Tub-to-Shower Conversion
Cost in Middle Tennessee

This is the single most requested bathroom project we do in Smyrna. The tub never gets used, it is hard to step over, and the space would be far more useful as a proper shower. Here is what the job actually costs and where the money goes.

Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost — $5,000 to $12,000

Where a specific job lands depends almost entirely on three decisions: tile, glass, and whether the shower floor sits flush with the bathroom floor.

What the Job Actually Includes

• Demo and haul-off of the existing tub and surround
• Framing adjustments where the tub deck used to be
• New shower pan or mortar bed, sloped correctly to drain
• Waterproofing membrane behind all tile surfaces
• Tile floor and surround, with a niche if you want one
• New shower valve, trim, showerhead and drain
• Glass enclosure, door, or curtain rod
• Any drywall, paint and trim repair around the new opening

What is usually not included unless you ask: moving the drain, replacing the vanity or toilet, re-tiling the rest of the bathroom floor, or upgrading the exhaust fan. Any of those are reasonable add-ons, but they should be priced separately so you can see what each one costs.

Curbed vs. Curbless — Adds $3,000 to $7,000

A standard shower has a curb — a low threshold you step over. A curbless shower is flush with the bathroom floor, which looks considerably better and is genuinely accessible for anyone planning to age in place.

The reason it costs more is structural. The shower floor has to sit lower than the surrounding floor, which means either recessing the floor joists (in a crawlspace or second-floor bathroom) or modifying the slab. On top of that it requires a full bonded waterproofing membrane and usually a linear drain.

Our honest recommendation: if this is your forever home or you are thinking about aging in place, build curbless and do it properly. If you are updating a secondary bathroom or planning to move within a few years, a well-built curbed shower is the better use of the money.

Glass, Curtain, or Doorless

Waterproofing Is the Whole Job

Everything you can see — the tile, the glass, the fixtures — sits on top of the part that actually matters. A shower is a box that gets soaked several times a day for twenty years. The membrane behind the tile is what keeps that water out of your framing.

The failure mode is slow and expensive: water wicks past a bad pan or an unsealed corner, gets into the subfloor, and you do not find out until the ceiling below stains or the floor goes soft. By then the repair is the shower plus the framing plus whatever is underneath.

This is the reason a conversion done properly costs $5,000 and not $2,500. If a bid comes in dramatically under the ranges above, ask specifically what waterproofing system is being used and whether the pan is pre-sloped. The answer tells you everything.

Will Removing the Tub Hurt Resale?

Only if it was your last one. Buyers with small children generally want at least one bathtub in the house. If you have two full bathrooms and you convert one, you are adding value — a well-built walk-in shower in a primary bathroom is a selling feature in this market, particularly to buyers over 50.

If it is your only full bath, we will usually tell you to keep the tub and spend the money on tile, fixtures and lighting instead.

Getting an Accurate Number

We look at the existing tub alcove, check what is under the floor, and tell you whether curbless is realistic in your bathroom before you fall in love with the idea. Fixed price before any demo starts. Call (615) 821-2275.

See our full bathroom remodeling page, or the complete bathroom remodel cost guide if you are considering a larger project.

FAQs \u2014 Tub-to-Shower Cost