Downstairs Toilet Size

[Charlottle]

We are in the process of buying our first house. Offer accepted, mortgage sorted, just waiting for things to go through, so I’m just planning things while we wait. We want to add a downstairs toilet and are trying to work out the best way to do this. So my question is, what is the minimum size room needed for a downstairs toilet? We only need a toilet and sink in there as we are lucky enough to have a utility room. Apart from minimum size, I’d also be interested in knowing what size other peoples downstairs toilets are that they think are a good, functional room? Thanks 😊

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Our new downstairs toilet is 1m by 1.5m with the toilet on the short wall, then a sink on a cupboard on the opposite short wall. Sliding pocket door. It feels big enough to get in and out and be able to stand comfortably to wash hands.

I went around with a tape measure checking how big friend's toilets were!

You can get toilets with a handbasin set into the top of the cistern but they're awkward to use as you have to lean over the toilet bowl to wash your hands and end up with your knees pressed up against the edge of the seat/bowl. not envy....

Ours is around 85cm wide by maybe 150cm long? It’s plenty of space for a loo.

We have a wall mounted toilet which looks really tidy and is easy to clean underneath. Then the sink is built into a small recess with a shallow kitchen cupboard underneath and worktop on top. We have more than enough storage, it looks good and is so practical.

Our under stairs WC is 76 x 140cm, minimum length really would be 130. It's absolutely fine to use.

Should have added: we have a recessed basin, and a bi-fold door as it's off a narrow hallway and at 90 degrees from our (pocket) kitchen door, so we didn't want a door swinging out into the hall.

Shape and door access is key rather than size alone

45cm either side from the centre of the toilet seems to be a reasonable minimum width, and as above 130cm in front of the bowl so there is room to stand up.

Watching with interest as I also want to install a downstairs loo. Who would I need to get in to check wether the toilet can be connected to the drainage? How much does it cost to install a downstairs loo.

Sorry to derail OP.

Thanks for all of the information everyone. It’s all really helpful! There is a brick built coal store behind utility room that we were thinking of converting to a downstairs toilet. It is roughly 172cm long by 91cm wide. We could possibly extend it to be wider if need be, but it does sound like it might be big enough. Folding doors seem like a good idea too seeing as it is so small.
@PragmaticWench I have seen the toilets with a basin on top but I feel the same way as you about them so am avoiding them like the plague!
@TotoAnnihiliation that’s not a problem at all 😊 It’s all useful information
Thanks everyone else for the handy information too!

Ours was put in last year and is 135cm x 85cm. Japanese loo with small rectangular basin in the long wall. I love it!

I had the understairs space reconfigured too to accommodate the stuff we need to keep there. It has a coat cupboard, a section for the hoover/steam mop and shopping bags. Also two 100cm shoe drawers, a cupboard above the loo and a small additional cupboard. Get some graph paper out to help plan the space. Every cm was accounted for in my plan.

My friend's loo is 130cm but I think it is too small. Ours is fine for 6ft+ DH and DS.

@Houseplantmad

Ours was put in last year and is 135cm x 85cm. Japanese loo with small rectangular basin in the long wall. I love it!

I had the understairs space reconfigured too to accommodate the stuff we need to keep there. It has a coat cupboard, a section for the hoover/steam mop and shopping bags. Also two 100cm shoe drawers, a cupboard above the loo and a small additional cupboard. Get some graph paper out to help plan the space. Every cm was accounted for in my plan.

My friend's loo is 130cm but I think it is too small. Ours is fine for 6ft+ DH and DS.

Thank you for this information, it’s really helpful. I’m actually really interested in how this looks as the size is just slightly smaller than the space we will have and the under stairs storage sounds really interesting too as we will have an under stairs cupboard that I want to be nice and organised for sorting things!

Consider which way the door will open.
We put a toilet in a cupboard which is just a fraction over one metre by one metre.
The width is fine for a toilet and small basin with cupboard.
The length would ideally have been maybe 20cm longer but the door opens outwards and it has a high ceiling which makes it feel bigger