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Quick answer from a licensed plumber: For most alcove showers, buy a prefab base like the DreamLine SlimLine. The slope and waterproof surface are molded in, it takes a standard 2 in. compression drain, and it sets in a mortar bed against the studs. For a tile floor, the Transolid FTT Ready to Tile pan has the slope built in and comes with its drain. For a custom tile pan, the Oatey 41620 liner kit is the waterproof layer, and in Georgia the code requires a 1/4 in. per foot slope and a flood test. Measure the stud opening and the drain location before you order.
Our pick for most alcove showers: the DreamLine SlimLine base, sized to your stud opening and drain. Check the DreamLine SlimLine 34 x 60 on Amazon
A shower pan is the floor of the shower: it slopes to the drain and keeps water out of the subfloor. You can buy one three ways. A prefab base comes with the slope and finish surface molded in. A tile-ready pan has the slope built in and gets tile on top. Or you build a traditional pan on site from a sloped mortar bed and a waterproof liner. This page covers all three. The bases are big, heavy boxes (Transolid lists 50 to 57 lb shipping weights for its 60 in. pans), so get the size, drain location and floor prep right before you order.
Shower Pans Compared
| Pan | Type | In-stock sizes on our read | Drain | Step-over height | Set in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DreamLine SlimLine | Prefab base (acrylic, per the manual’s care section) | 34 x 60 R, 34 x 54 C, 36 x 36 C | Not included; 2 in. compression | 2-3/4 in. (listing) | Mortar or cement-sand bed |
| Woodbridge SBR6032-1000R-BN | Prefab base, solid surface | 60 x 32 R (48 x 32 L also in stock) | Included, with trench cover (listing) | 4 in. (listing) | Thin-set mortar |
| Transolid FTT Ready to Tile | Tile-ready SMC pan | 60 x 32 L, 60 x 30 L, 60 x 30 C | Included; 2 in. solvent weld | 3 in., can be recessed | Type N or S mortar |
| Oatey 41620 liner kit | Liner for a site-built mortar pan | Sheet for showers up to 4 x 5 ft. | Separate two-piece clamping drain | Your curb | Sloped mortar bed, then a second bed |
From the DreamLine, Woodbridge, Transolid and Oatey documents and the Georgia code text linked below, read on September 30, 2026. R, L and C are right, left and center drain. Every linked listing was sold by Amazon.com and in stock that day, with no shipping lead time over 3 days.
How to Choose a Shower Pan
Size: measure the stud opening, then check the code minimum
Prefab bases go in before the wall board. DreamLine says to set the base against the studs, and Woodbridge says the stud pocket must be square and plumb to its rough-in sizes. Transolid says to frame the stall to the base. Measure stud to stud in both directions, and check that the walls are square. DreamLine warns that an uneven floor or walls out of square “will result in serious problems.” In Georgia, the plumbing code is the 2024 IPC with Georgia amendments, effective January 1, 2026. Georgia’s IRC packet deletes the IRC plumbing chapters and points houses to that code too. Section 421.4 requires at least 900 square inches of interior area and at least 30 inches in the smallest dimension, measured from the finished interior. Section 421.4.2 requires a clear entry at least 22 inches wide. The code measures that 30 in. from the finished walls to the centerline of the threshold, not across the outside of the base. On Transolid’s drawing, the FTT 60 x 30 basin is 25-13/16 in. from the back edge to the inside of the threshold, and the 60 x 32 is 27-13/16 in. So a 30 or 32 in. deep base can come in under 30 in. once wall board and tile go on. It then has to meet the exception: at least 25 in. in the smallest dimension and at least 1,300 square inches. A shower that ends up 26 x 57 in. inside is 1,482 square inches, which passes (our arithmetic). Plumber’s note: go to 34 in. or deeper when the room allows. If you are close to 25 in., measure with the wall board in place and ask your inspector before you order.
Drain location: match the pipe or plan to move it
Bases come with a center drain or an end drain on the left or right. DreamLine says its center-drain models are centered on the width only, and its tables give the drain position for each model, plus or minus 1/2 in. Woodbridge lists its own drain-opening dimensions, plus or minus 1/8 in. Plumber’s note: on a remodel, find the existing drain first. Moving a shower drain a few inches in a wood floor usually means cutting the subfloor and rerouting the trap. On a slab, it means breaking concrete. A base whose drain lands on the existing pipe saves that work. DreamLine wants a 5 x 5 in. opening in the subfloor around the drain, Woodbridge recommends a 6 in. round hole, and Oatey recommends a 4-1/2 in. hole for its tile shower drains.
Drain and flange type
The connection decides how much access you need. DreamLine’s base takes a standard 2 in. compression drain, which is not included. Plumber’s note: a compression drain seals to the pipe with a rubber gasket, so it can be made up from above. Transolid ships its drain with a 2 in. solvent-weld connection, glued to the pipe. Its guide covers two cases: with access from below, glue a pipe tail into the drain and connect it underneath. Without access, set the stubbed-up pipe to the right height and glue the base drain onto it as the base goes down. Woodbridge includes a PVC drain and says plumber’s putty or silicone is fine on it. A site-built pan uses a two-piece clamping drain: Oatey’s guide clamps the liner between the drain flange and a clamping ring, with silicone under the liner. Drain sizing and hair catchers are in shower drain size and hair catcher fit.
Threshold height
The threshold, or curb, is the step into the shower. The listings give 2-3/4 in. for the DreamLine, 3 in. for the Transolid and 4 in. for the Woodbridge. Transolid says its pan can be recessed into the floor for a lower step. For a site-built pan, Georgia’s Section 421.5.2 requires the liner to turn up at least 2 inches above the finished threshold. It also says the liner may not be nailed or perforated lower than 1 inch above the threshold.
Subfloor prep and the mortar bed
Section 421.5.1 says shower floors must sit on a smooth and structurally sound base. Every maker here then calls for a bed under the pan, but not the same one. DreamLine wants mortar or cement-sand mix, not concrete or plaster, under the entire bottom, with the base pushed down until the tile flange hits marks on the studs. Transolid wants Type N or S mortar at a measured thickness, and says not to put it straight on wood or Gyp-crete without a membrane or roofing paper first. Woodbridge uses thin-set with a grooved trowel and a 24-hour cure. A site-built pan starts with a mortar bed sloped 1/4 in. per foot, per Oatey. Georgia’s Section 421.5.2 sets the same pitch for liners: one-fourth unit in 12. Plumber’s note: the bed is what keeps a pan from flexing. A base set on bare plywood or on a few dabs of adhesive can crack, or work the drain joint loose.
Material
DreamLine’s care section calls its base acrylic, and it says to clean with non-abrasive sprays or cream cleaners, never abrasive cleansers, metal brushes or scrapers. Woodbridge’s base is solid surface. Its manual says to wipe with a damp towel and use mild detergent, with mildew spray for corners and seams. Transolid’s pan is SMC, a molded composite that you tile over, so the tile and grout are the surface you clean. A liner-built pan is tile over mortar over the liner. Georgia’s Section 421.5.2 says a floor that is not a prefabricated receptor must be lined and made watertight, which is the liner’s job.
DreamLine SlimLine Single Threshold Shower Base
Single threshold, 3-wall alcove · 2-3/4 in. tall (listing) · in-stock sizes: 34 x 60 in. right drain (DLT-1134602), 34 x 54 in. center drain (DLT-1134540), 36 x 36 in. center drain (DLT-1136360) · 3-3/8 in. drain opening for a standard 2 in. compression drain, drain not included · installs direct to studs with a tile flange · set in a mortar bed · lifetime limited warranty (listing)
A prefab base is the simplest shower floor to get right. The slope and the waterproof surface are molded in. DreamLine’s manual has you set the base against the studs with its tile flange, and the wall board then goes on above that flange. The listing says it installs “direct to studs” before backer board, so this is a base for open framing, not for slipping in front of finished walls. The drain is not in the box. DreamLine says the 3-3/8 in. opening takes a standard 2 in. compression drain, and it calls for a 5 x 5 in. opening in the subfloor around the 2 in. PVC waste pipe.
Check the drain spot before you buy. DreamLine says center-drain models are centered on the width only, and its tables put the DLT-1134602 drain center 17 in. from the back edge and 12 in. from the right end on its drawing, with a tolerance of plus or minus 1/2 in. on the drain center. It also says to measure the actual tray before installing. The base goes down in a full bed of mortar or cement-sand mix, not concrete or plaster. Level it both ways, shim it if needed, and keep weight off it until the bed hardens. DreamLine says shower bases must be installed by a licensed plumber. DreamLine’s tables also list 30 x 60 and 32 x 60 in. SlimLine sizes; we link only the sizes that were in stock when we checked.
- Slope and waterproof surface built in, no liner to build
- Tile flange goes straight to the studs
- Drain location tables by model in the manual
- Lifetime limited warranty, per the listing
- Drain sold separately
- Needs open studs; not for finished walls
- Acrylic: no abrasive cleansers, metal brushes or scrapers, per DreamLine
- Report shipping damage within 3 business days, per DreamLine
Verdict: The pick for most alcove showers: a molded base, a standard 2 in. compression drain and a mortar bed under it.
Woodbridge SBR6032-1000R-BN Solid Surface Shower Base
Solid surface · 60 x 32 x 4 in., right drain (listing) · trench-style brushed stainless drain cover and PVC drain included (listing) · integral 3-sided tile flange · set in thin-set mortar · 6 in. subfloor drain hole recommended · 24-hour cure before working in the pan · residential warranty (five years in one manual copy, “five (10)” in another; see below)
Woodbridge’s base is solid surface, and the listing says it is the same material all the way through. That same listing says it can be sanded to remove chips or scratches. Unlike the DreamLine, the drain comes in the box: the listing names a standard white PVC drain and a removable brushed stainless trench cover. The manual says plumber’s putty or silicone is acceptable on the drain. It recommends a 6 in. diameter hole in the subfloor or slab, aligned with the hole in the base. Woodbridge lists measurements as plus or minus 1/8 in.
Woodbridge sets its base in thin-set, not a sand-mortar bed. Its manual says to dry-fit the base, mark where shims go, then trowel thin-set with a 1/4 to 1/2 in. grooved trowel. The thin-set has to fill the voids under the base so every support point makes contact. Woodbridge says a 50 lb bag covers at least 45 to 50 square feet. Let it cure 24 hours, protect the base while the rest of the job goes on, and test it for drainage before the walls go up. One flag: Woodbridge’s manual prints the warranty two ways. The copy Lowe’s hosts reads “LIMITED FIVE (10) YEAR WARRANTY,” and the copy Home Depot hosts reads “LIMITED FIVE (5) YEAR WARRANTY.” Plan on five years unless Woodbridge confirms ten in writing. It covers the original purchaser in residential use only. For a 48 x 32 in. space, Woodbridge also makes the SBR4832-1000L-BN with a left drain.
- Drain and trench cover included, per the listing
- Solid surface that can be sanded, per the listing
- Thin-set install with clear coverage numbers
- Integral 3-sided tile flange
- 4 in. tall, the highest step here (listing)
- Warranty term printed as both five and ten years
- Residential only; no commercial coverage
- Manual model numbers drop the -BN suffix
Verdict: The pick for a 60 x 32 in. alcove when you want the drain in the box and a trench-style cover.
Transolid FTT Ready to Tile Shower Base
SMC (sheet molding compound), dark grey, tile over it · in-stock: FTT6030L (60 x 30 in., left drain), FTT6030C (60 x 30 in., center drain), FTT6032L (60 x 32 in., left drain) · 3 in. threshold that can be recessed into the floor (listing, spec sheet) · integral tile flange · drain with polished stainless cover included, 2 in. solvent-weld connection · weight capacity 2204.6 lb · set in Type N or S mortar · 10-year limited residential, 3-year commercial warranty
This is the pan for a tiled shower floor without building a mortar-bed pan and liner. Transolid says the FTT is low-profile, can be recessed into the floor for a lower threshold, and takes linear drains. It ships with a drain and a polished stainless cover, and the drain connection is 2 in. solvent weld, which means glued PVC. Transolid lists a weight capacity of 2204.6 lb (1,000 kg). Its warranty puts SMC shower bases at 10 years residential and 3 years commercial.
Transolid’s install guide is specific about the mortar bed. Flip the base and measure the rib depth underneath. Subtract 1/4 in. for a left or right drain, or 1/8 in. for a center drain, with the bed always at least 1/2 in. Use Type N or S mortar mixed to a milkshake consistency. Spread it 1 in. in from the edges except at the curb, then work the base down until the ribs sit within 1/8 in. of the subfloor. Level it and let it dry overnight, and do not step in it until the mortar has cured. Transolid says not to put mortar straight on a wood or Gyp-crete subfloor. Waterproof the wood first with a fluid-applied membrane or No. 15 or No. 30 roofing paper. Do not nail, screw, sand or cut the base. Transolid says installing against its instructions voids the warranty.
- Tile over it; no liner or pre-slope to build
- Drain and cover included, per Transolid
- Can be recessed for a lower threshold
- 10-year limited residential warranty, per Transolid
- Glued 2 in. drain: plan below-floor access or an exact stub height
- Needs a waterproofed wall joint and TCNA-standard backer board
- Mortar bed thickness has to be measured, not guessed
- No nails, screws, sanding or cutting into the base
Verdict: The pick for a tile floor in a standard 60 in. alcove when you want the slope and waterproofing done at the factory.
Oatey 41620 PVC Shower Pan Liner Kit
40 mil PVC, grey · 5 x 6 ft. sheet plus 2 pre-formed dam corners · for tile showers up to 4 x 5 ft. (listing) · marked every 6 in. · IAPMO listed, meets ASTM D4551 · bonded with Oatey X-15 adhesive (sold separately) · not for radiant heat floors (sheet)
A traditional tile shower floor is built in layers, and Oatey’s guide lists five: subfloor, a sloped first mortar bed, the pan liner, a final mortar bed, then tile. This kit is the liner. Oatey’s guide says to slope the first mortar bed 1/4 in. per foot from the walls down to the top of the drain base, let it cure, then lay the liner and clamp it into a two-piece tile shower drain. The guide uses Oatey’s 130 Series. Silicone goes around the drain’s inner flange, the liner goes over it, and the clamping ring bolts down through the liner.
Oatey says to staple only in the top 1/2 in. of the liner, fold and glue the corners with X-15, cover the curb, and seal curb-to-jamb corners with the dam corners. Then flood test: plug the drain, fill to curb height and wait at least two hours. One conflict to know: Oatey’s 2010 sheet says 30 mil liner must go over 15 lb roofing felt, while Oatey’s current guide warns against felt paper under the liner because it can make the liner brittle. This kit is 40 mil, so follow the current guide. The kit is sized for showers up to 4 x 5 ft. Bigger floors need liner from the roll. Oatey’s sheet says PVC liner is not recommended with radiant heat, and its guide points radiant floors to its CPE liner instead.
- Builds a custom-size tile floor
- Dam corners included for the curb
- IAPMO listed, meets ASTM D4551, per Oatey
- Clear flood test steps in Oatey’s guide
- A two-day job or more, per Oatey’s guide
- Kit fits showers up to 4 x 5 ft. only
- Drain, X-15 adhesive and mortar sold separately
- Not for radiant heat floors, per Oatey
Verdict: The pick for a custom tile shower floor, if you or your plumber will build and flood test a real mortar-bed pan.
I send an occasional note when a new guide goes up — repairs worth doing yourself, and the parts that actually last. No spam, no course funnel; written by a licensed Georgia plumber.
Georgia Code Notes for Shower Pans
These apply in Georgia under the Georgia State Minimum Standard Plumbing Code, the 2024 IPC with Georgia amendments, effective January 1, 2026. Georgia’s 2026 amendments to Section 421 change only 421.2, the shower riser. The sections below are the IPC text as adopted. Other states adopt their own codes, so check locally.
- 421.4, size: at least 900 square inches of interior area and at least 30 inches in the smallest dimension, measured from the finished interior at the top of the threshold and at its centerline. One exception allows a 25 in. minimum dimension when the compartment has at least 1,300 square inches.
- 421.4.2, entry: a clear, unobstructed finished opening at least 22 inches wide.
- 421.5.1, support: the floor or receptor must sit on a smooth and structurally sound base.
- 421.5.2, liner: floors are lined and made watertight unless a prefabricated receptor is used. Liners turn up at least 2 in. above the finished threshold, are not nailed or perforated lower than 1 in. above it, slope 1/4 in. per foot to the drain, and seal to the drain.
- 312.10, liner test: plug the drain and fill the lined floor with water at least 2 in. deep at the threshold. Build a temporary threshold if the real one is under 2 in., and hold the water at least 15 minutes with no sign of a leak.
Plumber’s note: moving a drain, changing the trap or building a liner pan is plumbing work, and many jurisdictions want a permit and an inspection of the liner test before tile covers it. DreamLine itself says its shower bases must be installed by a licensed plumber.
Before You Buy
- Measure the stud opening in both directions and check the corners for square.
- Find the drain. Measure from the back wall and the side wall to the drain center, then match it to the maker’s drain table.
- Check the access below. A glued drain like Transolid’s is easiest with access from below. A compression drain like DreamLine’s works from above.
- Count the extras. DreamLine needs a drain. Every option needs mortar or thin-set, and the Oatey liner also needs a clamping drain and X-15 adhesive.
- Plan for freight. Check the base before you sign for it. DreamLine says it will not replace damaged or missing parts free of charge after 3 business days from delivery or once the base is installed. Woodbridge says to let the base reach room temperature before installing it.
Installing a Shower Base
The order is the same for every prefab base here. Get the drain and plumbing right first. DreamLine says to install all plumbing and drainage before the base. Dry-fit the base, mark the shims, then lay the bed and set the base level in both directions. Let the bed cure before anyone stands in it: Transolid says overnight, and Woodbridge says 24 hours. Then test the drain. The wall board goes over the tile flange. DreamLine leaves a 1/8 in. gap between the wall tile and the base and fills it with caulk. Transolid seals the backer board joint with 100% silicone and covers it with a fluid-applied waterproofing membrane. Silicone picks are in best silicone sealant for plumbing.
A site-built pan adds the liner steps from Oatey’s guide and the liner test from Georgia’s Section 312.10. Do the flood test before the final mortar bed and tile, because that is the last time the liner can be fixed. Clogs later are covered in best drain snake for shower hair, and catchers in best shower drain hair catchers.
FAQ
What is the difference between a shower pan and a shower base?
Most people use the words the same way: the floor of the shower that slopes to the drain and keeps water out of the subfloor. A prefab base like the DreamLine or Woodbridge comes molded with the slope and finish surface built in. A tile-ready pan like the Transolid gets tile on top. A traditional pan is built on site from a sloped mortar bed and a liner such as Oatey’s.
Do I need a mortar bed under a shower base?
For the bases here, yes, per the makers. DreamLine says to apply enough bedding material to support the entire bottom, and not to use concrete or plaster. Transolid calls for Type N or S mortar at a measured thickness. Woodbridge uses thin-set spread with a grooved trowel. A base that flexes or rocks on a bare subfloor is how cracks and leaks start.
What size shower pan meets code in Georgia?
Georgia’s plumbing code (the 2024 IPC with Georgia amendments) says a shower must have at least 900 square inches of interior area and be at least 30 inches in its smallest dimension, measured from the finished interior. The entry must be at least 22 inches clear. That 30 in. runs from the finished walls to the threshold centerline, so a 30 or 32 in. deep base can come in under it once the walls are tiled. It then has to meet the exception: at least 25 in. and at least 1,300 square inches. Measure with the wall board in place and check with your building department.
How much slope does a shower pan liner need?
Georgia’s plumbing code says a site-built shower liner must slope one-fourth inch per foot toward the drain. It must turn up at least 2 inches above the finished threshold and cannot be nailed lower than 1 inch above the threshold. Oatey’s guide uses the same 1/4 in. per foot for the first mortar bed. Prefab bases have the slope molded in.
How do you test a shower pan for leaks?
For a site-built liner, Georgia’s code calls for plugging the drain and filling the pan with water at least 2 inches deep at the threshold. Oatey says to fill to curb height and let it sit at least two hours. If the water level holds and nothing around it is wet, it passes. Woodbridge also says to check a prefab base for proper drainage before the walls go up.
Why Trust Plumbing Picks
Plumbing Picks is written by a licensed Georgia journeyman plumber. Every spec here comes from the maker documents and code text linked below, or from the Amazon listings we link; nothing comes from hands-on testing. On September 30, 2026, every linked listing was sold by Amazon.com and in stock. If you buy through a link we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nobody pays to be included here. More on who writes this and how we pick.
Sources
- DreamLine: SlimLine Shower Base dimensions and installation instructions, Ver 5 Rev 9b (08/2022)
- Woodbridge: Solid Surface Shower Base Installation (SBR series manual, Lowe’s-hosted copy), Home Depot-hosted copy of the same manual
- Transolid: Ready Tile Shower Bases FTT specification sheet (07/2026), Tile Ready Shower Base installation guide, Transolid Limited Warranty, Rev. 9/2026
- Oatey: How to Install a Shower Pan Liner, Oatey PVC Shower Pan Liner technical sheet (10/2010)
- Georgia Plumbing Code 2024 (IPC 2024 with Georgia amendments), Chapter 4, Sections 421.4 and 421.5, Chapter 3, Section 312.10
- Georgia DCA: Georgia State Amendments to the IPC (2024 Edition), revised January 1, 2026, Georgia State Amendments to the IRC (2024 Edition)
- Amazon listings for the DreamLine DLT-1134602 and DLT-1134540, Woodbridge SBR6032-1000R-BN and SBR4832-1000L-BN, Transolid FTT6032L and FTT6030L, and Oatey 41620 (linked above)
Bottom Line
Pick the pan by how the floor will be finished. A molded base like the DreamLine SlimLine or the Woodbridge solid surface is the simplest install. A Transolid FTT gives you a tile floor with factory slope. An Oatey liner builds a custom tile pan the traditional way. Whichever you choose, match the size and drain location to your framing, set it on the bed its maker specifies, and test it before the walls and tile close it in.