National price ranges
This Old House: $2,000 to $12,000 (prefab stall $2,000 to $6,000; tiled walk-in $5,000 to $12,000). Angi gives $1,200 to $8,000.
When it is worth it
- The tub is the only place to bathe and stepping over the wall already needs help or a hand on the wall.
- You would otherwise pay for a full bathroom remodel within a few years anyway.
- Someone uses a walker and needs to keep it within reach while entering.
When to try something else first
- A tub transfer bench plus a handheld shower (well under $350 together) would solve the problem for now.
- Someone in the home still needs a tub, for example to bathe a child.
What moves the price
- Prefab stall versus tiled walls; This Old House puts prefab at $2,000 to $6,000 and tiled walk-in showers at $5,000 to $12,000.
- Plumbing moves and drain relocation.
- Threshold: a low curb is cheaper than a fully curbless floor, which may mean recessing the subfloor.
- Built-in seat, niches, glass and grab-bar blocking in the walls.
DIY or hire it out
The stopgap is DIY: a transfer bench lets the person sit outside the tub and slide across, and a handheld shower on a slide bar lets them wash seated.
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)
- There is a handheld shower head that can be used sitting down (bathroom)
Frequently asked questions
What threshold height should I ask for?
As low as the floor structure allows; ask what the lowest option is for your floor. For a wheelchair you need a level, curbless entry.
Is a walk-in tub better than a walk-in shower?
For most people, no: you must sit inside while a walk-in tub fills and drains. A low-threshold shower with a seat is usually easier and cheaper.