Federal civil rights compliance

ADA Bathroom Planning Guide

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Plan view of ADA toilet stalls showing the wheelchair accessible and ambulatory stall layouts

ADA Bathroom Planning & Compliance Guide

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a federal civil rights law, determined the minimum requirements for recently designed and constructed or altered state and local government facilities, public accommodations, and commercial facilities to provide equal access to inaccessible facilities by individuals with disabilities. Accessibility standards aim to overcome this inaccessibility by setting many prescriptive dimensional or scoping requirements that are legal, design, or construction minimums.

2010 ADA Standards Guidance

2010 ADA Standards are the current approved guidance that have been issued by the United States Access Board and adopted by the Department of Justice to enforce the ADA. Nothing in the 2010 ADA Standard requirements prevents the use of designs, products, or technologies to provide substantially equivalent or greater accessibility and usability.

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ADA-Configured Bathroom Stalls

Key dimensions

Wheelchair turning space
60 in (1525 mm) circle, minimum
Wheelchair stall width
60 in (1525 mm) minimum
Wheelchair stall depth
56 in (1420 mm) wall-hung toilet; 59 in (1500 mm) floor-mounted toilet
Toilet centerline, wheelchair stall
16 to 18 in (405 to 455 mm) from the side wall
Ambulatory stall
60 in (1525 mm) deep, 36 in (915 mm) wide
Toilet centerline, ambulatory stall
17 to 19 in (430 to 485 mm) from the side wall
Door clear opening
32 in (815 mm) minimum with the door open 90 degrees

The two centerline ranges apply to different stall types. Confirm the final layout with your architect.

Plan view of ADA toilet stalls. Wheelchair accessible stall: 60 inch minimum width and 56 inch (wall-hung) or 59 inch (floor-mounted) minimum depth. Ambulatory stall: 36 inches wide and 60 inches deep.
Figure 1. Plan view of the wheelchair accessible and ambulatory stalls described below. Select the image to enlarge.

Wheelchair Maneuverability & Turning Space

In recent years, the number of people using wheelchairs has grown, as has the variety of wheelchair types and sizes. The basic needs of a person using a wheelchair, paths of travels and the space the wheelchair require are used as a primary source of design information to set minimum standards for accessible ADA restrooms. Based on the research it is concluded that individuals using wheelchairs need turning spaces in restrooms to move. That is the main idea behind providing extra space for people who use wheelchairs in bathrooms. A 60 inch (1525mm) Circular Space is the minimum design requirement that allows a person using a wheelchair to make a 180-degree or 360 degrees turn in the corridor of the bathroom. A level and clear corridor leading to the accessible Bathroom’s out-swinging door is recommended to be 48 inches (1220mm) minimum wide to provide mobility to the user with a disability. The accessible unit’s doorway must have a clear opening 32 inches (815mm) minimum width when the door is open 90 degrees.

Stall Dimensions & Depth Requirements

Wheelchair Accessible Stall and the Ambulatory Accessible Stall are two basic toilet compartment designs set in the ADA Standards. In the Wheelchair Accessible Unit, the depth must be 56 inches (1420mm) minimum for wall-hung toilets and 59 inches (1500mm) minimum depth for floor-mounted toilets. The minimum width measured at right angle from the side wall is 60 inches (1525mm). If the minimum amount of space is not provided in the accessible unit, the person using a wheelchair cannot maneuver into proper position at the stall.

Toilet Placement & Rear Wall Offset

The toilet must be offset on the back wall with the toilet center line 16 inches (405mm) minimum to 18 inches (455mm) maximum from the side wall or bathroom partition. Grab bars must be mounted on the rear wall and on the closest side wall or partition to the toilet. Ambulatory Accessible Unit has a depth of 60 inches (1525mm) minimum with 36 inches (915mm) absolute width dimension.

Door Swing & Grab Bar Integration

Doors must not swing into the minimum required compartment area. Door pull hardware must be installed on both sides of the door near the latch. The toilet must be located on the back wall with the toilet center line of 17 inches (430mm) minimum and 19 inches (485mm) maximum from the side wall or partition. Grab bars must be provided on both sides per side wall requirements.

ADA Compliant Mounting Height for Bathroom

Key dimensions

Operable parts height
44 to 48 in (1120 to 1220 mm) above the finish floor
Elevation of accessory mounting heights. Operable parts are mounted between 44 and 48 inches above the finish floor.
Figure 2. Accessory mounting heights. Operable parts sit 44 to 48 inches above the finish floor. Select the image to enlarge.

Operable Parts & Reach Range Standards

Mounting Locations and the proximity of equipment are important for people who use wheelchairs and who may have limited reach range because of their disabilities. The design standards reflect these users’ needs in the mounting heights for common accessories, such as mirrors, paper towel dispensers, waste receptacles, soap dispensers, napkin/tampon vendors, and toilet partition-mounted equipment, including grab bars, toilet tissue, and seat-cover dispensers, and sanitary napkin disposals.

Mandatory Height Requirement

To allow use by people with limited reach range and disabilities, it is required that accessories be mounted with their operable parts located between 44 inches and 48 inches (1120mm and 1220mm) above the finish floor.

ADA Compliant Lavatory Elevation

Key dimensions

Rim or counter height
34 in (865 mm) maximum above the finish floor
Knee clearance
27 in (685 mm) minimum from the bottom of the apron to the floor
Knee depth
At least 8 in (203 mm) under the front edge
Side elevation of an accessible lavatory: 34 inch maximum rim height and 27 inch minimum knee clearance, extending 8 inches under the front edge.
Figure 3. Accessible lavatory height and knee clearance. Select the image to enlarge.

Public Hygiene Accessibility

Lavatories are important features in public restrooms to provide hygiene. At least one area in each restroom must meet or exceed 2010 ADA Standards for accessible lavatories to provide a hygienic experience to everybody including users with disabilities.

Elevation & Knee Clearance Specs

An Accessible Lavatory must be installed with the front of the highest point of either the rim or counter surface, 34 inches (865mm) maximum above the finish floor, and have a knee clearance of at least 27 inches (685mm) minimum from the bottom of the apron to the finish floor. The knee clearance must extend at least 8 inches (203mm) under the front edge of the lavatory.

Bobrick Washroom Equipment

Bobrick Washroom Equipment ADA Planning Guide

For more information regarding ADA planning guide please refer Bobrick’s comprehensive ADA planning guide below:


Download Bobrick ADA Planning Guide (PDF)


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Frequently Asked Questions: ADA Bathroom Planning & Compliance

To properly accommodate a wheelchair, a minimum 60-inch (1525mm) circular turning space is required inside the restroom. This space allows an individual using a wheelchair to make a full 180-degree or 360-degree turn to navigate the bathroom safely.

The required dimensions depend on the type of toilet fixture installed. The stall must have a minimum width of 60 inches (1525mm) measured at a right angle from the side wall. For depth, stalls with wall-hung toilets require a minimum of 56 inches (1420mm), while stalls with floor-mounted toilets require a minimum depth of 59 inches (1500mm). If this minimum space is not provided, a person using a wheelchair will not be able to maneuver into the proper position.

The doorway of a accessible unit must provide a clear opening of at least 32 inches (815mm) when the door is opened to a 90-degree angle. Furthermore, the door must swing outward so it does not infringe on the minimum required compartment area, and door pull hardware must be installed on both sides near the latch.

Inside a wheelchair-accessible unit, the toilet must be offset on the back wall so that its centerline is between 16 inches (405mm) minimum and 18 inches (455mm) maximum from the closest side wall or partition.

An Ambulatory Accessible stall is designed for individuals who have mobility issues but do not use a wheelchair. According to the ADA standards, this specific unit requires an absolute width dimension of exactly 36 inches (915mm) and a minimum depth of 60 inches (1525mm). The toilet’s centerline in this unit must be 17 to 19 inches from the side wall, and grab bars must be provided on both sides.

To ensure washroom accessories (such as paper towel dispensers, soap dispensers, mirrors, and waste receptacles) are accessible to people with limited reach ranges, their operable parts must be mounted between 44 inches and 48 inches (1120mm and 1220mm) above the finished floor.

At least one sink area in each public restroom must meet ADA standards. The sink must be installed so that the highest point of the rim or counter surface is a maximum of 34 inches (865mm) above the finished floor. Additionally, there must be a knee clearance of at least 27 inches (685mm) from the bottom of the sink apron to the floor, and this clearance must extend at least 8 inches (203mm) under the front edge of the lavatory.
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