How to Price a Curbless Walk-In Shower: Drypack vs Wedi System, Subfloor Recession Scope, and the Drain Placement Rule That Saves Bathrooms

By Salvatore R. • April 19, 2026 • curbless shower linear drain Wedi Hydroblok drypack subfloor recession foam panel

A homeowner walks you through their primary bathroom and says they want a curbless walk-in shower. Linear drain, frameless glass, flush with the bathroom floor. They saw it on Pinterest, they've been saving up, they're ready to pull the trigger.

You do the walkthrough, take measurements, and — thinking curbless is "just a regular shower without the curb" — you quote it like a standard custom shower plus a linear drain upcharge.

Two months later you're trying to figure out how to build a pre-sloped shower pan that ends up flush with the bathroom tile when the subfloor is at the same elevation as the rest of the bathroom. You either need to recess the subfloor (whose scope is that?), build up the bathroom floor around the shower (homeowner won't accept the step-up), or install a pre-sloped foam pan and hope everyone likes the transition strip.

And the drain is on the glass-wall side, which means water flows TOWARD the opening instead of away from it.

Curbless showers are one of the most profitable residential tile jobs when priced correctly. They're also one of the most common jobs where tile installers lose money and create callbacks because the scope wasn't defined properly.

This article is the pricing framework and scope definitions I use for curbless showers.

The Short Answer: Price Curbless Showers at 150–180% of Standard Custom Shower Pricing

Building on the percentage-based pricing system that applies across all tile job types:

Job Type	Multiplier of Standard Custom Shower Baseline
Curbless shower with drypack mortar bed + traditional waterproofing	170–200%
Curbless shower with Wedi/Hydroblok/Kerdi foam panel system	150–180%
Curbless shower with linear drain + premium tile + book-matched walls	200–250%

If your standard custom shower runs $8,500, a curbless shower should run $14,000–17,000 for standard scope. Premium curbless with specialty materials pushes $18,000–22,000.

These numbers assume the subfloor recession work is in your scope. If someone else is handling that, your price drops proportionally.

The Subfloor Recession Question (Ask This Before You Quote)

This is the #1 scope question on every curbless shower job — and the thing installers forget to define before pricing.

What is subfloor recession?

A standard tiled shower floor with slope requires roughly 1–1.5 inches of build-up from the substrate: waterproofing + pre-slope mortar + tile + grout all stack on top of the subfloor.

In a curbed shower, this doesn't matter — the curb covers the transition. The shower floor sits higher than the bathroom floor, and the curb hides it.

In a curbless shower, the shower floor has to end up at the same height as the bathroom floor. Which means the subfloor under the shower needs to be lower than the rest of the bathroom by the stack-up height.

Options to achieve this:

• Recess the subfloor — notching or lowering floor joists, installing new subfloor at lower elevation
• Build up the bathroom floor — adding layers of plywood or cement board under the bathroom floor to raise it to match
• Use a thin-profile foam system (Wedi, Hydroblok, Kerdi) that reduces total stack height so minimal recession is needed
• Accept a small transition — some homeowners will accept a 1/4" or 1/2" step if it eliminates the recession work

Each option has different cost implications — and critically, different scope implications.

Whose scope is the subfloor recession?

Answer this before you quote. Not after.

• If the GC is handling framing/carpentry: The GC's carpenter does the joist work and new subfloor. You install the shower system on the pre-recessed substrate. Your scope stays tight.
• If there's no GC and the homeowner is acting as the GC: Someone has to do this work. Clarify whether they'll hire a separate carpenter or expect you to handle it.
• If you're doing the recession work: Your scope expands significantly. Joist modification may require structural engineering approval. You're handling demo of existing subfloor, modification of framing, and installation of new lower subfloor — 1–3 additional days of work.

The scope conversation during walkthrough:

"For a curbless shower, the subfloor under the shower needs to be lower than the rest of the bathroom by about an inch — otherwise the shower floor would sit higher than the bathroom floor and we'd lose the flush transition. Who's handling that subfloor work? If your GC's framer is doing it, I coordinate with them. If not, that's a separate scope from tile work and we need to figure out who's handling it before I can quote this accurately."

Getting a clear answer changes your pricing by $1,500–4,000.

If the recession isn't happening

Sometimes the homeowner won't accept the cost, or the structure doesn't allow it (concrete slab, span issues). Options then:

• Foam panel system with minimal build-up — sometimes eliminates the recession need entirely
• Accept the transition — shower floor is 1/4" to 1/2" higher, with the linear drain at the opening acting as the transition
• Build up the bathroom floor — expensive and awkward, but sometimes the only option

Decide this before quoting. "We'll figure it out during install" is how you lose $3,000 on a job.

Drypack (Traditional Mortar Bed) vs Foam Panel Systems

The two major build methods for a curbless shower. Each has its place, each has its pricing implications.

Traditional drypack mortar bed method

Substrate is recessed → sheet waterproofing → preslope layer of drypack mortar (4:1 or 5:1 sand:portland, tapered toward drain) → waterproofing on top of preslope → top mortar bed or thinset directly on waterproofing → tile installed on top.

Proper preslope construction is the foundation — on a curbless shower where you can't hide errors behind a curb, the preslope has to be executed perfectly.

When drypack makes sense:

• Non-rectangular shower shapes where pre-formed pans don't fit
• Large showers (72"+ in any direction)
• Traditional installations where the homeowner or GC expects mortar bed construction

Labor time: Drypack shower pans take 1.5–2 days of pan work before tile goes down. That's a full day longer than a foam panel install.

Pricing implication: Drypack curbless showers price at 180–200% of standard shower baseline.

Wedi / Hydroblok / Kerdi-Shower / Laticrete foam panel systems

Pre-sloped foam pan drops into place (or multiple panels tiled together for larger areas). Pan is waterproof by virtue of the foam material itself. Seams are sealed with manufacturer's sealant. Wall panels attach directly to studs. Tile installed directly on foam surface with thinset.

When foam panels make sense:

• Standard rectangular shower shapes
• Smaller showers (48"×48" up to 60"×72" typical)
• When minimizing floor build-up matters (reduces or eliminates recession need)
• When construction timeline matters (save a day compared to drypack)
• When a strong manufacturer warranty matters (Schluter, Wedi, Hydroblok all have solid backing)

Labor time: Foam panel pan work can be done in a single day, sometimes a half day for smaller showers.

Pricing implication: Foam panel curbless showers price at 150–180% of standard shower baseline.

The material cost difference:

• Drypack materials (sand, portland, liner or membrane, drain, waterproofing): $400–900 total
• Foam panel materials (pan + wall panels + sealant + drain): $1,200–2,500 total

Foam panels are more expensive materials but faster labor. Net cost to the homeowner often ends up similar.

My recommendation for most curbless jobs: For a standard rectangular curbless shower, I'll typically recommend foam panel systems (Wedi, Hydroblok, or Kerdi-Shower) — fewer failure modes, faster install, pan comes pre-sloped, thinner stack reduces recession requirements. For non-rectangular, oversized, or custom-shaped curbless showers, drypack is often the only realistic option.

The Drain Placement Rule: Never on the Glass Side

This sounds obvious until you've been burned by it.

The rule

The drain should be placed on the opposite side of the shower from the glass opening. Never on the glass side.

Why it matters

Water follows the slope toward the drain. If your drain is on the glass side (the entry), water flows toward the opening as it drains:

• Water can flow out of the shower area onto the bathroom floor during use
• Hair, soap scum, and debris collect at the drain — right at the shower entry
• If the linear drain ever clogs, water backs up directly toward the room

Correct placements:

• Linear drain at back wall (opposite the glass opening) — water flows away from the entry
• Linear drain on side wall perpendicular to the glass — acceptable
• Point drain centered or positioned away from glass opening — standard placement

Never: Drain on the glass side.

When the homeowner or architect insists on glass-side drain

Educate and document:

"The design calls for the drain on the glass side. I can do that, but I want to note in writing: water will flow toward the shower opening and there will be some water escape onto the bathroom floor during use. This also means the bathroom floor near the shower needs to be waterproofed and sloped toward the shower, not away from it. That expands the scope of work. I'll give you a pricing option for both placements."

If they still want the glass-side drain, document the conversation and put appropriate exclusions in your warranty.

The Line-Item Breakdown for a Curbless Shower

Demolition:

• Existing tub/shower demo: $800–1,500
• Disposal: $150–400

Subfloor recession (if in your scope):

• Joist modification and new subfloor: $1,000–2,500 depending on extent
• Structural engineering consultation (if required): $300–800
• (Skip this line item if the GC or homeowner's framer is handling)

Pan system:

Drypack option:

• Preslope mortar bed install: $600–1,000
• PVC pan liner or Kerdi waterproofing on preslope: $300–500
• Top mortar bed: $400–700

Foam panel option:

• Pre-sloped foam pan material: $600–1,200 (size dependent)
• Wall panels (if using full system): $800–1,500
• Installation labor for foam pan system: $800–1,400

Drain:

• Linear drain unit: $300–800 (material)
• Linear drain installation (including plumbing coordination if needed): $400–700
• Point drain: $200–400 all-in

Wall waterproofing:

• Sheet waterproofing system for walls: $400–800
• (Or foam panel walls included in pan system cost above)

Niche and bench (typical add-ons):

• Standard built-in niche: $300–500
• Mitered niche corners: $200–400 additional
• Built-in bench with waterproofing: $700–1,200

Tile work:

• Pan tile (mosaic, typically required for slope): 6–10 sq ft at $25–35/sq ft including slope complexity
• Wall tile: standard wall rate at 150% of floor baseline
• Transition tile (shower to bathroom): $200–500 depending on complexity

Testing and documentation:

• Flood test of pan before tile: included — using the water test documentation process I use on every shower
• Photo documentation: included
• Warranty registration (foam systems): included

Real-World Pricing Example: Primary Bathroom Curbless Shower

The job: 4'×6' curbless walk-in shower in a primary bathroom remodel. Linear drain at the back wall. Wedi foam panel system (pan + wall panels). Frameless glass enclosure (separate trade). 12×24 porcelain on walls, 2×2 mosaic on pan. GC handling subfloor recession (not in my scope). Standard built-in niche, no bench. Homeowner providing all tile.

Line Item	Cost
Existing shower demo	$1,200
Substrate prep (after GC's recession work)	$200
Wedi pan material	$800
Wedi wall panels	$1,200
Wedi pan and wall system installation	$1,400
Linear drain unit	$500
Linear drain installation	$500
Sealant, tape, corner treatment	$200
Pan tile at $30/sq ft (24 sq ft)	$720
Wall tile at $15/sq ft (90 sq ft)	$1,350
Niche with mitered corners	$500
Grout (cement walls, epoxy pan)	$400
Glass coordination premium	$200
Total	$9,170

Homeowner's all-in cost for the curbless shower (my work + separate trades):

• My tile work: $9,170
• Glass enclosure (separate trade): $2,500–3,500
• GC's subfloor recession (separate): $1,800–2,500
• Total: $14,000–16,000

Comparison to standard custom shower (same 4'×6' footprint with a curb): ~$6,120. The curbless at $9,170 is 50% more — matching the 150% of baseline multiplier.

The Walkthrough Questions Specific to Curbless

Use the bathroom walkthrough process as your base, then add:

Subfloor questions:

• Is the bathroom on a slab or wood-framed floor?
• Can joists be cut/notched, or is there a span issue?
• Who's handling the subfloor work (GC, homeowner, or me)?

System selection:

• Has the homeowner decided between mortar bed or foam panel?
• Brand preference (Wedi, Hydroblok, Kerdi, etc.)?
• Warranty expectations? (Some homeowners want the 25-year manufacturer warranty — drives system selection)

Drain questions:

• Linear drain or point drain?
• Where is the drain positioned?
• Is the plumbing already roughed-in for this location?
• If the drain is on the glass side — has the homeowner been educated on the issues?

Transition questions:

• Will the shower floor be exactly flush, or is a small transition acceptable?
• How does the shower tile relate to the bathroom tile? (Same tile? Different? Same grout color?)

Glass enclosure coordination:

• Glass measures after tile is complete — typically 1–2 week fabrication lead time
• Does the homeowner understand the shower isn't usable until the glass is installed?

Integration with heated floor:

• If the homeowner is also getting a heated floor in the bathroom, coordinate the two systems — heated floor integration is a common curbless upsell that adds both value and complexity to the estimate

Common Curbless Shower Failures (and How to Prevent Them at the Pricing Stage)

Failure 1: Water migration onto bathroom floor. Caused by wrong drain placement, insufficient slope, or inadequate glass enclosure design. Prevention: correct drain placement, minimum 1/4" per foot slope, proper glass design.

Failure 2: Water damage to subfloor or bathroom floor. Caused by failed waterproofing membrane or improper transition points. Prevention: flood test before tile, continuous waterproofing from shower to 24" into bathroom, proper transition detailing. Pricing implication: line item for flood test, line item for extended waterproofing.

Failure 3: Cracked tile or grout at shower/bathroom transition. Caused by substrate movement between shower area and bathroom floor supported differently. Prevention: uncoupling membrane at transition, movement joint at the transition point.

Failure 4: Glass door closure issues. Caused by floor not perfectly level at glass track. Prevention: ensure glass track area is perfectly level during tile install, coordinate with glass fabricator on tolerances.

Warranty Considerations

Your workmanship warranty (1 year standard) covers your pan system, tile work, and grout installation. Does NOT cover substrate work done by others, water migration from improper use, or issues with the glass enclosure.

Manufacturer warranties on foam systems:

• Wedi: 10-year warranty
• Hydroblok: 10-year limited warranty
• Kerdi-Shower system: 10-year system warranty
• Laticrete Hydroban Sheet: 25-year system warranty

Document in writing at handoff:

• Clean the linear drain monthly
• Run the exhaust fan during and after showers
• Report any water spots immediately — early intervention prevents damage
• Don't let anyone drill into the shower floor without knowing the drain and plumbing locations

For marble shower pricing approach, the same warranty exclusion logic applies — when premium materials meet complex systems, the written exclusions are the only thing protecting you from warranty disputes.

When to Walk Away from a Curbless Shower Job

Homeowner won't commit to proper subfloor work. If they want the look without the substrate work, you're setting up a failure. Decline unless they'll accept the realistic scope.

No one will handle the plumbing relocation. Linear drains usually require new plumbing rough-in. If no plumber is engaged and no one is taking responsibility, decline.

Drain placement the homeowner insists on is wrong. If they demand a glass-side drain and won't accept the explanation, you'll own the callback when water migrates. Decline or put aggressive warranty exclusions in writing.

GC is trying to hide the curbless requirement from subfloor scope. "We don't need to recess anything, just make it work." Walk away. You'll be paying when the shower floor sits 3/4" higher than the bathroom floor.

Budget is unrealistic. If they expected $6,000 and proper scope is $14,000, don't try to "make it work" at the wrong price — every corner cut creates future failure.

Automating Curbless Shower Estimating

Curbless shower pricing has more variables than almost any residential tile job — system selection, subfloor recession scope, drain placement, transition detailing, glass coordination. Managing these consistently is where margin gets lost.

TileForeman includes curbless shower as a specific project type with built-in prompts for system selection, subfloor scope definition, drain placement, and linear drain pricing. Labor multipliers apply automatically per system. Free during beta.

Wrapping Up

Curbless walk-in showers are one of the most profitable job types in residential tile work — IF you price them correctly and scope the subfloor work properly.

Price curbless showers at 150–180% of your standard custom shower baseline for foam panel systems, 170–200% for drypack systems. Define the subfloor recession scope before quoting. Pick the right system for the job. Place the drain opposite the glass opening — never on the glass side. Flood test everything. Document everything.

Do this and curbless becomes the premium-margin specialty that separates professional tile contractors from the cheap competition.

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Salvatore R. — Tile installer, 14 years in the trade