Bathroom space planning—toilet space, tub space, room for counters and sinks—is more critical than in other areas of the home. You might have a few extra square feet in the basem*nt to place the washer or dryer anywhere you like; not so in the bathroom. Bathroom fixtures are difficult to move around once they have been installed. So, it is vitally important to get your bathroom's floor plan right the first time.
Toilet Space to the Front
The minimum space in front of the toilet is a minimum of 21 inches, though 30 inches is the favored recommendation.
Front toilet space clearance not only ensures that the user has enough room to take care of needs, but that other services, namely the shower, sink, tub, and door, remain unobstructed.
- Minimum: 21 inches from the front of the toilet
- Recommended: 30 inches from the front of the toilet
- Disabled access: 30 inches to 48 inches from the front of the toilet
Example
Consider 21 inches as the bare minimum. With the popularity of longer bowlresidential toilets, you will want to make sure that thetoilet flangehas extra space. Place the toilet facing an open wall or door, if possible, rather than a fixture. Generally, this will ensure enough clearance room in front of the toilet. For other bathrooms, aim for a 30-inch front clearance space for the toilet.
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Toilet Space to the Side
The recommended minimum distance from the toilet's center line to the nearest side wall, partition, or fixture is 15 inches. The favored distance is 18 inches or moreto the nearest side wall, partition, or fixture.
If you need to save room, pushing the toilet side space to a bare minimum is often helpful. When measuring toilet side clearances, always measure from the toilet's imaginary center line to the nearest side obstruction.
Center Line
Center line means to draw an imaginary line down the center of the fixture, with the line typically crossing over the drain hole. Center line takes into account the width of most standard-size fixtures. If you have items that differ from the standard size, adjust accordingly. Center line rarely refers to front-to-back placement of fixtures, just side to side placement.
If mounted on the wall, the toilet roll holder will need several inches ofextra space, as well. But if you're looking to save room on the side of the toilet, consider toilet roll holder alteratives. You can mount the toilet paper on a separate stand. Or insert the toilet roll holder in the wall to save an extra few inches.
- Minimum: 15 inches to the nearest side wall, partition, or fixture
- Recommended: 18 inchesto the nearest side wall, partition, or fixture
Example
In a tiny bathroom such as ahalf-bathroom or powder room, space is at a premium. So, it may only be possible to provide for the bare minimum clearances. In this case, make sure that the center line of the toilet is at least 15 inches from the nearest wall or sink. Eighteen inches is preferred. Installing apedestal sinkcan help give the feeling of greater room in these small areas.
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Bathroom Sink Space
Placement guidelines differ between single and double basin sink configurations.These spacing guidelines mostly apply to countertops where you are making the sink cutouts. If you purchase abathroom vanity top, you will not have any choice as to sink cutout placement as they come pre-cut.
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Bathroom Double Sink Placement
When installing two basins, space them at least 36 inches away from each other.
Measure from one center line to the next center line.This is the recommended minimum distance to allow users to use both sinks simultaneously if needed. The distance also provides adequate room for the plumbing below the sink.
Bathroom Sink Distance From theWall
Place bathroom sinks 20 inches from the back wall, recommended. The bare minimum is 15 inches.
This is measured from the sink's center point to the wall. Bathroom vanities with precut sinks should already meet the spacing guidelines.
Bathroom Counter Placement From Front Obstruction
Place the bathroom counter at least 30 inches from any front obstruction, recommended. The bare minimum is 21 inches.
This is measured from the edge of the countertop to the leading edge of the obstruction.
Code Requirements
Localbuilding codesare often silent on matters of recommended optimal spacing of toilets, sinks, bathtubs, and showers. Minimums may be found in the code, but these minimums can often be meager for real-world use.
Instead, home improvement industry groups such as the non-profit National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) draw up recommendations that manybathroomand kitchen designers use when laying out the rooms. Yet even NKBA guidelines should be regarded as bare minimums. If you do have any extra room, you should consider increasing the NKBA guidelines by several inches.
One clearance issue that oftencomes up: How much clearance should you leave in front of a toilet? You can look at this from three angles. Minimum recommendations tend to be 21 inches.
Butas this allows less than two feet in front of the toilet, the NKBA recommends adding even more space: up to 30 inches, minimum. Yet that is not a satisfactory clearance for wheelchairs. Thirty inches is considered the absolute bare minimum for wheelchairs or walkers to clear the passage, with 48 inches being a more comfortable space.
Kitchen Spacing Rules and Distances
