Upgrading your bathroom with a new glass shower enclosure is a great way to add value to your home. Even simple upgrades such as new hardware and fixtures can give your bathroom a facelift that boosts your return on investment. But you may be wondering, how much does a new shower door cost? There’s no simple answer. Prices can range from a few hundred dollars for a simple glass door to thousands for a luxurious, high-end enclosure. There are many considerations that affect the price. These include material selection and the difficulty of the installation. The more complicated the job, the more difficult it will be.
Let’s take a look at some options:
Shower Door Glass Options
When trying to determine, how much does a new shower door cost, there are a number of different options. You’ll also need to decide whether you want a full bathroom remodel or to simply upgrade what you already have. Keep in mind that a remodel will be much more involved and sometimes requires structural work.
Once you’ve decided on a remodel or replacement, there are a number of different shower door styles. If your bathroom has a tub, two popular options are bypass doors and hinged doors.
Bypass Shower Door or Hinged Shower Door
Bypass shower doors slide past one another the same way as a sliding patio door. A bypass shower door may have a set pane with one side sliding on a track, or both panels of glass can move. The track can either have manual rollers in it, or the sliding piece can glide without extra support. These shower doors are space-efficient, as they don’t require room to swing open.
Hinged and pivot shower doors both open on hinges, but there are some differences. A hinged shower door opens only in one direction, usually outward. A pivot shower door also opens on a hinge, but can open in either direction. That swinging action of both doors is a benefit and a drawback. They create a bigger opening and access to the tub or shower enclosure, but also require enough room in the space to fully open the door. Both hinged and pivot shower doors are usually found in stand-alone shower enclosures, as they can fit into smaller spaces, where bypass shower doors would be too wide.
Neo-Angle or Round Shower Door
Sliding, hinged and pivot doors can all be installed without a tub, as well, while options such as neo-angle and round shower doors are typically used only with standalone showers. They are made for showers that take up a corner space of the bathroom and comprise set pieces of glass anchored perpendicularly to the walls. They also have a shower door that connects the two side pieces of glass.
A round shower door is similar to a neo-angle door, but is made with bent or curved glass. These doors are hinged and generally open in one direction only.
Framed or Frameless Shower
Another option that can significantly affect the question, how much does a new shower door cost, is deciding between framed or frameless. Because the frame supports the door, framed options are usually made with a thin glass, typically 3/16- or ¼-inch. The frame is often made of aluminum and can be coated, painted or finished in a variety of colors.
Frameless doors must be made with a much thicker glass, usually 3/8- or ½-inch, because there is no supporting frame. As a result of the thicker glass, frameless shower doors are usually more expensive than framed options.
Shower Glass Selection
Whatever style you choose, glass selection is another consideration that can impact the price. While there are many glass choices, it’s important to know that all shower doors must be constructed with safety glazing. Tempered glass is most common. When it breaks, tempered glass shatters into pellets, rather than shards, which could cause significant injury to people.
Laminated glass is another safety glazing option, though not as common in shower doors. Laminated glass consists of at least two pieces of glass and one plastic interlayer that form a glass sandwich. If the glass breaks, the plastic interlayer holds it in place, keeping the glass from falling out.
Unique Shower Glass Options
Tempered glass comes in a variety of patterns, textures and colors, but keep in mind that veering beyond clear glass will increase the cost. Options include frosted glass, which provides privacy, as well as patterned or other decorative glass options. Some homeowners even opt for custom-made, decorative glass shower doors created to their specific needs and aesthetics.
For most homeowners, however, clear glass remains the most popular option, as it creates a clean, modern look.
Low Maintenance Shower Options
You can also upgrade your shower door glass with a low-maintenance or easy-to-clean coating. This option typically is applied as part of the glass fabrication process. The coating application affects how quickly water runs down the glass, and how dirt and other substances are removed. The theory is that since the water washes away the dirt and grime from the glass, you won’t need to clean the glass with soap or glass cleaner as frequently as you would without the specialty coating.
There are two different kinds of low-maintenance coatings: hydrophilic and hydrophobic. With hydrophilic glass the water runs in sheets, rather than single drops, off the glass. Hydrophobic glass essentially repels water, preventing most dirt and contaminants from bonding to the glass. If you are interested in low-maintenance options, ask your shower door installer for more information when you’re researching and reviewing quotes.
Ready to Shower Shop
There’s not a simple answer to the question “how much does a new shower door cost?” Many considerations go into the final selection, from door style to glass type to the complexity of the installation. Here’s a quick look at price ranges for different types of shower doors.
Standard Bypass Shower Door: $600-$900
Hinged Shower Door: $1200-$1600
Sliding Shower Door: $1400-$1600
Corner Shower Door: $1400-$1600
Curved Shower Door: $1500-$1800
Custom Fully Enclosed Shower: $1900-$3500
When you’re ready to start your bathroom remodel or replacement, Glass.com® can help you navigate your way to qualified glass shops in your area. Our experts can help you find just the right shower door that’s perfect for your home and your budget.
One Response
Your article caught my attention when you said that frameless doors must be made with a much thicker glass because there is no supporting frame. My wife and I are planning to remodel our bathrooms and we want to replace the shower doors as well. You did a great job of explaining how laminated glass doors are made to prevent the glass from falling out if it breaks.