Walk-In Shower Cost (2026): Kit, Tub Conversion or Tile, DIY vs Pro

DIY vs pro at a glance

What pros charge for installing a walk-in shower

What moves the price

Method

A prefab acrylic kit in an existing footprint is $2,000–$4,000 installed; a tub-to-shower conversion with acrylic $3,500–$7,000; a custom tiled shower $6,000–$12,000; curbless $9,000–$18,000. One-day acrylic-liner companies quote $4,000–$10,000 for the conversion tier and the price is mostly the sales model.

Plumbing changes

A tub drain sits at one end; a shower drain sits in the middle and has to be 2 inches, not the tub's 1.5. Moving the drain and updating the trap is $400–$1,500 depending on access from below. A new pressure-balance or thermostatic valve is $300–$800 installed and required by code on any new shower.

Demolition and what's behind it

A cast-iron tub is 300 lb and usually cut in place; tile walls come off with the drywall. Rotten subfloor, a leaking old valve, galvanized pipe or mold behind the surround are found at demo on a large share of jobs and add $500–$3,000.

Glass

A framed sliding door is $300–$700; a semi-frameless pivot $700–$1,200; a frameless enclosure $1,200–$2,500 installed, measured after tile and on a two-week lead. Curbless showers often use a single fixed panel.

Tile and features

Ceramic or porcelain at $3–$8 a square foot is the baseline; large-format, marble or mosaics run $10–$30 and take longer to set. Every niche, bench, second shower head or body spray is $300–$1,500 more.

Curbless work

A curbless shower needs the floor recessed (cutting joists or using a sloped tray) or the whole bathroom floor raised, plus a linear drain and waterproofing that extends into the room. It's the most labor of the four and the one that needs a contractor who has done it.

Permits and inspection

A plumbing permit is standard for a tub-to-shower conversion or any drain or valve work, with a rough-in inspection before the walls close; $50–$400. Accessibility conversions may qualify for grants or tax credits in some states.

Common add-ons

What it costs to do it yourself

Prefab kit replacing an existing shower stall: $1,920–$2,470 and 16–24 hours

DIY line items for prefab kit replacing an existing shower stall

Item	Cost	Note
Reciprocating saw rental for demolition	$40 ($40/day)	Rental · cuts a cast-iron tub in place and the old drain; a grinder with a cut-off wheel also works
Oscillating multi-tool	$80	Purchase · flush cuts at studs, drywall, old caulk and grout
Tubing cutter and push-fit or crimp fittings tools	$40	Purchase · push-fit fittings need no tool; PEX crimp or a torch for copper do
Respirator, gloves, safety glasses, knee pads	$35	Purchase
Drill/driver, hole saw and bits	$80	Purchase · most homeowners already own this
4 ft level, tape, square, utility knife, caulk gun	$50	Purchase · most homeowners already own this
Shop vacuum	$60	Purchase · most homeowners already own this
Acrylic base and wall panel kit for an existing stall footprint	$1,100	32×32 to 36×48; match the existing drain position
Framed or semi-frameless glass door	$400	Materials
Subfloor patch, drywall, shims and backing for grab bars	$80	Materials
100% silicone caulk, panel adhesive, plumber's putty	$45	Materials
Disposal	$50–$250	Dump fees, haul-away or bagging
Permit	$50–$400	a plumbing permit with a rough-in inspection is standard for a tub-to-shower conversion or any drain or valve change; a like-for-like kit swap in the same footprint often doesn't need one
Total (own common tools)	$1,920–$2,470	typical $2,195
Total (own nothing)	$2,110–$2,660	buying every tool listed

Tub-to-shower conversion, acrylic base and walls: $2,490–$3,040 and 24–40 hours

DIY line items for tub-to-shower conversion, acrylic base and walls

Item	Cost	Note
Reciprocating saw rental for demolition	$40 ($40/day)	Rental · cuts a cast-iron tub in place and the old drain; a grinder with a cut-off wheel also works
Oscillating multi-tool	$80	Purchase · flush cuts at studs, drywall, old caulk and grout
Tubing cutter and push-fit or crimp fittings tools	$40	Purchase · push-fit fittings need no tool; PEX crimp or a torch for copper do
Respirator, gloves, safety glasses, knee pads	$35	Purchase
Drill/driver, hole saw and bits	$80	Purchase · most homeowners already own this
4 ft level, tape, square, utility knife, caulk gun	$50	Purchase · most homeowners already own this
Shop vacuum	$60	Purchase · most homeowners already own this
Acrylic shower base and 3-wall surround kit, 60×32 in	$1,300	$900–$1,800 for a solid base and direct-to-stud panels; cheap kits flex and crack
Framed or semi-frameless glass door	$400	Materials
Pressure-balance valve, trim and shower head	$280	a kit swap in the same footprint can keep a sound existing valve
2 in drain, trap, PVC and supply fittings	$90	Materials
Subfloor patch, drywall, shims and backing for grab bars	$80	Materials
100% silicone caulk, panel adhesive, plumber's putty	$45	Materials
Disposal	$50–$250	Dump fees, haul-away or bagging
Permit	$50–$400	a plumbing permit with a rough-in inspection is standard for a tub-to-shower conversion or any drain or valve change; a like-for-like kit swap in the same footprint often doesn't need one
Total (own common tools)	$2,490–$3,040	typical $2,765
Total (own nothing)	$2,680–$3,230	buying every tool listed

Custom tiled shower with curb: $3,170–$3,720 and 40–70 hours

DIY line items for custom tiled shower with curb

Item	Cost	Note
Reciprocating saw rental for demolition	$40 ($40/day)	Rental · cuts a cast-iron tub in place and the old drain; a grinder with a cut-off wheel also works
Oscillating multi-tool	$80	Purchase · flush cuts at studs, drywall, old caulk and grout
Wet tile saw rental	$70 ($70/day)	Rental · two days is typical for a full shower
Notched trowels, margin trowel, grout float and sponges	$45	Purchase
Tubing cutter and push-fit or crimp fittings tools	$40	Purchase · push-fit fittings need no tool; PEX crimp or a torch for copper do
Respirator, gloves, safety glasses, knee pads	$35	Purchase
Drill/driver, hole saw and bits	$80	Purchase · most homeowners already own this
4 ft level, tape, square, utility knife, caulk gun	$50	Purchase · most homeowners already own this
Shop vacuum	$60	Purchase · most homeowners already own this
Frameless glass door or panel, measured after tile	$900	Materials
Pressure-balance valve, trim and shower head	$280	a kit swap in the same footprint can keep a sound existing valve
2 in drain, trap, PVC and supply fittings	$90	Materials
Cement board, screws, mesh tape and thinset	$130	Materials
Waterproofing system: sloped pan or liner, membrane, corners, drain kit	$450	a bonded-membrane kit (Schluter-Kerdi, Wedi or similar) with its matched drain; don't mix brands
Tile for walls and floor, about 100 sq ft plus 15%	$550	$4–$6 per sq ft porcelain; mosaic floor tile for the slope
Grout, silicone, tile spacers, edge trim, sealer	$130	Materials
Prefab niche and bench or curb forms	$150	Materials
Subfloor patch, drywall, shims and backing for grab bars	$80	Materials
Disposal	$50–$250	Dump fees, haul-away or bagging
Permit	$50–$400	a plumbing permit with a rough-in inspection is standard for a tub-to-shower conversion or any drain or valve change; a like-for-like kit swap in the same footprint often doesn't need one
Total (own common tools)	$3,170–$3,720	typical $3,445
Total (own nothing)	$3,360–$3,910	buying every tool listed

Curbless tiled shower with linear drain: $3,770–$4,320 and 55–90 hours

DIY line items for curbless tiled shower with linear drain

Item	Cost	Note
Reciprocating saw rental for demolition	$40 ($40/day)	Rental · cuts a cast-iron tub in place and the old drain; a grinder with a cut-off wheel also works
Oscillating multi-tool	$80	Purchase · flush cuts at studs, drywall, old caulk and grout
Wet tile saw rental	$70 ($70/day)	Rental · two days is typical for a full shower
Notched trowels, margin trowel, grout float and sponges	$45	Purchase
Tubing cutter and push-fit or crimp fittings tools	$40	Purchase · push-fit fittings need no tool; PEX crimp or a torch for copper do
Respirator, gloves, safety glasses, knee pads	$35	Purchase
Drill/driver, hole saw and bits	$80	Purchase · most homeowners already own this
4 ft level, tape, square, utility knife, caulk gun	$50	Purchase · most homeowners already own this
Shop vacuum	$60	Purchase · most homeowners already own this
Frameless glass door or panel, measured after tile	$900	Materials
Pressure-balance valve, trim and shower head	$280	a kit swap in the same footprint can keep a sound existing valve
2 in drain, trap, PVC and supply fittings	$90	Materials
Cement board, screws, mesh tape and thinset	$130	Materials
Curbless waterproofing: sloped tray, linear drain, membrane extended into the room	$1,000	Materials
Tile for walls and floor, about 100 sq ft plus 15%	$550	$4–$6 per sq ft porcelain; mosaic floor tile for the slope
Grout, silicone, tile spacers, edge trim, sealer	$130	Materials
Subfloor patch, drywall, shims and backing for grab bars	$80	Materials
Framing lumber to recess the floor or build the slope	$200	Materials
Disposal	$50–$250	Dump fees, haul-away or bagging
Permit	$50–$400	a plumbing permit with a rough-in inspection is standard for a tub-to-shower conversion or any drain or valve change; a like-for-like kit swap in the same footprint often doesn't need one
Total (own common tools)	$3,770–$4,320	typical $4,045
Total (own nothing)	$3,960–$4,510	buying every tool listed

Hidden costs of DIY

Waterproofing is the whole job

A shower fails behind the tile, years later, as a stained ceiling below or a soft floor. Tile and grout are not waterproof; the pan liner or bonded membrane under and behind them is. Follow one system's instructions exactly — pre-slope, membrane, corners, the matched drain, the flood test — or the tile work on top is wasted.

What's behind the tub

Rot in the subfloor at the drain, a leaking valve that's been dripping in the wall for years, galvanized pipe, mold on the studs. It's uncovered on a large share of conversions and can't be known until demo. Budget a day and a few hundred dollars, and be ready for more.

The drain is in the wrong place and the wrong size

A tub drains at one end through a 1.5 in line; a shower needs a 2 in drain, centered for a prefab base or wherever the pan design puts it. Moving it means opening the floor from above or below and rebuilding the trap. On a slab, it's a concrete saw.

The valve is code, not a preference

Every new shower needs a pressure-balance or thermostatic anti-scald valve. That's a new valve in the wall, new supply connections, and an access panel or a valve with front-access service. It's the reason most conversions need a plumbing permit.

Glass comes last and takes two weeks

A frameless door is measured after the tile is grouted and cured, and built to order. A shower can be tiled and unusable for two or three weeks waiting for glass; a framed door from stock is same-week.

The bathroom is out of service

A pro conversion is two to five days; a tile shower a week or two. A DIY tile shower is three to six weekends. If it's the only bathroom, that's a real cost — gym showers, a neighbor, or a hotel week.

Resale

Removing the only tub in a house narrows the buyer pool; families with small children want one somewhere. Convert a second bathroom, or keep one tub, unless accessibility is the reason.

When to DIY and when to hire

Why the method decides the DIY answer

A walk-in shower is four different jobs sharing a name. The cost tables below price each for the same alcove.

A prefab kit in an existing stall is the easiest: same drain, same valve if it’s sound, base and panels glued and screwed to the studs, a door. DIY saves about $605 on a $2,800 install — modest, because the install itself is cheap.

A tub-to-shower conversion is where the saving is worth the weekend: about $2,765 in kit, glass, a pressure-balance valve, drain parts and the permit against $5,000. The difference is that the tub’s drain is at one end and 1.5 inches; a shower’s is centered and 2 inches, so the floor opens and the trap is rebuilt, and a new anti-scald valve goes in the wall. If you can do that plumbing and get it inspected, the rest is the kit’s instructions.

A tiled shower saves about $5,055 and is the one to be honest with yourself about. Tile and grout aren’t waterproof; the pan and the membrane behind them are, and a shower that leaks does it slowly, into the floor and the ceiling below, over years. It’s a fine DIY project for someone who buys one waterproofing system, follows its manual to the letter and flood-tests before tiling — and a bad one for anyone improvising. The DIY guide covers the conversion and the tile pan.

A curbless shower is contractor work. The floor has to be recessed or the room raised, sloped precisely to a linear drain, and waterproofed out into the room; the hire-a-pro page covers what to ask.

How pros price it

By method, then by what the plumbing and the demolition turn up. The lines that move the price most:

• Plumbing — moving the drain $400–$1,500; a new valve $300–$800; more on a slab or over a finished ceiling.
• Demolition — a cast-iron tub is cut in place; rot, a leaking valve or galvanized pipe behind the wall adds $500–$3,000.
• Glass — framed $300–$700; frameless $1,200–$2,500 on a two-week lead.
• Tile — $3–$8 a square foot for porcelain; $10–$30 for stone, large-format or mosaic; each niche or bench $300–$1,500.
• Curbless — the floor work and linear drain, $3,000–$6,000 over a curbed tile shower.
• Permit — $50–$400 with a rough-in inspection.

Before anyone swings a hammer

Three things. Which bathroom — if it’s the only tub in the house, convert a different one or accept the resale trade-off. What’s under and behind — look at the ceiling below and the access panel if there is one; a stain there is a budget line. The schedule — a pro is two to five days for acrylic and a week or two for tile; you’re three to six weekends, during which that bathroom is a construction site.

Run your own numbers. The walk-in shower cost calculator prices it both ways: as DIY, with the tools you already own and a value on your time, or as a pro job at a low, typical or high quote with the add-ons that apply.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a walk-in shower cost?

$2,000 to $18,000 installed, depending almost entirely on the method: a prefab acrylic kit replacing an existing stall is $2,000–$4,000; converting a tub to a shower with an acrylic base and wall panels $3,500–$7,000; a custom tiled shower about 3×5 ft with a curb and frameless door $6,000–$12,000; a curbless tiled shower with a linear drain $9,000–$18,000. Plumbing changes, glass, tile grade, niches and what's found at demolition move each of those by a thousand or more.

How much does it cost to convert a tub to a walk-in shower?

$3,500 to $7,000 with an acrylic base and three-wall surround, typically about $5,000: tub removal, the drain moved to center and upsized to 2 inches, a new pressure-balance valve, base, panels, door and a permit. In tile, $6,000–$12,000. The one-day acrylic-liner companies quote $4,000–$10,000 for the same conversion. Doing it yourself with a good kit is about $2,765 including the permit.

How much does a walk-in shower kit cost?

$700–$1,800 for the base and wall panels — $900–$1,800 for a solid, direct-to-stud kit that won't flex, less for thin fiberglass that will — plus $300–$700 for a framed door, $250–$400 for a pressure-balance valve and trim, and about $100 in drain and supply parts. Installed by a plumber or handyman in an existing footprint, $2,000–$4,000. The kit's price is a small share of a pro's price, which is why the DIY column looks the way it does.

Is a walk-in shower cheaper than a tub?

To install, about the same for prefab and more for tile: an acrylic tub-and-surround is $2,500–$5,000 installed against $3,500–$7,000 for the conversion, because the shower needs a drain moved and a new valve. Where the shower costs less is space and access — it fits a smaller footprint and works for anyone who can't step over a tub wall. For resale, keep one tub in the house; converting the only one narrows the buyer pool.

How much does a tiled walk-in shower cost?

$6,000 to $12,000 for a custom 3×5 ft shower, typically about $8,500: demolition, a sloped waterproofed pan or bonded-membrane system, cement board, tile on the walls and floor, a niche, a curb, a valve and a frameless door. Large-format tile, marble, a bench, a second head or body sprays push it toward $15,000. Materials for the same shower are about $3,445 including tools and permit — the labor is most of the price, which is why it's the biggest DIY saving and the biggest DIY risk.

How much does a curbless shower cost?

$9,000 to $18,000, typically about $12,000. The floor inside the shower has to sit below the bathroom floor — by recessing it between the joists, using a sloped tray, or raising the rest of the room — and slope to a linear drain, with waterproofing that runs out into the room. It's the accessible spec (wheelchairs, walkers, aging in place) and the one most likely to leak if it's done by someone who hasn't done it. It isn't a DIY project.

How much does a walk-in shower cost for seniors?

A low-threshold acrylic conversion with grab bars, a fold-down seat and a handheld shower is $4,000–$8,000 installed; a curbless tiled shower built for a wheelchair is $9,000–$18,000. Medicare doesn't pay for bathroom modifications; some Medicare Advantage plans, Medicaid waivers, VA grants (HISA, SAH) and state aging-in-place programs do, and a few states offer tax credits. Ask the contractor for an ADA-experienced installer and blocking in the walls for grab bars whether or not you fit them now.

How much does a walk-in shower door cost?

$300–$700 for a framed sliding or pivot door from stock; $700–$1,200 for semi-frameless; $1,200–$2,500 installed for a frameless enclosure, which is measured after the tile is grouted and built to order on a one- to three-week lead. Curbless and doorless designs use a single fixed panel at $500–$1,200, or a half wall and no glass at all.

Do I need a permit for a walk-in shower?

For a tub-to-shower conversion or anything that moves a drain or installs a new valve, almost everywhere — a plumbing permit with a rough-in inspection before the walls close, $50–$400. A like-for-like kit swap in the same footprint with the same drain and valve often doesn't need one. The permit also documents the anti-scald valve code requires, which an inspector at resale will look for.

Sources

1. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152), Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics , U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026-04
2. How Much Does a Walk-In Shower Cost? , HomeGuide, 2026-09
3. How Much Does a Walk-In Shower Cost? , Angi, 2026-09
4. How Much Does a Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost? , Angi, 2026-09
5. How Much Does a Tub to Shower Conversion Cost? , HomeAdvisor, 2026-09
6. TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation , Tile Council of North America, 2026-09
7. International Residential Code, Chapter 27: Plumbing Fixtures (P2708 Showers) , International Code Council, 2026-09
8. Shower kits, bases, valves, waterproofing and tile pricing , The Home Depot, 2026-09

Figures last reviewed 2026-09-19. See how we estimate.