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What Is the Average Bathroom Size Suitable For Your Space

What Is the Average Bathroom Size Suitable For Your Space

If you are in the process of building a new home or renovating an existing house, you’ll probably ask what the average bathroom size is suitable for the space.

Don’t worry; we’ll show you all you need to know below.

Average Bathroom Size: A Summary

Bathroom TypeSize
One-Quarter Bath16 square feet 
Half-Bath16 to 20 square feet
Three-Quarter Bath20 to 26 square feet 
Main Family Bath36 to 40 square feet
Large Bathroom40 to 110 square feet 
Expansive Bathroom110 to 210 square feet or more

Typically, the average bathroom size will fall between 36 and 40 square feet for a standard bathroom space.

This area provides enough room to install a bathtub, shower, toilet, and sink in apartments and homes.

What’s the Average Bathroom Size?

Image of a home with an average bathroom size sketched out in a half-real image

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So, what is the average bathroom size?

Although bathroom space can vary significantly, this area typically falls between 36 and 40 square feet.

However, in larger homes, the size allocated for a bathroom can be anywhere from 40 to 110 square feet.

Consequently, the average bathroom size will also consider the different styles and types of bathrooms, including half-baths, powder rooms, ensuite bathrooms, and main family bathrooms. 

To break it down further, here are the typical bathroom styles and their sizes:

  • One-Quarter Bathroom: 16 square feet 
  • Half-Bath: 16 to 20 square feet 
  • Three-Quarter Bath: 20 to 26 square feet 
  • Main Family Bath: 36 to 40 square feet
  • Large Bathroom: 40 to 110 square feet 
  • Expansive Bathroom: 110 to 210 square feet or more

One-Quarter Bath

These rooms are the smallest options available. They’ll usually contain only a toilet or a shower unit. They can be as small as 16 square feet with some creative design.

One-quarter baths are not standard in many modern homes but can be added to a dwelling if necessary.

Half-Bath 

This bathroom style consists of a toilet and one other fixture, such as a sink or shower.

You can usually find these bathrooms in the back entrance of a home, in the basement, or down a hallway in large houses. These compact spaces will typically run 16 to 20 square feet.

Three-Quarter Bath or Ensuite Bathroom 

This bathroom includes a toilet, sink, and shower for an almost fully functional space. Many homes will have a three-quarter bath in one or more areas to provide enough facilities in multi-bedroom dwellings.

They usually measure 26 to 30 square feet, and ensuite bathrooms will connect directly to a bedroom. 

Main Family Bath

On average, the main bathroom space in a home will be medium-sized. It’ll include all fixtures for a fully functional bathroom, including a toilet, sink, shower, and bathtub.

Often, the shower fixture might appear within the bathtub to help conserve space and act as a multi-functional element. These spaces typically fall between 36 and 40 square feet.

Sometimes a full-sized bathroom sits between two bedrooms, with access doors to each room. These options are commonly known as Jack and Jill bathrooms and provide a fully functional bathroom in these rooms to help maintain the bedroom-bathroom ratio. 

Large Bathroom

A home with additional space may fit a large bathroom with extra features like bookshelves, bay windows, or a fireplace. These specialty elements can account for significantly more bathroom square footage to accommodate them.

Large bathrooms can range between 110 and 210 square feet, and you can find them as luxury ensuite bathrooms or main family baths.

Expansive Bathroom

Bathrooms that exceed 210 square feet are considered expansive and often contain luxury features. Items like whirlpool jet tubs, saunas, and decorative accents make good use of the space.

These bathroom spaces may include a separate walk-in shower from a bathtub, decorative tiling, mirrors, double sinks, and cabinet storage, among other intricate features. 

How Much Space Is Necessary? 

Small modern black and white bathroom for a piece on the average bathroom size

Hendrickson Photography/Shutterstock

Of course, the more amenities that are within a bathroom, they’ll require more space for proper functionality.

From having enough space for a door to open and close without obstacles to using the facilities correctly, each bathroom feature needs ample room.

These prerequisites are also enforceable by building codes to which contractors have to abide.

Door Clearance 

Although older homes will have smaller doorways and spacing regulations, new homes generally require a doorway between 32″ and 36″ wide for a standard door.

This additional space also accommodates individuals with disabilities and provides enough room to enter and exit. Any entrance or fixture door shouldn’t interfere with other items or individuals within the bathroom.

With extremely small bathrooms, having a door that swings outward rather than inward can ensure it meets building codes. In addition, the doors on vanity cabinets and other fixtures shouldn’t interfere with other items or individuals within the bathroom area.

Therefore, when renovating or building a new bathroom, it may be necessary to review the floor plan and make modifications to space all fixtures according to the guidelines.

Clear Floor Space 

Having enough clear floor space can ensure the safety of individuals while using the bathroom. There should be a minimum of 21″ in front of a sink or toilet fixture for adequate spacing.

Additional recommendations depict 24″ of minimum space in front of a bathtub or shower. Ideally, 30″ of clear floor space is optimal, increasing the total bathroom size when meeting these recommendations.

If a homeowner wants to create more floor space without making the bathroom larger, there is the option of using smaller fixtures.

By replacing a bathtub with a shower and using smaller sinks and vanities, it is possible to create more floor space and give the illusion of a larger bathroom. 

Shower Footprint 

Showers can vary significantly in size and style, greatly increasing a bathroom’s square footage. Generally, the smallest shower footprint should allow for a 30″ rotational disk within for proper clearance.

Some showers that nestle into a neo-angle corner can measure as small as 32″ from each stud. However, the recommendation for an adequate shower footprint is 36″ by 36″.

In addition, shower doors should always swing outward to prevent an individual from being in medical distress without having a door to reach them.

Therefore, these doors will require ample clearance and free floor space to open correctly and safely. An alternative to saving space for smaller bathrooms is to use a sliding shower door rather than one that swings outward.

This way, a homeowner won’t have to adjust other fixtures for door clearance. The shower footprint will typically measure between 15 and 20 square feet.

Toilet Placement 

A bathroom toilet should be at least 15″ away from any wall or fixture. However, 18″ is the recommended placement. Stand-alone toilets and bidets require at least 30″ of space to allow for a minimum of 15″ on either side.

While some smaller bathrooms will have the toilet in the main floor plan, others may have a separate room within the bathroom for the toilet and a possible bidet. 

The Most Popular Bathroom Size 

With so many home bathroom choices, choosing which is best suited for a space can be tricky.

However, on average, the most popular bathroom for homeowners falls between 36 and 40 square feet, providing a medium-sized area that will fit a fully functional bathroom in a home.

As homes get more extensive and modernized, the bathrooms also follow suit, with larger bathroom spaces gaining popularity as time progresses.

Compared to past bathrooms in older homes, even the moderate 36-square-foot options are more spacious than previous models. 

Things to Consider

Guy drawing the average sized bathroom on a sketchpad

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If you are remodeling a bathroom space or building a new home, some critical elements come into play.

From finding the ideal size for your home to the perfect ratio and vital components, creating the best bathroom space isn’t a simple task. 

The Ideal Bathroom Size

Determining the ideal bathroom size is critical. First, the footprint should include all the necessary fixtures to determine the minimum square footage. Then, homeowners can explore more expansive bathrooms if the area allows it.

For example, a bathtub is necessary for a home, but it does not have to be a part of every bathroom. Therefore, a fully functional ensuite with a half-bath on the main floor is often adequate.

The Perfect Bathroom Ratio 

In addition to bathroom size, knowing how many bathrooms a home should have will help make more practical use of the space. On average, a home should have two bathrooms for every three bedrooms.

Depending on the house’s layout and needs, this ratio can be slightly higher or lower. For example, older homes may include a Pittsburgh toilet, which may or may not be an additional bathroom feature for some homeowners.

Finding a Balance of Essential Fixtures 

Of course, not all bathrooms will require every necessary element. However, finding the best balance between fully functional bathrooms and half-baths or ensuite bathrooms can save homeowners time and money with renovations or building their homes.

One critical aspect of including multiple bathrooms in a home is that at least one should consist of a bathtub. Homeowners risk devaluing their property if they remove all the bathtubs and opt for only showers when remodeling.

For maintaining value and desirability in the market, one bathroom should remain fully functional with a full-sized bathtub. 

Frequently Asked Questions

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If you have further questions about average bathroom sizes, check out the frequently asked questions for more details. 

How big should a fully functional bathroom be?

Homeowners should allocate between 32 and 40 square feet to create a fully functional bathroom space. The smaller the fixtures are in the bathroom, the better illusion of space, even with a bathroom that is 32 square feet.

What are the best bathroom dimensions?

The dimensions that will help make a fully functional bathroom with effective use of space will be 5 feet by 8 feet.

These measurements provide 40 square feet of space to design an adequate floorplan to fit all necessary bathroom fixtures.

Can you add more fixtures to an existing bathroom without increasing the dimensions?

It is possible to add some fixtures to an existing bathroom. However, the type of fixtures you’d want and the existing floorplan will need to follow proper guidelines and provide enough functional space and clearance.

How small can a bathroom be?

Many building codes do not stipulate a minimum bathroom size, only how much clearance each fixture should have.

However, it is possible to have a small bathroom that measures only one meter wide and two meters long. This narrow space can still provide enough room for basic facilities.

What is a good size for a half-bath?

A comfortable half-bath in a home should measure between 3′ to 4′ wide and 6′ to 8′ long.

There are smaller half-bath floor plans available, but they can be low on clear floor space, which can affect the practicality of the room.

So, What Is the Average Bathroom Size?

Although the average bathroom covers between 32 and 40 square feet of space, that does not mean homeowners need to follow these measurements.

There are plenty of ways to maximize the use of bathroom space in small and medium rooms that’ll create a functional space for everyone. So what are you waiting for? Add your bathroom today!