How to Install a Shower Door: A Complete DIY Guide

Measure

Start by grabbing a measuring tape and finding the dimensions of three key areas: 

1. Height of the door opening from the threshold to the top of the shower. 

2. Width of the shower opening. You should measure the width in at least two spots in case the walls are uneven.

3. Depth of the shower’s threshold or base.

Cut the Base Track

Start by cutting the base track to the appropriate length using your hacksaw. Your base track should run the length of the threshold and fit tightly between the shower walls. Make sure you file the rough edge with a cut file and vacuum up the metal filings.

Install the Base Track on the Threshold

Install the base track on the threshold. Use your tape measure to make sure it’s completely centered. You can use scotch tape or a pencil to mark the location—just in case it slides out of place before you seal it.

Mark the Hinge-Side Jamb’s Location

Next, plan where you’re going to put your hinge-side jamb. Typically, the hinged portion of the door goes on the wall furthest from the showerhead. Fit the bottom of the jamb into the base track and press it flush against the wall. Use a level to ensure it’s plumb, but be careful not to move the base track.

Once it’s flush and plumb, use your pencil to mark the screw holes where you’ll need to drill. This will be where you screw your jamb in place against the wall.

Drill Screw Holes and Install the Wall Anchors

Photo: vladdeep / Adobe Stock

Remove the jamb, then carefully drill screw holes in the tile over your pencil markings using your 3/16-inch masonry bit. Insert the wall anchors into the drill holes. If the anchors are stubborn, try tapping them into place with a plastic mallet.

Install the Jamb

Put your jamb back up on the wall. Make sure the screw holes align with the anchors and the end of the jamb is in place on the bottom track. Screw the jamb in place.

Repeat the Process for the Strike-Side Jamb

Some doors will have a strike-side jamb on the opposite end of the threshold (typically, on the same wall as your showerhead). If that’s the case, follow the same installation process as the hinge-side jamb.

Put the Door in Position

Photo: Angelov / Adobe Stock

Glass doors can get pretty heavy, so have a helper give you an extra hand. Lift and put the door in place so the hinges swing outward and away from the shower. Slide the hinge rail into the jamb, and use a level to ensure it’s plumb. If it’s not plumb, then readjust.

Screw the Door in Place

Have your helper hold the door in place. From here, you’ll need to drill holes to screw the hinge rail into the jamb. There should be screw holes in the hinge rail. Drill through the holes and into the jamb to create 7/32-inch pilot holes. Take the screws that came with your door, and screw your hinge rail into place.

Attach the Magnetic Strike Rail to the Second Glass Panel

Some doors come with a second glass panel that attaches to the strike-side jamb. You’ll need to attach the magnetic strike rail on the edge closest to the door. This holds the door in place when it’s shut. Slide the strike rail into place, make sure it’s secure, and move on to the next step.

Install the Glass Side Panel

Photo: Angelov / Adobe Stock

Install the second glass panel in the strike-side jamb. In a previous step, you should have already screwed the jamb into the wall. From here, fit the glass panel into the base track and carefully slide it into the strike-side jamb. Make sure it’s plumb.

Measure and Cut the Header

Pull your shower door closed and carefully measure the top edge of the shower opening. Cut the header to the appropriate length using your hacksaw. Smooth the edge with a cut file.

Install the Header

Lift the header to the upper edge of the door and slide it into place. On hinged doors, the shorter arm of the header should face outward. Keep in mind that some headers have screw holes. If that’s the case, you’ll need to screw your header into the corresponding jamb. Before marking and drilling your 7/32-inchpilot holes, ensure the header is level. 

Screw the Door Frame in Place

Photo: Александр Беспалый / Adobe Stock

Tackle one corner at a time. Find the area where your base track meets the vertical frame. Drill a pilot hole, then screw the pieces together. Do the same thing around all four corners of your frame.

Attach the Door Handles

Your shower door should come with a hardware kit that includes door handles, and there should be pre-drilled holes for the screws. Set your handles over the screw holes and tighten the screws until they’re firmly in place.

Measure and Cut the Drip Rail

Your drip rail should match the width of your door. Remove the vinyl strip, measure the rail, and cut it to the appropriate length using your hacksaw. Smooth the rough edge with a cut file, then slip the vinyl strip back in place. Crimp the edges of the drip rail with pliers to secure the vinyl, then trim the excess with a utility knife.

Install the Drip Rail

Your drip rail should have mounting holes where you screw it into the bottom of the door frame. Line up your drip rail along the bottom of your door (the vinyl should face down), and drill a 7/32-inch pilot hole through the mounting hole and into the door frame. Take care to stay low enough to avoid drilling into the glass. Use screws to secure your drip rail in the door frame.

Seal the Frame

The final step is waterproofing your shower. You’ll need to seal the edges with silicone caulk. Take your gun and apply caulk along the inside and outside edge of the base track and the inside edges of each jamb. Smooth out the caulk, wait for it to dry, and your shower is ready to go.