You’ve just discovered that a new shower can cost upwards of $24,000, and you’re experiencing a bit of sticker shock. Why did the internet lead you to believe that showers could cost as little as $2,000? What can $2,000 actually buy, and are you compromising quality at that price point?
At ZINTEX Remodeling Group, we’re not operating in the $2,000 range. However, after over two decades of industry experience, we are committed to helping homeowners optimize quality without going over their new shower budget. Today, we’re going to share the inside scoop on shower remodel costs, as well as our top tips to balance value and quality. Read on to get started.
Table of Contents
- What Does a Shower Remodel Cost on Average?
- What Kind of Shower Can I Get at Different Price Points?
- What Is the Most Expensive Part of a Shower Remodel?
- Which Shower Wall Materials Is Best for Budget and Quality?
- What Are the Best Ways to Build a Quality Shower on a Budget?
- Maximize Your Budget With Smart Remodeling Choices
What Does a Shower Remodel Cost on Average?
First, let’s talk about how much you can realistically expect to spend on a new shower. If we’re looking at industry-wide options from lowest to highest quality, the cost can range from $2,000 to $24,000.
At the absolute lowest end, you can technically purchase a new shower insert for about $2,000, but this isn’t going to include any plumbing or installation costs. In other words, the expectation is that you’re going to install it yourself, which is not what most homeowners are looking to do.
A brand-new shower can cost up to $24,000, and that’s where you’re looking at a lot more design versatility, customizations, and professionalism.
What Kind of Shower Can I Get at Different Price Points?
When we’re looking at the full range of shower remodel prices, it’s important that we aren’t talking about shower remodels like a one-size-fits-all process. Your buying power at $5,000 looks a lot different from your buying power at $15,000.
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DIY Shower Inserts: $2,000-$8,000 |
Basic Custom Showers: $9,000-$14,000 |
Intermediate Custom Showers: $15,000-$18,000 |
Deluxe Custom Showers: $18,000-$24,000 |
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✅Solid color base and walls ✅Standard base sizes (30”x32” or 30”x60”) ❌Customizable accessories ❌Professional installation ❌Hardware upgrades ❌Plumbing reconfigurations included |
✅Solid color base and walls ✅Standard base sizes (30”x32” or 30”x60”) ✅1-2 customizable accessories ✅Professional installation ❌Hardware upgrades ❌Plumbing reconfigurations included |
✅Premium base and walls ✅Standard and custom base sizes ✅3-4 customizable accessories ✅Professional installation ✅Hardware upgrades ❌Plumbing reconfigurations included |
✅Premium base and walls ✅Standard and custom base sizes ✅4+ customizable accessories ✅Professional installation ✅Hardware upgrades ✅Plumbing reconfigurations included |
As you can see, you can’t expect to customize your shower to fit your exact needs when you’re in the DIY insert market. However, you also don’t need to go all the way up to a deluxe option to achieve a durable, quality, and aesthetically pleasing end result. It’s all about understanding the breakdown of costs and prioritizing the design features that matter most to you, which we’ll discuss below.
What Is the Most Expensive Part of a Shower Remodel?
Some homeowners assume that labor is going to make the biggest impact on their tub and shower or walk in shower cost, and that the DIY element is what makes a DIY insert the cheapest option. The reality is that while labor costs can account for roughly 25-40% of your budget, materials have the biggest impact on your total cost.
Yes, a DIY insert costs less because you aren’t paying for labor, but it also costs less because the materials are cheaper and lower in quality than what many professional installers have to offer.
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Cost Category |
Percentage of Budget |
|
Labor |
25% - 40% |
|
Materials |
40% - 60% |
|
Demolition |
5% - 10% |
|
Plumbing & Electrical |
10% - 20% |
|
Fixtures & Features |
15% - 30% |
|
Permits |
1% - 3% |
Which Shower Wall Material Is Best for Budget and Quality?
Given that materials account for the biggest percentage of a shower remodel budget, this is arguably the best place to look when balancing budget and quality. Some popular options include:
- Tile and grout
- Acrylic
- Natural stone
- Fiberglass
If your only goal is to pay the least amount of money for your shower remodel, you may want to look at fiberglass or basic ceramic tile. The problem is that these options come with some maintenance and durability issues, and you may find yourself back in the position of needing to remodel your shower in as little as 10 years.
Natural stone typically has the longest potential lifespan, lasting up to 30 years. However, it’s also the most expensive option, costing an average of $10,000 to $17,000 for materials alone.
Higher-quality porcelain tile can last up to 20 years, but that’s assuming that you stay on top of grout cleaning and resealing. While tile itself is relatively easy to maintain, exposed grout is porous and prone to mold growth.
Acrylic is another option that can last up to 20 years, requires less maintenance than tile, and typically adds about $8,000 to $15,000 to a shower remodel budget. In fact, you can get a durable, high-quality acrylic shower in the $11,000-$14,000 range if you don’t need a ton of accessories and don’t mind a single color system. We may be a bit biased, but we focus on acrylic showers for a reason: after over two decades in the industry, we find that acrylic provides the best quality at the most reasonable price point.
What Are the Best Ways to Build a Quality Shower on a Budget?
Now that you understand the breakdown of shower remodel costs, here are our top tips for building a quality walk in shower or tub and shower combo without going over budget.
💡Start with a list of features you need for functionality. For some homeowners, this might be an accessibility feature like a grab bar. For others, it might be a corner caddy shelf or soap niche to improve bathroom storage. Account for your must-haves and see how they impact your shower cost first.
💡Choose the shower wall and base materials that are best able to meet your goals. If you’re looking to spend more for a shower that will last you 30 years and provide a luxury feel, go with natural stone. If you want to spend less but still prioritize quality, durability, and ease of maintenance, go with acrylic. If you need a quick fix at a low price (common for home flippers and rental owners), you may find that fiberglass or cheap tile do the trick.
💡Don’t relocate your tub or shower. By utilizing existing plumbing connections, you can focus your budget on the shower itself and necessary structural upgrades, rather than spending additional thousands to reconfigure your plumbing.
💡Try to allocate at least 10% of your maximum budget to unexpected expenses. An experienced contractor can tell a lot about what’s going on under the surface before demolition begins, but on occasion, the structural damage or needed upgrades are more extensive than expected. By setting aside 10% of your budget from the outset, you’re not likely to go over budget, even in the face of unforeseen problems.
Maximize Your Budget with Smart Remodeling Choices
That $2,000 shower insert is probably too good to be true, especially when you remember that you don’t have plumbing experience. Now, you have the information you need to make smart remodeling choices that help you balance your budget with the quality you actually deserve. What’s next?
At ZINTEX Remodeling, we know that smart shower remodeling choices come from having all the facts. As certified Jacuzzi installers in several of our key markets, we know just how much design versatility Jacuzzi has to offer. Discover the Jacuzzi wall colors that are most popular with our customers and get one step closer to building your budget-friendly acrylic shower.
FAQs About Shower Remodels:
Q: Can I DIY my bathroom reno?
You can certainly DIY any of the surface-level or aesthetic projects in your bathroom reno. For example, you can add a new coat of paint to your walls or replace your towel rod with a more attractive upgrade. However, when it comes to structural, electrical, or plumbing upgrades, it’s safer to leave it to the licensed professionals.
Q: Do new showers have a good ROI?
A new shower can yield an ROI of up to 73%. Most experts agree that investing in a mid-range remodel with quality, durable materials that aren’t “luxury” materials is going to have the best result. This isn’t necessarily because a luxury shower doesn’t appeal to buyers, but because there’s a ceiling on how much your overall property value is likely to increase due to something like a new shower.
Q: How long do new showers last?
The lifespan of your new shower will depend on a few factors, but primarily the quality of the build and the materials you use. Even premium materials won’t last as long if they aren’t properly installed. A high-quality, mid-range material like acrylic will last up to 20 years with proper installation and upkeep.
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