Bathtub to Shower Conversion Cost Calculator
Get an itemized project estimate based on your tub size, shower type, drain configuration, fixtures, and contractor choice. Includes resale value guidance before you commit.
Existing bathtub
New shower configuration
Fixtures and labor
Resale value notice: this is your home's only bathtub
NAR research shows that homes with at least one bathtub command higher prices in most markets, particularly for buyers with children. Converting your only tub is estimated to reduce resale value by $5,000–$15,000 in most US markets. Consider adding a freestanding soaking tub or keeping this tub and building an addition instead. If you still want to proceed, continue below.
Your estimated conversion cost
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Itemized cost breakdown
The 6-step conversion sequence
Demolition
Remove tub and all surround materials. Cap or remove existing plumbing rough-in. Cast iron tubs require cutting into sections — typically requires two people and a reciprocating saw with a metal-cutting blade.
Plumbing rough-in
Install shower valve rough-in at the correct height (typically 48" from finished floor for the valve, 80" for the showerhead). Relocate drain if required — the most expensive single line item in most conversions.
Waterproofing and substrate
The most critical step. Shower failures are 90% waterproofing failures. Install cement board or Schluter KERDI foam board. Apply waterproofing membrane at all seams, corners, and drain connection. Never skip or rush this step.
Shower floor
Install prefab pan or tile over a sloped mortar bed (minimum 1/4" per foot slope to drain). For zero-threshold walk-in showers, use a linear drain at the wall and a single-plane floor slope.
Walls and surround
Install prefab wall panels with manufacturer-supplied trim pieces, or set tile to the waterproofed backer board. Tile work requires 24–48 hours of thinset cure before grouting.
Fixtures and finishing
Install valve trim, showerhead, and accessories. Grout, seal, and caulk all tile-to-fixture joints. Allow 48–72 hours before first use. Inspect all caulk joints annually and reseal as needed.
Explore freestanding and soaking tubs before you commit
If keeping a tub matters for resale or aging-in-place, our bathtub category covers freestanding soaking tubs, walk-in models, and clawfoot options with full specs and pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Complete Guide to Bathtub-to-Shower Conversions
The Resale Value Question: Quantify the Risk Before You Commit
The National Association of Realtors' 2023 Remodeling Impact Report and multiple independent MLS studies consistently show that homes with at least one full bathtub outperform comparable all-shower homes in most residential markets. The demographic reality is that households with children under 12 strongly prefer at least one bathtub — for child bathing, for pet washing, and as a resale differentiator. In a market where 40–60% of buyers are family-stage households, eliminating the only tub immediately disqualifies your home from a meaningful segment of buyers.
The quantified impact depends on your local market and price tier. In entry-level and mid-market homes (below the area median price), losing the only tub is most value-destructive. In luxury markets where master suites are expected to have walk-in showers and secondary bathrooms retain tubs, the calculus is different. Before converting your only tub, consult a local real estate agent about recent comparable sales in your neighborhood — both homes-with-tubs and all-shower homes — and make the decision with actual local data rather than national averages.
Prefab vs Custom Tile: An Honest Comparison
Prefab shower kits — acrylic or fiberglass three-piece or one-piece surround systems — install in a single day by an experienced contractor and have one enormous advantage: they rarely leak. Prefab panels are designed as a sealed system with integrated soap shelves, integrated corners, and manufacturer-guaranteed seams. When properly installed with silicone at all transitions, they provide a near-zero-maintenance shower wall that will last 20–30 years without regrouting. The aesthetic limitations are real — prefab systems have a builder-grade appearance that tile cannot replicate — but for a second bathroom or rental property, the durability-per-dollar is exceptional.
Custom tile walk-in showers require a skilled tile setter, proper waterproofing substrate (Schluter KERDI, Wedi, or RedGard-coated cement board), full-coverage thinset application (no air pockets behind tile), appropriate anti-fracture membrane at stress points, and annual grout sealing maintenance. When done correctly, a custom tile shower is the most beautiful and durable bathroom feature you can install. When done incorrectly — and industry surveys suggest 30–40% of residential tile shower installations have some form of installation deficiency — water intrusion behind the tile causes black mold, structural damage to the subfloor, and eventual complete demolition and reinstallation. The premium for skilled tile work is not optional; it is insurance against a $10,000–$20,000 remediation job.
Walk-In Shower Design: ADA, Aging-in-Place, and Zero-Threshold Entry
A truly accessible shower requires thoughtful design decisions made during the conversion, not as an afterthought. The ADA standard for residential accessibility requires a minimum 36" × 36" clear floor space inside the shower, ideally 60" × 30" to allow a shower chair and caregiver side access. A zero-threshold entry — where the shower floor is flush with or less than 1/2" above the bathroom floor — is the defining feature of an aging-in-place design.
Achieving zero-threshold requires a linear drain configuration. Traditional center drains require the shower floor to slope toward the center from all four sides — creating a raised perimeter that becomes a stepping hazard. A linear drain positioned at one wall allows the floor to slope uniformly in a single plane, enabling a fully flat entry from the bathroom floor. Linear drains cost $150–$600 depending on length and finish, and they require a floor recess of approximately 3" for the drain body — which typically means modifying the subfloor. The investment in linear drain infrastructure during the initial conversion is far cheaper than retrofitting later.
The Permit Imperative
Building permits for bathroom plumbing changes exist for two reasons: fire/life safety review of the work, and creation of a legal record that the work was inspected and approved. An unpermitted shower conversion creates problems at two points in the ownership cycle: during the conversion itself (no inspection means deficiencies go uncorrected), and at sale (all known unpermitted improvements must be disclosed in most states, frequently prompting buyer negotiations or demands for permit retroactive legalization). Retroactive legalization — pulling a permit after the work is done — often requires opening walls for inspection, which in a tiled shower means complete demolition of the finished work.
The cost of a plumbing permit is typically $100–$500. The cost of not pulling one, at worst, is tens of thousands of dollars in remediation at sale. Pull the permit. Schedule the inspection. Document the work.
Return on Investment: When the Numbers Work
In a master bathroom where the bedroom-to-bathroom ratio is maintained (converting a 3-bed/2-full-bath home to 3-bed/1-full-bath + 1-three-quarter-bath), conversion ROI is typically negative due to the bathtub loss penalty. In a master bathroom where a separate soaking tub is retained alongside the new walk-in shower, the conversion adds value: NAR data shows master bath walk-in shower addition (with tub retained) as one of the top-10 value-added remodeling projects. The formula for positive ROI: add a walk-in shower without eliminating the only tub in the home, and ensure the resulting bathroom's quality matches or exceeds the median for your price tier.