How to Design a Frameless Shower Door

Measure the width of your shower opening. Most glass shower doors are custom fit to the size of the shower opening. However, the typical shower door is at least 30 inches wide, so if the shower opening is wider, a stationary panel on one or both sides would be a wise design choice.

Measure for height. The most common height for a shower door is 72 inches. Make the shower door at least as high as the shower head or as high as the tile, if tile doesn't go all the way up to the ceiling. Remember that you will be able to see the shower door in any mirrors on the opposite wall.

Choose a configuration. The configuration of glass panels will depend largely on the size of your shower. Smaller showers may need only a single hinged door, or a bypass style: two doors that slide past each other. This style is handy because it usually includes a built-in towel rack on one door. When doors are in the same plane it is called an in-line configuration. If your shower butts up against the end of your bathtub or is in a corner, you may wish to have a clear panel above the bathtub and a door opening to the shower on the adjacent side. This is called a right-angle design. Frameless doors may also be designed with a custom angle or even with curved sides. For complete privacy inside the shower, mirrored doors are available. Another option is a glass screen which is a panel that folds accordion-style. It saves space in smaller bathrooms where having a door opening into the bathroom would be too tight of a fit. A glass screen replaces a shower curtain. Glass doors may be designed to extend up to your ceiling to create a steam shower for a spa-like experience. These designs feature a vent-like opening at the top of the door.

Consider installing only a panel, rather than a complete door. Some designs feature only a stationary panel, which forms a partial wall enclosing the shower spray area, leaving the opposite end of the shower opening free for easy entrance and exit. This option is also convenient for smaller bathrooms.

Consider safety. For safety reasons, a pivot or hinged shower door should open out into the bathroom. Shower door glass is typically at least 3/8-inch thick and safety tempered with polished edges. Tempered means that the glass has been treated with heat or chemicals to make it stronger than ordinary glass. If it is broken, it will break into small rounded pieces rather than jagged shards, so it is less likely to cause injury.