Home/Bathroom Remodel/Tub-to-Shower Conversion

How Much Does a Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost?

Replacing a bathtub with a shower typically costs $2,000–$12,000 [1]. A prefab shower stall sits at the low end; a tiled or curbless walk-in shower, new glass, and moving the drain push it toward the top.

Cost by shower type

Installed price ranges [1]. The type of shower you replace the tub with is the biggest cost decision.

Prefabricated shower stall

One-piece or multi-panel acrylic/fiberglass unit — the lowest-cost option.

$2,000–$6,000
Walk-in shower

Low or no threshold, usually with a glass panel instead of a door.

$5,000–$12,000
Tiled shower

Custom tile walls and pan; needs a full waterproofing system.

$6,000–$12,000
Curbless shower

Floor slopes to the drain with no step-over — best for accessibility, most structural work.

$8,000–$15,000

What adds to the price

Typical installed costs for the items that move a quote [1]. Ask whether your quote already includes them.

Framed glass door
$400–$1,200
Frameless glass door
$1,200–$3,000
Custom glass enclosure
$3,000+
Moving the drain

The biggest avoidable cost — keep the drain where the tub's was if you can.

$900–$1,100
New shower valve
$700–$1,200
Adding or relocating supply lines
$700+
Tub removal and disposal
$300–$1,200
Subfloor repair or reinforcement
Several hundred to $1,000+

Converting for accessibility or aging in place

A walk-in or curbless shower removes the step over a tub wall. These features are commonly added at the same time [1]:

Grab bars (each)$150–$500
Fold-down seat$300–$800
Handheld showerhead$100–$300
Rain showerhead$100–$400
Digital controls$500–$2,000

Should you keep a bathtub?

Walk-in showers are popular in both primary and guest bathrooms, but if you plan to sell soon, This Old House recommends keeping at least one bathtub elsewhere in the home for resale [1]. Converting a secondary tub while keeping one in another bathroom gets you the shower without narrowing your pool of buyers.

How to keep the cost down

  • Keep the drain where it is. Moving it costs $900–$1,100 on its own [1], so choose a shower base that lines up with the existing drain.
  • Consider a prefab stall over tile. It's the lowest-cost shower type, at $2,000–$6,000 installed.
  • Budget a 10–20% contingency. Water damage or subfloor problems often show up only once the tub is out [1].

How other sources compare

HomeAdvisor puts tub-to-shower conversions at $1,200–$8,000 [2], lower at the bottom end because it includes basic shower-kit swaps. Either way, the type of shower and whether the drain moves decide where your project lands.

Sources

  1. This Old House — Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost (updated 2026-03-04)
  2. HomeAdvisor — Bathroom Remodel Cost (updated 2026-06-17)

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