Few things can upgrade your home like installing a walk-in shower, but this bathroom trend is an expensive one, costing as much as $30,000. Prices vary depending on your current tub and shower setup, the size and type of walk-in shower you want, and whether you choose one with custom tile or a more affordable prefab unit.
Here’s how much it will cost to upgrade your home’s walk-in shower.
Important points:
- The average cost to install a walk-in shower is $18,000, but most projects range in cost from $6,000 to $30,000.
- Prefab units are the most affordable option, while custom tile showers using premium materials are the most expensive.
- Depending on the type and complexity of the shower, labor costs typically account for 50% to 65% of the total cost of the project.
The average cost of a walk-in shower is $6,000 to $30,000
The average cost to install a walk-in shower is $18,000, with most projects totaling between $6,000 and $30,000.
This price range covers a standard-sized walk-in shower that replaces a typical bathtub, measuring 60 inches long and 30 to 32 inches wide. It also applies to custom tilework walk-in showers using ceramic or porcelain tiles. Prefabricated (prefabricated) walk-in showers are much more affordable, while high-end tiles made from granite or marble can push the price even higher.
“These costs include all work associated with this, including demos, plumbing, drywall and trim work for new shower stalls and tiled showers,” said Brandon Perry, president and CEO of The Fortress Projects, a custom home construction and remodeling company based in River Falls, Wis.
Fees by type of walk-in shower
There are three main types of walk-in showers: prefabricated walk-in showers, standard walk-in showers with custom enclosures, and high-end walk-in showers.
| walk-in shower type | average cost | Typical cost range |
| prefab shower | $9,000 | $6,000 to $12,000 |
| midrange custom shower | $14,000 | $12,000-$16,000 |
| high end custom shower | $23,000 | $16,000-$30,000 |
prefab walk-in shower
Prefabricated walk-in showers include a one- or two-piece shell, usually made of acrylic or fiberglass. Contractors will remove the existing tub and shower surrounds, install prefabricated shells, and then seal and connect the plumbing. These are the most affordable, costing between $6,000 and $12,000, but they are not as desirable as other options and add minimal value to your home.
mid-range custom walk-in shower
The custom walk-in shower uses thinset tiles and tiles on the walls and floor of the shower space. Labor is much more complex, as the contractor must remove the old shower surround and tub, waterproof the area, and then complete the custom tile work. Mid-range custom walk-in showers use more affordable materials, such as ceramic or porcelain tile. These installations cost between $12,000 and $16,000.
high end custom walk-in shower
High-end custom walk-in showers also utilize custom tilework, but may feature premium materials such as granite or marble tiles or slabs, or more intricate tilework or patterns. They also tend to come with more features, such as rain shower heads and steam shower heads.
“Smaller and more complex tiles mean higher labor costs and longer times to install the tiles,” said Jonathan Clem, founder and CEO of Quality Builders, a Chicago-based home improvement company. “The more expensive the tile, the more expensive the material costs.”
All of these factors contribute to higher material and labor costs, totaling between $16,000 and $30,000.
Labor costs for installing a walk-in shower
According to Perry and Clem, labor costs for walk-in showers vary widely depending on the type of shower desired, but labor costs account for 50% to 65% of the total.
“For prefabricated (walk-in showers), if you’re working directly with a subcontractor, it’s going to cost you 50 percent more labor and 50 percent more materials,” Klemm said. This results in average labor costs of $3,000 to $6,000. “(a) custom tiled shower is much more labor-intensive, so it costs 65% more labor.” That would bring the total labor cost to between $7,800 and $19,500.
These prices vary widely depending on where you live, the local cost of living, and the availability of materials. You can get a breakdown of the cost of your walk-in shower by having a contractor come in and provide you with a formal quote.
Factors Affecting Walk-in Shower Labor Costs
There are many factors that affect the labor cost of installing a walk-in shower. So, to get a better idea of how much your project will cost, consider all of the following:
- Geographic location: Labor costs are proportional to the local cost of living, so if you live in a metropolitan area or a state with a higher-than-average cost of living, such as Hawaii, Massachusetts, California, or New York, your labor costs may be higher.
- Location in your home: Installing a walk-in shower in an easily accessible first-floor bathroom may cost less in labor than installing it in an upstairs or more difficult-to-reach bathroom. This is especially true if the contractor needs to maneuver the integrated prefabricated shower surround through a narrow hallway or doorway.
- Shower size: Most of the labor cost for a tiled walk-in shower is spent on the tile work, so labor costs go up for larger shower spaces that require more tiling.
- Tile size: Similarly, tilework that includes small tiles will take longer and add up to a higher total. A common exception is when you choose a tile sheet that looks like individual small tiles, but can be installed in sections like larger tiles.
- Walk-in shower type: Prefabricated walk-in showers have the lowest labor costs, as they do not require tiling of the floor or walls of the area.
- Existing setup: The shower or tub currently installed in your bathroom will determine how much work your professional will need to do before installation. Removing old tiles is more involved than pulling out a one-piece shower surround.
Walk-in shower size pricing
Regardless of the type of walk-in shower you install, size plays an important role in determining the cost of your project. Most professionals charge by the square foot for custom tile work, but even with prefabricated walk-in showers, the more square footage you add to the shower, the more you’ll pay for materials.
In a prefabricated shower environment, material costs can be significantly higher if there is a non-standard shower area that requires custom fabrication.
Use the table below to get a rough idea of costs based on square footage, but keep in mind that ceiling heights and custom dimensions can cause costs to be higher than these averages. “For bathroom shower remodels, square footage cost is not (always) accurate because there are so many factors that contribute to cost,” says Perry.
| Walk-in shower size (inches) | Prefab cost range | custom cost range |
| 30×30 | $1,875–$2,500 | $3,750 – $5,000 |
| 36×36 (typical stall) | $2,700 – $3,600 | $5,400 – $7,200 |
| 36×48 | $3,600 – $4,800 | $7,200 – $9,600 |
| 30×60 | $3,750 – $5,000 | $7,500 – $10,000 |
| 32×60 (tub/shower combo) | $4,000-$5,300 | $8,000 – $10,600 |
| 42×72 | $6,300–$8,400 | $12,600–$16,800 |
| 60×60 | $7,500 – $10,000+ | $15,000 – $20,000+ |
Price comparison between walk-in shower and bathtub
Walk-in showers tend to be one of the most expensive options when replacing a standard bathtub, so if you’re on a budget, you may want to replace your bathtub instead of upgrading to a walk-in shower.
However, according to our experts, replacing a bathtub, tiled shower surround, and glass door costs about the same as replacing a bathtub and shower combination with a walk-in shower. If you are just replacing the bathtub, it will be much cheaper, but you may need to do some tiling work to repair the walls around the bathtub after installation.
Additional costs to consider
There are several other factors that can affect the cost of installing a walk-in shower. Ask your bathroom renovator about these additional costs.
- Piping changes: Depending on your current setup and project goals, you may need to hire a professional to modify your plumbing system to accommodate your new walk-in shower. This can add hundreds of dollars to your total, and potentially more if you reposition the shower in your bathroom.
- Electrical considerations: Adding a steam shower or on-demand water heater to your new walk-in shower may require changes to your electrical system, such as upgrading to 200 amp service or installing a new subpanel. All of these significantly increase material and labor costs.
- permission: Permits are usually required to change bathroom equipment. Permit fees vary depending on your area and the fee schedule used by your local building department, but you can expect the average permit fee to be between $150 and $300. In some cases, you may need a permit even if you haven’t made any changes to your plumbing or electrical system.
- Hardware and supplies: Be sure to factor in the cost of hardware and fixtures such as towel rails, grab bars, door handles, and shower heads. Higher quality materials will result in a higher total price than builder quality items.
- Enclosure options: Although you need at least a shower curtain to keep the water in while bathing, many homeowners install glass doors or enclosures in their walk-in showers. Frameless shower enclosures tend to have a higher total cost than framed glass walls and doors, but they tend to look the best.
- Other add-on features: Consider the cost of other additional features, such as a minimalist design or a curbless design for maximum accessibility, a built-in bench, permanent shelving, and a shower niche.
How to save money on walk-in showers
Walk-in showers can cost up to $30,000 or more, making them an expensive (but well-worth it) upgrade. To enjoy the benefits of a walk-in shower while keeping costs as low as possible, you can use the following tips.
- Consider a prefabricated walk-in shower. Prefabricated walk-in showers aren’t as luxurious, but they can reduce installation costs by $6,000 to $18,000.
- Choose a mid-range material: High-end materials such as marble or granite tiles or slabs, thermostatic shower fixtures, and frameless glass enclosures can add thousands of dollars to installation costs. Save money by choosing mid-priced materials, such as ceramic or porcelain tile and standard fixtures and hardware.
- Install only what you need. The cost of a walk-in shower increases with the size of the shower, so limit your project to only what you need. Alternatively, you may consider choosing a stall shower that offers similar functionality at a fraction of the cost.
- Choose a simple enclosure. You can save money by choosing a simple shower curtain instead of a glass shower curtain. If you use glass, choose framed glass instead of frameless to save on material and labor costs.
- Minimize changes to layout and utilities. Moving plumbing and waterproofing areas within the bathroom will significantly increase installation costs. If possible, install your walk-in shower in an area where plumbing for the bathtub is already installed.
Are walk-in showers worth paying for?
According to data from Zillow, mid-priced bathroom remodels yield an average return of about 80%. This means you’re unlikely to get all your money back on a walk-in shower installation. If you replace your only bathtub with a walk-in shower, your return on investment (ROI) may not be as great.
However, walk-in showers feel more luxurious than a standard tub and shower combination, so they’re more enjoyable and may be worth the investment if you don’t plan on selling in the near future.
FAQ
How much does it cost to install a walk-in shower?
The average cost to install a walk-in shower is $18,000 for professional installation. A small walk-in shower can cost as little as $2,000, while a large, custom-built luxury walk-in shower can cost as much as $30,000.
What is the cheapest walk-in shower option?
The least expensive walk-in shower option is a prefabricated walk-in shower that fits perfectly into the space where your current bathtub is located. They do not require expensive tile work and rarely require plumbing changes. However, keep in mind that prefabricated walk-in showers are usually less desirable and do little to increase the value of your home.
Do walk-in showers increase the value of your home?
Unless you’re replacing the only bathtub in your home, a walk-in shower usually increases the value of your home. Installing a new walk-in shower as part of a mid-range bathroom remodel can deliver an average return on investment of 80%.
