The honest answer is that a tub-to-shower conversion in Bellingham runs $9,000 to $22,000. A straightforward swap, where we pull the old tub and build a curbed tiled shower in the same alcove, sits near the bottom. A curbless walk-in with a frameless glass panel, a tiled bench, and a relocated drain lands at the top. The spread comes down to a few specific choices, and we will walk you through each one.
We are a local kitchen and bath crew, and a tub-to-shower swap is one of the most common projects we do in Whatcom County. People stop using the tub, they want a shower that is easier and safer to step into, and they want it to look like it belongs in the house. Below is what drives the cost.
Curbed vs curbless.
This is the first fork, and it changes both the price and the floor.
- Curbed shower keeps a low tiled lip at the entry to hold water in. It uses the existing alcove and drain location, so it is the more affordable path. This is most of our conversions, and it lands in the $9,000 to $15,000 range depending on tile and glass.
- Curbless (zero-threshold) shower has no lip to step over, so the floor runs flush into the shower. It looks clean and is the most accessible option, but it usually means lowering the subfloor or rebuilding the slope so water still drains, plus a linear drain. That extra structural work pushes it toward $16,000 to $22,000.
What moves the number the most.
Glass panel vs door
A fixed frameless glass panel (a half-wall or "splash panel") is clean, lets the tile show, and is often less than a full enclosure. A full frameless glass door and surround costs more because of the hardware and the custom-cut tempered glass. A simpler framed door is the budget choice. For a curbless walk-in, many of our Bellingham clients go with a single fixed panel and no door at all, which both looks open and keeps the entry truly step-free.
Tile choice
Tile is priced by material and by how much labor it takes to set. A large-format wall tile in a simple stacked layout is the budget end. A floor-to-ceiling surround, a tiled niche, a bench, mosaic shower-floor tile, or a herringbone pattern all add labor hours. Natural stone costs more than porcelain and needs sealing. The shower floor in particular needs a small tile or a textured tile for grip, which we will steer you toward for safety.
Waterproofing behind the tile
This is the part you never see and the part that matters most. A tiled shower needs a waterproofing membrane behind the wall tile and a waterproofed pan under the floor tile, so water stays in the shower and never reaches the framing. In Bellingham's wet climate, we build every shower this way, with no exception. It adds a bit over a builder-grade liner job, and it is what keeps the wall dry for the life of the shower. We dig into why this is non-negotiable here in our Pacific Northwest waterproofing guide.
Moving the drain or plumbing
If the new shower keeps the tub's old drain location, you save money. If the layout calls for the drain to move, or you switch to a linear drain along one wall, the plumber opens the floor and reworks the drain line, which adds cost. We flag this clearly in the scope so there is no surprise.
The aging-in-place angle.
A lot of our tub-to-shower conversions in Bellingham are about staying in the home longer and more safely. Stepping over a tub wall is one of the most common places older adults slip. A curbless or low-curb walk-in shower removes that barrier, and we can build in features that make the room safer without making it look like a hospital:
- Blocking in the walls now so grab bars can be mounted solidly later, even if you do not want them yet
- A built-in tiled bench or a fold-down seat
- A handheld shower on a slide bar
- A slip-resistant shower-floor tile
- A curbless entry wide enough for a walker or wheelchair
If accessibility is the main goal, our aging-in-place guide goes deeper on planning the whole room around it.
How long does it take?
A typical tub-to-shower conversion runs about one to two weeks of on-site work. Demo and haul-out of the tub is day one. Then plumbing and any framing, the waterproofing and pan, the tile setting and grout, and finally the glass, which is measured after the tile is in and usually installed a week or so later. Tile and glass set the pace, since both need cure and lead time. We give you a real schedule before we start so you can plan around having that bathroom out of service.
Frequently asked questions.
How much does a tub-to-shower conversion cost in Bellingham?
A tub-to-shower conversion in Bellingham runs $9,000 to $22,000. A curbed tiled shower in the existing alcove with the old drain location lands near the bottom, while a curbless walk-in with a frameless glass panel, a bench, and a relocated drain lands at the top. Curb style, glass, tile, and whether the drain moves are the biggest drivers.
What is the difference between a curbed and curbless shower?
A curbed shower has a low tiled lip at the entry to hold water in and reuses the existing floor and drain, so it costs less. A curbless or zero-threshold shower has no lip, so the floor runs flush into the shower for a step-free entry. Curbless usually requires lowering the subfloor or reworking the slope plus a linear drain, which adds several thousand dollars but is the most accessible option.
Is a walk-in shower good for aging in place?
Yes. Stepping over a tub wall is one of the most common places older adults slip, and a low-curb or curbless walk-in removes that barrier. We can also block the walls for future grab bars, add a built-in bench, install a handheld on a slide bar, and use slip-resistant floor tile, so the room is safer without looking clinical.
How long does a tub-to-shower conversion take?
Most tub-to-shower conversions take about one to two weeks of on-site work. Tub haul-out is day one, followed by plumbing and framing, then waterproofing and the pan, then tile and grout, and finally the glass, which is measured after the tile is set and usually installed a week or so later. We give you a written schedule before we start.