Tub to shower conversion in Fort Collins: four ways to do it
A standard alcove tub is 60 inches long, and plenty of Fort Collins houses have one in the hall bath and another in the primary bath. That 60 by 30 inch alcove is double the residential code's minimum shower of 900 square inches with no side under 30 inches, so any of four showers can replace the tub, and the choice sets the price.
| New shower | Typical cost | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Prefabricated shower stall | $2,000 to $6,000 | Fastest; set sizes; fits the old tub alcove |
| Walk-in shower | $5,000 to $12,000 | Low curb, glass door or panel |
| Tiled shower | $6,000 to $12,000 | Any size and layout, niches and a bench |
| Curbless shower | $8,000 to $15,000 | Floor recessed so there is no step at all |
Source: This Old House, tub-to-shower conversion cost (updated March 4, 2026; January 2026 survey of 1,000 homeowners plus Homewyse and Home Depot pricing). Quotes vary by home.
A prefabricated stall keeps to the old tub's 60 by 30 inch footprint and goes in fastest. Tile lets the shower borrow a few inches from a closet or linen cabinet, add a niche and a bench, and go curbless. An acrylic wall system over a new base is the middle road; the one-day bath remodel page compares it with tile.
What changes behind the wall
The plumbing is what separates a conversion from a swap. A tub valve sits low for the spout; a shower valve sits at about hand height, and the showerhead often moves too. The drain usually moves from the end of the old tub to the new pan's drain location, and the floor under a tub apron is where old leaks hide.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Move the drain line | $900 to $1,100 |
| Install or upgrade the shower valve | $700 to $1,200 |
| Relocate supply lines | $700 and up |
| Framed glass enclosure | $400 to $1,200 |
| Frameless glass | $1,200 to $3,000 |
| Tub removal and disposal | $300 to $1,200 |
Source: This Old House 2026 tub-to-shower cost guide. Not every job needs every line.
Do you need a permit to convert a bathtub to a shower?
In Fort Collins, almost always. The City's exemption covers replacing a tub or shower only when no valves or pipes are replaced or rearranged, and moving a valve up the wall or a drain to a new pan is exactly that. The job goes on a residential remodel permit priced on its value; the Fort Collins bathroom and kitchen permit guide lists the fee steps.
How a conversion runs
- 1Pull the tub
The tub, its surround and the drywall behind it come out. This Old House puts removal and disposal at $300 to $1,200; a cast-iron tub is the expensive end.
- 2Fix what the tub was hiding
Rot at the tub apron and subfloor is common. In the same survey, structural repairs (38 percent) and water damage (32 percent) were the most common surprises.
- 3Move the valve and drain
A shower valve sits higher than a tub spout valve and the drain often moves to the center of a new pan. This is the part that makes it a permitted job in Fort Collins.
- 4Pan, waterproofing, walls
A low-curb or curbless pan goes in, the walls and floor are waterproofed as one system, then tile or panels go up.
- 5Glass, grab bars, trim
Glass is ordered off the finished walls. Blocking for future grab bars goes in while the studs are open, even if the bars come later.
Keeping the tub but replacing it is on bathtub replacement; rebuilding an existing shower is on shower remodel; and a step-free design is detailed on walk-in shower installation. For the whole room, start at bathroom remodeling in Fort Collins.
