Shower Panels vs Tiles: What's the Difference?

Struggling to choose between shower panels and tiles? We’ve weighed up the differences to help you figure out which is best for your bathroom.

Key Takeaways:

• Shower panels are large, waterproof boards used to cover your bathroom’s walls, with no grout lines and a seamless look.
• Tiles provide more flexible design options and offer traditional looks as well as modern, while shower panels skew towards contemporary interiors.
• Shower panels are easier and quicker to install and clean, and generally have lower material and labour costs than tiles.
• Choose tiles if you want textured surfaces or cohesive wall and floor coverage in your shower.

Wall panels and tiles are the two main options for luxurious, waterproof shower walls and wraparounds. They perform the same job, but there are some key differences between them, including the materials they’re made of, how easy they are to install, how much they cost and how difficult it is to maintain them. 

Struggling to choose? We’ve assessed and compared the benefits of both shower panels and tiles to help you figure out which is right for your bathroom renovation.

Shower Wall Panels vs Tiles: At a Glance

What Are Shower Panels?

Shower wall panels are large, waterproof boards that you use to cover your walls, just like tiles. However, they fit snugly from floor to ceiling and provide a more seamless look than a tiled wall.

For your shower, make sure you’re definitely looking at shower panels rather than regular wall panels. While most bathroom wall panels are water resistant to some extent, shower wall panels are specifically designed to withstand consistent, heavy water coverage.

Typically, shower wall panels are made of PVC, laminate or acrylic. There are plenty of different types and styles to consider, but they all have one key thing in common: no need for grout!

Benefits Of Shower Panels

1. Quick & Easy Installation

Compared to tiles, which need to be laid one by one, shower wall panels are much quicker to install and are usually a straightforward DIY job.

All you need to do is prepare the wall, making sure it’s clean, dry and even, and then cut the panels to fit your space. Use adhesive or sealant to secure the panels to the wall, and then seal the edges to ensure they’re watertight.

On average, shower wall panels take between 2 to 4 hours to install, whereas tiling could take between 6 to 8 hours or longer.

2. Lower Costs Than Tiles

Although material costs can depend on how high-end you go with either tiles or shower wall panels, panels are usually more cost-effective. The majority of wall panels end up being cheaper per m² than their corresponding bathroom tiles.

The material cost for the panels themselves is usually either comparable or more affordable than tiles, but the real savings come with installation. As panels are much quicker to install, you can save on labour costs if you’re not DIYing the installation.

3. Low Maintenance & Simple Cleaning

Without grout lines to clean, shower panels are definitely the more attractive choice if you want to limit how much time you spend cleaning your bathroom. They’ll never need to be re-grouted either, saving you a job compared to tiles.

You should still regularly clean and wipe down your shower wall panels, but they’re unlikely to face the same issues with mould build-up as tiles. They simply have fewer joints and corners where mould can grow!

Shower Panel Cons

1. Fewer Design Choices

Shower panels don’t offer you as much design choice or flexibility as bathroom tiles do. 

Unfortunately, there just aren’t as many different styles to choose from compared to tiles, and while you can mix-and-match different colours, you can’t use tiling techniques like chequerboard or border patterns.

Shower panels also can’t match the textured feel of kit-kat or fluted tiles, so they can’t add that extra depth to your bathroom.

2. Unique Placement Difficulty

Due to their large size, it can be quite difficult to fit shower panels around awkward design features, such as windows, since you’ll have to measure and cut them very precisely.

If something goes wrong and the panel ends up too small, you could need to order an extra wall panel, which can be expensive.

3. Expensive Replacement

Similarly, if there’s ever any damage to your wall panels, you’ll have to replace the entire panel, unlike tiles, where you can usually replace just the damaged tile without affecting the rest of the wall.

Minor surface damage can sometimes be repaired, such as scratches and chips. However, cracks and holes usually can’t be fixed, so you’ll have to replace the panel instead.

Benefits Of Shower Tiles

1. Wall & Floor Coverage

One downside of shower wall panels is that it can be hard to match your shower walls and floor together. However, with bathroom tiles, you can simply use the same tiles if they’re suitable for both walls and floors.

That means you can create a completely cohesive shower design, or even a co-ordinating look with the same tiles in different shades between the walls and floor.

2. Personalised Designs

Tiles open up lots of design possibilities, as you can lay them in a variety of patterns to adjust the look of your shower. You could keep it simple with a horizontal or vertical stacked pattern, or really mix it up with herringbone or basket weave layouts.

Some patterned tiles have matching border variants, which can work well to define the start and end of walk-in shower walls. You can also mix-and-match similar tiles, such as creating a checkerboard effect with alternating square black-and-white tiles.

3. High-End Look

While shower wall panels do look stylish, there’s nothing quite like the handcrafted look of a zellige-effect tiled shower wall. Textured tiles with natural shade and pattern variations can give your shower a high-end look that’s difficult to replicate with shower panels.

Kit kat and fluted tiles in particular can create a sophisticated feel that shower panels can’t quite match.

Shower Tiles Cons

1. Time-Consuming Installation

Installing shower tiles can be a long and time-consuming process, so tiling a shower wall isn’t always a beginner-friendly DIY project.

As well as preparing the wall’s surface, you’ll have to lay each tile individually, and some tiles may need to be cut to fit around your bathroom’s features, like windows. Compared to shower panels, it’s a lot more labour-intensive.

2. More Maintenance

The main part of a tiled shower wall that requires regular maintenance is the grout. It needs to be cleaned regularly to avoid dirt and mould build-up, and may need to be re-sealed around once every one or two years.

Textured tiles are also more difficult to clean than both smooth tiles and shower panels, as soap residue and grime can get stuck in the crevices.

3. Higher Costs

Material costs can depend on whether you go for high-end or affordable options for both tiles and shower panels, but tiles can often end up being more expensive.

If you’re not DIYing the installation, it’ll generally cost more than wall panel installation as it takes longer and needs slightly more specialised skills. This can push the overall price higher than getting wall panels installed.

Shower Panels vs. Tiles: Which Lasts Longer? 

Tiles will normally last longer than shower panels, especially porcelain tiles, which are even more durable than ceramic tiles. You can expect a tiled shower wall to last for decades with good installation and regular maintenance - 30-50 years on average.

Generally, shower panels don’t last quite as long as tiles, although the material does make a major difference. PVC panels could last between 8-15 years, acrylic panels 10-20 years, and laminate panels up to 25 years.

Shower Panels vs. Tiles: How Much Do They Cost? 

Shower panels are usually cheaper than tiles per m², and the labour costs for installation are usually lower too due to the quicker, simpler process. This can make them a much more affordable option than tiles.

However, it can depend on the materials you choose. The cost of PVC panels can vary between £10 and £60 per m², whereas laminate panels are usually around £30 and £80 per m², and acrylic panels can cost £70 to £140 per m².

Ceramic tiles will usually cost between £10-£50 per m², with porcelain tiles around £20-£70 per m². However, the labour costs to install tiles are usually much higher than shower panels, so they’re usually the more expensive choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Tiles Are Suitable For Shower Walls?

Not every bathroom tile will be suitable for your shower walls. Textured tiles with deep crevices may be more difficult and time-consuming to clean, so it’s better to look for smooth or lightly textured options.

However, if you want to match your shower floor and wall tiles, bear in mind that glossy tiles can be slippery when wet, making matt finish tiles the safer, more sensible choice.

Porcelain is generally better than ceramic for shower walls due to its superior waterproofing. It’s much less porous than ceramic and absorbs almost no moisture.

Want to minimise cleaning and maintenance? Go for large format shower tiles with fewer grout lines to make cleaning the shower an easier job.

How should I prepare my walls for shower panels?

Remove any existing wall coverings, such as the previous tiles or panels you’re replacing, if applicable. Most shower wall panels can be fitted over existing tiles, but this will depend on the individual panels and the tiles they’re going over - you shouldn’t do this if the tiles are loose or damaged, for example.

Make sure the wall’s surface is even by filling in any gaps, holes or cracks, and then thoroughly clean it. There should be no dust, grime or mould on the wall before you install the shower panels. 

Remember to wait for the wall to dry out once it’s clean, since you can’t install the panels on a wet wall. As soon as the wall is even, clean and dry, you can get started with installing your panels.

Which materials are best for shower walls?

The best materials for your walls depend on whether you go for tiles or panels in your shower.

Porcelain is the best material for shower wall tiles. It’s more waterproof than ceramic, incredibly durable and scratch-resistant too.

Both acrylic and laminate are high-quality materials for shower wall panels. Laminate panels are sturdy and can withstand scratches and impacts, but they’re also quite heavy, which can make installation a challenge. Acrylic has a sleeker, glossier look, but can be more expensive and scratches easily.

Can you put a shower panel over existing tiles?

Yes, you can install a shower panel over a tiled wall, as long as none of the tiles are loose or damaged.

You will have to clean and degrease the tiles first to prepare the surface for the wall panels, and then wait for it to dry afterwards. However, as long as the surface is even, clean and dry, you can put a shower panel over existing tiles.

Are Shower Panels Or Tiles Right For You?

• If you want a cost-effective project with fast, simple installation that’ll give your shower a modern facelift, shower panels are a great way to go.
• If you want more control over your shower design, textured surfaces, or a cohesive wall and floor look, shower tiles will be a better choice.

Interested in DIYing your shower panels? Check out our in-depth, step-by-step guide to installing shower panels before you start! We’ve also got some advice for keeping your shower panels sparkling clean.

If you’ve decided on bathroom tiles instead of wall panels, browse through our extensive range and check out our top tile trends for some stylish design inspiration.