ADA Grab Bar Height and the Accessible Toilet Order List
ADA 2010 puts the top of toilet grab bars 840 to 915 mm (33 to 36 in) above the finished floor. Order a side wall bar of at least 1065 mm (42 in), a rear wall bar of at least 915 mm (36 in), a toilet paper holder, and lever door hardware.
The set to order
| Part | What to check | Models |
|---|---|---|
| Side wall grab bar | Straight bar. Lengths listed to 1000mm, so a longer bar is confirmed against your drawing. BH02 has a knurled center. | BH01, BH02 |
| Rear wall grab bar | Order the 1000mm length to clear the 915 mm minimum. | BH01, BH02 |
| Flip-up bar for the open side | For a toilet with no side wall. ADA 604.5 names a side wall bar and a rear wall bar, so get your code authority's view before using one in their place. | BH57, BH58 |
| Toilet paper holder | Center it 180 to 230 mm in front of the water closet, clear of the bar. | BH19, BH21, BH43 |
| Door lever lock | Privacy function with a turn button inside. Check the turn button against ADA 309.4. | LH853 SNBK |
| Indicator bolt | Shows vacant or occupied. Try the turn on a sample against ADA 309.4. | 200 |
| Door closer | Only if the door needs one. JU-051 lists an 800mm door and 15 to 30 kg. JU-074 has adjustable closing and latching speed. | JU-051, JU-074 |
| Soap dispenser | 162 x 92mm. Mount within reach range. | BH35 |
| Paper towel dispenser | 280 x 215 x 100mm. Keep it clear of the bars and the transfer space. | BH24 |
| Robe hook | 48mm diameter. Use the screw fixing here, within reach range. | BH10 |
The ADA 2010 dimension table
These are figures from the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, sections 604 and 609. They apply in the United States. Other countries set their own heights, lengths and layouts, so use your national code for a project outside the US.
| Item | Metric | Imperial | ADA section |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top of grab bars above finished floor | 840 to 915 mm | 33 to 36 in | 609.4 |
| Side wall bar length | 1065 mm minimum | 42 in minimum | 604.5.1 |
| Side wall bar, start from rear wall | 305 mm maximum | 12 in maximum | 604.5.1 |
| Side wall bar, reach from rear wall | 1370 mm minimum | 54 in minimum | 604.5.1 |
| Rear wall bar length | 915 mm minimum | 36 in minimum | 604.5.2 |
| Rear wall bar, one side of toilet centerline | 305 mm minimum | 12 in minimum | 604.5.2 |
| Rear wall bar, transfer side of centerline | 610 mm minimum | 24 in minimum | 604.5.2 |
| Toilet paper outlet in front of water closet | 180 to 230 mm | 7 to 9 in | 604.7 |
| Round bar outside diameter | 32 to 51 mm | 1-1/4 to 2 in | 609.2.1 |
| Space between bar and wall | 38 mm | 1-1/2 in | 609.3 |
| Load the bar and its fixing must take | 1112 N | 250 lbf | 609.8 |
Check these before you order a bar
No single product settles compliance on its own. The test is the bar, its fixing and the wall working together, and that is the buyer's check against the drawing for each project. We make no statement that any Stahlock bar meets ADA.
- Diameter: we do not list tube diameter, so ask for the drawing.
- Wall clearance: we do not list it, so check it on the drawing.
- Load: test the bar with the actual wall fixing against the 250 lbf figure.
- Rotation: ADA 609.6 says the bar must not turn in its fittings.
- Length: confirm whether a listed length is overall or between flange centers.
The length gap on the side wall
BH01 and BH02 list lengths from 300mm to 1000mm in 100mm steps. A 1000mm bar covers the 915 mm rear wall minimum, and a 900mm bar does not. The side wall is different: the longest listed length is 65 mm short of the 1065 mm ADA minimum. For a US project, ask for a longer bar and have the length confirmed against your drawing before you place the order. Do not join two bars to make up the length unless your code authority accepts it.
What the wall has to be
- The wall decides how much load a bar can take.
- Plan blocking or backing in the wall before the tile goes on.
- Choose anchors for the actual wall, not from the bag in the box.
- Never fix a bar to glass, a shower screen or a door leaf.
- Never fix a bar to a hollow lightweight partition without backing.
Keep the accessories out of the way
- ADA 609.3 asks for 38 mm (1-1/2 in) clear below a grab bar.
- ADA 609.3 asks for 305 mm (12 in) clear above a grab bar.
- ADA 604.7 does not allow the toilet paper outlet behind a grab bar.
- ADA 604.7 sets the outlet 380 to 1220 mm (15 to 48 in) above the floor.
- ADA 604.7 rules out dispensers that control delivery or stop continuous paper flow, so check any jumbo roll cabinet against that wording.
- BH21 drops 96mm, so allow for that drop plus the 38 mm clearance when it sits under a bar.
- BH19 projects 90mm from the wall.
- Hooks, soap and towel dispensers stay within reach range: ADA 308 sets 1220 mm (48 in) as the upper limit for an unobstructed forward reach.
The door counts too
ADA 404.2.7 and 309.4 require door hardware that one hand can work with no tight grip, no pinch and no wrist twist, mounted 865 to 1220 mm (34 to 48 in) above the floor. A lever meets that intent better than a knob, so leave knob sets off this door. A small turn on an indicator bolt needs a closer look, so try the 200 or 500 on a sample. If a closer is fitted, ADA 404.2.8 sets at least 5 seconds to move the door from 90 degrees to 12 degrees from the latch, and 404.2.9 limits an interior hinged door that is not a fire door to 22.2 N (5 lbf) of opening force. Set the closer on site and measure both.
Questions buyers ask
What is the ADA grab bar height?
The top of the gripping surface sits 840 to 915 mm (33 to 36 in) above the finished floor under the 2010 ADA Standards. Other countries set their own figures, so check your national code.
How long must ADA toilet grab bars be?
The side wall bar is 1065 mm (42 in) minimum. The rear wall bar is 915 mm (36 in) minimum, running 305 mm (12 in) on one side of the toilet centerline and 610 mm (24 in) on the transfer side.
Do Stahlock grab bars meet ADA?
We do not state that any bar does. Check diameter, clearance and the 250 lbf load against the product drawing and your wall fixing. That check belongs to the project, because the wall is part of the result.
Where does the toilet paper holder go?
ADA 604.7 measures to the dispenser centerline and puts it 180 to 230 mm (7 to 9 in) forward of the water closet. The outlet never sits behind a grab bar.
Can a flip-up bar replace the side wall bar?
Do not plan on it for an ADA project without your code authority's agreement. Flip-up bars such as BH57 and BH58 suit the open side of a toilet, where no wall is available.
Do these dimensions apply in Europe or Asia?
No. They are US figures. Each country has its own accessibility code, and the layout can differ as well as the numbers. Send your local drawing and order from it.
Sources
Codes change and vary by place. Confirm with the authority for your project.