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How High to Hang a Shower Curtain Rod? What You Need To Know!
Shea Cummings
Last updated:
The shower curtain is one of the most underrated ways to improve your bathroom’s decor and style. In order to put up your favorite shower curtain and liner, first, you have to hang the shower curtain rod.
Being that the average shower curtain is around 72 inches long, most people will install the shower curtain rod approximately 75 to 77 inches from the floor, which keeps your curtain a couple of inches off the floor, and the liner stays in the tub while you’re showering.
However, there can be some variances in this depending on personal style. Whatever height you decide to go with, keep in mind that you always want your curtain at least a couple of inches off the floor, so it doesn’t collect dust and get stained.
Hanging a Shower Curtain: Higher vs. Lower
If you have an older tub or tiles that you’re trying to cover with a nice curtain, lower is a better option if you keep it an inch or two off the floor. However, if you have no reason to cover the tub, there is a benefit to hanging the shower curtain rod higher.
When the curtain rod is higher, it makes the curtain expose more tub. This, in turn, creates the illusion of more space in the bathroom. In a smaller bathroom, this can be especially helpful in making the space more inviting.
When going for a higher curtain rod, ensure that it remains low enough to allow the shower liner to remain on the inside of the tub so that water doesn’t go everywhere when you’re showering.
Image Credit: Samuel Plainfield, Shutterstock
Shower Pan or Walk-In Shower
If your shower is not a tub, that limits your options for height a bit. In the case of a shower pan or walk-in shower, you’ll need to be as close to the floor as possible. In some cases, your curtain will have to be on the ground.
In this situation, use your judgment on what will be the ideal height. Before you hang the shower curtain rod, make sure you have measured your shower curtain, especially if the curtain rod is wall-mounted instead of tension-mounted.
Shower Curtain Rod Height Considerations
If you’re more of a practical person who wants to set the shower curtain rod based on practical reasons rather than just looks, here are a couple of things to consider before putting the rod up.
User height: You’ll want to install the rod at least a couple of inches higher than the tallest user of the shower. Or they will hit their heads on the rod when they enter or exit the shower if they’re not paying attention.
Kid-friendly: If you’ve got kids that use the bath, it’s nice to be able to go close the shower curtain and let them splash to their heart’s content. If your curtain is hung too high, it’s easy for water to make it underneath the liner and end up on the floor. We can 100% confirm lower is better when splashing kiddies are involved!
Conclusion
If you don’t want to overthink shower curtain rod placement, stick with an average of 75 to 77 inches for the height. On the other hand, feel free to adjust that height to whatever will work for your particular situation.
Just remember: keep the curtain off the floor and keep the liner below the tub’s edge. With these two principles in mind, do what looks the best.
Shea Cummings is a passionate content writer who believes that the power of words is immeasurable. He leverages years of experience in various trades such as carpentry, cabinetry, and electrical to bring boring DIY guides to life. His goal is to provide his readers with information that informs and delights. When he's not writing for Home Grail or publishing on Medium, you can find him spending time in the outdoors or playing some Minecraft on the Xbox with his wife and two sons.
Shea Cummings
