If you ask many people, they’ll agree that the bathroom is their favorite room in the entire house. Everyone looks forward to the time they get home and indulge in some warm bath after a busy schedule. The therapeutic feeling that you get from taking a warm bath is enough to make even a bad headache go away.
So, if you’re planning to build a bathtub, you must ensure it features your desired design, shape, and size that suits your needs. Before you start measuring your bathtub to build a new one, be sure to check our guide to the most comfortable bathtubs in the market, best corner jacuzzi tub as well as the best bath tub surround panels.
But don’t forget to consider the recommended tub standard bathtub dimensions and how should you position it? Do bathtubs come in standard sizes? Let’s answer all these questions below.
Bathtub Sizes Considerations
There are many things to keep in mind when designing the right bathtub. The first thing you should remember is that the bathroom tends to be the smallest room within your house. This means you’ll have to fit many things in there, and you don’t want a single item like the bathtub to take over the entire space.
Proper planning is very important before you get started. The first step to your planning involves knowing the standard bathtubs. Remember that you must leave free space in front of the bathtub. The face needs to be around 30 inches wide and 60 inches long to provide entry and exit way for the users.
Here is a summary of all the things you need to consider before deciding your standard bathtub dimensions.
- The floor types and the weight your bathroom floor can comfortably support.
- What’s the capacity of your water heater, and can it handle a large tub?
- Do you want to remodel your existing bathtub, or you’re doing a replacement of the entire tub to come up with a new bathtub?
- What are the size of your family and the frequency of your bathroom use?
- Consider the space you have for the entire bathtub needs, including pipe-fitting and other fixtures
- The size of the bathtub you plan to install, fixtures, styles, lighting, faucet fixtures, lounging facility, and more.
- Choose different bathtub sizes that will suit your bathroom layout and satisfy your needs
- Consider whether you’ll just use the bathroom for bathing or you’ll need it to be a relaxation point
The Standard Tub Size
The standard bathtub size will generally depend on where you’re located. The size and length of your bathtub will vary depending on the shape and type that you intend to install. A typical standard bathroom will measure around 60 inches long and 30 inches wide. The water depth also varies with the shape and model of the tub.
The common ones range at about 14-20 inches. You don’t need so much space in your bathroom to get yourself a bathtub. Whether you have a huge bathroom space or a tiny one, all you need to do is choose the appropriate size for your tub.
You need to choose the right bathtub size with perfect dimensions for your bathroom size. Have a look at different types of bathtubs and their dimensions and make a wise decision. Here are the types of bathtubs and their dimensions.
Freestanding Tub Dimensions
A freestanding bathtub is just like the name suggests. The tubs are not connected to any walls or surfaces. A freestanding bathtub doesn’t need any support to stand in the bathroom. The freestanding tub is all-inclusive of all the fixtures and the faucet.
The freestanding bathtubs are usually heavier than other types and have some smooth lines, and feature modern designs. Freestanding bathtubs require large bathroom sizes to comfortably fit their size and weight. They’re usually popular among homeowners with Master bathrooms, thanks to their size.
The freestanding tub comes in 60 inches long, 30 inches wide, and 19 inches in water depth. There are small tubs of this kind that come in 55 inches in length, 19 inches in width, and 15 inches in water depth. The large freestanding tubs, which typically require master bathrooms, come with the dimensions of inches 72 long, 32 inches wide, and 20 inches depth.
Freestanding tubs also come in two different types. Here are the two types of freestanding bathtubs.
Clawfoot Freestanding Bathtubs
Clawfoot tubs date back to the 19th century, making them suitable for older homes. The freestanding bathtubs have their feet resembling a bird or a beast and hence the name. These bathtubs come in around 60 to 66 inches long. You can find small tubs for 54 inches and larger ones at inches 72 long. They also have variable widths of 30 to 40 inches and heights of 24 to 30 inches.
If you love taking a bath with your partner, a large clawfoot tub is a perfect option. However, they’re not suitable for people with mobility issues. An average bather can easily sink deep in this kind of bathtub.
Oval Freestanding Tubs
Oval freestanding bathtubs come in different styles. The tubs sit on the bathroom floor and are perfect for a minimalist appearance. They also work well in modern decorating style. The oval tubs also come in different sizes that you can choose from. The common ones come in length 60 inches, width 41 inches, and depth 24 inches.
If you’re squeezed in space, you can go for small ones that come in 55 inches long, 27 inches width, and 15 inches depth. If you have a Master bathroom size, you can go for larger ones of 72 inches.
Corner Bathtub
If you’re that kind of a person that loves luxury and would prefer launching in a bath with your favorite book, install a corner tub. Corner bathtubs comes in a square shape with a corner snipped off. Others come in a triangular shell shape.
Many people believe that the corner tub save space because they’re usually tucked away in the corner of your bathroom. The truth of the matter is that these triangular tubs require more space than other traditional models. The corner bathtubs usually come in large sizes to give plenty of room that can even accommodate two people taking a bath at the same time. For the two person shower dimensions read our article.
An average corner tub is usually 60 inches in length, 60 inches in width, and 20 inches in depth. Smaller corner tubs are also available, with their dimensions being 4 inches in length, 4 inches in width, and 18 inches in depth.
If space is not an issue in your home and you have larger bathrooms, you can go for even bigger models. The dimensions of the larger corner bathtubs measure 72 inches length by 72 inches width by 20 inches depth.
Alcove Tub
The alcove tub is the most common bathtub in the market, and many people consider them the standard tubs. The alcove tub is one of the most affordable on the list but comes in quite a small size. The alcove bathtub is made to fit three walls enclosure which makes it a perfect fit for a shower combination.
This type of bathtub is situated so that the two long walls of the room form its ends and the back wall form the side of the enclosure. The corners of the bathroom walls naturally form an alcove and are perfect for 6 by 6 or 7 by 7 bathrooms. These are considered minimal bathroom sizes, and thanks to alcove bathtubs, you can still enjoy the luxury of a bathtub with such a small bathroom.
There are small alcove tub sizes to fit small bathrooms whose owners do not buy the idea of letting go of the bathtub altogether. The dimensions for small alcove tubss range at 54 inches in length, 30 inches in width, and 15 inches in height.
The standard alcove tub or moderately sized models are also available. The moderate sizes come with the dimensions of length 60 in inches, width 32 inches, and height 18 inches.
Finally, there are long bathtubs whose alcove bathtubs add an extra foot to the length and width. These alcoves are designed to accommodate large-size bathers or even a couple. If you need more space to splash water and enjoy your bathing moments, go for an alcove bathtub of 72 inches length, 36 inches width, and 20 inches height in dimensions.
Whirlpool Bathtub
Whirlpool bathtubs wow many people thanks to their visual appeal. But the tubs also appear larger than normal, although many times they come in standard alcove-ready sizes. The sizes are now fitted with whirlpool mechanisms. The tubs also come perfectly designed for drop-in installation.
Whirlpool tub features a thin acrylic shell that gives enough interiors space meant for hiding jet tubes and the pump unit. The common sizes are usually six-foot rectangular sizes and high-sided whirlpool walk-in bathtubs. Whirlpool tubs are suitable for medium to large bathrooms.
The dimensions for whirlpool bathtubs are usually the length 60 inches, width 32 to 36 inches, and height 18 to 23 inches.
Drop In Bathtub
Have you seen that bathroom with sunken tubs? That’s probably a drop in tub, with the only difference being that these have unfinished interiors. The plumbing and faucet of the tubs come fitted into the wall while the tub is fitted into the deck. The tubs can also be designed to sit independently in the bathroom without any support structure.
You’ll love drop in bathtubs for their elegant style and design, perfect for a smaller bathroom space. They provide perfect tubs for some relaxation and tranquility after a busy day.
A small drop in bathtub measures 45 inches in length, 30 inches in width, and 14 inches in depth. Standard sizes dimensions come in length 60 inches, width 30 inches, and depth 16 inches. Larger drop in bathtubs come in 72 inches length, 32 inches width, and 20 inches depth.
Soaking Bathtub
Soaking bathtubs are popular for homes that want to turn their bathrooms into a spa-style quality. The bathtubs got their name from their deeper than average height that makes you soak in it. The Japanese soaking tub also called ofuro in Japanese is the envy of everyone that envisions a bathroom built for a perfect relaxing bath. The ofuro bathtub is perfect for soothing your body and mind whenever you feel like having a fun moment.
The Japanese people have enjoyed soaking tubs for many years, and now that fun is spilling over to the entire globe. The traditional Japanese-style soaking tubs are made of wood and come in square shapes. They also incorporate familiar materials like ceramic, stainless steel, cast iron, acrylic, and copper.
What sets this tub aside from all other tubs is their height. Many ofuro tubs go up to 27 inches deep. When bathing in the tub and you crouch, the water will submerge up to the neck.
Western-style soaking tubs are deeper, and some can go up to 34 inches. Don’t worry about getting submerged because the tub comes with a built-in seat so you can sit instead of crouching.
Since the bathtub designed for upright bathing, they’re usually shorter than other bath types. They can be as small as 40 inches in diameter.
Undermount Bathtub
Undermount bathtubs are identical to drop in bathtubs. The only exception between them is that their rims come covered in a small deck-top which is usually made of stone or tile. This usually obscures the rim during the installation process. The stone and tile give this bathtub its stunning look. But to get all the luxury that comes with this beautiful-looking bathtub, you should be sure to pay a fortune as they don’t come cheap.
Undermount bathtubs have standard bathtub dimensions similar to drop in tubs. They’re 60 inches long, 30 inches wide, and 16 inches deep. Smaller ones are 45 inches long, 30 inches wide, and 14 inches deep. There are also larger ones that go up to 72 inches long, 32 inches wide, and 20 inches deep.
Walk-in Bathtub
Walk-in bathtubs are similar to alcove tubs, except that they come with a small door at their side. The walk in tubs are perfect for people with neurological and mobility disorders. All you need to do is open the door and walk in your tub for your relaxation method. A Walk-in bathtub is a perfect addition to your bathroom as it reduces any chance of slips to anyone, even without a disability.
The dimensions for small bathroom walk-in tubs are 48 inches in length, 28 inches in width, and 30 inches in depth. Standard tubs measure 60 inches in length, 30 inches in width, and 30 inches in depth. The tubs for a large bathroom come in length 60 inches, width 36 inches, and depth 30 inches.
Bottom Line
You don’t have to limit yourself to tub standard bathtub dimensions when you have a variety of styles and sizes to choose from. Your choice will largely depend on your bathroom size and what you want to achieve.
Luckily, there are many standard tubs with size options that come in different styles; hence, nothing will limit you when it comes to your bathtub. All you have to do is be practical with your type of bathtub and dimensions and find the size that better suits your style, taste, and space.
We have also talked about the height of shower head in our articles, make sure you give it a read as well.
