Shower Remodel Cost Calculator

In 2026, a shower remodel typically costs $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the scope and materials. A cosmetic refresh (new fixtures, door, and reglazing) can run as little as $1,500 to $4,000, replacing the surround and re-tiling about $4,000 to $8,000, a tub-to-shower conversion about $5,000 to $12,000, and a full gut-and-rebuild with premium tile or stone $10,000 to $15,000 or more. The biggest cost drivers are how much you're tearing out, the surround material (prefab acrylic is cheapest, tile is mid-range, natural stone is priciest), the fixture level, and the shower door. A frameless glass enclosure, heated floors, and custom tile work add up quickly.

They sit at opposite ends of the scope spectrum. A refresh is a light cosmetic update that keeps the existing shower's footprint and base — swapping out the showerhead, valve trim, and door, re-caulking, and possibly reglazing the surround or pan — for a fresh look at low cost and with minimal demolition. Replacing the surround means tearing off the old walls and installing new tile or a new surround on the same footprint. A tub-to-shower conversion removes a bathtub and builds a walk-in shower in its place. A full gut-and-rebuild tears out everything — walls, pan, sometimes plumbing — and rebuilds from the studs, allowing layout changes and the highest-end finishes. This calculator lets you pick the scope so the estimate reflects how much work is actually involved.

Converting a bathtub into a walk-in shower typically costs about $5,000 to $12,000, with the price depending on the surround material, fixtures, and door. The work involves removing the old tub, adjusting the plumbing (the drain usually has to move, since a shower drain sits in a different spot than a tub drain), building and waterproofing a new shower pan or setting a prefab base, installing the surround (tile or acrylic), and adding the valve, head, and door. Tub-to-shower conversions are popular for accessibility (a low or curbless entry is easier to step into) and for modernizing a bathroom, and they're a strong selling point in homes that still have at least one tub elsewhere. This calculator includes a tub-to-shower scope to capture the added plumbing and demolition work.

Each has trade-offs. Acrylic or fiberglass prefab surrounds are the most affordable and the easiest to clean, with no grout lines to maintain, but offer a more basic look and limited customization. Tile is the most popular choice for its wide range of styles, colors, and custom designs and its classic, high-quality appearance — but it costs more, requires skilled labor, and the grout needs periodic sealing and cleaning. Natural stone (marble, travertine, slate, or slab) gives the most luxurious, high-end look and the highest resale appeal, but it's the most expensive, heavy, and requires sealing and careful maintenance. For budget and low upkeep, acrylic wins; for a custom designer look, tile; for luxury, stone. This calculator lets you compare all three.

Yes — proper waterproofing is one of the most important and non-negotiable parts of a shower remodel, especially for tile showers. Behind the beautiful tile, a shower needs a continuous waterproof barrier (a membrane system, a properly built and sloped pan, and sealed seams and corners) to keep water from reaching the framing and subfloor, where it causes rot and mold. Skipping or skimping on waterproofing is the leading cause of shower failures and expensive hidden water damage down the road. Modern systems (sheet or liquid membranes and foam pans) make for reliable, long-lasting showers when installed correctly. This calculator includes a premium waterproofing membrane add-on. Always make sure your contractor uses a proper, code-compliant waterproofing method — it's not the place to cut corners.

For many homeowners, yes, though it's the priciest door option. Frameless glass enclosures use thick tempered glass with minimal hardware and no bulky metal frame, giving a clean, open, high-end look that shows off the tile or stone and makes the bathroom feel larger and brighter. They're also easier to keep clean since there's no frame to trap water, grime, and mold. The trade-offs are cost (often $1,000-$1,500+ versus a few hundred for framed or sliding doors) and that they're custom-measured and installed. Framed and sliding glass doors are more budget-friendly and still a big upgrade over a curtain. If you're investing in nice tile or stone and want the most polished result, a frameless enclosure is a popular splurge. This calculator lets you choose among curtain, framed, sliding, and frameless options.

A shower remodel typically takes about 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the scope. A simple refresh (fixtures, door, re-caulk, reglaze) might be done in a few days, while replacing a tiled surround or doing a tub-to-shower conversion usually runs 1 to 2 weeks, and a full gut-and-rebuild with custom tile or stone can take 2 to 3 weeks or more. The timeline includes demolition, any plumbing changes, building and waterproofing the pan and walls (with required dry/cure time), tile setting and grouting, and installing fixtures and the glass door (custom glass is often measured after tiling and takes a week or two to fabricate). Custom tile work and stone add time. Your shower will be out of commission during the project, so plan for an alternate bathroom if it's your only shower.

Yes, bathroom and shower updates are consistently among the better home improvements for resale appeal, and a fresh, modern, well-built shower is a feature buyers notice. Updating a dated, worn, or leaky shower removes a red flag and makes the bathroom feel clean and current, which helps both the sale price and how quickly a home sells. Tub-to-shower conversions and walk-in showers are especially appealing to many buyers (including those wanting aging-in-place accessibility), as long as the home retains at least one bathtub somewhere for resale to families. As with any remodel, the best returns come from quality, well-waterproofed work that fits the home — over-the-top luxury in a modest home returns less. A mid-range, attractive shower remodel generally offers a solid balance of enjoyment now and value at resale.