Shower pan cost in Washington, DC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 pan)
- $940 – $2,900
- Per pan
- $911 – $2,353
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #101
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a shower pan in the Washington area: $940 to $2,900 for 1 pan. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint lands close to the US figure. Building materials run about 5% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 104.8).
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Estimated cost for 1 pan in Washington, DC, standard level
$1,550 to $2,300
About $1,344 to $1,920 per pan before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $410 | $740 |
| Labor | $930 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $190 | $390 |
| Total | $1,550 | $2,300 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in Washington, DC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $580 | $1,000 | 30% |
| Labor | $750 | $1,050 | $1,350 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $290 | $540 | 15% |
| Total | $940 | $1,900 | $2,900 | 100% |
Where the Washington price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 50%, tile and stone setters at 50%. Weighted together, Washington wages are 1.00 times the national level. Labor makes up about 55% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Washington is at 104.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $550 nationally becomes $580 here (midpoint, 1 pan). Permits follow the all-items index of 108.9: $35 to $540.
Pick a size, pick a tier: shower pan pricing in Washington
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Washington. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from one shower pan to one shower pan.
Basic
$940 to $1,750
Pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan
Standard
$1,550 to $2,300
Tile-ready pan with tile finish
Premium
$2,100 to $2,900
Custom mud or stone pan
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one shower pan | $940 – $1,750 | $1,550 – $2,300 | $2,100 – $2,900 |
Who does the work: Washington trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Washington the blend is 1.00.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 50% of the weighting: a median of $34.55 an hour, 13% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $26.82 and $45.22 an hour. About 9,420 work in the metro. That is 30.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 50% of the weighting: a median of $23.65 an hour, 12% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $19.22 and $31.25 an hour. About 450 work in the metro. That is 1.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $180 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $130. That is a swing of roughly 6.9% to 9.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has 3,136,190 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 6th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 50% | $26.82 | $34.55 | $45.22 | $30.67 | 1.13 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 50% | $19.22 | $23.65 | $31.25 | $26.77 | 0.88 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
Is Washington cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 1 pan range from $1,650 to $1,950 across Washington and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DCthis page | $940 – $2,900 | $1,900 | |
| Hagerstown, MD55 miles | $800 – $2,500 | $1,650 | −13% |
| Baltimore, MD60 miles | $860 – $2,700 | $1,800 | −7% |
| Winchester, VA60 miles | $840 – $2,600 | $1,700 | −10% |
| Lexington Park, MD65 miles | $830 – $2,600 | $1,700 | −10% |
| Chambersburg, PA75 miles | $1,000 – $2,900 | $1,950 | +2% |
| District of Columbia (statewide) | $1,150 – $3,300 | $2,250 | +16% |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | −3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Washington ranks #101 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Washington is 14% below the District of Columbia figure.
Washington is the only District of Columbia metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Washington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $860 – $2,650 | $1,750 | −8% |
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $1,100 – $3,100 | $2,100 | +9% |
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $870 – $2,700 | $1,800 | −7% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $850 – $2,650 | $1,750 | −9% |
Planning more than one job in Washington?
Jobs that often go together with shower pan are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Washington wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, window replacement comes out highest (+5%) and kitchen backsplash lowest (−2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,900 – $24,200 | +4% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,450 – $14,600 | +5% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,750 – $15,800 | +5% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,400 – $33,000 | +5% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $290 – $1,500 | −2% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Washington bid
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.
Pre-made versus custom
Pre-made trays are $500-$1,550 installed; a custom tile pan is $900-$3,500; a custom stone pan is $1,200-$2,000 or more (HomeGuide).
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Shower pan in Washington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in Washington?
For 1 pan, expect $940 to $2,900 in the Washington area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,550 to $2,300. Small jobs usually cost more per pan and large ones less.
+What is the price per pan for shower pan in Washington?
About $911 to $2,353 per pan for materials and labor, plus $35 to $540 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $900 to $2,300.
+Is shower pan cheaper in Washington or Hagerstown?
Hagerstown is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $1,650, which is 13% less than Washington ($1,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Washington?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $1,050 out of $1,900. Materials are 30% and permits 15%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in Washington?
$940 to $2,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in Washington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $35 to $540 for fees in the Washington area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Washington expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of District of Columbia?
Washington is 14% below the District of Columbia statewide estimate ($2,250 at the midpoint).
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Washington?
The BLS median is $34.55 an hour in the Washington area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $26.82 to $45.22.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in Washington?
For 1 pan, basic work runs $940 to $1,750 and premium work $2,100 to $2,900. Basic means: pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan. Premium means: custom mud or stone pan.
Shower pan near Washington
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.