The Ideal Towel Bar Height (And Where to Hang Other Bath Accessories)

Towel bars and other bathroom accessories should be located conveniently and at the correct height. Learn heights, locations, and dimensions for towel bars, rings, grab bars, soap dishes, toilet paper holders, and other bath accessories.

Towel Bar and Ring Heights

• Towel bars: Towel bars or towel racks should be 42 to 48 inches high.
• Towel rings: Towel rings should be at least 20 inches above the vanity countertop.
  
• Above-toilet towel racks: Hotel-style towel racks (which incorporate towel bars and a top shelf and are usually installed above the toilet) should be at least 48 inches above the floor.

Towel Bar and Ring Locations

Towel bars and other towel hardware should be within easy arm's reach near each sink and bath fixture.

Bars usually work best on the longest wall in the bathroom and should be as long (horizontally) as possible. Towel and robe hooks can be used alone or in groups and fit more easily on short walls than towel bars.

Mirror Height

Mirrors can be installed between 38 and 42 inches above the finished floor, measured to the bottom edge of the mirror.

Mirrors are typically centered over sinks or vanity countertops. In this case, the bottom edge of the mirror should clear the top of the bathroom counter by at least 4 inches.

Shower Soap Dish Height

Soap dishes should be installed between 44 and 54 inches above the shower or tub floor.

A soap dispenser should be installed 40 to 48 inches above the floor, and the dispenser's push button should be no more than 44 inches above the floor.

Shower Soap Dish Location

Locate the shower soap dish out of the shower spray. Often, this means locating the soap dish closer to the shower head than farther away.

Towel or Robe Hook Height

Towel or robe hooks should be 70 inches above the floor. Multiple hooks should be spaced a minimum of 9 inches apart.

Toilet Paper Holder Height

The ideal toilet paper holder height is 26 inches, but you can install it anywhere between 15 and 48 inches from the floor. The holder should be 8 to 12 inches in front of the front edge of the toilet, measured to the center of the holder.

Wall Cabinet Height

Bathroom wall cabinets are normally installed at 54 inches above the floor. This provides 18 inches of clearance above a standard 36-inch-tall vanity (with countertop).

A minimum of 18 inches of clear space above the bathroom vanity is recommended. But cabinet height can vary with different vanity heights, as needed.

Toilet Grab Bars

• Toilets: side wall: According to ADA requirements, each toilet needs a grab bar that is at least 42 inches long installed horizontally on the side wall nearest the toilet; this should be located 12 inches at most from the rear wall (behind the toilet).
• Toilets: rear wall: With toilets, the rear wall should have a 36-inch grab bar centered over the toilet tank (a 24-inch grab bar is acceptable if space is limited).

Bathtub Grab Bars

• Bathtubs without permanent seats: The back wall needs two grab bars, each at least 24 inches long. The upper bar should be 33 to 36 inches above the floor; the lower bar should be 8 to 10 inches above the tub rim. Both bars may be no more than 12 inches from the foot-end wall and 24 inches from the head-end wall. The foot-end wall needs a 24-inch (minimum) bar starting at the tub's front edge. The head-end wall needs a 12-inch (minimum) bar starting at the tub edge. Additionally, the end wall bars should be 33 to 36 inches above the floor.
• Bathtubs with permanent seats: The back wall needs two bars, one 33 to 36 inches above the floor and one 8 to 10 inches above the tub rim. The bars may be no more than 12 inches from the foot-end wall and 15 inches from the head-end wall. The foot-end wall needs a 24-inch (minimum) bar starting at the front edge of the tub.

Shower Grab Bars

• Roll-in shower: Each wall needs a bar at 33 to 36 inches above the floor and no more than 6 inches from the adjacent wall. A bar is not required on a wall with a seat.
• Transfer shower: A continuous, or wraparound, bar must be installed along the control (faucet) wall and extending at least 18 inches along the back wall, at a height of 33 to 36 inches above the floor.