Grab up to 60% off in Our Big Bathroom Savings!
+ Extra 10% off our Taps Range With Code TAPS10. Ends:
How to Install a Shower Over Bath
Thinking of adding a shower over your bath? It can be a straightforward upgrade, and this guide walks you through the installation, disruption, costs and practical checks before you start.
Adding a shower over a bath lets you keep bathing and showering in the same footprint, making it a useful option when there isn’t room for a separate enclosure.
It can also work well if you’re replacing an existing shower enclosure with a bathtub, but don’t want to lose the convenience of a quick shower in the morning!
If you’re planning a wider renovation, our small bathroom ideas with a shower bath can help you make the most of the layout.
What Do You Need to Install a Shower Over a Bath?
A typical installation may need:
- Your chosen shower, mixer or shower valve
- Shower head, hose and shower rail kit, if they aren’t included
- A bath screen or shower curtain
- Any new pipework and plumbing fittings required
- Suitable waterproofing and wall finish
- Tape measure, pencil and spirit level
- Drill with the correct bits and wall fixings
- Adjustable spanners and screwdrivers
- Sanitary silicone and a sealant gun
Don't buy the fixings on autopilot. The right plugs and screws depend on whether you’re fixing into masonry, plasterboard, tile or another wall construction.
How to Install a Shower Over a Bath
The usual process is to plan the shower position, prepare the plumbing and wall, fit the shower components, add splash protection and test everything for leaks. The exact connections and fixing points depend on your shower, so follow its installation instructions throughout.
Step 1. Plan Where the Shower Will Go
Choose the showering end of the bath before moving any pipework or drilling into the wall.
Check the standing position, headroom and where the shower head will direct the water. Mark out the bath screen at the same time so you know it can open without hitting the basin, toilet or another fitting.
2. Check the Water Supply
Make sure the shower you’re fitting is compatible with your home’s water system and available pressure.
Mixer showers use hot and cold supplies, while an electric shower is fed from the cold mains and heats the water within the unit. If you’re unsure what system you have, our guide to identifying your home’s water system can help.
Discovered you have low water pressure? We’ve got you covered with recommendations for low pressure shower heads.
3. Turn Off the Water
Turn off the relevant water supplies before disconnecting taps or altering any pipework.
Open the existing taps afterwards to release the remaining water and pressure. Keep a towel or shallow container nearby because there will usually still be some water sitting in the pipes.
4. Prepare the Pipework
A bath shower mixer may be able to connect at the existing bath tap position, while a separate mixer shower needs hot and cold supplies routed to the new valve.
With an exposed valve, the main shower controls remain on the finished wall. Concealed valves need enough room behind the wall for the valve and pipework, so this should be planned before any tiling or wall finishing takes place.
Expert tip: Test new plumbing connections while they’re still accessible. Finding a drip now is much easier than finding one after the wall has been closed.
5. Prepare the Showering Wall
The wall around the shower needs to cope with regular direct spray, not just the occasional splash from the bath.
If the existing tiles only cover the lower part of the wall, you may need to extend the protected area or install another suitable bathroom wall finish. Make sure the waterproofing behind the visible finish is appropriate too, particularly around corners, pipe penetrations and the joint above the bath.
6. Fit the Mixer or Shower Valve
Fit the bath shower mixer or wall mounted valve using the measurements and connection method supplied with the product.
Keep wall mounted fittings level and make sure pipework isn’t being pulled or twisted as everything is tightened. If you’re replacing the valve, shower head and handset together, our complete showers make it easier to compare full setups.
7. Fit the Shower Rail and Handset
Position the shower head high enough for the people using it while keeping the normal spray within the protected part of the wall and bath screen.
Mark the fixing points with a level and check for hidden pipes or cables before drilling. If the wall is already tiled, our guide to how to drill into tile safely explains how to reduce the risk of cracking the tile.
8. Fit the Bath Screen
Position the screen so it catches the normal shower spray without making the bath awkward to use.
Check which way it opens before drilling the wall profile into place. Folding or pivoting designs can be particularly useful where the toilet or basin sits close to the bath.
For detailed instructions, check out our complete guide to fitting a new shower screen.
9. Seal and Test the Installation
Apply silicone sealant where required by the bath and screen instructions, then allow it to cure fully before using the shower.
Turn the water back on slowly and check every accessible connection for leaks. Run the shower, move the handset through its normal positions and make sure water is staying inside the bath rather than escaping around the screen.
How to Install an Electric Shower Over a Bath
An electric shower needs a suitable cold mains water supply and its own electrical circuit. A qualified electrician should assess and complete the electrical installation rather than treating it as part of a normal DIY shower fitting.
An electric shower heats the incoming cold water inside the unit, so it doesn’t need a hot water supply from your boiler or cylinder. Browse our electric showers if this setup suits your bathroom.
The installation normally involves:
1. Confirming that the cold mains supply is suitable for the chosen shower.
2. Choosing the shower position above the bath.
3. Assessing and providing the correct dedicated electrical circuit.
4. Routing the cold water supply to the shower.
5. Mounting and connecting the shower unit.
6. Fitting the rail, handset and splash protection.
7. Testing the complete installation before use.
An electric shower must be supplied by its own circuit from the consumer unit or fusebox, and electrical work around baths and showers is subject to additional safety requirements.
If you’re adding an electric shower rather than replacing one like for like, have the electrical supply checked before buying. The existing wiring may not be suitable for the power rating of the new shower.
How Invasive Is Installing a Shower Over a Bath?
Installing a shower over a bath can range from a relatively small plumbing job to opening the wall, running new pipes and retiling. How much work is involved depends mainly on the shower setup you choose and what plumbing is already there.
If keeping disruption down matters, work with the existing water supplies wherever practical.
| Setup | Likely Disruption | What Usually Changes |
|---|---|---|
| Bath Shower Mixer | Low | Uses hot and cold supplies at the bath, so little or no new wall pipework may be needed |
| Exposed Mixer Shower | Medium | Hot and cold supplies are brought to a valve mounted on the finished wall |
| Concealed Mixer Shower | Higher | The wall needs space for the valve and pipework before it is closed and finished |
| Electric Shower | Medium to High | Needs a cold mains supply plus a suitable dedicated electrical circuit |
| New Bath and Shower | Higher | Can involve removing the existing bath, adjusting the waste, fitting the new bath, waterproofing and finishing the wall |
A bath shower mixer is often the least disruptive option when the existing bath and plumbing are suitable. An exposed shower valve keeps the main valve accessible on the wall, while a concealed shower valve hides more of the working parts behind it.
If your existing bath also needs replacing, compare our wider range of baths before planning the final plumbing positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you install a shower over an existing bath?
Yes, if the bath provides a secure standing area, enough headroom, suitable drainage and a wall that can be properly waterproofed. If the bath isn’t suitable for regular showering, a purpose designed shower bath may work better.
How long does it take to install a shower over a bath?
A mixer shower can take around three to six hours when suitable plumbing is already available, while a straightforward electric shower installation can take around two to four hours. New pipework, electrical upgrades, waterproofing or tiling can extend the project over several stages.
How much does it cost to install a shower over a bath in the UK?
As a broad UK guide, supplying and professionally installing a new shower can cost around £300 to £1,500. New pipework, electrical work, waterproofing, tiling, a bath screen or replacing the bath can increase the overall cost.
Make Your Bath Multitask
Adding a shower over your bath can give you both options without finding room for two separate fixtures. Keep the installation focused on what your bathroom actually needs, from the existing plumbing and wall finish to the shower position and splash protection.
Need more help with the project? Our bathroom inspiration, DIY and technical advice and buying guides are packed with practical advice to help you pull everything together.
Once your new shower is fitted, we’d love to see how it turned out. Tag us on Facebook or Instagram and show us your finished bathroom.
Jack
Jack is part of the resident bathroom bloggers team here at Victorian Plumbing. As a bathroom décor and DIY expert, he loves writing in depth articles and buying guides and is renowned for his expert 'how to' tutorials.
