Walk-in shower is nowadays more preferable; based on its necessities and performance people highly choose it. It works as a separate unit from a bathtub, giving the bathroom a modern and ambient look with a larger space.
But building up the walk-in shower, you need to focus on its standard dimensions.
Standard doorless walk-in shower dimensions
Depending on the size and shape of the bathroom and ADA requirements, the standard size for small bathrooms is 36 by 36 inches at the very least and for larger bathrooms 42 by 42 inches at the very most. Sizes smaller than 32 and larger than 40 won’t give a standard look to the bathroom.
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The dimensions of a walk-in shower’s standard size will vary depending on the size and shape of the bathroom. A large bathroom and any rectangular-shaped shower should be at least sixty inches long and thirty-two inches wide.
However, if you have a small bathroom with a square-shaped shower, the standard size is thirty-six inches in height and width, with a maximum of forty-two inches.
Even though the standard size isn’t usually followed when installing walk-in showers, most building owners choose to use the smaller variant, which has dimensions of 36 by 36 inches.
The size of the bathroom has an impact on the typical doorless walk-in shower’s dimensions as well. It can be difficult to maintain the minimal size of 36 by 36 inches in a small shower area.
If there is adequate space in the bathroom, a standard doorless walk-in shower with a maximum dimension of 60 by 40 inches should be built.
In order to move around comfortably and keep water from entering the rest of the bathroom, walk-in showers typically require more space. Because of this, it’s important to maintain the walk-in shower’s standard dimensions.
Therefore, sizes smaller than 32 to 36 inches for tiny bathrooms are not seen as conventional since walk-in showers require extra room for the user to easily enter and exit the shower and to prevent water spilling everywhere.
As walk-in showers require more space, anyone who wants to install a shower larger than 60 by 40 inches can do so. However, the standard is between 60 by 40 inches for rectangular-shaped showers and 42 by 42 inches is the maximum for square-shaped showers.
Some people think 32 by 32 inches is the standard for small bathrooms, but this isn’t true because walk-in showers require a few inches of space in front and on each side.
Therefore, the standard for small bathrooms is 36 by 36 inches at the very least and 42 by 42 inches at the very most.
Building owners should adhere to the guidelines and install, keeping in mind that smaller shower areas should be 36 by 36 inches and larger shower areas should be 60 by 30 inches.
ADA requirements for standard walk-in shower
Walk-in shower has many advantages. It gives a great ambiance and modern look to the bathroom, making it more spacious and larger. It separates the shower area and prevents you from falling.
In fact, Walk-in shower helps to resist the excess water dripping onto the bathroom floor. You can build the walk-in shower into various designs. But while measuring and positioning it, not to forget to follow Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) supplementary codes.
According to the ADA requirements, concerning the drainage system, the standard size of the walk-in shower is minimum 36 inches by 36 inches or 92 by 92 cm. It’s the standard size for showering without having any trouble and easy in-and-out access in the small bathroom areas.
However, for larger space, ADA supplementary code stands 42 by 42 inches at the very most for a standard look. And for the thickness, 6 to 8 mm is preferred.
3 things to know about standard walk-in shower sizes
Before adding a walk-in shower to your bathroom, there are a few things you should be aware of. Before building the walk-in shower, the entire cost, the shower’s design, its drainage system, and the size of the bathroom must all be taken into account.
The glass frame and its thickness are key determinants. A blunt edge and a minimum thickness of 0.23 to 0.31 inches should be kept on the glass to allow for easy access by elderly people and children.
Anyone using the shower should have easy access to a space in front. A 92 by 92 cm walk-in shower is an option for anyone with a small bathroom. A frameless walk-in shower is also the safest option for installation if the user has any physical limitations.
Additionally, the water drainage system should be placed in a corner and be simple to use.
The thickness of the shower glass:
Shower glass should have a minimum thickness of 0.23 inches. Although frameless glass is preferred, anyone can install either a frameless or framed shower glass if they so choose.
The total costing:
Before installing, the owner should have a clear understanding of the cost. Typically, it may cost between $ 160 and $ 170 to install. The cost might increase with the shape and size of the walk-in shower.
Drainage system:
Make sure to select an easy-to-use drainage system to ensure that no water enters the bathroom. And the stainless steel drainage is easier to clean, so installing that would be wiser.
How deep should a walk-in shower be without a door?
The depth of the doorless walk-in shower varies depending on the size of the bathroom and the design of the shower. A walk-in shower measuring 32 to 36 inches in all directions with a 24-inch clearance in front is often suitable for any compact bathroom.
When installing a shower with a 36 by 36 inch size, a thickness of 6 to 8 mm is preferred.
The depth of a walk-in shower varies depending on its design, but in general, if someone has a rectangular-shaped walk-in shower, it should be between sixty and forty inches long, with glass that is between 0.23 and 0.31 inches thick and 24 inches wide up front.
If the doorless shower is square in design, it will be thirty-six inches at a minimum and forty-two inches at a maximum in all directions, including height, width, and depth.
How to build a standard walk-in shower?
To build up a standard walk-in shower, you’ll need various shower kits and tools. Gather the required things and follow the steps given below to build a walk-in shower:
Select the shape and color:
There are various shaped and colored glass blocks, tile and walls. The shape can be found in rectangles, hexagonal, curved or square. Pick one and determine how many sides you’re going to fix it.
Remove all the fixtures and determine the measurement:
Clear the space where you’re going to build up the walk-in shower, turn off all the water connections, wall panels, remove the fixtures like bathtub, drywall, screws. Now check the local building authority code and apply the codes for the measurement.
Fix the shower walls:
Install the shower walls on the wall studs with divets in the shower tray. Cut a hole, measure each carefully, screw them in the wall studs into the accurate position and apply sealants.
Attaching nozzle and showerhead:
Depending on your individual preference and position of the drain, set the showerhead and add as much as nozzles you needed.
Fix the shower curb:
Depending on the length dimension of your walk-in shower, choose the shower curb. It allows more space making a barrier among the bathroom floor and shower. Concerning the drainage slope, fix it in the line with thin glue.
Adding the shower pan and other fixtures:
Install the new fixtures like shower pan, faucet handles or glass panels screwing them tightly which are going to create a huge difference. Check the water flows are working properly or not before leaving.
Final Thoughts
Standard doorless walk-in shower allows greater accessibility, spacious and modern look. The shape, design, cost and its drainage system, must be taken into account. For the small bathrooms, 36 by 36 inches and for larger bathrooms 42 by 42 inches is the standard size for ease of showering.