If you have arrived here searching for “shower pan replacement cost,” you are likely looking for what is known in the UK as a shower tray — the base unit that sits beneath the shower enclosure and channels water to the waste. The term “shower pan” is standard American English; in Britain and Ireland you will hear shower tray, shower base, or (for fully tiled level-access floors) wet room former. The advice below uses UK terminology throughout.
A like-for-like shower tray swap — removing the old tray and fitting a new one of the same footprint — typically costs £450–£900 all-in (supply and labour). If you are changing size, converting to a wet room, or the existing drainage requires alteration, expect to pay more.
What Drives the Cost?
Several factors determine how much you will pay:
- Tray material — acrylic is cheapest; stone resin and ceramic add cost but last longer and feel more solid underfoot.
- Tray size — a 700 × 700 mm tray is cheaper than a 1,200 × 900 mm version both to buy and to fit (heavier, more access disruption).
- Whether drainage needs moving — if the new tray waste aligns with the existing soil stack or branch pipe, installation is straightforward. Moving drainage adds plumbing time and potential floor work.
- Tiling — a like-for-like swap that reuses existing wall tiles is relatively quick. Any tile removal, re-tanking, or retiling adds significantly to the bill.
- Access and condition — ground-floor installations over timber joists may require cutting a joist bay to reach the trap. Upper-floor bathrooms can mean access from below as well.
Shower Tray Supply Costs (2026 UK)
| Tray type | Typical size | Supply cost |
|---|---|---|
| Low-profile acrylic | 800 × 800 mm | £80–£200 |
| Stone resin (slate-effect or smooth) | 900 × 900 mm | £200–£500 |
| Ceramic / fireclay | 900 × 800 mm | £150–£400 |
| Wet room former (tile-over) | 1,200 × 900 mm | £300–£700 |
Acrylic trays are the most widely fitted: lightweight, warm to the touch, and simple to replace. Stone resin trays are heavier and feel more premium — the solid, non-flex surface is less likely to creak or dip over time. A wet room former (sometimes called a tile backer tray) is a rigid foam board with a pre-formed fall; the installer tiles directly over it to create a seamless, level-access wet floor.
Labour Costs: Plumber Day Rates (2026 UK)
A plumber or bathroom fitter in the UK currently charges in the region of £200–£350 per day depending on location (London rates sit towards the upper end; regional rates are lower). A like-for-like tray swap typically takes one to three hours for the removal and fitting alone, with sealant cure time meaning the shower is not usable until the following day.
Expect labour for a straightforward swap to cost £300–£600, with the higher end applying to larger or heavier stone resin trays, older bathrooms where the existing tray is bedded in sand and cement, or cases where access is awkward.
Total Cost: Like-for-Like Replacement
For the most common scenario — removing an existing 800 × 800 mm or 900 × 900 mm tray and fitting a new one of the same size with no drainage movement:
| Scenario | Supply | Labour | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget acrylic, 800 × 800 mm | £80–£150 | £300–£400 | £380–£550 |
| Mid-range acrylic, 900 × 900 mm | £120–£200 | £300–£450 | £420–£650 |
| Stone resin, 900 × 900 mm | £200–£500 | £350–£600 | £550–£1,100 |
| Wet room former, 1,200 × 900 mm | £300–£700 | £400–£700 | £700–£1,400 |
Worked example: A homeowner in the Midlands replaces a cracked 900 × 900 mm acrylic tray with a like-for-like stone resin unit. The tray costs £280 supply. A local plumber charges £300 for half a day’s labour (removal, new waste fitting, silicone seal, and test). Total: £580.
Full Wet Room Conversion Cost
If you are moving from an enclosed shower tray to a fully tanked, tiled wet room floor, the cost rises substantially. The floor must be waterproofed (tanked) to comply with good practice and to satisfy insurers; wall tanking behind the shower zone is standard best practice even where not explicitly required by Part H of the Building Regulations.
A wet room conversion with a tiled floor, drainage channel, and tanked walls typically costs £1,500–£4,000, depending on room size, drain type, whether walls need replastering before tiling, and tile specification.
Signs You Need to Replace Your Shower Tray
- Cracking or crazing — spider-web cracks on an acrylic tray indicate the base support has failed or the tray has been overloaded; cracks will worsen and eventually leak.
- Discolouration that will not clean — yellowing or staining that cannot be removed with standard cleaners suggests the gel coat has broken down; replacement is usually more practical than refinishing.
- Flexi-seal failure — if the silicone between the tray and wall tiles is lifting, cracking, or going black with mould repeatedly (having been reapplied more than once), it often indicates the tray is flexing on its frame. A rigid stone resin replacement or better bed support can solve this permanently.
- Leaking waste — a persistent drip through the ceiling below, or damp under the bathroom floor, often points to a failed trap or a cracked tray base that is directing water away from the waste outlet.
- Physical damage — chips and cracks from dropped objects may be cosmetic on stone resin but structurally significant on acrylic.
DIY vs Professional Installation
Swapping a like-for-like acrylic tray is technically within reach for a competent DIYer: lift out the old tray, place the new one on adjustable feet (or a mortar bed), connect the new waste to the existing trap, and seal around the perimeter. However:
- Drainage connections should be checked by a qualified plumber if there is any doubt about trap depth, pipe fall, or compliance with Part H of the Building Regulations (which requires a minimum 18 mm fall per metre on horizontal waste runs).
- Wet room formers require careful waterproofing to manufacturer’s specification — typically a tanking membrane bonded to the board and extending up the walls — before tiling. Skipping or rushing tanking is a common cause of concealed water damage.
- Heavy stone resin trays (some weigh 30–50 kg) require two people to handle safely and a fully prepared, level bed before positioning.
- If you are moving a waste outlet, that work falls under Part H of the Building Regulations and must be carried out to the required standard (and notified if it involves new drainage).
For most homeowners, the cost saving of DIY is modest relative to the cost of putting right a leak that has caused ceiling damage or structural dampness. A professional installation also gives you recourse if something goes wrong.
When to Retile vs Just Swap the Tray
If the wall tiles around the tray perimeter are in good condition, a skilled bathroom fitter can often remove the tray and replace it without disturbing the tiles — by cutting the silicone seal carefully and lifting the tray clear. This assumes the new tray is the same size and the tiles do not extend underneath the tray lip.
If the tiles are chipped, stained, or poorly adhered — or if you are changing the tray size — retiling is the better option. Budget for wall tiling at £25–£60 per m² for labour, plus tile supply costs.
Building Regulations: What You Need to Know
Replacing a shower tray like-for-like is typically not notifiable under Part H, provided no drainage layout is altered. However:
- Any alteration to the waste pipe routing, trap depth, or connection to a shared stack may require a Building Regulations application (Part H — Drainage and Waste Disposal).
- Wet room conversions that involve new drainage channels connected to the soil stack should be discussed with your local authority building control or an Approved Inspector.
- Waterproofing (tanking) is not a formal Building Regulations requirement for shower trays in its own right, but it is required practice under BS 8000-11 (workmanship on building sites) and most building warranties, and it forms part of the standard specification for any competent installer.
- Where the work is in an upstairs bathroom above habitable rooms, good waterproofing practice is especially important: even minor seepage can cause significant damage to ceilings and joists below.
Choosing the Right Tray for Your Bathroom
A 900 × 900 mm stone resin tray is the most popular upgrade choice for homeowners replacing a worn acrylic unit — it offers durability, a solid feel, and a relatively straightforward installation. If you are converting to a wet room or want a linear drain and seamless tiled floor, a wet room former is the correct starting point.
For tight en suites, a 800 × 800 mm low-profile acrylic tray remains the most practical option: affordable, easy to fit, and widely available in standard sizes that align with existing enclosures.
[!tip] Get Two Quotes Because shower tray labour costs vary significantly by region and by whether the plumber is also a bathroom fitter (some plumbers will not tile; some bathroom fitters will not connect to soil stacks), get at least two quotes — and check whether each quote includes the waste fitting, silicone, and any access panels required to reach the trap.
