Shower Pan Replacement Cost in Wisconsin: Fixing a Leaking Shower
Replacing a shower pan costs $220 to $3,500 nationally in 2026, according to This Old House, depending mostly on the type of pan. That range fits a prefabricated base swapped in a few hours. In a tiled shower the pan is built into the floor and the lower walls, so fixing a leaking one usually means rebuilding the shower floor and some or all of the tile, and This Old House puts a custom tile shower at $8,500 to $10,000.
Published 2026-11-02 · 7 min read · 1,599 words
Bathroom project - T&JA leaking shower is not a repair to put off. Water that gets past the pan soaks the subfloor, the framing and the ceiling below, and the damage grows the longer it runs. Here is what shower pan replacement costs, how to tell whether the pan is really the problem, and what Wisconsin's plumbing code requires of a new one.
Shower Pan Replacement Cost by Type
| Pan type | Pan cost (This Old House, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Fiberglass | $150 to $450 |
| Acrylic | $200 to $620 |
| Poured mud or concrete | $350 to $650 |
| Tile-over (prefabricated) | $500 to $800 |
| Cast iron | $800 to $1,300 |
| Custom tile | $900 to $3,500 |
On top of the pan itself, This Old House lists about $250 to remove and dispose of the old one, and $350 to $570 in labor for a basic installation of around four hours. New plumbing or custom tile work raises the labor. A low-threshold or curbless pan for a walk-in shower costs around $700 to $1,000.
Why a Tiled Shower Costs More to Fix
A prefabricated base is one piece. In a tiled shower the "pan" is several layers: a sloped mortar bed, a waterproof liner, the drain assembly and the floor tile. Wisconsin's plumbing code, administered by the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), requires that liner, which the code calls safing, under the entire floor of a site-built shower. It has to turn up the walls at least 6 inches above the curb, and the corners have to be protected to a height of 6 feet.
Because the liner runs up behind the bottom rows of wall tile, it cannot be replaced from above. At a minimum the floor and the lower wall tile come out, and the whole surround is often redone so the tile matches.
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This Old House breaks a custom tile shower into these parts:
| Component | Typical installed cost |
|---|---|
| Custom shower pan | $1,500 to $3,000 |
| Shower liner (waterproofing system) | $1,500 to $2,000 |
| Tile floor installation | $2,000 to $2,500 |
| Shower drain | $400 to $500 |
Labor makes up 40% to 60% of a shower remodel's total. A prefabricated shower with its base and walls in one system runs $3,000 to $6,000 installed, which is why some homeowners replace a failed tiled shower with a prefab unit instead of rebuilding the tile.
In This Old House's 2026 bath survey, nearly 32% of homeowners went over budget on a bathroom renovation. The most common causes were water damage repairs, for 24% of respondents, and structural repairs to walls, subfloors or framing, for 22%.
Is It the Pan? How to Find the Leak
Not every shower leak is the pan. Before you price a replacement, narrow down the source:
- Grout and caulk. Cracked grout or failed caulk in the corners and along the curb lets water behind the tile. Caught early, this is the cheapest fix.
- The door or curtain. Water escaping onto the bathroom floor can look like a pan leak. Our shower door installation cost guide covers replacements.
- The valve or supply lines. A leak that shows up whenever the water is on points to the plumbing inside the wall.
- The drain. A loose or cracked drain connection leaks only while water is draining.
- The pan or liner. Loose floor tile, a musty smell, or a damp spot on the ceiling or basement framing under the shower after use all point to the pan.
A plumber or remodeler can test each part on its own, for example by running water only on the walls, only on the floor or only down the drain, and watching for the leak below.
Water Damage Under a Leaking Shower
If the shower has leaked for months, the pan is only part of the job. The subfloor, the floor joists and the ceiling below may need drying, repair or replacement before a new shower goes in, and wet materials left in place can grow mold. Our guide to signs of water damage in a Wisconsin basement shows what to look for below a bathroom, and our water damage restoration services cover the repair.
Before any demolition, photograph the damage and call your insurance agent. Whether a policy pays depends on its wording and on how the damage happened, so ask before the evidence is torn out. If the shower is only a few years old, also check whether the original installer's warranty covers it.
Wisconsin Code and Permits for a New Shower Pan
- The liner. A site-built shower floor needs safing under the whole floor, turned up at least 6 inches above the curb, with the corners protected to 6 feet and at least 3 inches in each direction. The safing has to be properly drained.
- Floor drains. Any floor drain gets safing extending at least 12 inches around it.
- Who can do the plumbing. Wisconsin lets an owner do plumbing in a one-family home they own and live in, unless a local ordinance requires a licensed plumber. The work still has to meet code. See our guide to bathroom plumbing permits in Wisconsin.
- Permits. Ask your city, village or town whether a pan replacement needs a plumbing permit. Moving the drain or the valve is plumbing work that has to meet code and pass inspection.
Bathroom - T&JQuestions to Ask Before You Compare Bids
How have you confirmed the pan is the leak,
and not the grout, the valve or the drain?
Is this a prefab base swap or a rebuilt tile floor,
and how much wall tile comes out?
Which liner or waterproofing system will you use,
and will it be tested before the tile goes on?
Is subfloor and framing repair priced,
or carried as an allowance?
Does the price include repairing the ceiling below?
Who handles the plumbing and the permits?
Getting a Shower Pan Replacement Estimate
A free in-home consultation checks where the water is getting out, looks at the subfloor and the ceiling below, and prices the repair in writing, from a pan swap to a full shower rebuild. If a rebuild becomes the plan, our walk-in shower cost guide and bathroom tile cost guide show the next numbers.
T&J is a father-and-son team that has worked in Wisconsin since 1989. John is your single point of contact from the first call through the final walkthrough, Telli is on site running the work, and T&J gives a written 2-year warranty. Homeowners in Waukesha County and across southeast Wisconsin, from Brookfield to Oconomowoc, can see our bathroom remodeling services or request a free in-home estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace a shower pan?
This Old House puts shower pan installation at $220 to $3,500 nationally in 2026, plus about $250 to remove the old pan. In a tiled shower, replacing the pan usually means rebuilding the floor and lower tile, and a custom tile shower runs $8,500 to $10,000.
Can you replace a shower pan without removing the tile?
A prefabricated base can sometimes come out on its own, depending on how the walls meet it. In a tiled shower, no: Wisconsin code requires the liner to turn up the walls at least 6 inches above the curb, so the lower wall tile has to come off to replace it.
How do I know if my shower pan is leaking?
Loose floor tile, a musty smell, or a damp spot on the ceiling or basement framing under the shower after use are the usual signs. Rule out grout, caulk, the door, the valve and the drain first, since those leaks are cheaper to fix.
Why is my shower leaking through the ceiling below?
The water is getting past the tile and into the framing, through failed grout or caulk, a leaking valve or drain, or a failed pan liner. Testing each part separately shows which one.
Does homeowners insurance cover a leaking shower?
It depends on your policy's wording and on how the damage happened. Photograph the damage and call your agent before demolition, so the claim can be assessed before the evidence is removed.
How long does a shower pan replacement take?
This Old House says a basic pan installation takes around four hours of labor. A tiled floor takes longer, since the mortar bed, the liner and the tile each need time, and any water damage has to be repaired first.
What does Wisconsin code require for a shower pan?
A site-built shower floor needs a liner, called safing, under the whole floor and at least 6 inches above the curb, with the corners protected to 6 feet, and it has to be properly drained.
Pricing is based on our own recent projects. Written by John (PM, 14 yrs) and reviewed by Telli, who has been remodeling in Wisconsin since 1989. Published 2026-11-02.
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