How Much Does a Walk-In Shower Cost to Install? [2025 Data]

Let’s be real: You don't always want to step over a tub to take a shower. A walk-in shower costs $9,000 on average but ranges between $6,000 and $12,000—a notably large difference because of the multitude of options. A walk-in shower can give your bathroom an element of luxury that the standard bathtub-shower combo just can’t. This guide walks you through the cost of walk-in shower installation, whether you go prefab or start picking out custom tiling.

Once you’ve decided on a shower over a bathtub, the price of a walk-in shower has such a huge range because of the various forms they can take. You can go for a fully-customized shower made from luxe, high-end tiles with frameless glass doors or choose a semi-prefabricated option that won’t break the bank. It all depends on the look you’re hoping to achieve. Here’s how the price of a walk-in shower breaks down.

Size

Like most projects, the larger your shower, the more it will cost. That said, you may be able to save some money on labor if you choose a standard-sized shower because it will typically fit into your pre-existing space without the need for extensive renovations. These are the two most common options:

• Standard-sized shower: 32-by-32 inches

• Accessible shower: 36-by-36 inches

The latter is the minimum size that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)—but otherwise, you can customize your shower to your liking. It’s just going to cost you.

Walk-In Shower Cost by Type

Type is one of the largest factors that will dictate the price of your walk-in shower. You’ll almost always spend less on a prefabricated kit than on a custom walk-in shower. Which type works best for your home depends on your needs and budget.

Prefabricated Walk-In Shower

Prefabricated shower kits are simple to install and made from inexpensive materials. Most manufactured shower stalls (made from fiberglass or acrylic) cost anywhere from $700 to $3,000 to install. You can find prefab models made from lightweight plastic for as little as $300.  These showers are:

• Relatively affordable

• Simple to install 

• Expensive to repair or upgrade

• Come in standard sizes only 

Custom Walk-In Shower 

Custom walk-in showers range more in price but cost between $4,200 and $8,500. Remember, they cost much more if you choose high-end materials and fully-customized features. 

Homeowners love custom showers because they have an essentially limitless number of options. You can use any water-tolerant tile, make it any size—as long as it fits the bathroom's footprint—and add any number of luxury features. These showers are: 

• Available in limitless aesethic options

• Easier to repair or upgrade

• Complicated to install 

• Come with high up-front costs

Materials 

Higher-end materials will increase the cost of the job. If you’re going with a custom shower, you have a larger range of options—but something like cultured marble will cost more than tile. Below are some common materials and costs.

Bathroom Contractor Costs 

A large part of the cost of a shower installation is labor. Most homeowners wind up paying about $400 to $2,000 to their contractor, excluding the cost of materials. Labor costs will rise for complicated, custom jobs. 

Additional Labor Costs 

Depending on the complexity of the walk-in shower, you may need to hire additional contractors to make sure it’s installed correctly.

Plumbing

Some projects may need significant plumbing work, while others may not. It all depends on the renovation. Adding plumbing for your shower costs $600 to $1,600, though prices rise if it’s part of a new build, and plumbers charge $45 to $200 per hour. In that case, you’ll need to install plumbing for the whole bathroom. The cost of rough-in plumbing is $7,000 on average.  

Tiling Contractors 

Tiling contractors charge by the square foot or the hour, so ask about their pricing structure when you get a quote to tile the walk-in shower. Labor costs range from $30 to $120 per hour, and tile installation costs fall between $3 and $15 per square foot, plus the cost of the tiles and materials.

Electricians

Electricians charge between $50 and $100 per hour, and if you’re having an overhead light or fan installed, you’ll need to hire a qualified electrician for the job. An electrician’s rates also depend on the amount of experience they have, so you’ll pay more to have a master electrician do the job versus an apprentice or journeyperson.  

Other Costs to Consider 

The materials and labor make up the bulk of the cost to install a walk-in shower, but there are other costs to consider as well that can impact the final project price. You’ll need to cover the cost of permits and demolition of the existing tub or shower as well as other costs associated with accessibility features and customizations.

Permits

Most states require a permit for renovations—especially if they involve plumbing. Expect to spend around $250 on the cost of a permit, but it could go as high as $500.

Tub-to-Shower Conversion Costs

If you’re converting your bathtub into a walk-in shower, you’ll have to pay extra to remove your tub and prep the new surface. For most homeowners, the total cost of a tub-to-shower conversion ranges from $1,200 to $8,000—unless you choose expensive materials and custom tiling, which will raise costs.

Demolition Costs

Demolition is part of the cost of a shower remodel. You need to get rid of the old stuff—which could include your old shower, tile, and even a wall (if you’re doing serious renovations). You’ll spend $50 to $100 to remove your old shower, $300 to $1,000 to remove a non-load-bearing wall, and $250 to remove construction debris. 

Waterproofing 

If you’re building a custom shower, you may need to waterproof your shower tile. Contractors will install a waterproof membrane below your custom shower pan, usually in the form of a sheet membrane that runs from $500 to $1,000 or a liquid membrane that runs from $50 to $800. On top of that, you’ll need to pay for the additional labor.

Glass Shower Doors

Glass doors are chic, whether you choose frameless shower doors for an elevated feel or something more traditional. You’ll spend anywhere from $550 to $1,400 on the cost of installing a glass shower door.

Curbless Walk-In Shower 

Most prefab showers come with a 7-inch curb, but you can purchase pans with smaller curbs. If you want to go curbless, you’ll need to go custom. Curbless showers require extra labor because your contractor will need to slope the floor just right to ensure water drains where it needs to go. A custom shower pan costs around $2,500.

Additional Accessibility Features

Walk-in showers can be a more accessible option than bathtubs. If someone in your household is in need of accessibility modifications, meet with your contractor about any of the following options:

• Creating a wider shower door or entryway. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines state an entry should be at least 36 inches wide

• Grab bars to assist with entering and exiting the shower

• Adding seating inside a shower

• Moving controls like knobs, showerheads, and faucets to be closer to the door or where individuals can easily reach

Extra Features

Adding accessibility features like built-in shelves, grab bars, a shower bench, or slip-resistant flooring can increase the cost of your walk-in shower by $75 to $1,900. Adding luxury features can cost up to $10,000, depending on what features you want to add. Features like a rainfall showerhead, frameless shower doors, dual showerheads, and steam showers can add extra to your total installation cost.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Install a Walk-In Shower

Some DIY-savvy homeowners can install prefab shower kits. A direct-to-stud shower kit costs as little as $400 from a hardware store, but don’t attempt this DIY unless you know what you’re doing and can connect the plumbing properly 

In most cases, you’ll want to hire a contractor to install a walk-in shower. If the shower needs plumbing modifications, the only person who should alter the plumbing is a licensed plumber near you—lest you make an error that results in some serious water damage. In fact, you may not be able to get a permit on your own.

Hiring a pro adds $400 to $2,000 to the total cost of the job, but it’s well worth it to avoid costly errors. Contact three shower installers near you to get the best price at the best quality and double-check their references.

How to Save on Walk-In Shower Costs

Installing a walk-in shower is a project that requires a serious budget. You can’t get it done for a couple of hundred bucks and an afternoon of rolling up your sleeves. Nonetheless, there are still ways you can save on the job.

1. Use a Prefabricated Shower Kit

Prefab kits are hands down the best way to save on the cost of installing a shower. They cost thousands less than their fully customized counterparts.

2. DIY the Simple Stuff

If you’re a handy homeowner, you can DIY part of your shower installation—especially if you’re installing a prefab shower kit. Have a pro install the plumbing and other tricky bits while you handle the rest. 

For example, you can save $550 to $1,400 by having your contractor skip a pricey glass door installation. Instead, install a curtain rod and shower curtain yourself. If your shower needs custom tiling, maybe you’re a grout wizard. Do the shower tiling on your own once the waterproof membrane is in place.

3. If You’re Going Custom, Mind the Shower Pan

Creating a shower pan from scratch is tricky and takes a lot of time, measuring, and know-how. Save on labor by installing a manufactured shower pan, which costs $250 to $400. Leave the high-end tile for your walls.

4. Skip the Add-Ons and Upgrades

Save money by skipping shower add-ons and upgrades. Choose the best basic showerhead rather than reaching for the least expensive luxury option. Avoid luxury materials like marble and stone, and go for acrylic, fiberglass, or porcelain tile.

Does a Walk-In Shower Add Value to Your Home?

Whether a walk-in shower adds value to your home ultimately depends on your market in your area and buyers’ needs, but a walk-in shower can increase the selling price. This is especially true if it’s installed along with a stand-alone bathtub or if there’s a bathtub available in another bathroom as buyers often like flexibility. A bathroom renovation can have a cost recovery of about 70%, according to the 2022 Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of Realtors®. If executed well, you can recoup quite a bit of your walk-in shower investment when it comes time to sell.  

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. 

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