At what height will the shower, bath and basin mixer taps perform best?

When you are at the stage of refreshing your bathroom space, alongside the visual aspects of choosing and buying your dream sanitaryware, a technical issue also arises. Anyone investing in new equipment to fit out the room as well as possible should also consider what the height of the taps for the basin, bath and shower ought to be to ensure maximum comfort and convenience for every user. You will find helpful information on this in the remainder of the article.

Types of shower, bath and basin taps

Bathroom taps can be divided into two main categories by installation method – exposed and concealed. The former have been known for many years. Their main advantages are low price and a very simple construction, allowing intuitive assembly and fixing. The downsides are a dated look and the need to install them exactly where the water outlets come out of the wall.

With the second solution – concealed behind the wall – there are far more options for positioning. However, it is worth focusing here on a slightly different aspect – the distance from the basin. The installation height of a concealed basin mixer depends on several factors, including the guidance on the leaflet or the manufacturer’s website and individual preferences. As a rule of thumb, it should be about 25–35 cm above the top edge of the basin. The biggest advantage of concealed mixers is how little visible space they occupy, as the whole mechanism apart from the lever sits behind the wall. Interest in this type of product also stems from their exceptionally modern design and the wide choice of models. The drawback is the price, significantly higher than for exposed fittings. Nevertheless, installing concealed basin, shower or bath mixers is an increasingly popular option.

Installation heights for the different types

The main determinant of installation height is the height of the people using the sanitaryware in question. However, this is not the only aspect. Another equally important one is the type of tap/mixer. Standard thermostatic models can be positioned at any height. By contrast, with concealed mixers and those with a rain shower head, the matter needs careful thought.

There are certain guidelines that specify the heights at which particular wall-mounted mixers should be located:

• basin – 25–35 cm above the top edge of the basin, i.e. about 100–120 cm above the floor,
• bath – 10–18 cm above the bath and at least 60 cm above the floor,
• shower – 110–130 cm from the surface, and around 180 cm for the shower head.

The overarching rule is that the ends of both the hot- and cold-water pipes should always be run to the point where the mixer is to be installed.

Optimal height for a concealed shower mixer

The distance of the shower mixer from the floor should be tailored to the household members’ heights so that everyone is comfortable during daily washing. An optimal solution places the mixer so that it does not restrict users’ movements and is easily accessible to both taller and shorter people. In particular, when selecting sanitaryware, attention should be paid to people who use a wheelchair. In this case, the best decision to enable independent use of the bathroom would be installation at a height of no more than 80 cm from the floor.

Best height for a shower mixer with a rain shower head

As with the previous option, a shower mixer with a rain shower head should first and foremost take into account users’ heights and their independence. Mounting it too low will put tall people at risk of hitting their head on it, while too great a distance from the floor will mean shorter users cannot reach it. To ensure maximum comfort, it is worth installing the rain shower head about 20–30 cm higher than the tallest user’s height.

The golden mean: a few words on the optimal solution

The heights of the bath, shower and basin mixers should be considered as early as the planning stage of the bathroom renovation, as their positioning has a major impact on where the water connections, run under the tiles, will be located. In addition, when chosen appropriately they can satisfy all users – children, adults, seniors and people with disabilities alike. Therefore, if there are significant differences in height and independence among household members, to ensure comfort for everyone during daily hygiene tasks it is worth opting for bathroom fittings that allow the shower head to be hung at an adjustable height.