Installing a shower kit yourself vs hiring a pro: an honest checklist

When DIY is realistic

A homeowner who has hung drywall, replaced a toilet or a faucet, and owns a good level can install a straightforward kit. “Straightforward” means all of these are true:

• The new base’s drain lines up with the existing waste line, so nothing moves under the floor.
• The floor is flat, solid and does not flex when you bounce on it.
• The threshold is curbed or low enough to sit on the subfloor without recessing.
• The valve stays where it is, or you are hiring a plumber for that part.
• The opening is square within a little and the walls are reasonably plumb (our measuring guide shows how to check).

Our pans arrive pre-leveled, with no mortar bed to set, and the walls come with backing already in them. For that kind of swap, a confident DIYer can be done in a day once the old shower is out.

When to hand it to a professional

• The drain has to move. Over joists that is carpentry and plumbing; on a concrete slab it means cutting and patching concrete.
• The base has to be recessed for a curbless entry. Cutting into floor framing needs someone who knows what the joists can lose.
• The valve changes. Moving or replacing a valve means opening supply lines and soldering, crimping or press-fitting connections inside a wall that will be closed up.
• There is damage behind the old shower. Soft subfloor, rot or mold changes the job from an install to a repair.
• The person using the shower depends on it being right. If a grab bar placement or a threshold is a safety matter, an experienced installer is cheap insurance.

Older homes: two hazards to check before demolition

Lead paint. In homes built before 1978, painted walls and trim may contain lead. EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting rule generally does not apply to homeowners working on their own home, but it does apply to the contractors you hire, and EPA recommends hiring a lead-safe certified firm (EPA, RRP program for consumers). If you do the work yourself, EPA publishes lead-safe practices for do-it-yourselfers (EPA, lead-safe renovations for DIYers).

Asbestos. Older vinyl floor tiles, adhesives and some wall materials can contain asbestos. EPA advises leaving suspect material undisturbed and having it tested by a trained professional before you sand, cut or tear it out (EPA, protect your family from asbestos).

Permits

Whether you need a permit depends on your city or county, not on whether you or a contractor does the work. Swapping a shower in the same place is treated differently from moving plumbing, and jurisdictions draw the line in different places. Call your local building department with a one-line description of the job before you start. If a permit is required, the inspection is a free second opinion on the parts you cannot see afterwards.

Tools for a DIY kit install

• 4-foot and 2-foot levels, tape, framing square, pencil
• Oscillating multi-tool or reciprocating saw for demolition
• Drill-driver, hole saw for the valve and shower-head openings
• Caulk gun and the sealant the kit maker specifies
• Shims, a pry bar, safety glasses, gloves, a dust mask or respirator
• Whatever the drain body requires: some compress, some glue

The middle road: split the job

Many of our customers do the parts that are mostly labor and hire out the parts that are mostly skill. A common split:

1. You: remove the old surround and tub, haul it away, and open the walls.
2. Plumber: adjusts the drain if needed, sets or replaces the valve, and checks for leaks.
3. You or an installer: set the pan, hang the wall panels and seal them.
4. Plumber or you: fit the trim, the shower head and the handheld.
5. You: mount the grab bars and seat on the backed walls, and finish the bathroom floor and trim.

What professional labor costs

HomeGuide puts labor for installing a prefab shower kit at roughly $500 to $4,300, depending on material and the job, with fiberglass at the low end (HomeGuide, walk-in shower cost), and a prefab shower insert at roughly $1,000 to $8,000 installed (HomeGuide, shower insert cost). Moving drains, recessing a base and repairing a damaged subfloor are what push a job toward the top of those ranges. Our installation guide walks through each stage of the work.

If you would rather not do it at all

Best Shower Kit is part of Aging Safely Baths, which installs walk-in tubs and roll-in showers, often in a single day. Ask for an installed price and we will quote product, labor, removal of the old unit and any plumbing adjustments together. Aging Safely Baths serves all 50 states, and if you are installing it yourself or with your own contractor, we can also ship supply-only, including to Canada.

Sources

• HomeGuide, walk-in shower cost
• HomeGuide, shower insert cost
• EPA, RRP program information for consumers
• EPA, lead-safe renovations for DIYers
• EPA, protect your family from exposures to asbestos

Checked October 2026. Codes and published prices change; follow the links for current figures.