The average cost to install a shower is $8,205, but it varies from $4,444 to $12,365 depending on the type of shower, materials, and customizations.
A new shower can transform your space. On average, shower installation costs $8,205, though most homeowners end up spending between $390 and $16,931. The type of shower, size, design, and labor all play a role. This guide will help you dive into the total costs behind a brand-new shower, so you can create a squeaky clean budget.
Some people want only a shower, some want a tub-shower combo, and others might want a full-on steam shower that doubles as a home sauna. However you prefer to get clean, here’s what you can expect to pay.
| Shower Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Walk-in shower | $1,150–$8,000 |
| Tub-shower combo | $1,500–$8,500 |
| Steam shower | $2,800–$7,100 |
| Accessibility showers | $1,750–$8,600 |
| Tub-to-shower conversion | $1,200–$8,000 |
A standard-sized walk-in shower costs between $1,150 and $8,000. While the average walk-in shower is 32-by-32 inches, you can customize the size—you can have a shower that’s half your bathroom or one small enough to fit in a corner.
Consider the cost of tiling a shower (if you don’t install a prefab unit) or special features, such as a rainfall showerhead. These factors can push your price tag toward the high end.
A tub-shower combo is perfect for soaking after a long day of work. You can customize a tub-shower combo with special features, such as jets for the tub or a door rather than a curtain for privacy. Expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to $8,500.
A steam shower offers the luxe feeling of a spa without having to leave the house. These showers create warm steam to help you get your sweat on. The cost of a steam shower is between $2,800 and $7,100.
Accessibility showers offer a helping hand and extra stability when entering the shower. These showers cost around $600 extra compared to a regular shower and include a grab bar and bench. Accessibility showers range from $1,750 to $8,600.
You can save money on a shower installation by converting your tub into a walk-in shower. For most homeowners, a tub-to-shower conversion costs somewhere between $1,200 and $8,000, but it depends on the materials and the extent of the work. Installing prefab shower walls can keep costs low.
Shower conversions can be complex and may require a contractor to remove a wall back to the studs to ensure the entire area is waterproof. This could reveal hidden, costly plumbing challenges, so make sure you have extra space in the budget if you're planning a shower conversion.
The larger the shower, the more you’ll pay. The standard walk-in shower is 32-by-32 inches. If you use a prefabricated shower without a door, expect to pay around $1,150 for installation and materials, bringing the cost per square foot to around $210.
The average cost to install a tub shower is around $3,000. If the standard tub-shower combo is 30-by-60 inches, you’re looking at paying around $240 per square foot.
You also have the option of adding a shower to an existing bathtub. The simplest way is to install a diverter shower, which includes a valve that directs water to your tub’s spout, a handheld shower, or a showerhead. If that’s not possible, you’ll have to remove your old bathtub and install a model that supports a shower.
The design of your shower can dramatically impact the price of installation. A tiled walk-in shower can cost anywhere from $2,100 to $17,500. Prefabricated showers, which are plastic, can save you some money. The shower insert—which comes as a part of a kit—costs as little as $300.
| Shower Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Barrier-free | $750–$3,000 |
| Shower and tub | $500–$2,000 |
| Walk-in | $300–$1,000 |
| Rectangular or square | $300–$1,000 |
Shower installers charge an average of $60 per hour, but the rate depends on whether they’re a licensed plumber making changes to pipes and fixtures or an installer simply handling the installation. You can expect to spend $400 to $1,000 on labor, but costs could increase for detailed tiling and custom work.
Some shower installations don’t require significant plumbing work because the hookups are already there. In other cases, you’ll need to hire a licensed plumber near you to add a new fixture or move pipes around.
Adding a new plumbing fixture for your shower costs $600 to $1,600, and most plumbers charge $45 to $200 per hour, depending on their experience level.
Shower installation can be very straightforward, especially if you’re installing a prefab model. That said, there are some instances where you may need to call pros beyond your installer and plumber. You might hire an interior designer to plan your bathroom remodel or renovation or call an electrician to install lighting and spa-like features. Here are some pros and their associated costs:
Interior designer: $50–$200 per hour
Electrician: $50–$120 per hour
Interior painter: $20–$50 per hour
Handyperson: $50–$150 per hour
Several factors beyond the size and design of your shower can impact your new shower installation costs. Materials, extra features, and the existing space play a large role. Here’s what you can expect.
High-end materials will increase the overall shower installation cost. Tile can cost anywhere from $2 to $30 per square foot, while cultured marble costs anywhere from $40 to $65 per square foot. If you opt for a fiberglass or acrylic insert, you’ll spend anywhere from $400 to $2,000.
| Shower Material | Average Cost (Per Square Foot) |
|---|---|
| Porcelain tile | $2–$30 |
| Glass tile | $20–$50 |
| Stone tile | $5–$100 |
| Cultured marble | $40–$65 |
If you’re replacing your existing shower, you’ll need to remove your old shower. Removal costs about $50 to $100, but it could cost more if you need to demolish walls and remove and replace pipes. You’ll also have to spend around $250 for cleanup, which involves hauling away the construction debris.
If you’re installing a new shower in a half-bath area, you’ll pay around $600 to $12,500 because you’ll need new plumbing, walls, and fixtures.
If you’re starting from the ground up by adding a new room, adding a bathroom costs around $22,000 on average.
Most states require a permit for extensive renovations, especially if they involve plumbing work. Depending on the project, you may need building and plumbing permits. Each permit costs around $250, depending on the city and state.
Shower tiles can range anywhere from $1,800 to $6,850. This comes down to the type of material you want to use. Ceramic tiles start at $0.50 per square foot, while natural stone tiles cost as much as $15 per square foot.
Shower pan replacement costs $900 to $2,300 on average. If you’re converting a tub to a shower or installing a new shower, you’ll need to install a shower pan. They come in various materials that will impact your final cost, with fiberglass pans starting as low as $150 and tiled shower pans costing as much as $3,500.
A bathtub and shower liner goes over the existing tub and takes less time and effort than completely gutting the area and installing something new. However, your liner options are pretty limited. The cost of installing a shower and tub liner is about $6,400.
Keep in mind that while this only replaces the tub portion of the shower, it can still make it feel like you’re stepping into a new shower.
There are plenty of prefabricated options for jetted showers, which tack an extra $900 onto the final price of installation. But if you want custom areas installed, you’re looking at spending upward of $1,000 extra on top of the initial $900 in labor and materials to route the plumbing correctly.
If you don’t want a simple shower drain, you might have something more elegant in mind that speaks to your style, like a linear shower drain. Replacing the shower drain requires custom plumbing, which can tack on an extra $750 to $1,250 in labor and material costs.
A new shower door can transform your bathroom’s aesthetic. You’ll need to spend between $530 and $1,400 on the cost of a shower door installation, but budget-conscious homeowners can find deals for as low as $165 (plus the cost of labor). Depending on the setup, you might need to add parts like hinges, tracks, mounting clips, brackets, and a roller.
A shower screen starts at $70, while a frameless shower door costs as high as $3,300. Below are costs by shower door size, with larger doors costing more.
| Shower Door Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 24x72 | $400–$2,500 |
| 30x72 | $450–$2,650 |
| 36x72 | $480–$2,750 |
| 48x72 | $600–$2,850 |
| 60x72 | $650–$3,150 |
| 48x76 | $650–$3,000 |
| 60x76 | $780–$3,300 |
A shower creates additional humidity, so you’ll need a bathroom fan to remove excess moisture, mildew, and mold. Bathroom fan installation costs $250 to $575. A fan with added features like lighting or heating costs $100 to $200 more than a standard fan.
Items such as a shower door, showerhead, tub faucet, and even the bathroom fan can be the final cherry on top of your new shower.
For showerheads, the common options on the market include:
Full body: $600
Rainfall: $90
Handheld: $100
High pressure: $75
Adjustable pressure: $200
Adding in a door will cost $1,000 on average. If you know your bathroom fan needs an upgrade, it’ll cost an extra $400.
Prefab shower installation is more affordable than custom installation. You can purchase shower installation kits with everything you need to install your shower for $250 to $2,900, not including the installation cost. However, putting in a prefab shower is faster and more straightforward than a custom build.
Custom showers have a broader range of costs. While affordable materials can help keep costs down, you’ll likely spend more when purchasing them individually rather than as part of a kit. Additional work, like tiling, requires more labor and will significantly increase expenses compared to installing a standard fiberglass or acrylic shower insert. Expect to pay $1.25 to $200 per square foot for the materials alone.
You should only install a shower yourself using a shower or tub liner or a prefab shower kit. DIYing a liner costs around $500 for the liner, caulking, adhesive, and sealer.
A shower installer and plumber should handle any other project. Not all shower installers are licensed plumbers, so contact a plumber in your area to handle your upcoming project.
While you might feel compelled to save a few hundred bucks with a DIY job, it’s never a good idea to mess with your home’s plumbing unless you really know what you’re doing. In fact, you may not be able to obtain a permit. Repairing damage from an improper installation can cost more than hiring a pro—especially if there’s significant water damage.
Professional labor adds $400 to $2,000 to your shower installation cost. Contact at least three local shower installers to ensure you get the best quotes. The final cost of labor will depend on the scope of the project, as more customizations and limited space will make the job more time-consuming.
Installing a shower can increase a home’s value, but there are some stipulations. It’s trendy for homeowners to remove their bathtubs and install a walk-in shower in en suite bathrooms. Walk-in showers have an ROI of about 55% and are one of the best bathroom upgrades for resale value, but only if your home has another bathroom with a bathtub. Bathtubs make the home more accessible to families with children and pets.
While you may only get some of your money back on this upgrade, an attractive bathroom can certainly woo potential buyers. If your current bathroom is dated and has aging fixtures, it's worth considering an upgrade.
The cost of a bathroom remodel is about $6,700 to $17,600, and a shower installation can be a significant chunk of that cost. That said, there are some ways you can save on the cost of your new shower. You just have to plan strategically.
A prefab shower insert costs between $300 and $500, and a kit that includes all of the materials costs $400 to $2,000. This is the most budget-friendly type of shower, and it’s simple enough to install and keeps labor costs relatively low.
You can save money by adding a shower to an existing tub (as long as your tub is compatible). Most commonly, people do this with a shower diverter valve that directs water to your tub’s spout or showerhead. This costs around $1,000, but you’ll also need to spend on the plumbing and labor.
The average tub-to-shower conversion costs around $4,000 less than the average shower installation because you don’t have to reinstall plumbing and can match materials to your existing surround. Find inspiration from tub-to-shower conversion ideas like a shower bench or corner shelves.
Moving your shower during a shower replacement or remodel can rack up extra plumbing and finishing costs (like tiling, drywall installation, and painting).
You may not be able to install a shower on your own, but you can save on some of the labor costs by doing the demolition yourself. Just make sure you don’t damage your plumbing or drywall when you start removing things like your old tub or tile, and wear safety equipment.
If you don’t want a prefab shower, keep costs down by using budget-friendly materials. Avoid high-end natural stone or glass tile. Tiling takes significant labor to install, but you can reduce labor costs by choosing larger tiles over smaller mosaic tiles.
Choose the shower features and accessories you absolutely need. For example, you can save $600 to $1,300 on a shower door if you opt for a tension rod and curtain (but it depends on the design of your shower). Things like seating, soap dishes, and towel racks come with extra costs you can skip.
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The amount of space needed depends on the size of the shower. For the standard 32-by-32-inch walk-in shower, you’ll need about 50 square inches. The International Residential Code requires a minimum of 24 inches of space in front of a walk-in shower’s entrance. That said, the National Kitchen & Bath Association recommends 30 inches of clearance, which is a bit more comfortable for most people.
Ideally, you’ll have enough room to open your doors and cabinets without interfering with your shower. This may not be possible in a smaller bathroom.
Acrylic is the better choice between fiberglass and acrylic showers. Fiberglass showers cost slightly less, but acrylic is more durable and flexible. Acrylic shower material can be molded into a wider variety of shapes and sizes to suit highly specific bathroom renovations, and it comes in more color and finish options.
If properly installed and maintained, an acrylic shower should last 10 to 20 years. Acrylic costs more than fiberglass, but it's also a better value because it's among the most durable and damage-resistant materials used for shower walls. Acrylic showers tend not to chip, crack, or fade over time, even with regular use.
