Walk-in showers for elderly people
For most older people the first thing that goes is the ability to step over the side of the bath safely. Taking the bath out and putting in a walk-in shower with a low or flush tray is the single most common bathroom adaptation in the UK.
It keeps the rest of the bathroom as it is, takes about a week, and costs a good deal less than a full wet room.
- Bath out, low-tray shower in
- £6,000 to £8,500
- Level access shower
- £7,500 to £10,500Tray flush with the floor
Is a walk-in shower the right choice?
- Getting a leg over the bath side has become frightening or impossible, but walking into a shower, perhaps with a stick, is fine.
- You want to sit to shower. A fold-down seat on the wall or a free-standing shower chair fits in most cubicles.
- You would like to keep the toilet and basin where they are, which keeps the cost and the disruption down.
- The person showers alone, or with light help from outside the screen.
Think twice if
- A wheelchair needs to go under the shower. Choose a level access tray at the very least, and think about a full wet room.
- Someone helps with every wash. A half-height screen or a curtain gives a carer room that a full glass door does not.
What a walk-in shower costs
National guide prices for supply and fitting, read November 2026. If the bathroom is being adapted for a disabled person’s own home, the building work is zero-rated for VAT (HMRC Notice 701/7, section 6.3). Every price on this page is shown before VAT for that reason.
| What | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Bath out, low-level tray shower in Tray about 40 mm high, screen, thermostatic or care shower, tiling of the shower area, one or two rails | £6,000 to £8,500 |
| Level access shower Tray or former set flush with the floor, slip-resistant finish, half-height doors or curtain | £7,500 to £10,500 |
| Fold-down shower seat Wall-fixed, padded, lifts out of the way | Often included; about £150 to £400 if not |
| Pumped waste Needed on some concrete floors or where the drain is far away | £400 to £900 |
Ready to lose the bath? Get a quote for a level access or low-tray shower.
Get a quoteHow a walk-in shower goes in
Home visit
The installer measures the bath space, checks the floor and the waste route, and talks through screens, seats and where the controls should sit.
Bath comes out
Usually day one. Water is off for a short time only, and the toilet normally stays usable.
Tray, waste and walls
The tray or former is set, the waste connected and tested, and the walls in the shower area boarded and tiled or lined with panels.
Shower, screen and rails
The shower, screen or curtain, seat and grab rails go in, and the installer shows the user how everything works.
The details that make it safe
- Controls at sitting height. Put the shower controls where a seated person can reach them without leaning in to the spray, and choose a thermostatic or care shower that holds the temperature steady.
- A rail by the entry and one by the seat. Position them after the user has tried the space, not from a catalogue picture.
- A slip-resistant tray. Look for one tested for wet, bare-foot use. Shiny acrylic is the most common cause of a fall in a new shower.
- Half-height doors or a curtain. They let a carer help from outside without getting soaked, and fold away for wheelchair access.
- Good light. A bright, even light over the shower helps people with low vision see the edge of the tray and the seat.
- Contrast. A grab rail that stands out from the wall colour is easier to find, especially for people living with dementia.
Low tray or level access?
A low-level tray sits about 35 to 45 mm above the floor. It is the cheapest option, goes in quickly and suits someone who can lift a foot a little. A level access shower is set flush with the floor, so there is nothing at all to step over. It costs more because the floor has to be cut or built up around the tray, but it is the version an occupational therapist will usually specify for anyone with poor balance, a walking frame or a wheelchair.
If the shower is being funded by the council, the type is normally set by the occupational therapist’s report. Sandwell Council’s fact sheet, for example, lists a standard council-funded level access shower as a non-slip floor with a gully, a half-height screen, an electric shower designed for people with medical needs, lever taps and two grab rails, with the work normally taking up to ten days (Sandwell Council).
Your questions answered
How much is a walk-in shower for an elderly person?
Taking out a bath and fitting a walk-in shower with a low tray typically costs £6,000 to £8,500, and a level access shower £7,500 to £10,500, before VAT. Most disabled people pay no VAT on the work.
Can the council fit a walk-in shower for free?
It can pay for one through a Disabled Facilities Grant, after an occupational therapist has assessed the person. Many people pay nothing, but the grant is means tested for adults. Renting from the council or a housing association? Ask the landlord first. See grants and VAT.
How long does it take to replace a bath with a walk-in shower?
Two to five days of work for a simple swap, and up to two weeks for a level access floor. Councils often quote up to ten working days.
What is the safest shower for an elderly person?
A level access shower with a slip-resistant floor, a fold-down seat, a thermostatic or care shower that cannot scald, and grab rails placed where the person actually reaches for them.
Is a walk-in shower or a walk-in bath better for an older person?
For most people a shower is safer and quicker to use. A walk-in bath suits someone who still wants to soak and can wait for it to fill and empty while seated. See walk-in baths.
Do I need planning permission or building regulations?
Not planning permission for an internal bathroom. New drainage, electrics in the bathroom and any structural change come under building regulations, which a competent installer handles through the relevant schemes or by notifying building control.
Read next
- Wet room installation
When the whole floor needs to be step-free
- Walk-in baths
For people who still want to soak
- Grab rails and toilets
Smaller changes that make a big difference
- Disabled bathroom cost
Estimate your own job
Sources we checked
Price ranges are our reading of published UK mobility bathroom price guides and public council contracts, checked November 2026. We do not link to firms that sell or fit bathrooms.
Get a quote for a walk-in shower
Three short steps: the postcode, the bathroom, and the best way to reach you. You are welcome to fill it in for someone you look after.
- We find one mobility bathroom installer who works in your area and does this kind of job.
- We let you know who they are, and only pass your details on once you agree.
- They come and measure the bathroom at no charge, then send a written price.
This service is free to you. You can change your mind at any stage.
Thank you. We have your request.
- Within a working day we will be in touch by phone or email to name the installer for your area.
- Nothing is passed to them until you have said yes.
- They then book a time to measure the bathroom and send a written price. We will not send you marketing.