If you have a small shower the sideways entry may be required but in general the most common straight in entry for people walking in is 24” wide.
Shower opening minimum 22” wide. Shower door must be able to open outward (inward is optional) Shower controls should be accessible without stepping into the shower spray.
The good news is that most people have at least that much space for a shower in their bathroom! The International Residential Code deems 30” by 30” as the smallest permissible footprint for a walk-in shower. The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends a larger size; 36” by 36”, to be exact.
Shower doors come in a variety of sizes and dimensions to fit your walk-in shower. However, the standard shower door size is between 22 inches and 36 inches wide and 72 inches high. If the width is more than 36 inches, an extra panel may be needed to support the extra weight.
Being able to comfortably access your shower is the first important point, who wants to have to awkwardly side-step into their new luxury shower because the doorway is too narrow? I would recommend a minimum opening of 550mm, depending on the person's stature and mobility, I may increase the dimension.
Space may be limited but if your shower has a door make sure you can still fit through it! I would aim for 550mm at an absolute minimum, but just make sure it's designed with the main user in mind. You don't want to walk sideways into your shower everyday.
Bathrooms must have a minimum ceiling height of 80" in front of fixtures, which is less than the 90" ceiling height required in most rooms. The 30" x 30" area in front of a shower head must also be 80" in height.
However, your shower door can open in both directions, outward-opening and inward-swinging. You'll need about 30" of clearance space outside your shower to install a swinging shower door. If your bathroom is not configured for a shower door, consider choosing a sliding shower door .
Thus, the recommended opening of a walk-in shower is 30” to 32”.
How Big Should a Doorless Shower Be? A doorless shower layout requires a larger footprint than a standard tub or shower stall. Building codes may specify that a standard shower stall must be a minimum of 36 inches by 36 inches while the average doorless shower is about seven feet by four feet with many much larger.
The smallest possible shower size is 32 inches by 32 inches. This is pretty tiny and can be rather uncomfortable for longer showers. It might also not be suitable for those who are tall or carry extra weight. A compromise is a bit larger standard shower size of 36 inches by 36 inches, or even 42 inches by 42 inches.
The minimum allowable shower door width is 22 inches wide: Anything narrower than that may not be up to code.
The gap between a shower door and the wall depends on the type of shower door and the installation method. Generally, a gap of about ¼” to ⅜” allows for proper clearance, preventing the door from rubbing against the door frame or wall.
Minimum Walk-In Shower Size
Our professional and experienced opinion would advise that as a minimum, the tray should be at least 1200mm in length and anything between 700 and 900mm in width. This will help to ensure that water stays within the shower area.
If you have a small shower the sideways entry may be required but in general the most common straight in entry for people walking in is 24” wide.
Walk in Shower Entrance Size
Most walk-in enclosures feature an entrance around 500 mm to 900mm (22" to 35"), depending on personal preference and the overall size of shower space.
The shower compartment access and egress opening shall have a clear and unobstructed finished width of not less than 22 inches (559 mm).
Every brand is different but the standard sizes for shower doors range from 22 inches to 36 inches wide. Single panel doors are rarely wider than 36 inches. For openings larger than 36 inches, add an additional door panel or choose a shower door made for wider openings.
A 30 inch (760 mm) wide minimum by 60 inch (1525 mm) long minimum clearance shall be provided adjacent to the open face of the shower compartment.
24-inch shower doors are compact. They are suitable for small bathrooms or shower enclosures. The compact dimensions make these doors ideal for bathrooms with limited space. These doors offer a minimalist and sleek look to achieve a modern bathroom interior.
Look into a wet room design. As a general guideline, aim for at least 24 inches of clear floor space in front of your shower entrance.
We usually recommend a minimum of 1300-1400mm in shower base length for a Walk-in shower and would probably require a bypass panel up until around 1700mm length shower base. A gap or around 500-600mm is suggested for the entrance to allow easy access.
An entry at least 36″ wide is required at one end for maneuvering into the shower. The controls, faucet, and shower spray unit are located on the side wall farther from the entry. As with the standard roll-in compartment, a folding seat can be provided.