Does the Primary Bathroom Still Need a Tub?

© David Papazian - DigitalVision/Getty Images

Many buyers may be unlikely to purchase a home without a bathtub even though renovation trends are moving toward fancy, supersized showers. Seventy-four percent of recent and prospective buyers say they want a shower stall and tub, while 36% call a tub “essential,” according to the National Association of Home Builders' annual What Home Buyers Really Want survey. Respondents ranked the shower and tub combination as the most essential in a list of 18 bathroom features.

© National Association of Home Builders

Millennials and Gen Xers show higher preferences for certain bathroom features like dual toilets, his-and-her baths, skylights, and bidets, according to the survey. For comparison, only 25% to 35% of baby boomers say they want these features.