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Walk-In Shower or Wet Room: Which Should You Choose?
Walk-in showers and wet rooms look similar — both have open glass screens and no door to fight with — but they are built in different ways. Here is how they compare, so you can pick the one that suits your bathroom, your budget and the people using it.
The difference in a sentence
A walk-in shower uses a low shower tray with a fixed glass panel. A wet room has no tray at all: the floor itself slopes to a drain and the room is fully waterproofed.
Walk-in shower
A walk-in shower sits on a low-profile tray, usually 1200mm or longer, with one or two fixed glass panels and an open entry.
- Simpler and quicker to fit — a standard plumber or bathroom fitter can do it.
- Usually cheaper, as there is less floor work and waterproofing.
- Water stays on the tray, so the rest of the bathroom floor needs no special treatment.
- There is still a small step up onto the tray, though low-profile trays keep this to a few centimetres.
Wet room
A wet room has a former set into the floor so the shower area is flush with the rest of the room.
- Truly step-free — ideal for wheelchair users, shower chairs and anyone who wants level access.
- More space — the whole room can be used as the showering area.
- A seamless look, with one floor finish running throughout.
- More work to install: the floor must be prepared and the room fully tanked.
Side-by-side comparison
| Walk-in shower | Wet room | |
|---|---|---|
| Step into shower | Low step onto tray | Step-free |
| Waterproofing | Shower walls | Floor and walls |
| Fitting time | Shorter | Longer |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Wheelchair or shower chair use | Limited | Ideal |
| Floor finish | Any | Tiles or safety vinyl |
Which should you choose?
- Choose a walk-in shower if you want a modern open shower at a lower cost, and a small step is not a problem.
- Choose a wet room if you need step-free access — now or in the future — or want the most open, seamless look.
- Not sure? A level-access shower tray sits in between: it is set flush with the floor like a wet room, with a tray's simpler waterproofing. Read our guide to wet floor formers vs level-access trays.
Products in this guide
Kartell K-VIT Anti-Slip Square Low Profile Shower Tray – All Sizes
From £112.50
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Nuie Chrome Wetroom Screen with Support Bar — 1950mm
From £161.50
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AKW Tuff Form Wet Floor Former (All Sizes)
From £192.95
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Essential Pro Deck Linear Wet Room Floor Former – Linear Drain, For Tiled Floors
From £448.00
View product
Many products in this guide may qualify for UK VAT relief. Eligibility conditions apply — see our VAT relief guide or contact us to check whether your order qualifies.
Frequently asked questions
Is a walk-in shower cheaper than a wet room?
Usually, yes. A walk-in shower needs less floor preparation and waterproofing, so both the materials and the labour cost less.
Do walk-in showers splash the bathroom?
A screen of at least 1200mm long with the shower head at the closed end keeps most water inside. A longer tray or a second panel reduces splashing further.
Can I have a wet room in a small bathroom?
Yes — small bathrooms often suit wet rooms well, because removing the tray and enclosure frees up space. A screen helps keep the toilet and basin drier.