Summary
- Most Bath Fitter tub-to-shower conversions run $8,500 to $15,000, and about 7 out of 10 customers land right in the middle of that range.
- Custom glass, premium finishes, and extra accessories push you toward the top. Simple, classic choices like white and chrome bring you toward the bottom, without cutting corners.
- We make our own product, install it with our own crews, and warranty it ourselves. There's no middleman to mark up your price or duck your warranty claim later.
- Financing is available, including 0% options, with terms as long as 180 months. Roughly a third of our customers use it.
- Scroll to the FAQ for the honest answer to “should I get three quotes,” and keep reading for our actual ballpark once you know what moves the number.
In this guide
Since Louie Mullikin opened our first Bath Fitter office in Duncan in 2003, our family’s business has grown to serve homeowners across six states. Wherever you live, two questions tend to come first: “What will this cost?” and “What affects the price?”
This guide explains our published tub-to-shower conversion range and the choices that move a project up or down within it. Use it to plan your budget, then ask your local Bath Fitter team to confirm the scope and price for your bathroom.
Here’s our promise: real numbers, not a teaser range meant to get a salesperson in your door. By the time you finish this page, you’ll know what moves your project up or down in price, what the rest of this industry doesn’t want to tell you, and our actual ballpark.
A Bath Fitter Conversion Typically Runs $8,500 to $15,000
About 7 out of 10 of our customers land right in the middle of that range. The rest split between a simple, no-frills job at the low end and a fully custom, floor-to-ceiling glass build at the high end.
That’s still a wide range, so below we walk through exactly what moves you up or down in it. The same way we’d explain it standing in your bathroom, before anyone tries to sell you anything.
Why Is There a Range Instead of One Flat Number?
Because a bathroom isn’t a fixed product. It’s more like a car. Here’s how John Barnett, one of our sales leaders, explains it:
“If you go to a car dealership and they offer a car in a two-door version and a four-door version, is the two-door version going to be half price? Of course not. Sometimes it’s even more expensive.” (John Barnett)
The same logic applies here. Tub vs. shower, wall style, glass vs. curtain, seat or no seat, grab bars, trim kit and valve choices all move the number. Once we know your specifics, we give you a firm, to-the-penny quote. Until then, a ballpark is the most anyone can honestly tell you.
Here’s the part most companies in this industry won’t say out loud. For the better part of 20 years, the acrylic remodeling industry has avoided quoting prices over the phone or online on purpose. The idea was that a rep needs to get in your home and build value before you hear a number. Call centers are trained not to give a price for exactly that reason. We think that’s outdated. You can research a company, read reviews, and ask an AI assistant about typical pricing before you ever pick up the phone, so we’d rather just tell you what we know now.
Why Can We Give You a Firm Price At All?
Most companies in this business are dealers. They buy a product from a manufacturer, mark it up, and hope that manufacturer still exists if you ever need a warranty claim. When something goes wrong with a dealer’s product, you can end up bounced between the company that sold it to you and the company that actually made it.
We can’t do that to you, because there’s no one else to point to. We make our own shower and tub wall systems. We ship them ourselves. Our own employees install them, not a subcontractor we found on short notice. And when something needs warranty work, it’s our name on the truck.
That’s also why our wall system is one piece, not panels seamed together. No seams means no grout lines and nowhere for water to hide behind the wall, which is the entire point of replacing an old tub or shower in the first place. We’ve been doing this more than 40 years and over 2 million installs company-wide, and our family has run this corner of it since Louie opened that first Duncan office in 2003.
What Drives the Price to the Top of the Range?
- Custom glass. Frameless or semi-frameless glass doors are one of the single biggest cost drivers we see. They add real visual value, and they aren’t cheap.
- Premium wall styles and finishes. Upgraded colors and patterns, plus finish choices like brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, or matte black. Chrome is the least expensive finish to manufacture; the others take extra manufacturing steps.
- Accessories. Built-in shelving, seats, grab bars, multiple or handheld showerheads.
- Full custom builds. A completely gutted, fully-glassed shower with a custom base. We sold one for $16,000 the week we put this page together. It’s real, it happens, and it’s the exception, not the rule.
Think of it like ordering a pizza. Same crust, same oven, same kitchen. The toppings are what change the bill.
What Drives the Price Down, Without Cutting Corners?
Keeping things simple and classic: white-on-white finishes, standard chrome hardware, no added accessories. Chrome and subway tile have been around for 100-plus years for a reason. They’re not cheap, they’re just simple. The material and the workmanship behind an $8,500 job and a $15,000 job are identical. Only the features you choose change.
What actually does cut corners is worth saying plainly: a true DIY kit from a big-box store, or hiring an unlicensed contractor off a marketplace app. That route can cost less up front. It’s also the one that sacrifices quality and accountability. More on that below.
What Makes Some Companies So Expensive?
Usually it’s overhead and advertising spend you never see on the invoice, not necessarily better material. In a lot of cases, the underlying acrylic wall system is functionally similar across competitors. What’s different is how much marketing and department overhead gets baked into the price you’re quoted. Companies shipping overseas-manufactured product, or adding extra hands and markups between the manufacturer and your home, tend to run higher too.
What Makes Some Companies So Cheap?
Two things to watch for, and we’ll say them plainly because most companies won’t.
The warranty trap
Many “lifetime” or “limited lifetime” warranties actually transfer back to the material manufacturer after a short window, often just 1 to 5 years. It works the same way as an appliance warranty at a big-box retailer. Their coverage handles year one, then you’re on your own tracking down the manufacturer. Ask directly whether a company manufactures its own product or resells someone else’s. That answers who actually stands behind the warranty when something goes wrong.
Unlicensed, uninsured labor
If an unlicensed worker damages your home, say, a flood from a bad install, your homeowner’s insurance typically won’t cover it, because the work wasn’t done by a licensed contractor. We’ve heard this pattern enough times to call it out directly: a sub opens the wall, “discovers” a problem, and asks for a few hundred dollars more on the spot. The job that started at one price doesn’t finish there.
How Have Bathroom Remodel Prices Changed Over the Years?
We’re not the only data point here. The JLC Cost vs. Value Report, the closest thing this industry has to a Kelley Blue Book, puts the national mid-range bathroom remodel at roughly $26,000 to $30,000 as of the most recent report. That’s up from about $14,000 ten years ago and a 2022 peak near $28,000.
| Where a $26,000 remodel budget goes | Approx. Share |
|---|---|
| Flooring (luxury vinyl tile or ceramic) | ~$2,000–$4,000 |
| Paint | ~$1,000 |
| Vanity, toilet, mirror, lighting | ~$2,000 |
| Shower/wet area (plumbing, wall system, showerhead) | The remaining 60–70% of the total |
Two more numbers worth knowing. Every year a project gets put off adds roughly $1,000 to $1,300 to the eventual cost, based on the trend we’ve watched since 2020. And a $26,000 bathroom remodel typically recoups about $20,000, or roughly 80%, at resale. Bathrooms and kitchens are consistently the first two rooms a prospective buyer judges a home by.
Does Bath Fitter Offer “Good, Better, Best” Pricing Tiers?
No, and we’d rather tell you why than let you assume it’s a sales gimmick either way. Here’s how Cam, one of our sales managers, puts it:
“I’ve never believed in that practice, especially in the bathroom world. Why would I not just give you my best right off the bat from the beginning and just stick to that?” (Cam, Sales Manager)
The $8,500 job and the $15,000 job use the same acrylic material, the same installation standard, and the same warranty. The only thing that moves along that range is what you choose: color, hardware finish, glass style, accessories. Not the quality underneath it.
What Hidden Costs Should You Ask About Before You Sign?
- What’s behind the wall. Rot, damaged subfloor, hidden plumbing or electrical lines, sometimes even debris packed behind an old fiberglass unit, can turn up once demo starts. Ask directly whether that risk is covered by your quoted price or billed as a separate change order.
- Who’s actually doing the work. Confirm your installer is licensed, bonded, and insured.
Is the Cheaper Option Actually Cheaper in the Long Run?
The most expensive project in your home is the one you have to do twice.
A cheap, fiberglass, or DIY install that fails in a year or two wipes out whatever you saved up front. You’re paying for the redo on top of the original job. A real, limited lifetime warranty, backed by a company that’s still going to be around, is what makes the higher sticker price the better long-term value. It’s the opposite of what one of our sales leaders calls a “tailgate warranty”: good only as long as you can see the tailgate of the installer’s truck.
Can You Finance a Bathroom Remodel, and How Does That Work?
Financing is common, fast, and handled entirely in your home. No phone calls, no mailing paperwork off-site. A design consultant runs the application on a tablet during your in-home visit, with an answer in 5 to 10 minutes.
- 12-month and 24-month no-interest plans for cash-conscious buyers who want to keep their money working for them.
- Terms out to 180 months, or 15 years, with no prepayment penalty. You can carry a low monthly payment, as low as roughly $150 a month, and pay extra whenever it’s convenient.
- 37 customers financed their project with us last month alone.
- Most companies in this space work with a similar handful of national lenders, so financing terms usually aren’t a real differentiator between companies. What you should actually compare is the total project cost and what’s backing the warranty.
Is It Really Worth It?
We’ll answer honestly instead of just saying yes. It depends on what you’re comparing it to.
Versus a full custom bathroom remodel, at that ~$26,000-plus national average, a Bath Fitter conversion typically costs less and finishes in a fraction of the time, often a single day for the shower or tub portion. Versus a true DIY kit or an unlicensed installer, we cost more up front. That’s the point. You’re paying for a warranty that actually holds up. You’re paying for an installer who’s insured. And you’re paying for a company that will still be around to answer the phone in year six.
| Option | Typical Cost | Timeline | Warranty | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIY acrylic kit | ~$300–$2,000 (materials only) | A weekend, if all goes well | Whatever the material maker offers, if anything | Homeowners comfortable doing their own plumbing and tile work |
| Reglazing / refinishing* | ~$500–$1,500* | 1–2 days | Typically 1–5 years, if any | A cosmetic refresh on a tub that isn’t otherwise damaged |
| Full custom remodel | ~$26,000+ national average | Several weeks | Depends entirely on your contractor | Homeowners changing the whole room’s layout, not just the tub or shower |
| Bath Fitter | $8,500–$15,000 | Often a single day for the shower/tub portion | limited lifetime warranty | A faster, warrantied conversion without a full gut remodel |
What If I Have Accessibility Needs?
A lot of people don’t think about their shower until they can’t safely use it anymore. If stepping over a tub wall has gotten harder, or someone in your home uses a walker or wheelchair, grab bars, low-threshold entries, and built-in seating can usually be worked into your project. Tell your design consultant what you’re dealing with up front. It changes what we recommend, and sometimes it changes the price, but it’s almost always solvable.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there a price range instead of one flat number?
A bathroom remodel has too many variables to quote sight-unseen: tub vs. shower, wall style, glass vs. curtain, seats, hardware finish, and what's behind your existing wall all affect the price. Once those specifics are known, we give a firm, to-the-penny quote.
What hidden costs should I ask about before signing?
Ask, in writing, whether damage discovered once demo starts is covered by your quoted price or billed separately, and confirm your installer is licensed, bonded, and insured.
Can I finance a bathroom remodel?
Yes. Financing is typically arranged in your home in 5 to 10 minutes, with options like 12- and 24-month no-interest plans and terms out to 180 months with no prepayment penalty.
Do I need a permit for a tub-to-shower conversion?
Permit requirements vary by city and county across our markets. Your design consultant will tell you if your project needs one and can help pull it if it does.
Is Bath Fitter's lifetime warranty really for a lifetime?
It's a true, transferable warranty backed by us, not a manufacturer we'd have to track down on your behalf. See our full warranty terms for exactly what's covered.
Should I get three quotes before deciding?
That's the traditional advice, but it's worth updating. Today you can research a company's pricing, reviews, and reputation online, including by asking an AI assistant, before ever inviting someone into your home.
Where does Bath Fitter's pricing actually fall?
$8,500 to $15,000 for most projects, with about 70% of customers landing in the middle of that range. The remaining 30% split between simple, basic jobs at the low end and fully custom, glassed-in builds at the high end.
This guide applies to: Bath Fitter Augusta, Bath Fitter Columbia, Bath Fitter Little Rock, Bath Fitter Memphis, Bath Fitter Oklahoma City, Bath Fitter Tri Cities, Bath Fitter Upstate SC/Western NC.