How To Design a Public Washroom?

October 04, 2025

A great public does goes beyond just meeting legal requirements – it makes users feel comfortable, reflects the quality of the place, and helps keep everything clean and safe.

Here’s a simple guide that covers the main points of public bathroom design, aimed at attracting B2B clients and showing professional expertise.

Design Concept & Overall Principles

It’s important to make sure the public washroom design or refurbishment meets two principles:

Put people first while meeting the basic needs for civility, hygiene, convenience, safety and energy efficiency.
Keep the functional zones clear: entrance → circulation path → hand‑washing area → toilet area → accessible/parent‑child area → cleaning station → a separate “third‑party” restroom, creating a smooth flow for users.

Public Washroom Layout and Traffic Flow

Item	Recommended Dimension	Reasons
Entrance Width	≥ 800 mm is required; ≥ 900 mm is recommended.	For wheelchair access, the door should open outwards or have a roll-up curtain.
Main Aisle Width	≥ 1.5 m	To avoid congestion and allow enough room for wheelchairs to turn around.
Separation of the Hand Washing Area and Toilet Area	The hand-washing facilities shall be located external to the toilet area or in close proximity to the entrance.	To cut down on cross-contamination and enhance user convenience.
Accessible Passage	Minimum width of 1.5 m, with a turning radius of at least 1.5 m.	To ensure unimpeded passage for wheelchairs
The Stall Area	The minimum area for each standard stall shall be 1.5 m², while the independent accessible stall shall be at least 4 m².	To give people enough room to move around
Door Operation	\the clear opening width for inward-swinging doors shall be no less than 1.3 m, and for outward-swinging doors, no less than 1.5 m.	to comply with ergonomic standards and prevent the doors from obstructing the passage

Restroom (toilet/squat stalls)

Gender ratio: male squat stalls : female squat stalls ≈ 2 : 3 (or the same ratio for toilet seats vs. squat stalls).
Toilet seat height: 450 mm ± 20 mm, equipped with accessible handrails.
Urinals: low‑height urinals < 450 mm, with safety handrails.
Partition door width: ≥ 800 mm; door handles should be easy to operate, preferably sensor‑activated or with a handle height of about 900 mm.
Flushing method: automatic sensor flush or foot‑pedal flush, with a flush volume ≤ 6 L per use.

`Public Washroom Dimensions`

Restroom Area (Toilet Seats / Squat Stalls)

Gender ratio: Male squat stalls : female squat stalls ≈ 2 : 3, or the same ratio for seated vs. squat facilities.
Toilet seat height: 450 mm ± 20 mm, equipped with accessible handrails.
Urinals: Low‑level urinals with a height < 450 mm, provided with safety handrails.
Partition door width: ≥ 800 mm; door handles should be easy to operate—sensor‑activated doors or handles positioned at 900 mm are recommended.
Flushing method: Automatic sensor flush or foot‑pedal flush, with a flush volume ≤ 6 L per use.

Accessible Facilities (Accessible Toilets, Washbasins, Grab Bars & Auxiliary Equipment)

Accessible toilet area: ≥ 4 m², equipped with an accessible toilet, low‑level washbasin, handrails, emergency call button, etc.
Clearance in front of the washbasin: Width 750 mm × Height 650 mm × Depth 450 mm, allowing wheelchair knee and foot‑tip movement.
Safety grab bars: Diameter 30–40 mm, spaced ≥ 40 mm from the wall, installed at a height of 600–800 mm.
Emergency call button: Mounted on the side wall of the toilet, at a height of 400–500 mm from the floor.
Signage: Use the international accessibility symbol, supplemented with Braille or high‑contrast colour markings.

Public Washroom Safety Rails >>

Mother‑and‑Baby/Children’s Facilities

Changing table: Wall‑mounted, width ≥ 700 mm, with safety lock and waterproof panel.
Children’s washbasin: Height ≈ 600 mm, equipped with a low‑level sensor faucet.

Explore More OEM Baby Changing Station >>

Explore More OEM Baby Changing Station >>

Ventilation, Daylighting & Lighting

Natural daylight: Prefer skylights or large glass areas to achieve a daylight factor ≥ 30 %.
Mechanical ventilation: Install exhaust fans or a fresh‑air system to meet the ventilation‑air‑change requirements of the Public Place Sanitary Design Code.
Lighting: Uniform LED illumination, illuminance ≥ 200 lux, glare‑free; night‑time lighting controlled by motion sensors for energy saving.

Water‑Saving & Environmental Measures

Flushing devices: Dual‑flush or sensor flush, each flush ≤ 6 L.
Water‑saving faucets: Flow rate ≤ 2 L/min, with sensor or single‑handle control.
Rain‑water/recycled‑water flushing: Optionally use a rain‑water collection system for toilet flushing to reduce potable‑water consumption.

Materials & Surface Treatments

Walls: Smooth, stain‑resistant, antimicrobial coating or stainless‑steel panels for easy cleaning and disinfection.
Floor: Slip‑resistant, waterproof, water‑tight, using corrosion‑resistant tiles or anti‑slip stone.
Ceiling: Moisture‑ and mold‑resistant, constructed with fire‑retardant materials.

Signage, Wayfinding & Smart Features

Gender signs: Unified graphic symbols with illuminated indicators.
Accessibility signs: Prominent blue or yellow background, accompanied by Braille.
Smart systems: Motion‑activated lighting, automatic doors, intelligent flushing, real‑time monitoring and maintenance alerts to enhance user experience and management efficiency.

Safety & Maintenance

Vandal‑proofing: Wall tiles extend to the ceiling, using anti‑scratch and anti‑graffiti materials.
Fire safety: Use flame‑retardant materials and install smoke detectors.
Routine maintenance: Develop a schedule for cleaning, inspection, and repairs to ensure sensors, ventilation, emergency call devices, and other systems remain functional.

Choose the Right Public Washroom Equipment

OEM Hand Dryer >>

OEM Soap Dispenser >>

OEM Paper Dispenser >>

OEM Hair Dryer >>

OEM Baby Changing Station >>

OEM Sensor Faucet >>

OEM Safety Rail >>

Conclusion

For actual projects, start by using the above standards to develop a preliminary layout and dimension plan. Then refine the design through on‑site measurements and equipment selection. In later stages, consider integrating smart sensor systems and water‑recycling technologies to achieve a “comfortable, eco‑friendly, and easy‑to‑maintain” public restroom solution.