Start With Measurements, Not Inspiration Photos

A bathroom vanity is a fixed fixture, so the order of decisions matters: measure the room first, choose the size second, and pick the finish last. A vanity that looks perfect in a catalogue can still block a door, crowd a walkway, or leave no room for a mirror and lighting. Working from real dimensions rather than reference images is the fastest way to avoid returns, extra labour, and rework.

Measure Your Available Space

Before comparing models, note three numbers for the wall where the vanity will sit.

  • Usable wall length, measured between the nearest obstructions such as a wall, a shower screen, or a door frame.
  • Wall height up to any window sill, power outlet, or mirror you plan to keep.
  • The position of the drain and water supply lines, which limit how far a cabinet can shift left or right.

Leave 2 to 4 inches of filler space at each end when the vanity sits between two walls. Rooms are rarely perfectly square, and a small gap lets the unit slide into place without forcing the plumbing.

Standard Vanity Widths and Where They Fit

Most vanities are sold in standard widths. Knowing what each size is designed for speeds up the choice.

  • 18 to 24 inches: powder rooms and small en-suites, single sink, minimal storage.
  • 30 to 36 inches: the most common single-sink size, comfortable for one regular user.
  • 48 inches: a generous single vanity, or a compact double with narrow basins.
  • 60 to 72 inches: double-sink layouts for shared master bathrooms.

As a rule of thumb, allow about 30 inches of counter width per sink, so a two-basin setup generally needs 60 inches or more.

Depth and Height

Depth is usually 18 to 22 inches. Shallower cabinets suit narrow bathrooms and short reach; deeper ones add counter space but eat into the walkway. Standard height is 32 to 34 inches to the top of the counter. If several adults share the bathroom, a taller comfort-height counter of 36 inches reduces bending. Height should also line up with the mirror and any nearby shelving so the wall reads as one composition rather than a set of separate parts.

Walkway Clearance and Door Swing

Clear floor space is where vanity sizing most often goes wrong. Plan for at least 30 inches of clear floor between the vanity front and the opposite wall or shower, and 36 inches if two people will pass or share the space. Check that drawers and cabinet doors open fully without hitting a toilet, a towel rail, or a swing door. An inward-opening door needs its full arc kept clear.

Single or Double Sink?

A double vanity is not simply two single units pushed together. In a shared bathroom, two sinks reduce morning queues, but each person then has less counter to work with. If the room is used mainly by one person, a single wider vanity often uses the same wall space better. Consider how often two people are in the bathroom at the same time before paying for a second basin.

Mirror and Lighting Coordination

Choose the mirror once the vanity width is fixed. A mirror slightly narrower than the cabinet looks balanced; one much wider can feel top-heavy. Vertical mirrors suit single sinks, while a wide mirror spanning a double vanity keeps the wall calm. For lighting, wall sconces placed about 60 to 66 inches above the floor put light on the face rather than behind the head, and they should sit near the midpoint of the mirror. Combined mirror-and-light units simplify this, but check that their width matches the vanity.

Common Sizing Mistakes

  • Buying by width alone and ignoring depth and walkway space.
  • Fitting the largest vanity the wall can hold, leaving no room to move.
  • Forgetting drawer and door clearance in front of the toilet.
  • Ignoring the drain position, then finding the cabinet will not line up.
  • Choosing the mirror and lights after the vanity, which rarely looks intentional.

When Standard Sizes Do Not Fit

Older bathrooms, alcoves, and awkward pipework rarely match standard dimensions. In these cases a made-to-measure vanity closed with a filler panel is often neater than forcing a stock size. Kadaligh builds vanities in custom widths, depths, and heights, which lets a cabinet follow the room instead of reshaping the room around the cabinet. Custom sizing is most worthwhile when a wall is uneven, when a specific number of sinks is needed, or when space is so tight that two inches of saved depth changes how the bathroom works.

A Quick Sizing Checklist

  • Measure usable wall length, then subtract 2 to 4 inches of filler.
  • Confirm the depth leaves at least 30 inches of clear floor in front.
  • Match counter height to the main users, between 32 and 36 inches.
  • Allow about 30 inches of width per sink.
  • Select a mirror width that sits just inside the vanity width.
  • Place sconces at 60 to 66 inches and level with the mirror centre.

Get the measurements and clearances right first, and every later choice, from finish to countertop to hardware, becomes straightforward.