What a tub-to-shower conversion changes, what a full remodel adds, what each costs and how long it takes in Greater Orlando. Updated October 2026.
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Convert the tub to a walk-in shower when the rest of the bathroom works and the drain can stay roughly where it is: the tub comes out, the shower is waterproofed and sloped, and glass goes in, $12,000 – $25,000. Choose a full remodel when the vanity, tile, lighting and layout all need replacing or the plumbing has to move: $10,000 – $20,000 for a hall bath, $20,000 – $45,000 for a primary bath.
| Walk-in shower conversion | Hall or guest bath refresh | Primary bath remodel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What changes | Tub removal, waterproofing, floor slope to the drain, glass | New tile, vanity, fixtures and lighting | Walk-in shower, double vanity, tile and glass, often a new layout |
| Planning range | $12,000 – $25,000 | $10,000 – $20,000 | $20,000 – $45,000 |
| Time on site | Less than a full remodel when the drain stays put | about 3–5 weeks on site once permits and materials are ready | about 3–5 weeks on site once permits and materials are ready; longer when plumbing moves |
| Permit | Yes: plumbing work | Yes when plumbing or electrical is touched | Yes |
| Suits | A dated tub in an otherwise good bathroom; easier access | A tired hall bath with a workable layout | A primary suite that needs a new layout or a larger shower |
Planning ranges (updated October 2026), not quotes. See the bathroom remodeling page.
A conversion replaces the tub with a shower in roughly the same footprint. The tub and the surrounding tile come out, the floor is built up and sloped to the drain, the walls and floor are waterproofed, and new tile, a valve and trim and glass go in. Done properly, the old tile is removed and a waterproofed substrate is built rather than tiling over what is there.
It suits a bathroom where the vanity, toilet and floor are in decent shape and the main problem is the tub: it is hard to step into, it is rarely used, or it takes space a larger shower would use better. Our planning range is $12,000 – $25,000; the size, the tile and whether the glass is a fixed panel or a door move the price.
If you are considering a curbless or low-threshold entry, raise it at the start. On a slab-on-grade house the floor has to drop toward the drain, which is easier to plan than to retrofit.
A full remodel replaces the tile, vanity, fixtures and lighting together, and in a primary bath often reworks the layout: a larger walk-in shower, a double vanity, a separate toilet area. When most of the bathroom is dated, doing it once costs less than converting the shower now and replacing the vanity and floor later, because demolition, waterproofing and tile setting happen in one pass.
Our planning ranges are $10,000 – $20,000 for a hall or guest bath and $20,000 – $45,000 for a primary bath. The typical time on site is about 3–5 weeks on site once permits and materials are ready; moving plumbing or changing the layout adds time.
If the bathroom you are converting is the only one with a tub, think about who will use the house: young children are usually bathed in a tub, and some buyers look for at least one. Converting the tub in the primary bath and keeping one in a hall bath is a common middle path. It is a household and resale preference to weigh, not a requirement we apply.
Yes in practice. Since July 1, 2026, single-family owners can ask for an exemption from a building permit for work valued under $7,500, but the exemption excludes any electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical or gas work and any property in a flood hazard area. A shower conversion replaces the valve and drain connection, so it is plumbing work and goes through your city or county building department. On a contract over $5,000, the permit office also needs a copy of the recorded Notice of Commencement before the first inspection.
Sources (primary sources, checked 2026-10-16): F.S. 553.79 · F.S. 713.135. This page explains rules in general terms; it is not legal advice, and the building department for your address has the final word.
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