Caulk a Tub or Shower
Recaulking is cheap and worth doing before water gets behind the tile. The job fails when the old caulk is still in the joint.
This is a judgment page, not a step-by-step how-to. The procedure lives in the vetted links at the bottom.
The call
This is a DIY. The result depends on removing every bit of the old caulk and letting the joint dry before the new bead goes in. Hire someone only if you don't want to deal with mold, or if the tile is loose and the wall behind it is soft. Caulk will not fix that.
- Difficulty
- Time
- 1–2 hours, plus cure time before you shower
- DIY estimate
- $8–$25
- Pro estimate
- $150–$350
1 of 5
Rough national estimate, not a quote. Prices move with the city, the brand, and whatever the job turns into once you open it up.
Tools
- TODO: affiliate link
Utility knife or a plastic scraper
- TODO: affiliate link
Caulk removal tool
- TODO: affiliate link
Caulk gun
- TODO: affiliate link
Painter's tape
Materials
- TODO: affiliate link
Kitchen-and-bath caulk or 100% silicone labeled for tub and tile
Read the cure time. Most joints should not see water the same day.
- TODO: affiliate link
Rubbing alcohol or the cleaner the caulk maker recommends
- TODO: affiliate link
Paper towels and a spray bottle of water for tooling
Affiliate slots are placeholders. A live shop link will be marked as sponsored. See the affiliate disclosure.
Safety notes
- Ventilate the bathroom. Some silicone is harsh in a closed room.
- Wear gloves. Cured silicone does not come off skin politely.
- If the wall is soft when you press next to the joint, or tile sounds hollow and moves, stop. You have a leak behind the finish, and caulk will hide it.
- Don't caulk over mold and call it done. The mold is in the old joint. It has to come out.
Do I need a permit?
Caulk is maintenance.
Recaulking a tub or shower does not require a permit. If you are pulling tile or opening the wall because the substrate is wet, that repair can. Call the local building department before you demolish a shower.
Permit triggers are local. This is general information, not legal advice. All state pages · Disclaimer
Best How-To Videos & Articles
We link to guides that already exist. We don't rewrite them.
- How to Caulk a Shower or Bathtub
Family Handyman · Article
- How To Caulk a Bathtub
This Old House · Article
- How to Caulk a Shower or Tub Like a Professional
Bob Vila · Article
TODO: add a verified YouTube link for this project.
Questions people ask first
- Is caulking a tub a DIY project?
- Yes. Remove all of the old caulk, dry the joint, and use a tub-and-tile product. Hire it out only if the wall behind the joint is already damaged.
- How much does it cost to caulk a tub or shower?
- Caulk and tape are often $8–$25. A handyman visit is often $150–$350. Those are rough estimates, not a quote.
- Do I need a permit to caulk a shower?
- No. A permit question starts if you are removing tile or rebuilding the shower. Ask the local building department before demolition.