What a Tub to Shower Conversion Really Costs in 2027

The cost depends on the finish level you choose. A basic conversion uses an acrylic surround, standard valve, and a shower curtain instead of glass. Modern upgrades to porcelain tile walls, a built in niche, and better fixtures. Luxury adds stone tile, a frameless glass door, and premium rain shower hardware.

Here are the shower specific line items from our pricing engine for a 60 square foot bathroom at each finish level.

The shower surround is the single biggest item at $1,350 for acrylic panels. Demolition runs $1,093, which covers removing the old tub, cutting out damaged backer board, and hauling debris. Plumbing modifications cost $713 for rerouting supply lines and connecting the new shower valve.

Floor tile for the shower base costs $720. Drywall repair around the new surround runs $405. The shower valve itself costs $361, the drain modification is $266, and caulking and sealant add $189. Permits are $450 in our data. The showerhead and cleanup round out the budget at $176 and $180.

Here is every line item for a basic tub to shower conversion.

The surround material is the biggest variable. An acrylic surround costs $1,350. A porcelain tile surround costs $1,845. Stone tile costs $3,105. That one line item alone swings the total by $1,755 between basic and luxury.

The shower door is another major factor. A basic conversion uses a curtain rod. A luxury conversion adds a frameless glass shower door at $1,755. If you want glass on a moderate budget, a semi frameless option typically falls between these numbers.

Plumbing scope matters. If you keep the drain in the same location and the existing supply lines reach the new valve, plumbing runs $713 at the basic level. Moving the drain to accommodate a different shower pan layout pushes the plumbing and drain work higher.

• Surround material: $1,350 acrylic vs $1,845 tile vs $3,105 stone
• Shower door: curtain rod and liner vs $1,755 for frameless glass
• Drain location: keeping it in place is the cheapest option
• Structural damage: rot or mold behind the tub adds framing and drywall repair
• Shower niche: a built in niche adds $297 at the modern level

The International Residential Code (IRC Section P2709) requires that the walls and floor of a shower receptor be lined with a waterproof barrier. Acceptable materials include sheet copper, plastic liner meeting ASTM D4068 or ASTM D4551, or a bonded membrane. The liner must extend past the shower opening and above the finished threshold to keep water away from the framing.

Most contractors today use a bonded waterproof membrane applied directly to the backer board. The Tile Council of North America specifies that the membrane must cover the solid backing under the entire area to be tiled ⁵. That means continuous coverage from the shower floor up every wall to the full height of the tile, with seams overlapped and sealed per the manufacturer's directions.

A proper waterproofing job has three parts: the membrane on walls and floor, a sloped mortar bed under the membrane that pitches at least a quarter inch per foot toward the drain, and a watertight connection between the membrane and the drain flange. The slope is critical. Water that pools behind the tile eventually causes mold, rot, and structural damage that costs far more than the original conversion.

The waterproofing cost is built into the surround and floor tile line items in our pricing data. If your contractor quotes waterproofing as a separate line item, ask what membrane system they use and whether it meets ANSI A118.10. That standard covers bonded waterproof membranes for tile installations.

IRC Section P2708.1 requires a shower compartment to have at least 900 square inches of interior floor area and a minimum dimension of 30 inches in every direction. The measurement is taken from the finished surface of the walls, not from the framing. Tile, waterproofing, and glass channels all reduce the usable interior, so the rough opening needs to be larger than the code minimum.

A standard alcove tub opening is 60 inches long and 30 inches wide. That gives you 1,800 square inches of floor area, which is double the code minimum. A straight swap of a tub for a shower in the same alcove easily passes inspection. Problems only come up if you try to shrink the shower footprint to carve out storage or rearrange the bathroom layout.

Most jurisdictions require a building permit when you modify plumbing supply or drain lines. A tub to shower conversion almost always involves drain modifications, so plan on pulling a permit. Our data shows permits at $450 for a basic bathroom project. The permit triggers an inspection, which protects you because the inspector verifies the waterproofing and drain connections before the walls get closed up.

A full basic bathroom remodel on a 60 square foot room costs $13,224 in our pricing engine. A basic tub to shower conversion costs $5,900. The conversion skips the vanity, toilet, countertop, sink, general flooring, and most of the electrical work. If the rest of your bathroom is in good shape, a conversion gives you a new shower without tearing up the entire room.

Here is how conversion costs compare to full remodel costs at each tier.

Say you have a 60 square foot bathroom with a standard 60 by 30 inch alcove tub. You want to pull the tub and install a tile shower with a built in niche, keeping the drain in the same location. Here is how the modern tier breaks down.

The tile surround is the biggest cost at $1,845. Demolition runs $1,235. Plumbing is $874, the drain is $304, and the shower valve costs $644. Floor tile for the shower pan is $945. The built in niche adds $297. A dedicated shower light costs $247. The showerhead is $293. Permits come in at $480. Drywall repair, caulking, and cleanup add $477, $234, and $225.

Total: $8,100. If you want to add a frameless glass door, that is a luxury tier item at $1,755, which would bring this project to about $9,900. If the budget is tight, a curtain rod keeps the conversion at $8,100.

These are preliminary numbers based on national averages. A real quote comes after a contractor sees the space and checks what is behind the walls.

1. Remodeling Market Poised for Growth as the Age of Owner-Occupied Homes Increases, NAHB
2. K&B Pros Expect a Gradual Return to Growth This Year After Recent Stabilization, NKBA
3. Remodeling Market Sentiment Remains Stable in Third Quarter Despite Headwinds, NAHB
4. Key Demographic Factors Will Drive K&B Remodeling Growth in 2026, NKBA
5. Showers FAQ, Tile Council of North America

• How much does a bathroom remodel cost in 2027?