Published 2026-10-29 · 2 min read
How to fit everything in a small bathroom: minimum clearances
In a 3–4 m² bathroom every ten centimetres counts. The fixtures themselves almost always fit; the problem is the space in front of them you need to use them. Here are the clearances you cannot negotiate and the places you can win room back. Building codes differ, so check yours.
The space around each fixture
| Fixture | Clear in front | To the side |
|---|---|---|
| Toilet | 60 cm minimum (70 comfortable) | 35–40 cm from the toilet's centreline to a wall |
| Basin | 70 cm minimum | centreline 40–50 cm from a wall |
| Shower | 70 cm in front of the entry | — |
| Bath | 70 cm along its length | — |
| Washing machine | 90 cm for the open door | allow 65 cm width for a 60 cm machine |
How small it can be
- Shower: 80 × 80 cm is the minimum; 90 × 90 or 90 × 120 cm are far more comfortable.
- Bathroom with shower, toilet and basin: around 1.5 × 2.0 m.
- Bathroom with a 170 cm bath: around 1.7 × 2.2 m.
- Door: 70 cm wide; if it opens inwards, draw its swing — it often hits the basin.
Where to win centimetres
- Wall-hung toilet: the frame goes into the wall and you gain 15–20 cm of depth, plus a clear floor to clean.
- Walk-in shower, no tray and no door: the same space feels much bigger.
- Sliding door, or one that opens outwards: you free the whole swing.
- A narrow basin, 35–40 cm deep instead of 45–50.
- Recessed niches for bottles instead of shelves that stick out.
Check it in 3D
GrafitGo does not have ready-made bathroom fixtures yet, but you can approximate them with boxes at their real size and, more importantly, add transparent boxes for the clear zones in front of them. If those overlap, the layout does not work. Then press V, step in at eye level and see whether the door hits anything.
Can a washing machine go in a small bathroom?
Where local rules allow it, yes — under a worktop next to the basin or in a niche. Keep it away from the shower and on its own circuit with residual-current protection.
Which tiles make a bathroom look bigger?
Large tiles, thin grout lines in the same colour as the tile, and the same tile on floor and walls. Light colours reflect more light.
New articles by email
We write rarely — only when an article is worth reading. Unsubscribe in one click.