What Is The Standard Toilet Room Size?
People who live in large homes with many household members know that having only a bathroom is not enough and that you also need an additional toilet room. Adding a toilet room can sometimes be a problem, especially when you have limited space in your home. A toilet room is a small room with only a toilet, which can be used for multiple functions. In this article, we’ll talk about standard toilet room sizes. So, let’s start!
What Is The Standard Toilet Room Size? According to the International Residential Code (IRC), the standard minimum for a toilet room size is 30 inches by 60 inches. Any room smaller than this does not meet the toilet room conditions by code. However, National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) suggests a minimum toilet room size of 36 by 66 inches.
When deciding to add a toilet room to your home, you need to take into account how much space you have and whether it is enough for a toilet room. Some toilet rooms can have additional features, such as a sink. To learn more about this topic, be sure to stay with us because we will explain some things in more detail.
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Benefits Of Having A Toilet Room
Adding a toilet room in a home is a great benefit, especially if you have a large family. You don’t have to worry about whether your bathroom is occupied or wait for your turn to pee. Their popularity is growing, and there is a very good explanation as to why this is so.
Here are the most popular reasons why this is so:
- Hygiene – When there is no toilet bowl in the bathroom, it is much easier to keep the room and everything in it clean without constantly worrying about bacteria accumulation.
- Design – When the toilet is moved from the bathroom, other features can shine and, with careful design, make the room where you perform hygiene much more pleasant.
- Privacy – The toilet room ensures that at the same time, one member of the household takes a shower and the other uses the toilet without violating each other’s privacy.
Importance of Toilet Dimensions
When building a new home, it is important to know the right dimensions for an adequate bathroom and to create a functional layout in accordance with these measures. You never know what life can bring you and how many people will live in your house in five years. Once you build a house, expanding it is not an easy task, especially when you don’t have a large property at your disposal.
For those who want to learn more about toilets, be sure to read Parts of a Toilet and How It Works (Plumbing Diagrams).
How Much Floor Space Is Needed For A Toilet Room?
According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) guidelines, the toilet bowl should be positioned so that it is at least 15 inches away from every wall in the room and at least 30 inches from the surface where the toilet is directly facing.
Also, a distance of 30 inches is recommended for the space from the toilet and other fixtures on the wall next to it. Keep in mind that you must be careful that the central point of the toilet bowl is 36 inches away from the central point of the adjacent fixture.
How To Properly Measure A Toilet?
The best way to measure a toilet is to get the dimensions of the toilet bowl that you plan to install. Keep in mind that you need to first measure the closest and widest part of the toilet bowl. Be sure to write down the obtained measurements. This way, you will know exactly which toilet model is suitable for your room.
Here are the things that you need to measure:
- Depth – includes a line from toilet bowl back end to toilet rim.
- Width – determine whether the widest part of your toilet is its seat or tank. Then measure the winner from edge to edge.
- Back height – includes the line from the top of the tank to the floor.
- Seat Height – includes the line from the top of the toilet seat to the floor.
4 Types Of Toilet Styles
When it comes to the style of toilet, there are four different versions: wall hung, low level, closed coupled, and back wall. Each of these designs differs in size and appearance and requires different square footage of the toilet room.
1. Wall Hung Toilets
This toilet type is built into the wall, and the toilet itself is placed directly on the outside of the wall, above the floor. Its special advantage is easy maintenance, and people also like it because of its modern appearance.
2. Low-Level Toilets
This type of toilet has a toilet tank that is attached to the wall directly above the level of the bowl, which is connected directly to the opening on the floor. These two parts are connected to one pipe.
3. Close Coupled Toilets
This toilet has a combined tank and bowl in one construction, which is why it is extremely practical. Note, when planning the space for this model, it is important to know that close coupled toilets, due to their height, need more space on the back wall for installation.
4. Back To Wall Toilets
The back-to-wall toilet is one of the more popular models due to its compactness. It is a type of toilet whose tank is built into the wall, with the possibility of installing it in a special cabinet on top of the bowl. In any case, the tank is unnoticeable and offers more possibilities for decorating the room.
What is the Average Toilet Height?
The height of the toilet is very important when you have a small area at your disposal so that you can fit the fixtures surrounding the toilet. If you want to play it safe, you can rely on the standard height of the toilet, which is about 15 inches from the floor to the top of the bowl. However, if this dimension does not suit you, you also have the so-called “comfort height” of the toilet at your disposal, which ranges 16 to 19 inches from the floor to the bowl.
You might also be interested in the total cost of the toilet, so be sure to read How Much Does a Toilet Installation Cost?
How To Measure the Seat Size of the Toilet?
Among you, there are certainly those who are particularly interested in the dimensions of the toilet seat and how to measure them. The standard dimension for elongated bowls is around 18 inches, and for the classic round bowl, 17 inches. However, today you can buy a toilet seat in many different forms, and it is always good to take the measurements of the seat you are interested in.
The toilet seat is measured in three points:
- Between bolts – The seat is attached to the toilet bowl with bolts located on the back of the structure. The distance between the two bolts should be measured. It is usually 5.5 inches.
- Width of toilet – includes the measurement of the line that joins the two points of the bowl in the greatest range from one side to the other.
- Length of toilet – includes the measurement of the line from the bolts on the back of the seat to the bolts located on the front of the seat.
Does A Toilet Room Have To Have A Sink?
It is not a common practice to install a sink in the toilet room since these are really small rooms with no space for such a thing. However, when having a larger area available for the toilet room, it is normal to install a sink in it. This will greatly contribute to higher quality hygiene maintenance in your home.
Note! When adding a sink to the toilet room, you must know that there is a recommended distance between the sink and the toilet, for which you must leave enough space.
This YouTube video shows the standard size of a bathroom.
Is There a Prescribed Distance Between Sink And A Toilet?
How much space is required between your toilet and the sink depends on the arrangement of fixtures in the toilet room. When the sink is located in front of the toilet, then the front end of the sink must be at least 30 inches away from the front edge of the toilet. If you plan to install the sink on the same wall as the toilet, the distance between the edge of the sink and the center point of the toilet must be 18 inches.
Building Codes
Before starting a toilet room installation, you must carefully study all state and county building codes. If you want your toilet room to be classified as wheelchair accessible, we recommend that you also read the ADA regulations. In this case, you must know that you need a lot more space for the toilet room.
FAQ: People Also Ask
What is a good size for a toilet closet?
It is recommended that the toilet closet be at least 30 inches wide, but also, if the area of the room allows it, try to go for an option closer to 40 inches. It is considered an ideal situation if the toilet closet can be 42 inches.
Is 2 feet enough room for a toilet?
It is recommended to leave a minimum of 21 inches in front of the toilet to the wall or door. However, people usually leave 30 inches or more. NKBA points out that otherwise, less than 2 feet of space remains in front of the toilet, which is not an ideal situation.
How small can a toilet room be?
The toilet room should not be smaller than 30×60 inches according to the standards of The International Residential Code. However, the National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends slightly larger dimensions – 36×66 inches.
Final Thoughts
Toilet rooms are usually small because they are intended only for the use of the toilet. Therefore, you can fit the toilet room into the existing home layout even if, at first glance, you don’t have a lot of space available. It is important that you perform quality measurements and follow the prescribed minimum distances between the toilet, fixtures, door, and walls of the room. When you have done that, give yourself the freedom to decorate the toilet room according to your personal preferences.
