Shower or bathtub? A shower makes better use of space and is more practical day to day; a bathtub brings relaxation, design and value to your home. In a larger bathroom the best answer is usually both: a freestanding bathtub as the centrepiece and a separate shower.
Where the shower wins
The shower is ahead on four concrete counts:
- Space. A 70×90 cm tray takes just over half a square metre, against the 1.4 m² of a 170×80 cm bathtub.
- Speed. On a weekday morning, a shower does in five minutes what a bath asks you to take your time over.
- Water use. A five-minute shower runs to roughly 40–60 litres. Filling a 170×80 cm bathtub takes around 230–250 litres. Over daily use, the difference shows on the bill.
- Accessibility. A low-profile shower tray gives you a flush, step-free entry.
Where the bathtub wins
A bathtub is not competing on practicality. It is competing on something else:
- Relaxation. A hot bath is a ritual that a shower does not replace.
- Families with young children. Bathing a baby in a shower is awkward; in a bathtub it is not.
- Property value. A main bathroom with no bath narrows the pool of interested buyers, families in particular.
- Design. A freestanding bathtub becomes the visual centre of the room in a way no shower tray does.
What if space is tight
Limited space does not automatically rule out a bath. You have three routes:
- A 150 cm bathtub instead of 170, which frees up 20 cm of walkway.
- A semi-freestanding bathtub, which rests one side against the wall and gives you back the circulation space on that side.
- A made-to-measure shower tray, if the opening is irregular and no bathtub fits cleanly.
Measure the opening at its narrowest point before deciding, and check the route in: door, hallway and lift.
The best answer: have both
If the room allows it, you do not have to choose. The layout that works best puts the freestanding bathtub away from the wall, as the main piece, with the shower at the opposite end or along one side, so the two zones do not compete visually. From around 6 m² of bathroom, the combination stops being a luxury and becomes the obvious plan.
Swapping a bathtub for a shower: what it involves
This is the most common flat renovation, and it is worth knowing what it entails before you start. Removing the bath exposes the plumbing and leaves an untiled strip of wall the width of the bathtub, which has to be resolved. The waste is usually at a different height from the one a low-profile tray needs, so in many cases the floor is built up or the drainage point is lowered. And if this is the only bathroom in the home, weigh the effect on resale or rental first: it is an easy change to make and an expensive one to undo.
Safety for older people and children
If someone in the household is older or has reduced mobility, a flush shower with a non-slip finish is the safer option, and it is worth pairing with a grab rail. If there are small children, a bathtub is more practical through the early years. Many households end up meeting both needs at once for exactly that reason.
Delivery and warranty in Spain
We deliver in 3 to 5 working days in mainland Spain. Delivery is free, for both bathtubs and shower trays. You have 14 days from delivery to withdraw from the purchase, with the product unused and in its original packaging. Home collection costs 59 €. Everything carries the 3-year legal guarantee of conformity, plus the manufacturer's warranty stated on each product page.
Frequently asked questions
Which takes up less room, a shower or a bathtub?
The shower. A 70×90 cm tray takes just over half a square metre, against the 1.4 m² of a 170×80 cm bathtub.
Which adds more value to a home?
A design bathtub, especially a freestanding one, carries real aesthetic and wellbeing appeal, particularly for buyers with children.
Can I have both a shower and a bathtub in the same bathroom?
Yes, and where the room allows it that is the most complete answer. From around 6 m² the combination fits comfortably.
Which uses less water, a shower or a bath?
The shower. Five minutes runs to between 40 and 60 litres, while filling a 170×80 cm bathtub takes around 230–250 litres.
Is it a good idea to remove the bath from the only bathroom in the house?
It depends who lives there. You gain accessibility and space, but it is expensive to reverse and can put off families with young children.
If you go for the bath, the HUDSON freestanding bathtub is our reference freestanding model and comes in 170×80 and 150×75 cm. If space decides it and you choose the shower, the ALBA shower tray is low-profile and non-slip, in five sizes to fit the opening. And if both fit, that is the most complete answer of all.
Explore our freestanding bathtubs and shower trays.