Shower Conversion Cost Calculator

National data lands in a wide band because the spec drives everything: HomeGuide puts conversions at $2,000–$12,000 (average $7,000), Angi at $1,500–$15,000 (average $3,000), and Fixr at $1,200–$10,000 (average $4,000). This model prices a realistic mid-range job — 60×32 in alcove, tiled walls, framed glass door — at about $6,254 ($4,850–$8,780), and a full custom tile build with frameless glass and a relocated drain runs $12,000–$15,000+ in high-cost metros.

Keep the drain and valve where they are, drop in an acrylic base pan with a 3-piece surround kit, and hang a curtain rod instead of glass — that package computes to about $4,771 turnkey ($3,673–$6,770). A stall kit alone runs $350–$4,100 in materials per HomeGuide, and small 32×32 conversions are the cheapest of all at roughly $3,168. One-day acrylic liner companies quote $1,200–$9,500 for the same bracket.

Appraisers and agents generally advise keeping at least one tub somewhere in the house — if this is your only tub, the home still reads as family-friendly to buyers with small children as long as another full bath exists. Converting a secondary or hall bath tub is usually safe; converting the sole tub in a one-bathroom home shrinks your buyer pool. Nobody can quote you a reliable ROI number for this — treat any percentage a sales page gives you as marketing.

A prefab pan-and-surround conversion is a 1–2 day job; a custom tile build with a new valve, niche and bench typically takes 3–5 working days plus cure time for waterproofing membranes and grout before the shower can be used — figure about a week door to door. One-day liner companies genuinely finish in a day because they fit manufactured acrylic over the prepped alcove.

Usually yes whenever the plumbing is opened — a new valve, a moved drain, or altered venting almost always requires a plumbing permit and inspection, and moisture-related electrical (GFCI, exhaust fan) triggers electrical permits. Fees run $30–$400 per HomeGuide. Like-for-like stall swaps with the valve untouched are the case where many jurisdictions let it slide, but your building department decides, not the contractor.

Plumbers bill $45–$150/hr (HomeGuide), and a drain move means opening the floor or ceiling below, re-sloping the trap arm, and re-venting. On a wood-framed floor that's hours of joist work; on a concrete slab it means saw-cutting, trenching, and patching the slab — which is why this model prices a full drain-and-valve relocation at $1,400 versus $350 to reuse both, before slab surprises.

Installed, this model prices surround kits at $16/sq ft, ceramic/porcelain tile at $28/sq ft, and stone or large-format premium tile at $45/sq ft — so tiling a 60×32 alcove's ~69 sq ft of wet wall runs about $1,900 versus $1,100 for a kit. Kits win on speed, grout-free cleaning and price; tile wins on looks, repairability and custom fit for out-of-square alcoves. Either way, insist on a waterproofing layer (membrane or waterproof backer) behind the finish — that's the part cheap bids skip.

Bathroom floor tile and flooring transitions, subfloor repair discovered after demo, mold or water-damage remediation behind the old tub, enlarging the alcove into a stud wall, moving the toilet or vanity, steam or body-spray rough-ins beyond the valve tiers listed, custom glass hardware for out-of-plumb walls, and sales tax. Fixr prices mold and water damage as separate line items for the same reason.