What Is the Proper Clearance in the Front of a Toilet?

Recommendations

• Room to stand, sit, turn around and adjust clothing may require more than the 21-inch clearance mandated by some building codes, notes the "Supply House Times." The industry news source recommends a clearance of 30 inches for the movement that typically takes place around the toilet. The Kohler Design Center suggests a more spacious clearance of 4 feet from the fixture to the opposing wall.

Reality

• Unless you’ve just roughed in a bedroom-sized luxury bath, reality dictates that your toilet’s clearance will end up less than 48 inches but, hopefully, larger than code. Design choices can help establish a larger clearance: consider pocket doors, a side-by-side commode and lavatory placement or use a wall-hung “lav” to conserve space and provide room for feet or assistive devices.

ADA

• The Americans with Disabilities Act, administered by the United States Access Board, mandates accessibility in public spaces. Although regulations do not apply to family bathrooms, accessibility standards provide some guidance. Board specifications for toilet stalls mandate a 32-inch minimum clearance in front of a wall-hung toilet. Standards dictate the distance from walls and grab bar configurations as well. You may not need a 48-by-60 inch stall for a wheelchair, but an ADA-compliant bath makes your home more attractive to potential buyers with handicapped or elderly family members.

Universal Design

• The concept of universal design attempts to define practical standards between minimum requirements and ideal spacing with an emphasis on accessibility. Bathrooms that are designed with this concept in mind are comfortable for families with small children and allow adults to “age in place” without adaptive remodeling. Universal design experts recommend a minimum “maneuvering” space of a 59-inch radius between bathroom fixtures. Sample floor plans might include as little as 32 inches directly in front of the toilet but adjoin the space where a user can leave an assistive device or include 48 inches of clearance on the edge of that maneuvering area.