There are three types of shower drain: linear, square and point. Linear drains need the floor to slope in one direction only, which is why they win on curbless showers and large format tile. Square and point drains sit in the pan and need a four way slope, which suits standard showers and straight retrofits. The deciding variable is not looks, it is the slope your floor can actually accept.
Shower drain types compared
| Type | Slope required | Where it wins | What we stock | Entry price |
| Linear | One direction | Curbless and barrier free showers, large format tile, wall to wall runs | GURU Evolux and GURU Revolux linear drains, 16 to 78 inches | $179.52 |
| Square | Four way | Standard pans, renovations that keep the existing waste position, mosaic and square tile layouts | GURU Evo Grate, GURU Evo Lite and GURU Evolux square drains | $46.32 |
| Point (traditional center) | Four way | Cheapest like for like replacement, budget and rental work, prefabricated bases | No round point drain in the catalog. The GURU Evo Grate square center drain is the equivalent we carry | $46.32 |
Prices are the current entry point for each family and change with finish and length.
What are shower drains and why do they matter
A shower drain removes wastewater fast enough that water never stands on the tile, which is what prevents leaks and long term structural damage. That is the basic job. It matters more than its price suggests because it sets the tile layout before you place a single tile.
The drain decides which way the floor slopes, and the slope decides which tile sizes are possible. In curbless and walk in showers it also decides where the threshold sits. Pick the drain last and you will be cutting tile to fit a decision you already made. It also has to keep up with a rainfall head, trap debris without a fight at cleaning time, and sit correctly against a waterproofing membrane or a pre sloped pan.
Different types of shower drains
Linear shower drains
Choose a linear drain when the floor can only slope one way, or when the tile is too large to follow a four way slope. It is a long narrow channel set along one wall or across the shower entrance, and it is the only one of the three that lets a large format tile stay flat.
We stock 16, 24, 28, 36, 48, 60 and 78 inch lengths across the GURU Evolux and GURU Revolux lines. Evolux PLUS runs from $179.52 at 16 inches to $463.08 at 60 inches. Revolux covers the long runs, 48 inch from $314.62 and 78 inch from $454.45, in chrome, black and gold. Evolux also comes in an INTEGRA tileable version if you want the floor tile to continue over the channel.
What it gives you:
- Single direction slope, which is the reason large format tile works here at all
- Barrier free layouts, with a seamless transition from bathroom into shower
- Finishes in stainless steel, 6063-T6 aircraft grade aluminum and tile-in covers
Planning one from the pan up, the walkthrough in tiling a shower floor to a linear drain covers the slope layout. The full range sits in the GURU drain range.
Square shower drains
Choose a square drain when the pan already slopes four ways and you are not rebuilding it. It sits at the center or the edge of the pan, aligns cleanly with square and mosaic tile, and it is by a wide margin the cheapest of the three to buy.
GURU Evo Grate starts at $46.32 in PLUS polished and runs to $70.28 in gold and nickel champagne. GURU Evo Lite starts at $83.23, or $99.24 in polished, gold and nickel champagne, in square, spring and spiga grate patterns. GURU Evolux square drains are the heavier option at $113.42, or $132.60 in antique and gold.
What it gives you:
- Works with conventional four directional sloping and prefabricated bases, so no pan rebuild
- Decorative grates or tileable covers to match the bathroom hardware
- The lowest entry cost of the three types
Point drains (traditional center drains)
A point drain is the traditional round or square center drain, and it is what most existing showers already have. It needs the same four way slope as a square drain, with the whole floor falling toward one fitting in the middle.
They are associated with older and budget installations, but they are also the correct answer whenever you are replacing like for like and the rough opening is not moving. We do not carry a dedicated round point drain. The GURU Evo Grate square center drain, from $46.32, is the equivalent in our catalog and drops into the same center position.
How to remove and replace a shower drain
Be clear about the job first. Swapping a grate or a top assembly is a tile job. Moving the drain body or changing the waste connection is plumbing work, and in most places it is inspected work. The steps below cover a like for like replacement.
- Shut off the water and plug the waste. Stuff a rag into the open pipe as soon as the grate is off, so nothing falls into the trap.
- Lift the grate and the top assembly. Many grates lift out or unscrew. If the grate is corroded in place, cut it free rather than levering it, because levering cracks the tile at the flange first.
- Free the tile around the flange. Expect to lose the ring of tile immediately around the drain. Cut the grout line, break the first tile deliberately, and work outward from there. This is where tiling tools earn their place, because clean removal is what decides how much tile you have to replace.
- Check whether a like for like swap is actually possible. It is, if the new drain matches the existing rough opening and the floor keeps the slope it already has. Measure the opening before you buy anything.
- Reset, waterproof and re-tile. The membrane or pan flange connection is the part that leaks if it is done casually. Bond it properly and test before the tile goes back down.
Going from a point drain to a linear drain is not a swap. The floor has to be re-sloped in a single direction, which means rebuilding the pan and redoing the waterproofing from scratch. Treat it as a new shower floor and budget it that way. Our comparison of shower waterproofing systems covers what goes back in once the old drain is out.
How to size a shower drain
Measure the rough opening and the position of the existing waste pipe first, then pick the drain. That order is the whole trick, because the drain dictates the slope and the slope dictates the tile layout. For a linear drain, match the length to the shower opening width or run it wall to wall so the channel reads as a deliberate line. Our 16 to 78 inch range covers alcove widths and most walk in openings without a special order.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three types of shower drain?
Linear, square and point. A linear drain needs the floor to slope in one direction only. A square drain needs a four way slope into a pan position. A point drain is the traditional center drain and also needs a four way slope, with the whole floor falling toward the middle.
Can you replace a point drain with a linear drain?
Not as a straight swap in most cases. A linear drain needs the floor sloping one way toward the channel, so the pan has to be re-sloped and the waterproofing redone. Plan it as a pan rebuild rather than a part change, and price the tile and membrane in from the start.
How do you remove an old shower drain?
Shut off the water, plug the waste, lift or cut the grate free, then take up the ring of tile around the flange. Expect to lose that tile. If the waste connection has to change, that part is plumbing work rather than a tiling job and should be treated accordingly.
What size linear drain do I need?
We stock 16, 24, 28, 36, 48, 60 and 78 inch linear drains. Most installers either match the drain to the width of the shower opening or run it wall to wall. Measure the opening and the waste position before choosing, because the drain sets the slope direction for the whole floor.
Which drain is best for large format tile?
Linear. A large tile cannot follow a four way slope without lippage at the corners, so a single direction slope toward a channel is the only layout that keeps a big tile flat. This is the most common reason installers move away from a center drain.
Form meets function with the right drain
Linear for curbless work and large tile, square for a standard pan you are keeping, point when you are replacing like for like. At PlaceForPros, our construction tool website, we carry a professional grade range of shower drains and accessories. Buy shower drains from the collection and get the size and finish you need for the installation in front of you.
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