Replacing a shower head costs $260 on average, with most homeowners paying $100 to $450 including installation.1 The fixture itself runs $5 to $300 by type, so this is one of the cheapest bathroom upgrades.1 Prices below are national averages* for 2026.
*National averages, not local quotes. Your price depends on the fixture, any corrosion or valve work, and local plumber rates.
$260
average installed (Angi)
$5–$300
fixture by type
$150–$220
labor + materials (Angi)
$175–$451
per head (Homewyse)
What sources say
| Source | Figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Angi | $260 average, $100 – $450 | Full spread $75 – $700 with specialty work |
| Homewyse | $175 – $451 per head | Fixture, supplies and labor, May 2026 |
| ContractorPlus | $25 – $120 fixture at contractor cost | Trade pricing tool; shows what pros pay before markup |
Angi and Homewyse land in the same neighborhood for a standard swap; ContractorPlus shows the wholesale side, where the fixture itself costs a pro $25 to $120 before their markup.1,2,3
Fixture cost by type (Angi)
| Shower head type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Single-spray | $5 – $50 |
| Rainfall | $25 – $150 |
| Handheld | $30 – $200 |
| Sliding bar | $60 – $300 |
| Ceiling-mounted | $8 – $300 |
Ceiling-mounted heads are the outlier: the fixture can be cheap, but routing water through the ceiling adds real plumbing work.1
When a $50 job becomes $450
| Situation | Effect |
|---|---|
| Straight swap onto a good arm | DIY or minimum-charge pro visit; Angi budgets $150 – $220 for labor and materials |
| Corroded arm or threads | Extra plumbing work pushes toward the top of the $100 – $450 range |
| New ceiling-mounted or dual setup | Runs toward the $700 ceiling of Angi’s range |
| Valve or diverter replacement | Separate job; priced on top of the head swap |
DIY or hire
A like-for-like shower head swap is a 15-minute DIY job: tape the threads, hand-tighten, done. Call a plumber for corroded fittings, valve work or ceiling plumbing. The Home Depot shower heads category shows current fixture pricing across every type above.
Related guides
Faucet Installation Cost
Shower Door Installation Cost
Shower Pan Replacement Cost
All cost guides
Sources
1. Angi — Cost to Replace a Shower Head
2. Homewyse — Cost to Install a Shower Head
3. ContractorPlus — Shower Head Installation Cost