Tub-to-Shower Conversion: Real DMV Costs
2026 planning guide · updated August 16, 2026
The tub-to-shower conversion is the most requested bathroom project in the DMV — and the most misquoted online. National sites cite $3,000 acrylic-insert jobs; a properly built, tiled, waterproofed walk-in shower in the DC area is a different project entirely.
2026 conversion costs in the DMV
| Scope | Typical planning range |
|---|---|
| Conversion within a hall bath update (ceramic, standard glass) | $12,000 – $20,000 |
| Conversion with porcelain tile & frameless glass | $16,000 – $26,000 |
| Conversion inside a full primary-bath remodel | priced within the full remodel range |
What a real conversion includes
- Demo and disposal of the tub and surround
- Rework of the drain and valve (a shower drain is not a tub drain)
- Proper pan and waterproofing system — where cheap conversions fail
- Tile walls and floor, niche, curb or curbless entry
- Glass panel or enclosure
Worth knowing before you convert
- Keep one tub in the house if you can — resale advice we give even though we sell showers.
- Curbless entries are an aging-in-place upgrade best decided before the pan goes in, not after.
- Permits: DC, Maryland, and Virginia jurisdictions all require plumbing permits for the valve/drain work — a quote without permits is a red flag.
Get a range built from your kitchen, not a national average
Walk through your space and selections in the free estimator — a live planning range, priced with your DMV jurisdiction’s cost index, in about three minutes.
Price your conversion →Frequently asked questions
How much does a tub to shower conversion cost in 2026?
In the DC area, a properly tiled and waterproofed conversion runs $12,000–$20,000 with ceramic tile and standard glass, $16,000–$26,000 with porcelain and frameless glass. Acrylic insert systems advertised nationally at $3,000–$8,000 are a different (and shorter-lived) product.
Does converting a tub to a shower hurt resale value?
Only if it removes the home's last tub. Keep one tub somewhere in the house and a walk-in conversion typically helps, not hurts.
How long does a tub to shower conversion take?
Typically 1–2 weeks of on-site work for a tiled conversion — demo, rough-in, waterproofing, tile, cure time, and glass measurement/installation (glass often trails by a week for fabrication).