Outdoor Shower Installation Cost Guide

An outdoor shower can be a fantastic addition to your home, especially if you have a home sauna or a hot tub. Whether you’re looking for something functional or a shower that's the height of luxury, you'll need to have a budget in mind. Expect to spend anywhere between £500-£3,000 for outdoor shower installation, but what factors make up this cost?

How much does it cost to install an outdoor shower?

How much it costs to install an outdoor shower will largely depend on the type of shower you choose and how complex the installation will be.

HaMuch has a large database of hourly and daily rates for plumbers based on location, so take a look at these further down the page. But these are the average costs to install an outdoor shower:

Item	Average cost
Outdoor shower unit	£100-£1,000
Plumber	£50 per hour
Electrician	£45 per hour
Water pump	£100-£300
Outdoor tiles	£20-£40 per square metre
Decking	£10-£50 per square metre

What factors affect the cost of an outdoor shower?

The cost of an outdoor shower will differ based on a few factors:

Type of shower

You can get wall-fitted, free-standing and solar powered showers – solar showers are often the most expensive.

Plumbing work required

Installing your outdoor shower near an outside tap will probably be the cheapest, but this might not always be possible. If you need a new water line, this will drive up the cost.

If you have low water pressure, you’ll need to factor in the cost to install a water pump too.

Floor coverings

You’ll need to consider laying outdoor tiles or decking around your outdoor shower to prevent users from slipping. Outdoor tiles cost £20-£40 per square metre on average, while decking can cost anywhere between £10-£50 per square metre.

Your location

Where you live will have an impact on how much you pay for labour. Electricians and plumbers’ rates differ across the country, so take a look at our prices based on location below. In general, hourly rates in major cities and the south east are higher than in other areas.

Benefits of an outdoor shower

Adds value to your home

A well thought-out outdoor shower can add value to your home. Potential buyers look for well cared-for gardens that have unique features, so a prospective buyer may be more likely to bid higher if they like your outdoor shower setup.

Use as a pet shower

If you have a dog, an outdoor shower is ideal for using as a pet shower. Whether it’s rinsing off muddy paws after a walk in the woods or a full shower as part of a routine groom, having an outdoor shower will keep dirty dogs out of your house.

Use before entering your pool or hot tub

Installing an outdoor shower is a good idea if you have a pool or hot tub. Showering before you get in is a good idea to avoid contaminating the water with perfumes and oils from your skin as well as dirt from your garden. You may find that having and using an outdoor shower before using your hot tub or pool reduces the amount of maintenance you need to do on them.

What to consider before building an outdoor shower

There are a few things to consider before building an outdoor shower:

Where you will install it

While it will be cheapest and easiest to install your outdoor shower near to the house so a plumber can access your water supply, you also want to consider its position in sunlight. To prevent the shower from suffering from damp and mould, you’ll need it to dry out quickly – making positions in direct sunlight the best.

Cleaning and maintenance

Your outdoor shower will require maintenance – you’ll need to clean it regularly to remove any dirt or animal droppings that might appear on it. If it’s not being used every day and you live in a hard water area, you might get limescale build up if you don’t regularly clean it.

Protecting your pipes

Make sure you speak to your plumber about insulating all the pipes to and from your shower. In the winter, the pipes could freeze, which could cause leaks. Since you won’t use your outdoor shower as much in the winter, leaks could go undetected for months, causing much more costly repairs.

What is the best base for an outdoor shower?

The best base for an outdoor shower is a stone tile one. It is water- and slip-resistant which is ideal to prevent mould growth and accidents, and will feel warm underfoot if exposed to the sun. You might need to seal it regularly, so bear that in mind before you install it.

Other options are concrete and wood, but you’ll need to make sure you create a non-slip finish on the concrete and ensure you leave a gap for air circulation if you use wood.

Do outdoor showers need a drain?

Most outdoor showers won't need a complex drain system, but you'll need to make sure that the water will drain away from the house in order to prevent damp problems and even subsidence if water is left to stand.

You could build a natural drain that runs water into your flowerbed or grass to water it, reducing your need to use the outside tap to water your garden. Other options are to install a French drain or install a shower pan that connects to your waste water system.

If you're ready to install an outdoor shower, post your job on HaMuch. We'll put you in touch with reliable plumbers that can give you an accurate price for your outdoor shower installation.

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