How much does shower screen costs? [2024]

A new shower screen can be one of the easiest ways to give your bathroom a makeover. A popular choice is to replace an existing framed shower screen with a semi-frameless or frameless option.

Shower screen replacement can cost anywhere from $250 to $700, excluding installation costs. The good news is that there are shower screens for every budget.

Read this article to learn more about:

• How much does a new shower screen cost?
• Different types of shower screens
• Shower glass safety and standards
• Does my shower installer need to be licensed?
• Where to buy Australian made shower screens
• Getting quotes for shower screen installation

How much does a new shower screen cost?

When you're considering shower screen replacement, be aware that there is a big difference between a pre-made unit and a custom shower screen, with custom projects costing more.

There is also a big difference between framed, semi-framed and frameless shower screens. Frameless screens cost more as they're made from a single panel of quality glass, but they have come down in price in recent years and are now more competitively priced.

Here are some prices you might encounter:

Shower Screen Size	Type	Cost
900mm x 900mm	Chrome-framed shower screen	$300
2100mm x 900mm	Frameless glass walk-in shower panel     including aluminium channel	$360
850mm x 2000mm	Two panel frameless shower screen	$410 (+ $195 installation)
800mm x 600mm	Rectangular frameless glass shower screen	$550
1740mm x 1785mm x 2000mm	Three panel sliding door frameless shower screen	$690 (+ $400 for installation)

Shower screen installers charge between $45 and $65 per hour, depending on your location in Australia.

Read more: Outdoor shower costs

Types of shower screens

The type of screen you choose will largely determine how much your shower screen costs. The most popular styles are:

• Framed: A framed shower screen has a natural or powder-coated aluminium frame around each glass panel and the shower screen door. A chrome-framed shower screen could cost from $250,
• Semi-frameless: A semi-frameless shower screen has some framed components, but these are less obtrusive than those found on framed shower screens. These can cost anywhere from $200 to $700.
• Frameless: A fully frameless shower enclosure is composed of toughened glass panels, with the only hardware consisting of door hinges, a door handle and often some stylish but unobtrusive fixing hardware.

Frameless shower screens can cost from $200 to $700, with options including:

• $410 for a two-panel frameless shower screen (+ $195 installation)
• $550 for a rectangular frameless glass shower screen (+ $195 installation)
• $690 for a three-panel sliding door frameless shower screen (+ $400 installation)

Other configurations for shower screens can include:

• Fixed panel shower screens from $210–$297
• Bi-fold door screens from $230–$290
• Pivot door screens from $280–$530
• Quadrant screens from $320–$990

Read more: How much does a frameless shower screen cost?

Shower glass safety and standards

The type of glass used in shower screens in Australia is required by law to be safety glass, otherwise known as toughened or tempered glass. The Building Code of Australia has two standards for shower screens and shower doors, namely:

• AS 1288:1994, Glass buildings-Selection and installation
• AS/NZS 2208:1996, Safety glazing materials in buildings

Maintaining your shower screen is important to avoid causing damage and possible safety risks. Find out more about cleaning your shower screen and how to fix a leaking shower head.

Does my shower installer need to be licensed?

Whether your installer needs to be licensed depends where you live.

In NSW, shower screen enclosure installation is covered by the Minor Trade Work licence class. The Building Commission NSW describes this work as, ‘works involving new, repair or replacement work which cannot be readily ascribed to an individual specific trade area’.

In Queensland, the licence Glass, Glazing and Aluminium covers this type of work.

Your installer may also have a glaziers licence or be covered by a bathroom renovation or builders licence.

Where to buy Australian made shower screens

The best way of finding out the cost of shower screen installation is to get quotes from local shower screen businesses. They will usually have a large selection for you to choose from and will be able to custom build your shower screen to the exact size you need.

If you give them the measurements you need and a brief description of your current shower screen setup, they will be able to give you a firm quote ahead of time. Then they will take more precise measurements when they come to your home later.

Turnaround time for custom built shower screens is usually a week or less and installation will be included in the total cost of the shower screen.

Getting quotes for shower screen installation

The best way of finding out the cost of your job is to get 3 quotes from local shower screen builders or installers. This will give you a sense of what market rates currently are.

When it comes time to hiring a shower screen installer, take some time to make sure they are right for your job. Some questions to ask them include:

• Are you licensed or qualified?
• Are you insured to work in my home?
• How long will my job take?
• Can you provide a written quote?
• Do you have references I can follow up?
• Can I see examples of your work?

*Costs and prices in this article are indicative and should only be used as a guide. They also vary locally and are subject to market forces.