How Wide Should A Shower Be? (Sizes And Options)
You wouldn’t believe how much detail goes into choosing the right shower size for your home. A popular question is: How wide should a shower be? In this article, I’ll provide a thorough explanation of the ideal shower width as well as information that will help you select the ideal shower size.
On average, the standard size of most showers is between 32 and 36 inches, depending on the type of shower design. If you are opting for the installation of a standard shower enclosure, they are typically 36 inches wide and about 60 inches long. A wide shower provides more space for movement and the installation of fixtures. It’s also more comfortable and luxurious to have a wider shower.
Let’s talk about square showers.
Just by the nature of its shape, the width and length will be the same. These are the common sizes of square showers that can be installed in the corner of your bathroom or against one wall.
- 32 x 32 inches.
- 34 x 34 inches.
- 36 x 36 inches.
A built-in or sunken shower is also 36 inches wide and goes all the way up to 60 inches wide. Given the characteristics of their design, these showers typically have a height of more than 46 inches.
Corner showers mostly have to be wide due to their lack of length. So, they typically measure in at 40 to 42 inches wide.
Walk-in showers are usually dependent on the size of the bathroom itself. But it still conforms to the same industry standards mentioned above. A walk-in shower starts at 32 inches wide and can go all the way up to 48 inches wide.
As much as industry requirements state that a shower should be at least 32 inches wide, I feel like that’s pretty small and not all that comfortable.
If money is tight or you have very limited space to work with, a 32 inch wide shower will suffice. But, in most cases, you want to shoot for a 36 inch wide shower for the perfect single person shower experience.
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Shower Sizes For People Living With Disabilities
ADA Showers are created to comply with federal standards for public and commercial buildings that follow the ADA code. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, wheelchair users must be accommodated with certain shower dimensions, threshold heights, clearances, and accessory arrangements.
According to this Act, a shower must meet a threshold height that is no more than ½ inch high above the finished bathroom floor.
Or, the curb needs to be flush with the floor of the restroom.
A shower must also have an inside dimension of either 36 inches x 36 inches for transfer showers or a minimum of 60 inches x 30 inches for roll-in showers.
They must also have grab bars for supportive reasons.
Shower Base Sizes
Underneath most showers is a structure that is built of concrete that slightly slopes towards the drain to direct all the water towards it.
This is called the shower base.
The drain is either located in the center of the shower base or toward a specific corner that is slightly lowered.
It is also a known fact that most shower bases can be made from a variety of materials, such as:
- Marble.
- Tile over mortar.
- Fiberglass.
- Acrylic.
- Copper.
- Iron.
A shower base is usually the same size as the shower itself. In the case of a square shower base, it begins at 32 x 32 inches. In the case of a rectangular shower base, it can go all the way up to 60 x 42 inches or larger.
It is also common for shower bases to be made to size depending on the custom dimensions of the shower in question, but this is obviously going to cost more.
Do You Need A Wide Shower?
Yes and no.
As the name suggests, a wide shower is one that has more square footage than a standard shower.
This is useful if you have a large family or simply want more space to yourself while taking a relaxing shower, as there is more room for movement in the spacious unit.
If a regular shower feels too small for you, then go for a wide one.
However, wide showers can also be impractical in many instances. For example, if your house is small and the room available for the shower is narrow, an extra-wide shower may still not be able to fit and would take up too much of the space.
You also have to consider the cost of wider showers as well as the logistics of cleaning and maintaining them.
If these things are not an issue for you, then by all means, get a wider shower. You’re never going to be upset about having more space in your shower.
Do Wide Showers Cost More?
In all honesty, it all depends on what is included in your purchase.
Wide showers come in different layouts, with some including more features than others.
More expensive models are usually made of more durable materials, use a better showerhead, and may also include an advanced heating system, towel racks, and other accessories.
That being said, a basic wide shower may cost less than standard ones.
Then you need to consider the cost of installation.
If you’re having a shower installed, you have to factor in whether you’re using glass doors or not.
Additionally, you may need to do some tiling as well as certain types of waterproofing to prevent moisture/water damage to surrounding areas.
All these things may influence the cost of installing a wide shower in your home.
For this reason, I highly recommend contacting a plumber and builder to get a complete quote for how much it would cost to install different-sized showers before making a decision.
What Size Of A Shower Should I Get?
Your choice can also be based on what features you’d like to have in the unit.
For example, if you have a large family in your household, having a wider shower is more practical, as it will allow you to shower comfortably.
On the other hand, if you usually have only one person taking a shower in the morning, a smaller unit will work just fine.
Remember that most wide showers can easily be adjusted to accommodate different preferences and settings.
If it boils down to having a luxurious, relaxing shower, then you should opt for a wide shower. With a 36 to 40 inch wide shower, you can install fixtures that allow you to display your shower products in a non-intrusive manner.
Additionally, for people who prefer to sit or when bathing younger children, a wide shower provides the space needed to use a stool or shower chair to be seated without being cramped.
How Wide Should A Shower Head Be?
As far as width goes, there are standard and wide ones. A standard shower head has a measurement of 7 to 8 inches, while a wide shower comes in at either 9 or 10 inches. If you opt for a 9 or 10-inch wide shower head, you can rest easy knowing that it will fit without any problems.
A good guideline is to follow this rule: the wider the shower head, the more water and space you can have in your shower.
If you do not have enough water, then your bath won’t be enjoyable because all of you will feel tired after washing up after bathing.
So, a good size shower head is 8″ wide and 3/4″ deep, which will provide enough water and space for everyone.
Does A Wide Shower Head Affect The Water Pressure?
Yes, it does.
A wider shower head projects the water over a larger area and thus reduces the pressure.
However, this only happens when you have a very wide shower.
So, if you choose to purchase a large shower head, keep in mind that the water pressure may be slightly weaker than you originally expected.
As such, if you want a shower that will project the water with high pressure, going for a standard-sized shower head is better.
Most showers these days are sold in sets, including other pieces such as a hand shower, soap dish, built-in shelf, and hose.
However, if you want a wide shower solely as a shower (with no other additions), then you can save yourself money by purchasing just the head itself.
Think about it this way.
A wide shower head has to distribute water over a larger surface area.
It’s only natural that less water and pressure pass through each exit point. This is why most rain-like shower heads are so wide.
When a shower head is compact and smaller, the same amount of water is being pushed through a smaller surface area.
This will increase the water pressure significantly.
What Are The Benefits Of Wider Shower Heads?
Wide showers are great for people who have more space and a larger comfort zone when they’re bathing.
According to experts, having a shower that’s 9 or 10 inches wide gives you 25% more room to move around, which is perfect if your bathroom is large.
For example, a shower that’s 7 inches wide would be best for someone who has a medium-small bathroom or someone who is yet to build the room up.
For married couples who prefer to shower together, a wide shower would be better suited for you.
Key Takeaways
Should you get a wider shower?
That depends on you, of course. Wider showers are more convenient than regular ones, but they could also take up more space in your bathroom.
If you’re thinking about building out your bathroom and want to use an extra large one later on, then a wider shower may fit in without any problems.
But, without a doubt, it is more costly to purchase a wider shower. If your budget permits, opt for a wide shower.
If you found this article on how wide should a shower be helpful, check these out:
1. What do you need in a bathroom? (essential items)
