A shower niche costs $350 to $900 installed as part of a shower remodel, and $1,200 to $2,500 if it is added to a finished shower. The material is under $100. Everything else is framing, waterproofing and the tile work around the opening, which is why the timing of the decision matters far more than the budget for it.
This is the smallest line item we get asked about and the one with the widest gap between doing it now and doing it later.
What it costs, and when
| Scenario | Cost | Why |
|---|---|---|
| During a shower remodel, standard size | $350 to $600 | Framing is already open, waterproofing is already being done |
| During a remodel, large or multiple niches | $600 to $900 | More cutting, more tile detail, more waterproofing corners |
| Added to a finished shower | $1,200 to $2,500 | Tile removal, framing, new waterproofing, blending old tile |
| Added where a stud must be cut | $1,800 to $3,500 | Header required, and on an exterior wall, insulation detail |
A niche added during a remodel is roughly a quarter of the cost of the same niche added later. If there is any chance you will want one, build it now.
What drives the price within a remodel
Where it lands between studs. A niche that fits in a standard stud bay is cheap. One that needs to be wider means cutting a stud and framing a header, which is structural work on a load-bearing wall.
Which wall it is on. An interior wall is straightforward. An exterior wall has insulation and a vapor detail, and the niche eats into the insulation depth, so it needs to be handled properly rather than just framed.
The shelf and the tile detail. A single slab shelf in stone costs more than tile and looks better, because it eliminates a horizontal grout joint in the wettest spot in the shower. A mitered tile edge around the opening costs more labor than a metal trim profile and reads as custom work.
The detail that actually matters
Waterproofing a niche is harder than waterproofing a flat wall because a niche is five surfaces and eight inside corners in a place where water collects. Slope the bottom of the niche forward by a few degrees so it drains back into the shower instead of holding water against the back corner. A flat niche shelf is the most common small defect we see, and it shows up as discoloured grout within a couple of years.
For how this fits the wider budget see walk-in shower remodel cost and, if you are tiling the whole bathroom, bathroom tile installation and replacement cost.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a shower niche cost?
$350 to $900 installed during a shower remodel. Adding one to a finished shower costs $1,200 to $2,500 because the tile has to come off and the waterproofing has to be rebuilt.
Can you add a niche to an existing shower?
Yes, but it means removing tile, framing the opening, rebuilding the waterproofing and blending new tile into old. Matching existing tile is usually the hardest part, and discontinued lines often force a contrasting accent instead.
What size should a shower niche be?
Tall enough for a shampoo bottle standing upright, which is roughly 12 inches of clear height, and sized to fit between studs at about 14 inches wide unless you are framing a header. Set the bottom around chest height.
Should a shower niche be tiled or have a stone shelf?
A single stone or solid-surface shelf is better. It removes a horizontal grout joint in the wettest part of the shower, which is where discolouration starts.
Do shower niches leak?
They leak when the waterproofing at the inside corners is rushed or when the bottom is built dead flat so water pools in the back corner. Built with a slight forward slope and proper corner treatment, they do not.
Planning a shower? Decide on the niche before the framing closes up. Bring your layout to our Derwood showroom and we will show you where it should land. Call (301) 939-0009 or book a showroom visit.