Installing a walk-in shower costs a national average of $9,000, with most projects priced between $6,000 and $12,000, per Angi’s 2026 data.3 Fixr puts the average at $8,000 within a $5,000 to $11,000 range, This Old House reports a typical project around $12,000 based on Homewyse data, and HomeBuddy’s project-request dataset shows a median of $15,900 — published figures that differ and are not reconciled by the sources.1,2,4 Figures below are the latest published national figures* from each source.
*National figures, not local quotes. HomeBuddy’s index was updated October 22, 2026 and covers April 2025 to June 2026; This Old House was updated October 7, 2026; Angi’s page is 2026 data (updated July 15, 2026); Zintex published July 27, 2026; Fixr was updated March 4, 2025. Your price depends on size, prefab versus custom construction, materials, layout changes, and local labor.
$9,000
national average (Angi, 2026)
$6,000 – $12,000
typical range (Angi)
$8,000
national average (Fixr)
$15,900
median project (HomeBuddy data)
What sources say
| Source | Figure | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Angi | $9,000 average; most projects $6,000 – $12,000 | Walk-in shower cost guide (2026 data, updated July 15, 2026) |
| Fixr | $8,000 average; $5,000 – $11,000 range | Walk-in shower installation guide (updated March 4, 2025) |
| This Old House | Typical project about $12,000; $4,000 – $20,000 overall | Guide built on Homewyse cost data plus a 2026 survey of 1,000 homeowners (updated October 7, 2026) |
| HomeBuddy | $15,900 median; middle half of projects $13,500 – $18,800 | Median of 8,945 project requests from its own lead marketplace, April 2025 to June 2026 (updated October 22, 2026) |
| Zintex | Remodel tiers: $4,000 – $10,000 basic; $11,000 – $18,000 mid-range; $19,000 – $25,000+ premium | A remodeling contractor’s published pricing tiers (July 27, 2026) |
These sources publish different kinds of numbers: Fixr, Angi, and This Old House present editorial averages (This Old House’s cost data comes from Homewyse unless otherwise noted), while HomeBuddy reports the median of project requests through its own marketplace, with a documented methodology that removed 226 outlier records (2.46% of its dataset).1,2,3,4 Their published figures differ, and the sources do not reconcile the differences — so we report each figure with its own scope and method rather than blending them.
Prefab vs. custom walk-in showers
The biggest fork in price is a prefabricated kit versus a custom-built shower. Fixr prices a prefab walk-in shower installed at $2,000 to $8,000 and a custom one at $5,000 to $20,000, and estimates $300 per square foot installed for prefab versus $600 per square foot for custom.1 This Old House breaks the market into basic prefabricated installations at $4,000 to $7,000, midrange tiled showers at $8,000 to $13,000, and high-end custom showers at $14,000 to $20,000 or more.2 Angi prices manufactured shower stalls at $700 to $3,000 (lightweight plastic models as low as $300) and custom walk-in showers at $4,200 to $8,500.3 Angi’s custom figure is far below Fixr’s and This Old House’s custom tiers, and the sources do not explain the difference; we report them side by side.1,2,3
Cost by size and type
Fixr’s size table, installed:1
| Shower size | Prefab installed | Custom installed |
|---|---|---|
| 36 x 36 in | $2,700 | $5,400 |
| 36 x 42 in | $3,150 | $6,300 |
| 36 x 48 in | $3,600 | $7,200 |
| 36 x 60 in | $4,500 | $9,000 |
| 48 x 48 in | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| 48 x 60 in | $6,000 | $12,000 |
| 60 x 60 in | $7,500 | $15,000 |
| 60 x 72 in | $9,000 | $18,000 |
By layout, Fixr averages $4,000 for a corner shower, $8,000 for an alcove installation (the most common, often replacing a tub), and $6,000 each for curbless/barrier-free and freestanding designs.1 On sizing, the U.S. Access Board’s 2010 ADA Standards define three compliant shower types: a transfer compartment at exactly 36 by 36 inches (absolute dimensions measured at wall center points, with a 36-inch minimum entry and seat requirements), a standard roll-in compartment at 60 inches wide minimum by 30 inches deep minimum, and an alternate roll-in at 60 inches wide minimum by exactly 36 inches deep.6 Angi’s description of 36 by 36 inches as the minimum ADA-compliant size matches only the transfer type; it is not a universal minimum and not a roll-in size.3,6 The ADA Standards govern public and commercial facilities (with dwelling-unit exceptions) and generally do not apply to ordinary private single-family homes; local building, residential, or accessibility codes may still impose their own requirements, so check the rules applicable to your property before building to any dimension.6
Cost by material
Installed cost by shower material (Fixr): acrylic $2,000 to $5,000, composite stone $2,000 to $6,000, fiberglass $4,000 to $8,000, ceramic tile $6,000 to $12,000, glass tile $5,000 to $12,000, porcelain tile $7,000 to $14,000, and natural stone $6,000 to $20,000.1 Angi prices materials separately: acrylic inserts $500 to $2,000, fiberglass inserts $400 to $2,000, tile $2 to $17 per square foot, marble $10 to $35 per square foot, and cultured granite, Corian, or similar stone $40 to $65 per square foot.3 This Old House’s component list puts ceramic or porcelain tile at $12 to $30 per square foot installed, natural stone tile at $20 to $50, a prefabricated shower pan at $800 to $1,500, a custom tile pan at $1,200 to $3,000, backer board and waterproofing at $800 to $1,500, a framed glass door at $500 to $1,200, a frameless glass enclosure at $1,000 to $3,000 or more, and a shower valve with trim at $500 to $1,200.2 Tile unit prices differ across these sources, and they do not reconcile them.2,3
Extra costs to budget
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Permit | about $250, up to $500 | Angi |
| Tub-to-shower conversion (total project) | $1,200 – $8,000 | Angi |
| Demolition of old shower | $50 – $100 | Angi |
| Non-load-bearing wall removal | $300 – $1,000 | Angi |
| Construction debris removal | $250 | Angi |
| Waterproof membrane (sheet / liquid) | $500 – $1,000 / $50 – $800 | Angi |
| Glass shower door installed | $550 – $1,400 | Angi |
| Custom shower pan | about $2,500 | Angi |
| Accessibility features (added to project) | $75 – $1,900 | Angi |
| Moving drain and supply lines | adds $200 – $500 in labor | Fixr |
| Plumbing upgrades (older homes) | $600 – $2,500 | Zintex |
| Structural repairs (water damage, subfloor) | $1,000 – $3,000 | Zintex |
Common feature add-ons, per Angi: built-in shelves $75 to $700, a grab bar $100 to $500, a rainfall showerhead $100 to $1,000, dual showerheads $100 to $1,000, and a steam shower $1,500 to $11,700.3
Labor and who does the work
Angi prices the trades this way: a bathroom contractor at $400 to $2,000 excluding materials, a plumber at $45 to $200 per hour (adding shower plumbing runs $600 to $1,600, and new-build rough-in plumbing averages $7,000), tile contractors at $30 to $120 per hour or $3 to $15 per square foot, and electricians at $50 to $100 per hour.3 This Old House’s 2026 survey of 1,000 homeowners found 56% of walk-in shower installers called labor a major contributor to total cost; 51% hired licensed professionals, 24% mixed professional and DIY labor, and 20% did most or all of the work themselves.2 Most projects in that survey were not standalone: 67% included plumbing work, 60% tile installation, and 51% electrical updates.2
What actual projects cost: HomeBuddy’s data
HomeBuddy’s index is built from 8,945 walk-in shower project requests through its own lead marketplace between April 2025 and June 2026: a $15,900 median, with the middle half of projects between $13,500 and $18,800.4 Within that dataset, converting from a bathtub cost almost the same as converting an existing shower ($15,791 versus $16,007 median), and among the 26 states with at least 100 requests, state medians ran from $13,978 in Arizona to $18,900 in Mississippi.4 Note that these are requests through one marketplace, not a census of all projects, and the median sits well above the editorial averages above; no source reconciles that gap.1,3,4
Accessibility and funding
Curbless and barrier-free walk-in showers are a common accessibility upgrade, and Fixr notes that some programs may offer financial assistance for accessible conversions for elderly users or people with mobility issues.1,3 We cover the funding and tax picture in detail — including VA HISA benefits, Medicaid waivers, and IRS Publication 502 treatment — in our accessible bathroom remodel cost guide.
Related guides
Shower Tile Cost (2026): Per-Sq-Ft Prices by Material
Shower Installation Cost
Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost
Accessible Bathroom Remodel Cost
All cost guides
Sources
1. Fixr — How Much Does It Cost to Install a Walk-In Shower? (updated March 4, 2025)
2. This Old House — How Much Does a Walk-In Shower Cost? (updated October 7, 2026; Homewyse data plus 2026 homeowner survey)
3. Angi — How Much Does a Walk-In Shower Cost? (2026 Data, updated July 15, 2026)
4. HomeBuddy — Walk-In Shower Cost Index 2026 (updated October 22, 2026; lead-data methodology)
5. Zintex — How Much Does a Walk-In Shower Cost? A Look at 2026 National Averages (July 27, 2026)
6. U.S. Access Board — Guide to the 2010 ADA Standards, Chapter 6: Bathing Rooms (Shower Compartments, §608)