How Much Does It Cost to Install a Shower in London? (2026 Prices)

Last updated: October 2026

A new shower is one of the most common bathroom jobs in London, and one of the easiest to misquote. "Fit a shower" can mean a two-hour swap of an electric unit on the same wires, or a day of chasing walls, running a new circuit and retiling. This guide sets out what each kind of shower installation costs in London in 2026, what a fair quote should include, which trade should do the work, and when the job has to be signed off under the Building Regulations, so that you can compare quotes on equal terms.

TL;DR

Replacing an electric shower like for like costs about £300 to £600 supplied and fitted, excluding VAT, with London at the upper end, according to Which? Trusted Traders. A mixer shower is a plumber's job: roughly £200 to £400 labour on existing pipework, or £350 to £700 for a concealed valve. New circuits, pumps and retiling cost more.

Shower installation costs in London in 2026, by job

Only one independent consumer body we could find publishes a shower installation price. Which? surveyed 19 of its Trusted Traders in November 2025 and puts the job "Supply and fit an 8.5kw electric shower (like-for-like replacement)" at £300 to £600, taking half a day to a day [1]. Which? adds that its "prices include labour and materials but exclude VAT" and that "prices are likely to be at the upper end of the scale if you live in London or the South East" [1].

We could not find a regulator or trade body that publishes prices for mixer showers, concealed valves, power showers or shower pumps, so every other figure below is market-observed from cost guides published in 2026. Trade2Base, a guide written for tradespeople, gives the most detailed breakdown by job [2]. Fantastic Services, a home services provider, publishes a separate London and South East column, and says prices there run roughly 15 to 30% higher than in the North of England, Wales and Scotland [3].

Job (2026)	Typical price	Who does it, and what drives the price
Replace an electric shower like for like, labour only (you supply the unit)	£150 to £300 (Trade2Base); £180 to £360 in London and the South East (Fantastic Services)	Electrician; same position, same circuit [2][3]
Replace an 8.5kW electric shower like for like, supplied and fitted	£300 to £600 plus VAT, upper end in London	Electrician, half a day to a day; the most common job [1]
New electric shower on a new circuit	£350 to £650 or more for the installation (national guide)	Electrician; notifiable work; the cable run from the fuse box drives it [2]
Consumer unit (fuse box) upgrade, if the board cannot take the shower	£400 to £900 extra (Trade2Base); about £550 to £850 for a typical London home in our own guide	Electrician; see our fuse box upgrade cost guide [2]
Exposed bar mixer on existing pipework, labour	£200 to £400 (Trade2Base); £270 to £540 for a mixer in London and the South East (Fantastic Services)	Plumber [2][3]
Concealed mixer or thermostatic valve, labour, excluding tiling	£350 to £700	Plumber; the wall is opened up and made good [2]
Power shower on a gravity-fed system, labour	£250 to £450 (Trade2Base); £360 to £720 in London and the South East (Fantastic Services)	Plumber; not suitable for combi boilers [2][3][10]
Pump added to an existing mixer shower, labour	£200 to £400	Plumber, with an electrical supply for the pump [2]
Shower tray and waste, labour	£150 to £350	Plumber or bathroom fitter [2]
Shower enclosure or screen, labour	£200 to £400	Plumber or bathroom fitter [2]
Tray, enclosure, waste and plumbing together	£600 to £1,500, plus tiling	Plumber or bathroom fitter [2]
Tanking (waterproofing) the shower area	£150 to £400	Usually the tiler, before tiling [2]

Which? prices exclude VAT [1]. Fantastic Services' figures include VAT and are for fitting only [3]. Trade2Base does not say whether its figures include VAT [2]. The London and South East column is a combined region, not London alone. Always ask whether a quote includes VAT and the shower unit itself.

Treat the lower rows as a starting point for a written quote, not a fixed price. Two cautions apply. First, Trade2Base's "new circuit" figure is a national guide for traders and sits close to Which?'s like-for-like range, so in London expect the upper end or more once the unit, a long cable run and VAT are added [1][2]. Second, the rows overlap: a concealed thermostatic shower with a new tray and enclosure is several of these jobs at once, which is why the combined "tray, enclosure, waste and plumbing" row is the better guide to a full shower area. Where the guides disagree, we have shown the range that covers the main sources rather than averaging them.

What a fair shower installation quote should include

Because the scope drives the price, a fair quote, agreed before anyone starts, should state in writing:

• The unit or valve, by make and model, and whether the fitter is supplying it or you are. "Supply and fit a shower" is not a scope.
• Which type of shower, electric, exposed mixer, concealed mixer or power shower, and whether it is a like-for-like swap in the same position.
• Labour, by trade. Who does the plumbing, who does the electrics, and whether one person is responsible for the whole job.
• Electrical work: whether the existing circuit is being reused, upgraded or replaced, whether the consumer unit has capacity, and how the shower can be switched off safely.
• Notification and certificate: if the electrical work is notifiable, who notifies building control and which certificate you will receive (see the Part P section below).
• Pipework and waste: isolation valves, any rerouting, and the waste connection.
• Making good: for a concealed valve, who chases the wall, who replasters, and who retiles. Retiling is often excluded.
• Waterproofing: whether the shower area will be tanked before tiling, if new tiles are going on.
• Disposal of the old unit, tray or enclosure.
• Testing and commissioning, including a check for leaks and, for electric showers, electrical testing.
• VAT, and whether it is included in the total.
• Payment: a fixed price, paid on completion or in agreed stages.

Citizens Advice suggests trying "to get written quotes from at least 3 different traders before you decide on one", and explains that "a quote is a fixed price" while "an estimate is just a rough guess" [14]. It says a quote should show whether the price includes VAT, give "a breakdown of all the work to be done and the materials needed", and give "a fixed total price - not a daily rate" [14]. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 then requires the trader to perform the service "with reasonable care and skill" [15], which a written scope makes much easier to rely on.

Electric, mixer or power shower: which suits your home?

The right shower depends on your hot water system, and the type you choose sets most of the price.

Electric shower. An electric shower heats cold mains water as it flows through the unit, so it does not rely on your boiler or a hot water cylinder. That makes it a common choice for a second bathroom, an en suite or a home where the hot water supply is limited. NICEIC, the electrical certification body, says "power ratings for electric showers range between around 7.5 kW to 10.5 kW", and that "higher-rated showers may require electrical upgrades, larger size cables, and higher-rated protective devices" [8]. A more powerful unit usually gives a better flow, but it is also a common reason a "simple swap" becomes an electrical job.

Mixer shower. A mixer blends hot and cold water from your existing system, so the shower is only as good as the supply behind it. With a combi boiler, flow rate matters: the boiler maker Viessmann says that "ideally, the combi boiler flow rate for a good shower should be at least 12 - 15 litres a minute" [10]. This is a manufacturer's guidance from 2022, so treat it as a rule of thumb and ask your plumber to check your own boiler. A mixer can be exposed (a bar valve on the wall, with the pipes behind or on the surface) or concealed (the valve sits inside the wall), and concealed is the more expensive route because the wall has to be opened and made good.

Power shower. A power shower is a mixer with a built-in pump, designed for gravity-fed systems with a cold water tank and a hot water cylinder. Viessmann says that "power showers operate with an in-built pump that makes them incompatible with combi boilers", and that "you can't use a pump directly from the mains supply to provide a boost" [10]. If you have a combi, a power shower or a separate shower pump is not the answer to weak pressure; ask a plumber what is causing it instead.

Your hot water system	Usually suitable	Usually not suitable
Combi boiler	Electric shower; mixer shower if the flow rate is good	Power shower or shower pump [10]
Gravity-fed (cold tank and hot cylinder)	Electric shower; power shower; mixer with a pump	Mixer without a pump, if pressure is low
Unvented cylinder (mains pressure)	Electric shower; mixer shower	Pumps on the mains supply

This is general guidance from a manufacturer and our editorial summary. Your plumber should confirm what your system can support before you buy a shower.

Plumber, electrician or both?

This is the question that decides who you call, and it is where many quotes go wrong.

• Electric shower: an electrician's job. Which? notes that "you may also need to employ a plumber to complete the installation, which will cost more" [1], because the unit also connects to the water supply. NICEIC says "some registered electricians will have the plumbing skills needed to complete the whole installation" [8], which is often the simplest and cheapest route for a like-for-like swap.
• Mixer shower: a plumber's job, unless the shower is being moved or a pump or new lighting is involved. Our electrician day rate guide and the plumber rates in our bathroom renovation cost guide show what each trade charges in London.
• Power shower or pump: mainly plumbing, but the pump needs an electrical supply, and that connection is electrical work in or near a bathroom. Ask who will do it.

Gas. Fitting a shower is not gas work, and you do not need a Gas Safe registered engineer for it, unless the job also involves the boiler or another gas appliance. The Health and Safety Executive says that "anyone employed to work on gas appliances in domestic premises must be a Gas Safe registered engineer" [11]. If a plumber suggests changes to the boiler to improve your shower, check that they are Gas Safe registered for that part.

Does fitting a shower need Part P sign-off?

In England, regulation 12(6A) of the Building Regulations 2010 lists three kinds of electrical work that must be notified to building control: "the installation of a new circuit", "the replacement of a consumer unit" and "any addition or alteration to existing circuits in a special location" [6]. A special location includes, "within a room containing a bath or shower, the space surrounding a bath tap or shower head" [6], measured up to 2.25 metres from the floor (or to the shower head, if it is higher) and out to 0.6 metres from the edge of the bath or shower tray, or 1.2 metres from the shower head where there is no tray, as our Part P guide explains in full.

Applied to showers, that gives three likely-notifiable cases and one grey one:

• A new electric shower on a new circuit is notifiable. Planning Portal lists "a new circuit for a cooker, shower or immersion heater" as an example of notifiable work [7].
• A more powerful unit that needs a thicker cable or a different protective device changes the circuit in a special location, so in our reading it is notifiable too [6][8].
• A new consumer unit to give the shower its own protected way is notifiable in its own right [6].
• A straight swap of an electric shower on the same circuit is the grey case. Planning Portal says that "most repairs, replacements and maintenance jobs" are not notifiable [7], but NICEIC states that "the installation of an electric shower is considered 'notifiable' electrical work under Part P" [8]. We could not find an official source that rules on a like-for-like swap in particular.

The practical answer is the same in every case: use an electrician registered with a competent person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT. Planning Portal recommends an installer "who can self-certify compliance with the building regulations" [7], which means the notification and certificate are normally handled by the electrician if the work needs them. Ask the electrician, before they start, whether they will be notifying the work and which certificate you will receive. Keep it with your house papers, because a buyer's solicitor may ask for it later.

Electric showers are also a safety question, not just a paperwork one. Electrical Safety First says that "an electric shower must be installed by a registered competent electrician and be supplied on its own circuit" [9], and NICEIC says that "there must be a safe way to switch the shower off for maintenance or in an emergency" [8]. This is not DIY work.

What pushes the price up

The same shower can cost twice as much in two different homes. These are the usual reasons:

• A higher kW rating than the old unit. Moving from an older, lower-rated electric shower to a 9.5kW or 10.5kW unit may need a larger cable and a higher-rated protective device [8], which turns a swap into circuit work.
• A long cable run or a full fuse box. A shower circuit runs from the consumer unit, so a board in the hallway and a bathroom on the top floor means more cable and more making good. If the board has no spare capacity or lacks modern protection, the consumer unit may need replacing first; see our fuse box upgrade cost guide.
• Concealed rather than exposed. A concealed valve means chasing the wall, fixing the valve, making good and retiling. The labour alone runs to £350 to £700 before tiling [2].
• Retiling and waterproofing. If tiles have to come off, the shower area should be waterproofed (tanked) before new tiles go on, which Trade2Base puts at £150 to £400 [2]. Our bathroom tiling cost guide covers tiling prices per square metre.
• Moving the shower. A new position means new pipework, a new waste route and, for an electric shower, a new cable route. Moving the waste is often the most disruptive part.
• A new tray and enclosure. Replacing the tray and screen at the same time is a bigger job, typically £600 to £1,500 plus tiling [2].
• Flats and access. Upper-floor flats, tight bathrooms and neighbours below all add time and care. If you live in a leasehold flat, check whether your lease asks for consent before alterations.

Why London costs more. Which? says prices are likely to be at the upper end in London and the South East [1], and Fantastic Services puts London and the South East roughly 15 to 30% higher than the North of England, Wales and Scotland [3]. Part of that is overheads. Trade vans driving into the central Congestion Charge zone during charging hours pay the £18 daily charge [17], non-compliant vans pay the £12.50 daily ULEZ charge across all London boroughs [18], and parking near the job is often paid or permit-only.

What do shower units cost to buy?

If you are supplying the shower yourself, the unit is a separate cost from the labour. Retail prices checked at Wickes on 29 October 2026 [5]:

Shower type	Typical retail price (October 2026)
8.5kW electric shower	About £79 to £219
9.5kW electric shower	From about £89; dual-outlet models up to about £365
10.8kW electric shower	About £273
Premium thermostatic or dual-outlet electric shower	About £214 to £481

Retail prices change often, and these are taken from one retailer's listing, so treat them as a guide to the spread rather than a price list.

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) gives a broader guide for a bathroom budget: "adding a free-standing shower unit costs around £350 for an electric shower, while the enclosure is an additional £500" [4]. Mixer valves vary widely, and our bathroom renovation cost guide puts a mid-range shower valve and fittings at about £200 to £350.

Before you buy, check with your fitter that the unit suits your water pressure and, for an electric shower, your existing cable and circuit. A cheaper unit with a higher kW rating can cost more overall if it needs circuit work.

VAT on shower installation

The standard rate of VAT is 20% [12]. A trader must register for VAT once their taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000 [13], so a small sole trader may not charge VAT at all, while a larger firm will. That alone can explain a 20% gap between two otherwise similar quotes. Which?'s £300 to £600 figure excludes VAT [1], so a VAT-registered firm would charge about £360 to £720 for the same job. Always ask whether the price you have been given includes VAT.

Can you fit a shower yourself?

An electric shower is not a DIY job. It is high-power electrical work in a bathroom, Electrical Safety First says it must be installed by a registered competent electrician [9], and a new circuit is notifiable [6]. A failed installation here is a shock and fire risk, not just an inconvenience.

Plumbing in a mixer shower is not regulated in the same way, but a slow leak behind a tiled wall or into the flat below is expensive to put right. If you are not confident with pipework, isolation and waste connections, a plumber's fixed price is usually money well spent.

How to keep the cost down

• Swap like for like where you can. NICEIC says that "replacing an existing electric shower is usually simpler and cheaper than fitting one for the first time" [8]. A unit of the same rating, with cable and pipe entries in similar positions, avoids most extra work.
• Choose exposed over concealed if you are not retiling anyway.
• Combine jobs. If tiles are coming off, do the valve, tray and tanking in one visit rather than paying for access twice.
• Agree who supplies the unit. Buying it yourself can save a mark-up, but only if the fitter confirms it suits your system first.
• Get three written quotes with the same scope [14], and compare like with like, including VAT.
• Check credentials. Ask for the electrician's competent person scheme registration and, where relevant, check that the business is TrustMark registered. TrustMark describes itself as "the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme" [16].

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to install a shower in London?

It depends on the type. A like-for-like electric shower swap costs about £300 to £600 supplied and fitted, excluding VAT, with London at the upper end. A mixer shower on existing pipework is roughly £200 to £400 in labour, and a concealed valve £350 to £700 before tiling. New circuits, pumps and retiling add more.

How much does it cost to replace an electric shower?

Which? Trusted Traders put supplying and fitting an 8.5kW electric shower, like for like, at £300 to £600 excluding VAT, with London at the upper end. If you buy the unit, labour alone is about £180 to £360 including VAT in London and the South East, per one provider's guide. Higher-rated units may need circuit work.

Do I need a plumber or an electrician to fit a shower?

An electric shower needs an electrician, and sometimes a plumber for the water connection, although some electricians do both. A mixer shower is a plumber's job. A power shower or shower pump is mainly plumbing but also needs an electrical supply. You only need a Gas Safe engineer if the boiler itself is being worked on.

Does fitting an electric shower need Part P sign-off?

A new circuit for a shower is notifiable in England, and so is altering a circuit in the space around a bath or shower. A more powerful unit needing a thicker cable may fall into this, so ask your electrician. Use a registered electrician, who can self-certify and give you a certificate.

Is a mixer shower cheaper to install than an electric shower?

Not necessarily. An exposed mixer on existing pipework costs about £200 to £400 in labour, against £150 to £300 labour for an electric shower swap, but a concealed mixer runs to £350 to £700 before retiling. An electric shower becomes the dearer option when it needs a new circuit or a consumer unit upgrade. Compare complete quotes.

Can I have a power shower with a combi boiler?

No. A power shower has a built-in pump and is designed for gravity-fed systems with a cold water tank and hot water cylinder. The boiler maker Viessmann says power showers are incompatible with combi boilers and that you cannot pump directly from the mains. With a combi, choose a mixer or electric shower instead.

Find a trusted local tradesperson to fit your shower

A shower is a small job with a lot of ways to go wrong: the wrong trade, the wrong unit for your water pressure, or a cable that cannot carry the load. It is worth hiring someone who checks your system first and puts the scope in writing. Loacally connects you with verified local tradespeople across London, from plumbers to electricians. Find a trusted local tradesperson near you and get a written quote for your shower, and see our guide to how to find a trusted tradesperson in London for what to check before you hire.

Prices vary with the shower type, your hot water system, the electrics and access, so always get a written quote.

Sources

1. Which?. "How much do electricians cost?" (survey of 19 Which? Trusted Traders, November 2025; page dated 1 May 2026; prices include labour and materials, exclude VAT). https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/finding-a-tradesperson/article/how-much-do-electricians-cost-aMprj7d7XlSC (accessed October 2026)
2. Trade2Base. "Shower installation costs UK: what to charge to fit a shower in 2026" (a guide for tradespeople; VAT basis not stated). 13 June 2026. https://www.trade2base.com/blog/shower-installation-costs-uk (accessed October 2026)
3. Fantastic Services. "Shower installation cost guide" (a home services provider's own price guide, used as market context only; figures include VAT). 2026. https://www.fantasticservices.com/cost-guides/plumbing/shower-installation/ (accessed October 2026)
4. Federation of Master Builders. "Bathroom renovation costs: a cost breakdown." Updated February 2026. https://www.fmb.org.uk/resource/bathroom-renovation-costs-a-cost-breakdown.html (accessed October 2026)
5. Wickes. "Electric showers" (retail prices, checked 29 October 2026). https://www.wickes.co.uk/Products/Bathrooms/Showers-Enclosures/Showers/Electric-Showers/c/1001035 (accessed October 2026)
6. legislation.gov.uk. "The Building Regulations 2010, regulation 12" (England, regs 12(6A) and 12(9)). Up to date to 28 October 2026. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2214/regulation/12 (accessed October 2026)
7. Planning Portal. "Electrics: Building Regulations general information." https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/electrics/building-regulations-general-information (accessed October 2026)
8. NICEIC. "Electric shower installation: a guide for homeowners." https://niceic.com/householders/electrical-services/electric-shower-installation-a-guide-for-homeowners/ (accessed October 2026)
9. Electrical Safety First. "Electrical safety advice for the bathroom." https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/safety-around-the-home/bathroom-safety/ (accessed October 2026)
10. Viessmann. "How to increase water pressure in a shower" (a boiler manufacturer's guidance). 24 March 2022. https://www.viessmann.co.uk/heating-advice/how-to-increase-water-pressure-in-a-shower (accessed October 2026)
11. Health and Safety Executive. "Domestic gas safety: frequently asked questions." Updated 16 March 2023. https://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqs.htm (accessed October 2026)
12. GOV.UK. "VAT rates." https://www.gov.uk/vat-rates (accessed October 2026)
13. GOV.UK. "Register for VAT." https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat (accessed October 2026)
14. Citizens Advice. "Before you get building work done." https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/ (accessed October 2026)
15. legislation.gov.uk. "Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49." https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/section/49 (accessed October 2026)
16. TrustMark. "Who is TrustMark." https://www.trustmark.org.uk/about/who-is-trustmark/ (accessed October 2026)
17. Transport for London. "Congestion Charge." https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge (accessed October 2026)
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