CostGuideHQ

Tub to Shower Conversion Cost (2026): $1,200-$12,000

Author: CostGuideHQ Editorial·✓ Fact-checked·Updated July 2026·5 min read·6 sources
Quick answerQuick answer: A tub-to-shower conversion typically costs $1,200 to $12,000, averaging around $4,000. A basic prefab stall swap sits near the low end, while a custom tiled walk-in or curbless shower with plumbing changes pushes toward $12,000-$15,000 (Fixr, Angi, This Old House).
  • Whole-project costs typically run $1,200-$12,000, averaging about $4,000 (Fixr, Angi, HomeAdvisor).
  • A prefabricated shower stall costs $1,000-$8,000, while a custom tiled walk-in runs $3,500-$15,000 (Angi, HomeGuide).
  • Labor makes up 40%-60% of the total project cost (Angi, HomeAdvisor).
  • Moving plumbing adds real money - a relocated drain line runs $900-$1,100 and a new shower valve $700-$1,200 (This Old House).

How much does tub to shower conversion cost?

National average
$4,000
total project
Typical range
$1,200–$12,000
Most projects
Whole project
$1,200–$15,000
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Cost by material / type

TypeLowHigh
prefabricated shower stall$1,000$8,000
custom tiled walk-in shower$3,500$15,000
acrylic liner / Bath Fitter-style conversion$1,200$9,500
curbless / roll-in shower$8,000$15,000
Estimate your cost
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Rough estimate only — get local quotes for exact pricing.

What affects the cost?

  • Shower type - a prefabricated stall runs $1,000-$8,000 installed versus $3,500-$15,000 for a custom tiled walk-in and $8,000-$15,000 for a curbless/roll-in design (Angi, HomeGuide, This Old House)
  • Plumbing changes - moving a drain line adds $900-$1,100, swapping the shower valve $700-$1,200, and general plumbing work $500-$1,100 (This Old House, HomeGuide)
  • Labor - installation labor typically makes up 40%-60% of the total project cost (Angi, HomeAdvisor)
  • Glass enclosure - framed doors cost $300-$1,200 versus $900-$2,300+ for frameless glass (Fixr, This Old House)
  • Surround material - tile runs about $1-$17 per sq ft, cultured marble $10-$35, cultured granite $40-$64, and quartz $50-$100 (HomeAdvisor, Angi)
  • Demolition and tub removal/disposal - $70-$1,000 depending on tub size and material (HomeGuide, Fixr, Angi)
  • Permits and accessibility add-ons - permits run $30-$2,000 depending on locality, and grab bars ($85-$500 each) or a fold-down seat ($300-$800) add to accessibility-focused conversions (Angi, HomeAdvisor, This Old House)

Why does tub to shower conversion cost so much?

A tub-to-shower conversion typically costs $1,200 to $12,000, averaging around $4,000 (Fixr), with sourced national averages ranging from about $3,000 (Angi, HomeAdvisor) up to $7,000 (HomeGuide) depending on how each source weights basic versus custom jobs. The spread is wide because the service covers two very different projects: swapping in a prefabricated shower stall, which runs $1,000-$8,000 installed, or building a fully custom tiled walk-in shower, which runs $3,500-$15,000 (Angi, HomeGuide). Labor is a major driver, typically eating up 40%-60% of the total bill (Angi, HomeAdvisor), and materials matter too - tile alone ranges from about $1 to $17 per square foot, while stone and quartz surrounds can run $40-$100 per square foot (HomeAdvisor). On top of the base conversion, tub removal and disposal adds $70-$1,000, and a glass enclosure adds another $300-$2,300 or more depending on whether you go framed or frameless (Fixr, HomeGuide, This Old House).

What affects the cost?

Shower type is the single biggest lever. A basic prefab stall or acrylic liner conversion sits at the low end ($1,000-$9,500), a custom tiled walk-in lands in the middle to upper range ($3,500-$15,000), and a curbless or roll-in shower - often chosen for accessibility - runs highest at $8,000-$15,000 because of the extra framing and drainage work needed for a level entry (Angi, HomeGuide, This Old House). Plumbing scope matters just as much: keeping the drain and supply lines where they are keeps costs down, but relocating a drain line adds $900-$1,100, and installing or upgrading the shower valve adds $700-$1,200 (This Old House). Glass enclosures are another swing factor - framed doors run $300-$1,200, while frameless glass costs $900-$2,300 or more (Fixr, This Old House). Finally, accessibility features like grab bars ($85-$500 each) and a fold-down seat ($300-$800), plus permits ($30-$2,000 depending on locality), can add a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars on top of the core conversion (Angi, HomeAdvisor, This Old House).

How to lower your tub to shower conversion cost

  • Choose a prefabricated stall over custom tile. A prefab shower stall or acrylic liner system costs a fraction of custom tile work while still delivering a full conversion (Angi, HomeGuide).
  • Keep the plumbing where it is. Reusing the existing drain and supply line locations avoids the $900-$1,200 charges tied to relocating a drain or installing a new valve (This Old House).
  • Go framed instead of frameless on the glass. Framed shower doors run $300-$1,200 versus $900-$2,300+ for frameless enclosures - a simple curtain skips glass costs entirely (Fixr, This Old House).
  • Skip premium stone surrounds. Tile and solid surface materials cost far less per square foot than cultured granite or quartz, which can run $40-$100 per square foot (HomeAdvisor).
  • Bundle accessibility features into the initial install. Adding grab bars or a seat during the main conversion is cheaper than retrofitting them later as a separate job (This Old House).
  • Get multiple local quotes. With national averages ranging from $3,000 to $7,000 depending on the source, actual bids from local contractors are the best way to pin down your real number.

Costs vary by region, home condition, and contractor, so use these figures to budget and compare quotes rather than as a final price.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to convert a tub to a shower?
Most homeowners spend $1,200 to $12,000, averaging around $4,000, depending on whether you install a basic prefab stall or a fully custom tiled walk-in shower (Fixr, HomeAdvisor).
What's the cheapest way to convert a tub to a shower?
A prefabricated shower stall or acrylic liner conversion is the least expensive route, typically $1,000-$9,500 installed, versus $3,500-$15,000 for custom tile (Angi, HomeGuide).
Does converting a tub to a shower add value to a home?
It can, especially in homes with more than one bathtub, since buyers increasingly favor walk-in showers - but costs and ROI both hinge heavily on the finish level you choose (Angi).
How much does it cost to move plumbing for a shower conversion?
Relocating a drain line runs about $900-$1,100, swapping in a new shower valve costs $700-$1,200, and general plumbing work adds $500-$1,100, so keeping fixtures in their existing locations keeps costs down (This Old House, HomeGuide).
Is a curbless or roll-in shower more expensive?
Yes. A curbless or roll-in shower, often chosen for accessibility, typically costs $8,000-$15,000 because of the additional framing and drainage work needed to create a level entry (This Old House).
What's included in a typical tub-to-shower conversion quote?
Most quotes cover tub removal and disposal, the new shower base or pan, wall surround, and standard installation labor. Permits, plumbing relocation, glass enclosures, and accessibility add-ons like grab bars are frequently priced separately (Angi, HomeAdvisor, This Old House).

Sources

Figures synthesized and cross-checked across these sources (retrieved 2026-07-24):

  • Fixr — Average $4,000; most projects $1,200-$10,000; high-end custom up to $20,000. Prefab: materials $2,000-$3,000, labor ~$1,000, total ~$4,000. Custom tiled walk-in by material: ceramic tile $6,000-$12,000, composite stone $2,000-$6,000, glass tile $5,000-$12,000, natural stone $6,000-$20,000, porcelain tile $7,000-$14,000, solid surface $2,000-$8,000. Bathtub removal ~$300 ($200-$1,000). Plumbing work $100-$250. Per sq ft average $320. Framed glass doors $300-$1,200, frameless $900-$2,300. Grab bars $85-$300 each.
  • Angi — Average $3,000; range $1,200-$15,000. Walk-in shower $800-$15,000, custom tiled walk-in $3,500-$15,000. Shower stall replacement $1,000-$8,000 (neo-angle $450-$1,200, square corner $350-$1,400, curved $500-$1,300, alcove $500-$2,300, curbless $2,000-$4,100). By size: small 32x32 $1,000-$2,800, large 36x60 $1,200-$4,200, ADA 36x36 $1,300-$5,500. Labor $500-$5,000 (40-60% of total). Permits $200-$2,000. Old tub removal $150-$300. Tiled shower installation $900-$10,000. Tile $1-$17/sq ft, cultured marble $10-$35/sq ft, cultured granite $40-$64/sq ft.
  • HomeGuide — Average $7,000; range $2,000-$12,000. Prefab shower stall $1,000-$8,000. Walk-in shower (tiled) $3,500-$15,000. Bath Fitter-style conversions $1,200-$9,500. Tub cut conversions $800-$1,800. Bathtub removal $70-$800. Prefabricated shower stall material $500-$1,500. Custom shower tiling $800-$3,000. Shower pan installation $900-$3,500. Glass shower doors $400-$1,900. Shower valve replacement $225-$575. Plumbing work $500-$1,100. Permits $30-$400.
  • HomeAdvisor — Average $3,000; normal range $1,500-$8,000; full range $1,200-$15,000. Walk-in shower $800-$15,000 (custom tiled $3,500-$15,000). Shower stall $1,000-$8,000 on average. Tiled shower $900-$10,000, or $1-$17/sq ft. Fiberglass/acrylic $0.75-$12/sq ft, cultured marble $10-$35/sq ft, cultured granite $40-$64/sq ft, quartz $50-$100/sq ft. Faucet installation $50-$1,500. Debris haul-away $100-$200. Cleanup/repair $300-$2,400. Bathtub removal $150-$300. Shower door installation $600-$1,350. Plumbing addition $300-$2,400. Permits $200-$2,000. Labor 40%-60% of total cost.
  • This Old House — Overall range $2,000-$12,000. By type: prefabricated shower stall $2,000-$6,000, walk-in shower $5,000-$12,000, tile shower $6,000-$12,000, curbless shower $8,000-$15,000. Moving a drain line $900-$1,100. Installing/upgrading shower valve $700-$1,200. Relocating supply lines $700+. Tub removal/disposal $300-$1,200. Framed glass doors $400-$1,200, frameless $1,200-$3,000, custom glass enclosures $3,000+. Handheld showerhead $100-$300, rain showerhead $100-$400. Grab bars (each) $150-$500. Fold-down shower seat $300-$800. Digital shower controls $500-$2,000. Survey: 37% reported costs exceeded expectations, 70% cited materials as primary cost driver, 51% cited labor as major expense.
  • Bob Vila — Bathtub-to-shower conversion $1,200-$8,000 or more. Broader shower installation national average $7,350, range $3,733-$11,173. Walk-in shower: prefabricated $1,000-$8,000, custom tiled $3,500-$15,000, retiling existing $800-$3,000 or $7-$25/sq ft. Labor rates $400-$2,000 for a professional installer; tile installation $7-$14/sq ft. Demolition/removal $50-$100 plus ~$250 for hauling debris. Plumbing modifications $600-$1,600 per fixture. New drain line $1,000-$7,000. Shower door $600-$1,350. Shower pan $530-$2,700.

Sourced national averages for a tub-to-shower conversion range from about $3,000 (Angi, HomeAdvisor) to $7,000 (HomeGuide), with Fixr's $4,000 figure landing at the median and used here as the headline average. The overall project range spans roughly $1,200 on the low end (a basic prefab stall swap) to $12,000-$15,000 on the high end (custom tile, structural plumbing moves, and frameless glass), so this guide uses the commonly cited $1,200-$12,000 span as the typical range and notes that fully custom jobs can run to $15,000+. Bob Vila's broader 'shower installation' figures ($7,350 average, $3,733-$11,173) were reviewed but not used for the headline number since that category includes non-conversion shower work. Figures generally include tub removal, the new shower base/surround, and standard installation labor; they typically exclude major plumbing relocation, permits, and accessibility add-ons unless noted.