What Is a Walk-In Shower?

Walk-in showers fit in both large and small bathrooms seamlessly, have an open and airy feel, and by design have a no-step threshold that makes them accessible to all ages and abilities. It’s no wonder they’re so popular. Considering adding one to your own bathroom or remodeling the one you have? Then read on for a comprehensive guide to walk-in showers, including walk-in shower types, sizes, door options, material choices, and more.

What is a Walk-in Shower?

The classic walk-in shower enclosure uses:

• No doors, curtains, or curbs.
• A gentle slope at the entryway.
• An optional half-glass shower wall or a full, fixed shower glass panel to keep water inside.

However, many homeowners think of a walk-in shower enclosure as being any shower that is exactly level with the floor, regardless of whether it has a door (like in the photo above).

Though that is not the traditional definition of a walk-in shower, it is the definition lots of people now use! Further down in this guide, we’ll cover what your options are for doors if this is the type of walk-in shower you want.

Who Should Choose a Walk-in Shower?

1. Homeowners with medium- to large-sized bathrooms. Very small bathrooms – like half-baths being converted to full-baths – may not have enough space. With that in mind, you should consider walk-in showers for medium and large bathrooms. Some small bathrooms can absolutely accommodate a walk-in shower, and there are tons of ideas for walk-in showers for small bathrooms, but only a contractor will be able to tell you for sure.
2. Homeowners with a larger budget. Though some prefab walk-in shower kits can run as low as $900, walk-in showers are not usually budget-friendly. We will break the average costs down in the next section.
3. Homeowners who are elderly. Since they have a no-step threshold and are typically designed without doors, walk-in showers are easy to get in and out of without worrying about falling. Walk-in showers for seniors can include grab bars or other safety features.

How Much Do Walk-in Showers Cost?

The national average for a walk-in shower is $7,500. However, there is a wide range of project costs. A pre-fab shower can cost less than $1,000 and a large, custom shower can cost $12,000 or more.

Check out our walk-in shower cost guide to figure out what you can expect to pay for your project.

What Size Walk-in Shower Should I Pick?

Your choice will ultimately depend on your budget and your bathroom size. Here’s a quick look at the most popular sizes:

1. 36 inches by 48 inches.
2. 36 inches by 36 inches.
3. 34 inches by 36 inches.
4. 32 inches by 32 inches.
5. 48 inches by 60 inches or above.

You can check out our shower sizes guide for more information.

Additional Considerations

• For those needing wheelchair access or other accessibility features, a minimum size of 36 inches by 36 inches is recommended, with larger sizes providing more comfort and ease of movement.
• Doorless or open walk-in showers might require larger dimensions to prevent water from splashing out into the rest of the bathroom.
• Custom sizes can be designed to fit specific bathroom layouts and personal preferences. This can include unique shapes or additional features like benches or multiple showerheads.

Types of Walk-in Showers

Walk-in shower designs vary widely. Below, we’ve broken down your options into categories.

Standalone, Niche, or Corner Walk-in Shower?

Where your shower is going will determine what options are available.

• A corner walk-in shower could have a fixed glass wall, a glass half-wall, or a wall plus a door. If you have the space, you could even forego walls entirely for an open shower. Our guide to corner showers can tell you more.
• If you will have a niche shower, meaning one installed into an existing bathroom niche, then you should decide if you want that niche fully closed off, perhaps with a sliding shower door, or partially closed off with a shower screen. Again, if the space is deep enough, you may not need a wall or door at all.
• A standalone walk-in shower will likely need at least one wall. If you find yourself designing a shower with two or three glass walls and a door, then you may find better information and more accurate pricing in our guides to framed showers, frameless showers, and semi-frameless showers.

Prefab or Custom Walk-in Shower?

• Prefab walk-in showers are manufactured in standard sizes and shapes, offering a quick and often more budget-friendly installation process. They are ideal for those looking for a straightforward, cost-effective solution with minimal downtime. Prefab units come in a variety of styles and finishes, but the choices are limited to what’s available on the market.
• Custom walk-in showers are designed and built to fit the specific dimensions and desired style of your bathroom. They offer endless possibilities in terms of size, materials, and features, allowing for personalized details like niches, benches, and multiple showerheads. However, they typically come with a higher price tag and longer installation time.

Walk-in Tub/Shower Combo: The Ultimate in Accessibility

A walk-in tub/shower combo will be the more expensive end of the budget spectrum above, but it will also give you lots of options for how to bathe. We rounded up the best walk-in tub/shower combo options on our blog, and we also have a walk-in tub/shower cost guide.

Doorless Walk-in Shower or Add a Door?

If you want a true walk-in shower, consider making it doorless. Not only will this be less expensive, but it will also give your bathroom an open, airy feel. If you love the look of a walk-in shower with a door, we’ve broken down those options below.

Walk-in Shower Doors: What Are Your Options?

Your walk-in shower door choice will depend on how much space you have available in your bathroom and what your budget is. The most popular options are below.

1. Frameless. This all-glass option tends to be the most expensive. But frameless shower doors also look the most open.
2. Semi-frameless. A perfect middle ground between framed (which are not compatible with walk-in showers) and frameless, semi-frameless shower doors accommodates lots of ways for the door to open (i.e. pivot or slide).
3. Sliding. Technically this falls under the “semi-frameless” category, but sliding shower doors are so popular they deserve their own call-out. These are a great option for bathrooms where you are short on space since they don’t require extra clearance to open. In fact, in the above image, there is a single piece of glass that slides so the homeowner can choose which section of the shower to block, striking a perfect balance between a shower with or without a door.
4. Pivot. Also called a swing or hinge shower door, this is a door that opens out or in. You can typically find it a frameless, semi-frameless, or framed option.

You can check out our guide to shower door types for more information on all these walk-in shower door options!

What Should Your Next Steps Be?

If you are set on a walk-in shower being the right type for you, you can browse our contractor directory to start comparing the top bathroom remodel pros in your area.

Want to see what other showers might work best for you? Check out our shower remodel guide to narrow in on your other options, or read more about the seven types of showers.

Modernize can also help you with next steps. If you’re ready for quotes but not ready for the time-commitment that comes with doing research and calling around, we can match you with up to four pros in your area. Click below to answer a few questions about your project!

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