I’m sharing all the details about glass shower enclosures including cost and which options might be worth it and which aren’t!
After sharing our bathroom remodel before and after, something many of you wanted more info about is our glass shower enclosure. Today I’m dishing all of those details including the extra options I chose, why I chose them, and the full cost breakdown too. (post includes commissionable links; for more information, see my full disclosure statement {here})
Before jumping in, here’s a reminder of what our glass shower enclosure looks like:
Sources links: Pump bottles (16 oz white/gold) | Body brush | Sea sponge | Shower bench | Large lidded basket for hamper | See my post on our bathroom floating shelves for those details & sources
I chose a simple shower design without a built-in shower bench (I never sat on the bench in our old shower and like the clean-lined look without it!). Our frameless glass shower enclosure is 60″ long x 37″ wide with a 28″ door. The price was definitely higher than I expected! The base price I was quoted for the shower enclosure + installation was $2400 (note that I got multiple bids and they were all quite close to each other but prices in Connecticut are higher than most other areas of the country).
My quote was for a frameless unit with standard ⅜″ tempered glass, brushed nickel wall hinges, non-mitered door, and standard 6″ pull. But where they really get you is with all of the extras – there were a ton of options and choices to make. I’ll share each of them along with the additional cost and what I chose to add on (and what I decided wasn’t worth it).
Frameless Shower Clips vs. U-Channel
One of the biggest design decisions I made was whether to go with frameless shower clips at all points where the glass meets the tile or to use U-channels as supports for the glass panels. Here’s an example of your typical shower clip:
Most people choose to go with all clips on both the sides and bottom of the glass because technically “frameless” shower enclosures don’t have any type of framing or channels – they are supported entirely with clips. But I went against the grain on this one and chose to go with wall clips along the side and U-channels along the base of the glass.
If you don’t know what a U-channel is, it’s basically a short U-shaped metal strip that the glass rests in:
The two reasons I chose to use them are: (1) when the glass shower enclosure is resting directly on tile and sealed with clear caulk like it is with clips, over time mold/mildew often develops under the clear caulk where it’s impossible to reach and clean. Because of this, many people find that they have to frequently cut the mildewed caulk out and re-caulk. This is more common with natural stone like I have than porcelain tile because of the porous nature of natural stone (see my post on using marble tile in a bathroom for details). When you use a U-channel you don’t have this issue.
Reason (2) is that I actually like the streamlined look of the U-channel on the bottom instead of the clips:
Our overall bathroom design has more of an updated classic feel than an extremely modern one and I felt like the design of the U-channel fit that aesthetic best. In terms of pricing, some companies charge about $100-$200 less for using U-channels than clips because the cut of the bottom of the glass doesn’t have to be quite as precise with a U-channel – my proposal was the same price regardless of which I chose.
Glass Treatment to Prevent Water Spots
Another add-on option is a glass treatment that seals pores in the glass to make it resistant to water spots and stains. In some cases this is done during the fabrication of the glass and in others it is sprayed on as a sealant after production of the glass. It helps keep your glass clean and from becoming cloudy over time. This is a great option to consider if (1) you have hard water and (2) you don’t have the best track record for regularly cleaning your shower glass.
I was quoted an extra $540 to add-on this glass treatment – yikes! I decided to pass on this option and instead try and be a more diligent cleaner to keep our glass enclosure cost closer to what we had budgeted for it. I also might try out {this spray glass treatment} that works similarly (but has to be re-applied frequently). I do know several people who swear by how much easier the factory applied glass treatment has made it to maintain their shower so it could be a decision I regret with time.
Regular Glass vs. Low Iron Glass
Shower glass is fairly thick which gives it a subtle green hue. One add-on option is to choose low iron glass that is completely clear, without the greenish hue. It’s called ultra-clear glass, opti-white, Starphire glass, and various other names. Along with the glass being completely clear, when you look directly at the edge of the glass, instead of it appearing green like it normally would, it has more of a bluish tint:
I debated this decision a LOT mainly because it’s a super pricey option – I was quoted an additional $648. After researching and getting LOTS of opinions, what I found is that if you don’t have white tile the difference probably isn’t noticeable enough to warrant spending the extra money. But if you have white tile like I do, it might be because you can definitely tell the difference.
As much as it pained me, this was the one costly add-on we went with – I LOVE my shower tile and didn’t want one of my final decisions on our bathroom one that made me unhappy with the overall result.
It definitely lived up to the hype! You can see as you look at my bathroom tile through the glass of the shower enclosure and through the open door, there’s no change in color:
Shower Glass Thickness: ⅜″ vs ½″
The most commonly used glass thickness for shower enclosures is ⅜″ but an upgrade to ½″ was another add-on option (my quote for this upgrade was $648). The benefit of ½″ glass is that the extra thickness provides additional stability. Also, some people simply like the thicker look. Unless you’re one of those people (personally I like the look of the thinner glass), the main reasons you’d want to choose ½″ glass is if you have glass panels that are taller than typical (like 80″+) or if your shower door is hinged off one of your glass panels instead of being hinged off the wall like mine:
This decision was an easy one for me – we stuck with the less expensive ⅜″ glass.
Decorative Handles
Most shower door companies include a standard curved handle on both sides of the glass door in their basic price. Different styles are an upgrade with the price depending on the style. I wasn’t a big fan of the standard handle and went for an upgraded handle that I thought tied in the design of the tile on our tub wall really well:
The cost for this upgrade? $200
Robe Hooks or Towel Bar
There are also several options that allow you to hang your towel on the shower enclosure if that’s something you’d be like to be able to do. One options is a robe hook (I was quoted an additional $125 for per hook) that’s on both sides of the glass – on the inside of the glass you can hang the towel you’re going to use after showering and then when you’re done using your towel you can hang it on the outside to dry. There is also the option to add a towel bar as an extension of the door handle on one or both sides.
I wanted to keep the clean-lined look of our shower enclosure so I chose not to do either of these and instead installed {these three robe hooks} for towels on the wall by our vanity:
Vanity Area Sources: Wood & rattan double vanity | Vanity knobs | Vanity lights | Vanity mirrors – gold | Soap & lotion sink set with tray | Gray & white striped towels
A Few Last Options
Believe it or there were still a few more options to consider:
- Mitered glass door where the door only opens out (an additional $180) – the benefit of this is that the mitered edge helps create a tighter seal when the door is shut to prevent water from leaking out. I actually like having the door be able to swing both in and out so this was an easy no thanks. And I never had issues with leaking after installation.
- Custom height – I wanted our enclosure to be a little bit higher than standard so it was taller than our shower head – this was an additional $100
- Having the U-channel and framing clips in a brushed nickel finish on real brass framing (an additional $580). This is an upgrade of the standard anodized aluminum finish which is similar in appearance but not identical to the brushed nickel wall hinges and handle. I passed on this one.
Total Cost for Our Glass Shower Enclosure
The total estimate for our shower enclosure with installation ranged from $2420 to $5516 depending upon how many extras we chose. Starting with the base price of $2420 and adding the ultra-clear glass ($648), upgraded handle ($200), and additional height ($100), our total cost was $3368. Crazy expensive right?! I got multiple estimates and they were all within 10% of each other so I feel like this is a good cost estimate for the NYC area. However, as I mentioned at the beginning of the post, prices here are higher than most other areas so something similar in a different area of the country will likely cost less, sometimes MUCH less.
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Phew… we made it through! Would you ever have guessed that buying a shower enclosure could be so complicated? I hope this post helps any of you who are in the midst of a major bathroom renovation or who have one planned for down the road. Want more details and ideas on renovating a bathroom? You’ll find these posts helpful:
Master Bathroom Remodel Ideas: My Ten Favorites!
Must-Have Bathroom Measurements
XO,
Sue P. says
Thank you so much for sharing all this information about your glass shower enclosure. We’re just beginning the planning process for our master bath remodel and your post gives us a lot to think about. I’m hoping the prices in TN are lower! 🙂 I looked back at your reveal post and your bathroom is SO PRETTY! I love all your choices and how it all came together. Thanks for your descriptions and sources.
Sue
Kelsey says
What tile did you use for the shower wall and floor? I love it!
Volker Schramm says
This is great. The detail about the choices are excellent. We’re about to refurbish ours when we came across your article. Very helpful. Question: I’m assuming this didn’t include the tile work. How much did that cost?
Lisa O'Brien says
What kind of tile did you use and what was that cost?
Kris Jarrett says
Hi Lisa – you can find links to all of the tile in my bathroom in my reveal post here: https://www.drivenbydecor.com/master-bathroom-reveal/
Laurie C carpenter says
Hi Kris,
Sorry I’m coming late to the party. Gorgeous bathroom, but would I expect anything less, NO!
I wanted to just pass on a helpful hint about cleaning the shower glass. About once a month just before I get out of the shower (usually on a Saturday morning when I’m not going to work…)I give the glass a wipe down. First I use a Mr. Clean sponge, (actually the Walmart knock off). It removes everything without any chemicals. Give the glass a rinse off before stepping out of the shower. I dry the glass off & do something else leaving the shower door open so the glass dries thoroughly. Then I give all the interior glass a wipe down with Rainex wipes. It works just like on your windshield. The water just beads up & rolls right off the glass eliminating water spots. It comes in a spray too, but I like the wipes because I usually only need one & I don’t waster paper towels. Hope this helps! Laurie
Kris Jarrett says
I’m a Mr. Clean sponge user for the shower too! That’s an AWESOME tip about the wipes – thanks!
Kelly says
Thank you for the thorough research you shared with us in this post. I am starting to plan our bathroom remodel and you have saved me a lot of work. Your bathroom looks absolutely beautiful!
Ann says
The bathroom is gorgeous!! I am in CT too and just starting to think about a master bath remodel. Quick question – what company did you use for the shower door?
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you! I used Mr. Shower Door for mine – they had a showroom that we went to to see some of the different options in person too which helped!
Sharon says
Love your bathroom and shower. We did complete reno of two upstairs bathrooms 1 1/2 years ago. Was on budget until it came to the shower enclosure and then we too were hit with sticker shock and ended up going over budget. We did go with the clips on the bottom and for now they are fine, raised the glass height, and chose the factory installed glass treatment. No right or wrong choices just personal taste and budget considerations.
Hope you are enjoying your new bathroom.
Sharon
Kris Jarrett says
It was sticker shock for me at the end too! Enjoy your weekend!
Mary says
Thank you so much for this info. It really helps me to start visualizing all of these choices. Beautiful job!
Gisella says
I love the tile work, can you post where you got all the tile?
Kris Jarrett says
Sure, all of my tile is sourced in my master bathroom reveal post here: https://www.drivenbydecor.com/master-bathroom-reveal/
Ann-Marie says
Oh! Forgot to ask: did you price comp ledge shower vs curbless shower?
Kris Jarrett says
Hi Ann-Marie – I didn’t compare the price on the two because I wasn’t ever thinking about going with a curbless shower for mine. Good luck with your project!
Ann-Marie says
Thank you so much for sharing!! As I’m reading your post, this is my view. (Sitting on floor of master bath. All tile, vanities, mirrors, lights, toilet, removed. Finishing last part of shower and removal of jacuzzi ( I know…1980 has been calling all day) Perfect timing. Thank you.
Susan says
Kris, thank you for explaining so much! I am completely lost at this. A couple of questions: 1) Did your price include any demo or old shower/bath? 2) Besides looks, is there some reason to avoid using a pan-inset on the shower floor?
Kris Jarrett says
The pricing only includes the new glass – no demo (this was a completely new space so we didn’t have any old doors to remove). And no, there’s no reason to avoid a premade shower pan – it’s definitely a money saver to do!
Amber says
Thank you so much for sharing this information. I would never have guessed there were so many options to glass enclosures! The expense seems reasonable at first unless you start saying yes to all the upgrades!
I’m trying to figure out where you had the mother of pearl penny tile installed. Where is it?
Kris Jarrett says
The costs can definitely add up quickly! I don’t have any mother of pearl tile in the space but maybe you mean the marble hexagon tile on the shower floor? It is from Walker Zanger – you can find a link to it and my other tile in my reveal post here: https://www.drivenbydecor.com/master-bathroom-reveal/
Amber says
Hi Kris! Thanks for the reply. After looking back (and trying to find the mother of pearl photo), I now realize it must have been an ad. Sorry for the head scratcher.
Michele M says
Thank you so much for this breakdown. We soooo need to upgrade and I truly didn’t even know where to start when the engineer/designers want to know our budget. At least this gives me some starting point.
I love your choices – it truly is the Perfect Shower!
Kris Jarrett says
I’m so glad it was helpful for you! Good luck with working on your bathroom upgrade!
Kathe Irowez says
Love your bathroom, and all the info on your shower. I have one that’s very similar from my master bath remodel 3 years ago. I did get the glass treatment and so far, fabulous (but I’m alot better about cleaning after each shower than I was with my old one!). Mine sits on the marble with just the sealant and so far so good. I do have a question though. At the end you talked about an option you didn’t pay for because you wanted your door to swing inside the shower – why? I can’t imagine a scenario where I would want to do that. And how does the door stay in place? Mine probably would swing inside but there is a seal from top to bottom that it closes against – how it stays closed and nicely sealed during a shower. How does yours stay closed and in place if you touch it? Thank you – love your blog!
Kris Jarrett says
Hi Kathe – we had a glass shower enclosure in our old house where the door swung both ways and we liked that you could push the door in when you’re hopping in the shower and be able to easily close it behind you without getting into the shower spray in case it’s too hot or too cold. Then we push it the opposite direction when getting out. The shower door just naturally swings shut to the middle position from either side and we don’t have any issues with water getting out since the shower spray isn’t directly on it. Definitely just a personal choice but Jeff and I both liked the duo swing option when we had it before so didn’t see a reason to add that additional cost. Hope that helps explain – thanks so much for your sweet words about my blog!