With home improvement and a new bathroom, most times, you’ll need to swap out your old tub filler for your new bathtub. However, what appears to be a simple task isn’t; when installing your new tub spout, there are several things to consider. What is the height of bathtub faucet spout supposed to be on your wall? You may not think tub spout height above tub faucet makes a difference, yet it can affect many things.
You don’t want the lower end to be too low, as you must prevent accidental backflow. Besides this, you need to consider the use case of faucets and other bathroom hardware if you have an enclosed tub or freestanding tubs in a different area. Older family members or those who lack dexterity need things to be easily accessible. Thus, there are standard measurements for all your plumbing parts to cover everything from your bathroom sink to faucet control.
In our guide, you can learn more about your bathtub faucet height and how it relates to the drain and plumbing in your tub. By the end, you’ll see how everything ties in together. So, when you are busy replacing your bathroom plumbing, you can get your shower head roughed in correctly and your combination faucet control situated so all the family can use it properly. (Learn How To Remove Adhesive From Wood Floor)
How High Should My Faucet Spout Be Over The Tub?
There are a few things to consider regarding your bathtub spout height. First, the tub spout should be 4 inches or more above the tub rim. It can be between 12 and 18 inches above the rim of the tub on the high side.
When you try to fill the tub, the stream may violently splash off a standard tub bottom if the spout is too high. It may not appear a big deal, although it can lead to a slippy and hazardous bathroom floor.
Some bathtub faucets have the tap and spout joined. If so, ensure the faucet spout’s bottom is positioned no closer than two inches from the tub’s rim.
Along with height positioning, you must also consider how far the spout sticks out from the wall.
Water may not fall into the tub directly if the spout is too short or too close to the wall. If it misses the tub, it may run between the bath and the wall or strike the rim and land all over your floor.
As you try to sit in the tub or take a shower, a long spout could otherwise stick out too far and hurt you or your children.
What Are Tub Fillers?
A tub filler is a larger faucet designed to fill your tub as swiftly as possible.
Baths hold a lot of water, and to avoid losing your relaxing mood, tub fillers help a lot as they can dump 30-80 gallons quickly. At this stage, you might wonder if you could use a kitchen sink faucet for your bath.
Sadly, you can’t take a sink spout and put it on your bath. Even a bathroom sink isn’t suitable for use on your tub for the same reasons.
Because of their plumbing, you’ll find bathtub faucets and spouts are connected to pipes with more water pressure as they need to pour out a larger volume of water.
Besides the difference in the inner workings of the faucet body, the location and build of your tub affect how far the spout can be from your tub.
In an alcove tub, the open side needs to be clear of any obstructions; thus, tub faucets (and your drain pipe) for alcove designs need to be installed on one wall.
A freestanding tub doesn’t have such wall or height restrictions, yet you can face water supply restrictions and how you will position the flow of your main and overflow drain.
You’ll quickly find with these tubs, the tub fillers and drain positioning are in close vicinity of each other as you have no walls to fasten to. Likewise, you won’t have a shower head on such a type of bath either. (Read When Did Drywall Replace Plaster)
Where To Mount My Tub Spout?
Here is more detail on standard tub spout height for your tub types.
1. Height
If your faucet has a tub spout, it should be positioned such that the bottom of the spout is about two inches above the bathtub’s rim.
This opening prevents accidental backflow where water is pushed back into the spout. In this occurrence, potentially polluted water can return to the water source. Accidental backflow may occur if there isn’t enough of a gap and the tub overflows.
The faucet handle in a tub/shower combination tub should be positioned between twelve and eighteen inches above the bathtub rim.
This is high enough to allow a person in the shower to reach the faucet without stooping, yet low enough for the bather to reach it while seated in the tub.
2. Location
Here you can find where the tub faucet should be placed now that you have the proper height. Again, your bathtub’s type will determine how this works.
Enclosed tub: The faucet should be positioned in the middle of one of the ends of tubs encircled by walls. Ensure that the controls and spout are in line with one another. This is mainly for aesthetic reasons.
Free-standing tub: The first thing to check if you have a free-standing tub is that the faucet spout extends into the tub. When water is released from the spout, ensure that it lands in the bathtub rather than on the floor.
Then, check the faucet’s accessibility as you need to reach the controls from inside or outside your tub, and also need to think of the cosmetic purposes.
If your free-standing tub is a slipper tub with one end higher than the other, put the faucet on the low end. This improves tub comfort. If the slipper tub’s center is lower than either end, position the faucet on the wall-facing side.
One other thing to consider is, you may be removing your old spout along with your old tub.
Can You Add Shower Head To A Bathtub?
You can add a shower head to a bathtub! There are many methods to consider; one is simple, and the other is more difficult.
Use a diverter
The simplest method is to buy a diverter piece. Attaches to bathtub spout. Attach a hose and showerhead to the diverter. Turning on the water forces it through the hose and showerhead.
Most diverters attach to a spout; therefore, you must replace the existing spout before adding your tub filler. This option also doesn’t need extra plumbing for the hose and showerhead.
Can I use a sink faucet for a tub?
You cannot use a sink faucet for a bathtub as they operate differently. The significant difference is that a sink faucet connects to a 3/8 inch pipe and a bathtub faucet to a 1/2 inch water supply.
More water can flow from a bathtub faucet with a bigger pipe than a sink faucet. Otherwise, the bathtub would fill with cold water. (Learn How Many Coats Of Drywall Mud Before Sanding)
What Height Are Shower Controls?
The controls can be placed higher, between 38 and 48 inches off the floor, if your shower does not include a bathtub.
Thanks to this, they are at a comfortable height for the typical adult. Before installing the controls, have a helper hold them at an approximated height to determine whether it is comfortable.
Note that these fittings need to be more than your standard tub spout height or tub filler handle, or you won’t have space to use them.
Shower Fitting Heights (inches)
- Shower valve in tubs: 28
- Shower stall: 48
- Showerhead: 72 or above
- Shower grab bars: 36 to 42
- Shower tap: 20
Whether the shower is installed in a bathtub or a shower stall determines the rough in height of the shower valve.
1. Bathtub Showers:
Tub-shower valves are 2 feet 4 inches from the floor. Because they connect to both the tap and the shower, these valves are low.
To reach the valve when in the bathtub, the height is low.
Tub spout height should be 4 inches above the tub’s surface. This leaves a 2-inch air gap above the overflow rim of the tub when it’s full.
2. Shower Stall Showers:
The standard shower stall valve height is 48 inches (4 feet). This shower handle height works for standing or sitting.
Adjustable Height Shower Valve
Installing an adjustable shower valve allows you to shower all over your body without using your hands.
Creating an adjustable height shower valve includes:
Self-Adjusting Operation
The self-adjusting adjustable shower valve travels up and down with the showerhead. This avoids adjusting the showerhead and valve separately.
Manual Operation
A mechanical inverter or hand tool raises or lowers a manually-operated shower valve.
Commercial Adjustable Valves
Some commercial shower valves overcome issues of manual installations of your tub filler and other shower hardware. Most of which can only be installed by a professional plumber.
Shower Tap Height
Shower taps will be 20 inches from the shower pan. When installing these in showers or a standard tub, they are the lowest fixtures in your bathroom.
Shower Head Height
The minimum height of showerheads is 72 inches from the shower pan. Set it higher for taller family members. Install a rainfall showerhead on the bathroom’s ceiling for maximum height.
You can also use a handheld showerhead for people of varying heights.
Shower Grab Bar Height
Disabled shower grab bars are at a standard height of 36 to 42 inches from the shower pan. Shower grab bars are installed at 30 to 45 degrees for safety. (Learn How To Lacquer Furniture)
Note: While these are often used in dedicated shower enclosures, they can replace other showers in baths. However, when set at the maximum height, the chances of water to splash violently onto the floor are increased.
