How Much Room Is Needed For a Walk-In Shower?

General Dimensions

• Walk-in showers need only be as large as standard shower stalls. According to This Old House, a typical shower is 36 inches wide and anywhere from 36 to 48 inches long. Walk-in showers that imitate the dimensions of a full shower with a tub are usually 36 inches wide and between 60 and 72 inches long, meaning they require nearly twice as much space. All of these dimensions refer to the interior dimensions of a shower; prefabricated shower stalls will occupy even more floor space in the bathroom due to the thickness of walls and doors.

Door Clearance

• Your walk-in shower's door will also play a role in determining how much room you need. Swinging doors typically open outward, which means you'll need space in the bathroom for the door to open fully in order to take advantage of the shower's easy entry. According to This Old House, 30 inches is sufficient for most standard swinging shower doors. A walk-in shower without a door -- or with a curtain in place of a door -- won't require this space, giving you more options for arranging the room or space for a larger shower interior.

Rain Rooms

• A rain room is a type of walk-in shower that is doorless and features an overhead shower head that replicates natural rainfall. It is essentially a small room that acts as a shower, giving you ample room to move around. For walk-in showers of the rain room variety, there is virtually no limit to the size requirements. Larger showers accommodate multiple fixtures and storage space for bath products, as well as clearance space to prevent water from entering the rest of the bathroom.

Accessibility Guidelines

• The United States Access Board provides guidelines for walk-in showers based on the provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act. These guidelines cite a standard 36-inch by 36-inch minimum shower interior, along with a maximum curb height of 1/2 inch in order for a shower to qualify as a walk-in accessible model. ADA guidelines also note the importance of clearly accessible walkways between the shower and door, as well as minimum distances between the shower and other fixtures in the room.