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If you're thinking about redesigning your bathroom, you're not alone. Bathroom remodels are one of the top
home-improvement projects in the U.S. And with good reason. A well-designed bathroom can have a
tremendous impact on your enjoyment of your home.
There are, however, many considerations that go into designing a bathroom that not only looks great but is
ergonomic and safe. Bathroom design may seem simple enough, given that it's usually a small space, but
size can be deceiving. I encourage you to seek the help of an experienced interior designer to ensure that
your bathroom is perfectly designed to your needs and follows best practices.
Read on for 17 of the most essential bathroom layout guidelines and code requirements. I'll be delving into
dimensions, spacing between walls and fixtures, ceiling height, and much more. To give you the full
picture, I'll be covering residential bathroom building codes, as well as bathroom design recommendations
from the National Kitchen and Bath Association that serve as excellent rules of thumb.
When planning a project, the IRC is a good starting point, but always check your local codes. Here in
Seattle, for instance, we have the Seattle Residential Code (SRC) that includes many amendments to the
IRC.
The NKBA offers best practices for bathroom design
The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) publishes planning guidelines to help interior designers
create bathrooms that are both functional and safe. These are not legal requirements, like building codes,
but they are extremely helpful in ensuring that a bathroom is not only safe but enjoyable to use. NKBA
members, like CRD Design Build, refer to these guidelines regularly, as well as our own experience, to
design bathrooms that are as functional as they are beautiful.
IRC
The IRC doesn't mention anything about how wide bathroom doors need to be.
NKBA
Doors should be at least 32" wide.
For 32" of clear width, the door width (from jamb to jamb) should be 34".
Since 34" is not a standard door width, most designers spec a 36" door, which is not usually a
special order.
To meet ADA universal design standards, plan on 34" of clear opening, or a 36" door.
The NKBA makes an exception for situations where it's impossible to fit a 34" door, allowing a 24"
door in those circumstances.
NOTE: If you a remodeling an existing bathroom, most cities will allow the existing door width to
remain, even if they have a local code in place requiring a wider door. However, if the location of the door
is moved, it usually will have to follow the code.
2. Door interference
IRC
Again, the IRC doesn't have any requirements relating to doors bumping into each other in the
bathroom.
NKBA
Good design dictates that the entry door doesn't bump into the shower door or cabinet doors or
drawers.
NOTE: A good way to ensure that you can meet this guideline, even in a small bathroom, is to
design an entry door that swings out into the hall instead of into the bathroom.
3. Ceiling height
IRC
Bathrooms must have a minimum ceiling height of 80" in front of fixtures, which is less than the 90"
ceiling height required in most rooms.
The 30" x 30" area in front of a shower head must also be 80" in height.
NKBA
The NKBA doesn't have anything to add to the IRC requirement in this case.
The recommended ceiling height over sinks and other fixtures (basically, wherever you can't walk) is
only 60".
IRC
At least 21" is required between the toilet, bidet, and sink and any opposite wall or other fixture.
At least 24" is required in front of the shower entry.
NKBA
Building code only requires 21" of floor space in front of the toilet or sink, but that feels quite
cramped, so the NKBA recommendation is 30".
NOTE: If you are remodeling an older bath that's just 5' wide, a smaller 21" or 24" clear space may
be all you can fit. A wall-hung toilet can help free up space, however.
5. Sink spacing
IRC
The minimum distance from the centerline of the sink to a wall is 15".
There must be 4" between the edge of a free-standing or wall-hung sink and the wall. (This makes it
easier to clean between the edge of the vanity and the wall.)
NKBA
The NKBA recommends 20" from the center of the sink to the closest wall or other tall obstacle.
This extra bit of elbow room makes it more comfortable to wash your hands.
IRC
The distance between the centerlines of two sinks must be at least 30".
Freestanding or wall hung sinks should have at least 4" of space between them.
NKBA
The NKBA recommends at least 36" between the centerlines of two sinks. When in doubt, go with
smaller sinks so there is more room in between. This extra space ensures that you won't bump elbows with
the person using the sink next to you.
NKBA
Vanities should be 32" - 34" in height. In the old days, 32" vanities were the norm, with the goal of
accommodating both kids and adults. Nowadays, standard practice is to customize them to be comfortable
for adult users. Kids can use stools, which can even be on a pull-out mechanism built into the vanity.
8. Countertop corners
IRC
The IRC is silent on this one.
NKBA
Countertop corners shouldn't be sharp.
Chamfered or rounded corners should be installed for safety.
9. Shower size
IRC
The minimum interior shower size is 30" x 30" or 900 square inches, in which a disk of 30" in
diameter must fit. (In most places, the shower head must also be inside this imaginary disk.)
NKBA
The code minimum is 30" x 30", but 36" square is much more comfortable.
NKBA
Plan grab bars. Even if you don't need them now, grab bars (or blocking within the walls) should be
installed 33" - 36" above the floor in the shower.
NKBA
The NKBA recommends non-slip floors. Don't install any slippery flooring in your bathroom
(including your shower floor). Ceramic tile floors should have a coefficient of friction (COF) rating of at least
0.5 when wet.
NKBA
Give your toilet some space. The distance from the centerline of your toilet bowl to the nearest wall
or obstacle should be at least 18". Only use the 15" minimum code requirement if you have a very small
bathroom and can't accommodate the extra distance.
NKBA
When it comes to toilet compartments (also known as water closets or WCs), the NKBA
recommends a larger space of 36" x 66".
If you have a swing-out or pocket door, you can use these minimum dimensions. If the door swings
in, add the width of the door to the depth of the WC.
NKBA
The NKBA recommends the placement of accessories with an eye to ergonomics.
A mirror should be placed over the sink with eye height in mind, the toilet paper holder should be 8"
- 12" in front of the edge of the toilet bowl, and towel holders and soap dishes should be conveniently
located.
15. Ventilation
IRC
Minimum ventilation for the bathroom is to be a window of at least 3 sq. ft. of which 50% is operable,
or a mechanical ventilation system of at least 50 cubic feet per minute (cfm) ducted to the outside.
NKBA
An exhaust fan that is vented to the outside of your home should be placed in each bathroom.
o If your shower compartment or WC is fully enclosed, they are considered their own room and
should have their own exhaust fans.
16. Heating
IRC
All bathrooms should have an appropriate heat source to maintain a minimum room temperature of
68° Fahrenheit (20° Celsius).
NKBA
The NKBA recommends that the bathroom should be about 10 degrees warmer than the rest of the
house when someone is bathing.
Consider installing a supplemental heat source in the bathroom if needed.
My interior design colleagues and I here at CRD Design Build would be happy to discuss your bathroom
remodeling plans. Please feel free to drop us a line to discuss your dreams for your bathroom space. We
would love to be of service.