Design and showers
Walk-in shower vs wet room: which is right for you?
A walk-in shower uses a low-profile tray with a fixed glass panel, while a wet room waterproofs the whole floor so there is no step at all. A walk-in shower is quicker and cheaper to fit and suits most bathrooms. A wet room is the better choice when you need fully step-free access. This guide compares them side by side.
Walk-in shower vs wet room at a glance
| Feature | Walk-in shower | Wet room |
|---|---|---|
| Step | A low step at the tray | None, the floor is level |
| Waterproofing | Around the shower area | The whole floor and lower walls |
| Floor work | Little or none | Floor shaped to fall to a drain |
| Fitting time | Usually 1 to 2 days for the shower alone | Longer than a standard refit |
| Cost | Usually lower | Usually higher |
| Best for | Most bathrooms and shower rooms | Step-free access and wheelchair users |
When a walk-in shower makes sense
Choose a walk-in shower if you want a modern, open shower without the cost and time of a wet room. A low-profile tray leaves only a small step, and a frameless glass panel keeps the room bright. It is often the best option in a tenement flat, where floor work is harder. See our walk-in shower installation service.
When a wet room makes sense
Choose a wet room if anyone in the home uses a wheelchair or a shower chair, or finds even a small step difficult. The level floor also suits small rooms, where there is no space for a separate shower area. See our wet room installation service and our wet room cost guide.
What about older homeowners?
Both can be made safer with grab rails, a fold-down seat and slip-resistant tiles. If mobility is likely to change, a level-access floor gives the most flexibility for the future. A bath-to-shower conversion is a simpler route if the bath is the main problem: see our bath-to-shower conversion service.
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Is a wet room better than a walk-in shower?
Not always. A wet room is better if you need fully step-free access, for example for a wheelchair or shower chair, because the whole floor is level. A walk-in shower is better if you want a modern open shower for less cost and disruption, because it uses a low tray on the existing floor. The right choice depends on who uses the bathroom.
Which is cheaper, a wet room or a walk-in shower?
A walk-in shower is usually cheaper. A wet room needs the floor and lower walls waterproofed, and the floor shaped to fall to a drain, which takes more materials and time. A walk-in shower tray sits on the existing floor with much less floor work. We give a fixed-price written quote for either after a free survey. It shows exactly what is included.
Do wet rooms leak?
A properly built wet room should not. The floor and lower walls are waterproofed before tiling, and the floor falls gently to the drain so water does not pool. Problems usually come from poor waterproofing or the wrong fall. That is why the preparation matters more than the tiles, especially in upstairs rooms and flats. We test the waterproofing on some jobs before tiling.
Can I have a wet room in a tenement flat?
Often, yes, but it needs more planning. Tenement floors are timber, so they need a rigid deck before waterproofing, and the drain has to reach the shared soil stack with enough fall. We check the joists and the waste route at the survey. If a full wet room is not practical, a walk-in shower with a low tray can be a good alternative.