Almost nobody in this industry will give you a price on a website. You fill in a form, someone comes to your house, and two hours later you find out whether the number was ever in your range.
So here is ours, plainly: a tub-to-shower conversion with DayBrook starts at $9,999 as of September 2026, and most land somewhere around $13,500 depending on the size of the space, what is behind the old surround, and the system you choose.
The rest of this explains what moves that number, what is included, and what the honest variables are — so you can work out roughly where you sit before anyone knocks on your door.
What a tub-to-shower conversion actually costs in the Baltimore area
Across the industry, converting a standard alcove tub to a walk-in shower generally falls between about $10,000 and $20,000 for a professionally installed system with a warranty. That is the honest market range, and DayBrook sits inside it rather than above or below it.
The very low numbers you will occasionally see advertised — figures well beneath that range — are almost always one of three things: a tub liner rather than a replacement, a promotional price that applies to one specific stock configuration, or a figure that excludes the labour to install it. It is worth asking which.
What is included at $9,999
- Removal and disposal of the existing tub and surround
- A new shower base sized to the existing footprint
- Non-porous wall system — no grout lines to re-seal
- A low-threshold entry rather than a 15-inch tub wall
- Slip-resistant shower floor
- New valve trim and showerhead
- Plumbing connections at the existing rough-in
- Cleanup and haul-away
- 5-year workmanship warranty on the installation, plus the manufacturer warranty on the system
The five things that move the price
1. What is behind the old surround
This is the biggest single variable and the one nobody can quote blind. A tub that has been leaking quietly for years can rot the studs, the subfloor, or both. Until the old surround comes off, the extent is genuinely unknown.
It is also the reason the free 5-point inspection takes moisture readings before anything is quoted — finding soft framing before you commit is considerably better than finding it on install day.
2. Whether the drain has to move
A tub drain sits at one end of the unit. A shower drain usually sits centre, or along one wall if you are using a linear drain. If your new configuration keeps the drain roughly where it is, the plumbing is straightforward. If it has to move more than a few inches, the floor has to open up — and in a slab-on-grade home that is a materially bigger job than in a home with a crawlspace or basement below.
3. The size of the space
A conversion that stays inside the 60-by-30-inch footprint of a standard alcove tub is the most predictable and least expensive version of this job. Expanding into adjacent space — taking in a closet, moving a wall — turns a shower replacement into a bathroom remodel, with a different scope and a different price.
4. The wall system you choose
Wall systems range from straightforward moulded acrylic through to solid-surface panels in stone-look finishes. The difference in material cost across that range is real but not dramatic; the bigger differences are in appearance and in how the joints are handled.
5. Fixtures and glass
Valve trim, showerhead, and door or panel choices span a wide range. A fixed glass return panel costs meaningfully less than a full frameless enclosure, and in a smaller bathroom it is frequently the better choice anyway.
What makes it cheaper
- Keeping the existing footprint. Same space, same drain, same wet wall.
- A low threshold rather than fully curbless. Curbless requires the pan to sit below the surrounding floor, which usually means re-framing.
- A fixed panel instead of a door. Less glass, no hardware, nothing to align in an out-of-square old house.
- Catching the leak early. Water damage compounds. The same failed pan costs less to deal with this year than next.
What makes it more expensive
- Structural repair behind the old surround
- Moving the drain, particularly on a concrete slab
- Expanding the footprint into adjacent space
- A fully curbless entry in a home not framed for it
- Full frameless glass, especially in an older home where nothing is square
Paying for it monthly
Most people do not want to think about a project this size as one number, and they do not have to.
Financing is available with no money down, and payments start as low as $107 a month for qualified buyers, as of September 2026. Pre-approval does not require a hard credit check.
Example payment based on $9,999 financed for 180 months at 9.99% APR with $0 down, which equals $107.39 per month. That is the lowest rate offered; actual rates range from 9.99% to 17.99% APR and are set by creditworthiness, so your payment may be higher. Subject to credit approval; not all applicants qualify. Approval is valid for a 5-month purchase window. Financing provided by Momnt. Equal Housing Lender.
Is a conversion cheaper than a full bathroom remodel?
Considerably, and that is usually the point. A full bathroom remodel replaces the flooring, the vanity, the toilet, the lighting and the shower, and takes about a week. A conversion replaces the one thing that has actually failed.
If your tub is the problem and the rest of the room is fine, converting it is the highest-value work you can do in that bathroom — and you keep the option to do the rest later.
How long it takes
A standard tub-to-shower conversion is completed in as little as one day. The system is built to your measurements before install day, so nothing is being worked out in your bathroom while a crew stands around.
Jobs that take longer are the ones with structural damage, a relocated drain, or an unusual layout — and you will know which yours is at the inspection rather than on the morning of the install.
How to get a real number for your bathroom
A written price at the inspection, not a range on a website. The inspection takes about an hour: moisture readings in the surrounding walls and subfloor, the condition of the pan and the drain connection, grout and seam movement, signs of previous water damage, and whether the existing framing will take a new system.
You get the findings whether or not you hire us. If the honest answer is that your tub has years left in it, we will tell you that.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting a tub to a shower hurt resale value?
Only if it leaves the house with no bathtub at all. Some buyers, particularly families with young children, want at least one tub in the property. If you have a second full bathroom with a tub, converting the primary is a straightforward improvement. If it is the only tub in the house, it is worth thinking through first.
Can you convert a tub to a shower in one day?
A standard conversion, yes — in as little as one day. What prevents it is almost always something found behind the old surround: rotted framing, a failed pan that has been leaking into the subfloor, or a drain that has to be relocated.
Do I need a permit for a tub-to-shower conversion in Maryland?
Requirements vary by jurisdiction, and a like-for-like replacement that does not move plumbing or alter structure is treated differently from one that does. A licensed contractor handles this as part of the job. DayBrook is licensed in Maryland as MHIC #116052.
Will I lose storage by removing the tub?
Usually the opposite. A tub surround offers a narrow ledge; a purpose-built shower can include a recessed niche between the studs, which is more usable and does not project into the space you stand in.
What is the cheapest way to convert a tub to a shower?
Staying inside the existing footprint, keeping the drain where it is, choosing a low threshold rather than a fully curbless entry, and using a fixed glass panel rather than a door. Those four decisions account for most of the spread between the low and high end of a conversion price.
How do I know if my tub is leaking behind the wall?
The visible signs are a soft or spongy spot in the wall next to the tub, grout that keeps cracking in the same place, a stain on the ceiling below, or a musty smell that does not clear. None of those are definitive without a moisture reading, which is exactly what the free inspection is for.
Book a free 5-point inspection
DayBrook Homes has been remodeling bathrooms in the Baltimore area for over ten years, licensed in Maryland as MHIC #116052, rated 4.8 stars across 48 Google reviews.
Book a free 5-point shower inspection and get a written price for your bathroom — or read more about tub-to-shower conversion and shower replacement.
Or call (443) 278-0301.
Pricing and financing terms shown are current as of September 2026 and are subject to change. For a price specific to your bathroom, book a free consultation.
