Turning Space for a Wheelchair
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60″
Diameter of a clear circle for a 180° turn. Alternatively a T-shaped space with 60″ arms.
ADA 304 turning space. A reference figure for private homes, not a requirement.
Sixty inches is five feet of clear floor, and almost no existing bathroom has it. Knowing the number matters less for meeting it than for understanding why a room feels impossible.
What counts as clear
Floor space only. Knee clearance under a sink counts toward the circle if there is at least 27″ of height under it — which is why a pedestal or wall-hung basin can rescue a small bathroom that a vanity cabinet cannot.
If you cannot get 60 inches
- Take the door off the swing. A door swinging inward eats the middle of the room. Rehang it to swing out, or fit a sliding or pocket door.
- Remove the vanity. Swapping a cabinet for a wall-hung basin often buys the knee clearance that completes the circle.
- Accept a T-turn. Three-point turns are normal and safe. The full circle is a convenience, not a requirement.
- Transfer at the door. Many people park the chair and use a grab bar and shower seat inside. This is a legitimate plan, not a failure.
