Bath Fitter Tub Cost Overview: What You Need To Know

Last Updated on September 18, 2021 by April

This is everything you need to know about Bath Fitter costs – including what it is and the pros and cons of using Bath Fitter. When you are exploring the options around upgrading your bathroom, refer to this guide.

What is Bath Fitter? Is a Bath Fitter tub cheaper than buying a whole new one? How much does a Bath Fitter tub cost? I’ll answer all of these questions – and more – in this complete guide so that you can make an informed decision.

About Bath Fitter

Bath Fitter is a company that has been in business for more than 35 years. Three brothers started this company in 1984 and since then, they have done more than 2 million installations. They specialize in bathroom remodels – specifically showers and tubs. They manufacture their own acrylic sheets that they lay on top of your existing shower or tub.

In addition to the liners, they also offer lots of upgrades such as new faucets, doors, safety bars and even shelves.

They do not replace your old shower or tub. What they do is measure your space and create an overlay that goes right on top of your current tub, shower, and fixtures. You get a brand new look without having to purchase everything completely new.

Every single step of the remodel process – from the measurement and production to the installation – is handled by Bath Fitter.

They have hundreds of locations across the USA and Canada. To find a Bath Fitter near you, use their location finder tool on their website.

Bath Fitter Remodel Process

One thing that Bath Fitter prides themselves on is their superb customer service. Here’s what a typical process is like when you hire Bath Fitter:

The very first step is consultation and design. You will work directly with a Bath Fitter consultant to make decisions about options, accessories, and everything that will go into the final price. This step is important because you won’t actually get a price quote until you speak with a consultant since accessories and options all affect the final cost.

Bath Fitter offers virtual consultations, so you don’t have to meet them at your house if you don’t want to.

The next step does have to be done at your house – it’s the measurements. The design expert will take detailed measurements of your current tub/shower and wall. They will use these measurements to produce your custom tub/shower overlay.

Then, your completely-custom tub/shower is manufactured just for you. The waiting might be tough, but it will be worth it! When it is ready to be installed, they take care of prepping and installing it. This involves a Bath Fitter technician cleaning the tub area and making any necessary repairs. Then – all on the same day – they install your new tub overlay. It will be ready for you within 24 hours!

How Long A Bath Fitter Remodel Takes

This depends on a lot of factors – including the current manufacturing schedule in your area. That is why it is so important to talk to a consultant and ask all of your questions ahead of time. Generally speaking, from the first quote to the final installation, it could take several weeks.

What Is A Bath Fitter Tub?

Bath Fitter offers three different options when it comes to remodeling your bathroom. You can order a liner for your current tub, a replacement tub, or a tub-to-shower conversion.

The most popular option is an acrylic tub liner that fits directly over your current tub. In this case, the Bath Fitter consultant will meticulously measure your tub and walls and order a custom-made overlay. It’s a complete sheet of acrylic that they install directly over your current tub, plumbing, and walls.

If your tub isn’t compatible with a liner, then they also offer tub replacements. They will remove your current tub and replace it with a brand new acrylic one that is custom-made to fit your space.

Finally, they also have a service where they will convert your tub to a one-piece shower. This service includes the removal of your current tub and installation of a custom shower.

How To Get A Quote/Estimate

In order to find out how much a Bath Fitter tub will cost you, you will need to speak with a Bath Fitter consultant. Since the entire process is completely customized, you need to discuss your needs before they can give you a quote.

The best way to do this is to either call them or set up a consultation online. Use their contact page to find the method that is most comfortable for you. Make sure you have all your questions ready because they are very knowledgeable and are ready to answer them all.

Bath Fitter Tub Cost – What Is Included

Since it is such a custom job, it’s almost impossible to say how much a Bath Fitter tub costs. It could be as little as $1,000 or as much as $10,000. According to HomeAdvisor, most homeowners pay in the ballpark of $3,000 for a new and installed tub liner.

Whether you are trying to stick to a budget or you are just curious about what will affect the price, this is what will increase the costs of your Bath Fitter tub remodel. This list is not exhaustive – please contact your Bath Fitter consultant and ask what other factors might influence your final price.

Colors and Styles

All Bath Fitter tubs are made from acrylic liners, but they also come in a variety of colors and styles. Some of their most popular choices are:

• Marble
• Pearl
• Ivory Marble

They also offer Savona and Genova wall panel designs that resemble the look of tile. Talk to your Bath Fitter consultant because these styles and choice could affect the base price.

Required Plumbing Work

If your faucets are in working order and you aren’t replacing them, then that won’t affect the price at all. What will affect it will be if you are buying new faucets, shower head, or if they have any plumbing issues when they are installing the liner on your tub.

Any time they have to do plumbing work, it increases the price of the entire project.

Size Of Tub And Remodel Area

When it comes to your bathroom remodel, size matters! The larger your tub or shower area is, the more materials it will require, so it will cost you more. Keep this in mind before you call them so that you can be prepared to pay more for a larger area.

Replacing a tub with a shower will also cost a lot more money than purchasing just a tub liner.

Current Tub And Walls

What kind of shape are your current tub and walls in? If it is deteriorating at all, then that will make their job more difficult when they go to install the liner. To keep the costs lower, try to do as many repairs as you can before they arrive.

Keep in mind that if your tub is in too bad of shape, they won’t be able to place a liner on it. They will probably suggest replacing it entirely with a brand new tub – which will cost more in the end.

Tub Accessory Upgrades

The price goes up with each add-on that you choose. These can be really helpful and make your shower more usable. Some of the accessories you can purchase (at an additional cost) include:

• Seats
• Window Trim Options
• Grab Bar
• New Faucets
• Ceiling Finishes
• Shower and Tub Doors

The base price will always be for just the acrylic tub overlay. Anything that you change will come at an increased cost.

Pros Of Bath Fitter

If you are looking at remodeling your bathroom, there are lots of reasons to hire Bath Fitter – especially if you don’t enjoy DIY home projects. Not only do the Bath Fitter products come with a lifetime warranty, but their customer service is top-notch too! These are the things people love the most about Bath Fitter and their tubs.

Lower Chance Of Leaks

Compared to refinishing a tub or installing tile with grout, an acrylic tub liner won’t leak around the faucets.

The acrylic liner is all one piece. It covers not just your tub, but the walls and the plumbing fixtures too. This means that there is a lower chance of your faucets leaking. Plus, it is easier to clean than if you used tile and grout because it is all one piece. You don’t have to worry about trying to scrub in the seams.

Hassle-Free

You don’t have to replace the floors, walls, or your existing tub (unless it needs it). Adding an acrylic liner on top of your existing tub is a completely hassle-free process. You sit down and discuss all the options with your Bath Fitter consultant. They order it to be made. When the liner is ready, they install it in one day. Your bathroom is never turned into a mess of drills and demolition.

Plus they have amazing customer service that takes care of every single step of the process. This is fantastic news for anyone that doesn’t want to have to follow up or micromanage the process. They do it all and they do it fast.

Durable And Easy To Clean

Bath Fitter uses acrylic tub liners that are non-porous – that means they are completely smooth and easy to wash with soap and water. These liners also have non-skid surfaces and won’t rust or chip easily either.

Acrylic is so durable that Bath Fitter offers a lifetime warranty on them. If they crack or leak then they will come out at no cost to you.

Fast Installation

Bath Fitter tub installations happen all in one day. Within 24 hours, you’ll be able to enjoy your new tub! This happens so quickly because the Bath Fitter tub liners are custom-made to fit directly over your existing tub. This eliminates the need for any demolition or removing fixtures.

Compare this to replacing a tub completely, which can take multiple days and cause a huge mess. Instead of turning your bathroom into a construction zone, adding a new liner on top of your current tub is so much faster.

Excellent Options For People with Disabilities

The Bath Fitter tub-to-shower conversion is the most popular choice for anyone that has disabilities or wants to make their home more accessible for later in life.

They have lots of options centered around making the shower accessible and easy to use. According to their FAQ page, “to improve the safety and accessibility of the walk-in shower, you can incorporate numerous accessories, including different styles of wall-mounted seating and custom-positioned grab bars that match the style of the rest of their walk-in shower.”

Cons Of Bath Fitter

Ordering a Bath Fitter tub overlay isn’t for everyone. If you prefer to be involved in the process or you don’t enjoy paying for things a-la-carte, then this might not be the best company for you.

It’s Not DIY

This “con” could actually be a “pro” depending on how you feel about home remodeling. One of Bath Fitter’s biggest sources of pride is their customer service. They cater to people who want them to handle the entire process. That means that if you don’t want to pay someone to do it all for you, it might not be the option for you.

You’ll work directly with a consultant through every step of the process – including the quote. They are a salesperson, plain and simple. Be prepared for a lengthy chat about every option they offer.

On the flip side, this could be reassuring and comforting for the right people. It’s nice to know that they are knowledgeable and can handle every question or issue you have.

If you prefer to be involved in the remodel and are hands-on, then Bath Fitter is not for you. Their team takes care of everything – from the measurements to the installation.

Not All Tubs Can Be Lined

There are some types of tubs that don’t work with acrylic tub liners. If you have an acrylic, fiberglass, or free-standing tub, then it won’t work with an acrylic tub liner. The materials they are made from just don’t work with acrylic liners. If you have any of these types of tubs, it’s better to replace them altogether or refinish them than to try and use a liner.

Lower Resale Value Than Tile

According to the National Association of Realtors, homeowners can recoup 75-80% of the cost if they install tile in the shower or tub surround. The same isn’t true for just acrylic surrounds. Acrylic liners don’t have the same “wow factor” when you are trying to sell your house.

This is a really minor downside and doesn’t actually affect everyone – especially if you are in your forever home.

No Last-Minute Changes

Finally, some people might not like the fact that once Bath Fitter starts making your liner, you are locked into your choice.

After you order your liner and it is sent off to be created, you can’t make changes to the color or style of your bathtub. Since each one is custom-made, once it is finished, you cannot change it. With tile, you can change the colors and design even when it is being installed. If you are someone that isn’t comfortable with a commitment like this, then an acrylic tub liner might not be for you.

Other Tub And Shower Remodel Options To Try

If you know that it is time to do something about your old bathtub and want to know what other options you have besides Bath Fitter, check out these ideas. You could replace the tub entirely, just refinish it, or buy from a competitor.

Tub Replacement

If your tub is wearing out, a very popular option is to buy and install another one. This can cost between $1,500 and $5,000, and $1,000 of that is the labor and installation.

Depending on how fancy you go, a new tub can cost anywhere from $250 up to $1,500. The most expensive material for a tub is marble with prices upwards of $10,000 for a new tub.

When you replace a tub, you can upgrade to one with added jets and even a bigger size. All of these options increase the price a lot, but you have more choices for sure.

The downside to replacing your tub is that it involves a lot of plumbing and demolition work. It’s a very messy and time-consuming job that could take an entire weekend at least. If you are selling your house, the investment could be justified since it will increase the value (and possible selling price!).

Tub Refinishing

Another budget-friendly option that lots of people choose is to just refinish or reglaze their current tub. Whether you call it recoating, resurfacing, or refinishing, it all means the same thing.

Basically, this is where a professional will sand down your current tub’s surface, fill in the cracks, apply primer, and then paint and buff it. This is a cosmetic update that will have to be redone multiple times over the years since it doesn’t last very long.

This is a fantastic option for someone with a tub that is in good shape but just has some stains they want to cover up. The upside is that it is very cheap (usually costs about $200-$650) and can be done in one day. The downside is that you’ll have to keep doing it over and over again because the glaze/finish will eventually chip.

One of the most popular companies that offer this service is ReBath. Their prices are not listed on their website because each bathroom job could require more or less work. You should contact them for a free estimate to find out how much a bathroom remodel will cost.

Bath Planet

Bath Planet is a new company, just founded in 1999. They specialize in converting tubs to showers (and vice versa). What sets them apart is their huge product line. They offer things like spa showers and walk-in tubs, all made with acrylic liners.

Just like Bath Fitter, Bath Planet is really focused on customer service. In fact, they are so focused on it that they have earned quite a few awards for it, including the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, and rated 5 out of 5 on Better Business Bureau.

The cost is pretty similar to Bath Fitter. They also charge per upgrade and the average price is about the same – around $3,000-$5,000.

Home Depot

The Home Depot also offers tub to shower conversions or installations of custom bath liners. Just like with Bath Fitter, a Home Depot team member will come to your home and discuss your needs, then give you a quote based on the size of your bathroom and any upgrades you are adding on.

These liners are completely custom-made to fit over your existing bathtub. You can also order a tub to shower conversion, and they handle all the installation too.

The good thing about The Home Depot is that they also offer plumbing work. So if you want to change/upgrade the drain, faucet, or showerheads, they will do that for you too (at an added cost, of course).

According to their website, a liner without the installation costs around $500. It’s worth it to have them measure and install it for you.

Custom Bath Liners

Another bath liner choice is to purchase from Custom Bath Liners. They also sell acrylic liners for bathtubs and showers, but their pricing is front and center on their website. You know exactly what you are buying when you go with them.

Their pricing includes:

• Walk-Thru Shower-Tub Combo: $859 installed
• Tub Liners & Wall System: $2,999 installed
• Tub-To-Shower Conversion: $3,999 installed
• Walk-In Bath Tubs: $7,999 installed

Final Thoughts

There you have it! As you can see, Bath Fitter tub liners can cost anywhere from $1,000 up to $10,000, with most people paying around $3,000. It’s a really great option when you want the customer service and the durability of a new liner without having to completely renovate your entire bathroom and plumbing. The cost and experience isn’t for everyone, but talking to a consultant is free and can answer all of your questions.