Tile Shower Cost in Boise: What a Custom Tile Shower Actually Runs (2026)

Short answer first: a standard custom tile shower in the Treasure Valley — a tub-to-shower conversion or a standard-size shower rebuild, tiled — typically runs $1,900–$3,200 with us. That’s a real, working range for a normal-size shower with standard tile and fixtures. What it doesn’t cover is the high end: oversized showers, large-format tile, a built-in bench, a tiled niche or two, glass doors, and moving plumbing all push the number above that range, sometimes well above. Here’s where the money goes, and where you don’t want anybody saving it.

What drives the cost

Demo and disposal. The old tub or shower has to come out, and what’s behind it is always a small surprise — rot, old plumbing, walls that aren’t plumb. Demo is a modest line item until it uncovers damage, which is why an honest quote talks about it up front.

Backer and prep. Tile doesn’t go on drywall in a wet area. Cement backer board (or a foam board system) goes up first, seams get taped and sealed, and the shower floor gets built with the right slope to the drain. Slope sounds minor until a shower puddles in the corner forever.

Waterproofing. This is the big one — see below. Membrane systems and topical waterproofing are real material and real labor, and they’re not optional.

Tile choice. A standard ceramic or porcelain tile at a normal size sets and grouts fast. Large-format tile needs flatter walls and more care per piece. Mosaics on the shower floor, herringbone patterns, and natural stone all add labor, and stone adds sealing on top of it.

Fixtures and plumbing. Swapping a valve and trim in the same location is straightforward. Moving a drain, adding a second shower head, or going to a rain head means more plumbing work, and plumbing moves are one of the fastest ways a shower budget climbs.

Waterproofing is the whole job

A tile shower is not waterproof because of the tile. Grout is porous, tile can crack, and water gets behind both — that’s normal and expected. What keeps that water from rotting your framing and subfloor is the waterproofing layer underneath.

There are two proven approaches. Sheet membrane systems (like Schluter-Kerdi) bond a waterproof membrane over the backer and build the whole shower — walls, floor, corners, curb — as one sealed system. Topical waterproofing (like RedGard) is a liquid membrane rolled onto cement backer in multiple coats to the manufacturer’s spec. Done right, both work. Done wrong or skipped, the shower looks identical on day one — and fails the same way: water wicks into the wall, mold grows where you can’t see it, and the fix is a full tear-out back to the studs. There is no patching a waterproofing failure.

That’s why the cheapest bid on a tile shower should make you nervous. Waterproofing is invisible once the tile is up, so it’s the easiest place for a low bidder to quietly save a few hundred dollars — and you’re the one who finds out, two or three years later.

How long does it take?

A standard tile shower is a multi-day project, not a weekend one. Demo and prep, waterproofing, tile, grout, and fixtures run across several days, and the gaps between steps aren’t laziness — membranes, thinset, and grout all have cure times that have to be respected or the system underperforms. Rushing a shower to beat a schedule is how you get a shower that looks finished and isn’t. We’ll give you a realistic day-by-day at the estimate so you know when you’ll have your bathroom back.

Get a measured estimate

Showers don’t price honestly off a photo or a square-foot guess — the existing plumbing, wall condition, and your tile and fixture choices move the number too much. (Our online cost estimator is for floors, not showers — it won’t give you a meaningful shower number.) We measure free anywhere in Boise, Nampa, Meridian, Eagle, Star, Kuna, Caldwell, and Middleton: we’ll look at what’s there, talk through waterproofing and tile options straight, and give you a written price. Call (986) 273-5409 or request a quote through the site.

Boise Home Flooring — a division of Boise Epoxy Flooring Co. LLC, based in Nampa. 18 years in the trades. LVP, laminate, hardwood, tile, and trim.

FAQ

How much does a custom tile shower cost in Boise?

A standard custom tile shower in the Treasure Valley — a tub-to-shower conversion or a standard-size shower rebuild, tiled — typically runs $1,900–$3,200. Oversized showers, large-format tile, a built-in bench, a tiled niche or two, glass doors, and moving plumbing all push the number above that range, sometimes well above.

Does tile make a shower waterproof?

No. A tile shower is not waterproof because of the tile. Grout is porous, tile can crack, and water gets through. The waterproofing is what matters: sheet membrane systems (like Schluter-Kerdi) bond a waterproof membrane over the backer, or topical waterproofing (like RedGard) is rolled onto cement backer in multiple coats. That is why the cheapest bid should make you nervous — waterproofing is invisible once the tile goes on.

How long does a tile shower take?

A standard tile shower is a multi-day project, not a weekend one. Demo and prep, waterproofing, tile setting, and grouting all take their own time, and rushing any of them is how showers fail.

Why can’t I get a price from a photo?

Showers don’t price honestly off a photo or a square-foot guess — the existing plumbing, wall condition, and your tile and fixture choices move the number too much. We measure free anywhere in Boise, Nampa, Meridian, Eagle, Star, Kuna, Caldwell, and Middleton and give you a written price. Call (986) 273-5409.