How Much Does a Walk-In Shower Remodel Cost? (2023)

The cost of a new walk-in shower ranges from $3,500 to $15,000, with a national average cost of $9,000.* A walk-in shower has a very low curb or potentially none at all, making it easier and safer to step in and out. These showers are highly customizable and can include stone or tilework, luxury shower heads, glass walls, or no walls at all.

Remodeling a bathroom to include this type of shower is more popular than ever—especially in areas with aging populations, since they allow people with mobility issues to maintain independence. We’ll go over the factors that can affect your bottom line in more detail below.

*Article cost data sourced from Angi, Fixr, and Home Advisor.

 

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Walk-In Shower Remodel Cost Factors

When estimating the total cost of installing a walk-in shower, the most important things to consider are the shower size, type, and selected material.

Cost by Type of Shower

By far the most relevant price factor is whether you choose a prefabricated shower with a standard size and shape or create your own custom walk-in shower. A prefab shower is more cost-friendly. These showers usually come as kits containing the shower pan and surrounds. Sometimes they have the plumbing and a door already attached, so experienced do-it-yourselfers (DIYers) may be able to install a prefab kit themselves.

If you want more luxurious materials or an unusual shape or size, you’ll need to opt for a custom shower. Custom showers nearly always require professional installation, particularly if you want to move plumbing fixtures or change the bathroom configuration.

Type of Shower	Material Costs	Materials and Labor
Prefabricated shower	$800–$5,000	$3,500–$8,500
Custom shower	$1–$100 per square foot	$8,000–$15,000

Cost by Size of Shower

The average walk-in shower is 30-by-60 inches, though sizes can range from the ADA-compliant minimum of 36-by-36 inches to the space of an entire wet room bathroom. Installing larger showers requires more materials and labor, increasing price. Here’s the cost range for the most common prefab shower stall sizes.

Shower Size (in inches)	Material Costs
36×36	$800–$1,200
36×42	$900–$1,400
36×48	$1,200–$2,000
36×60	$1,200–$4,000
48×48	$1,200–$4,000
48×60	$1,400–$5,000
60×60	$1,500–$6,000
60×72	$1,800–$7,000

Cost by Type of Materials

Prefab showers come in limited materials. Most are either acrylic, fiberglass, or cultured marble. Acrylic is the most common material, and it’s also the most cost-effective. Fiberglass is the most expensive, but it’s highly durable and often looks more high-end. Cultured marble—which is a blend of stone particles, synthetic resin, and pigments—is mid-range. It mimics the appearance of marble but at a lower price point. It’s also low-maintenance.

Prefab Shower Material	Price Range
Acrylic	$800–$2,500
Cultured marble	$800–$3,000
Fiberglass	$2,000–$5,000

When designing custom walk-in showers, many homeowners choose tile made of stone, glass, ceramic, or porcelain (a special type of ceramic). Porcelain and stone come in slabs, which means less grout to clean. You can also opt for a synthetic material called solid surface, which combines resin with coloring and acrylic chips. Solid surface provides superior stain, mold, mildew, and microbe resistance. Here’s how the prices for these custom options compare.

Custom Shower Material	Cost per Square Foot
Ceramic tile	$1.25–$100
Porcelain tile	$3–$30
Stone tile	$5–$100
Porcelain slab	$8–$30
Glass tile	$20–$50
Stone slab	$40–$400
Solid surface	$100–$200

Labor Cost

The labor costs to install a prefab shower can range from $2,700 to $3,500. This price includes removing the existing shower.

Labor for a custom shower costs around $4,000 to $8,000, though this depends on the project’s intricacy and scope. Tile showers are especially expensive to install because of the time needed to lay and grout the tiles.

Type of Professional	Cost per Hour
Tile installer	$30–$120
Bathroom contractor	$50–$75
Electrician	$50–$100
Plumber	$75–$150

Additional Factors Affecting Walk-In Shower Remodel Cost

Here are some additional costs to consider when installing a new shower or replacing your old shower with a walk-in model.

Accessibility Requirements

One common reason to install a walk-in shower is to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act’s (ADA) accessibility requirements. However, a low or nonexistent step barrier is only one part of these requirements. Accessories such as grab bars and shower seats are also vital to improve safety for older users or people with limited mobility or disabilities. Here’s a cost breakdown of common accessories.

• Built-in shelves and niches: $75–$300
• Grab bars: $85–$300
• Bench: $100–$300
• Slip-resistant floor: $200–$1,000

Bathroom Age

Bathrooms in older homes are often more difficult to retrofit than those in newer homes. This is because older bathrooms have outdated plumbing that must be brought up to code. The contractor may open the walls and find other problems that need repairing, such as water damage or mold. The older your home, the more cushion you should add to your budget.

Luxury Features

You may want to consider some luxury add-ons to increase your walk-in shower’s comfort and function. Add-ons range from fancy showerheads to a sauna-like steam shower.

• Rainfall showerhead: $25–$250
• Dual showerheads: $100–$1,000
• Bi-fold glass shower doors: $800–$2,000
• Frameless shower door: $900–$2,300
• Steam shower: $4,000–$10,000

Moving Plumbing or Walls

The total cost of a shower remodel is highest when you decide to change your bathroom’s layout or the plumbing. If you have a small bathroom, you may need to remove tub alcove walls or even expand the bathroom size to make room for a new walk-in shower. This will require hiring not only a plumber, but also contractors to do the demolition, framing, rewiring, drywall, tile work, and finishing for the rest of the bathroom. If you’re unsure of the project’s extent due to your home’s age and condition, talk to a bathroom remodeling contractor before you begin.

Tub-to-Shower Conversion

Many homeowners who install walk-in showers are replacing a typical tub-shower combo. In this case, you may have to pay slightly more for old tub and faucet removal, plus alcove demolition, plumbing rerouting, and waterproofing of the surrounds. This could add an extra $500 to $1,000 to the shower remodel cost for a total of $4,000 to $16,000.

 

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Professional vs. DIY Walk-In Shower Cost

In most cases, walk-in shower installation is a home improvement job best left to the professionals. Here’s why.

Professional Walk-In Shower Remodel

All custom walk-in showers need to be installed by professionals. There are simply too many variables for a do-it-yourselfer (DIYer) to account for between plumbing, wiring, and waterproofing. Though you’ll pay extra for labor, a professional will be able to do the job more quickly and neatly, taking your bathroom out of commission for less time.

DIY Walk-In Shower Remodel

Experienced DIYers may be able to install simple prefabricated walk-in showers. These showers usually come as DIY kits, though they often require hiring a plumber to hook up the drains and valves. You can save on labor costs by doing most of the work yourself, but it’s essential to use the correct supplies and install the right waterproofing materials to protect your bathroom from water damage.

 

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How to Hire a Professional

Hiring a contractor to create your new bathroom doesn’t need to be stressful. Here are some things to look for.

• All contractors should be licensed and insured.
• Plumbers and electricians should have up-to-date licenses. 
• If you hire a contractor, ask how much work they’ll do themselves and how much they’ll subcontract out.
• Look at the company’s Better Business Bureau page and customer reviews on sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews.
• Ask for references from previous customers.
• Ask for an itemized quote so you’ll know how much you’re paying for each aspect of the project.

 

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How to Reduce Walk-In Shower Costs

Even if you hire professionals, you can still save money on a new walk-in shower by following these tips.

• Do as much of your own preparation or finishing as possible. This may include prerenovation demolition or time-consuming tasks, such as laying and grouting tile.
• Preserve your current bathroom’s layout as much as possible. Moving walls and plumbing fixtures will increase costs.
• Opt for a standard size prefabricated shower rather than a custom one. Acrylic and cultured marble are usually the most cost-effective prefab materials.
• If you’re set on a custom shower, keep it simple. White porcelain subway tile will be less expensive than natural stone (but nearly as durable).

 

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Our Recommendation

A walk-in shower adds to your home’s value and beauty while making bathing more accessible. Though prefabricated walk-in showers can sometimes be installed by experienced DIYers, we recommend hiring a professional for the best results. Contact at least three local bathroom contractors and request estimates to compare pricing and services. A professional can help implement your new bathroom vision in the space you already have.

 

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