Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost in Idaho
A same-footprint tub-to-shower conversion in the Treasure Valley runs $12,000–$25,000 as a standalone project. Here is what moves the number: waterproofing tier, glass enclosure choice, curbless vs curb entry, expansion into adjacent space, and Idaho hard-water tile picks that hold up long-term.
Quick answer
A same-footprint tub-to-shower conversion in the Treasure Valley runs $12,000–$25,000 as a standalone project — remove the tub, waterproof and tile the walls and floor, install shower pan, fixtures, and glass enclosure. Simple ceramic + semi-frameless glass lands $12k–$16k; bonded-waterproofing mid-range with frameless glass and custom niche runs $16k–$22k; curbless premium with adjacent- space expansion runs $22k–$32k+. Keep at least one bathtub elsewhere in the home for resale in Idaho's family market. Iron Crest handles the full permit stack on every conversion.
Quick answer
A same-footprint tub-to-shower conversion in the Treasure Valley runs $12,000–$25,000 as a standalone project: remove the tub, waterproof and tile the walls and floor of the new shower, install a shower pan, install fixtures, install a glass enclosure.
Three tiers cover most tub-to-shower conversions. What moves you up a tier: waterproofing system, glass enclosure style, and whether the entry is curbless or has a traditional curb.
$12,000 – $16,000
Ceramic or basic porcelain tile surround. Stock shower pan. Semi-frameless glass. Existing drain and valve. No layout change.
- Ceramic or basic porcelain tile ($2–$5/sf material)
- Stock 32x60 or 36x60 shower pan
- Semi-frameless sliding or hinged glass
- Existing drain and valve location kept
- Standard fill-in on the demo'd tub deck
- No layout change, no expansion
$16,000 – $22,000
Bonded waterproofing (Schluter KERDI or equivalent). Mid-tier porcelain. Frameless glass. Custom niche + bench.
- Schluter KERDI, Wedi, or Hydro-Ban bonded waterproofing
- Mid-tier porcelain tile ($5–$12/sf material)
- Frameless glass enclosure
- Custom shower niche + bench
- New shower valve with hand-shower + rain head
- New floor tile bundled from demo debris removal
$22,000 – $32,000+
Curbless entry with linear drain. Custom tile patterns. Frameless glass with unique detailing. Expansion into adjacent space possible.
- Curbless entry with linear drain and full waterproofing
- Premium porcelain, quartzite, or large-format tile ($12–$24/sf material)
- Custom frameless glass with notched details or steam-shower enclosure
- Bench + niche + shampoo shelf detailing
- Premium fixture package (thermostatic valve, body sprays)
- Adjacent-space expansion (removed wall or converted closet)
These are the additions that come up most in tub-to-shower scoping. Any can be added to any tier — cheaper scoped in from the start than added mid-project.
Move the drain from existing tub location
+$800 – $2,000
Curbless entry with linear drain
+$1,800 – $4,500
Frameless glass upgrade from semi-frameless
+$1,800 – $3,000
Expand shower into adjacent space (removed wall)
+$2,000 – $6,000
Custom bench (tile-clad, structural)
+$600 – $1,400
Custom niche (tile-clad, waterproofed)
+$400 – $1,200
Heated floor in the bathroom (electric radiant)
+$800 – $2,200
New exhaust fan with new duct routing
+$400 – $1,200
Thermostatic valve with hand shower + rain head
+$800 – $2,500
Body sprays (each)
+$300 – $600
Steam shower generator + controls
+$3,500 – $8,500
Same-visit exhaust + light + vanity swap bundle
+$1,500 – $4,000
Treasure Valley water tests moderately hard at most Suez and Veolia service areas. The tile you pick for a shower surround should hold up against mineral deposits for 15–25 years without staining or etching. Here is what works and what doesn't.
Holds up well in Idaho hard water
- Porcelain tile — non-porous, mineral-resistant, no sealing required
- Ceramic tile — non-porous, budget-friendly, works well in showers
- Quartzite — harder and less porous than marble, holds up if properly sealed
- Slab porcelain — stone look without stone maintenance
- Epoxy grout — resists mineral staining, no annual sealing
Poor choices for Idaho hard water
- Unsealed marble — stains and etches from mineral deposits within months
- Travertine — porous, requires frequent resealing, holds moisture
- Some limestones — soft, porous, poor for wet environments
- Sealed marble — better than unsealed but requires resealing every 1–3 years
- Standard cementitious grout — requires annual sealing to stay clean
For homeowners scoping a specific tub-to-shower project, Iron Crest maintains deeper detail on the service page plus dedicated sub-pages for materials, glass doors, luxury features, ROI, and permits.
How much does a tub-to-shower conversion cost in Idaho?
A same-footprint tub-to-shower conversion in the Treasure Valley runs $12,000–$25,000 as a standalone project: remove the tub, waterproof and tile the walls and floor of the new shower, install a shower pan, install fixtures, install a glass enclosure. The low end assumes a simple ceramic or basic porcelain tile surround with a stock shower pan and semi-frameless glass. The high end assumes a full bonded waterproofing system (Schluter KERDI, Wedi, or Hydro-Ban), premium porcelain or natural stone tile, custom niche, bench, curbless or low-curb entry, and a frameless glass enclosure. Expanding the shower into adjacent space (a closet, a soaker-tub deck being removed) adds $2,000–$6,000 for framing, drywall, and additional tile.
What's the cheapest way to convert a tub to a shower in Idaho?
Same footprint, standard tile, semi-frameless glass, stock shower pan, existing valve location. That combination lands at the bottom of the $12k–$25k range — typically $12k–$16k for a Treasure Valley project. Where cost climbs: (1) moving the drain from the existing tub location — adds $800–$2,000 in plumbing rough; (2) expanding into adjacent space (removing a wall to add depth or width) — adds $2,000–$6,000; (3) frameless glass enclosure — adds $1,800–$5,500 over semi-frameless; (4) curbless entry — adds $1,800–$4,500 in framing, waterproofing, and drain work; (5) higher-end tile (large-format porcelain, natural stone) — adds $500–$3,000 depending on material and pattern. The floor of the range is genuine — Iron Crest completes cheap-tier tub-to-shower conversions all the time; they are not scope-cut versions of premium jobs.
Do I need a permit for a tub-to-shower conversion in Idaho?
Yes in most cases. Even a same-footprint conversion typically triggers a plumbing permit (waterproofing detail is inspected, and any drain modification requires the state-licensed plumber to pull a plumbing permit under Idaho Code § 54-2601) and often a building permit for the waterproofing assembly. If you are moving the drain, adding a curbless entry (which changes framing), or expanding the shower into adjacent space, add electrical (relocated GFCI, added lighting) and mechanical (repositioned exhaust) permits too. Iron Crest handles the permit stack on every tub-to-shower project — homeowner does not touch the portal. See our permits hub for jurisdiction-specific fees.
Should I keep the tub or convert to a shower for resale?
For resale, keep at least one bathtub in the house — homes with zero bathtubs are harder to sell in Idaho's family-oriented market. The tub does not have to be in the primary suite. Most Iron Crest tub-to-shower conversions are in the primary bathroom while leaving the tub-shower combo intact in the guest or hall bath — this preserves resale flexibility while giving the daily-use bathroom a modern layout. If your home has only one bathroom, we generally do not recommend removing the tub — either keep it as-is or replace it with a tub-shower combo rather than shower-only. Owner-occupied homeowners staying 5+ years without near-term sell intent can prioritize daily-use over resale — but even then, the tub-elsewhere-in-house rule is worth respecting for eventual sale.
What's a curbless shower and does it cost more?
A curbless shower has no curb / lip at the entry — the shower floor is level with (or nearly level with) the bathroom floor, with a linear drain instead of a center point drain. It looks modern and is fully accessible (roll-in wheelchair compatible). It adds $1,800–$4,500 to a tub-to-shower conversion because of the framing work (recessed shower floor to hold the pan below the finished bathroom floor level), the waterproofing detail (a curbless pan has more edge to seal), and the linear drain assembly. Curbless is worth it for aging-in-place scope, primary bathrooms where the aesthetic matters, and homes designed for universal accessibility. It is not worth the added cost on a guest bath refresh.
What tile holds up best in Idaho hard water?
Porcelain and ceramic tile both hold up well against Treasure Valley hard water — non-porous, resistant to mineral staining, no sealing required. Natural stone (marble, travertine, some limestones) is a poor choice for shower surrounds in Idaho hard water: unsealed stone stains and etches from mineral deposits; sealed stone requires resealing every 1–3 years and is not fully immune. If you love the look of natural stone, quartzite (harder and less porous than marble) or slab porcelain that mimics stone are better choices. Grout choice matters too — epoxy grout resists staining and does not require sealing; standard cementitious grout requires annual sealing to stay clean in an Idaho shower environment.
How long does a tub-to-shower conversion take on-site?
Iron Crest schedules 5–10 working days for a straight same-footprint tub-to-shower conversion — day 1 demo, days 2–3 plumbing rough and framing, day 4 waterproofing, days 5–7 tile setting, days 8–9 grout and glass measurement, day 10 finish plumbing and enclosure install after glass fabrication. Expansion into adjacent space, curbless entry, or complex tile patterns add 2–5 working days. Glass enclosure fabrication is the typical bottleneck — glass shops in the Treasure Valley run 1–3 week lead times for frameless enclosures, so glass is measured mid-project and installed toward the end. On the front end, add design, tile selection, permit lead time (varies by city — see Kitchen Permit Cost Idaho for TV comparison), and demolition scheduling — typical total from first meeting to finished shower is 4–8 weeks.
Can Iron Crest do a tub-to-shower conversion without a full bathroom remodel?
Yes. Tub-to-shower conversion is one of the most common standalone bathroom scopes we work on — no cabinet, toilet, floor, or paint work required. The scope is contained to the tub/shower wall and the shower footprint. That said, some homeowners bundle a same-day faucet swap, exhaust fan upgrade, or new floor tile because the bathroom is already out of service — often only adding $1,500–$4,000 to the standalone conversion cost when the trades are already on-site. If your bathroom would otherwise get a full remodel within 2–3 years, bundling avoids paying for a second demolition and re-mobilization later.
Ready for a Tub-to-Shower Conversion in the Treasure Valley?
Iron Crest Remodel (RCE-6681702) works tub-to-shower conversions across the Treasure Valley. Written scope, fixed price, bonded waterproofing, permit stack handled. 3-year workmanship warranty.