What should a tub-to-shower conversion quote include?

For a fair comparison, ask each contractor to specify tub removal and disposal, the shower base and wall finish, waterproofing, and any wall repairs. Have them state whether the drain and supplies stay in place or relocation is included, and how concealed-condition work would be priced. The quote should also name the showerhead, give its flow rating, and say whether it’s included or priced separately. That makes exclusions and allowances visible instead of burying them in a total.

The biggest swings are often whether plumbing must move and what turns up behind the tub or wall once it is opened - such as damaged framing or surfaces needing repair. Design choices like a custom-sized base or more involved wall finish can also add work. Without seeing a bathroom, I wouldn’t rank these universally; it’s useful to separate known scope from concealed-condition allowances in each quote.

An allowance doesn’t automatically cap the final cost; it may be an estimated amount that can be exceeded. Ask whether concealed-condition work has a fixed maximum, and whether any overage needs your approval through a written change order before the contractor proceeds. That makes the cost exposure clearer without assuming what a particular quote means by “allowance.”

The flow rating lets you compare showerheads, but it doesn’t tell you how much water a household will use. A lower-flow head may save more for someone taking long, frequent showers than for someone taking brief ones. For comparing quotes, I’d hold the proposed fixture constant - or make its price and rating explicit - so the fixture choice doesn’t obscure other differences in scope.

For example, if two quotes both cover tub removal, the same shower base and wall finish, waterproofing, and disposal, their totals are easier to compare. If one assumes the drain stays put while the other prices relocation separately, keep that difference visible rather than treating the lower total as a like-for-like price. Concealed-condition work can likewise sit outside the shared base scope, with its terms stated separately.