No survey publishes a price for a walk-in shower on its own. A shower is usually part of a bathroom remodel, and a midrange bathroom remodel in the Middle Atlantic region costs about $30,158, according to the Remodeling 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com). Moving the drain for a tub-to-shower conversion also means a construction permit in New Jersey.
What a walk-in shower costs
For whole bathrooms, the 2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study found a 2025 median of $18,000 for a major primary bath remodel under 100 square feet and $30,000 for larger rooms. A conversion that keeps the rest of the bathroom costs less than a full remodel. The bathroom remodel cost guide has the full breakdown.
Four things move the price of the shower itself:
- Size. A shower in the old tub footprint, or a larger one that takes floor space.
- Tile coverage. Floor-to-ceiling tile and large-format tile cost more to set.
- Glass. Frameless glass costs more than a framed door and is measured after the tile is finished.
- A curbless entry. The floor has to be recessed or built up to create the slope to the drain, which is framing work, not tile work.
Permits for a tub-to-shower conversion
Replacing a fixture with a similar one without changing the piping, and replacing a shower valve, are ordinary maintenance under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7. A conversion usually moves the drain, and changing drain, waste or supply piping needs a construction permit under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14.
The part you cannot see decides how long it lasts
A walk-in shower is a waterproofing job with tile on top. The pan, the membrane, the slope to the drain and the drain detail decide whether it stays dry for decades or leaks into the floor below. When you interview contractors, ask which waterproofing system they use and how they test the pan before tile goes on. A specific product and method is a good answer.
Details worth deciding early
- Niches. A tiled niche has to be framed before the walls close.
- A bench. Worth it only if the shower is big enough that it does not crowd the space.
- A linear drain. It lets large-format floor tile run with a single slope.
- Keep one tub. If this is the only tub in the house, think about resale before removing it.
See a finished shower in the portfolio, or ask for a free estimate and tell us what you are picturing.
