Walk-in shower vs shower enclosure: pros, cons and splash zones

Walk-in showers have become hugely popular in UK bathrooms, but they are not right for every room. Here is how they compare with a traditional enclosure with a door.

What counts as a walk-in shower?

A walk-in shower usually has one or two fixed glass panels and an open entrance, with no door. It can sit on a low shower tray or a tiled wet room floor. The panel is normally fixed with a wall channel or wall brackets and a support bar to the wall or ceiling.

A shower enclosure surrounds the showering area with glass on one or more sides and includes a door: hinged, pivot, sliding or bi-fold.

Walk-in shower: the pros

• Open, modern look that can make a room feel larger.
• No door to clean, adjust or replace.
• Easy access, especially with a low tray or a level wet room floor, which suits many people with mobility needs.
• Fewer seals and moving parts to wear out.

Walk-in shower: the cons

• Needs space. For a comfortable walk-in, you generally want a showering area at least around 1200mm long, and often more. Many designers aim for 1400mm or longer.
• Splashing. Without a door, water can escape through the opening, so the layout needs care.
• Cooler showers. Warm air escapes more easily, which some people notice in winter.
• Privacy. Clear glass and an open end are not for everyone. Frosted or patterned bands can help.

Shower enclosure: the pros

• Better water containment, particularly in small bathrooms.
• Warmer, because the door keeps steam and heat in.
• Works in compact spaces, including corners and recesses as small as about 760mm square.
• More choice of door styles, including space-saving sliding and bi-fold doors.

Shower enclosure: the cons

• More to clean, especially tracks, door seals and hinges.
• More parts to maintain and adjust over time.
• A more enclosed feel, which can make a small room look busier.

Controlling splashes in a walk-in

If you choose a walk-in, these steps make the biggest difference:

1. Make the glass long enough. A longer panel relative to the showering area blocks more spray.
2. Put the shower head at the closed end, pointing away from the opening, or use an overhead rainfall head.
3. Add a return panel (a short hinged or fixed panel at the end) if space is tight.
4. Get the floor fall right. On a wet room floor or tray, the gradient should take water to the waste and away from the opening.
5. Consider a hand shower on a slider so you can control where the water goes.

Quick comparison

Which should you choose?

• Choose a walk-in if you have at least around 1200mm of length to work with, want an open look, value easy access and are happy to plan the layout carefully.
• Choose an enclosure if the space is compact, you want maximum water and heat containment, or you share the bathroom with young children who splash.

Whichever you choose, check the glass is toughened safety glass to BS EN 12150, and ask about the thickness the fittings are designed for. Our glass thickness guide explains the options, and the cost guide covers budgets.