How much does it cost to install a shower door?

Reviewed by Cristina Miguelez remodeling expert. Written by Fixr.com.

Shower Door Cost by Type

The biggest factors affecting your shower door’s cost are the type and size. These doors come in numerous configurations, with many companies also offering custom door styles that can also meet your needs. The most common shower doors are sliding and hinged, but even these can come in a wide range of different configurations. You can use two-hinged French-style doors, a fixed panel with a sliding door, a set of bypass sliding doors, or even combinations with fixed panels. Many types are influenced by the shower shape, opening size, and how you intend to use the space. The more glass and complex the installation, the higher the average costs. Below are the various configurations and types of doors and their average costs.

Framed Shower Door

Framed shower doors cost between $300 and $1,200 on average, depending on the size, shape, and type. Installed, they cost $600 to $1,800. Framed doors were most common before custom and frameless glass became more attainable. Framed doors are inexpensive, easy to install, and very stable because of the frame. You can use thinner glass with this frame - roughly ¼ inch in thickness - without giving up stability or durability. This makes them less expensive. The frame can be a header and footer or have channels down the sides where the door or panels meet the wall. Frames come in several finishes from metallics to bold colors like blue or red so that you can customize your bathroom’s look with a framed door.

Bypass Shower Door

Bypass shower doors average $400 to $2,000, depending on the glass thickness and if they have a frame. Installed, they range from $700 to $2,600. A bypass door is also known as a sliding door. This is a good door for tub/shower combinations or very wide showers. It consists of two equal-size doors. When the doors are closed, they overlap in the middle to keep out water. When the doors are open, one slides past or bypasses the other. They can be framed or semi-framed, depending on how much hardware you want on the door. Semi-framed doors are close to being frameless, having only enough frame to allow the doors to stay upright while sliding.

Swing Shower Door

Swing shower doors cost between $600 and $900 for the door, not including fixed panels. The cost of these doors installed averages $900 to $1,500. A swing door can be framed or semi-framed. This door pivots on a hinge at the door’s top and bottom. It is also called a pivot door. A swing door is either framed or semi-framed because it needs a header to attach to the pivoting mechanism. If they are framed, the frame wraps all sides of the door, while semi-framed doors only have a header and footer, no framed sides. These doors can be simple or have a fixed panel on one or both sides to fit out a larger area. These are good doors for simple shower layouts with a single wall of glass.

Half-Height Shower Door

The cost of a half-height shower door is $700 to $1,000. Installed, these doors cost $1,000 to $1,600. A half-height door is roughly half as tall as a standard shower door. This helps keep water from spraying into the bathroom while allowing a caregiver to lean over the door and assist the user inside. This is a good option for disabled or elderly individuals who may need assistance when bathing. The half-height door can be combined with a fixed panel to provide more protection for the room from the shower spray.

Hinged Shower Door

Hinged doors cost between $700 and $1,000 for the door, not including fixed panels. The cost of this door installed ranges from $1,000 to $1,600. A hinged shower door is a swinging door on a frameless shower. In a frameless shower, small hinges or brackets attach the door and panels to the wall. Because there is no frame, the door cannot swing off of a header and needs to hinge off the wall or a stationary glass panel. This means that the glass and hardware need to be thicker and heavier to prevent sagging or breaking. The tile or shower enclosure type can impact the cost of installation for this door because the hinges must be drilled completely through the enclosure to the studs to support the door’s weight.

Bi-Fold Shower Door

Bi-fold shower doors cost $800 to $2,000, depending on the glass type and size. The cost of these doors installed averages $1,100 to $2,600. Bi-fold doors are less common than others. If you have a wide shower opening but not quite wide enough for a sliding door, bi-fold doors are a good answer. These doors are made up of 2 panels each. When you open the door, the panels fold up into themselves. They can be framed or semi-framed because they need a track at the top to slide along as they fold. They may have rollers on the bottom rather than a track in a semi-frameless setup. Semi-frameless doors are not framed on the sides.

Frameless Shower Door

A frameless door without any panels ranges from $900 to $2,300. The cost of this door installed averages $1,200 to $2,900. Frameless doors have steadily grown in popularity over the last two decades, becoming one of the most common and popular door types. These are made of thicker glass - ⅜ to ½ inch in thickness - without a frame. They may have brackets or hinges to hold the various pieces together. They often have silicone sweeps or seals at the bottom and where any doors meet panels or walls to keep the water in. However, because there is no frame, they have a very clean, minimalist look to enhance a bathroom. You can have a frameless door by itself, or you can have a frameless full shower enclosure with two or more fixed panels of glass with a door. Because the glass and hardware have to be thicker, and there need to be silicone sweeps or seals, frameless doors tend to cost more than similar-sized framed doors, mostly because of the thicker glass.

French Shower Door

French shower doors average $1,000 to $2,400, depending on the type and style. The cost of these doors installed averages $1,300 to $3,000. If you have a tub or a wide shower you want to install doors on, French doors can make an amazing statement in the bathroom. French doors can be framed, semi-framed, or frameless, depending on your style and budget. When closed, they create a solid wall of clear glass across the shower’s front. They open individually, swinging out toward the user. They can be opened at the same time, which expands the amount of space to enter. Bypass doors can only be opened one at a time, so a French door makes a much wider opening.

Inline Shower Door

An inline shower door costs $1,500 to $2,500. The cost of this door installed averages $1,800 to $3,100. An inline door is made up of a door and a fixed panel or panels, all installed in a straight line across the front of the shower. This is good if you have a wider-than-average opening but do not want a bypass or French door. It gives a more contemporary appearance and more sizing options. For example, if you have a 48-inch opening, this is too small for bypass and French doors but too wide for a single door. An inline door would use a 12-inch panel on one side and a 36-inch door, closing the opening entirely. These doors are normally frameless but can be framed or semi-framed.

Neo-Angle Shower Door

Neo-angle shower doors cost between $1,500 and $3,500, depending on the type and style. Installed, they average $1,800 to $4,100. Neo-angle showers are very popular installations in small bathrooms. Neo-angle showers are installed in a corner with a base made of three angles, each at a respective 45-degree difference so that the panel you enter through is straight across and the panels on either side angle toward the walls. The door needs to consist of two panels and the door. The door is usually in the center because this section is larger. The other two panels are stationary. Neo-angle doors may be framed, semi-frameless, or frameless.

Glass Shower Enclosures

Prices for a glass shower enclosure range from $1,800 to $5,000, depending on the size, how many return panels you have, and the enclosure’s style. Installed, this costs $2,400 to $6,000. If you have a shower extending into the room, you may want to get a full shower enclosure rather than a door or door and panel. A glass enclosure can be a door with panels and a return panel on one side, a return panel on two sides, or a half-panel on top of a half wall for showers that have a tub installed beside them. Glass shower enclosures can be framed, semi-framed, or frameless and come in multiple configurations. Most are custom, but you can find some stock sizes.

​​Shower Door Installation Cost by Size

After the type of shower door, the door’s size is the next biggest influence on the project’s cost. Even within door styles, there is a range of associated costs for the door sizes. Larger doors and shower enclosures cost more than smaller doors.

Each door style is usually available in a range of stock sizes, and any door can also be custom made to accommodate oddly sized openings or bathrooms. Standard door widths start at 30 inches and go as high as 60 inches for bypass doors. Inline panels can be added in any size over 12 inches to make up the difference in door sizes. For example, if you have a 72-inch opening, you may want to use an inline panel to make up 36 inches and have a 36-inch door that swings open.

Below are the average costs for the most common door sizes. Custom doors can be made in different sizes, and shower enclosures and other complex projects may have different costs.

Shower Door Prices by Type of Glass

In addition to your glass’s frame and thickness, you might be able to pick the glass type. All door glass must be considered “safety” glass to pass code. Standard, annealed glass cannot be used in a shower door setting. The most common type of glass for doors is tempered glass, with most companies offering this type. A few companies may offer laminated glass. In this instance, the type of glass does not impact your shower’s cost in a meaningful way. Colors, tints, coatings, and the presence of a frame impact your project’s cost the most.

Tempered Glass Shower Doors

Tempered glass doors cost between $300 and $5,000, depending on the size, style, and finish. Installed, these doors cost $600 to $6,000. Tempered glass is the standard safety glass sold in the U.S. It is heated to a high temperature, then cooled very quickly. This rapid change in temperature changes the glass. It becomes stronger and less likely to break than annealed glass. When it does break, it does not shatter into shards or sharp pieces but breaks them into rounded chunks. If an accident occurs, anyone in the bathroom is less likely to be injured.

Laminated Glass Shower Doors

Costs for laminated shower doors range from $300 to $5,000, depending on the size, style, and finish. The cost of these doors installed averages $600 to $6,000. Laminated glass is not very common, but you can find it and sometimes request it. With laminated glass, the door is made in a glass sandwich with two panes of glass and a layer of plastic between them. This makes the glass stronger than annealed glass because the plastic lends stability and strength. If the glass cracks, it is unlikely to shatter because the plastic holds it in place. Laminated glass does not impact the door’s cost much, but it may be difficult to find the glass you want.

Shower Door Cost by Finish of Glass

If you do not opt for a different finish on your door, you will receive standard clear glass. While you can see through this glass, it has a distinctly green tint. The thicker the glass, the greener it becomes. If you upgrade from a ¼-inch thick framed shower to a ½-inch thick frameless shower, you will notice a distinct difference in your glass’s color. Many people opt for ultra-clear or low-iron when they get a thicker glass.

These are not the only options available. You can choose decorative glass with patterns, textures, and even darkened tints. Each has an additional cost to your shower door on top of the other material costs. So if your doors are 80” x 48” and cost $1,200 but you opt for ultra-clear glass, your total costs are $2,000 to $2,533. Below are the additional costs for changing your shower’s finish.

Clear Glass Shower Doors

Ultra-clear glass costs an additional $30 to $50 a square foot. Normal glass used for shower doors is clear with a green tint that becomes darker the thicker the glass is. Ultra-clear glass is much less green. Ultra-clear glass doors have been one of the hottest architectural trends in showers for the past several years. Many glass door manufacturers have begun offering it as “standard,” even though it costs more than the standard green-tinted glass. Ultra-clear glass still has a faint green tint, but it is much less pronounced, especially at ¼-inch thickness. It is also much less green when it is ⅜ and ½-inch thick, which becomes very green with standard glass.

Low-Iron Glass Shower Doors

Low-iron glass also costs $30 to $50 a square foot more for any project. Low-iron glass is a method of creating ultra-clear glass. The iron in the glass gives it a green tint. By reducing the glass’s iron levels, it removes that green. Some manufacturers automatically offer low-iron as their ultra-clear option. Others have different ultra-clear glass production methods, producing varying amounts of green tint in the glass, so ask if you specifically want low-iron glass.

Tinted Glass Shower Doors

Tinted glass costs $45 to $60 a square foot more. Going clear is not the only way to change your glass’s color. You can also apply a tint to the glass in many colors, with the most common being brown, black (gray), and blue. By tinting the glass a darker color, you increase privacy for shared bathrooms. Tinting the glass can make it opaque, but most often makes it translucent. If you do not have a separate light in the shower stall, it can be fairly dark when using the deepest shades.

Frosted Glass Shower Doors

Adding frosted glass to your shower doors costs an additional $75 to $225 a square foot, depending on the pattern. If you want to increase privacy, create an opaque door, or add interesting or unique patterns or images to your shower door, consider frosting it. Frosting is done by sandblasting or etching the glass. It can be applied to either side of the glass and is considered textured glass, making it slightly more difficult to clean. Frosting can be applied to the entire door, the least expensive method, or in sections. Frosted glass reduces the amount of light entering the shower, so you may need to install additional lighting.

Rain Glass Shower Doors

Adding rain glass to your shower doors costs an extra $100 to $225 a square foot. Rain glass is another type of textured door. This glass is known as “obscuring,” meaning that it still lets in light but can be difficult to see through. Anything viewed through the glass looks distorted. The finish gets its name because it appears like a windowpane over which rain is pounding. The glass has a wavy texture but with a fairly tight, small pattern. This finish covers all the glass.

Textured Glass Shower Doors

Textured glass doors have an additional cost of $100 to $225 a square foot. There are many types of textured glass doors. Textured is a catch-all term for any glass with a tactile pattern or difference, rather than a color change. There are numerous textures, including wave patterns, bubble glass, and rain glass. Textured glass may be applied in parts or over the entirety, creating different patterns and appearances. Most textured glass types can be harder to clean.

Labor Cost to Install a Shower Door

There is a range of costs associated with installing shower doors. Most installations cost between $300 and $600 in labor and 2 to 4 hours to complete. This is true if you purchase a stock door “kit” to be installed by your contractor or contract with a shower door company. In this latter case, measurements are taken, the door made to order, and installed roughly 2 to 3 weeks later. Because measurements must be precise for the best fit, doors are the last component for a new shower. The surround, tray, and other components must be installed first. Also, the tile needs to be completely cured if used for the shower walls.

Regardless of type, installation is usually similar. Tracks, frames, or hinges are installed first, securing them to the shower’s walls or floor. The door and panels are installed next, leveled, and sealed. Installation costs are higher for heavy doors or if you have porcelain tile on the walls because this material can be difficult and time-consuming to drill through. Thinner, lighter doors and doors installed on an acrylic or fiberglass shower enclosure cost less to install.

Your installation timeframe and costs are higher when having a very complex enclosure installation, meaning there are two or more walls of glass with multiple panels. This can have labor costs of up to $1,000 and may take 4 to 8 hours to complete.

Custom Shower Doors Cost

If you have a custom shower, you may need to have a custom door installed. This is not a common installation because most people find either stock doors or semi-custom doors are good for their homes. Stock doors are the materials carried at big box stores designed to be purchased, brought home, and installed in one day. Semi-custom doors use standard-sized doors and panels to fit many opening sizes. These are made to order, and your shower must be measured first.

Custom doors are for showers with odd measurements that do not fit a standard-sized door or door and panel. Maybe you have an old home and the walls are not straight, so a straight panel does not fit properly. Or, maybe you have designed a custom shower with an opening of 38-inches, which is too large for a standard door but too small for a door and panel.

Custom doors are templated, cut, and manufactured to your shower’s exact measurements. When your shower is complete, a technician visits to measure for your door. Most often, semi-custom doors are offered if your enclosure can work with standard sizes. If not, a template is made and a custom door built. Custom doors can be framed, semi-framed, or frameless, and they can come in many styles, sizes, and configurations. They take 2 to 3 weeks to produce, like custom doors, and have similar installation costs but higher material costs because a special template must be made. Because of this, there is a wide range of costs. Custom shower doors cost between $900 and $5,000 installed, depending on the size and style.

Shower Door Replacement Cost

When replacing a shower door, your costs should be similar to a new door installation. Some companies remove the old door at no cost because they can likely recycle it. Others charge $50 to $200 to remove and dispose of the old door. So, your total costs for a shower door replacement ranges from $650 to $6,200, fully installed with door removal and disposal, depending on the type, size, and configuration of your door or enclosure.

Smart Glass Shower Door Cost

One of the newest shower glass types is switchable glass, a smart or intelligent glass. It can switch from clear to opaque with the flip of a switch. Smart glass has many benefits, especially for large showers in busy homes. When activated, the glass can offer privacy to anyone showering inside so that the other areas can still be used. Smart glass is also very easy to maintain because it is treated against microbes and given a coating that makes it stay cleaner longer. Most smart glass doors are energy-efficient and can be turned on as desired. Some can also be automated and tied in with a home automation system like Alexa. They add around $100 to $150 a square foot to the project’s cost.

An alternative is also a smart film, which can be applied to the shower door for around $25 a square foot. This can also make the shower opaque or transparent but not as completely as the switchable glass, and it does not have the other benefits of being easy to maintain.

Maintenance

Shower doors are made of glass and can be cleaned with typical glass cleaners. However, the most effective way to clean and maintain a door is to squeegee it dry after every shower. Using the squeegee, you prevent spots and soap scum buildup and keep the door in good condition.

The aluminum brackets, hinges, or tracks may be cleaned with general bathroom cleaners. Always test new cleaners in an inconspicuous area so that they do not harm the metal before continuing with the remaining surfaces.

Shower Curtain vs Shower Door

Shower doors are designed to help keep water in your tub or shower area and out of the room. They are not completely necessary for your shower to operate, and there are alternatives. Another method for containing water is a curtain.

Curtains are water-resistant fabrics that hang from a rod at the top of the shower. They are inexpensive and help keep water out of the bathroom. They also come in many colors and styles, complementing the bathroom. Because doors are made of glass and may shatter, shower curtains are safer and easier.

A shower door allows you to see through to the shower inside. This can make the room look larger than a shower curtain. Doors can also improve the bathroom’s aesthetic and give it a more finished appearance. They are also easier to keep clean because curtains can grow mold and mildew.

Even with the purchase of a shower rod, a shower curtain is less expensive than a door. However, you replace the curtain multiple times over the years, while a door can last for decades when properly maintained. Below are the average costs to install a shower rod with a curtain and a door.

Frameless vs Framed Shower Doors

Shower doors come in two styles - framed and frameless. Not all door styles are available in both types, but many are. A framed door has an aluminum frame wrapping around the door on all sides. You can use thinner glass of about ¼ inch because the frame stabilizes the glass, making the door less expensive. A frameless door uses brackets and hinges installed directly onto the wall with silicone seals and sweeps to seal the door and keep water out. The glass must be thicker without a frame - between ½ inch and ¾ inch, increasing the project cost.

Generally, a frameless door offers a cleaner appearance than a framed door. However, frames are necessary for some door types, such as swinging doors and some tracked doors because the frame is needed for the door to move properly.

If the door has the option of a frame or to be frameless, there is no difference in the door’s function or longevity. Both can give you a good-looking, fully operational door. Frameless doors have a more modern, luxurious appearance and are more costly than framed doors. Below are the average costs to install both styles.

Rain Glass Shower Door vs Clear Glass

You also have choices for the type of glass your door has. Most doors come with standard glass. This glass is completely transparent but has a green tint that many people dislike. An alternative is clear glass. Clear glass still has a tiny amount of green, but it is much more clear and true in color, allowing you to get a better sense of your shower’s interior.

Clear glass does not offer privacy to the user but gives an unimpeded view of the shower. In contrast, rain glass offers privacy and helps conceal the interior.

Rain glass is textured glass that makes it appear as though the glass is obscured by a heavy rain storm. This lets light in but blurs the other side. This can be a good solution for busy bathrooms with many users because it lets the shower user have privacy while the rest of the bathroom is in use.

Rain glass is slightly harder to clean than clear glass because the texture is more difficult to squeegee to avoid water spots. However, water spots or soap scum are more likely to also be obscured by the pattern.

Of the two types, rain glass is more expensive. Below are the average costs to install a door that is 48” x 80” with the two different types.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Anti-Glare Doors

If you install a shower door to show off the tile or style of the shower inside, anti-glare coating makes it easier to see in. This coating can be added to any made-to-order showers. It costs between $70 and $100 a square foot on average.

Anti-Microbial Doors

You can put a coating on the glass to help keep your shower clean and sanitary. Antimicrobial coatings help reduce mold and mildew growth and can be added to any door. Typical coatings of this type cost between $200 and $300 to apply.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• Professional installation. It is recommended that professionals install glass doors due to their fragile material and need for precision to avoid leaks.
• DIY. If you want to try DIY, glass door kits are available for homeowners to purchase. These are the simplest doors to put up.
• Bathroom size. Small bathrooms may be more difficult to navigate a large glass panel in without damage. For this reason, smaller doors may be a better choice.
• Installation time. Most shower doors take 2 to 4 hours to install, but some large enclosures can take up to 8 hours.
• Damage. All shower doors may shatter at some point, some without any impact. This is most common with sliding, bypass, and framed doors. Always read the manufacturer’s warranties and cautions to see what is covered and what steps you should take to protect yourself and your family.
• Texture. If you choose framed glass, it will be thinner, so it cannot be textured easily. You may find that framed shower doors have fewer options for glass style or texture than frameless doors.
• Resale. Shower doors may not increase the resale value of a home, but they can make your home more attractive to potential buyers and increase the likelihood of a quick sale.