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Your Bathroom Renovation: Measured for Perfection

Peace and tranquility in the most functional room of the house: your bathroom renovation project is the key. Correct measurements are crucial, and certain design standards concerning the size and location of fixtures must be adhered to. However, when it's time to invest in style, colour, and materials, your creativity can take over! If you can imagine the result, you're halfway there.

Illustration of bathroom fixture locations

Entry door

Door openings—entrance, shower, or cabinets—must never interfere with your use of bathroom fixtures or any other door.

Measurements

Opening width: 32", although 34" is recommended
Door clearance: 32"

Ceiling

Measurements

Height in front of the vanity and sanitary fixtures: 80" (middle of the room)
Height behind the vanity and sanitary fixtures: 60" (along the wall)

Electrical outlets, switches, and lighting

GFCI protection (ground fault current interrupter) is required on all outlets in the bathroom

Outlets

1 outlet minimum must be located less than 36" from the edge of the sink
Height: 39" from the floor

Switches

At least 1 switch at the entrance to the bathroom
Switches must not be accessible from the shower or bath

Lighting

Lighting above the bathtub must be vertically at least 8ꞌ above the bathtub rim or horizontally at least 36" away from the bathtub.

Ventilation

Power or air movement is measured in CFM (cubic feet per minute). The minimum exhaust rate for a bathroom is 50 CFM if there is no central air ventilation system installed in the bathroom.

Illustration of a bathroom vanity with measurements

Illustration showing where to place bathroom mirrors

Vanities and Pedestal Sinks

Bathroom Vanity

Measurements

Width: 18" to 72"
Depth: 21"
Height: 32" to 43" counter included. For vessel sinks, 30" to 32"

Clearance in front of the vanity: 21" minimum, although 30" is recommended for a total of 51" from the wall.

Clearances for drop-in sinks

Width: 30" to 36"
Front: 21" minimum, 30" is recommended
Wall: 15" minimum measured from the centre of the drain, 20" is recommended
Double sink: 30" minimum measured from the centre of the drain, however 36" is recommended. Total width of 60" for the vanity.

Pedestal sink

The preferred options for small bathrooms since they maximize circulation space.

Measurements

Width: 24"
Depth: 22" maximum
Height: 33" standard

Clearances

Wall: 15" minimum measured from the centre of the drain and 4" from the rim
Double sink: 30" minimum measured from the centre of the drain and 4" from the rim
Front: minimum 21", although 30" is recommended

Illustration of proper toilet clearance

Toilet

Measurements

Bowl height: 15" for standard models (16" seat); 17" to 19" for comfort-height models; 11" for children's models
Total height including tank: 30" to 39"
Tank width: 21" standard, 15" compact
Total depth: 25" to 29" for round or short models; 28" to 31" for elongated models
Rough plumbing: 12" from the wall is standard; 10" and 14" also available

Clearances

Width: 30" to 36"
Front: 21" minimum, 30" is recommended
Wall: 4" minimum

Toilet paper holder

In front of the toilet: 8" to 12"
Height: 26" to 30"

Grab bars

Side

Width: 42" minimum
Depth: 12" maximum from back wall

Back

Width: 36" minimum

Bathtub

Measurements

Width: 32" is standard, although sizes vary between 30" and 42"
Length: 60" is standard, long models extend to 72"
Water depth: 15" and 16" is standard, 13" for people with reduced mobility, and 16" or more for deep tubs

Clearances

Front: 21" minimum, 30" is recommended and 60" for maximum accessibility
Side: 16"

Drop-in tub: the height of the supporting base must not exceed 22"

Clawfoot tub: install 4" minimum from the wall

Location of the faucet

Within the bathtub rim for easy access
Height on the wall: 33" from the floor

Illustration of a shower with measurements

Shower

Measurements

Width: 30" minimum, ideally 36"
Length: 30" minimum, ideally 36"
Edge to floor: 3" to 4" is standard, and 4" to 6" wide
Waterproof wall cladding: 72"

Corner shower: 32" x 32" minimum

Clearances

Front: 24" minimum, 30" is recommended

Location of the faucet

Faucet height: 38" to 48" from the shower floor
Shower head height: 66" to 81" from the shower floor

Safety bar: install 33" to 36" from the floor

Mirror

Height: 40" to 42" from the floor. Place the centre of the mirror 65" from the floor, approximately at eye level. Install a tilt mirror 48" from the floor.

Towel bar and hook

Provide one towel bar per person using the bathroom.

Width depends on the model.

Bar height: approximately 36"
Hook height: 66"

Grab bar

Solidly anchor grab bars to studs so they can support up to 300 lb.

Height: 33" to 36" from the floor
Recess: 1½" from the wall
Diameter: 1½"

Linen cabinets

Measurements

Width: 18" to 36"
Depth: 14" (minimum to nicely fold a towel) and 21"
Height: 84" to 90"