Shower pan cost in Fort Smith, AR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 pan)
- $710 – $2,300
- Per pan
- $687 – $1,873
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −19%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #298
- 1 = most expensive
Fort Smith homeowners pay roughly $710 to $2,300 to install a shower pan at 1 pan, or $687 to $1,873 per pan (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Fort Smith is 19% lower. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $23.24 an hour in the Fort Smith area, 24% below the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 1 pan in Fort Smith, AR, standard level
$1,200 to $1,850
About $1,043 to $1,517 per pan before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $370 | $660 |
| Labor | $680 | $850 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $310 |
| Total | $1,200 | $1,850 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in Fort Smith, AR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $890 | 34% |
| Labor | $550 | $770 | $980 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $25 | $230 | $430 | 15% |
| Total | $710 | $1,500 | $2,300 | 100% |
Why Fort Smith prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $23.24 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Fort Smith is 0.73 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 51% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Fort Smith metro is 93.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1 pan comes to $510, compared with $550 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (85.9) and land at $25 to $430.
Data note: 50% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Fort Smith. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Fort Smith cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Fort Smith. Little Rock is the lowest at about $1,500 (midpoint, 1 pan), 125 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, ARthis page | $710 – $2,300 | $1,500 | |
| Fayetteville, AR50 miles | $740 – $2,350 | $1,550 | +3% |
| Tulsa, OK110 miles | $810 – $2,500 | $1,650 | +10% |
| Joplin, MO115 miles | $950 – $2,750 | $1,850 | +22% |
| Little Rock, AR125 miles | $710 – $2,300 | $1,500 | level |
| Texarkana, TX135 miles | $770 – $2,400 | $1,600 | +5% |
| Arkansas (statewide) | $710 – $2,300 | $1,500 | level |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | +24% |
Across 300 US metros, Fort Smith comes in at #298 from the top. The priciest is Bellingham, WA at $2,450; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $1,500 (midpoints, 1 pan). Statewide, Fort Smith is 0% below the Arkansas figure.
Other Arkansas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $710 – $2,300 | $1,500 | level |
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $740 – $2,350 | $1,550 | +3% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $710 – $2,300 | $1,500 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Fort Smith's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fort Smith against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $830 – $2,550 | $1,700 | +13% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $780 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +7% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $1,050 – $3,050 | $2,050 | +37% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $1,150 – $3,200 | $2,200 | +45% |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Fort Smith is 0.73 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 50%) the local median is $23.24 an hour, which is 24% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $18.23 and $28.84 an hour. BLS counts 250 of them working in the area, 26.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is about average.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Fort Smith metro, so we used the Arkansas statewide median: $18.74 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $17.62 and $21.63 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.84 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $95. At the 25th percentile ($18.23) it shrinks by about $85. The total moves by 6.4% or 5.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 95,560 jobs in the Fort Smith area. That makes it the 210th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 50% | $18.23 | $23.24 | $28.84 | $30.67 | 0.76 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 50% | $17.62 | $18.74 | $21.63 | $26.77 | 0.70 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.73 | |||||
Why two Fort Smith quotes can differ
Extras
Benches, trench drains and curb changes add $100-$600.
Tile
Tile for the shower costs $10-$50 per square foot installed, and that comes on top of the pan.
Permit
Plumbing permits are $30-$500, and many cities require one to replace a shower pan.
Fort Smith: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Fort Smith wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 1 common sizes.
Basic
$710 to $1,350
Pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan
Standard
$1,200 to $1,850
Tile-ready pan with tile finish
Premium
$1,650 to $2,300
Custom mud or stone pan
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one shower pan | $710 – $1,350 | $1,200 – $1,850 | $1,650 – $2,300 |
What nearby projects cost in Fort Smith
Because every project leans on different trades, Fort Smith's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −11% and kitchen cabinets −18%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $3,900 – $19,400 | −17% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,650 – $11,400 | −18% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $3,950 – $13,400 | −11% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $16,500 – $28,100 | −11% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $250 – $1,250 | −16% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $1,200 to $1,850 for Fort Smith, AR is attached.
Detailed shower pan report for Fort Smith, AR, $9
Multi-page report for Fort Smith, AR: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Shower pan in Fort Smith: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in Fort Smith?
For 1 pan, expect $710 to $2,300 in the Fort Smith area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,200 to $1,850. Small jobs usually cost more per pan and large ones less.
+What is the price per pan for shower pan in Fort Smith?
About $687 to $1,873 per pan for materials and labor, plus $25 to $430 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $900 to $2,300.
+Is shower pan cheaper in Fort Smith or Fayetteville?
Fayetteville is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $1,550, which is 3% more than Fort Smith ($1,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fort Smith?
About 51% at the midpoint, or $770 out of $1,500. Materials are 34% and permits 15%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in Fort Smith?
$710 to $2,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in Fort Smith?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $25 to $430 for fees in the Fort Smith area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fort Smith expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of Arkansas?
Fort Smith is 0% below the Arkansas statewide estimate ($1,500 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Arkansas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Fort Smith?
The BLS median is $23.24 an hour in the Fort Smith area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.23 to $28.84.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in Fort Smith?
For 1 pan, basic work runs $710 to $1,350 and premium work $1,650 to $2,300. Basic means: pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan. Premium means: custom mud or stone pan.
Shower pan near Fort Smith
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.