Costs
Walk in shower cost: what you are paying for
The tray, the glass and the walls set the cost of a walk in shower. The waste route decides how much work sits underneath.
A walk in shower usually costs less than a full wet room because a tray does the waterproofing work on the floor, but more than a standard enclosure because the screen, tray size and wall preparation are all larger. We do not publish a fixed figure, because the same shower can be a simple swap in one house and a floor and drainage job in the next. What follows explains where the money goes.
Walk in shower installation cost: the main parts
Think of the price in three layers. Underneath is the waste and the floor. In the middle is the waterproofing on the walls. On top are the parts you choose: tray, screen, valve and tiles. The top layer is the one people compare in showrooms, but the lower two are where quotes really differ.
- Strip out of the existing bath or shower
- Waste route moved or lowered to suit the tray
- Walls boarded or replastered and tanked
- Tray bedded level on a solid base
- Tiling or panels to full height
- Fixed glass panel and shower valve fitted
Low level shower tray cost
Low profile trays look neat and are easier to step into, but the waste sits lower, so there is less room for the pipe to fall. On a timber floor it can often run between joists. On a concrete floor a slim tray may need a small plinth, or the slab may need channelling. That labour, rather than the tray itself, is what shifts the price.
Walk in shower enclosure fitted price
Glass is priced by size, thickness and how it is fixed. A single fixed panel is the simplest. A return panel, a hinged deflector or a full height screen adds cost and needs very straight walls to look right. We set the screen into a plumb reveal so it sits true, which is easier when the wall is prepared properly first.
Ways to control the budget
Keeping the shower where the bath was saves moving the supply and waste. Choosing a standard tray size avoids custom cutting. Tiling only the shower walls to full height and leaving the rest at half height saves material and labour without spoiling the look.
When a wet room makes more sense
If nobody should have to step over anything, or the room is too small for a tray and a separate floor area, a wet room may be better value even though it costs more. Our wet room cost guide covers that alternative.
Valves, heads and water pressure
A rainfall head looks generous but needs enough flow to work well. Before choosing one, it helps to know whether you have a combi boiler, a cylinder or a pumped system. We check this at the survey, because a premium valve on a weak supply is money that will disappoint you every morning.
Questions
Frequently asked
Is a walk in shower cheaper than a wet room?
Usually yes, because the tray handles floor waterproofing and less floor preparation is needed.
Can a walk in shower replace my bath?
In most homes, yes. The waste route under the floor is the main thing we check first.
Do walk in showers need a door?
No. A fixed panel works well if the shower area is long enough and the head is positioned to spray away from the opening.
Can I fit my own screen and tray?
We can fit products you have bought, and we will check at the survey that they suit the room and the waste position.
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