Installation Height for a Toilet Dispenser

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance

• The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that toilet tissue dispensers allow continuous paper flow and not be subject to controlled delivery. The dispenser must be mounted with the center line of the tissue roll positioned at least 19 inches above a finished floor and the leading edges of the roll no further than 36 inches from the back wall of the room or rear wall of the toilet stall.

Further Specifications

• ADA accessibility guidelines further mandate that the top of a toilet tissue dispenser should be situated no further than 44 inches above the surface of a finished floor. For ease of use, the tissue roll is commonly placed between 26 and 32 inches above the finished surface of the bathroom floor or the floor of a bathroom stall.

Design Considerations

• One good bathroom design rule dictates that a toilet paper holder is best placed 8 to 12 inches beyond the front edge of the toilet bowl and centered at 26 inches above the floor. This particular measurement is a recommendation only and not a legislated requirement as are the measurements found in ADA guidelines for public and commercial applications.

Personal Preference

• In a private dwelling, toilet tissue placement is a matter of personal preference. If the bathroom is one that will be primarily used by younger children, the height of the dispenser may need to be lowered. Similarly, dispenser height and positioning may be adjusted for ease of use by homeowners who may be taller than average or predominantly left or right handed. The dispenser in a private home should be convenient and user-friendly for the individuals who will most often use the facilities.