Shower enclosure & tray buying guide
Find the perfect shower enclosure to suit your bathroom
The shower is a key feature of the bathroom and the shape and design of the shower enclosure has an impact on the style of the room.
Whether it’s a compact shower cubicle for a small en-suite bathroom, a modern and spacious shower for a large family bathroom or a contemporary and luxurious walk-in shower for a wet room, we offer flexibility within our ranges so you can create the ideal look to suit your lifestyle.
We’ll help you plan your shower enclosure and understand and navigate the variety of door, panel and tray options so you can be sure that you choose the right ones for your bathroom.
Before you begin to look at the details of your shower enclosure, you’ll need to evaluate the space you have available in the bathroom. We’ll walk you through the factors to consider.
Where is the shower enclosure going to go?
When planning your shower enclosure, you’ll first need to decide where it is going to go in your bathroom. The components you’ll need for the enclosure will depend on where you put the shower.
Are you just replacing the shower and want to keep it where it is? Or are you re-fitting your bathroom? If the latter, you might want to move it to a different location in the room. When deciding where to put it, consider the space needed for the door opening and any other features you want to add, such as towel rails. Take into account any existing features such as pipework, vents and lights.
Consider the number of walls you have available for the shower enclosure. Below we explain the options for each scenario:
- One wall – If you have a large space then you may want to make a feature of the shower by placing it in the centre of one wall. This means you’d need two side panels to the enclosure, as well as a door panel for the front.
- Two walls - The conventional and more common approach is to fit the shower into the corner of the room, against two walls. This is most suitable for small to medium-sized bathrooms. For this you’d need one side panel and a door panel.
- Three walls - You'd just need a door panel for the front.
How much space is available for the shower enclosure?
Now you’ve decided where the shower is going, the next thing to consider is how much space you have. How big do you want the shower to be? If you have the space available, why not go for a larger shower to make it a stand-out feature in the room?
Our shower enclosures range in size from 760 by 760millimetres (mm), to 900 by 1600mm. Use a tape measure to work out the dimensions, which you’ll need when shopping for the enclosure.
Once you’ve decided how much space you want to use, continue to the next tab for an outline of the different shape enclosures available and the various door options.
You’ve planned your space and where your shower will go. Next, we’ll get into the details of the shower enclosure – its shape, door style and glass style.
Shower enclosure shapes
There are a number of different shape options when choosing a shower enclosure and tray. The most appropriate will depend on the size and layout of the space you have available. We’ll run through the different shape enclosures and the spaces they suit, to help you make your choice.
Square shower enclosures
A square enclosure offers you a wide choice of options, as many of our ranges include a variety of door styles and glass finishes.
They're practical, using the corner of a room to it's fullest, and still giving you plenty of space to manoeuvre around and fit in other essential bathroom furniture.
Rectangular shower enclosures
If you have a larger space available, a rectangular shower enclosure is a luxury you're sure to enjoy.
Rectangular enclosures can be placed in a corner against two walls, or against one wall with two side panels.
It's also a great way to make your shower accessible for those with less mobility.
Quadrant & Offset quadrant shower enclosures
A quadrant shower enclosure fits against two walls, with a curved door panel. It’s ideal for smaller bathrooms as the curved side means that it uses less space than a square shower enclosure.
Bigger than quadrant showers, offset quadrants are more spacious as they use a larger proportion of one wall, meaning they are great for larger bathrooms.
Shower enclosure access
You’ve decided where the shower is going and what shape it will be, so now is time to decide what sort of doors you want on the shower. We’ll walk you through the options.
Choose from either a left or right-handed enclosure and tray to fit the shower into your chosen space. To establish which you need, stand with your back to the corner of the room. If the longest side is on your left then you need a left-handed enclosure and vice versa.
Pivot door shower enclosures
Pivot doors open as a normal door would – they swing outwards. Full pivot doors, also known as hinged doors, fully open as the hinges are on the side of the door, like a standard door.
Half pivot doors have hinges at the top and bottom and so open halfway. If you’re short on space, a half pivot door would allow for more room.
Bi-fold door shower enclosures
These space-saving doors have two panels that fold up when opened.
They're ideal for smaller bathrooms as they don’t use up any space outside of the shower enclosure. They also won’t drip water onto the floor when opened, which can happen with pivot doors.
Sliding door shower enclosures
Sliding doors are available with two or three panels. Two panel sliding doors are larger and suit square or rectangular enclosures.
Three panel sliding doors are for more compact enclosures. We also offer corner entry shower enclosures, featured on quadrant, offset quadrant and square enclosures.
The two doors slide in and out from the corners. By using two doors as opposed to one, there is more space to step in and out of the shower.
Western-style door shower enclosures
Featuring two doors that open outwards (as often seen in western films), this style suits smaller enclosures, so work well on enclosures within three walls. We offer western-style doors in widths of 760mm or 900mm.
Walk-in shower enclosures
A walk-in shower adds a luxurious touch to any bathroom and is an ideal choice for wetrooms. There are several variations for walk-in showers. Choose from one fixed shower screen for a more open walk-in shower, or add another fixed screen for more of a cubicle.
We offer straight, curved or L-shaped shower screens, depending on the shape and style you want for your walk-in shower. We also offer shower screens with a smaller additional mobile panel that pivots so the user can adjust it to where they want it - enabling easy access but still preventing water from escaping.
Shower enclosure finishes
- Clear – simple and traditional, to fit any style bathroom
- Mirror – a modern touch that looks great as well as being practical
- Frosted effect – white frosted panels for privacy
- Striped – a stylish design with horizontal white stripes
- Semi-mirrored – a subtle and sophisticated finishing touch
- Smoked – an elegant and contemporary grey tint to the glass
These finishes are range specific – see the finishes available per range on the next tab. There you’ll also find out all of the other key features for each of our ranges, such as the glass thickness and guarantee length, to help you choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.
All our shower enclosures feature toughened glass, but the thickness differs across our ranges, from 4 to 8mm. The thicker the glass, the less vibration when you open and close the door.
Some of our shower enclosures also features glass that uses an anti-limescale treatment, so it’s easy to clean.
Now you have an idea about the details of the shower enclosure you want, check out our ranges to see which best suits you.
At B&Q, we offer two different ways to shop for your shower enclosures.
-
Modular shower enclosure ranges – Our Beloya, Zilia, Naya and Onega ranges are offered in a modular approach, meaning that the door panels, fixed screens and trays are all individual products that you can mix and match. You can choose only what you need to build your perfect shower enclosure. It also gives full flexibility on the details, so you can choose the door style you want, to go with the number of fixed panels you need. The only exception to this is the square or quadrant enclosures with corner entry sliding doors, as these come with the fixed panels.
- All-in-one shower enclosure ranges – Our Plumbsure, Luxuriant and Grandeur ranges come as all-in-one shower enclosures. Simply find the enclosure you like and it will come complete with doors and panels. Some of our enclosures in these ranges come as a package with a tray and waste as well, perfect if you’re starting from scratch on a new bathroom project.
Explore the details of our ranges below to find the best enclosure for your bathroom. As well as the choices we’ve already outlined, like shape, door type and finish, you’ll also see the details of the glass thicknesses and guarantees for each of our ranges. Depending on your budget, some of our ranges include easy-clean, anti-limescale panels.
| Shower enclosure range | Shapes | Door styles | Size (W) mm | Glass thick- ness (mm) | Finish | Guarantee | Easy clean? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zilia |
|
| 760-1600 | 10 |
| 10 years | Yes |
| Beloya |
|
| 760-1600 | 8 |
| 10 years | Yes |
| Naya |
|
| 760-1600 | 8 |
| 10 years | Yes |
| Onega |
|
| 760-1200 | 5 |
| 2 years | No |
| Luxuriant |
|
| 800-1400 | 8 |
| 5 years | Yes |
| Grandeur |
|
| 1400 | 8 |
| 5 years | Yes |
| Plumbsure |
|
| 760-1200 | 4 |
| 2 years | No |
Do you need a shower tray? You may have a shower tray already and are just replacing the enclosure, or your package may come complete with a shower tray. Check to see if you need one first. If you do, we’ll explain the differences between our shower trays so you can get the right one to fit your shower enclosure, in the style that you’re after.
Our shower trays come in different shapes, styles and depths. For a traditional-look shower enclosure opt for a high-walled, deep shower tray. For a more contemporary look, particularly for wetrooms and walk-in showers, go for an ultra-low profile shower tray so your tray merges neatly with your flooring. We also offer low-profile shower trays which are in-between the two - to create a clear distinction between the shower enclosure and the rest of the room, but low in depth to make it easy to get in and out.
Ensure that you get the correct depth and type of tray (left-handed or right-handed) to fit with your enclosure – check the enclosure product page for compatible trays.
Shower trays come in a variety of different materials. We’ll go through each of the materials:
- Cast stone shower trays – Made from a mixture of limestone and resin.
- Acrylic shower trays – The most affordable material that is flexible and lightweight. As a lower-budget option, acrylic shower trays are more at risk of damage than sturdier materials.
- Resin shower trays – Made from a mixture of minerals and resins. A sturdy and durable material that is likely to last longer than acrylic shower trays and is strong enough to withstand wear and tear.
- Liquid shower trays (pictured) – Our liquid shower trays are made from XPS (extruded polystyrene foam), mortar and fibre glass. They are designed so you can create a bespoke look by using your own choice of tiles over the top. Make sure you use non-slip tiles.
Not all trays come with a shower waste – the piece of equipment that acts as a drain. Be sure to check your tray before you buy and if it doesn’t, take a look at our range.
| Range | Material | Colour | Depth (mm) | Shapes | Waste (drain) type | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid | Extruded polystyrene, mortar & fibre glass | Grey (lay tiles over) | 40 |
| Liquid horizontal or vertical waste (buy separately) | 10 years |
| Piro | Resin | Black | 27 |
| Standard (buy separately) | 5 years |
| Limski | Resin | White | 75 |
| Standard (buy separately) | 5 years |
| Helgea | Resin | White | 45 |
| Hidden waste (included) | 10 years |
| Ultra Low-profile | Resin | White | 27 |
| Standard (buy separately) | 1 year |
| High-wall | Cast stone | White | 95 |
| Standard (buy separately) | 1 year |
| Lagan | Acrylic | White | 150 |
| Standard (buy separately) | 2 years |
| Low-profile | ResinLite (resin composite, acrylic outer shell) | White | 40 |
| Standard (buy separately) | 1 year |
In addition to the shower tray, there are other items you might need to complete your shower enclosure and tray installation.
Fitting a shower tray
Our easy plumb kits are specifically designed for use with shower trays. They convert a standard floor level tray to a raised tray installation, ensuring that it can be fitted to any floor. It also enables the installer to have access to the waste plumbing for services or maintenance.
Wet rooms
- Level access – waste is fitted between floor joists (wood floors) to give a completely flat wet room floor (pictured).
- Raised wet zone – For installations where the waste can’t be inset into the floor (for example concrete floors). Creates a raised zone above the floor where the waste can be installed.
We offer complete wet room kits for either of these options, both of which can be tiled over to create a bespoke look.
Tiles
We offer a large variety of tiles so you create the look you want. For help choosing your tiles, check out our tiles buying guide. And for a guide to tiling a wall, our how to guide will walk you through the process.
To fully waterproof the walls, we offer tile backer boards that are suitable for putting behind tiles on the walls or floor, to keep your bathroom in good condition.
Bathroom wall panels
A sleek alternative to wall tiles is panelling. Fit a complete panel to the wall for an easy-to-clean and easy-to-apply option. Our shower panels are available in a large range of colours and finishes, to fit any style bathroom. Choose a vibrant colour panel to brighten the room, a marble look for elegance, or even a star dust pattern for extra sparkle. You can choose to use panelling all around your bathroom, in the same or a mix of colours and patterns, or just around the shower enclosure.
Our installation service makes it even easier to bring your dream bathroom to life. We work with approved installers to coordinate your project from start to finish.
As well as fitting your design to your specification, our installers can complete the finishing touches to save you the hassle.
We provide a 2-year workmanship guarantee in addition to any product guarantees. We hope you’ll never need to use our guarantees, but peace of mind is always a good thing to have. Plus, our range of flexible payment and finance options means you can find a plan to suit you.
Find out more about our installation service and book a free planning appointment to get started.