Standard Shower Curtain Size (Plus Measuring Tips)
Nothing quite makes a bathroom feel yours like having a cool shower curtain. Whether you want to go for a quirky one, a traditional one, or a shower curtain that reminds you of the beaches in Maui is up to you. Though most of us who own showers need a curtain, the truth is that we often don’t know the right size for the curtain. So, what’s the deal here? Is there even a standard shower curtain size to speak of?
Without a doubt, there is a standard shower curtain size. It’s 72 inches by 72 inches. However, it’s possible to also see “standard” shower curtain sizes in 70 inches by 70 inches, as well as 72 inches by 70 inches. They are not the industry standard, but they’re common enough.
If you have a shower curtain you need to buy, knowing how to size it out can help you get better results in your bathroom. It’s a good idea to know what to expect.
How Big Is A Standard Shower Curtain?
A standard shower curtain has to cover the width of a bathtub, plus give you a little slack to ensure that water doesn’t spray everywhere. A typical bathtub is 60 inches long. The standard extra amount on a curtain is said to be 12 inches. This leads to the 72 square inch curtain measurement that most people use. If you have a shower stall, the width is halved to 36 inches instead.
Shower Curtain Sizes Chart | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Shower Curtain Size | Standard Shower Stall Curtain Size | Extra Tall Shower Curtain Size | Extra Wide Shower Curtain Size | Floor To Ceiling Shower Curtain Size | ||
| Most Common Sizes | 72″ x 72″ 70″ x 72″ 70″ x 70″ | 36″ x 72″ | 72″ x 84″ | 82″ x 74″ | 72″ x 96″ | |
Note: You should be aware that most people will have a shower curtain that’s 72 square inches, but will have a curtain liner that is 70″ by 72.” This keeps the liner slightly smaller and gives your shower curtain a chance to hang outside. We’ll get into this more later!
What Shower Curtain Type Should You Use?
Obviously, there are more than just “standard” curtain sizes for your shower. There are tall ones, wide ones, and floor-to-ceiling ones, too. Each shower curtain is going to be used for its own unique needs. Here’s where each curtain tends to do best:
- Standard shower curtains are meant to work with showers that are in a bathtub alcove. These are the most common bathroom types on the market.
- Tall shower curtains are for vaulted ceilings and unusually tall rooms. They also work well for bathrooms that have custom-built shower rods.
- Shower curtain stalls are means to be used for standing showers. These are good for the “closet” style shower builds.
- Extra-wide shower curtains are good for people who want to have their shower curtain surround the bathtub. This often gives the bath a European look. It’s excellent for extra privacy and standalone tubs, too.
- Floor-to-ceiling shower curtains are dramatic and are meant for very tall ceilings. You can also use these in a standard bathroom if you put the shower curtain rod at the top of the ceilings.
Do You Need A Special Shower Curtain For Any Particular Shower Curtain Type?
It depends. Most shower curtains will work with any curtain rod that you want. It’s not like the curtain’s rings are going to be too small. Curtain rod measurements are fairly standard when it comes to the circumference of the actual rod part itself. However, that doesn’t mean things are going to be easy. It depends on your bathroom setup.
- If you have an extra-wide shower curtain, you might want to get a curtain rod that’s notably longer than the standard 60 inches. Most extra wide shower curtains are used with “ring” shower rods that surround the bathtub on at least two sides. These are usually built into the walls of your bathroom.
- If you have a simple shower stall, the shower curtain rod should be about the width of the doorway. Most shower stall rods are telescoping, so this is adjustable.
- When in doubt, get a telescoping shower curtain rod. It’s just easier this way and you can adjust the size as needed.
How Should You Hang Your Shower Curtain?
Now that we’ve gone over shower curtain sizing, it’s important to think about actually hanging it up. You obviously have to hang it up on the rod. However, figuring out how high to place that rod can be difficult. Thankfully, there are equations that can help you make the most of your hanging via a maximum and minimum height.
Shower Curtain Hang Height = (Shower Curtain Length + Shower curtain hook drop + Height of Bathtub) – Shower Curtain Liner Overlap
You can choose to have a lot of overlap or a little. The key thing to make sure of is that the shower curtain touches the tub.
How Do You Find Out How Much Tub Overlap You Have?
This is actually really easy to measure. The tub overlap can be found by measuring the height of the bathtub. Then, you subtract how much you want to have the shower curtain dropdown. Most people want to have the curtain’s hang be around five inches from the edge of the bathtub.
For example, if you have a 14-inch bathtub height, then the overlap would be anywhere from 13.5 to .5 inches. This would make the overlap of five inches a perfect match.
Is There An Ideal Shower Curtain Overlap Measurement?
Most people have their own preferences here, though around five to seven inches of overhang is considered to be ideal. Not sure where your curtains should drop? The tips below will help.
- You should have at least half an inch of overlap, if not more. Having the curtain graze your tub might look cute, but it’s not good for your bathroom. If this happens, you will end up with water from your showers splashing on the ground. That basically defeats the purpose of a shower curtain.
- Having an overlap of four to six inches usually looks the most aesthetically pleasing for standard bathrooms. This is why it’s one of the more popular choices.
- If you have a floor-to-ceiling shower curtain, try to hang the curtain as close to the floor as possible. This will give you the gorgeous look of a sweeping curtain that you want.
Do Shower Curtains Go Inside Or Outside The Bathtub?
It depends on your curtain setup. If you have a single shower curtain without a liner, then the curtain is meant to go inside the tub at all times. This prevents water from leaking onto your bathroom floor. Since that’s what shower curtains were always meant to do, it’s kind of mandatory to keep that in mind.
In an ideal setting, though, you will have the shower curtain liner stay inside the tub, while the curtain itself is going to stay outside. Liners are generally more waterproof than curtains. While curtains can work on their own, doing so will put your curtains at risk for mold and mildew.
How Much Weight Can Shower Curtains Hold?
Honestly, this depends on the type of curtain as well as the installation method. Metal rods that are drilled into walls are the most secure, and can usually carry well over 40 pounds. However, they’re not the most common ones you’ll see, especially when you’re dealing with apartment rentals.
The truth is that most shower curtain rods are tension rods or otherwise just hung up using suction. Tension rods are pretty strong, with most high-quality ones being able to hold up to 20 pounds without falling down. If you have a suction cup rod, then you need to be careful with your curtains. These rarely ever hold more than five to 10 pounds.
Our suggestion here? Don’t hang up towels on your curtain rods, and check to find out what your curtain rods can handle before you start using them for storage.
Related Questions
Will tension rods damage my walls?
There’s no way to mince words here. It is possible for tension rods to damage walls, including by pulling paint off them or even punching a hole in thinner types of drywall. If you want to use a tension rod to hang up a curtain, make sure that you use it on tile if you can. Tile and tension rods work far better together.If you need to install a curtain in your bathroom on regular drywall, we strongly suggest you bolt it in on a wall stud. It’s the best way to avoid a sudden collapse of a shower curtain rod.
Is a fabric or plastic shower curtain better?
Both fabric (waterproof polyester or vinyl) and plastic shower curtains have their merits, and this is not something that we can ignore. Both also happen to be the same price, unless you have a very unique shower curtain. So, both are great choices and you shouldn’t feel bad for choosing one over the other.There is one major perk that you should be aware of, when it comes to fabric. The one reason why people tend to act as proponents of fabric over plastic is that fabric shower curtains are machine washable. This means you don’t have to throw them out or worry about curtain mold that just won’t die.
What kind of shower curtains do hotels use?
If you want to have that fresh and clean shower curtain that you see in hotel rooms, then there are two materials you should consider getting. The majority of hotels that have shower curtains choose to buy polyester or vinyl. These have a very touchable feel, and also improve the cleaning process by being machine washable and easy to hang up.
Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
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