The Cost of Installing a Bathroom Shower

Prices

• According to Cost Owl, as of 2011, the cheapest shower installation is a shower enclosure. This puts most of the major components into one unit that can be bought for the corner of a bathroom for as little as $200 to $300 -- installation not included. Installing a shower enclosure generally takes a professional plumber only a day, which can run from $500 to $1,000. Upgrading to a combination bath and shower, or using the fanciest shower-surround kits can bump the cost to $4,000 or more.

Tile and Tub

• Tile adds a touch of elegance, though at a higher price than a standard enclosure. Ceramic versions typically cost from $1 to $4, and stone tiles run at least $5 per square foot. Installation costs are higher as well at a minimum of $1,000. A shower with 200 square feet of tile can run a minimum of $1,200 to $1,800 for ceramic, and at least $2,000 for stone. Larger enclosures can double the price.

  Adding an acrylic tub costs $1,000 with installation, while stone and claw-foot varieties cost $5,000 for materials, and another $500 to $1,000 for installation. Larger and heavier tubs are harder to get into a house, and may require additional bracing, especially if located on the second floor. This increases the price and may demand the services of a carpenter.

Plumbers

• The cost of a shower varies by the wages of plumbers, which vary according to location. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts their salaries at a mean of $24.21 per hour as of the time of publication in May 2010. Most plumbers work for building equipment contractors, with the hourly mean being $24.37 per hour. The state with the highest wages for the profession is Alaska, where hourly pay is a mean of $35.28 to match the state’s high cost of living. For cities, the highest wages are in Peabody, Massachusetts, at a mean of $36.86 per hour, followed by Racine, Wisconsin, at a mean of $36.03 per hour, and San Jose, California, at a mean of $35.60 per hour.

Additions

• Adding options can increase the cost of installing a bathroom shower. A shower pan, which costs about $500, prevents leaking and goes under the base of the shower. An inexpensive shower head costs as little as $25, while a high-end shower faucet with handles can run to $500 and up. Plumbers can usually install fixtures in as little as one hour for about $100. Do-it-yourselfers can save some money by installing the fixtures themselves.