---
title: "Tub to Shower Ideas: Same Footprint, Better Shower"
url: https://remodelbycuttingedge.com/tub-to-shower-ideas/
date: 2026-10-11
modified: 2026-10-11
lang: en
author: "Blane Perun"
description: "Tub to shower ideas for 5-foot alcoves: niches, benches, glass and tile combinations that fit the same footprint in Southwest Florida condos and homes."
image: https://remodelbycuttingedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cutting-Edge-Bonita-Bay-Bathroom-3-After-c-1024x705.webp
word_count: 905
---

# Tub to Shower Ideas: Same Footprint, Better Shower

![Tub to Shower Ideas Same Footprint, Better Shower by Cutting Edge Kitchen & Bath](https://remodelbycuttingedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cutting-Edge-Bonita-Bay-Bathroom-3-After-c.webp)Tub to Shower Conversion · Bonita Springs & Naples
# Tub to Shower IdeasSame Footprint, Better Shower
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
The best tub to shower ideas keep the original 5-foot alcove and change what happens inside it: a low or curbless entry where the tub wall was, a full-width recessed niche, a bench at one end, a fixed or sliding glass panel, and large-format tile to the ceiling. Keeping the footprint means the drain moves only slightly and the rest of the bathroom stays intact. Grab bars and a handheld shower on a slide bar make the space work for the long term.

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

![Tub to shower conversion with glass panel and niche in Bonita Springs](https://remodelbycuttingedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cutting-Edge-Bonita-Bay-Bathroom-After-c.webp)Tub-to-Shower Conversion · Cutting Edge Kitchen & Bath

## What Can Fit in a Converted Tub Alcove?
A standard tub alcove is about 60 inches long and 30 to 32 inches deep, which is a comfortable shower once the tub wall is gone. The choices that shape it are the entry, the glass and the storage. A low curb is simplest and costs less; a curbless entry looks cleaner but takes more floor work. Glass options include a fixed half panel that leaves the end open, a hinged door with an inline panel, or a sliding frameless door that keeps all spray inside.

Storage and seating add comfort without taking floor space. A long horizontal niche on the back wall holds bottles for two people, while a corner bench or a fold-down teak seat gives a place to sit. A rain head with a separate handheld on a slide bar suits both tall and seated users. Tile combinations change the look most: large porcelain panels on the walls with a pebble or mosaic floor, a vertical accent strip in the niche, or one stone-look tile everywhere. Our tub to shower conversions start from $8,500.

| Element | Common choices | Notes for a 5-ft alcove |
| ------- | -------------- | ----------------------- |
| Entry | Low curb, curbless | Curbless needs the floor recessed |
| Glass | Fixed half panel, hinged door, slider | Sliders keep spray in a narrow alcove |
| Niche | Full-width horizontal, vertical, double | Back wall usually has room between studs |
| Seating | Built-in corner bench, fold-down seat | Fold-down keeps the floor open |
| Fixtures | Rain head, handheld on slide bar, valve near entry | Valve near the entry avoids a cold blast |
| Tile | Large-format walls, mosaic or pebble floor | Small floor tile adds grip |
| Safety | Grab bars, slip-resistant floor | Plan blocking before the walls close |

Plan Your *Conversion.*
See our Good, Better and Best tub to shower conversion packages, from simple walk-ins to spa-level showers.

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

## What Changes in Southwest Florida Condos and Villas?
Many conversions here happen in condos and villas where a neighbor lives below, so waterproofing is not where to cut corners. We install a continuous membrane on the floor and walls and flood-test the pan before tile. In condos, floors are often post-tensioned concrete slabs that cannot be cut, so a low curb is usually the practical entry, and associations generally require approval, a certificate of insurance and work-hour limits before plumbing work begins.

Single-family homes on slab-on-grade foundations have more freedom. Recessing the slab for a curbless entry is common on the ground floor, and the drain can shift to a linear location along the back wall. Hard water across much of Lee and Collier County spots glass and dulls fixtures, so coated glass and easy-clean finishes pay off. A quiet exhaust fan, ducted outdoors, keeps humidity from building in a doorless shower. Seasonal owners who leave the house closed up should choose porcelain over porous stone, since it handles long humid stretches without staining or holding mildew in the grout lines.

![Converted shower alcove with bench and tile in a Southwest Florida condo](https://remodelbycuttingedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cutting-Edge-The-Vineyards-Bathroom-After-c.webp)Tub-to-Shower Conversion · Cutting Edge Kitchen & Bath

## Tub to Shower Questions

### Will removing my only tub hurt resale?
It can matter to buyers with young children, so if the home has only one tub, consider keeping one somewhere. In homes where the primary bath or another bath still has a tub, converting a secondary alcove to a walk-in shower is generally well received.

### How long does a tub to shower conversion take?
Construction usually takes a couple of weeks once materials are on site, including demolition, plumbing, waterproofing and testing, tile and glass. Glass is measured after tile is finished, so the enclosure often goes in last. Condo association scheduling can add time.

### Can I add a bench in a 5-foot alcove?
Yes. A small corner bench or a fold-down seat fits well in a 60-inch alcove. A built-in bench must be waterproofed as part of the shower, while a fold-down seat needs solid blocking in the wall and keeps the full floor open when it is up.

Render Your *New Shower.*
We scan your tub alcove, render your niche, bench and glass choices and give you one fixed price.

[Start Your Conversion →](/bath-conversion-bonita/)[Set an Appointment](/contact/)

## Why Conversions Go to Cutting Edge
A tub to shower conversion lives or dies on waterproofing, especially in a condo with neighbors below. Cutting Edge Kitchen & Bath flood-tests every shower pan before tile and plans the niche, bench and glass in a photo-real 3D render made from a free LiDAR scan. We are a licensed Florida general contractor with more than 500 Southwest Florida remodels and nine Best of Houzz awards, and our 4,000-square-foot showroom at 28280 Old 41 Road in Bonita Springs displays tile, glass and fixtures together. Our own crews build it under one fixed-price contract.