Accessible bathrooms
Widening a bathroom doorway for wheelchair access
The short answer
The bathroom often fails accessibility at the door rather than inside. Widening involves structure, finishes and sometimes the position of nearby fittings.
Getting the layout safe
- 1
The clear opening width, not the frame size, is what matters, and it is reduced by the door leaf and stops.
- 2
Where the wall is loadbearing, the opening needs proper support, which is a structural decision rather than a joinery one.
Before you commit
The clear opening width, not the frame size, is what matters, and it is reduced by the door leaf and stops.
Other guides you may want
Frequently asked
Do outward-opening doors help?
Yes, and they also allow access if someone falls against the door inside.
Are sliding doors better for wheelchair users?
Often, because they need no approach clearance for a swing, provided the handle is easy to operate.
Questions about doorway widening?
A short phone call usually answers more than a long email thread. Ask anything, including the awkward questions.