Cost guides › Walk-in shower
United Kingdom
Walk-in shower cost: replacing a bath with a shower
Taking out a bath and fitting a walk-in shower in the same space typically costs £3,000 including VAT for a 1.4 m² shower area, with most quotes between £2,350 and £3,900. That buys a low-profile tray, tanking, porcelain tiles on the shower walls, a fixed glass panel, a thermostatic mixer and two grab rails. A quick swap to a standard tray with wall panels and a framed door is about £1,550; a level-access wet room floor with a linear drain, tiles to the ceiling and a rain shower is nearer £4,950.
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Cost by region
| Location | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £1,650 | £3,150 | £5,150 |
| Scotland | £1,600 | £3,050 | £5,000 |
| East | £1,550 | £3,000 | £4,900 |
| North West | £1,550 | £3,000 | £4,900 |
| South East | £1,550 | £3,000 | £4,950 |
| East Midlands | £1,550 | £2,950 | £4,850 |
| North East | £1,550 | £2,950 | £4,850 |
| South West | £1,550 | £2,950 | £4,900 |
| Wales | £1,550 | £2,950 | £4,850 |
| West Midlands | £1,550 | £2,950 | £4,900 |
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| Yorkshire and The Humber | £1,550 | £2,950 | £4,850 |
What's included
Mid-range
- Removal of the old bath and its frame or panel, with the waste taken away
- Stripping the tiles around the old bath back to the wall
- Moving the waste and hot and cold supplies to suit the new shower position
- Tanking (waterproof membrane) on the shower floor area and walls
- Low-profile shower tray with a low step-in height
- Porcelain tiles on the shower walls, fixed and grouted
- Fixed glass walk-in panel instead of a door
- Thermostatic shower mixer with riser rail and hand shower
- Two grab rails fixed into solid backing
- Dust sheets, protection of the route through the house and a full clean-up
What affects the cost
Tray or true wet room
A low-profile tray sits a few centimetres above the floor and drops straight onto the old bath waste, which keeps the job simple. A level-access wet room needs the floor built up or cut down to create a fall to a drain, and the whole room tanked, so it costs noticeably more and takes longer. In upstairs rooms the joists decide how far the floor can be recessed.
Getting the waste to fall
Water needs a steady fall from the shower waste to the soil pipe. Where the bath sat against the soil stack this is easy; where the run is long or crosses joists, the plumber may have to raise the tray, re-route the pipe or fit a shower pump, each adding cost.
Wall panels versus tiles
Acrylic or laminate wall panels go up in a day and have no grout to clean, which is why the cheapest conversions use them. Tiling needs tanking first and is slower, and full-height or large-format tiles add both material and labour.
Screen and glass
A framed door or bi-fold screen is the budget option. A single fixed walk-in panel suits a wider space and is easier for anyone with limited mobility; frameless glass with no bottom track costs more but leaves a clear entry.
Hot water and shower type
A combi boiler or unvented cylinder usually runs a thermostatic mixer well. Low-pressure gravity systems may need a pump, or an electric shower instead, which needs its own circuit from the consumer unit and a registered electrician.
Accessibility extras
Grab rails need solid fixings, so plasterboard walls may need noggins or pattress boards behind them. A fold-down seat, a longer hose, a lever-handle mixer and slip-resistant floor tiles are small items that add up but make a real difference for daily use.
How to save
- Keep the shower where the bath was so the existing waste and supplies can be reused with minimal re-routing.
- Use wall panels instead of tiles on the shower walls if the look suits you; they are quicker to fit and easier to keep clean.
- Choose a standard-size tray and screen rather than made-to-measure sizes, which often have long lead times and a higher price.
- Check whether you qualify for zero-rated or 5% VAT before you get quotes, so the installer can price it correctly from the start.
Grants, tax and rules
VAT relief for disabled people and people aged 60+
Our figures include 20% VAT. If a bathroom is adapted because of a disabled person's condition, the work can be zero-rated. People aged 60 or over can get 5% VAT on the supply and installation of specific items, including grab rails and built-in shower seats (HMRC Notice 701/7, checked September 2026). The installer applies the relief, so raise it at the quoting stage.
Disabled Facilities Grant
If someone in the home is disabled, the local council may pay for adaptations such as a level-access shower through a Disabled Facilities Grant: up to £30,000 in England, £36,000 in Wales and £25,000 in Northern Ireland. It is means-tested for adults and usually needs an occupational therapist's assessment before any work starts.
Electrical work
In England and Wales, a new electric shower circuit or other electrical work in the bathroom must be done by a registered electrician (Part P) or notified to building control. Keep the certificate.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace a bath with a walk-in shower?
For a 1.4 m² shower area in the old bath space, expect around £3,000 including VAT with a low tray, tiled walls, a glass panel and a thermostatic mixer. A simple tray-and-panels swap is about £1,550; a level-access floor with a linear drain is nearer £4,950.
What is the difference between a walk-in shower and a wet room?
A walk-in shower uses a shower tray, usually low-profile, with a fixed glass panel and no door. In a wet room the floor itself is the shower: it is laid to a fall towards a drain and the whole room is tanked. Wet rooms give true level access but cost more and need careful waterproofing.
How long does a bath to shower conversion take?
A tray with wall panels can be done in two or three days. A tiled walk-in shower usually takes three to five days, because the tanking and adhesive need time to cure. A wet room floor takes longer again.
Will removing the bath affect the value of my house?
Many buyers with young children prefer at least one bath in the house, so if this is your only bathroom, think about how long you plan to stay. Where there is a second bathroom or the change is needed for mobility, a good walk-in shower is usually an easy sell.
Can I get a walk-in shower on the Disabled Facilities Grant?
Yes, a level-access shower is one of the most common adaptations the grant pays for, where an occupational therapist agrees it is needed. Contact your council before you commission any work, because work already started may not be funded.
Do I pay VAT on a walk-in shower if I am over 60?
The 5% rate for people aged 60+ applies to specific items such as grab rails and built-in shower seats, not automatically to the whole conversion. If the work is to adapt the bathroom for a disabled person's condition, it can be zero-rated. Ask the installer to show how the VAT is split on the quote.
How this estimate is calculated
Work hours: 33.2 · Labour: £1,030 · Materials: £1,481
Sources: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, tables 14 and 15; Regione Toscana, Prezzario dei Lavori 2026 (CC BY 4.0); ECB exchange rates.