How Much Does it Cost to Remodel a Shower?

The cost of a shower remodel generally ranges from $2,300 to $8,600. They can sometimes be done for less with shower kits (prefab parts that arrive separately but are designed to come together quickly, with the help of an installer) and one-piece prefab shower stalls or liners, consisting of a single three-wall unit, typically made from acrylic or fiberglass.

Of course, you can spend much more to remodel a shower if you want to. Now we’re talking luxe materials, customized liners with niches for soap and shampoos, grab bars, and maybe even a waterproof sound system.

Bath upgrades—including new showers—are particularly popular at a time when spending on home improvement is robust.

And when it comes to significant upgrades, renovating the shower often tops the list.

Shower remodeling trends

Trends reflect a desire for a more sensuous wash-and-dry experience, coupled with what could be called lame-fixtures-and-finishes fatigue and spa-bath aspirations.

What do consumers want most? Let’s start with replacing the classic hot-and-cold-water mixing valve. A thermostatic mixer, in contrast, allows you to set and hold temperature and volume, making it one of most popular bath upgrades.

There’s also the concept of a separate shower stall. Traditional bath-and-tub combo, out; a cubicle with doors or enclosures that separate the shower from the rest of the bathroom, in.

Other wants:

Rainheads. These plate-size sprayers, typically mounted overhead, have been around a while, but over half of homeowners doing bathroom upgrades want them. They retain a certain allure, thanks partly to their name and look and all-encompassing sprays.

Barrier-free enclosures. Walk right in and — if that’s a flip-down or freestanding bench — sit right down. Aside from accessibility, curbless enclosures offer a seamless, space-enhancing look.

More elbow room. Bigger feels more luxurious and sensual — shower with a friend! — even if it also makes the shower harder to heat. Half of all renovating homeowners increase their shower size.

What influences the cost of shower remodels?

The cost of shower remodels depends primarily on how extensive a renovation you want. TubToday, gives a range of $400 to $3,000 for a partial remodel of an existing shower, while replacing an existing stall would run from $1,000 to $8,000, and a total remodel — replacing the tile and fixtures and possibly reconfiguring the space — could be as little as $3,500 or as much as $15,000. Or, of course, more.

More specifically, the biggest factors are the size of the space, the cost of labor, and choices in the number and quality of fixtures, such as hand showers and shower heads, and finishes, such as tile. Extras like radiant floor heat, steam showers and “body tiles” (wall tiles that spray water) also inflate the bottom line.

When it comes to shower upgrades, most homeowners opt for a licensed and insured bath design-build firm like TubToday, that can take care of every detail, from the building permit to the height of the hand shower. We have different ways of calculating our costs, which include covering infrastructure items, like framing, subflooring, preparing walls for grab bars, waterproofing and drains; unexpected screwups, like leaks; insurance — to cover the cost of the screwups; and incidentals, like parking a dumpster.

Complexities of shower remodels

The pros can be pricey, but they’re often a necessity, as shower upgrades can be complicated. Let’s say you want to tear out a 3-by-5-foot alcove tub and replace it with a same-size shower area, plus new tile and fixtures. Removing a tub can be an undertaking, and not only because it’s a drag to break up and carry out all that debris. The tub previously functioned as a basin. Without it, the contractor will need to frame and install a shower pan and other waterproofing elements before preparing the floor for tile.

Or let’s say you are determined to have a curb-free walk-in shower. Curbs serve a purpose: They can ward off water overflows. To eliminate one, and have a shower floor sit flush with the rest of the space, the contractor must lower the framing under the shower pan or raise the floor outside the shower.

Elements of a shower remodel budget

Here’s how your shower remodel budget might break down, based on the major factors of the renovation.

Design and space planning: A TubToday pro can take care of headaches like getting a building permit and meeting code, fixture placement, and jigsaw-puzzle-style measuring and fitting. TubToday designers are also helpful in choosing products. They can also save you money, designing a shower so that your existing drain and pipes can stay where they are (moving them really catapults a project’s costs).

Labor: In general, labor averages 50 percent of the total bathroom project prices. The percentage of the bottom line that reflects labor costs will change along with the scope and location of the remodel.

For example, a TubToday expert may be able to slide a prefab shower into an existing stall in one day, while a gut remodel of a shower area, including demolition, all new fixtures, waterproofing, possible floor reframing, lighting, vent fan and so forth could take three subcontractors — pricey in certain areas of the U.S. — and several weeks.

Even if you go for a pre-made shower kit, the bill to install it can run to $1,000. But don’t forget that a TubToday contractor’s services often include demolition and dumping fees, which alone can run $1,000 to $2,300.

Tilework (including preparing the wall, tile and grout and labor): $2 to $17 a square foot, which also notes that if the walls are being waterproofed for the first time the cost of materials and installation will rise to an average $25 a square foot. Labor costs often reflect the difficulty of installing certain types of tile, such as small mosaics.

Fixtures: Count on $600 to $1,600 per plumbing fixture, including labor, HomeAdvisor says. Of course, there’s a big variety — both in terms of the types of fixtures, and the level of luxe within a fixture.

Common shower fixtures and their costs

FIXTURE TYPICAL PRICE/PRICE RANGE

$1,000-$2,600 Prefab acrylic liner
$600 Thermostatic Valve
$50-$900 Shower head and faucet
$65 Drain fittings (linear)
$4,300-$10,000 Steam shower
$100-$850 Vent fan/heater and lights
$500 Radiant floor heating
$700 Frameless glass doors

The bottom line on shower remodeling costs

Shower upgrades are what make a bathroom remodel major — coinciding with a threefold increase in the overall renovation cost of $15,000 compared to $5,000 for a minor remodel.

Of course, state-of-the-art bathrooms have a big wow factor, ranking among the top projects that appeal to buyers. New baths also are likely to add value to the home for resale.

And then, there’s nothing like showering in a spacious, well-lighted place, ideally one tailored to your tastes and style. Like a stone-lined, elegant, sliding-door spa shower.

What is the cost of remodeling a shower?

Any shower can be upgraded easily. As a general rule, shower remodels cost between $2,300 and $8,600, though some can be completed for less by using shower kits (prefabricated parts that arrive separately but are designed to be put together quickly, with the aid of an installer) and one-piece prefabricated shower stalls or liners, consisting of a single three-wall unit, typically made from acrylic or fiberglass.

If you want, you can spend much more to remodel a shower. We’re now talking about luxe materials, customized liners with niches for soaps and shampoos, grab bars, and maybe even a waterproof sound system.

When spending on home improvement is strong, bath upgrades, including new showers, are particularly popular.

Renovations to the shower are often at the top of the list when it comes to significant upgrades.

Trends in shower remodeling

Combined with what could be called lame fixtures and finishes fatigue, wash-and-dry trends reflect a desire for a more sensual experience.

What is most important to consumers? Replace the classic hot-and-cold water mixing valve first. Temperature and volume can be controlled with a thermostatic mixer, which is one of the most popular bath upgrades.

Separate shower stalls are another option. Out with the traditional bath and tub combo, in with the shower cubicle with a door that separates the shower from the rest of the bathroom.

What else would you like?

Rainheads. Over half of homeowners who are renovating their bathrooms want one. In spite of their names, looks, and all-encompassing sprays, they still hold a certain allure.

Barrier-free enclosures. When it’s available, get a seat on a bench that flips down or stands up. These curbless enclosures don’t just provide accessibility, they look amazing.

Even though it makes the shower harder to heat, more elbow room feels more luxurious and sensual. Half of all renovating homeowners increase the size of their shower.

What factors affect the cost of a shower remodel?

Shower remodels vary in cost depending on how extensive the remodeling is. An existing shower can be partially remodeled for $500 to $3,000, while replacing an existing stall can be done for $1,000 to $8,000, and a full remodel – which may include replacing the tile and fixtures as well as reconfiguring the space – could cost as little as $3,500 or as much as $15,000. Or, of course, more.

Specific factors include the size of the space, the cost of labor, and the choice of fixtures and finishes, including hand showers and shower heads. Radiant floor heating, steam showers, and “body tiles” (wall tiles that spray water) further increase prices.

The majority of homeowners who upgrade their showers choose a licensed and insured bath design-build company such as TubToday, that can handle every detail, from the building permit to the height of the hand shower. We estimate our costs in a variety of ways, which include infrastructure items, like framing, subflooring, preparing walls for grab bars, waterproofing, and drains; unexpected errors, like leaks; insurance – to cover these; and incidentals.

Complexities of a shower remodel

They can be expensive, but they’re often necessary, as shower upgrades can be complicated. Assume you want to replace a 3-by-5-foot alcove tub with a shower area of the same size, plus new tiles and fixtures. Tub removal can be a chore, and not just because it’s difficult to break up and carry out all the debris. Previously, the tub served as a basin. Before preparing the floor for tile, the contractor will need to frame and install a shower pan and other waterproofing elements.

Say you want a walk-in shower without curbs. Curbs can prevent water from overflowing. A contractor who wants to eliminate one and have the shower floor flush with the rest of the space must lower the framing under the shower pan or raise the floor outside the shower.

Elements of a shower remodel budget

If you are looking to remodel your shower, here’s a break-down of what your entire budget might consist of. The major factors that may affect your budget include:

A TubToday professional can take care of headaches like getting a building permit and meeting code, fixture placement, and jigsaw-puzzle-style measuring and fitting. TubToday designers are also great for picking out products to go with your custom shower. They can also help you choose whether it would be more cost-effective for you to keep your pipes and drain where they currently are, or if you would like them moved.

In general, labor makes up about 50% of the total cost of a bathroom renovation project. The percentage that reflects labor varies depending on the scope and location of the renovation.

For example, TubToday could take just one day to install a prefabricated shower in an existing stall, while a gut remodel of a bathroom with all new fixtures and waterproofing would typically take anywhere from two to four days.

A pre-made shower kit can cost $1,000 but the good news is that the price includes demolition and dumping fees which some contractors include in their services.

Tilework involves the labour required to prepare the tile, grout and wall before they’re installed. $2 to $17 per square foot, which also notes that if the walls are being waterproofed for the first time, the cost of materials and installation will rise to an average $25 per square foot. Labor costs often reflect the difficulty of installing certain types of tile, such as small mosaics.

Plumbing fixtures can cost anywhere from $600-$1,600. What kind of plumbing fixture you need will depend on the design of your home and what kind of look you’re going for. The prices vary depending on what type of fixture you choose, so make sure to do your research beforehand so that you know exactly what everything is going to cost before calling a

Shower fixtures are the basic necessities for bathing and showering, so a person with a tight budget will want to prioritize purchasing them.

To help you keep costs contained, here are some tips that might be helpful.

Shower upgrades are what make a bathroom remodel a major project. A threefold increase in the overall renovation cost of $15,000 compared to $5,000 for a minor remodel.

Of course, state-of-the-art bathrooms have a big wow factor, ranking among the top projects that appeal to buyers. New bathrooms also are likely to add value to the home for resale.

And then, there’s nothing like showering in a spacious, well-lighted place, ideally one tailored to your tastes and style. Like a stone-lined, elegant, sliding-door spa shower.