3×5 Shower Replacement Cost: Five Builds Compared (2026 Baseline)
The same 60x36 shower torn out and rebuilt five ways, from a multi-piece fiberglass remodel unit to tile on a mud-bed pan, with add-ons and the problems that show up once the old shower is out. Every quantity, rate and formula shown.
Five builds, side by side
Same room, same 60x36 footprint, same demolition. Only the shower changes.
| Build | Job cost | Labor | Crew hours | Materials | Illustrative selling price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Multi-piece remodel unit | $4,915 | $2,918 | 39 to 53 h | $1,772 | $6,390 to $9,831 |
| B. Acrylic base + surround kit | $4,765 | $2,918 | 39 to 53 h | $1,622 | $6,195 to $9,531 |
| C. Tile walls, acrylic base | $6,667 | $3,750 | 45 to 61 h | $2,692 | $8,667 to $13,334 |
| D. Tile walls, foam tray pan | $8,494 | $5,016 | 55 to 74 h | $3,253 | $11,042 to $16,988 |
| E. Tile walls, mud-bed pan | $9,037 | $6,014 | 58 to 78 h | $2,798 | $11,748 to $18,073 |
Dump fees and other costs ($225) are the same in every build and included in the job cost. Materials include allowances. Illustrative selling price is the job cost at a 30% to 100% markup; your price depends on your own overhead and profit. Crew hours are a planning range for your own crew and include setup, daily cleanup and material runs; they are never a charge to the customer. Permit and inspection fees are not included; requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Each build in detail
A. Multi-piece remodel unit: $4,915
Old tile shower out, a three- or four-piece fiberglass remodel unit set direct to the studs, new valve and trim. Labor is $2,918 of the $4,915 job cost, or 59.4%. It is about 39 to 53 hours of work for your own crew, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure for your own crew, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Low-Overhead×1.30 | Established×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | 4 to 8 h | $451 | $586 | $677 | $902 |
| Plumbing | 11 to 20 h | $1,275 | $1,657 | $1,913 | $2,550 |
| Drywall | 7 to 14 h | $657 | $854 | $985 | $1,314 |
| Tile | 4 to 10 h | $486 | $632 | $729 | $972 |
| Painting | under 1 h | $49 | $64 | $73 | $98 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 3 to 10 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 39 to 53 h | $2,918 | $3,793 | $4,377 | $5,836 |
Every line item
Labor $2,918 + materials and allowances $1,772 + dump fees and other $225 = $4,915 direct job cost. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor (large-format tile, for example, is counted at 1.35 times its area), so they can exceed the tiled area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
Line items (19)
| Item | Qty | Unit | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | |||||
| Bathroom Fixture Removal | 1 | ea | $125 | $0 | $125 |
| Haul-Off Per Load | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $225 |
| Interior Demolition Labor | 15 | sf | $26 | $0 | $26 |
| Site Protection, One Room (per job) | 1 | ea | $300 | $0 | $300 |
| Plumbing | |||||
| Multi-Piece Remodel Shower Unit Allowance | 1 | ea | $0 | $1,100 | $1,100 |
| Shower valve trim allowance | 1 | ea | $0 | $285 | $285 |
| Shower/Tub Valve Set | 1 | ea | $425 | $0 | $425 |
| Shower Unit Install Labor | 1 | ea | $850 | $0 | $850 |
| Shower Valve Rough-In Body Allowance | 1 | ea | $0 | $200 | $200 |
| Drywall | |||||
| Drywall Removal | 88 | sf | $88 | $0 | $88 |
| Drywall Patch Repair | 4 | ea | $500 | $0 | $500 |
| Drywall Skim Coat Materials | 60 | sf | $0 | $19 | $19 |
| Skim Coat Labor | 60 | sf | $69 | $0 | $69 |
| Tile | |||||
| Tile Floor Removal | 15 | sf | $68 | $0 | $68 |
| Wall Tile Removal | 88 | sf | $418 | $0 | $418 |
| Painting | |||||
| Interior Paint Apply Labor | 60 | sf | $36 | $0 | $36 |
| Premium Paint Allowance | 0.38 | gallon | $0 | $18 | $18 |
| Paint Prep Labor | 60 | sf | $13 | $0 | $13 |
| Paint Sundries Materials | 1 | ls | $0 | $150 | $150 |
| Direct job cost | $2,918 | $1,772 | $4,915 | ||
B. Acrylic base + surround kit: $4,765
Acrylic base with a three-panel acrylic surround glued to new backer, new valve and trim. Labor is $2,918 of the $4,765 job cost, or 61.2%. It is about 39 to 53 hours of work for your own crew, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure for your own crew, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Low-Overhead×1.30 | Established×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | 4 to 8 h | $451 | $586 | $677 | $902 |
| Plumbing | 11 to 20 h | $1,275 | $1,657 | $1,913 | $2,550 |
| Drywall | 7 to 14 h | $657 | $854 | $985 | $1,314 |
| Tile | 4 to 10 h | $486 | $632 | $729 | $972 |
| Painting | under 1 h | $49 | $64 | $73 | $98 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 3 to 10 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 39 to 53 h | $2,918 | $3,793 | $4,377 | $5,836 |
Every line item
Labor $2,918 + materials and allowances $1,622 + dump fees and other $225 = $4,765 direct job cost. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor (large-format tile, for example, is counted at 1.35 times its area), so they can exceed the tiled area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
Line items (19)
| Item | Qty | Unit | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | |||||
| Bathroom Fixture Removal | 1 | ea | $125 | $0 | $125 |
| Haul-Off Per Load | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $225 |
| Interior Demolition Labor | 15 | sf | $26 | $0 | $26 |
| Site Protection, One Room (per job) | 1 | ea | $300 | $0 | $300 |
| Plumbing | |||||
| Shower Base and Surround Kit Allowance | 1 | ea | $0 | $950 | $950 |
| Shower valve trim allowance | 1 | ea | $0 | $285 | $285 |
| Shower/Tub Valve Set | 1 | ea | $425 | $0 | $425 |
| Shower Unit Install Labor | 1 | ea | $850 | $0 | $850 |
| Shower Valve Rough-In Body Allowance | 1 | ea | $0 | $200 | $200 |
| Drywall | |||||
| Drywall Removal | 88 | sf | $88 | $0 | $88 |
| Drywall Patch Repair | 4 | ea | $500 | $0 | $500 |
| Drywall Skim Coat Materials | 60 | sf | $0 | $19 | $19 |
| Skim Coat Labor | 60 | sf | $69 | $0 | $69 |
| Tile | |||||
| Tile Floor Removal | 15 | sf | $68 | $0 | $68 |
| Wall Tile Removal | 88 | sf | $418 | $0 | $418 |
| Painting | |||||
| Interior Paint Apply Labor | 60 | sf | $36 | $0 | $36 |
| Premium Paint Allowance | 0.38 | gallon | $0 | $18 | $18 |
| Paint Prep Labor | 60 | sf | $13 | $0 | $13 |
| Paint Sundries Materials | 1 | ls | $0 | $150 | $150 |
| Direct job cost | $2,918 | $1,622 | $4,765 | ||
C. Tile walls, acrylic base: $6,667
Tiled walls to the ceiling over a waterproofed backer, on a factory acrylic base. All wall backer is new, because the old shower comes out to the studs. Labor is $3,750 of the $6,667 job cost, or 56.2%. It is about 45 to 61 hours of work for your own crew, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure for your own crew, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Low-Overhead×1.30 | Established×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | 4 to 8 h | $451 | $586 | $677 | $902 |
| Plumbing | 2 to 5 h | $425 | $553 | $637 | $850 |
| Drywall | 1 to 2 h | $88 | $114 | $132 | $176 |
| Tile | 29 to 43 h | $2,786 | $3,622 | $4,179 | $5,572 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 3 to 11 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 45 to 61 h | $3,750 | $4,875 | $5,625 | $7,500 |
Every line item
Labor $3,750 + materials and allowances $2,692 + dump fees and other $225 = $6,667 direct job cost. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor (large-format tile, for example, is counted at 1.35 times its area), so they can exceed the tiled area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
Line items (21)
| Item | Qty | Unit | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | |||||
| Bathroom Fixture Removal | 1 | ea | $125 | $0 | $125 |
| Haul-Off Per Load | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $225 |
| Interior Demolition Labor | 15 | sf | $26 | $0 | $26 |
| Site Protection, One Room (per job) | 1 | ea | $300 | $0 | $300 |
| Plumbing | |||||
| Shower Pan Materials | 1 | ea | $0 | $475 | $475 |
| Shower valve trim allowance | 1 | ea | $0 | $285 | $285 |
| Shower/Tub Valve Set | 1 | ea | $425 | $0 | $425 |
| Shower Valve Rough-In Body Allowance | 1 | ea | $0 | $200 | $200 |
| Drywall | |||||
| Drywall Removal | 88 | sf | $88 | $0 | $88 |
| Tile | |||||
| Tile Grout Install Labor | 88 | sf | $154 | $0 | $154 |
| Tile Grout Materials | 88 | sf | $0 | $40 | $40 |
| Bathroom Tile Install Labor | 88 | sf | $1,188 | $0 | $1,188 |
| Bath Tile Setting Materials | 96.8 | sf | $0 | $82 | $82 |
| Bathroom Tile Substrate Materials | 88 | sf | $0 | $131 | $131 |
| Bathroom Tile Substrate Prep Labor | 88 | sf | $286 | $0 | $286 |
| Tile Waterproofing Install Labor | 88 | sf | $198 | $0 | $198 |
| Bath Tile Waterproofing Materials | 88 | sf | $0 | $172 | $172 |
| Bathroom wall tile material allowance | 96.8 | sf | $0 | $1,307 | $1,307 |
| Tile Floor Removal | 15 | sf | $67 | $0 | $67 |
| Wall Tile Removal | 88 | sf | $418 | $0 | $418 |
| Shower Pan Install Labor | 1 | ea | $475 | $0 | $475 |
| Direct job cost | $3,750 | $2,692 | $6,667 | ||
D. Tile walls, foam tray pan: $8,494
Tiled walls and a tiled floor on a sloped foam tray with a bonded membrane. All wall backer is new, because the old shower comes out to the studs. Labor is $5,016 of the $8,494 job cost, or 59.1%. It is about 55 to 74 hours of work for your own crew, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure for your own crew, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Low-Overhead×1.30 | Established×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | 4 to 8 h | $451 | $586 | $677 | $902 |
| Plumbing | 2 to 5 h | $425 | $553 | $637 | $850 |
| Drywall | 1 to 2 h | $88 | $114 | $132 | $176 |
| Tile | 37 to 54 h | $4,052 | $5,268 | $6,078 | $8,104 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 4 to 13 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 55 to 74 h | $5,016 | $6,521 | $7,524 | $10,032 |
Every line item
Labor $5,016 + materials and allowances $3,253 + dump fees and other $225 = $8,494 direct job cost. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor (large-format tile, for example, is counted at 1.35 times its area), so they can exceed the tiled area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
Line items (24)
| Item | Qty | Unit | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | |||||
| Bathroom Fixture Removal | 1 | ea | $125 | $0 | $125 |
| Haul-Off Per Load | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $225 |
| Interior Demolition Labor | 15 | sf | $26 | $0 | $26 |
| Site Protection, One Room (per job) | 1 | ea | $300 | $0 | $300 |
| Plumbing | |||||
| Shower Pan Materials | 1 | ea | $0 | $575 | $575 |
| Shower valve trim allowance | 1 | ea | $0 | $285 | $285 |
| Shower/Tub Valve Set | 1 | ea | $425 | $0 | $425 |
| Shower Valve Rough-In Body Allowance | 1 | ea | $0 | $200 | $200 |
| Drywall | |||||
| Drywall Removal | 88 | sf | $88 | $0 | $88 |
| Tile | |||||
| Tile Grout Install Labor | 103 | sf | $180 | $0 | $180 |
| Tile Grout Materials | 103 | sf | $0 | $46 | $46 |
| Bathroom Tile Install Labor | 103 | sf | $1,428 | $0 | $1,428 |
| Bathroom Tile Material Allowance | 16.5 | sf | $0 | $182 | $182 |
| Bath Tile Setting Materials | 113.3 | sf | $0 | $96 | $96 |
| Bathroom Tile Substrate Materials | 88 | sf | $0 | $131 | $131 |
| Bathroom Tile Substrate Prep Labor | 88 | sf | $286 | $0 | $286 |
| Tile Waterproofing Install Labor | 88 | sf | $330 | $0 | $330 |
| Bath Tile Waterproofing Materials | 88 | sf | $0 | $286 | $286 |
| Bathroom wall tile material allowance | 96.8 | sf | $0 | $1,307 | $1,307 |
| Tile Floor Removal | 15 | sf | $68 | $0 | $68 |
| Wall Tile Removal | 88 | sf | $418 | $0 | $418 |
| Shower Curb Materials | 1 | ea | $0 | $145 | $145 |
| Shower Flood Test Labor | 1 | ea | $250 | $0 | $250 |
| Shower Pan Install Labor | 1 | ea | $1,092 | $0 | $1,092 |
| Direct job cost | $5,016 | $3,253 | $8,494 | ||
E. Tile walls, mud-bed pan: $9,037
Tiled walls and a tiled floor on a site-built mortar bed, with a bonded sheet membrane and a bonding-flange drain instead of a liner. All wall backer is new, because the old shower comes out to the studs. Labor is $6,014 of the $9,037 job cost, or 66.5%. It is about 58 to 78 hours of work for your own crew, including setup, daily cleanup and material runs.
Labor cost by trade
Labor only. Materials, allowances and dump fees are in the line items below. Hours are person-hours at typical production from Clamp’s labor hours catalog, as a range: a planning figure for your own crew, not a schedule and not a charge to the customer.
| Trade | Hours | Labor cost | Low-Overhead×1.30 | Established×1.50 | Full-Service×2.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | 4 to 8 h | $451 | $586 | $677 | $902 |
| Plumbing | 2 to 5 h | $425 | $553 | $637 | $850 |
| Drywall | 1 to 2 h | $88 | $114 | $132 | $176 |
| Tile | 41 to 58 h | $5,050 | $6,565 | $7,575 | $10,100 |
| Setup, cleanup and material runs | 4 to 14 h | in the prices | |||
| All labor | 58 to 78 h | $6,014 | $7,818 | $9,021 | $12,028 |
Every line item
Labor $6,014 + materials and allowances $2,798 + dump fees and other $225 = $9,037 direct job cost. Some labor quantities include a difficulty factor (large-format tile, for example, is counted at 1.35 times its area), so they can exceed the tiled area; each row’s derivation is in the downloadable data.
Line items (23)
| Item | Qty | Unit | Labor | Material | Line cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo & Prep | |||||
| Bathroom Fixture Removal | 1 | ea | $125 | $0 | $125 |
| Haul-Off Per Load | 1 | ea | $0 | $0 | $225 |
| Interior Demolition Labor | 15 | sf | $26 | $0 | $26 |
| Site Protection, One Room (per job) | 1 | ea | $300 | $0 | $300 |
| Plumbing | |||||
| Shower Pan Materials | 1 | ea | $0 | $265 | $265 |
| Shower valve trim allowance | 1 | ea | $0 | $285 | $285 |
| Shower/Tub Valve Set | 1 | ea | $425 | $0 | $425 |
| Shower Valve Rough-In Body Allowance | 1 | ea | $0 | $200 | $200 |
| Drywall | |||||
| Drywall Removal | 88 | sf | $88 | $0 | $88 |
| Tile | |||||
| Tile Grout Install Labor | 103 | sf | $180 | $0 | $180 |
| Tile Grout Materials | 103 | sf | $0 | $46 | $46 |
| Bathroom Tile Install Labor | 103 | sf | $1,428 | $0 | $1,428 |
| Bathroom Tile Material Allowance | 16.5 | sf | $0 | $182 | $182 |
| Bath Tile Setting Materials | 113.3 | sf | $0 | $96 | $96 |
| Bathroom Tile Substrate Materials | 88 | sf | $0 | $131 | $131 |
| Bathroom Tile Substrate Prep Labor | 88 | sf | $286 | $0 | $286 |
| Tile Waterproofing Install Labor | 88 | sf | $330 | $0 | $330 |
| Bath Tile Waterproofing Materials | 88 | sf | $0 | $286 | $286 |
| Bathroom wall tile material allowance | 96.8 | sf | $0 | $1,307 | $1,307 |
| Tile Floor Removal | 15 | sf | $68 | $0 | $68 |
| Wall Tile Removal | 88 | sf | $418 | $0 | $418 |
| Shower Flood Test Labor | 1 | ea | $250 | $0 | $250 |
| Shower Pan Install Labor | 1 | ea | $2,090 | $0 | $2,090 |
| Direct job cost | $6,014 | $2,798 | $9,037 | ||
Add-ons
Each add-on is added to build E (tile walls, mud-bed pan) and priced as one change to that same estimate. A range appears where the add-on includes an allowance, since the fixture or glass you pick sets the price.
| Add-on | Adds to job cost |
|---|---|
| Framed, tiled niche, one shelf | $563 to $710 |
| Framed, tiled niche, two shelves | $738 to $885 |
| Prefab foam niche insert, tiled in | $638 to $785 |
| Rain head plus handheld, on a diverter | $703 to $2,088 |
| Curtain on a fixed rod | $190 to $353 |
| Framed glass sliding door | $526 to $1,288 |
| Semi-frameless glass door and panel | $1,416 to $3,603 |
| Frameless 3/8 inch glass door and panel | $1,549 to $3,895 |
| Steam package, with the frameless door made vapor-tight and a transom (on top of the frameless door) | $5,318 to $12,405 |
The glass rows replace each other, and the curtain replaces glass. Heavy frameless glass can need wall blocking, which is cheap while the walls are open and expensive after tile. Steam needs a sealed enclosure with a waterproofed, sloped ceiling, so it is priced on top of the frameless door.
Problems found once the old work is out
What it adds to the job cost when the wall or floor tells you something the walkthrough could not.
| Found | Adds to job cost |
|---|---|
| Rotted subfloor under the pan, about 12 square feet | $168 |
| Drain moved to center the new pan | $745 |
| Valve moved to a new height or location | $1,100 |
| Plaster and lath walls instead of drywall | $286 |
| Pre-1978 home, lead-safe practices | $685 |
Methodology & reproducibility
5 snapshots, one per build. Each build is frozen from its own estimate run with the same old work, system type and takeoff pinned, so the builds differ only in what is being built. Add-ons and problems found are each one stated change on build E, priced the same way.
Direct cost equals the sum of each row’s rounded quantity × (labor + material + other). Amounts are shown in whole dollars; every column adds to its total.
Scope selection, prose accuracy, arithmetic and provenance mapping reviewed; not independent market-rate verification.
- shower-3x5-multi-piece-unit/v1: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- shower-3x5-surround-kit/v1: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- shower-3x5-tile-acrylic-base/v1: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- shower-3x5-tile-foam-tray/v1: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
- shower-3x5-tile-mud-bed/v1: JSON, CSV, field dictionary
Questions
Is a 5x3 shower the same as a 3x5?
Yes. Both describe a 60x36 inch shower, the size that replaces a standard tub. This page prices that footprint.
How does this compare with a full bathroom remodel?
This page prices only the shower. The published 5×8 bathroom remodel replaces the tub with a tiled surround, the vanity, toilet, fan, lighting, floor tile and paint, for a direct job cost of $11,799.
How much labor is in a 60x36 shower replacement?
In these builds labor runs from $2,918 for a multi-piece remodel unit to $6,014 for tile on a mud-bed pan. Tile is where the labor goes: setting backer, waterproofing, the pan, the curb and the tile itself.
Where does the cost difference between tile and fiberglass come from?
Mostly labor. A multi-piece unit is set and connected in a day; a tiled shower adds new backer, a waterproofing membrane, a pan, a curb, tile and grout. Build C, the cheapest tile build, costs $6,667 against $4,915 for the multi-piece unit.
Is a glass door included?
No. Every build is priced without a door so the builds compare evenly. A framed sliding door adds $838, semi-frameless $2,291, frameless $2,489, and a curtain on a fixed rod $255.
What does a mud-bed pan cost compared with a foam tray?
In these builds the mud bed costs $543 more than the foam tray. The mortar bed takes more labor; the foam tray costs more in materials and saves time.
What changes if the drain has to move?
Moving the drain to center a new pan adds $745 to the job cost in this example, before any floor framing repair. Rotted subfloor under the pan adds $168 for about 12 square feet.
Are permits included?
No. Permit and inspection fees are not included in any total on this page. Many jurisdictions require a plumbing permit when the valve is replaced, so check locally.
Why is the direct job cost lower than a contractor's price?
Direct job cost is labor and materials only. A contractor's price adds overhead and profit on top; at the illustrative 30% to 100% markups on this page, build E sells for $11,748 to $18,073.
Sources & provenance
- 5×8 Bathroom Remodel v3 reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- Multi-piece remodel unit reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- Acrylic base + surround kit reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- Tile walls, acrylic base reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- Tile walls, foam tray pan reviewed snapshot Clamp Research
- Tile walls, mud-bed pan reviewed snapshot Clamp Research