How Much Does A Shower Remodel Cost?

A shower remodel is one of the most popular bathroom updates that improves functionality, enjoyment and even boosts the ROI value of your home. There are numerous things you can do to remodel your shower, which range from minor cosmetic updates, to a complete gut remodel.

On average, remodeling a shower costs $700 – 5,000 depending on the scope and complexity of work, as well as the quality of materials you use.

If you are ready to start your shower remodel, contact your local bathroom pros for free estimates.

How Much Does It Cost To Remodel A Shower?

For the average shower remodeling, cost ranges from $800 to $5,000 for a shower stall and $4,000 to $7,000 for a new acrylic liner.

Luxury master bathrooms can cost more: remodeling a walk-in shower and a separate tub costs between $5,000 and $15,000.

There are many options for remodeling showers, including kits from Home Depot stores or from companies such as Bath Fitter or BathWraps, that supply easy to install, exact-fit liners costing around $4,000, as well as free home consultations.

Remodeling a shower – tub combination costs around $1,500, although the price can vary depending on the type of remodel job and materials used.

Remodeling a stand-alone shower costs $1,000 – 2,500.

Building a shower in an attic or a home addition can cost $10,000-30,000

When redoing a shower room, replacing the fixtures can greatly drive up the cost of the job.

For example, a new shower pan generally costs $100 but can cost up to $600; shower heads can be bought for $20 or $300; shower doors can cost from $100 to $1,100; a new shower fan will cost around $200. A new toilet from Home Depot costs $99 but you can also install a fancy TOTO toiler for $2,000.

Choosing your bathroom fixtures will greatly depend on your budget as well as the level of luxury you are looking to have.

You can use our Bathroom Remodel Calculator to quickly estimate the cost of remodeling your shower.

Bathtub Remodel Prices

Remodeling an old bathtub or putting in a brand new one is a great idea for a master bathroom, or if you have second/third bathroom in your house.

Typically, its great for resale value when one of the bathrooms in the house has a nice bathtub, because this is a necessity for a family with children.

Costs to remodel a bathtub vary significantly, depending on materials and labor.

A brand-new bathtub can cost between $800 and $4,500, while installing a new bathtub liner can cost between $1,500 and $2,500.

Refinishing varies the most depending on method and the extent of the refinishing, from $40 to $1,200.

Item	Cost (Average)
New Bathtub Liner	$1,500 – $2,500
New Bathtub	$800 – $4,500
Refinishing (Miracle Method)	“$450 – $600 (tub only)
$800 – $1,200 (tub and surrounding tiles)”
DIY Bathtub Refinishing	$40 – $200
Bathtub Re-glazing	$250 – $550
Removing Tub	$100 – $250

Shower Remodel Materials Prices

When considering the total cost of a bathroom remodel, it is important to carefully factor in the cost of building materials.

Some contractors will roll in the cost of materials into their total prices quotes, because often times they can get a contractor discount on many materials.

However, sometimes its cheaper and better to shop for materials yourself, this way you have full control over what you are choosing as well as its quality.

Not including the cost of installation, countertops can range from $75 to $250 per sq.ft., depending on the countertop material and the size of the counter. Granite and quartz are usually top choices, However, marble and soapstone are also very popular in more upscale remodels.

New floor tiles can cost from $1 per square foot to $35, depending on the quality of tile. Shower walls often use the same tiles as the floor, so the cost is the same.

Mirrors range from $20 to $1,000, the more expensive models come with features, such as anti-fogging and anti-staining.

Shower room doors cost between $500 to $1,500, depending on whether the doors are glass or plastic.

Cost to Redo a Bathroom Floor

On average, the cost to redo a bathroom floor is between $800 and $3,500, and materials typically cost between $2 – $20 per square foot.

You can use our Floor Installation Calculator to quickly estimate the cost of a new bathroom floor.

In addition to installing a new floor in your bathroom, you can install put in radiant heated floors that will keep your feel warm during the cold months. Radiant floor heating is becoming an increasingly popular upgrade in bathroom remodels.

The final floor installation cost depending on the material used, size and shape of the bathroom as well as overall complexity of the job.

Material	Cost per sq. ft. including installation	Total cost (40 sq.ft.)
Tile	$4.5 – $10	$180 – 400
Hardwood	$5.5 – $14	$220 – 560
Engineered wood	$4.75 – 8.5	$190 – 340
Vinyl plank	$2 – $6	$80 – 240
Linoleum	$2 – $4	$80 – 80

Cost of Bathroom Fixtures

In total, the average cost for basic bathroom fixtures is between $600 – $3,400.

Luxury bathroom fixtures cost in total between $5,250 and $24,000. The most pricey item is generally the bathtub, while the cheapest item tends to be the sink.

Bathroom Fixture	Cost (Basic)	Cost (Luxury)
Bathtub	$150 – $850	$1,500 – $10,000
Toilet	$100 – $400	$750 – $2,000
Sink	$50 – $400	$700 – $2,000
Vanity Cabinet	$150 – $1,000	$1,300 – $5,000
Lighting	$150 – $750	$1,000 – $5,000

Shower Room Electric and Plumbing Costs

Updating the electricity and plumbing in bathrooms costs on average between $1,500 and $4,850 for the entire bathroom. The cost can be much higher in old homes that require new plumbing pipes or electric wires.

Item	Cost (Average)
Toilet Rough-in	$500 – $1,500
Electric Outlet Installation	$100 – $250
Light Fixture Installation	$200 – $800
Water Heater Installation	$600 – $1,500
Plumbing	$100 – $800

Cost to Gut & Demolish & Expand The Shower

To completely gut and demolish a bathroom, costs start at $2,500+, depending on materials, the size of the room, which walls and fixtures are removed, and whether any damage is found in the sub-flooring and wall structure.

The table below outlines the average costs of expanding a bathroom.

Item	Cost (Average)
Installing Plumbing Pipes	$1200 – $2,800
Upgrading an Electrical Panel	$1000 – $1,700
Rerouting Electrical Wiring	$2 – $4 per sq. ft.
Drywall Installation	$1.50 – $2.30 per sq. ft.
Hiring Architect or Structural Engineer	$1,500 – $3,500

Shower Remodel Design Basics

Here are some important basics to know when beginning the remodeling process. If you have young children or live in an area with families, a free-standing tub will be great for convenience and resale value.

If your home does not have space for a dedicated bathroom with a tub, a tub-shower combination is a good alternative.

Homes that sell best have a bathroom with a shower and another bathroom with a tub or a tub/shower combination. This is the ideal combination for most people’s needs.

If you want to make a dedicated shower room, there are three types of enclosures for your shower: glass doors, curtains, and doorless.

Curtains are ideal for shower-tub combinations and make it easier to bathe young children without hassle. Curtains are also easy to change over the years for new curtain designs.

Glass doors can make showers feel more spacious, while doorless showers are a great option for more out-of-the-box bathroom remodelers.

Some gadgets to know about are thermostatic shower valves, which automatically adjusts temperatures as pressure changes to keep the water at a perfect temperature, and good shower heads.

Thermostatic shower valves will add a few hundred dollars to the plumbing costs but maybe well worth it. A good shower head can completely enhance the shower experience so choosing the right one is critical.

There are a few different material options for showers. Natural stone is an excellent, classy choice and any natural stone will be fine around wetness with the right sealant. Tiles are also a solid choice.

Popular bathroom tile types include Subway tiles or the trendy zellige tile.

Wallpaper is another option, but remember to keep it out of range of splashes and make sure there is proper moisture ventilation in the bathroom.

Prefab vs Custom Shower

When deciding to renovate a shower, there are two types of options to think about: a custom designed ceramic shower, or a prefabricated shower stall.

Prefabricated shower stalls come in kits made from fiberglass or acrylic that can be installed professionally or by the customer.

There are two main types of prefabricated units, one-piece or multi-piece. In the one-piece prefab units, the shower base or bathtub is integrated into the walls.

The multi-piece prefab units consist of two or three wall panels and a shower base.

Before purchasing a one-piece unit homeowners should be sure that the unit can fit inside the home to be brought to the bathroom.

For those looking to remodel walls without changing the bathtub, wall-kits are available that include only the wall panels, not the tub or shower pan.

Custom built showers are made from ceramic tile and built inside the bathroom rather than with a kit.

Custom built showers are a team effort: carpenters build the alcove structure, and tilers tile the walls. Carpenters also install the shower door, which must be custom-sized to fit the walls.

While significantly more pricey than prefab showers, custom built showers are a lore more functional, attractive and add an air of sophisticated class to the bathroom space.

In luxury bathroom remodels, a steam shower kit can be added to a custom shower for about $3,000-4,500.

DIYers may combine prefab kits and custom made showers by purchasing a prefab kit for the walls and the tub or shower pan, and then tiling the walls on their own.

Pros and Cons of a Prefab Shower

Pros	Cons
Low Cost: Significantly cheaper than custom built tiled showers	Difficult to Repair: Repairing cracks in prefab shower walls is challenging. Fiberglass repair kits can make limited repairs but will be visible, and full relining is costly.
Quick, Simple Installation: Can be completed in a single day, even by a DIY-er. Custom showers can take a over week	Limited Styles: There is a limited set of design options for prefab showers on the market, unlike custom-made ones
Low Maintenance: Easier to keep clean than tile showers	Size Limitations: Basic kits are only available in stock sizes, while more upper end and costly kits can be ordered to fit exact dimensions
Few Seams: Only seams along the corners and the top of the shower pan or tub. Less seams decrease the likelihood of leaks and simplify cleaning.	Not Environmentally Friendly: It is very difficult and costly to recycle the plastic used in prefab showers, and the material used will likely reach a landfill where it will not decompose.
DIY Friendly: Easy for DIYers to install without hiring professional help	May Lower Real Estate Value: When compared to custom tiled showers, plastic prefab showers are considered more low-end, and may lower real estate values
Lightweight: Because prefab showers are plastic, they are lightweight and therefore a good choice for homes with structural issues

Pros and Cons of a Custom Shower

Pros	Cons
Design Choices: The design of ceramic tile showers are inherently customizable and present an infinite array of choices	High cost: Custom tile showers are much more expensive than prefab showers
Flexible Sizing: Can be designed for any space regardless of size or dimensions	Long, Difficult Installation: Custom showers are labor intensive to build and may take over a week to complete by professionals, and may pose a challenge for DIYers.
Environmentally Friendly: Unlike plastic prefab showers, ceramic tile is made from natural clay. There are tile options made from recycled material that cost roughly equivalent to non-recycled tile	High Maintenance: The grout lines between the ceramic tiles must be regularly cleaned and sealed to prevent mildew, cracking, and leaking.
Increases Real Estate Value: Compared to synthetic shower materials, ceramic tile showers are valued highly in the real estate market and will likely increase the value of the home	Possibility of Leaks: If not properly maintained and cared for, shower pans and grout lines may leak over time
	Heavy: Ceramic tile is a heavy building material, so it should be used on sturdy floor structures to prevent larger issues.

Tub to Shower Conversion Cost

In many modern house remodels it has become very popular to covert an old tub to a shower. This is an especially lucrative project if your house already has a bathroom with a tub, so you can covert the second bathroom in your house into a luxurious shower room.

The cost of converting a tub to a shower can vary widely, and usually runs between $450 and $2,500

Removal of the tub, plus new piping and fixtures can cost $800-1,100.

As discussed above, the price of installing a new shower is much higher when choosing a custom designed ceramic tile shower versus a prefabricated plastic shower.

Tips For Tub to Shower Conversions

When converting from a tub to a shower, there are several important tips to keep in mind.

First, do not build a shower with a window inside, even if the old tub was beneath a window. Windows inside showers lead to moisture seeping into walls through the window casing, which can cause serious mold issues. ِ

Also, when replacing the tub, double check existing piping and make replacements as necessary, which will save you from having to do it later once the shower is built.

It is also a good idea to check the subfloor and framing for mold, mildew, and rot.

If desired, the conversion is a great time to upgrade the shower valve, if not present already, to a single-handle pressure balancing valve that controls volume and temperature.

Important Questions to Ask Before You Start Your Shower Remodel

There are many important aspects to consider when beginning the process of remodeling a bathroom. These questions can help you narrow down ideas and ensure that the new bathroom will be the perfect fit for your style and needs.

First and foremost, you should ask yourself how much money you want to spend on the remodel. Bathroom renovations can range in price from a thousand dollars to six figures, and everything in between.

It is important to set a budget early on and stick to it so you don’t get swept away in the endless possibilities and end up way over budget. A clear, well-defined budget will help you narrow down choices and make sure the new bathroom doesn’t empty the bank account.

Another important question to consider is what your daily routine looks like. If you take a bath every day, your design will look very different from someone who hates baths. If a large vanity is important to your daily routine, it will be important to know that early on so it can be incorporated into the design.

It is also important to think about who will be using the bathroom. If it is the master bathroom for a couple, two sinks and mirrors might be the right choice, so each person has the space they need, but if it is a guest bathroom, one would suffice.

Storage space is another important aspect to consider. It is easy to add storage during the renovation process but much harder to add later down the line. If there is no place to store shampoo and soap, now would be the time to consider adding a wall niche.

Cabinets, storage behind mirrors, and drawer space will all alter the design as well as the finished look of the bathroom, so it is important to figure out how much storage you need before beginning planning.

Finally, ask yourself what you like about your current bathroom space. Maybe there is a shelf that is very convenient, or you like the layout of the room–these factors are important to note so you can incorporate them into your new design.