Cost guides › Walk-in shower
United States
Walk-in shower cost (tub-to-shower conversion)
Tearing out an old bathtub and building a tiled, low-threshold walk-in shower of about 15 sq ft in the same spot typically costs $7,000, with most jobs between $5,450 and $9,100. An acrylic tray-and-panel kit with a framed door comes in around $3,700, while a curbless shower with a linear drain, frameless glass and tile to the ceiling runs about $11,300.
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Cost by region
| Location | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $4,300 | $8,300 | $13,100 |
| Illinois | $4,400 | $8,200 | $12,900 |
| Hawaii | $4,250 | $8,150 | $12,900 |
| Minnesota | $4,300 | $8,100 | $12,800 |
| District of Columbia | $4,300 | $7,900 | $12,400 |
| Washington | $4,050 | $7,900 | $12,600 |
| Alaska | $4,250 | $7,850 | $12,400 |
| Oregon | $4,250 | $7,850 | $12,400 |
| New Jersey | $4,100 | $7,700 | $12,200 |
| Wisconsin | $4,050 | $7,650 | $12,100 |
Show all regions
| Connecticut | $4,000 | $7,600 | $12,100 |
| New York | $4,000 | $7,550 | $12,000 |
| California | $3,950 | $7,450 | $11,900 |
| Montana | $3,950 | $7,450 | $11,900 |
| Pennsylvania | $3,800 | $7,350 | $11,800 |
| Rhode Island | $4,000 | $7,350 | $11,700 |
| Michigan | $3,950 | $7,300 | $11,600 |
| Missouri | $3,850 | $7,300 | $11,700 |
| Indiana | $3,900 | $7,250 | $11,500 |
| Maine | $3,700 | $7,200 | $11,600 |
| Colorado | $3,700 | $7,050 | $11,300 |
| Nevada | $3,700 | $7,050 | $11,400 |
| New Hampshire | $3,750 | $7,050 | $11,300 |
| Delaware | $3,700 | $7,000 | $11,300 |
| Iowa | $3,700 | $7,000 | $11,300 |
| Kansas | $3,700 | $7,000 | $11,200 |
| Nebraska | $3,650 | $7,000 | $11,300 |
| Ohio | $3,800 | $7,000 | $11,200 |
| Vermont | $3,700 | $7,000 | $11,200 |
| Wyoming | $3,650 | $6,950 | $11,200 |
| Arizona | $3,650 | $6,900 | $11,100 |
| Kentucky | $3,700 | $6,900 | $11,000 |
| Maryland | $3,700 | $6,900 | $11,000 |
| North Dakota | $3,700 | $6,850 | $11,000 |
| Utah | $3,650 | $6,850 | $11,000 |
| Virginia | $3,600 | $6,800 | $10,900 |
| Louisiana | $3,600 | $6,700 | $10,800 |
| Tennessee | $3,600 | $6,700 | $10,700 |
| Texas | $3,550 | $6,700 | $10,800 |
| West Virginia | $3,550 | $6,700 | $10,800 |
| Georgia | $3,500 | $6,650 | $10,700 |
| Idaho | $3,500 | $6,650 | $10,700 |
| New Mexico | $3,550 | $6,650 | $10,700 |
| North Carolina | $3,550 | $6,650 | $10,700 |
| South Dakota | $3,500 | $6,650 | $10,700 |
| Alabama | $3,500 | $6,600 | $10,600 |
| Florida | $3,500 | $6,600 | $10,700 |
| Oklahoma | $3,500 | $6,600 | $10,600 |
| South Carolina | $3,500 | $6,550 | $10,600 |
| Mississippi | $3,450 | $6,450 | $10,400 |
| Arkansas | $3,350 | $6,300 | $10,200 |
What's included
Mid-range
- Old bathtub and its support removed, tile around it stripped, debris hauled away
- Waterproofing membrane on the shower floor and walls
- Porcelain wall tile in the shower area, set and grouted, tile and waste allowance included
- Low-profile, low-threshold shower tray in place of the tub
- Fixed glass shower panel
- Thermostatic shower valve with slide bar and hand shower
- Two grab bars installed
- Supply and drain lines adapted to the new layout by a plumber
- Floor protection, carrying and cleanup
What affects the cost
Kit, tiled or curbless
An acrylic tray with wall panels goes in quickest, with no tiling and little drying time, so it is the cheapest route out of a tub. A tiled shower on a low-threshold tray, as in the mid estimate, needs a waterproofing membrane and a tile setter. A curbless shower recesses the floor so a wheelchair or walker can roll straight in, and needs a linear drain and careful slopes, which is why it costs the most.
What is under the floor
A curbless floor has to drop the shower area below the rest of the bathroom. On a slab that means cutting and re-pouring; over wood joists it can mean lowering or reinforcing framing, which is structural work that is not in these figures and usually needs a permit.
Tile coverage and format
Tiling only the wet area keeps labor down. Large-format tile to the ceiling looks seamless but needs flat walls, more material and slower setting, and it accounts for much of the jump to the premium price.
Glass
A framed door or screen is the budget option. A single fixed glass panel leaves the entry open and easier to use, and heavy frameless glass for a walk-in layout costs the most and needs solid fixing points.
Safety hardware
Grab bars must be anchored into studs or added blocking, not drywall anchors, so they are cheapest to fit while the walls are open. A thermostatic valve limits scalding, a hand shower on a slide bar lets someone wash seated, and a fold-down seat needs the same solid backing as the bars.
Condition behind the tub
Rotted subfloor, a corroded drain or old supply pipes often show up once the tub is out. Ask the contractor to price likely repairs per unit up front so the surprise has a known price.
How to save
- Keep the shower where the tub was so the drain does not have to move.
- If nobody needs a roll-in entry, a low-threshold tray gives an easy step-in at a lower cost than a fully curbless floor.
- Tile only the shower walls and paint the rest of the bathroom.
- Add blocking for grab bars and a seat during the job even if you fit them later; opening the wall again costs more.
Grants, tax and rules
Permits
Plumbing, electrical and structural changes usually need a local permit. Moving the drain or recessing the floor for a curbless shower typically falls into that category, so ask whether the permit fee is in the quote.
Veterans and Medicare
The VA HISA grant is a lifetime benefit of $6,800 for veterans with a service-connected disability or a rating of 50% or more, and $2,000 for others, and can go toward bathroom accessibility work. Medicare Parts A and B generally do not cover walk-in showers or bathroom remodeling.
Sales tax
Sales tax on materials varies by state, and labor is often not taxed but rules vary. Our figures are before sales tax.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to convert a tub to a walk-in shower?
For a tiled, low-threshold shower of about 15 sq ft in the old tub space, expect around $7,000. An acrylic kit brings it closer to $3,700; a curbless design with frameless glass runs about $11,300.
What is the difference between low-threshold and curbless?
A low-threshold tray has a small lip of an inch or so that most people can step over. A curbless shower is flush with the bathroom floor, which matters for wheelchairs and shower chairs, but the floor has to be recessed and sloped to a linear drain.
Is an acrylic shower kit a good option?
It is a sound choice when budget or speed matters: there are fewer joints to seal, no grout to maintain and the job is often done in a couple of days. The look is plainer than tile and sizes are limited to what the kits come in.
What safety features should a walk-in shower have?
Grab bars fixed to solid backing, a thermostatic valve to prevent scalding, a hand shower on a slide bar, slip-resistant floor tile and, for anyone who tires standing, a fold-down seat. The mid estimate includes the valve, hand shower and two grab bars.
How long does a tub-to-shower conversion take?
A kit install can be done in two to three days. A tiled shower usually takes about a week because the membrane, tile adhesive and grout need drying time, and a curbless floor adds time for the floor work.
Does a walk-in shower hurt resale value?
In a home with another bathroom that has a tub, rarely. If it would be the only bathing space in a family-sized house, some buyers will want a tub, so weigh that before removing the last one.
How this estimate is calculated
Work hours: 33.2 · Labour: $2,957 · Materials: $4,057
Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics; Regione Toscana, Prezzario dei Lavori 2026 (CC BY 4.0); ECB exchange rates.