How to estimate your total steam shower cost?

Most homeowners today are happy to invest in steam showers, and create a luxurious spa-like experience at home. Apart from the health benefits such a warm, vaporous steam room haven provides the perfect end to a long day. But, how much does a steam shower cost? Well, this guide will help you with just that. 

There has been evidence that steam and sauna help with circulation and sore muscles besides benefiting the skin and sinuses. If you’re renovating on a budget and confused between a steam room, a whirlpool tub, or sauna — a steam shower is a better bet for you.

It doesn’t take a long time, or too much energy, to generate heat. And when you’re done, you can just turn on the shower for a refreshing rinse. That way, you can enjoy both a regular shower and steam in the comfort of your home. 

But, do keep in mind that the high humidity level of steam showers can let mold and mildew growth. That’s why it’s important to maintain your steam shower unit in the best possible way. 

Once you decide to install a steam shower at home, you’ll want to know its cost and how it works.

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Steam shower cost

On average, this type of home improvement project will cost you around $4,350 to $6,050 — with homeowners paying anywhere between $3,000 to $20,000. This might be much more than the cost to install a regular shower at $1,125 but a steam shower’s cost is far outweighed by its benefits. 

In terms of square footage, the typical steam showers are 3-by-3-by-7 feet. On average, you can expect to spend around $70 per square foot. 

Of course, like any other home improvement project, your steam shower pricing depends on a lot of factors, including the type of steam shower you want (prefabricated unit or a custom-built unit), its material and labor cost, the size of your bathroom, remodeling budget constraints, steam unit design, etc.

For example, if you have an existing shower unit and you just need to install a steam generator, you can bring down the steam shower cost to around $50 to $60 per square foot.

Factors that affect the steam shower cost

Adding a home steam shower can depend on a lot of variables. Some of these include:

• The size of your shower stall: For a bigger area, your steam unit will require a more powerful steam generator as well as additional construction materials — thereby increasing the steam shower price. 
• Prefabricated steam shower vs. custom-built steam shower unit: Whether you’re installing a prefabricated unit or a custom steam shower will definitely influence the total steam shower cost. For example, with a prefab unit, there’s no additional material cost or the cost of the steam generator as it’s already built into the unit cost. Such a steam shower typically costs around $2,800 to $5,930. A custom steam shower, on the other hand, is designed exactly to your specifications — and increases the cost of materials such as ceramic or porcelain tiles and glass. Shower tiles cost $1,000 for three shower walls on average and glass shower doors cost around $900 to $1,300, depending on their thickness and type of glass.
• Labor cost: Buying a prefabricated steam shower will cost you much less as it cuts your labor cost of hiring a shower installer. On average, a custom steam shower may cost you anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000 (or more) while a prefabricated unit will cost you between $500 to $600.
• Type of material and size of shower steam generator: Choosing the right generator size should ideally depend on the shower wall material. For example, you’ll need to select a more powerful generator for porous materials such as marble, stone, granite, glass block, or concrete. Such materials dissipate heat more quickly. Nonporous materials such as ceramic, porcelain, and acrylic, retain heat in the shower and generally require a smaller generator.
• Shower controls and enhancements: A new steam shower can range from simpler models to those with enhanced options based on your personal needs. For instance, you can choose models with in-built shower seats or benches, the option to remote control the steam, piped-in aromas, mood lighting for relaxation, audio system for some music therapy, anti-fog mirrors, towel warmers, and so on.

How do steam showers work?

A steam shower design is quite straightforward. Coldwater goes into a steam generator through a pipe, is heated to its boiling point. It then sends fresh steam to an aperture in the shower stall. There are digital controls inside the shower stall to adjust the steam’s temperature and duration.

As you hit the digital controls, it triggers an electric valve to fill the steam generator with sufficient cold water. The generator’s electric element brings the water to a boil. A pipe carries the hot vapor to the steam head that fills the shower stall with tropical moisture — never letting the temperature get above a safe 118 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Read more: A concise info guide on a home steam room

Does a steam shower increase home value?

A good reason to invest in a home spa is the net gain you can expect at the time of selling your home. Experts believe that installing a steam shower in your house could get you a 31% higher sale price than listings without it.

Steam showers (unlike saunas that are more difficult to maintain) function as regular showers and can be used daily. Additionally, the installation costs aren’t dramatically higher than installing a traditional shower.

It costs less than you’d expect — and yet provides you with long-term health benefits and an overall lifestyle change. This is one home improvement that you’ll be glad you made.

Read more: 8 Home renovation projects with the highest ROI

Last thoughts

If you’d love to install a home steam shower, but are feeling hesitant about the potential cost of creating a home spa, think of all the benefits a simple steam shower can provide, including a higher home value and a greater sense of well-being. 

Once you picture yourself coming home to your personal spa after a long day at work or a gym workout, you’ll want to install a steam shower right away!

Read more: Home spa bathroom design

Written by Ramona Sinha. October 22, 2021

Ramona is a content writer for Kukun. This experienced blogger uses simple and succinct words to decipher the complex phenomenon called life. An avid traveler, she’s a digital nomad at heart and an animal lover from the depths of her soul.