Shower pan cost in Chicago, IL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 pan)
- $1,300 – $3,550
- Per pan
- $1,271 – $3,018
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +30%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #2
- 1 = most expensive
A shower pan in Chicago, IL usually costs $1,300 to $3,550 for 1 pan. That works out to about $1,271 to $3,018 per pan before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $550 more. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $49.70 an hour in the Chicago area, 62% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 1 pan in Chicago, IL, standard level
$1,950 to $2,850
About $1,795 to $2,494 per pan before permits. Labor is about 64% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $420 | $760 |
| Labor | $1,400 | $1,750 |
| Permits and fees | $180 | $370 |
| Total | $1,950 | $2,850 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in Chicago, IL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $590 | $1,000 | 24% |
| Labor | $1,100 | $1,550 | $2,000 | 64% |
| Permits and fees | $30 | $270 | $520 | 11% |
| Total | $1,300 | $2,400 | $3,550 | 100% |
Why Chicago prices look the way they do
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, Chicago wages are 1.48 times the national level. Labor makes up about 64% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Chicago is at 107.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $550 nationally becomes $590 here (midpoint, 1 pan). Permits follow the all-items index of 103.6: $30 to $520.
Shower pan: what moves the price in Chicago
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).
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.
Chicago against nearby metros and the rest of Illinois
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 $1,700 to $2,400 across Chicago and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, ILthis page | $1,300 – $3,550 | $2,400 | |
| Niles, MI55 miles | $840 – $2,550 | $1,700 | −30% |
| Kenosha, WI55 miles | $1,050 – $3,100 | $2,100 | −14% |
| Racine, WI70 miles | $1,050 – $2,950 | $2,000 | −18% |
| Rockford, IL75 miles | $1,150 – $3,150 | $2,150 | −10% |
| Milwaukee, WI80 miles | $1,100 – $3,050 | $2,050 | −14% |
| Illinois (statewide) | $1,250 – $3,350 | $2,300 | −5% |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | −23% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Chicago ranks #2 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Chicago is 6% above the Illinois figure.
Elsewhere in Illinois
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $1,100 – $3,050 | $2,100 | −14% |
| Rockford, IL | 137,650 jobs | $1,150 – $3,150 | $2,150 | −10% |
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $1,200 – $3,200 | $2,200 | −10% |
| Springfield, IL | 100,810 jobs | $1,200 – $3,150 | $2,150 | −10% |
| Bloomington, IL | 88,110 jobs | $1,100 – $3,000 | $2,050 | −16% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Chicago against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $1,000 – $3,050 | $2,050 | −16% |
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $870 – $2,700 | $1,800 | −26% |
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $1,050 – $3,200 | $2,150 | −12% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $860 – $2,650 | $1,750 | −27% |
Planning more than one job in Chicago?
Jobs that often go together with shower pan are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Chicago wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, bathroom remodel comes out highest (+25%) and window replacement lowest (+10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,850 – $29,100 | +25% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,950 – $17,300 | +22% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $5,000 – $16,500 | +10% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $21,000 – $35,800 | +14% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $360 – $1,750 | +18% |
What local crews earn in Chicago
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 Chicago the blend is 1.48.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 50% of the weighting: a median of $49.70 an hour, 62% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $35.72 and $58.91 an hour. About 12,750 work in the metro. That is 28.2 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 $35.90 an hour, 34% above the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.90 and $48.52 an hour. About 550 work in the metro. That is 1.2 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 $160 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $240. That is a swing of roughly 9.9% to 6.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has 4,513,280 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 3rd 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% | $35.72 | $49.70 | $58.91 | $30.67 | 1.62 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 50% | $23.90 | $35.90 | $48.52 | $26.77 | 1.34 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.48 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Chicago
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Chicago. 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
$1,300 to $2,200
Pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan
Standard
$1,950 to $2,850
Tile-ready pan with tile finish
Premium
$2,650 to $3,550
Custom mud or stone pan
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one shower pan | $1,300 – $2,200 | $1,950 – $2,850 | $2,650 – $3,550 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed shower pan report for Chicago, IL, $9
The report lays out the shower pan numbers for Chicago, IL line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Chicago: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in Chicago?
For 1 pan, expect $1,300 to $3,550 in the Chicago area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,950 to $2,850. Small jobs usually cost more per pan and large ones less.
+What is the price per pan for shower pan in Chicago?
About $1,271 to $3,018 per pan for materials and labor, plus $30 to $520 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $900 to $2,300.
+Is shower pan cheaper in Chicago or Niles?
Niles is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $1,700, which is 30% less than Chicago ($2,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Chicago?
About 64% at the midpoint, or $1,550 out of $2,400. Materials are 24% and permits 11%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in Chicago?
$1,300 to $3,550. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in Chicago?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $30 to $520 for fees in the Chicago area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Chicago expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of Illinois?
Chicago is 6% above the Illinois statewide estimate ($2,300 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Illinois; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Chicago?
The BLS median is $49.70 an hour in the Chicago area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $35.72 to $58.91.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in Chicago?
For 1 pan, basic work runs $1,300 to $2,200 and premium work $2,650 to $3,550. Basic means: pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan. Premium means: custom mud or stone pan.
Shower pan near Chicago
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.