Onyx Shower Cost in Minnesota | Xpres Kitchen & Bath
Onyx Shower Cost in Minnesota
Here is the short answer. An installed Onyx shower in Minnesota usually lands somewhere between $7,000 and $20,000. A simple swap in an existing alcove sits near the bottom. A large custom shower with a bench, a frameless glass door and moved plumbing sits at the top, and can pass $30,000.
That is a wide range, and a wide range is not much use when you are trying to budget. So the rest of this guide breaks it apart. What the pieces cost. What drives the number up. Why the figures you find online disagree with each other so much. And what the Minneapolis market looks like specifically, which is not the same as the national average.
One thing to say up front. Every Onyx shower is made to order. There is no catalog price, because there is no standard product. The number you get is built from your measurements, your color, your accessories and your bathroom's condition. Anyone quoting you a firm price without seeing the room is guessing.
What an Onyx shower actually is
Onyx is a brand, not a stone. The Onyx Collection manufactures solid surface bathroom products in Belvue, Kansas, and sells only through dealers. Shower bases, wall panels, vanity tops, seats, niches and trim, all cut to your dimensions.
The material is 63% alumina trihydrate and 37% polyester resin, finished with a gelcoat surface. Alumina trihydrate is the same base mineral used in Corian and other solid surface products. The resin formula contains no urea formaldehyde. The practical result is a shower with no grout lines, which is the reason most people start looking at it.
Two numbers are worth knowing. Onyx wall panels are just over 5/16 of an inch thick. The bases are typically more than an inch. That is considerably more substantial than a thin acrylic surround, and it is part of what you are paying for.
What the pieces cost
Published component pricing gives a useful starting point. These are national figures from 2026 cost data, not quotes, and they cover material rather than installed work.
Notice that the Onyx material itself is only part of the picture. On a typical project it works out to roughly a third of what you pay.
What installed projects cost
Installed totals are the number that matters, and they are what most people mean when they ask about Onyx shower cost. Here is how Onyx compares to the two materials people usually weigh it against.
Three published bands are commonly cited for Onyx. A simple replacement runs $7,000 to $12,000. A standard installation runs $10,000 to $20,000. A large custom project runs $20,000 to $30,000 and up.
For comparison, an acrylic or fiberglass kit installs for roughly $6,000 to $8,000. A tile shower runs about $15,000 with basic tile, and passes $20,000 with upscale stone. Onyx sits between them, closer to tile than to acrylic.
Why the published numbers disagree
If you have already searched this, you have seen figures that do not line up. One source says $7,000. Another says a basic Onyx retrofit starts around $13,000. Both are real numbers. They are measuring different things.
Here is what usually explains the gap.
Material versus installed. Some quotes cover the Onyx package only. Others cover demolition, waterproofing, plumbing, glass, fixtures and labor. Those are very different totals.
Alcove versus custom. Replacing a shower in an existing alcove with the drain where it already is costs far less than building a larger shower with new plumbing.
Glass. A frameless door can add $1,900 to $3,000 by itself. A framed door is a fraction of that. Many published ranges do not say which they assumed.
Regional labor. A Kansas installed price and a Twin Cities installed price are not the same number, and neither is the same as a coastal one.
What the demolition finds. Rot behind an old tile shower, a failed pan, or a subfloor that has to be rebuilt turns into real money once the wall is open.
This is the most useful thing to take from this guide. When you compare two Onyx quotes, check what each one includes before you compare the totals. A cheaper quote that excludes glass, fixtures and waterproofing is not cheaper.
What the Minneapolis market looks like
National ranges are a starting point. Local numbers are better.
For the Minneapolis area, 2026 cost data puts the average tub-to-shower conversion at about $3,144, with a range of roughly $1,572 to $8,384. A full walk-in shower runs $3,000 to $16,500. Those figures cover all materials, and most of the low end is acrylic, so read them as the floor of the market rather than an Onyx price.
The local labor numbers are more directly useful. Twin Cities pros charge roughly $65 to $110 per hour per worker, and full project labor commonly lands between $1,500 and $4,000. Removing and disposing of an old tub runs $200 to $450. Permits run $100 to $500. Waterproofing runs $500 to $1,500. Shower doors run $300 to $3,200 depending on style.
One local wrinkle worth planning for. Many Minneapolis and inner-ring suburb homes were built before 1970, and older plumbing often needs work once it is exposed. That is a common source of change orders in this market, not a rare one.
Where the money actually goes
It helps to see the whole bill at once.
The reason this matters is simple. If you are trying to reduce the price, cutting the Onyx spec only moves about a third of the total. Choosing a framed door instead of frameless, or keeping the drain where it is, often saves more.
Seven things that move your price
1. Whether the drain moves
Keeping the existing drain location is one of the biggest savings available. Moving it means opening the floor, and in a slab or a finished ceiling below, that is a real job.
2. Size and shape
Onyx is priced by the piece and the piece is cut to your room. A bigger shower is more material and more labor. A curved or angled configuration is more of both.
3. Accessories
Every niche, shelf, bench and seat is a separate made-to-order part. Each one adds material cost and installation time. Two niches instead of one is not a rounding error.
4. Glass
This is the single biggest optional line item. Frameless glass is heavy, needs precise fitting, and often needs blocking in the wall. Framed and semi-frameless doors cost substantially less.
5. Color and texture
Onyx offers a large color range and several surface textures. Some cost more than others. This is worth asking about early, because it is easy to fall in love with an upgrade finish before you know what it adds.
6. What is behind the old shower
Nobody can price this before demolition. Water damage behind a failed tile shower is common, and repairing the framing or subfloor is added scope. A good contractor will tell you this is possible rather than pretending it is not.
7. Plumbing and electrical updates
If the valve is old, if the venting is not right, or if the bathroom needs a fan or a GFCI outlet brought up to current code, that work rides along with the remodel.
Onyx compared to the alternatives
The honest summary. Choose tile if the design matters more than the maintenance. Choose acrylic if the budget is the deciding factor and you accept a shorter life. Choose Onyx if you want a grout-free shower sized to your room and you are willing to pay more than acrylic for it.
The guarantee, and what it means
The Onyx Collection backs its products with what it calls the Yes, Guaranteed Forever guarantee. If the product fails, the company replaces the item or refunds its cost.
Read that carefully, because it is a product guarantee. It covers the manufactured piece. It does not cover the installation, the plumbing behind it, or the glass. Workmanship is a separate matter between you and your contractor, and it is a fair question to ask before you sign anything.
Two questions worth asking any Onyx dealer: what does the manufacturer guarantee cover in writing, and what does your own workmanship warranty cover, for how long. Get both answers before the project starts, not after.
Keeping it looking new
Maintenance is genuinely light, which is much of the appeal. A weekly wipe-down is usually enough.
The manufacturer lists cleaners that are safe to use, including white vinegar, CLR, Scrubbing Bubbles, Clorox products and Lysol.
What matters more is the list of things to avoid. Anything gritty or abrasive will dull the gelcoat surface. That specifically includes Soft Scrub, Comet and Magic Eraser style pads. This is the most common way homeowners damage a surface that would otherwise have lasted decades.
What the installation actually involves
Knowing the sequence helps you read a quote, and it explains where the labor hours go.
Measure and template. The dealer measures the opening precisely. Because every piece is cut to those numbers, this step has to be right before anything is ordered.
Order and manufacture. The pieces are made to order in Kansas and shipped. This is lead time, not labor, but it is real calendar time and it happens before any work starts in your house.
Demolition. The old shower or tub comes out. Tile demolition is messier and slower than pulling an acrylic unit or a tub.
Inspection of what is behind it. This is the moment any water damage, rot or failed pan shows up. On older Twin Cities homes it is common enough to budget for.
Framing and substrate prep. Walls are made flat and plumb, blocking is added where a bench, grab bar or glass panel will land, and the floor is prepared for the base.
Plumbing rough-in. Valve, drain and any relocated supply lines. If the drain is moving, this is where the floor gets opened.
Waterproofing. Even with a solid surface system, the assembly behind and beneath it has to be detailed correctly.
Base set, then panels. The base goes in level and supported. Wall panels sit on the base, not the other way round, and are sealed at the seams.
Accessories and trim. Niches, bench, corner shelves, crown and trim pieces.
Glass. Measured after the panels are in, because the glass has to fit what was actually built. This is why glass often arrives a week or two after the shower looks finished.
The practical consequence is that an Onyx shower cost quote covers two different things: the manufactured product, which is fixed once ordered, and the site work, which is where surprises live.
Onyx for a tub-to-shower conversion
This is one of the most common reasons Twin Cities homeowners look at Onyx in the first place. A little-used tub in a main or guest bathroom becomes a walk-in shower.
The appeal is practical. A standard tub alcove is a fixed size, usually about 60 inches, and a made-to-order base can be built to fill it exactly. There is no gap to trim out and no compromise on where the drain lands, because the base is cut for the plumbing you already have.
Cost-wise, conversions sit at the friendlier end of the Onyx shower cost range, because the footprint already exists and the drain often stays put. The Minneapolis-area average for a tub-to-shower conversion across all materials is about $3,144, though that figure is weighted toward acrylic. An Onyx conversion will sit above it, with the exact number depending on wall height, accessories and glass.
One caution. If the tub is the only one in the house, think about resale before removing it. Many buyers with young children still want at least one bathtub in the home.
If you are planning for aging in place
A meaningful share of shower remodels in the west metro are done with the next twenty years in mind rather than the next two. Onyx suits that well, and the choices you make here also affect the price.
A low-threshold or curbless base removes the step over. This needs to be planned early, because it affects the floor structure and the drain.
A built-in bench in the same material is stronger and cleaner than an add-on seat, and it is priced as an accessory.
Grab bars need solid blocking in the wall behind the panel. That blocking has to go in during framing. Adding it later means opening the wall again.
A wider door opening and a hand-held shower on a slide bar are inexpensive at the design stage and expensive as an afterthought.
A no-grout surface is easier to keep clean for someone with limited mobility or grip strength.
None of these are large line items on their own. All of them are much cheaper decided now than retrofitted later.
How to compare two Onyx quotes
Quotes for the same bathroom can differ by thousands, and the difference is usually scope rather than markup. Before comparing totals, check that each quote answers all of these.
Does the price include the glass enclosure, and is it framed, semi-frameless or frameless?
Does it include the valve, trim and shower head, or only the Onyx and the labor?
Is demolition and disposal included?
Are permits included, and who pulls them?
Is the drain staying where it is, or is the quote assuming it moves?
How many niches, shelves and seats are in the price, and what does each additional one cost?
What happens, in writing, if damage is found behind the old shower?
What is the workmanship warranty, separate from the manufacturer guarantee?
A quote that answers all eight is easier to trust than a lower number that answers three.
Frequently asked questions
Is an Onyx shower worth the cost?
It depends what you are comparing it to. Against acrylic, you are paying roughly double for a thicker, custom-sized product with a manufacturer guarantee. Against tile, you are usually paying somewhat less and trading design freedom for no grout maintenance. Bathroom remodels generally return 45% to 60% of their cost at resale, which is worth factoring in.
How long does an Onyx shower take to install?
The pieces are made to order, so there is a manufacturing lead time before installation starts. Once material arrives, a straightforward alcove installation is typically a matter of days rather than weeks. Ask your dealer for current lead times, since they move with demand.
Can Onyx be repaired if it gets damaged?
Solid surface materials can generally be repaired, and the manufacturer guarantee covers product failure. Damage caused by abrasive cleaners is a different situation, which is why the cleaning guidance above matters.
Does an Onyx shower need to be sealed?
No. There is no grout to seal and the gelcoat surface resists water penetration. This is one of the practical differences from a tile shower.
Is Onyx the same as cultured marble?
Not quite. Both are cast in similar molds, but Onyx uses a proprietary resin formula that produces a deeper, more translucent appearance. Lower-grade cultured marble products are more prone to yellowing or cracking over time.
Getting a real number for your bathroom
Published Onyx shower cost ranges will get you to a budget bracket. They will not get you to a price, because your price depends on your room.
Xpres is an authorized Onyx dealer and a preferred Onyx installer for the Twin Cities, based in Plymouth, Minnesota. That means Onyx shower kits, bases, wall panels, vanities and accessories in the full range of colors, textures and finishes, installed by the same company that sells them. There is a showroom where you can see and handle samples rather than choosing a finish from a screen.
The useful next step is a measured quote. Someone looks at your bathroom, confirms whether the drain can stay, checks the condition behind the existing shower, and prices the actual scope.
Call Xpres at (763) 392-0111 or ask about Onyx pricing to get started.
