How to Choose a Shower Door
To choose a shower door, decide five things in order: the door style (framed, semi-frameless or frameless, and how it opens), the glass thickness, the glass clarity, whether to add a protective coating, and the hardware finish. Style sets most of the budget; the other four are upgrades you add on top.
Owner, Baja Glass & Mirror — glazing in Las Vegas since 2010
Published · Last updated · 5 min read
The Shower Door Decision Table
Use this table as a checklist. Work top to bottom, and write down your choice in each row before you request a quote. Prices are the published Las Vegas ranges from our shower door installation cost guide.
| Decision | Your options | Price guide |
|---|---|---|
| Door style | Framed, semi-frameless or frameless; sliding, hinged or pivot | Framed $400–$800 · semi-frameless $800–$1,400 · frameless $1,200–$2,800 |
| Glass thickness | 3/8" (standard) or 1/2" (premium) tempered safety glass | 1/2" glass adds $400–$800 |
| Glass clarity | Standard clear or low-iron ultra-clear | Low-iron adds $200–$500 |
| Protective coating | None, or a hydrophobic coating such as ShowerGuard or EnduroShield | Coating adds $150–$300 |
| Hardware finish | Polished chrome, brushed nickel, matte black or brass/gold | Chrome standard · nickel +$100–$150 · black +$150–$250 · brass/gold +$200–$300 |
| Budget | Add the style range to any upgrades you choose | Custom enclosure $2,000–$4,500+ · steam enclosure $3,000–$6,000+ |
1. Choose the Door Style
Door style is the decision that shapes everything else, so make it first. There are two parts to it: how much frame the door has, and how it opens.
Frame. A framed door surrounds the glass with metal and is the most affordable option at $400–$800. A semi-frameless door keeps some metal support but drops most of the frame, at $800–$1,400. A frameless door uses heavier glass with minimal hardware for the most open look, at $1,200–$2,000 with 3/8" glass or $1,600–$2,800 with 1/2" glass. For a full side-by-side comparison of looks, cleaning and cost, read frameless vs. semi-frameless vs. framed shower doors.
How it opens. Sliding doors run along the opening and do not swing into the room, which suits tub-and-shower combinations and tight bathrooms. Hinged doors swing open like a standard door and need clear floor space in front of the shower. Pivot doors turn on a pivot point at the top and bottom of the glass. If you want a larger layout, a custom enclosure ($2,000–$4,500+) or a steam enclosure ($3,000–$6,000+) combines the door with fixed panels built for your space.
2. Choose the Glass Thickness
Every door we install uses tempered safety glass. The choice is thickness: 3/8" is our standard and works for most doors, while 1/2" is the premium option. Thicker glass feels heavier and more solid when you open the door, and it is a common pairing with frameless designs. Moving from 3/8" to 1/2" glass adds $400–$800.
3. Decide on Glass Clarity
Standard clear glass is what most showers use. Low-iron glass is an ultra-clear alternative that looks more transparent, especially at the edges and on thicker panels. It is worth considering if you want the glass to disappear or you are showcasing tile. Low-iron glass adds $200–$500.
4. Decide Whether to Add a Protective Coating
A hydrophobic coating such as ShowerGuard or EnduroShield helps water bead and run off the glass instead of drying on it. In Las Vegas, where hard water leaves spots quickly, it is worth deciding on this when you order the door. A coating adds $150–$300.
5. Pick a Hardware Finish
Match the hinges, handle and any other hardware on the door to your faucet and fixtures. Polished chrome is standard. Brushed nickel adds $100–$150, matte black adds $150–$250, and brass or gold adds $200–$300.
6. Add It Up Against Your Budget
Start with the range for your door style, then add each upgrade you picked. For example, a frameless door with 3/8" glass ($1,200–$2,000) plus a hydrophobic coating ($150–$300) and matte black hardware ($150–$250) lands between $1,500 and $2,550. If the total is higher than you want, the upgrades are the easiest place to trim; the door style is the hardest to change later.
Published ranges are a guide. Your exact price depends on the measured opening, so every project gets a free in-home measurement and a written quote.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing hardware before style. The finish is the easiest thing to change on paper and the least important to the budget. Settle the door style first.
- Ignoring how the door opens. A hinged or pivot door needs clear floor space to swing. In a tight bathroom, a sliding door may be the better fit.
- Ordering from your own measurements. Glass doors are cut to the opening, and tempered glass cannot be trimmed afterward. An on-site laser measurement avoids a door that does not fit.
- Skipping the coating decision. A hydrophobic coating is simplest to add when the door is ordered, so decide on it up front.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important decision when choosing a shower door?
Door style. Framed, semi-frameless or frameless sets most of the price and the look, and it determines which glass thickness makes sense. Choose the style first, then glass, coating and hardware finish.
Is 3/8" or 1/2" glass better for a shower door?
3/8" tempered glass is our standard and works for most doors. 1/2" glass is the premium option; it feels heavier and more solid and adds $400–$800 to the project.
Is low-iron glass worth it?
Low-iron glass is ultra-clear, which matters most if you want the glass to disappear or you have light-colored tile. It adds $200–$500.
Do I need a protective coating on my shower glass?
A hydrophobic coating such as ShowerGuard or EnduroShield helps water bead off the glass and adds $150–$300. It is worth considering in Las Vegas because of the valley's hard water.
How much does a new shower door cost?
Framed doors run $400–$800, semi-frameless $800–$1,400 and frameless $1,200–$2,800. Custom enclosures start around $2,000 and steam enclosures around $3,000. Measurements and quotes are free.
Get Help Choosing Your Shower Door
Baja Glass & Mirror has installed shower doors in Las Vegas since 2010. We will measure your shower, walk through each decision with you and give you a written quote, free. Call (702) 383-0779.