How Much Does a Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost in Phoenix?
A tub-to-shower conversion in Phoenix, Arizona costs $9,000 to $14,000 at RDC. That pays for removing the tub and its surround, a new waterproofing system, the pan or curb, tile, fixtures and the glass. A full bathroom remodel built around the new shower starts at $9,000 for a small bathroom and $18,000 for a primary bathroom. The comparison table further down shows both.
- At RDC, a custom tiled conversion runs $9,000 to $14,000 to turn a bathtub into a walk-in or curbless shower.
- The range covers demolition, new waterproofing, tile, a shower pan or curb, fixtures, and a frameless or semi-frameless glass enclosure.
- RDC provides a firm, written, itemized quote after seeing your bathroom in person, not a rough phone estimate.
A full bathroom remodel by RDC in Phoenix: a jetted tub with a deep blue subway tile surround and a frameless glass panel. A conversion can be part of a full spa bathroom. See our luxury spa bathroom portfolio.
What the Bath to Shower Conversion Cost Actually Breaks Into
People search for bath to shower conversion cost in Phoenix, AZ expecting one number, and the honest answer is that the number moves for a handful of specific reasons. Here are the parts of a $9,000 to $14,000 conversion and what moves each one, so you can see which line your own bathroom will push.
| Part of the job | What moves it |
|---|---|
| Demolition and haul-away | Cast iron tubs, and second-floor bathrooms with a long carry |
| Plumbing rough-in | Moving the drain, which a curbless pan may require |
| Waterproofing and pan | Curbless costs more than a curbed pan because the floor has to be recessed |
| Tile and setting material | Tile size and pattern. Large format is faster, mosaic and herringbone are slower |
| Glass enclosure | Frameless costs more than semi-frameless, and low-iron glass more than standard |
| Fixtures and trim | Entirely your choice of valve, head, niche trim and door hardware |
The Four Things That Actually Change the Price
- Whether the drain moves. A tub drain may not be where the new shower drain needs to be. Relocating it means opening the floor, and in a slab-on-grade Phoenix home that means cutting concrete. This is the single largest swing in the estimate.
- Curb or curbless. A curbed shower sits on top of the existing floor. A curbless one needs the subfloor recessed so water runs the right way, which is more labor and more waterproofing detail.
- How far the tile goes. Tiling only the wet walls costs less than carrying tile to the ceiling or out across the bathroom floor. Ceiling-height tile makes a small bathroom read taller.
- What is behind the wall. Nobody knows until the tile comes off. In an older home, opening the wall can turn up rotted blocking, a failed pan liner or galvanized supply lines. RDC quotes the known scope firmly and tells you in writing what would count as an extra before work starts, rather than discovering it and sending a bill.
How Long Does a Tub-to-Shower Conversion Take?
A tub-to-shower conversion in Phoenix takes 5 to 8 working days of construction when the drain stays where it is. If the drain has to move, add 2 to 3 days for cutting and patching the slab. The frameless glass is installed about a week after the tile is set, and RDC puts the schedule in writing.
The days run in this order: demolition and rough-in early in the week, waterproofing and its cure, then tile, grout and the glass template. Glass is a separate step: the enclosure is measured after the tile is set, and the shop needs roughly a week to fabricate it before it is installed. You keep the rest of the house through the work.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Bathtub in Phoenix?
Replacing a bathtub in a tiled Phoenix alcove shares most of its cost with a $9,000 to $14,000 tub-to-shower conversion, because the expensive work is the same: the lower rows of tile come off, the waterproofing behind them is redone and new tile goes up. RDC prices a new tub and a walk-in shower from one visit, on one estimate.
Why Do Tub-to-Shower Conversion Quotes in Phoenix Vary So Much?
Because two products share one name. An online cost guide puts the Phoenix average for all conversions near $3,100, typically $1,550 to $8,300. In our reading, that average includes many prefab insert jobs, which cost less than a tile shower. RDC's $9,000 to $14,000 buys a tiled shower on new waterproofing, with the pan or curb, fixtures and glass.
The same 2026 cost data shows how fast the figure climbs with size: a small 32 by 32 inch stall averages $1,200 to $3,200, a 36 by 60 inch shower $1,800 to $5,000, and a tub-to-walk-in conversion anywhere from $1,200 to $16,500. A one-piece insert can be the right call for a rental or a quick change. A tiled conversion is a different build: the tub and surround come out, the pan and walls are waterproofed, the drain may move, and tile, trim and glass are set by hand, which is why the timeline runs in working days. When comparing bids, check which of the two is being priced, whether the waterproofing system is named, and whether moving the drain is included.
The Conversion Process, Step by Step
- Demolition: the existing tub, surround, and any damaged backer board are removed down to the studs.
- Waterproofing: a waterproof membrane system is installed on the pan, curb, and walls before any tile goes up.
- Tile installation: floor, walls, and any niche or bench are tiled and grouted to the finish you selected at the showroom.
- Glass and fixtures: the shower door or panel, showerhead, and controls are installed and tested.
Dark subway tile with a built-in niche over a kept tub.
| Option | Typical Cost | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Tub-to-shower conversion | $9,000–$14,000 | Full demo and rebuild, new tile, waterproofing, glass enclosure |
| Full bathroom remodel with new shower | From $9,000 (small) or $18,000 (primary) | Conversion plus new floor tile, vanity, and fixtures throughout |
Please note: these are typical ranges. Final pricing is set individually for each customer based on your specific project, materials, and scope, confirmed in your free written estimate. See the full bathroom remodel cost guide for larger-scope projects.
Gray subway tile tub and shower with a tile niche and a marble-look vanity top, for a bathroom where the tub stays.
Waterproofing and Phoenix's Hard Water
RDC Renovation & Design Concepts is a bathroom remodeling contractor in Phoenix, Arizona. A shower demands more waterproofing than a tub surround because water sits directly on the pan and curb every day. RDC installs a full waterproof membrane system behind all shower tile before grouting. Phoenix's water is also hard: the City of Phoenix Water Services Department reports 10 to 17.6 grains of hardness per gallon, and hard water leaves mineral deposits on standard grout over time. RDC uses epoxy grout or professionally sealed grout on shower conversions as standard practice, not an upgrade.
A finished tub-to-shower conversion with gray tile, black fixtures, and a frameless glass door.
Aging-in-Place Tub-to-Shower Conversions
Accessibility is one reason to convert a tub to a shower: a curbless entry is easier and safer to step into than climbing over a tub wall. RDC builds these conversions with curbless entries, grab-bar-ready wall blocking, and slip-resistant tile. See our full guide to aging-in-place and accessible walk-in showers in Phoenix, including Sun City, Sun City West and Surprise.
In this Phoenix bathroom, RDC lowered an old shower curb for easier entry. It has a mosaic accent band, a built-in bench and a grab bar.
Tub-to-Shower Conversion Cost in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Mesa and Peoria
A tub-to-shower conversion costs the same $9,000 to $14,000 at RDC in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Mesa and Peoria as it does in Phoenix. Two local things differ: how hard the water is, which decides the grout and the glass, and how old the bathroom is, which decides how much wall and plumbing has to be opened.
- Scottsdale. Scottsdale's 2026 water report shows hardness of roughly 13 to 15 grains per gallon below Indian School Road and up to 17 above it, which is why epoxy or sealed grout and frameless glass are worth planning for. More in Scottsdale bathroom remodeling.
- Paradise Valley. Its housing is the oldest of the four cities, with a Census median year built of 1985. For how a new shower fits a larger Paradise Valley bathroom, see luxury bathroom features in Paradise Valley.
- Mesa. Water hardness depends on the zone: about 12 grains in Mesa's City Zone and 16 in the Eastern and Southern Zones, per the City of Mesa 2025 report. Median home: 1989. See renovation and bathroom work in Mesa.
- Peoria. It depends on the source: Peoria's water FAQ lists 13 grains from Greenway, 17 from Pyramid Peak and 2 to 8 from its wells. Median home: 1999, the newest of the four. See bathroom and shower work in Peoria.
Home ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimates.
Serving Tub-to-Shower Conversions Across the Valley
RDC sells and installs tub-to-shower conversions in Phoenix. From its Phoenix Bell Rd showroom it also serves Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Mesa, Peoria, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale and Tempe. RDC also serves Surprise, Sun City, Sun City West, Fountain Hills, Buckeye, Anthem, New River and Happy Valley. A Scottsdale conversion can pair a frameless glass enclosure with large-format tile for a resort-style finish, while a Sun City or Sun City West conversion can be built around a curbless, accessible entry.
Not sure whether a conversion or a full remodel is the right call for your bathroom? See our guide on how to choose a bathroom remodeler in Phoenix, explore our full bathroom remodeling services, avoid the common Phoenix bathroom mistakes, browse the project gallery, or get a free estimate.
If the bathroom is in Scottsdale, see Scottsdale bathroom remodeling for local pricing and the questions to ask every bid.
For tub replacement and bathroom work in Sun City West, see Sun City West bathroom remodeling. In the East Valley, see Chandler, Gilbert and Tempe bathroom remodeling.