The typical cost of installing a shower is around $3,000. While the typical cost of installing a new shower can range from about $1,000 to $6,000, a high-end project can cost upward of $10,000. The total cost of your shower installation project will depend on the quality of materials you use, the size of your shower and labor costs in your area.

• How much does it cost to install a shower?
• How much do different types of showers cost?
• How much does it cost to install a shower per square foot?
• What are some of the additional costs of installing a shower?

Though some small upgrades to your shower or shower-and-tub combination may be doable without assistance, if you’re installing an entirely new stall or tub, or making major alterations to your existing plumbing or setup, it’s always smart to contact a bathroom remodeling professional in your area. Your shower will need to be connected to existing plumbing in your bathroom, which requires the skill of a shower installation contractor.

The two main types of showers are full showers and shower-and-bathtub combinations. Each type offers benefits and drawbacks in terms of costs and practicality. While stand-alone showers typically cost around $1,150, shower-and-bathtub combinations usually cost around $2,000. Read on for a more detailed cost breakdown.

• The average cost to install a stand-alone shower is around $1,150, including labor. This figure can vary widely depending on the style of stall, embellishments added and local labor rates.
• A basic shower stall can cost as little as around $700 with labor.
• A shower liner (a sleeve, usually plastic or acrylic, that slides over an existing shower or tub) can start at around $750. Stand-alone showers typically take up less space than shower-and-tub combinations and can cost a little less. A shower without a tub uses less water (particularly if it has a low-flow shower head), which can cut financial and environmental costs, and is generally a more accessible choice for aging homeowners, as there’s no barrier wall to step over and features like benches can be installed. It’s also thought by some to be a more adult, sophisticated style. One-third of bathroom-renovating homeowners surveyed in the 2018 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study reported removing the bathtub in their projects.

• The average cost to install a shower-and-bathtub combination is around $2,000, including labor. This figure can vary widely depending on the style of tub, embellishments added and local labor rates.
• A general-purpose tub installation, including labor, can cost as little as $625. Installing a shower-and-bathtub combination unit may be a smart investment in terms of resale value, as homeowners with children often look for homes with at least one bathtub. Additionally, having a shower and a bathtub available provides two amenities in one. Because of plumbing and size configurations, it’s often easier and less costly to convert a shower-and-tub combination into a stand-alone shower than the other way around. A shower and tub generally require a little bit more space.

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With installation costs, common custom shower materials like tile can cost less than $30 or more than $80 per square foot, depending on the quality and intricacy of the tile and design. Ceramic tiles tend to be less expensive, while high-end options like handcrafted natural stone are often pricier. Smaller tiles are generally a smarter bet if you’re looking for a more slip-resistant finish. You’ll also probably want to add a waterproof barrier called a shower pan underneath the tile floor to catch any water that seeps through the tile and grout. A shower pan can range in cost from a few hundred dollars to around $1,000 or more.

A tile shower is a popular design choice: 88 percent of homeowners surveyed after doing a bathroom remodel in the 2018 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study installed tile in their master bathrooms on tub or shower walls or as vanity backsplash. A complete, professionally installed tiled shower can cost anywhere from $1,500 to more than $10,000. A brick-style tile layout was by far the leading pattern in the trends study (66 percent), but more customized designs like herringbone, which typically cost more, were also popular in home improvement projects.

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The total cost of installing a new shower will vary depending on the fixtures and features you choose. Different finishes often come with different costs, and features like glass doors or built-in storage can raise prices.

Fixtures and faucets come in a variety of finishes and price ranges. A shower head can cost as little as $20 to up to a few hundred dollars for a higher-end model. Among renovating homeowners who matched fixtures around their bathrooms, brushed or satin nickel was the most popular fixture material choice (38 percent), followed by polished chrome (28 percent), according to the Houzz Bathroom Trends Study. Softer-finish nickel fixtures, which are thought to be lower maintenance, as they mask fingerprints and other smudges, typically cost a little bit more than shinier chrome.

A built-in storage niche typically cost around $100 to several hundred dollars, depending on the complexity of the unit, waterproofing costs and so on. A feature like a built-in shower bench, which can come in handy for older users or as a leg-shaving perch, typically costs around $250 to $500 or more, depending on the style of the bench and materials used.

Traditional shower curtains tend to be less expensive and easier to install than glass doors, but they’re harder to maintain due to mildew build-up and other wear. They also need to be replaced more frequently. A glass shower door or panel offers a sleeker look and is generally easier to keep clean, but it also means a bigger initial investment. A new glass shower door with labor can cost around $600 to $1,500 or more, depending on the type of glass used and style of enclosure.

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Today, more renovating homeowners are incorporating premium features like sprayers, steam showers and whirlpool tubs into their new showers and shower-tubs, according to the 2018 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study. Depending on the quality of the feature and how much additional plumbing is needed, these premium details can come at a wide range of prices, from a few hundred dollars to install a full-body shower panel to more than $5,000 for professionally installed integrated systems.

Related: Cost to Install a Bathtub