Walk-In Shower Cost Calculator: Kit, Conversion, Tile or Curbless
Kit, tub conversion, tiled or curbless: DIY from $1,920, a bath contractor from $2,000.
- Pick the method, not a size: the four options are the same 60×32 alcove built four ways, and the method sets both the price and whether DIY is realistic.
- On the DIY tab the reciprocating saw and (for tile) the wet saw are rentals; the valve and drain parts appear on every method except the kit swap, which can keep a sound valve.
- On the Hire a pro tab, tick the demo-repair line on any tub conversion — it's found on a large share of jobs — and the frameless glass upgrade if that's what you're picturing.
- The tile and curbless savings are the largest on the site for a bathroom, and the curbless one is not one to take: it's priced for honesty, not as a recommendation.
Calculate cost
| Tools to buy or rent | $195 |
|---|---|
| Materials | $2,195 |
| Disposal | $150 |
| Permit | $225 |
| DIY cash cost | $2,765 |
| Your time (32 h × $25) | $800 |
| DIY all-in | $3,565 |
DIY saves about $1,435 after valuing your time ($2,235 in cash).
National estimates for planning. Doesn't include the risk-side costs described on the comparison page.
Typical results by job size
Defaults the calculator starts from: commonly owned tools excluded, typical pro price, no add-ons.
| Size | Verdict | DIY | Pro | Your hours | Typical savings | Break-even |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prefab kit replacing an existing shower stall | DIY | $1,920–$2,470 | $2,000–$4,000 | 16–24 hours | $605 (22%) | $30/hour |
| Tub-to-shower conversion, acrylic base and walls | DIY | $2,490–$3,040 | $3,500–$7,000 | 24–40 hours | $2,235 (45%) | $70/hour |
| Custom tiled shower with curb | Hire | $3,170–$3,720 | $6,000–$12,000 | 40–70 hours | $5,055 (59%) | $92/hour |
| Curbless tiled shower with linear drain | Hire | $3,770–$4,320 | $9,000–$18,000 | 55–90 hours | $7,955 (66%) | $110/hour |
Break-even is what an hour of your time would have to be worth for DIY and hiring to cost the same. Above it, hiring is cheaper all-in. See how these are calculated.
Reading the result
The method you pick applies to both tabs.
Do it yourself totals the materials for that method — an acrylic kit and door, or the waterproofing system, cement board, tile, grout and a frameless door — plus the pressure-balance valve and 2 in drain parts on every method except the kit swap, subfloor and blocking materials, silicone and adhesive, the reciprocating saw rental for demolition, the wet saw and trowels for tile, safety gear, disposal of the old tub or tile, the plumbing permit, and your hours at the rate you set: 16–24 for a kit, 24–40 for a conversion, 40–70 for tile, 55–90 for curbless.
Hire a pro starts from a low, typical or high installed price for that method, then adds what a base quote often leaves out: a frameless glass enclosure, a niche or bench, relocating the drain or valve where it’s not already included, a thermostatic valve with rain head and handheld, the accessibility package, subfloor or wall repair found at demolition, an exhaust fan, and the permit. Tick what applies and compare.
What neither tab includes: the leak. A shower that fails does it slowly, behind the tile, years later, and the repair is the shower plus the floor plus the ceiling below. The cost comparison is about which methods that risk is reasonable to take on yourself, and the DIY guide covers the acrylic conversion and the tile pan where it is.
Frequently asked questions
Which method should I pick in the calculator?
Prefab kit if you have a shower stall already and are replacing it in the same footprint. Tub-to-shower if a bathtub is coming out and an acrylic base and walls are going in — the most common conversion. Custom tile if you want a tiled shower with a curb and a frameless door. Curbless if the floor will be flush with the bathroom for accessibility or the look. If you'd tile a tub conversion, use the custom tile option; the plumbing is the same and the tile work sets the price.
Why is the DIY figure for the kit option so close to hiring?
Because a kit swap in an existing stall is cheap to have done — $2,000–$4,000 — and the kit, door and permit are most of that price whoever installs it. The saving is about $605 for 16–24 hours. The tub conversion is where DIY pulls ahead, because a pro's price includes moving the drain and setting a valve, which is labor you can supply if you can do basic plumbing.
What do the quote levels mean for a walk-in shower?
Low is an easy alcove with access from below, stock materials, a framed door, in an inexpensive market. Typical is the national median for that method with a solid kit or standard porcelain tile, a new valve, the permit and a semi-frameless door. High is a slab or upper floor with a finished ceiling below, premium tile or a one-day liner company's price, a frameless enclosure, or a coastal metro. Niches, benches, accessibility hardware, demo repairs and the permit are add-ons on any level.
Sources
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152), Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics , U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026-04
- How Much Does a Walk-In Shower Cost? , HomeGuide, 2026-09
- How Much Does a Walk-In Shower Cost? , Angi, 2026-09
- How Much Does a Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost? , Angi, 2026-09
- How Much Does a Tub to Shower Conversion Cost? , HomeAdvisor, 2026-09
- TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation , Tile Council of North America, 2026-09
- International Residential Code, Chapter 27: Plumbing Fixtures (P2708 Showers) , International Code Council, 2026-09
- Shower kits, bases, valves, waterproofing and tile pricing , The Home Depot, 2026-09
Figures last reviewed . See how we estimate.