Bathroom cabinet costs can easily skyrocket. Take a look at these important cost factors and considerations to help you stay within your budget.
How Much Does a Steam Shower Cost? [2025 Data]
Normal Range: $2,800 - $7,100
The average cost to install a steam shower ranges from $2,800 to $7,100, with a national average of $4,300. Budget more for custom designs and luxury models.
How we get this data
Photo: Neil / Adobe Stock
Photo: Neil / Adobe Stock
Cost Insights
The type of steam shower you install is the most significant cost factor. A high-end steam shower with a jetted tub can be twice as expensive as a basic steam shower stall.
Custom steam showers with tile or stone flooring and surrounds can easily cost twice as much as a prefabricated shower fitted with steam.
If you don’t already have a bathroom exhaust fan, you’ll need one with a steam shower, so be sure to consider this added cost.
Steam showers are more expensive to run than standard showers, so factor in running costs for long-term budgeting.
For most homeowners, installing a steam shower costs $2,800 to $7,100—but you could pay up to $25,000 for a custom design. The average cost of installing a new steam shower is $4,300. If you’re tight on space in your house but still want the sweet sweat that comes from a sauna, a steam shower might be the upgrade you never knew you couldn’t live without. This guide can help you plan your budget.
What Is a Steam Shower?
A steam shower uses valves and a steam generator to pump steam into your shower stall, creating a luxurious spa-like steam room at home. Activating the digital controls will trigger the steam generator to fill with cold water, which gets heated to a boil and projects steam out of the valves. These come as hybrids with your regular shower, so they don’t require the use of any extra space.
Steam Shower Cost Breakdown
Photo: irina88w / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
If you can’t budget for the cost of a complete bathroom remodel, a steam-shower is one place you might want to splurge. The overall price tag can vary dramatically based on the materials you use and the size of the shower. Here’s how the costs break down.
Steam Shower Type
There are two main types of steam showers—prefabricated or custom. Prefab steam showers cost significantly less than custom showers. The price tag still depends on the model. Bare-bones, walk-in showers cost less than combination models with upgraded features like jetted tubs or saunas.
Prefab Steam Shower
Most prefab steam showers cost somewhere between $2,800 and $7,100 to install—but it depends on the features. For a luxury model with a jetted tub, you could pay as much as $10,000.
| Prefab Shower Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Basic steam shower | $2,800–$6,200 |
| Steam shower with tub | $4,000–$7,000 |
| Steam shower with sauna | $4,800–$7,800 |
| Steam shower with jetted shower | $5,000–$10,000 |
| Steam shower with jetted tub | $5,000–$10,000 |
Custom Steam Shower
Most custom steam showers cost between $4,000 and $14,000, but you could spend up to $25,000. Again, it depends on the design. Intricate tiling can significantly drive up costs along with features like luxury custom tubs and saunas.
| Custom Shower Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Basic steam shower | $4,000–$10,000 |
| Steam shower with tub | $6,000–$12,000 |
| Steam shower with sauna | $10,000–$15,000 |
| Steam shower with jetted shower | $10,000–$20,000 |
| Steam shower with jetted tub | $15,000–$25,000 |
Size
On average, you can expect to spend around $70 per square foot on a steam shower. The size of the shower will impact the overall cost of the installation because larger showers require more materials and labor.
That said, standard-sized showers typically cost less than showers with unusual or custom shapes because you can purchase budget-friendly prefabricated options. Standard shower sizes include:
Small Stall: 32-by-32 inches
Large Stall: 36-by-36 inches
ADA Standard: 36-by-36 inches
Small Shower-Tub Combo: 60-by-30 inches
Large Shower-Tub Combo: 60-by-36 inches
Material
There are a bunch of different materials you can choose to build your steam shower surround. Some materials are more affordable (like acrylic or fiberglass) and others are more high-end (like glass tile or solid surface walls). Keep in mind that prefab showers have a limited selection of possible materials. Custom showers have more variety and allow homeowners to create a shower that suits any bathroom remodel design.
Prefab
If you’re installing a prefab steam shower, you can choose from acrylic, fiberglass, or solid surface (which is often called Corian or Swanstone, even though they’re brand names). Typical costs per unit are as follows:
Acrylic: $2,300–$5,000
Fiberglass: $2,500–$5,000
Solid surface: $3,000–$6,500
Custom
Custom showers are priced by the square foot. There’s a range of options—including basic or luxury tiles, porcelain or stone slabs, and solid surface walls. You can even mix materials. Keep in mind that tiling a shower is a laborious process, so it does raise your labor costs.
Ceramic tile: $1–$40 per sq. ft.
Porcelain tile: $3–$40 per sq. ft.
Stone tile: $5–$100 per sq. ft.
Glass tile: $10–$100 per sq. ft.
Porcelain slab: $14–$16 per sq. ft.
Solid surface walls: $15–$65 per sq. ft.
Stone slab: $40–$400 per sq. ft.
Steam Shower Contractor Cost
A steam shower contractor or shower installer’s guidance is highly valuable when starting a steam shower project. They can hire the other professionals needed for the job, including a plumber and electrician. Labor costs vary by location and with the complexity of the project. Labor to install a prefabricated steam shower costs $500 to $600, but it costs $1,000 to $6,000 for a custom-built unit.
When you hire a professional contractor, you can have peace of mind that your steam shower will be installed correctly and efficiently and is covered by warranties.
Additional Pros to Consider Hiring
As mentioned above, you will need a licensed plumber and electrician for this project. If you’re building a custom steam shower, you’ll also need pros to install the tile and shower door.
Plumber: A plumber will integrate your steam shower with your home’s plumbing system for $45–$200 per hour.
Electrician: For proper installation of the steam generator and other components, you’ll need an electrician. These pros cost $50–$100 per hour.
Tile installer: From subway tile to herringbone patterns, your tile installer will make sure your steam shower looks beautiful while sloping surfaces to direct water to the shower drain. These pros charge $3–$15 per square foot.
Shower door installer: You’ll need a door to keep the steam in. For a new shower door installation, these pros charge $60 per hour.
Additional Steam Shower Costs to Consider
Converting an Existing Shower vs. New Steam Shower
If you already have a shower that you want to convert into a steam shower, you’ll need to install the unit and steam generator. On average, expect to spend $4,300, including parts and labor.
Tub-to-Shower Conversion
Another popular option is converting a tub into a walk-in steam shower. Expect to spend around $150 to $300 to remove and dispose of your old tub on top of the cost of your steam shower installation. The total price depends on your tub-to-shower conversion design, but prefab materials like acrylic or fiberglass tend to be the most affordable.
Steam Shower vs. Steam Room
Steam rooms can be slightly more affordable than steam showers. You can convert an existing shower into a steam room for around $2,600. In general, expect the cost of a steam room to fall somewhere between $22 and $65 per square foot, though custom rooms can cost as much as $130 per square foot.
Steam Generator
Steam showers require a steam generator unit. This typically costs $600 to $2,500, though you can save a bit of money by purchasing the generator as part of a package that includes the control panel, steam heads, and release valves. The more powerful the generator, the higher the cost. Labor to install the generator is an additional cost.
Door and Wall Installation
In addition to the surround, your contractor may also have to install shower doors and walls. Expect to spend $700 to $1,900 on glass shower walls and $550 to $1,350 on glass shower doors. The thicker the glass, the more it will cost. Clear glass also tend to be the most affordable, while rain glass tends to be the most expensive.
Tile Installation
Shower tile can have all different patterns—including straightforward designs or ornate mosaics. Complicated designs call for extra labor, which will increase costs. See the table below for common labor costs based on the pattern. Keep in mind, this is separate from the cost of materials.
| Pattern | Average Cost With Labor (Per Sq. Ft.) |
|---|---|
| Staggered Brick | $5–$10 |
| Subway Tile | $7–$13 |
| Nature Stone Design | $10 and up |
| Pinwheel | $16 |
| Herringbone | $15–$16 |
Exhaust Fan Installation
It costs anywhere from $250 to $500 to install an exhaust fan in your steam shower or steam room. Since steam showers create extra humidity, you’ll typically want to install an exhaust fan if you don’t already have one. In some places, it may even be a building code requirement.
Steam Shower Upgrades
Since steam showers are a luxury experience, you may want to budget for luxury upgrades like sound systems, seating, and aromatherapy. Here are some common add-ons:
| Element | Cost |
|---|---|
| Seating | $90–$100 |
| Sound system | $100–$200 |
| Lighting | $100–$3,000 |
| Aromatherapy pump | $200–$800 |
Increase Water and Electric Bill
Steam showers will slightly increase your utility bills. On average, expect to spend around $0.50 to $1 on a 20- to 30-minute shower. Most steam showers use around 2 to 2.5 gallons of water for a 30-minute shower, but the ultimate cost depends on the size of the generator and your local utility prices.
Why You Should Hire a Steam Shower Installation Pro
While DIY installation might save you on labor costs, it’s best to hire a steam shower installation company for the job. The project is challenging and labor-intensive, and improper installation can lead to water damage in your bathroom. Generally, a pro charges $100 to $300 per hour for plumbing and $50 to $100 per hour for electrical and other labor.
Here’s why it’s ideal to hire a steam shower pro
Steam shower installation is no project for the amateur. Here’s why hiring a pro is your best option:
Complicated project: steam shower installation involves plumbing, electrical, and general construction work. Hiring a professional ensures that you have one company taking care of everything.
Labor: The installation is extremely labor-intensive. Your time is better spent elsewhere.
Risks: Burn and electric risks are present during the installation.
Insurance: If something goes wrong during installation, your insured pro will be able to take care of it.
If you want to DIY a steam shower
Depending on your skill level and existing bathroom configuration, there are DIY options you can choose:
Prefabricated unit: You might be able to install a prefabricated unit with a generator yourself to replace the existing shower, assuming your utility lines are already in place.
DIY parts of the project: You can leave the installation to the pro, but handle parts of the project yourself, such as removing the old fixture or re-tiling the surrounding floors. This option is much safer and can help you reduce the overall cost of the project.
How to Save on Steam Shower Installation
It’s not always easy to budget for a steam shower. This project can cost upwards of $10,000 if you splurge on the high-end options, but there are ways to create affordable luxury. These tips can help you save thousands on the cost of a steam shower.
Opt for a prefab shower instead of a custom-build
Buy a generator kit instead of individual parts
Convert your existing shower
DIY some of the demo
Choose cheaper materials
Benefits of Steam Showers
Access to a steam shower comes with some benefits, including:
Muscle relaxation and recovery after a workout
Relaxation in a calm atmosphere before bed
Improving stiffnes in joints
Opening up pores to release dirt and dead skin cells
Congestion relief via opening up sinuses and relieving a runny nose
Conserve more water than a traditional shower
In addition, the return on investment for a steam shower can be as much as 70% and may even increase the selling price of your home.
Next Steps: Finalize Your Project With a Pro
Make sure the pro is experienced in working with your specific installation needs (conversion, prefabricated system, custom system, etc).
Check their past reviews, insurance, and credentials.
Get an itemized quote that breaks down different parts of the project to see if you can subsidize any costs with DIY options.
Get multiple quotes from different companies for the best deal.
Understand what model and make of products are being used for your project, and ask for comparisons and alternatives.
Ask about warranty and follow-up services.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
The homeowners guide to kitchen and bathroom remodels
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
If your bathroom vanity top is damaged or cracked, removing and installing a new one can be an easy project to tackle. Learn the cost of replacing your vanity top.
Shower installation costs depend on size, style, and materials. No matter the budget, this guide can help you plan your project and even save a few bucks.
Adding kitchen cabinets to your ceiling is a budget-friendly way to increase your storage space and make your kitchen look more attractive.
Learn how to build a DIY dog wash station to make your pup’s bathtime a less backbreaking job that leaves your family bathroom free from dog hair and dirt.
An updated bathtub can give a bathroom a whole new look. Find out how much it costs to replace a bathtub in Kansas City, MO, including prices by type and labor costs.