Height of the bathroom washbasin – the most important and most useful information

Renovating your bathroom space often involves not only changing the wall finishes, but also buying and installing sanitary ware. When choosing, you need to bear a lot of factors in mind. Among the most important are the height of the vanity unit, the waste outlet, and the shower, bath and basin taps. Why does it matter so much? Are all models installed the same way? You’ll find answers to these questions, among others, in the rest of the article.

Basin installation – height

When you decide to buy a basin, remember that its height will depend largely on the type you choose. Significant differences arise primarily from its intended users. Installing sanitary ware designed for children, older people or people with disabilities looks different. The method of fixing also matters quite a bit. A countertop basin should ideally be set at a slightly different height than a wall-hung model. Where you place it has a considerable impact not only on the look of the bathroom space, but also on the comfort and ease of everyday routines.

A common mistake is to focus only on prevailing standards and expert recommendations while overlooking the household’s individual needs. Yet the height at which the basin is fixed to the wall matters most to its users. It’s therefore crucial that everyone feels as comfortable as possible in the bathroom. If you have small children, you can opt for an add-on in the form of a step stool, while adjusting the height of bathroom units with a basin to suit the adults.

What is the optimal basin height?

There is currently no legal regulation that clearly states the target installation height for a basin. In the past, people followed a rule set out in a 1974 publication entitled Technical Conditions for the Execution and Acceptance of Construction and Assembly Works: Sanitary and Industrial Installations. According to that guidance, sanitary ware such as basins should be mounted about 75–80 cm above the floor. However, given the height of today’s women and men, those figures are out of date. With the average height having increased over nearly a century (by 14 cm for women and around 13.6 cm for men), using a basin set at that level would be rather uncomfortable.

Taking the above into account, basins are now most often installed 85 cm from the floor. These parameters have for some time been considered optimal. Despite this accepted standard, during installation you should mainly consider the height of the basin waste when used with a vanity unit, usually set 50–65 cm above the floor. The key issue is connecting it to the soil pipe via a trap or bottle trap. This should happen naturally, without unnecessary tinkering. The second important point is connecting the flexible hoses of the tap to the hot and cold water supplies, usually located no more than 10 cm higher. When choosing new sanitary ware, you should factor in the above.

The height of a countertop basin should be the same as for a wall-hung model, meaning that, where there are no contraindications, its top edge would sit 85–90 cm above the finished floor level. The worktop, meanwhile, would be set lower, i.e. by subtracting the height of the basin from that figure.

Installing basins for children, seniors and people with disabilities

When organising your bathroom space at home, you need to take into account all users of the sanitary ware. Buying two basins isn’t a sensible idea, so it’s worth opting for a compromise. If you have children, instead of placing a miniature basin beside the standard one, consider getting a special step stool to make the standard model easier to use. It’s different in facilities such as crèches or preschools, which, due to their function, should be equipped with two types of bathrooms, fully adapted to the needs of both the youngest and adults. A widely accepted norm is to install basins for the youngest children (up to 3 years of age) at a height of 55–60 cm. For older children this distance should be increased accordingly — on average by 5 cm every 2 years.

When replacing sanitary appliances, you should also keep in mind the comfort of carrying out hygiene routines for people with disabilities and older adults. Depending on the level of independence and safety, the height of a bathroom basin usually ranges between 80 and 85 cm above the finished floor. Despite the lack of detailed guidelines, this distance from the floor should ensure ease of use. People using a wheelchair or a walking frame require an individual approach to installing basins and other sanitary ware. What matters here is a special zone with a pull-out basin and countertop edges that allow the person to keep their mobility aid in place while carrying out everyday tasks.

The choice and layout of sanitary ware should above all take account of users’ individual needs. The right height for the basin, bath, shower tray or toilet is a guarantee of safety and comfort, combined with the convenience of everyday hygiene.