What a Tub-to-Shower Conversion Costs in Manchester, NH
Straight ranges, no showroom games. Here is what homeowners around Manchester actually pay to turn a tub they never use into a walk-in shower — and the handful of things that move the number up or down.
Free in-home estimates $2,000–$12,000
For a tub-to-shower conversion in the greater Manchester area. Prefab acrylic swaps sit low; custom-tiled, curbless walk-ins with glass sit high.
A conversion is one of the best-value changes you can make to a bathroom, because it fixes the part of the room you use every day without paying to redo the parts you don't. Where your project lands inside that range comes down to a short list of choices and a couple of things only an older house reveals once a wall is open.
Below is how the number is built — then a few honest scenarios so you can place your own project before we ever measure. When you want a real figure, our tub-to-shower conversion team will put a fixed written price in front of you after a free in-home measure.
Six things that move the price
Every quote is really the sum of these decisions. Knowing them ahead of time is how you keep a conversion on budget.
Wall material
Acrylic/solid-surface (lower) vs. custom tile over waterproofing (higher). The biggest single driver.
Base & entry
A low-threshold prefab pan is least expensive; a curbless, zero-entry base with a linear drain costs more because the floor has to be recessed.
Drain relocation
Reusing the tub rough-in saves money; moving the drain for a centered shower adds plumbing labor.
Glass
A curtain is cheapest, a fixed glass panel is mid, and a framed or frameless door is the most.
Older-home surprises
Cast-iron tub removal, galvanized supply lines, or soft subfloor found once the wall is open.
Accessibility add-ons
Grab-bar blocking, a built-in bench, and a handheld on a slide bar — small line items that pay off for aging in place.
Where real projects land
Budget / fast (lower end). Same footprint, acrylic or solid-surface walls, a low-threshold prefab base, existing drain reused, and a glass panel or quality curtain. Clean, low-maintenance, and usually done in about 2–3 working days.
Mid-range (the common one). Tiled walls on a waterproof membrane, a low-threshold or partial-curbless base, a relocated drain, a niche, and a fixed glass panel. Custom look, roughly 3–5 working days.
Full custom / accessible (higher end). A truly curbless, zero-entry tiled shower with a linear drain, bench, grab-bar blocking, and a frameless glass door — often part of an aging-in-place bathroom plan. The most involved, and the most future-proof.
Want the whole-room picture instead? See the full Manchester bathroom remodel cost guide, or read how a conversion is actually done on our tub-to-shower conversion page. When you're ready for a real number, request a free quote.
Tub-to-shower conversion cost FAQ
What is the average cost of a tub-to-shower conversion in Manchester?
Most tub-to-shower conversions in the Manchester area run between $2,000 and $12,000. A prefab acrylic swap in the same footprint sits at the low end; a fully tiled, curbless walk-in with a glass panel and a niche sits at the high end. The single biggest swing is wall material — acrylic vs. tile — followed by whether the drain has to move.
Why is a tiled shower so much more than an acrylic one?
Tile is labor. An acrylic or solid-surface wall kit goes up in a day over a waterproof backer; a tiled shower means cement board, a Schluter or equivalent waterproofing membrane, then setting, grouting, and sealing every tile by hand. You are paying for two to three extra days of skilled work and materials. The payoff is a fully custom look and the ability to fit an odd-sized space — but if budget is the priority, acrylic gets you a clean, low-maintenance shower for noticeably less.
What makes the price go up in an older Manchester home?
Three things we see constantly in pre-1960 Queen City homes: a cast-iron tub that has to be broken up and carried out (especially from a second floor), a drain that sits under the old tub apron and has to be relocated for a shower base, and corroded galvanized supply lines we uncover once the wall is open. None of these are surprises we hide — we flag them at the in-home measure so the written quote reflects the real house, not a showroom price.
Does moving the plumbing add a lot?
It can add several hundred to a couple thousand dollars depending on access. If your existing tub drain and supply lines already sit where the new shower base needs them, we reuse the rough-in and you save. When the drain has to move — common when going from a tub to a centered shower drain — that is added plumbing labor and often a bit of subfloor work.
Is a conversion cheaper than a full bathroom remodel?
Yes — by a wide margin. A conversion touches the tub/shower area, so it avoids the vanity, flooring, and layout work of a full renovation. A full remodel in Manchester typically runs $8,000–$45,000; a conversion is a focused project at $2,000–$12,000. If the rest of the bathroom is in good shape, a conversion is the high-value move.
How do I get an exact price?
A free in-home measure. We look at your wall material, drain location, water lines, and the space the old tub leaves behind, then put a fixed written number in front of you before any demo. We do not quote a hard price over the phone — that is how homeowners end up with change-order surprises.
Related bathroom services in Manchester
Full Bathroom Remodel
Layout, tile, plumbing, vanity, and lighting — the whole room, managed start to finish.
See details →Walk-In Shower Installation
Curbless and custom-tile showers with glass panels, benches, and barrier-free options.
See details →Accessible & Aging-in-Place Bathroom
Curbless showers, grab-bar blocking, comfort-height fixtures — safe to use for decades, without looking clinical.
See details →Ready to talk about your bathroom?
Free in-home estimate, a written price, and one local crew that shows up when they say they will.