$1,000 – $20,000That is the typical walk-in shower cost in 2026, installed. A prefabricated shower kit starts around $1,000, while a custom tiled shower runs from about $3,000 to $20,000 or more. Most projects land between $5,000 and $12,000; where yours falls depends mostly on prefab versus custom tile, then on size, the glass and how much plumbing has to move.
A walk-in shower is a shower without a tub, entered through a wide opening or behind a glass screen or door. It can be a prefab unit set into an alcove or a custom tiled build, and it can be curbless, with the floor flush with the bathroom floor (Fixr). Many are built to replace an old bathtub, often so the bathroom stays safe to use with age. Below are the costs by type and size from three published cost guides, the extras that show up on the quote, and what federal health agencies recommend for a safer shower.
Walk-in shower cost by type
| Shower type | HomeGuide | Fixr | This Old House |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prefab shower kit, installed | $1,000 – $8,000 | $2,000 – $8,000 | $4,000 – $7,000 |
| Custom tiled walk-in shower | $3,000 – $20,000+ | $5,000 – $20,000 | $8,000 – $13,000 (midrange); $14,000 – $20,000+ (high end) |
| Barrier-free / curbless shower | $3,000 – $6,000+ | $6,000 average | — |
| Tub-to-shower conversion | $2,000 – $12,000 | $8,000 average | — |
| Typical project, all types | — | $5,000 – $11,000 (average $8,000) | $4,000 – $20,000 (average $12,000) |
The three guides agree on the order of the prices but not on the level. HomeGuide starts lowest, at about $1,000 for a basic prefab stall. This Old House, which bases its figures on Homewyse cost data and a 2026 survey of 1,000 homeowners, puts the average project at $12,000, and says most surveyed homeowners who installed a walk-in shower spent $10,000 to $20,000 (This Old House). Fixr sits in between, with an $8,000 average and a low end of $3,000 (Fixr). In the same survey, 38% said they paid more than they expected.
Our estimate: the $1,000 – $20,000 range at the top of this page runs from the lowest prefab price in any of the three guides (HomeGuide, $1,000) to the top of the custom range that all three reach (about $20,000). The $5,000 – $12,000 “most projects” band spans Fixr’s typical range and This Old House’s average. We combined published figures; we did not measure these prices ourselves.
Labor makes up 40% to 60% of the total, or around $2,000 for a prefab installation and $4,800 on average for a custom one, according to Fixr. HomeGuide puts labor at $500 to $2,000 or more for most shower installations, rising with custom tile and waterproofing work (HomeGuide).
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Walk-in shower cost by size
| Shower size | Prefab, installed | Custom tile, installed |
|---|---|---|
| 32 x 32 in (HomeGuide) | $1,000 – $3,000 | $3,000 – $5,000 |
| 36 x 36 in (HomeGuide) | $1,500 – $4,000 | $4,000 – $8,000 |
| 36 x 36 in (Fixr) | $2,700 | $5,400 |
| 48 x 36 in (HomeGuide) | $2,500 – $6,000 | $6,000 – $12,000 |
| 36 x 48 in (Fixr) | $3,600 | $7,200 |
| 36 x 60 in (Fixr) | $4,500 | $9,000 |
| 60 x 40 in (HomeGuide) | $4,000 – $8,000 | $8,000 – $20,000+ |
| 60 x 60 in (Fixr) | $7,500 | $15,000 |
Fixr works its size figures out at about $300 per square foot of shower floor for a prefab shower and about $600 for a custom one. It gives 60 by 36 inches as the standard alcove size and 36 by 36 inches as the smallest recommended (Fixr).
Prefab shower kit cost by material
Prefab walk-in showers are made of acrylic, fiberglass or composite stone, also called solid surface. HomeGuide notes that acrylic usually costs more than fiberglass but is more durable and resists damage better (HomeGuide). Fixr’s installed ranges by surround material:
| Shower surround material | Installed cost |
|---|---|
| Acrylic | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| Composite stone | $2,000 – $6,000 |
| Solid surface | $2,000 – $8,000 |
| Fiberglass | $4,000 – $8,000 |
| Glass tile | $5,000 – $12,000 |
| Ceramic tile | $6,000 – $12,000 |
| Porcelain tile | $7,000 – $14,000 |
| Natural stone | $6,000 – $20,000 |
Stall kits bought on their own range from $350 for a small corner unit to $4,100 for a barrier-free model, and most do not include doors or fixtures (HomeGuide).
| Stall shape | Stall only |
|---|---|
| Alcove / rectangular | $500 – $2,300 |
| Square / corner | $350 – $1,400 |
| Neo-angle | $450 – $1,200 |
| Curved / rounded | $500 – $1,300 |
| Barrier-free / curbless | $2,000 – $4,100 |
Custom tile shower cost
A custom shower is built on site with backer board, a waterproofing membrane, tile and often a mortar bed, which is why it takes more labor than a prefab unit (This Old House). These are the installed prices for its main parts.
| Component | Installed cost |
|---|---|
| Ceramic or porcelain tile | $12 – $30 per sq ft |
| Natural stone tile | $20 – $50 per sq ft |
| Prefabricated shower pan | $800 – $1,500 |
| Custom tile shower pan | $1,200 – $3,000 |
| Backer board and waterproofing system | $800 – $1,500 |
| Shower valve and trim kit | $500 – $1,200 |
Tile itself costs from about $2 to $25 per square foot before installation, according to HomeGuide; the rest of the installed price is labor, setting materials and waterproofing.
Our estimate: a 60 by 36 inch alcove shower tiled on three walls to 8 feet high has about 88 square feet of wall (5 + 3 + 3 feet of wall length × 8 feet). At This Old House’s $12 to $30 per square foot for installed ceramic or porcelain tile, that is roughly $1,060 to $2,640 for the walls alone, before the pan, glass, valve and waterproofing. This is our calculation, not a measured figure.
Tile work is skilled labor. The median pay for flooring installers and tile and stone setters was $26.15 an hour, or $54,390 a year, in May 2025 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). That is what the worker earns, not what a contractor bills, which also covers overhead, insurance and profit.
Tub-to-shower conversion cost
Replacing a bathtub with a shower costs $2,000 to $12,000 on average, with a national average of $7,000, based on 81 project costs reported to HomeGuide (HomeGuide). Fixr puts the average conversion at $8,000 (Fixr). The conversion usually means replacing the 1½-inch tub drain line with a 2-inch shower drain, and most building codes require the shower floor to be at least 30 by 30 inches (HomeGuide).
| Line item | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Remove bathtub and debris | $70 – $800 |
| Cleanup and repairs | $100 – $1,000 |
| Prefab shower stall | $500 – $1,500 |
| Custom shower tiling | $800 – $3,000 |
| Shower pan (custom tile only) | $500 – $3,500 |
| Glass shower door | $400 – $1,900 |
| New faucets and fixtures | $40 – $500 |
| Shower valve replacement | $225 – $575 |
| Shelf, niche or bench | $200 – $500 |
| Grab bars / handrails | $25 – $370 |
| Plumbing | $500 – $1,100 |
| Permits | $30 – $400 |
A large garden tub costs $400 to $800 just to remove and haul away. If you only need an easier way in, a tub cut, which removes part of the tub’s front wall to leave a low threshold, costs $800 to $1,800 and is a cheaper alternative to a full conversion (HomeGuide).
Glass doors and shower screens
| Glass option | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Framed glass door, installed | $500 – $1,200 | This Old House |
| Frameless glass enclosure, installed | $1,000 – $3,000+ | This Old House |
| Shower door, framed or frameless | $400 – $1,900 | HomeGuide |
| Shower screen | $400 – $700 | Fixr |
| Frameless door (material only) | $900 – $2,300 | Fixr |
| Full enclosure (material only) | $1,800 – $5,000 | Fixr |
Many walk-in showers skip the door and use a fixed screen, or even a curtain, which is where Fixr says a tight budget can save the most on glass (Fixr).
Plumbing, waterproofing and demolition
These are the lines that turn a mid-range quote into a high one. Keeping the drain and supply lines where they are is the first saving This Old House recommends (This Old House).
| Work | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New plumbing | $450 – $1,800 per fixture | HomeGuide |
| Moving drain and supply lines | adds $200 – $500 to labor | Fixr |
| Backer board and waterproofing system | $800 – $1,500 | This Old House |
| Shower pan | $500 – $3,500 | HomeGuide |
| Shower valve replacement | $225 – $575 | HomeGuide (tub conversion) |
| Remove bathtub and debris | $70 – $800 | HomeGuide (tub conversion) |
| Building permit | $100 – $500 | Fixr |
| Building permit | $50 – $2,000 | HomeGuide |
Plumbers charge $45 to $200 an hour and electricians $50 to $130 or more, and most shower installations need a permit, especially when plumbing or electrical lines move (HomeGuide). This Old House warns that mistakes in slope, sealing or plumbing connections can lead to mold, subfloor rot and expensive structural repairs, and that older homes are more likely to need plumbing, electrical or structural work (This Old House).
Curbless showers, grab bars and aging in place
Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older, and over 14 million older adults, about 1 in 4, report falling every year (CDC). The National Institute on Aging recommends mounting grab bars on both the inside and outside of your tub and shower, and putting nonskid mats or strips on any surface that may get wet (National Institute on Aging).
A curbless (zero-threshold) shower has a floor level with the bathroom floor, so there is no step to cross and a wheelchair can roll in. It needs the floor sloped toward the drain and extra waterproofing (HomeGuide). Fixr says going curbless does not usually add much to the cost, while This Old House says the subfloor work typically pushes the project into a higher price tier (Fixr; This Old House). These are the features most accessible walk-in showers add.
| Feature | HomeGuide | Fixr |
|---|---|---|
| Grab bar, each | $100 – $350+ | $85 – $300 |
| Built-in bench | $250 – $1,000 (bench or shelving) | $100 – $500 |
| Recessed niche, each | — | $100 – $400 |
| Built-in shelf, each | — | $75 – $300 |
| Slip-resistant floor | — | $200 – $1,000 |
| Barrier-free shower, installed | $3,000 – $6,000+ | $6,000 average |
| Curbless stall kit (stall only) | $2,000 – $4,100 | — |
Grab bars are cheap next to everything else on the quote. Fixr notes that some programs may help pay for converting a tub into an accessible shower for older or mobility-limited users, and suggests asking your local municipality (Fixr). The CDC also points to its STEADI program for screening fall risk and addressing risk factors such as poor strength and balance or medicines that raise the risk of falling (CDC), so a remodel for an older family member is a good time to raise fall risk with their doctor too.
How to keep the bill down
- Choose a prefab kit if a standard size fits. All three guides put it well below a custom tile shower.
- Keep the drain and valve where they are, ideally inside the old tub footprint (This Old House).
- Pick midrange finishes: ceramic or porcelain tile, framed glass and a standard valve trim cost less than stone, heavy frameless glass or premium fixtures (This Old House).
- Use a fixed screen or a curtain instead of a frameless door if the layout allows it.
- If the only goal is an easier entry, price a tub cut before a full conversion.
- Finalize the design before demolition, and get several written estimates for the same materials so the totals compare like with like.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Does the estimate include demolition, disposal and the permit?
- How will you waterproof the shower?
- Does the drain line or the valve need to change?
- Will you manage the plumber and electrician, or do I hire them separately?
- Is the shower wide enough for a wheelchair, and what other accessibility options are there?
- Are you licensed and insured, and what warranty covers your work?
- How long will the installation take, and how soon can I use the shower afterward?
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Older Adult Falls Data, September 4, 2026.
- National Institute on Aging, Preventing Falls at Home: Room by Room, content reviewed September 12, 2022.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Flooring Installers and Tile and Stone Setters, pay data for May 2025.
- This Old House, How Much Does a Walk-In Shower Cost? (2026 Guide), updated March 12, 2026.
- HomeGuide, Shower Installation Cost, October 7, 2025.
- HomeGuide, Tub to Shower Conversion Cost, July 30, 2025.
- Fixr, How Much Does It Cost to Install a Walk-In Shower?, updated March 4, 2025.
