Walk-In Shower Installation Cost Calculator
Get an instant free estimate for your new walk-in shower based on the base type, size, tile, door, and fixtures — compare prefab, custom tile, and luxury stone options.
Free Walk-In Shower Installation Cost Calculator
Use this calculator to calculate the cost of walk-in shower installation near you for free. Enter your ZIP code for a localized estimate.
Shower Details
Select the type and style of your new shower.
Build Type
Size / Footprint
Enclosure / Door:
Add-ons & Upgrades:
Estimates are instant and require no contact information.
Based on inputs, your Walk-In Shower Installation project cost is approximately:
Note that the cost above is purely an estimate.
The actual cost may be higher or lower depending on the contractor's quote.
How Much Does Walk-In Shower Installation Cost?
A walk-in shower's price is driven first by the base type. A prefab acrylic unit runs about $2,500 to $5,000 installed, a custom tiled shower $6,500 to $12,000+, and a solid stone-slab or luxury build $10,000 to $20,000+. A simple prefab update sits at the bottom; a large custom-tile or stone conversion with premium glass sits at the top.
On top of the base, the size, the tile grade (on custom builds), and the door or enclosure adjust the number, and add-ons like removing an old tub, moving the drain, a bench, or a niche stack on. Converting a tub to a shower lands at the higher end because of the demolition and plumbing work. Use the calculator above to price your build, then read on for what drives each line.
Walk-In Shower Installation Cost by Shower Type
Installed Cost by Base Type
| Shower Type | Price Range | Typical Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Prefab / Acrylic | $2,500 – $5,000 | Kit + install; grout-free. |
| Custom Tile | $6,500 – $12,000 | Waterproofing, tile & grout. |
| Stone Slab / Luxury | $10,000 – $20,000+ | Seamless walls, high-end trim. |
| Tub-to-Shower Conversion | +40% | Demo, framing & drain work. |
Source: Baseline labor derived from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tile and Stone Setters (SOC 47-2044); ranges reflect our aggregated bath-remodeler quote data. Size, tile grade, and door options adjust these base prices.
Common Add-Ons
| Add-On | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Remove Old Tub | ~$400 | Demo & haul-out for a conversion. |
| Relocate Drain / Plumbing | ~$900 | Cut slab/subfloor & re-pipe. |
| Built-In Bench Seat | ~$450 | Framed, tiled, waterproofed. |
| Safety Grab Bars | ~$200 | Blocked & secured for accessibility. |
| Recessed Shampoo Niche | ~$350 | Recessed storage, per niche. |
| Rain Shower Head Upgrade | ~$300 | Overhead rainfall fixture. |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tile and Stone Setters (SOC 47-2044) for baseline labor, combined with our aggregated quote ranges from licensed bath remodelers. Door options ($50–$1,400) are set by the enclosure selection. Regional adjustments applied via the calculator above.
The 6 Factors That Drive Your Quote
1. Base Type
The build type is the biggest cost driver. A prefab acrylic/fiberglass kit (~$2,500 base) is the budget, low-maintenance choice; a custom tiled shower (~$6,500) is the customizable mid-to-premium option with skilled waterproofing and tile work; and a solid stone-slab build (~$9,500) is the seamless luxury tier. Everything else adjusts off this starting point.
2. Size & Footprint
Bigger showers use more material and labor. A compact 32" square is the baseline; a 36" standard adds about 10%, a spacious 48" rectangle about 30%, a 60" tub-replacement footprint about 40%, and a custom large or wet-room build about 80%. Size interacts with the base type, so a large custom-tile shower climbs fast.
3. Tile & Material
On a custom tiled shower, the tile grade layers on top: standard ceramic is the baseline, porcelain adds about 20%, and natural stone or marble about 50% — stone also needs sealing and more careful setting. Prefab and stone-slab bases have their material baked into the base price, so this factor mainly moves custom-tile builds.
4. Door / Enclosure
The enclosure ranges from a simple curtain rod (~$50) to a framed glass door (~$600), a sliding glass door (~$800) for tight spaces, or frameless heavy glass (~$1,400) for the most open, easy-to-clean, high-end look. Curbless and doorless designs skip the door but rely on precise slope and a longer wall to contain spray.
5. Plumbing & Demolition
Removing an old tub (~$400) and relocating the drain or supply lines (~$900) are the structural line items that make tub-to-shower conversions pricier. Moving plumbing means cutting into the slab or subfloor and re-piping. Standard demolition is usually included, but hidden rot or water damage found once walls are open is an extra charge.
6. Accessibility & Upgrades
Walk-in showers are popular for aging-in-place, and accessibility features add both value and cost: a built-in bench seat (~$450), safety grab bars (~$200), and a curbless entry for wheelchair access. Comfort upgrades like a recessed shampoo niche (~$350) and a rain shower head (~$300) round out the build. These toggle on so the estimate matches your exact scope.
Prefab or Custom Tile — Which Fits You?
The base type is the single biggest decision, and it's largely a trade between cost, customization, and maintenance. Here's the honest split.
Choose prefab acrylic when
- Budget and speed matter most: it's the cheapest and installs in a day or two.
- You want the lowest maintenance: a grout-free surface resists mildew and wipes clean.
- A standard size fits your space and you're happy with a clean, simple look.
- Reliable waterproofing worries you: a molded unit is watertight out of the box.
Choose custom tile or stone when
- You want full customization: any size, layout, tile, niche, bench, or curbless entry.
- Your space is an odd size a stock prefab kit won't fit cleanly.
- You're after a high-end look and resale value that tile and stone deliver.
- You'll maintain the grout — periodic sealing and cleaning keep it looking right.
How to Vet and Hire a Shower Installer
On a tiled walk-in shower, the waterproofing you can't see matters more than the tile you can — a hidden leak can rot framing for years. Vet the installer accordingly. Before you hire:
- Ask which waterproofing system they use and how they treat the pan, corners, niche, and drain — a confident, specific answer is a good sign.
- Confirm licensing and insurance for bath/plumbing work, plus liability coverage — water damage is costly.
- See recent shower projects, not just floor tile; shower waterproofing and sloping are a distinct skill.
- Ask how hidden damage is handled if rot or mold turns up once the walls are open.
What a complete quote should spell out
- The base type, size, tile grade, and door/enclosure.
- Whether demolition, tub removal, and drain relocation are included or extra.
- The waterproofing method and whether the pan is a mortar bed or a foam-pan system.
- Accessibility features (bench, grab bars, curbless), the permit, and the workmanship warranty.
Methodology & Sources
This calculator starts from a base price set by your shower type (prefab, custom tile, or stone slab), multiplies it by a size factor(from a compact 32" up to a custom wet room) and, on custom tile, a tile-grade factor (ceramic, porcelain, or stone), then adds the door/enclosurecost and any flat-fee add-ons (tub removal, drain relocation, bench, grab bars, niche, rain head), and adjusts the result to your ZIP code's regional price level. In short: (Base Type × Size × Tile Grade) + Door + Add-ons, then localized. Baseline labor is anchored to federal wage data for tile setters and calibrated against our aggregated bath-remodeler quotes.
Data sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Tile and Stone Setters (SOC 47-2044)
- Tile Council of North America (TCNA)
- ADA Standards — Accessible Showers & Grab Bars
For a full explanation of how every calculator on this site is built and localized, see our methodology page.
About the Reviewer
Master Plumber
Master plumber focused on water heaters, repipes, leak detection, and whole-home water systems.
View full profile & credentials →Frequently Asked Questions
It depends heavily on the base type. A prefab acrylic or fiberglass walk-in shower runs about $2,500 to $5,000 installed, a custom tiled shower typically $6,500 to $12,000+, and a solid stone-slab or luxury build $10,000 to $20,000+. On top of the base, the size, the door or enclosure, and add-ons like moving the drain, a bench, or a niche move the number. Converting a bathtub to a walk-in shower sits at the higher end of each range because of the demolition, framing, and often plumbing relocation involved.
A prefabricated acrylic or fiberglass shower kit is the most affordable route. It arrives as pre-formed base and wall panels that install quickly, needs no waterproofing membrane or tile-setting labor, and has a smooth, grout-free surface that's easy to clean and inherently watertight. The trade-off is fewer size and design options and a more basic look than tile. If budget and speed matter most — or you want the lowest-maintenance surface — prefab is hard to beat; if you want a custom, high-end look, tile or stone is worth the step up.
Because it's demolition plus a rebuild, not just a swap. The old tub has to be removed and hauled out, the surrounding walls and floor opened up, and the framing and substrate rebuilt for a shower. Tub-to-shower conversions usually also mean relocating or reconfiguring the drain (a tub drain sits in a different spot than a shower drain), which can involve cutting into a concrete slab or subfloor. In this calculator a 60-inch tub-replacement footprint adds about 40% over a standard shower, and the drain move and tub removal are separate add-ons on top.
Prefab acrylic is the budget, low-maintenance, quick-install choice with a grout-free surface — great for a fast, watertight update. Custom tile is the popular mid-to-premium option: fully customizable in size, layout, and look, with far more design range, but it needs skilled waterproofing and tile-setting and the grout requires occasional sealing and cleaning. Solid stone slab is the luxury tier — large seamless panels of marble or granite for a high-end, low-grout look at the highest cost. Match the choice to your budget, how custom you want it, and how much grout maintenance you're willing to do.
A curbless shower has no raised threshold — the shower floor sits flush with the bathroom floor for a sleek, open look and full wheelchair or walker access. It costs more because the floor structure usually has to be recessed (or the surrounding floor built up) so the shower can sit flush, the slope to the drain must be more precise to keep water in without a curb (often with a linear drain), and the waterproofing extends out into the bathroom floor. That extra structural and waterproofing work is why curbless and 'wet room' builds land at the top of the size and complexity range.
Options run from a simple curtain rod (cheapest, about $50 here) up to premium glass. A framed glass door (about $600) is the practical mid-range choice with metal framing on all edges. A sliding glass door (about $800) suits tighter spaces where a swing door won't fit. Frameless heavy glass (about $1,400) gives the most open, high-end look and is easiest to clean, but it needs thicker tempered glass and specialized hardware. Curbless and doorless walk-in designs skip the door entirely, relying on a longer wall or a glass panel to contain spray.
Most bathroom projects that alter plumbing require a building permit and inspection to meet code, especially anything moving the drain or supply lines — your contractor typically pulls it. Standard demolition (removing the old tub or shower and opening the surfaces) is usually included in a quote, but there's a common caveat: if the crew finds rotted subfloor, water-damaged framing, or mold once the walls are open, repairing it is an extra charge. On an older bathroom, it's smart to keep a contingency in your budget for hidden damage discovered during demo.
A prefab acrylic unit can often be installed in 1 to 2 days once the old shower or tub is out. A custom tiled shower takes longer — roughly 5 to 7 days — because it's a multi-step, cure-dependent process: demolition, building and waterproofing the pan and walls (which must cure), setting and grouting the tile, sealing, and finally the door and fixtures. Moving plumbing, curbless floor work, intricate tile patterns, or hidden-damage repairs all add time. Rushing the waterproofing or thin-set curing is what causes leaks, so a good installer builds the drying time into the schedule.