National price ranges
This Old House: curbless shower $8,000 to $15,000. Fixr puts a curbless or barrier-free shower at about $6,000 on average.
When it is worth it
- Someone uses a wheelchair or rolling shower chair now, or is likely to soon.
- A full bathroom remodel is happening anyway: making it curbless then costs far less than redoing it later.
- Even a 2 in curb is a trip for someone who shuffles.
When to try something else first
- A low-threshold shower would meet the need and the floor structure makes recessing expensive.
What moves the price
- Floor structure: joists that can be notched or a slab that must be cut.
- Linear drain versus center drain, and waterproofing the whole room.
- Room size: a 60 in turning circle needs space.
DIY or hire it out
Not a DIY job. Ask whether the joists allow a recessed pan before getting a price.
Tax note. IRS Publication 502 lists this among home changes that usually do not raise a home's value, so the cost can count as a medical expense if you itemize and total medical costs pass 7.5% of adjusted gross income:
Installing railings, support bars, or other modifications to bathrooms.
(IRS Publication 502, 2025)
Where this shows up in the home check
Keepstead suggests this fix when one of these checks fails. Run the home check to see whether it is a priority for your home.
- Getting into and out of the tub or shower needs no high step (bathroom)
Frequently asked questions
How much bigger does a roll-in shower need to be?
Enough for the chair plus turning space; the ADA benchmark for turning is a 60 in diameter circle or a T-shape within a 60 in square.
Will water flood the bathroom?
Not if the floor is sloped properly to a linear or center drain and the room is waterproofed; ask how the contractor handles slope and membrane.