A custom pan is ordered from measurements rather than chosen from a list, which makes the quality of four numbers the whole project. It also makes one decision - whether the drain moves or the pan is made to suit it - the difference between a fabrication job and a plumbing job.
When a Made-to-Measure Pan Is the Right Answer
Four situations justify it. The opening falls between standard footprints, such as 54 in. or 57 in. in an alcove built for 60 in. The walls are out of square enough that a rectangular pan leaves a tapered gap in the wettest place in the room. The trap sits where no standard pan provides a drain. Or the shower is a shape no moulded pan covers, such as a corner with unequal legs or an angled front.
Filler strips and furring are the alternatives, and each has a cost: a filler at the base adds a joint in a wet area, and furring a wall moves the whole finish line. Where either would be visible, a custom pan is usually cheaper than the make-good work.
The Measurements a Fabricator Needs
Six figures, all taken between finished surfaces. The opening width at three heights, using the narrowest. The depth front to back at both ends. The diagonals, so the out-of-square is quantified rather than described. The drain centre measured from two reference walls. The trap and waste diameter. And the height available from subfloor to the intended threshold level.
| Measurement | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Width at three heights | Sets the outside dimension; catches a leaning wall |
| Depth at both ends | Catches a taper that a single reading hides |
| Diagonals | Quantifies the out-of-square |
| Drain centre from two walls | Locates the outlet so it lands over the trap |
| Trap and waste diameter | Matches the drain body to the plumbing |
| Available height | Sets pan depth and threshold level |
Photograph each measurement with the tape visible at the point being taken. Those images resolve most of the ambiguity that otherwise turns into a second drawing revision.
Drain Relocation Against Pan Fabrication
When the existing trap is not where a standard pan puts its drain, two routes exist: make the pan to suit the trap, or move the trap to suit a standard pan. Moving the trap means opening the subfloor, checking the joist direction and reconnecting the waste run, plus the floor repair afterwards.
A custom pan with the drain in the existing position usually costs less than that plumbing work, and it avoids the risk of a waste run that has to cross a joist. It is also quicker on site, because the pan arrives with the outlet already in the right place rather than being aligned by eye during installation.
What Drives Lead Time and Price
Price is driven by footprint size, material, drain position and the number of non-standard angles. Lead time follows material and workshop backlog: a rectangular pan in a common material is quick, while an angled footprint or a specialist finish takes longer. Both are confirmed in writing before the order, because the pan sets the sequence for the waterproofing inspection, the wall finish and the door.
Because the door is measured from the pan, the order of operations matters. Order the pan, set it, confirm the finished opening, then order the door - or order both from the same measurement set if the drawings are checked together.
Checking the Drawing Before Manufacture
Before the pan is made, re-measure. Walls get furred out, tile thickness changes the opening, and a floor that was levelled after the first measurement moves the base line. A second measurement two or three days before manufacture catches nearly all of these changes, and it is far cheaper than a pan that arrives slightly too large.
Check the drawing as well as the numbers: outside dimensions, drain position, threshold profile, flange direction and the intended door configuration all have to appear on it. Where the specification calls for a submittal, the component and material expectations behind it are published by ASTM International.
Installing a Custom Pan
Installation follows the same rules as any receptor: flat and sound subfloor, continuous setting bed, level in both directions, drain connected without pulling the pan out of level, and the wall covering installed afterwards so its bottom edge laps the flange. What changes is that a made-to-measure pan leaves no room for a filler strip, so the opening has to be as measured.
Wet-area methods are published by the Tile Council of North America and catalogued on the Whole Building Design Guide; plumbing and trap provisions come from the adopted code published at iccsafe.org; and where a previous pan has leaked into the structure, the moisture guidance published by the EPA explains how far the repair has to go before the new pan is set.
Where a Custom Pan Is Not Worth It
A custom pan is the wrong specification where the opening already matches a standard footprint, where the extra depth would push the threshold above the intended level, or where the schedule cannot absorb the lead time. In those cases a standard pan with the drain in the right position - or a low-profile pan chosen for the available build-up - does the same job with less risk.
Where the pan is part of a wider rebuild, compare the custom pan against a site-built receptor on total cost rather than material cost: the site-built option saves on fabrication and spends it on skilled labour and membrane detailing, and it depends entirely on that detailing being right. The comparison of measured and standard footprints is set out in our guide to sizing shower pans.
FAQ
Can you get a custom shower pan made?
Yes. Made-to-measure pans are produced from finished opening dimensions, with the drain placed to suit the existing trap and any angles made to the measured shape. The order is built from a drawing, so the measurements are taken twice - once to quote and once before manufacture.
How much does a custom shower pan cost?
Price depends on footprint, material, drain position and any non-standard angles, plus delivery. A simple rectangular pan in a common material with a standard drain position is the least expensive case; angled corners, unusual drain locations and specialist finishes add both cost and lead time.
Can I get custom made shower bases?
Yes, in the same materials as standard bases - composite, acrylic solid surface and tile-ready form. The practical constraint is not the material but the information: outside dimensions, drain centre, threshold profile and wall finish thickness all have to be confirmed before fabrication.
Where can I find cut-to-size shower pans?
Some moulded pans can be trimmed at the perimeter within a stated allowance, which is different from a made-to-measure pan. Cutting beyond the allowance removes the slope at the edge and leaves the flange short of the wall, so it turns a fitment problem into a leak. Check the allowance for the specific pan before cutting.
Send the opening dimensions, the drain centre from two walls and photos with a tape in frame, and we will confirm the pan specification and the drawing before fabrication.
See non-standard sizing · Browse standard bases · Request a custom pan quote
