Shower kit lead times and delivery day: what to expect

A typical shower kit ships in about a week and a half, because most are built to order; select in-stock sizes can ship the next business day, and custom sizes and colors take longer. Freight is quoted to your ZIP code, delivery is usually to the curb, and federal law gives you at least 9 months to file a written damage claim with the carrier.

That is the short answer. The rest of this guide is the practical part: what the truck actually does, what to check before you sign, and what to get ready the week before so install day starts on time.

How long does a shower kit take to arrive?

Lead time has two parts: making the kit and moving it. Molded pans and wall panels are usually produced for your order rather than pulled off a shelf, so the clock starts when the order is confirmed with final measurements, not when you first ask for a price.

Transit time is added on top and depends on distance and the carrier's route. If you have a hard date, such as a hospital discharge or a family member moving in, say so when you order. It changes which sizes we suggest, because an in-stock size that fits may beat a perfect custom size that arrives late.

What does curbside freight delivery mean?

A shower pan and a set of wall panels are too long and heavy for a parcel van, so they travel by less-than-truckload (LTL) freight. Unless your quote says otherwise, plan for these three things:

• Curbside means curbside. The driver brings the freight to the back of the truck and sets it at the curb or the end of the driveway. Carrying it into the house, up stairs or into the bathroom is your job, or an added service you arranged in advance.
• A liftgate matters. A liftgate lowers the pallet to the ground. Without one, the boxes come down by hand. Ask whether your delivery includes a liftgate, especially at a home with no loading dock, which is nearly every home.
• The carrier calls to book a window. Most carriers phone ahead to set a delivery day and a time window. Give a number you will actually answer, and make sure someone who can inspect the freight will be home.

What should I check before I sign for the delivery?

The delivery receipt (the signed copy of the bill of lading) is the carrier's record of what condition the freight was in when it reached you. A clean signature says it arrived fine. So do this before you sign, with the driver present:

1. Count the pieces. Match the number of boxes or pallets to the number on the paperwork.
2. Walk around every box. Look for crushed corners, punctures, forklift marks, wet cardboard and anything that rattles.
3. Photograph problems now. Take wide and close photos while the truck is still there, with the box label visible.
4. Write it on the receipt. Use plain, specific words, such as "pallet 2 punctured on long side, panel corner visible." Avoid vague notes.
5. Open and check the same day. Some damage is hidden inside an intact box. Unpack enough to see every panel face and the whole pan surface, then call us that day with photos.

Refusing an entire delivery over one scuffed box usually slows everything down. Note the damage, accept what is fine, and let us sort out the replacement. The one exception is freight that is obviously destroyed; call us from the driveway and we will tell you what to do.

How long do I have to file a freight damage claim?

Transit damage is a claim against the carrier, not a warranty claim against the shower maker. Federal law says an interstate motor carrier cannot give you less than 9 months to file a claim, or less than 2 years to sue after it denies one (49 U.S.C. 14706). The actual deadline is the one in the bill of lading, and it can be longer.

Federal claim rules (49 CFR Part 370) also set out what happens next. A claim must be in writing, identify the shipment, say the carrier is responsible and ask for a specific or calculable amount. The carrier must acknowledge it within 30 days and pay, decline or offer a settlement within 120 days.

None of that means you should wait. The longer damage goes unreported, the easier it is for anyone to argue it happened after delivery. When you buy from us, we handle the carrier side for you, which is why we ask for the call and photos on the day the kit arrives.

How should I store shower panels before install day?

Wall panels are long, fairly thin and easy to bend or scratch before they are fixed to a wall. A few rules keep them flat and clean:

• Lay them flat on a clean, level floor, or follow the storage arrows on the carton. Leaning a panel against a wall for days can leave it bowed.
• Keep them dry and out of the sun. A heated room is better than a garage in winter, and the panels and adhesive install best at room temperature.
• Leave the protective film on until the panel is going up.
• Store the pan on its bottom, never on its edge, and never stack other boxes inside it.
• Keep everything out of the demolition zone. Dust, dropped tools and wet debris do more damage than the truck ever does.

What should I do the week before delivery?

Most install-day delays start the week before. Use this as a checklist:

• Measure the route. Door widths, the tightest turn, stair landings and the bathroom door. Our measuring guide covers the delivery path.
• Line up help. Two people for the boxes, more for a one-piece unit.
• Do not demolish yet. Keep the old tub or shower working until the new kit is delivered and inspected. A damaged panel discovered after demolition can leave a household without a shower.
• Confirm the drain position on the order matches the drain in the floor. See our guide to shower kit drain location.
• Book the trades. If a plumber is connecting the drain and valve, schedule them for after the delivery date, not before.
• Check the permit. If your project needs one, it should be issued before the work starts.

If you are converting a tub, our tub-to-shower conversion page explains what the full job involves, and the parent company's guide to barrier-free tub to shower conversions installed in a day shows the installed version. For the parts themselves, see shower pans and shower wall panels, and for the budget, what a walk-in shower costs.

Questions people ask about shower kit delivery

How long does a shower kit take to ship?

Most kits we sell take about a week and a half to build and ship. Select in-stock sizes can ship the next business day, and custom sizes or colors take longer, with an estimate given on the quote. Transit time is added on top.

Will the driver bring the shower kit into my house?

Not on a standard curbside delivery. The driver brings the freight to the curb or the end of the driveway. Inside delivery is a separate service that has to be arranged before the truck is booked, so ask when you order.

What if I find damage after the driver leaves?

Photograph it, keep all the packaging and call us the same day. Hidden damage inside an intact box can still be claimed, but the sooner it is reported, the easier it is to show it happened in transit.

How long do I have to file a freight claim?

Federal law does not let an interstate carrier set a filing deadline shorter than 9 months (49 U.S.C. 14706). The deadline in your bill of lading applies. Report damage on the day of delivery anyway; it makes the claim far easier.

Can I store shower wall panels in the garage?

For a short time, if they are flat, dry and protected. In very hot or cold weather a heated room is better, and the panels should be at room temperature before they are installed.

Sources

• 49 U.S.C. 14706, liability of carriers under receipts and bills of lading (Cornell LII)
• 49 CFR 370.3, filing of claims (Cornell LII)
• 49 CFR 370.5, acknowledgment of claims (Cornell LII)
• 49 CFR 370.9, disposition of claims (Cornell LII)

Checked October 2026. Codes and rules change; follow the links for the current text, and ask your local building department which code edition it enforces.