Roll In Shower vs. Walk In Shower: Which One Do You Actually Need?
They sound alike and they look alike, but one has a curb and one does not, and that one difference decides who can use it. Here is how to tell which one fits the person who will bathe in it.
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A walk in shower has no door but usually a 2 to 6 inch curb you step over; a roll in shower has a threshold of 1 1/2 inches or less, often flush, so a wheelchair can roll straight in. Every roll in shower is a walk in shower, but most walk in showers are not roll in.
| Roll in shower | Walk in shower | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | 0 to 1 1/2 inch bevel | 2 to 6 inch curb |
| Wheelchair | Rolls in | No |
| Walker or cane | Walk in flat | Must lift a foot over the curb |
| Door | Curtain or collapsible dam | Glass panel, curtain or open |
| Typical size | 60 x 30 to 63 x 33 | 36 x 36 up to 60 x 32 |
| Water control | Sloped pan, curtain, dam | Curb holds water |
| Built-in seat and grab bars | Standard | Optional |
| Installed cost (ours) | About $15,500 | Usually less |
Choose a roll in shower if…
- Anyone uses a wheelchair, now or likely soon
- A caregiver helps with bathing
- The bather shuffles or has trouble lifting a foot
- You are planning to age in place for 10+ years
A walk in shower is enough if…
- The bather steps over 4 inches safely today
- No wheelchair is in the picture
- You want a glass panel and the driest floor
Why the curb matters more than it looks
A 4 inch curb is nothing to a healthy 50-year-old and a real hazard to someone with a walker, neuropathy or a recent hip replacement. Bathrooms are where most home falls happen, and the step over the tub wall or curb is one of the riskiest moments. Removing the curb removes that step. For the numbers, see our bathroom fall statistics.
Does a roll in shower leak?
Not when the pan is molded with its slope and installed level. The floor drops about 1/4 inch per foot to the drain, and a weighted curtain or a collapsible water dam stops the rest. A walk in shower relies on the curb instead, which is why it is a little drier, and a little harder to get into.
Cost side by side
A tub-to-roll-in conversion with our crews is about $15,500 installed for a 60 x 30 system after the current $2,000 promotion, including the seat, grab bars, handheld wand, demolition and plumbing. A basic curbed walk in shower can cost less because there is less pan engineering and fewer accessories, but once you add a seat and grab bars the gap narrows. Itemized costs →
Can a walk in shower be converted later?
Rarely without starting over. The curb is part of the pan, so going curbless means a new pan and often a new drain. If a wheelchair is likely in the next few years, buy the roll in shower now.
Roll in showers we install
What is a roll in shower? → · Roll in shower dimensions → · Walk in showers for seniors →
Roll In vs Walk In Shower FAQ
What is the difference between a roll in shower and a walk in shower?
A walk in shower usually has a 2 to 6 inch curb to step over; a roll in shower has a threshold of 1 1/2 inches or less, often flush, so a wheelchair can roll in. All roll in showers are walk in showers, but most walk in showers are not roll in.
Is a roll in shower ADA compliant?
A roll in shower can be ADA compliant if it is at least 60 x 30 inches with a threshold of 1/2 inch or less and has the required seat, grab bars and controls. Many residential units use a slightly taller bevel and are ADA style rather than certified compliant.
Which is safer for seniors?
For anyone with balance or mobility problems, a roll in shower is safer because there is no curb to step over and it comes with a seat and grab bars.
Does a roll in shower cost more than a walk in shower?
Usually a little more, because of the sloped pan, water stop, seat and grab bars. Ours run about $15,500 installed for a 60 x 30 system after the current promotion.
Can I put a glass door on a roll in shower?
Fixed glass panels are possible, but a swinging door defeats the purpose. Most roll in showers use a weighted curtain or a collapsible water dam so nothing blocks a wheelchair or a caregiver.
Let's make your bathroom a safer room in the house.
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