Remodeling
Shower Remodel Cost Calculator
Prices a shower, where the waterproofing behind the tile is the entire job.
Result
A planning estimate, not a quote. Access, the age of the equipment, what is found once it is opened up and local labour rates all move the real figure, sometimes a long way.
Get a Free Business AuditHow the calculation works
Hours times crew times rate, plus materials and the call-out. A tiled shower is a waterproofing assembly with tile on it, and the cost reflects that: demolition, a correctly sloped base, a waterproof membrane or pan system, backer board, then tile, grout and the fittings. The tile is the visible part and a minority of the work. Niches, benches and curbless entries each add detailing, and a curbless shower in particular needs the floor structure recessed, which is framing work rather than a finish choice.
What moves the number
- Whether the waterproofing is a membrane system, a pan, or a proprietary assembly.
- Curb or curbless, since curbless requires recessing the floor structure.
- Niches and benches, which are detailing and additional waterproofing.
- Tile size and pattern, as large format and mosaic both slow the work in different ways.
Where this one goes wrong
Tile and grout are not waterproof, and a shower relying on them leaks into the structure below. The waterproofing layer is what keeps water out, and the standards covering slope to drain, membrane continuity and how the pan is formed exist because shower leaks are among the most damaging and expensive failures in a house. They show up as a stained ceiling downstairs and the repair is a rebuild. Get the assembly right and test it before tiling: a flood test on the pan is a few hours that proves the thing you cannot see once tile is on. Slope to drain is part of it, since water standing in a shower finds any weakness.
Before you quote
- Install a proper waterproofing assembly rather than relying on tile and grout.
- Flood test the pan before tiling.
- Confirm consistent slope to the drain across the whole base.
- Recess the floor structure if the shower is curbless.
Where the rules come from
Questions
About this calculator
Is tile waterproof?
No, and this is the most consequential misunderstanding in bathroom work. Tile and grout shed water but do not stop it, and a shower relying on them leaks into the structure. A waterproof membrane or pan system behind the tile is what keeps water out, and it is the part of the job that matters most.
Should the shower be flood tested?
Yes, before any tile goes on. Filling the pan and leaving it for hours proves the waterproofing works while it is still accessible. Discovering a leak after tiling means removing the tile, which is why a few hours of testing is one of the best-value steps in the whole job.
Why is a curbless shower more expensive?
Because the floor structure has to be recessed so the shower base can slope to the drain while finishing flush with the surrounding floor. That is framing work, not a finish decision, and it also makes the waterproofing detail more demanding since there is no curb containing the water.
The formula
total = hours x people x rate + parts + call-out, then sales tax
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How to use this calculator
- Hours on site (h). Enter your own figure; the page starts at 160 h.
- People needed. Enter your own figure; the page starts at 1.
- Labour rate charged ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $88.
- Parts and materials ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $11,000.
- Call-out or diagnostic fee ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $95.
- Sales tax (%). Leave at zero if you are quoting before tax.
The result updates as you type, so you can try a figure, see what it does to estimated total, and change it back. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere or saved.
A worked example
These are the figures the calculator opens with. Every number in the results column below is produced by the same calculation the page runs, so you can follow it through before putting your own figures in.
What goes in
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Hours on site | 160 h |
| People needed | 1 |
| Labour rate charged | $88 |
| Parts and materials | $11,000 |
| Call-out or diagnostic fee | $95 |
| Sales tax | 0% |
What comes out
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated total main result | $25,175 |
| Labour | $14,080 |
| Before tax | $25,175 |
| Sales tax | $0 |
About $25,175: $14,080 of labour, $11,000 of parts and a $95 call-out.
How sensitive the answer is
Holding everything else steady and changing only labour rate charged, this is what happens to estimated total. It is worth knowing which of your inputs the answer actually hinges on, and which barely move it.
| Labour rate charged ($) | Estimated total |
|---|---|
| $44 | $18,135 |
| $66 | $21,655 |
| $88 example above | $25,175 |
| $132 | $32,215 |
| $176 | $39,255 |
Every other input is held at the example value while this one changes, which is not how a real job behaves. Treat it as a guide to which number matters most, not as five separate quotes.
What each figure means
- Hours on site (h)
- Measured in h, between 0 and 400, starting at 160 h.
- People needed
- A number, between 0 and 40, starting at 1.
- Labour rate charged ($)
- A money amount, starting at $88.
- Parts and materials ($)
- A money amount, starting at $11,000.
- Call-out or diagnostic fee ($)
- A money amount, starting at $95.
- Sales tax (%)
- Leave at zero if you are quoting before tax.
What the results tell you
| Result | What it is |
|---|---|
| Estimated total | The headline result. A money figure. |
| Labour | A money figure. |
| Before tax | A money figure. |
| Sales tax | A money figure. |
Estimating is the easy part
The jobs you never hear about cost more than the ones you mis-measure. BDEVY builds the marketing, systems and automation that bring them in.