Grab bars.
Stainless grab bars in common ADA lengths for side and rear walls.
Shop grab barsAccessible restroom guide
ADA mounting heights for restroom accessories.
Grab bars go 33 to 36 inches high. Most dispensers, dryers and hooks keep the part you use at 48 inches or lower. Here is every height in one chart, with the ADA section behind it.
Heights for every accessory ADA sections listed Shop the parts that fit
| Accessory | ADA height | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Grab bars | 33″–36″ to the top of the bar | Side bar 42″ min, starting 12″ max from the back wall and reaching 54″ from it. Rear bar 36″ min. 1-1/2″ from the wall (604.5, 609). |
| Toilet paper dispenser | Outlet 15″–48″ high | Center 7″–9″ in front of the toilet. 1-1/2″ min below the grab bar or 12″ min above it (604.7, 609.3). |
| Paper towel dispenser | Part you use at 48″ max | 15″ min. 44″ max if reaching over a 20″–25″ deep counter. Watch the 4″ protrusion limit (308, 307.2). |
| Soap dispenser | Part you use at 48″ max | Same reach rule. Over a counter, set it so it can be reached over the counter depth (308.2). |
| Hand dryer | Controls at 48″ max | Front edge 4″ max off the wall when it sits between 27″ and 80″ high (307.2). |
| Mirror | Bottom of glass 40″ max over a sink | 35″ max when not over a sink or counter (603.3). |
| Coat hook & shelf | Hook 48″ max; shelf 40″–48″ | Coat hooks within reach range. Shelves 40″ min and 48″ max above the floor (604.8.3, 308). |
| Stall door pulls | 34″–48″ high | ADA wheelchair and ambulatory stalls need a pull on both sides of the door, near the latch (604.8.1.2, 604.8.2.2, 404.2.7). |
| Stall door latch | Latch throw at 34″–48″ | The part you slide or turn has to be in reach and work without tight grasping or twisting (309, 604.8.1.2). |
| Seat cover & napkin disposal | Part you use at 48″ max | Don’t block the grab bar. Keep 12″ above or 1-1/2″ below it (609.3). |
| Sink (lavatory) | Rim 34″ max | 27″ high knee space under it (606.3, 306). |
| Urinal | Rim 17″ max | Elongated rim at least 13-1/2″ deep (605.2). |
Based on the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The 2012 Texas Accessibility Standards match on these items. Children’s restrooms, state and local codes can differ, so check your approved plans.
The 48-inch rule
Why most accessories top out at 48 inches.
ADA sets a reach range for anything a person has to use. From a wheelchair, the highest point most people can reach is 48 inches and the lowest is 15 inches (ADA 308). So the towel opening, soap button, dryer sensor or lever needs to fall between those two lines.
Reaching over a counter lowers the limit. Over a counter 20 to 25 inches deep, the high point drops to 44 inches.
Common mistakes
The ADA details people get wrong.
Nothing in the 12 inches above a grab bar
Getting the bar at 33 to 36 inches is only half of it. The space 12 inches above the top of the bar has to stay clear (ADA 609.3), so a hand can slide along the whole bar without hitting anything. That is where seat cover dispensers, napkin disposals, toilet paper dispensers and shelves often end up. Anything below the bar needs at least 1-1/2 inches of space. Plan the accessories around the bars before anything goes on the wall.
A latch above 48 inches
The stall door latch has to be in reach. If the throw, the part you slide to lock the door, sits above 48 inches, the stall fails, even when everything else is right. This happens with tall privacy doors and with latches set high to line up with old holes. Check the latch height on the shop drawing, and measure it again after install.
A grab bar on a panel that isn’t reinforced
When the toilet sits next to a partition panel instead of a wall, the side grab bar mounts to that panel. A standard panel isn’t built for it. A grab bar has to hold 250 pounds (ADA 609.8), so the panel needs grab bar reinforcement or through-bolts with backing plates. That has to be ordered with the partitions, so tell us which panels get grab bars before the order goes in.
From the 2010 ADA Standards:
609.3 Spacing. “The space between the wall and the grab bar shall be 1½ inches (38 mm). The space between the grab bar and projecting objects below and at the ends shall be 1½ inches (38 mm) minimum. The space between the grab bar and projecting objects above shall be 12 inches (305 mm) minimum.”
609.8 Structural Strength. “Allowable stresses shall not be exceeded for materials used when a vertical or horizontal force of 250 pounds (1112 N) is applied at any point on the grab bar, fastener, mounting device, or supporting structure.”
Treating the 18-inch vertical grab bar as ADA
Many national plan sets show an 18-inch vertical grab bar next to the side bar. That bar is not in the 2010 ADA Standards. It comes from the ICC A117.1 standard, and it only applies where a city or state has adopted that edition. Most places have not. Ask the architect or the local code office which code the job is under before you buy it, or before you leave it off.
Leaving out the ambulatory stall
An ambulatory stall is a narrow stall with grab bars on both sides. It is for people who can walk but need something to hold onto, like someone using a cane, crutches or a walker, or someone who has trouble sitting down and standing up. A room with six or more toilets, or toilets and urinals combined, needs one in addition to the wheelchair stall. See the sizes in our stall dimensions guide.
The 4-inch rule
Watch how far it sticks out.
People who are blind or have low vision can walk into objects that stick out from the wall. So anything with its front edge between 27 and 80 inches high can stick out no more than 4 inches (ADA 307.2). This catches a lot of hand dryers, towel dispensers and baby changing stations. Recessed and semi-recessed models solve it.
Comparing dryers? See our hand dryer comparison.
Inside the stall
Laying out an ADA stall.
Grab bars go on first, then everything else is set around them. Keep the toilet paper dispenser between 7 and 9 inches in front of the toilet, below the side grab bar with 1-1/2 inches of space, or at least 12 inches above it. For stall sizes, door widths and toe clearance, see our stall dimensions guide and ADA partitions page.
Shop accessories
Get accessories that fit the rules.
Recessed dispensers.
Recessed and semi-recessed models that stay inside the 4-inch limit.
Shop recessedMirrors.
Mirrors in standard sizes to hang at the right height.
Shop mirrorsWhat height do ADA grab bars go?
Mount grab bars so the top of the bar is 33 to 36 inches above the floor (ADA 609.4). Keep the 12 inches above the bar completely clear: no dispensers, disposals or shelves there (609.3). The side bar is at least 42 inches long and the rear bar at least 36 inches long. Leave 1-1/2 inches between the bar and the wall.
How high should a paper towel dispenser be for ADA?
Put the part people use, like the towel opening or lever, no higher than 48 inches and no lower than 15 inches above the floor (ADA 308). If someone has to reach over a counter 20 to 25 inches deep, the limit drops to 44 inches.
Where does the toilet paper dispenser go in an ADA stall?
The center of the dispenser sits 7 to 9 inches in front of the toilet. The outlet is at least 15 inches and no more than 48 inches above the floor. Keep it at least 1-1/2 inches below the grab bar, or at least 12 inches above it (ADA 604.7, 609.3).
How high should a mirror be for ADA?
Over a sink or counter, the bottom of the mirror glass is no higher than 40 inches above the floor. A mirror that is not over a sink or counter has its bottom edge no higher than 35 inches (ADA 603.3).
Can a hand dryer stick out from the wall?
Anything on the wall with its front edge between 27 and 80 inches high can stick out no more than 4 inches (ADA 307.2). Many hand dryers and towel dispensers stick out more than that, so pick a slim or recessed model or set it so the bottom edge is 27 inches or lower.
Does ADA require an 18-inch vertical grab bar?
No. The 2010 ADA Standards only call for the side and rear bars. The 18-inch vertical bar comes from the ICC A117.1 standard and applies only where a city or state has adopted that edition. Many national plan sets show it anyway, so ask the architect or local code office which code your job is under.
What size grab bar should I use?
ADA allows a round bar 1-1/4 to 2 inches across (609.2). We quote 1-1/2 inch bars unless your specs call for something else, since that size fits most hands and most spec sheets.