What Is a Roll-In Shower and How Does It Work?

If you or someone in your household uses a wheelchair, you may be considering upgrading your bathroom to have a roll-in shower. A roll-in shower is exactly what it sounds like—a shower that allows a person to roll in and out with ease.

Roll-in showers are packed with safety features and allow a person to have some much-needed privacy and independence in the bathroom. Read on to find out how the seamless style of roll-in showers can elevate your bathroom and morning routine.

What Is a Roll-In Shower?

To understand why roll-in showers are a smart choice for accessibility and style, look at the list of requirements that the U.S. Government’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) created for commercial, public, and government buildings. A residential home doesn't have to comply with all the rules, but familiarizing yourself with them can be a good place to start.

For example, ADA-compliant roll-in showers must be at least 30 inches wide and 60 inches deep with a threshold that's no higher than ½ inch. Shower controls must be at least 38 inches from the floor but no higher than 48 inches.  

In addition, roll-in showers have features to help keep water from pooling, like sloped flooring and large or trench drains. Most don’t have doors for easier access, and you can customize them to look like wet room bathrooms or open-concept showers.

Parts of a Roll-In Shower

Here are the main components of a roll-in shower. If you take the plunge, your exact setup will vary with your unique needs.

Grab Bars

Grab bars make moving around in the shower easier and provide an extra layer of safety. Shower grab bars are attached to walls vertically, horizontally, or at an angle. ADA-compliant grab bars must support up to 250 pounds. 

Shower Spray Unit

You’ll see handheld showerheads with hoses in roll-in showers. The hose allows for flexibility because you can take the showerhead off the hook or leave it as is. They’re positioned no higher than 4 feet from the floor so they’re easy and comfortable to reach.

Specialized Threshold

Also known as a curb, the threshold is where the edge of the shower meets the bathroom floor, and its job is to keep the water where you want it.

Some roll-in showers are curbless, also known as no-threshold or zero-threshold. These rely on large drains and gentle sloping to drain water properly. If the shower has a threshold, it may have features like beveling to help accommodate wheels and neoprene to help absorb water. An ADA-compliant roll-in shower can’t have a threshold higher than ½ inch.

Shower Seat

Shower seats attach to the wall, or they can be removable. Seats that are attached to the wall will usually fold up or down, giving you the choice to use them or not. ADA-compliant ones need to hold up to 250 pounds.

Roll-In Shower vs. Walk-In Tub

There are some key differences between roll-in showers and walk-in tubs. Know how they differ before deciding on the right shower or tub for you. 

For one, roll-in showers allow someone in a wheelchair to get in and out without assistance. You may need help to transfer from your regular wheelchair into the shower seat, but if you have a shower chair with wheels, you could get in and out independently. With a walk-in tub, however, you’ll need help assistance getting in and out of it from your wheelchair.

Also, when you’re done with your bath, you need to wait for the water to completely drain from the walk-in tub before opening the door to get back out. With a roll-in shower, you don’t have to wait for the water to drain before you get out, which can be a lot more convenient and a lot less cold. In general, roll-in showers save more water compared to walk-in tubs.

But of course, with a roll-in shower, you can’t enjoy the luxury of soaking in a tub. So choose between the two based on your needs and preferences.

Benefits of a Roll-In Shower 

Roll-in showers roll out the benefits. One of the greatest advantages is giving people with wheelchairs independence during shower time. Of course, the showers are easy for anyone else in the household to use, too. And they can be a great proactive option for those remodeling a bathroom and planning to age in place.

Besides the accessibility aspect of a roll-in shower, it also provides safety. Between the seats and grab bars, people can enjoy their showers without as much risk of slips or falls. This is particularly true if you’re switching from a tub, because there is a potential for falling when entering or exiting tubs.

There are different models of roll-in showers, so you can choose one that requires little time to install. If you switch from a tub to a shower, you may also see a decrease in your water bills.

If this sounds like a great idea for you, hire a shower installer near you to help you figure out your options and roll forward with the project.

Disadvantages of a Roll-In Shower

While roll-in showers let you break down the walls literally and figuratively, consider the potential downsides. 

One of the biggest cons is cost. Roll-in showers are more expensive than other types due to their design, materials, and customizations. One of the biggest reasons is that they require plumbing modifications, and the floor must slope for proper drainage. 

Roll-in showers also need more space than average shower stalls—at least 60-by-30 inches, but 60-by-60 inches or bigger is better. This is a challenge for smaller bathrooms, where you may need to reconfigure the space (which adds considerable cost) or sacrifice storage or floorspace. 

Because roll-in showers have larger and more intricate drain systems, they can require more maintenance. You’ll also have to pay attention to grout lines and waterproofing seals to keep mildew and mold from forming. And don’t forget the splashing water—without a shower door or curtain, water can get on the bathroom floor, which means more cleaning, potential water damage, and slip hazards.

Some homeowners find that they don’t like the limited privacy that roll-in showers provide if they lack a door, so roll-in showers might not be ideal for shared bathrooms.

How Much Does It Cost to Install a Roll-In Shower?

Walk-in showers cost $700 to $15,000 depending on factors like the size, type, and materials. Most roll-in shower units cost $2,600 to $4,900 without labor. Expect labor to cost $400 to $2,000, although it can be more for custom units.

If you want a fully customized shower, plan for $4,200 to $8,500. While most showers are made of fiberglass or acrylic, you can add luxury to accessibility with options like tile, marble, and cultured granite.

Steam Shower

Besides the traditional shower, consider adding a steam shower. What is a steam shower, exactly? It’s a shower that uses steam instead of running water and is great for relaxation and reducing stress. Steam showers cost about $4,000 to $14,000.

Conversion

Rather than installing a brand-new roll-in shower, you may be thinking about converting a tub to a walk-in shower. This can cost anywhere from $1,200 to $8,000. While advanced DIYers with lots of plumbing and installation experience might try to tackle this project, it’s best left to the pros.

Remodel

While you’re considering installing a roll-in shower or tub conversion, you might have bigger aspirations. Depending on the changes you want, a bathroom remodel costs between $6,700 and $17,700.

So go all out and redo everything for a fresh start or stick to an upgrade like new cabinets or shelving. Start by going through bathroom remodel ideas to conceptualize what your dream bathroom looks like.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro 

While an ambitious DIY enthusiast can install a curbless shower, it’s a significant amount of work, including sealing the floor and other tricky work with the plumbing. While you can save between $400 and $2,000 on labor by installing your own walk-in shower, an improperly installed unit could cause expensive damage to your home. If you’re not confident that you can lay waterproofing material, grade the tile floor, and seal the seams, hire a local shower installer.