Quick Takeaways
- Bathtub replacement cost typically runs $3,500 to $9,000 across the GTA, while converting to a walk-in shower runs $6,000 to $18,000 or more, based on Smart Renovations’ own analysis of completed GTA projects.
- Cost varies meaningfully by city, since Toronto and Oakville sit at the higher end while Brampton and Newmarket tend to run lower.
- Converting an old bathtub to a walk-in shower is increasingly popular for accessibility, storage, and long-term water savings.
- Bathtub reglazing is a separate specialty trade. Smart Renovations focuses on full replacement and shower conversion instead.
- The right choice ultimately depends on whether you want to keep a bathtub at all, or whether accessibility and space matter more.
An old, cracked, or stained bathtub is one of the most common reasons GTA homeowners start thinking about a bathroom update. Whether you’re in a 1980s bungalow in Etobicoke, a townhome in Vaughan, or a condo in downtown Toronto, the moment a bathtub reaches the end of its life, you’re faced with a real decision, not just a cosmetic one.
Two paths come up most often once that decision arrives: replacing the bathtub with a new one, or converting the space into a walk-in shower entirely. Since bathtub replacement cost and shower conversion cost land in very different ranges, understanding the difference upfront makes the decision far easier. A third option, reglazing, also gets mentioned frequently online, so we’ll address it honestly further down this guide. First, though, let’s walk through what replacement and shower conversion actually involve, since that comparison matters more than most homeowners expect.
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What Happens When You Replace a Bathtub?
Replacing a bathtub means removing the existing unit entirely and installing a new one in its place. Since the plumbing rough-in generally stays where it is, this option keeps disruption lower than a full bathroom renovation, while still giving you a genuinely new fixture rather than a surface treatment.
What Replacement Actually Involves
The old tub comes out first, along with any surrounding tile that needs to be disturbed to access it. Once the area is exposed, we check the subfloor and plumbing connections for hidden damage before the new tub goes in, since this is the stage where problems are far easier to fix than after everything is sealed back up. The final steps include reconnecting the drain and faucet, then resealing or retiling the surround.
Bathtub Types You Can Choose From
Alcove tubs, enclosed on three sides with one finished end, remain the most common configuration in GTA homes because they use space efficiently and pair naturally with a shower on the same tap. Platform tubs sit within a framed and tiled surround, which adds visual flexibility since the platform itself can be any size or height you choose. Freestanding tubs deliver the strongest visual statement, though they come with real structural considerations, since a filled cast iron tub can concentrate over 500 kilograms on a small footprint. Our Fixtures and Systems Guide covers the framing and plumbing implications of each option in more depth.
Who Replacement Is Best For
Replacement makes the most sense when you want to keep a bathtub in the room, whether that’s for young kids who still need one or simply because you enjoy a soak. It also suits homeowners whose current tub still fits the layout well, since replacing it like-for-like avoids the added cost of reworking plumbing or floor space.
Converting Your Bathtub to a Walk-In Shower
Rather than replacing one tub with another, many GTA homeowners choose to remove the bathtub altogether and convert the space into a walk-in shower. It’s a bigger scope of work than a straight swap, but it also solves problems that replacement alone can’t touch.
Why GTA Homeowners Make This Switch
Older GTA homes often have bathrooms designed around a bathtub that no longer matches how the household actually lives. A walk-in shower opens the room up visually, improves accessibility for anyone with mobility concerns, and typically uses less water per use than filling a full tub. Because these showers often include built-in shelving and better lighting, they also tend to add functional storage that a tub-shower combo never provided.
What the Conversion Involves
Once the tub and surrounding tile are removed, the floor gets sloped and waterproofed with a proper membrane system, since this step is what actually prevents leaks and long-term moisture damage. A shower pan or curb goes in next, followed by new tile, a glass enclosure, and updated fixtures. Because this touches drainage and waterproofing rather than just the visible surface, it’s a more involved project than a simple tub swap, though the result functions and looks like an entirely new bathroom.
Who Conversion Is Best For
Conversion suits households that already prefer showers over baths, since there’s little reason to maintain a tub nobody uses. It’s also the stronger choice for aging-in-place planning or for anyone dealing with mobility limitations, because stepping into a curbless or low-curb shower is far safer than climbing over a tub wall.
Pro Tip
Before committing to either option, have a contractor check the subfloor and drain location once the tub is exposed. Older GTA homes, particularly those built before 1980, sometimes reveal water damage or outdated plumbing behind the tub that isn’t visible until demolition begins, and knowing that upfront changes both your budget and your decision.
Bathtub Replacement Cost in the GTA (2026)
Since replacement and conversion involve different amounts of work, they land in noticeably different price ranges. Bathtub replacement cost stays on the lower end because the scope is smaller, while shower conversion costs more due to the added waterproofing and drainage work. Here’s what each one typically costs across the GTA in 2026.
Figures above reflect Smart Renovations’ own GTA project data. Your exact quote depends on your bathroom’s specific scope and condition.
Worth Knowing
If you want to keep bathing as an option, replacement keeps costs lower and the project shorter. If accessibility, storage, or a full visual reset matters more to you than keeping a tub, conversion costs more upfront but solves problems replacement never will.
Bathtub Replacement Cost by City Across the GTA
Labour rates and permit fees shift from city to city across the GTA, so your project’s location genuinely affects the final number. The table below reflects general planning ranges for both replacement and shower conversion by city.
The GTA-wide base figures come directly from our own cost analysis referenced above. Toronto and Oakville sit at the higher end because labour and permit costs run highest there, the same pattern we see across every category of kitchen and bathroom work. Brampton and the Aurora and Newmarket area tend to land at the more affordable end, largely due to lower permit fees and stronger contractor availability.
The GTA-wide ranges above come from our own completed project data. The city-by-city split is an estimated proportional breakdown based on regional labour and permit patterns, not a per-city average, so treat it as a starting point rather than a fixed quote.
What About Bathtub Reglazing?
Reglazing, also called refinishing or resurfacing, involves applying a new coating over your existing bathtub surface rather than removing the tub at all. It’s a real option, and it exists specifically because it costs less than replacement, but it’s worth understanding what it does and doesn’t solve before you go looking for a quote.
Reglazing is a separate specialty trade from general renovation work, handled by companies that focus specifically on surface coatings rather than full bathroom construction. Smart Renovations doesn’t offer reglazing, since our focus is on full replacement and shower conversion projects that address what’s happening underneath the surface, not just on top of it.
That distinction matters most in older GTA homes. A reglazed surface can look genuinely new, but it does nothing for outdated plumbing, a failing subfloor, or hidden water damage behind the tub, all of which are common in homes built before 1980 across Toronto, Etobicoke, and the surrounding region. If your tub’s problem is purely cosmetic and the rest of the bathroom is in solid condition, reglazing through a specialized provider may be worth exploring. If you suspect there’s more going on behind the wall, replacement or conversion is the only way to actually find out.
Replacement vs Shower Conversion: Side-by-Side Comparison
Placed side by side, the trade-offs between these two paths become much easier to weigh against your own priorities.
How to Decide Between Replacement and Shower Conversion
If You Want to Keep a Bathtub
Replacement is the clear answer here, since it gives you a brand-new tub without touching the rest of the layout. This route also tends to be the faster and more affordable of the two, which matters if you’re working with a tighter budget or timeline.
If Accessibility or Space Is the Priority
Conversion is worth the extra investment when stepping over a tub wall has become difficult, or when the household simply wants a more open, walk-in shower experience. Since the entire wet area gets rebuilt during this process, it’s also the better moment to correct drainage or waterproofing issues that a straight tub swap would leave untouched.
If Budget Is the Deciding Factor
Replacement costs meaningfully less upfront, so it’s the more budget-friendly path when the existing layout already suits your needs. That said, since conversion solves accessibility and storage problems that replacement can’t, it’s worth weighing the long-term value against the higher initial cost before deciding on price alone.
Pro Tip
If you’re planning to stay in your home long-term, or if aging-in-place is even a distant consideration, factor that into your decision now rather than later. A curbless shower conversion is far easier to build during a planned renovation than to retrofit in an emergency, and it also tends to appeal to future buyers if resale is ever on the horizon.
How Smart Renovations Handles Bathtub Projects Across the GTA
Whether the project is a simple tub swap or a full shower conversion, the same team manages every stage, so you’re never coordinating between separate trades on your own.
Visit Us to Talk Through Your Options
Tub and shower samples are far easier to evaluate in person than on a screen. We work with homeowners across the GTA from two locations and welcome you to come in and talk through what makes sense for your bathroom.
Richmond Hill Office 10815 Bathurst St, Unit 5 | Woodbridge Office 8A, 40 Innovation Dr |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to replace a bathtub or convert it to a shower?
Replacement is generally cheaper. Bathtub replacement cost typically runs $3,500 to $9,000 across the GTA compared to $6,000 to $18,000 or more for a full walk-in shower conversion, since conversion involves rebuilding the waterproofing, drainage, and enclosure rather than swapping a single fixture.
How much does bathtub replacement cost in Toronto vs Richmond Hill?
In Toronto, replacement typically runs $4,200 to $10,500, while in Richmond Hill it generally falls between $3,500 and $9,000. The difference mainly comes down to labour rates and permit fees, which tend to run higher in Toronto and Oakville than in the surrounding GTA.
Does Smart Renovations offer bathtub reglazing?
No. Reglazing is a separate specialty trade handled by companies that focus specifically on surface coatings. Smart Renovations focuses on full bathtub replacement and walk-in shower conversion instead.
Do I need a permit to replace a bathtub in Vaughan or Mississauga?
A straightforward like-for-like tub replacement often doesn’t require a permit, but any project touching plumbing relocation or structural work does. When a permit is needed, building permits in Ontario typically run $150 to $500 and plumbing permits add $100 to $300. We manage the correct permit process for your specific municipality as part of every project.
How long does a bathtub replacement take?
A standard bathtub replacement typically takes 1 to 3 days, depending on whether the surrounding tile needs to be reworked and what condition the subfloor is in once the old tub is removed.
Can any bathtub be converted to a walk-in shower?
In most cases, yes, since the space a tub occupies is almost always large enough for a shower once the waterproofing and drainage are rebuilt. The main factors that affect feasibility are the existing plumbing location and, in some upper-floor bathrooms, the structural support beneath the floor.
Does converting a tub to a shower affect resale value in the GTA?
It depends on the rest of the home. GTA real estate agents often advise keeping at least one bathtub in the house, particularly in family-oriented neighbourhoods, since buyers with young children specifically look for it. If the home has multiple bathrooms, converting one to a walk-in shower is unlikely to hurt value and may appeal to buyers who prioritize accessibility or modern design, but it’s worth talking to a real estate agent before removing the last tub in the house.
What bathtub types are available for GTA homes?
Alcove tubs are the most common configuration in GTA homes and pair naturally with a shower. Platform tubs sit within a tiled surround for more visual flexibility, while freestanding tubs deliver the strongest visual statement but require careful structural planning due to their weight.
Ready to Replace Your Bathtub or Convert to a Shower?
We help GTA homeowners decide between replacement and shower conversion, then handle the entire project with a fixed price and a 1-year warranty. Get a free quote or reach out to start the conversation.
