Tub-to-Shower Conversion: Costs, Design & Planning
Converting a bathtub to a walk-in shower is the most common layout change in a bathroom remodel. It opens up the room, removes the high step over a tub wall, and gives a dated bathroom a modern look, often without moving any other fixture.
Daddicated takes viewers through a complete guest bathroom remodel from start to finish, including a full tub-to-shower conversion done as a DIY project. This guide covers what that kind of conversion involves, what it typically costs, and the decisions that decide whether the new shower lasts. For costs across the rest of a bathroom remodel, see our bathroom remodeling guide.
Tub-to-Shower Conversion at a Glance
Question | Typical answer |
|---|
Prefab shower kit in the old tub space | $1,500 – $8,000 installed (average around $3,000) |
Custom tiled walk-in shower | $5,000 – $15,000, depending on tile, glass, and whether the drain moves |
Moving the drain | $1,500 – $3,500 to relocate it to the center of a new shower floor |
Time on site | 2 – 3 working days for a prefab shower; 5 – 8 for a custom tiled or curbless shower |
Permit | Usually required when plumbing changes; $200 – $1,000 |
What a Tub-to-Shower Conversion Involves
A conversion follows the same basic sequence whether you hire it out or do it yourself:
Demolition. Remove the tub, the surround, and any damaged backer board. This is when hidden problems, such as rotted subfloor or a corroded drain, come to light.
Rough plumbing. Move the drain from the tub position to where the shower pan needs it, and set the shower valve at shower height. A pressure-balancing or thermostatic valve prevents scalding.
The shower floor. Set a prefabricated pan, a foam base system, or a custom mortar bed sloped 1/4 inch per foot to the drain.
Waterproofing. Cover the walls, the floor, and any niche or bench with a continuous membrane, lapped and sealed at every seam and corner.
Walls and tile. Install panels or tile, then grout and seal.
Glass and fixtures. Install the door or glass panel, the showerhead and trim, and accessories.
Our guide to shower pan types and costs compares the floor options, and our bathroom waterproofing guide explains the membrane step that matters most.
What a Tub-to-Shower Conversion Costs
The type of shower you build sets the budget more than anything else:
Prefabricated surround: $500 to $2,000 for the unit, with little installation time. The fastest and most affordable option.
Tile shower with a prefab pan: $1,500 to $4,000 in materials and installation, depending on tile and size.
Fully custom tile shower: $5,000 to $12,000 or more for a mortar-bed floor, niche, bench, and frameless glass.
Glass: about $800 to $1,400 for a framed door, and $1,800 to $4,500 for fully frameless tempered glass.
Altogether, a conversion with a prefab shower kit typically costs $1,500 to $8,000, and a custom tiled walk-in shower $5,000 to $15,000. Moving the drain adds $1,500 to $3,500. For a tier-by-tier look at walk-in shower pricing, see our walk-in shower cost and installation guide.
DIY or Hire It Out?
A prefab shower kit set into the old tub alcove, with the drain staying close to where it is, is a realistic project for an experienced DIYer. A tiled shower is a different job. The waterproofing details are unforgiving, and a leak behind the tile often isn’t visible until years later, when repairing it means tearing the shower out.
Good DIY candidates: prefab pans and wall kits, fixture and trim swaps, painting and finish work
Usually worth hiring out: drain relocation, a custom mortar-bed pan, membrane waterproofing, large-format or patterned tile, frameless glass
Permits: any plumbing change usually needs one, and the inspection protects you whether you DIY or hire
Planning Decisions That Matter
Keep the drain close. Building the shower within the old tub footprint keeps plumbing work, and cost, to a minimum.
Choose the floor before demolition. A prefab pan needs a standard size and drain location; a custom pan fits any shape and works with a linear drain.
Decide on a curb. A curbless entry looks seamless and helps accessibility, but it needs a recessed subfloor and wider waterproofing.
Plan the niche. Place it before waterproofing and tile, with full tiles above and below for a clean finish.
Add grab bar blocking. Solid wood blocking behind the walls costs little while they are open.
Should You Remove the Only Tub?
A walk-in shower suits most households, but if this is the only tub in the home, weigh resale. In the National Association of Home Builders’ 2021 What Home Buyers Really Want survey, about 7 in 10 first-time buyers rated a primary bath with both a tub and a separate shower as essential or desirable. The safer strategy is often to convert the primary bathroom and keep a tub-shower combination in a secondary bath.
If accessibility is the goal, compare the options in our guide to a walk-in tub vs. a walk-in shower, which covers safety, cost, and caregiver access. If you decide to keep the tub, our tub-shower combo guide covers the options for updating it.
Final Thoughts
A tub-to-shower conversion is one of the most satisfying bathroom upgrades for people who rarely bathe. Keep the drain close to the old tub location, decide on the floor and curb before demolition, and put the budget into waterproofing, which is the one step you never see and the one that decides how long the shower lasts.
If you’d like to follow along with the full DIY project, Daddicated documents the remodel on the Daddicated YouTube channel.
When you are ready to get estimates from licensed contractors in your area, contact Home Upgrade Pros or call: (725) 677-8878 to connect with professionals who offer free no-obligation assessments.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a tub-to-shower conversion cost?
A conversion using a prefabricated shower kit typically costs $1,500 to $8,000, averaging around $3,000. A custom tiled walk-in shower costs $5,000 to $15,000, depending on tile, shower size, glass, and whether the drain moves. Relocating the drain adds $1,500 to $3,500.
How long does a tub-to-shower conversion take?
A prefabricated shower takes about 2 to 3 working days. A custom tiled or curbless shower takes about 5 to 8 working days, because of the pan, waterproofing, tile, and curing time.
Can I convert a tub to a shower myself?
A prefab shower kit installed in the old tub space is a realistic DIY project if you are experienced. Drain relocation, custom mortar-bed pans, membrane waterproofing, and frameless glass are usually worth hiring out, because mistakes there lead to hidden leaks.
Do I need a permit for a tub-to-shower conversion?
Usually, yes, when the plumbing changes. Permit fees typically run $200 to $1,000. A contractor who offers to skip the permit is creating a liability for you at resale and in an insurance claim.
What is the most cost-effective shower option?
A prefabricated shower surround is the most affordable at $500 to $2,000 for the unit, with little installation time. A tile shower with a prefab pan costs $1,500 to $4,000, and a fully custom tile shower $5,000 to $12,000 or more.
Will removing the tub hurt resale?
It can if it is the only tub in the home. About 7 in 10 first-time buyers rate a primary bath with both a tub and a separate shower as essential or desirable, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ 2021 survey. Keeping a tub in a secondary bathroom avoids the issue.
