How much does it cost to install a shower?

The shower fitting costs in this article are correct as of 2022

Everyone enjoys a nice hot shower, whether you’re getting ready for the day or unwinding before bed. So, there’s nothing worse than a weak, lukewarm shower, which splutters and spits and never gets hot enough. If you need to get a new shower, or replace an old one, we’ve put together this cost guide so you know how much you can expect to pay before youhire a shower installer.

This guide will mainly cover the cost of replacing and installing a new shower unit - the pump, pipework and shower head. There are a number of different kinds of shower that you can choose from, depending on how your home’s water system is set up.

Installation

The hourly rate for a plumber can be around £60 per hour, though a simple shower replacement should typically take around half a day, making installation costs for a few hours work around £200 depending on where you are. The full cost of the job will be the cost of installation, plus the cost of the shower unit you purchase, the prices of which are outlined below.

This means that altogether, the full cost for replacing a shower unit can range from around £300 to nearly £1,000 depending on the model you choose.

Electric showers

Electric showers are connected to your cold water supply, and use a heating element within the shower unit to bring the water up to temperature. These can be relatively expensive - from as little as £60 - up to more than £200 for more high end models.

Mixer showers

Mixer showers take water from both your home’s hot and cold water supplies, using a system of valves inside the shower unit to mix the water to your desired temperature. These units can either be concealed behind the wall, or exposed. Units can range from £50 to around £150.

Power showers

Power showers are often confused with electric showers because they feature a similar external unit, but they draw water from both cold and hot water supplies. However, the difference is they feature an internal pump which helps to increase the water pressure. These can range from around £100 to up to £500 for more advanced models. Most mixer showers can be converted into power showers if the water in drawn from a tank rather than a combi boiler.

Thermostatic showers

These showers feature a sensor that detects changes in temperature to help regulate it, so there are no sharp spikes if someone else uses a tap for example. These can range from around £120 to £200.

Digital showers

These high-end showers have a digital interface to control everything from temperature to pressure, and can even be linked to smart home devices. Prices for these can start at around £350 to more than £600 depending on the model.

Extra costs

If you want to replace the entire shower unit, including the entire cubicle, with screen and shower tray, then you are looking at a host of additional costs, depending on the materials you choose. Replacing a full cubicle can cost around £1,000, especially if additional tiling is needed.