How Much Does a Tub-to-Shower or Step-In Bathtub Conversion Cost? Is It Worth It?

For many homeowners and adult children helping aging parents, this question comes up after a fall, surgery, or growing concern about slipping in the bathroom. The challenge is that pricing can feel confusing, especially when some options involve full renovations and others don’t.

Here’s a clear, honest breakdown of what a step-in bathtub conversion costs with AB Conversions, how it compares to other approaches, and why many Long Island families see it as the most practical solution.

The Short Answer

A step-in bathtub conversion is typically far more affordable than a walk-in tub or a full bathroom remodel because it modifies the existing bathtub instead of replacing it. With AB Conversions, step-in bathtub conversions start at $1,795, are installed in just a few hours, and avoid the mess and disruption of major construction.

What Is a Step-In Bathtub Conversion?

A step-in bathtub conversion modifies your existing bathtub to create a safer, lower entry point. Instead of stepping over a high tub wall, users can step in more easily while keeping the rest of the bathroom intact.

This approach:

• Uses the existing bathtub
• Avoids demolition, plumbing relocation, and tile work
• Preserves the look and layout of the bathroom
• Allows the bathroom to be used the same day
  
  

Because the scope is focused, it solves the main safety issue of getting in and out of the tub, without turning into a major renovation project.

How Much Does a Bathtub Conversion Cost with AB Conversions?

At AB Conversions, step-in bathtub conversions start at $1,795, depending on the type of tub and any additional safety features added.

This pricing includes:

• Professional installation
• Work performed by a licensed and insured team
• A streamlined process refined over thousands of conversions completed since 2011
• Our care and safety expertise - ask us any question while we’re preparing a safer bathtub
  
  

For many families, this cost is a relief, especially when compared to alternatives that require replacing the tub or remodeling the entire bathroom.

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Why AB Conversions Is Able to Be So Affordable

Affordability doesn’t come from cutting corners, it comes from specialization and experience.

AB Conversions focuses exclusively on bathtub safety modifications, not full bathroom renovations. By narrowing the scope and repeating a proven process, the company is able to:

• Keep labor time short
• Avoid unnecessary materials
• Reduce installation risk and damage
• Offer straightforward, transparent pricing

This approach has allowed AB Conversions to maintain an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, while serving Long Island families consistently for more than a decade.

How Does This Compare to Other Bathroom Safety Options?

Walk-In Tubs

Walk-in tubs require removing the existing bathtub and installing a new unit with a sealed door. While they can improve safety, they often:

• Cost significantly more
• Require plumbing and sometimes electrical changes
• Can take multiple days to install
• Require users to sit and wait while the tub fills and drains
• Can be uncomfortable after bathing while waiting for the tub to drain before exiting
  
  

For families prioritizing speed, simplicity, and affordability, this can be more than what’s actually needed.

Full Bathroom Remodels

A full bathroom remodel can improve safety, but it’s also:

• The most expensive option
• The most disruptive
• Often unnecessary when the main issue is bathtub access
• Creates a huge mess and takes the full bathroom out of commission
  
  

Many remodels cost many thousands of dollars and involve days or weeks of contractors, noise, dust, and repeated bathroom downtime.

A Common Concern: Mess, Disruption, and Tile Damage

One reason many homeowners delay bathroom changes is fear of mess or damage — and those concerns are valid.

Some installations involve demolition, tile removal, plumbing changes, and multiple tradespeople in and out of the home. Poorly executed work can crack tile, damage walls, or leave the bathroom unusable longer than expected.

A step-in bathtub conversion with AB Conversions does not require removing tile or relocating plumbing. Because the work is precise and contained, most installations are completed in just a few hours, with the bathroom left clean, intact, and fully functional.

Why Long Island Families Choose AB Conversions

When it comes to bathroom safety, experience matters, especially in homes with older tubs and finishes that homeowners don’t want damaged.

AB Conversions is a local Long Island company, not a franchise, and has been performing bathtub conversions since 2011. Every installation is handled by the same experienced craftsman using a proven process refined over thousands of conversions.

The company is:

• Licensed and insured
• A+ BBB rated
• Committed to ADA and National Safety Council safety guidelines
  
  

This consistency and care allow AB Conversions to deliver clean, precise installations that restore safety without disrupting the home.

Is a Step-In Bathtub Conversion Worth It?

For many families … yes. Especially when the goal is to:

• Reduce fall risk quickly
• Avoid major construction
• Keep a parent safely in their home
• Control costs
• Minimize mess and disruption
  
  

A bathtub conversion solves for the most dangerous moments: entering and exiting the tub without overcorrecting with an expensive renovation.

When a Bathtub Conversion Makes the Most Sense

• A step-in bathtub conversion is often the right choice when:
• A parent can no longer step over the tub safely
• There has been a fall or near-fall
• Surgery or rehab discharge is approaching
• Budget matters
• You want a solution installed quickly and cleanly
  
  

This is why many Long Island families see bathtub conversions as a practical, cost-effective first step rather than an all-or-nothing remodel.