How to Install a Steam Shower: What Your Electrician and Plumber Need

A steam shower needs three things done right: a sealed enclosure, a dedicated electrical circuit and a steam line from the generator to the shower. Here is what each trade does, and what to ask them for. Electrical and plumbing work must be done by licensed professionals, following the manufacturer’s manual and your local code.

Who you need

• Licensed electrician: runs the dedicated 240 V circuit and connects the generator.
• Licensed plumber: connects the water supply, runs the steam line and fits the steam head.
• Tile installer or contractor: only if you are building or changing the shower enclosure.

1. Get the enclosure right

• The shower must be fully enclosed: walls, ceiling, floor and a door. A gasketed, vapor-proof door is recommended.
• An 8 ft ceiling is best. Mr. Steam and Kohler chart ceilings up to 10 ft.
• Slope the ceiling so condensation runs down the walls instead of dripping.
• Windows should be double-paned, tempered safety glass.

2. Size the generator

The generator size depends on the room volume, the wall material and the ceiling height. Stone, marble and glass block need a larger generator; acrylic needs a smaller one. Use our steam generator sizing calculator, which follows Mr. Steam’s and Kohler’s published charts.

3. Choose where the generator goes

• A heated, dry space near the shower, such as a vanity, a closet or a nearby room. Never outdoors, in an unheated attic or anywhere water could freeze.
• Kohler steam heads must be within 25 ft of the generator. Mr. Steam allows up to 60 ft of insulated steam line.
• Leave access to the generator for service.

4. Electrical: what to tell your electrician

Steam generators are hard-wired on a dedicated 240 V circuit. The circuit size depends on the generator. Kohler lists the required circuit for each Invigoration model:

Mr. Steam publishes the amps and the wire size for each model; you will find them on each of our Mr. Steam product pages. Your electrician will choose the breaker from those numbers and your local code.

Exact amps, wire and circuit for every Mr. Steam and Kohler model are in our steam generator electrical requirements guide.

• Ask whether your electrical panel has room for the new circuit. If it does not, a panel upgrade comes first.
• Pull a permit if your town requires one.

5. Plumbing: what to tell your plumber

• Connect the water supply to the generator, as shown in the installation manual.
• Run an insulated steam line from the generator to the steam head, within the distance limit above.
• Place the steam head and the control where the manual shows.

6. Installing a steam shower cabin

A steam shower cabin skips the tiling. You still need:

• A clear path: measure doorways, hallways and stairs, and compare them with the cabin size on the product page.
• Water lines and a drain in the positions on the cabin’s spec sheet.
• The dedicated circuit listed on the product page. Models with a whirlpool tub can need a second circuit for the pump.
• Help on delivery day: cabins arrive by curbside freight.

What installation costs

HomeGuide puts a new dedicated circuit at $250 to $900 installed and an electrical permit at $50 to $350 (Aug 2025). For the full picture, see our steam shower cost guide.

Get help with your project

Send us your measurements and we will confirm the right generator and the circuit it needs. Get a free quote, or download our steam shower planning checklist. Contractors can join our trade program.

Sources

• Mr. Steam residential installation, operation and maintenance manuals and technical spec sheets.
• Kohler Invigoration Series steam generator installation guides.
• HomeGuide, “Cost to Install an Electrical Outlet”, August 29, 2025.