the primary suite.

Slab-on-grade construction shapes the cost. When the tub drain lands where the shower drain already is, the job is straightforward; when it does not, the plumber cuts and patches the slab. Tubs are also heavy when full, which is rarely an issue on slab but needs review on upper floors and in condos, where the association may require approval for drain changes and waterproofing that protects the unit below. Plumbing work needs a permit through the City of Bonita Springs, Lee County, Collier County or the City of Naples, and a slip-resistant tub floor and grab bar are worth adding for guests of every age.

![Freestanding soaking tub added to a primary bath in Naples](https://remodelbycuttingedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cutting-Edge-Audubon-Bathroom-3-After-c.webp)Tub-to-Shower Conversion · Cutting Edge Kitchen & Bath

## Shower-to-Tub Conversion Questions

### Can you put a bathtub where a shower was?
Usually, yes. If the shower is at least about 60 inches long and 30 inches deep, a standard alcove tub fits. The drain is relocated to match the tub, a new valve and diverter are installed, and the walls are rewaterproofed and tiled.

### Does removing all bathtubs hurt resale?
It can narrow your buyer pool, particularly for families with small children. Many agents recommend keeping at least one tub in the home. Ask an agent who sells in your community, since buyer preferences differ between family neighborhoods and 55-plus or seasonal communities.

### Will my water heater fill a soaking tub?
A standard tank may not fill a large soaking tub with hot water, especially if the shower is used first. We check the heater size and recovery during planning and recommend a larger tank or tankless unit if the tub you choose needs more capacity.

Bring Back *The Tub.*
We scan the bathroom, render the tub layout that fits, and quote the conversion at one fixed price.

[Plan My Tub Conversion →](/bath-conversion-bonita/)[Set an Appointment](/contact/)

## Bathroom Conversions by Cutting Edge
Putting a tub back in takes the same care as taking one out: drains, valves and waterproofing all change. Cutting Edge Kitchen & Bath converts bathrooms in both directions, and our free LiDAR scan tells us right away whether a standard tub fits the space. You see the new tub, tile and glass in a photo-real render before demolition, then our own crews build it under one fixed price. We are a licensed Florida general contractor in Bonita Springs with nine Best of Houzz awards, more than 500 Southwest Florida remodels and a showroom where you can compare tubs in person.