10 Types of Glass Shower Doors

Frameless Doors

Best for: A high-end contemporary look

A frameless shower door is made of sturdy tempered glass that does not require the support of metal around its exterior edges. The result is a sleek, modern look that is free of visual obstructions. Frameless options are popular because the style helps to showcase a bathroom's beautiful stonework, intricate tile designs, and gleaming hardware. Frameless shower doors are the easiest type to clean, as they do not include seals that develop buildup from water over time.

Frameless doors do include some metal, such as clips for stationary panels, hinges, and handles. Glass doors with frames along the top edge and sides can also be considered frameless, though they may be referred to as "semi-frameless." 

A frameless shower generally costs about twice as much as a basic, metal-enclosed model. Additionally, frameless shower doors can leak if not installed properly, so it's important to work with a reputable contractor and ensure that your shower pan slopes toward the drain so the water doesn't flood the shower floor.

Semi-Frameless Shower Doors

Best for: A more affordable contemporary look

A semi-frameless shower door has metal framing around the entire frame, but not around the door panel itself.

A semi-frameless pivot door with 3/8-inch thick tempered glass and a taller-than-standard 76-inch height helps to impart a sleek, streamlined look. Look for high-quality components such as permanently bonded hinges, solid handles, and patented glass coating. This type of frame gives you a semi-unobstructed look but is more affordable than a fully frameless enclosure.

Framed Shower Doors

Best for: Easy, affordable installation

A framed shower door is installed in a sturdy heavy-duty aluminum metal frame to add strength and support. Framed shower doors can't be as eye-catching as their frameless counterparts. Thanks to their sealed construction, framed glass shower doors are less likely to leak.

This classic pivot shower door (shown) has a frameless door and an oil-rubbed bronze-finished outer frame that surrounds the unit. The style makes a striking statement that works equally well in a traditional or contemporary bathroom.

Framed shower doors are less expensive than frameless models for a couple of reasons. Framed glass shower doors are easier to install than frameless. Glass in a framed model may be thinner than frameless, which saves even more on costs.

Glass Tub Enclosures

Best for: Updating a bathtub

A glass tub enclosure is mounted on the rim of a bathtub and does not reach to the floor. If you can't part with your bathtub but crave a look that's sleeker than a shower curtain, a glass tub enclosure could be your happy medium. This shower door option for bathtubs can be installed on an existing tub for a modern, easy-to-clean upgrade.

Typically this type of model has doors that glide effortlessly on stainless steel wheels over a stainless steel track bar.

Sliding Doors

Best for: Tight bathrooms

A glass sliding shower door is very common and slides open and closed on a track attached to the floor and ceiling. It's also known as a bypass door. This style of glass shower door is ideal for narrow bathrooms with closely-spaced fixtures where there's no room for a hinged door. However, the shower itself needs to be wide enough for one glass door to slide completely over to the other side.

Sliding shower doors are considered framed or semi-frameless (the tracks may or may not be considered as frames). Framed sliding shower glass doors will typically cost less than semi-frameless sliding doors.

Pivoting Door

Best for: Tight spaces

A pivot glass shower door—also known as a swinging or hinge door—opens like a standard door. These doors can make a sophisticated statement in a traditional or cottage-style bath such as this primary suite. Pivoting shower doors are popular for small bathrooms with smaller shower openings since they don't require as much width to open as a sliding door. There are also swing-in pivot-door options for small spaces.

If you're planning to buy a swing-out door, have a professional measure your space. You'll need enough clearance between the fully-opened door and surrounding bath fixtures before installation. A pivot-hinged glass shower door is not always less expensive than other types. That's because a pivot door may need to be custom-cut to fit the space. In addition, you can choose framed or frameless, which will also affect the cost.

Bi-Fold Shower Doors

Best for: Narrow shower openings

A folding or bi-fold shower door is usually framed or semi-frameless and operates on tracks. It's hinged to fold inward to create an opening to walk through. It is a good option for a narrow shower opening or small shower. This door allows for a wider walk-in opening and is a good alternative to a glass shower pivot door. The frameless design of the door offers a clean, custom glass look. You'll also find folding glass doors for shower stalls or tubs.

The folding glass shower door, like the pivot door, is not always the least expensive style. That's because the moving part of the unit may be frameless, it may require a custom cut to fit the space, and it may need special hardware to install. But it may not be as expensive as a fully frameless glass shower door because it functions on tracks.

Partial Tub Enclosure

Best for: A contemporary look

A partial glass enclosure, also known as a half-wall shower glass, only covers half the shower stall or tub. The glass portion can be designed to remain stable or it can pivot.

It's an affordable and modern look, even if you create a custom cut. A half-wall can have a straight edge or a curved silhouette like the model shown.

Clear Glass Finishes

Best for: A streamlined, clean look

A clear glass shower door is perfectly transparent. It's beautiful and gleaming, but be prepared for a daily squeegee clean-up to maintain this pristine look. A clear glass shower door can add depth to a small bathroom to make it appear lighter, brighter, and larger.

Clear glass is common and the least expensive treatment for a glass shower door.

Textured Glass Finishes

Best for: Adding privacy

A textured glass finish on a glass shower door can be frosted, etched, patterned, or tinted to add privacy to the shower. These doors are sometimes easier to maintain than their clear-glass cousins which are prone to easy-to-see smudges and hard water spots. Textured glass is typically seen on sliding shower doors, although it's also available for many frameless and pivoting options.

Frosted or textured glass shower doors are typically a bit more expensive than clear glass doors.