Is a walk-in shower cheaper than a shower over bath?

Not necessarily. Removing a bath to put in a walk-in shower means new waterproofing, tiling and often a glass panel, so it is real work. What you gain is a more usable, modern and accessible space, which is why it is one of the most popular changes we make.

What makes a walk-in shower cost more or less?

The main drivers are size, whether it is tiled or acrylic, the glass (frameless costs more than framed), the tapware and shower spec, and whether the floor needs to be re-graded for a level-entry or wet-room finish. Level-entry showers in particular rely on getting the floor falls and waterproofing exactly right.

What is the difference between a walk-in shower and a wet room?

A walk-in shower is an open shower with a screen and a defined shower floor. A wet room takes it further: the whole bathroom floor is tanked and falls to a drain, so the shower area is fully open with no tray or hob. Wet rooms cost more because more of the room is waterproofed and tiled.

Do you fix a price before starting?

Yes. Whether it is a walk-in shower or a full wet room, we quote a fixed price in writing after a free measure, with the waterproofing done to Building Code clause E3 either way.

Cost guide

How much does a walk-in shower cost in NZ?

A walk-in shower is the single most requested change we make to a Waikato bathroom. The cost varies a lot depending on how it is built, so here is the honest range, what drives it up or down, and how it fits into a renovation.

Walk in shower enclosed with frameless glass panels and white subway tiling

The honest range

As part of a renovation, the tiled shower element itself commonly runs a few thousand dollars. A full tiled walk-in shower or wet room, properly waterproofed and glassed, can run from roughly $10,000 to $20,000 or more depending on size and spec. An acrylic option is cheaper again.

Those are ranges, not quotes. The real number comes from your actual bathroom and what you want, confirmed at the measure up.

What drives the price

Size, and whether it is tiled or acrylic, do most of the work. After that it is the glass (frameless costs more than framed), the tapware and shower spec, and whether the floor needs re-grading for a level-entry or wet-room finish. A fully tanked wet room costs more than a walk-in shower with a defined floor, because more of the room is waterproofed and tiled.

The part you cannot see, but pay for

A level-entry or wet-room shower lives or dies on the floor falls and the waterproofing underneath. Done to Building Code clause E3 and set out correctly, it drains properly and lasts. Rushed, it leaks. It is a big part of why we only do bathrooms. More on our walk-in shower and wet room service.

Acrylic or tiled?

If budget and speed lead, acrylic is a fair, tidy option. If you want a specific look or you are renovating to keep or to sell well, a tiled walk-in is usually worth the extra. We weigh that up with you. See the full comparison in acrylic vs tiled shower.

FAQs

Shower questions, answered straight

It depends heavily on whether it is acrylic or fully tiled, and whether it is part of a wider renovation. A tiled walk-in shower installed as part of a renovation commonly runs a few thousand dollars for the shower element itself, while a full tiled walk-in or wet room build, waterproofed and glassed, can run from roughly $10,000 to $20,000 or more. The only accurate figure comes from a measure.

Thinking about a walk-in shower?

Book a free measure and we will price your walk-in shower or wet room as a fixed number in writing.

Book a free quote See package prices