Your Ultimate Cheat Sheet to Bathroom Measurements
Are you in the process of designing your bathroom, and you’re stumped on where to place the shower vs where to put the loo? Perhaps you’re struggling to work out how much space to allow in front of the shower or vanity? Well, this guide is for you.
When designing a bathroom, ensuring your fittings and fixtures are installed in the correct location is crucial for functionality, comfort, and style. This guide walks you through the most common bathroom fitting and fixture measurements and placements, along with some handy layout tips to keep in mind. Follow along to ensure your bathroom scores a 10/10 for practicality and function, as well as a 10/10 for style thanks to Beaumonts.
Showers
The standard shower dimensions in Australia is 900mm by 900mm
If you prefer an open shower, you’ll need a minimum length of 1.2m to capture the overspray. Ensure you also have plenty of fall to the drain inside and outside the shower.
Ensure the gap between the shower screen and the next object (for example, the side of the vanity) is at least 100mm.
Shower Head Height
Your shower head should be no lower than 1800mm from the floor and rain showerhead should be 2,100mm from the floor. Be sure to keep in mind the height of the members in your household when deciding on the perfect shower head height.
Shower Opening
A shower bathtub combo configuration accommodates varying household requirements effectively. Families with young children benefit from the bathing option, whilst busy adults appreciate quick shower access. This versatility also supports households with different mobility requirements, providing accessibility options for all users.
Shower Mixers
The positioning of your shower taps or mixer is crucial for a future of both functionality and comfort in the bathroom. Place them at the entrance of the shower, in a position where you can easily turn the water on without getting wet. The standard height for shower taps or mixers is around 1100mm off the floor.
Bath, Toilet, Nib Wall/Niche
The standard bath sizes in Australia are between:
- 1500mm and 1800mm long
- 700mm and 800mm wide
- 400mm and 600mm high
The clearance you need around the bath will be based on whether you choose a freestanding bath, or bath in a hob. For a bathtub in a tiled hob, you’ll need a minimum hob length of 2m and around 1m in width. For a freestanding bath, remember to consider how much room you will need for cleaning around the bath. You’ll find that 200-300mm should be ample room to clean with a mop. Do not have a gap smaller than 100mm from the bath to the wall.
Toilet
The toilet requires a minimum width of 900mm, centring the toilet to that dimension. Then, you’ll need at least 600mm before the nearest object in front to make it easy to move around and 200mm from the side wall to the toilet.
Toilet Roll Holder
The toilet roll holder should be positioned in front of the toilet bowl, usually 700mm from the floor and 750mm from the toilet wall. This position ensures no one is having to stretch to reach the toilet paper roll. If the toilet is positioned next to the vanity, attach the toilet roll holder to the side of the vanity.
Shower Niche or Ledge
Adding a shower niche or ledge is a great way to add storage and convenience to your shower routine. For a shower ledge, the ideal height is 1200mm from the floor and for aesthetic reasons, should start at the end of a full-size tile (aka, vertically stack four 300x600mm tiles or two 600x600mm tiles without cuts.
When installing a niche, ensure it is tall enough to fit your largest bathroom product bottle, typically ranging from 900 to 1200 mm from the floor level. Secondly, make sure to consider the positioning of your niche or ledge, and if, you want to conceal your bathroom products, install them in a spot that is not directly visible from the bathroom entrance.
Designer tip: plan the toilet’s placement out of sight from the door. An easy option is behind the direction of the in-wards opening door. You could also place it in a corner behind a nib wall or in, narrow spaces, position the toilet between the vanity and the shower screen.
Bath
The standard bath sizes in Australia are between:
1500mm and 1800mm long
700mm and 800mm wide
400mm and 600mm high
The clearance you need around the bath will be based on whether you choose a freestanding bath, or bath in a hob. For a bathtub in a tiled hob, you’ll need a minimum hob length of 2m and around 1m in width. For a freestanding bath, remember to consider how much room you will need for cleaning around the bath. You’ll find that 200-300mm should be ample room to clean with a mop. Do not have a gap smaller than 100mm from the bath to the wall.
Towel Rails & Robe Hooks
A single towel rail should sit 1,100mm high from the floor. A double stacked towel rail should have the first towel rail 1,000mm from the floor and the second one above that, 1,800mm from the floor.
Robe Hooks
Position robe hooks 1,700mm from the floor
Toilet
Toilet
The toilet requires a minimum width of 900mm, centring the toilet to that dimension. Then, you’ll need at least 600mm before the nearest object in front to make it easy to move around and 200mm from the side wall to the toilet.
Toilet Roll Holder
The toilet roll holder should be positioned in front of the toilet bowl, usually 700mm from the floor and 750mm from the toilet wall. This position ensures no one is having to stretch to reach the toilet paper roll. If the toilet is positioned next to the vanity, attach the toilet roll holder to the side of the vanity.
Designer tip: plan the toilet’s placement out of sight from the door. An easy option is behind the direction of the in-wards opening door. You could also place it in a corner behind a nib wall or in, narrow spaces, position the toilet between the vanity and the shower screen.
Vanity Height
A vanity with an above counter basin
The top of the basin should sit 900mm from the finished floor.
A vanity with an undermount, built-in basin
The top of the vanity should sit 900mm from the finished floor.
The above counter basin will result in a lower vanity placement than one with a built-in basin to accommodate for the basin. Consider which look you prefer when deciding on a vanity.
Vanity Depth
Vanity depth rarely differs from the typical 420mm.
Vanity Side clearance
Leave at least 150–200 mm of space on each side of the vanity. This allows for easy access to nearby features and prevents the vanity from feeling cramped.
Vanity Front clearance:
Leave at least 750mm of space in front of the vanity. This allows for comfortable use of the vanity and for others to pass by.
Vanity Distance to other fixtures:
Leave at least 450mm between the vanity and the toilet.
Basin Tap & Mixer Location and Height
The wall tap & mixer should be located 1050mm from the floor, or 150mm from the top of the basin. This could change slightly depending on the shape of the spout and the basin, ensure the distance is comfortable for washing your hands.
Mirror Height Above Vanity
The centre of the mirror should be positioned between 1500 to 1700mm from the floor level, or 100-150mm from the wall mixers. Ensure there is enough clearance to turn your taps on and off without hitting the bottom of the mirror/cabinet.
