What is the minimum clearance in front of a toilet?

UK best practice recommends a minimum of 600mm clear space in front of a toilet (from the front edge of the pan to the nearest wall or fitting). Building Regulations Approved Document M (access to buildings) recommends 750mm for accessible bathrooms. Most bathroom designers allow 600-700mm for standard installations.

How much space do I need beside a toilet?

Allow a minimum of 200mm (20cm) from the centre of the toilet to any adjacent wall or fitting. This gives roughly 150mm clear space from the edge of a standard 360mm wide pan. For comfort, 250-300mm from centre to wall is recommended. Document M requires 450mm from centre to side wall for wheelchair access.

What clearance is needed alongside a bath?

You need a minimum of 600mm access clearance alongside a bath to allow safe entry and exit. The long side of the bath should not be against a wall without at least 700mm clear on the opposite side. This is a practical safety requirement, particularly important for elderly users or families with children.

Do building regulations specify bathroom layout requirements?

Building Regulations Part G (sanitation, hot water and water efficiency) and Part M (access) cover bathroom requirements. Part G mandates that a dwelling has at least one accessible WC. Part M covers accessibility clearances. While there is no specific regulation for exact distances between standard fittings, best practice guidelines from manufacturers and BS 6465 provide recommended clearances.

What is the minimum bathroom size for a toilet and basin?

A downstairs cloakroom with just a toilet and basin can work in a space as small as 1.4m x 0.8m, though 1.6m x 0.9m is more comfortable. For a full bathroom with bath, toilet and basin, the minimum practical size is approximately 1.7m x 2.4m. Building Regulations do not specify minimum room sizes, but clearances around fittings effectively set minimums.

Bathroom Suite Spacing Calculator — Clearance Checker

Check that your bathroom fittings have adequate clearances between each other and walls, meeting UK building regulations and best practice guidelines.

Room Length

Internal room length

Room Width

Internal room width

Bath

Standard bath

Bath X Position (centre)

Distance from left wall to bath centre

Bath Y Position (centre)

Distance from back wall to bath centre

Bath Length

Standard: 1.7m

Bath Width

Standard: 0.7m

Shower

Separate shower enclosure

Toilet

WC/toilet

Toilet X Position (centre)

Distance from left wall to toilet centre

Toilet Y Position (rear)

Distance from back wall to toilet rear

Basin

Washbasin

Basin X Position (centre)

Distance from left wall to basin centre

Basin Y Position (rear)

Distance from back wall to basin rear

Bidet

How We Calculate This

This calculator checks the clearances between your bathroom fittings and the room walls. Enter your room dimensions and the position of each fitting, and the calculator will verify that all clearances meet minimum requirements.

Clearance standards

Front clearance: 600mm minimum in front of toilet, basin and shower entry
Side clearance: 200mm minimum from fitting edge to wall or adjacent fitting
Bath access: 600mm minimum alongside the bath for safe entry and exit
Toilet to basin: 200mm minimum gap between nearest edges

Clearances follow BS 6465, Approved Document M and standard UK bathroom design practice. The calculator gives a pass/fail result for each clearance check.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators

Bathroom Tiling Cost Calculator

Calculate bathroom tiling costs for walls and floors including tiles, adhesive, grout and labour.

En-Suite Minimum Size Calculator

Check whether your room dimensions can fit an en-suite with desired fittings and clearances.

Kitchen Extraction Calculator

Calculate kitchen extraction rates for cooker hoods and mechanical ventilation per Part F.

Kitchen Plinth Calculator

Calculate kitchen plinth lengths, clips and end caps for base unit runs.

Kitchen Unit Calculator

Calculate base units, wall units, tall units, filler panels, plinth, cornice and hardware for your kitchen.

Last updated: March 2026

All calculations are estimates. Verify with your supplier.