Shower Door Buying Guide: How to Measure, Tub vs Shower Doors, Framed vs Frameless

Measure your shower or tub opening from wall to wall at the top, middle and bottom, and use the smallest of the three numbers. Then measure the height you want, from the tub rim or shower curb up. Tub doors usually run about 55 to 66 inches tall to fit a standard 60-inch tub, while shower doors for walk-in stalls are usually 70 to 76 inches tall. Sliding doors suit tubs and tight bathrooms; hinged doors need room to swing open.

After that, the choices are about style and fit: framed or frameless glass, and which side the door opens on. Here's how to work through it in order.

Quick reference

• Standard tub or tub-shower combo: openings around 56 to 60 inches wide, with tub doors about 55 to 66 inches tall.
• Wide walk-in shower: openings around 48 to 60 inches wide, with doors about 70 to 76 inches tall.
• Standard stall: openings around 36 to 44 inches wide.
• Narrow stall or neo-angle entry: openings around 24 to 34 inches wide.

How to measure the opening

Width

Measure across the finished opening, tile to tile, not to the studs behind it. Take three readings: near the tub rim or curb, at about waist height, and near the top of where the door will end. Walls are rarely perfectly straight, so the readings often differ by a quarter inch or more. Write down all three and work from the smallest.

Height

Measure from the top of the tub rim or shower curb to the ceiling, and note anything that could get in the way, such as a window, a niche or a sloped ceiling. A taller door keeps more spray inside, but it needs to clear everything above it.

Plumb and level

Hold a level against each side wall. If a wall leans in or out noticeably from bottom to top, write down by how much. Check the tub rim or curb with the level too. Sliding doors run on a bottom track, and a sloped curb can make them drift.

Compare with the listing

Shower door listings usually give one height and one width. That width is the door's nominal size, and the actual opening it fits can be a little different depending on the hardware. Before you order, email us your three width readings and your height at help@FurniFindUSA.com, and we'll help you check them against the door you're considering.

Tub doors vs shower doors

A tub door mounts on the rim of a bathtub. It's shorter, because the tub wall already adds height, and it's almost always a sliding door so it doesn't swing over the tub. A shower door mounts on a curb or a curbless threshold in a walk-in shower, and it's taller, often reaching 72 to 76 inches.

The 60-by-60-inch tub door is listed at 60 inches high and 60 inches wide, with tempered glass and reversible door handing. For a little more height on a standard tub, the 66-by-60-inch sliding tub door is listed at 66 inches high and 60 inches wide, with clear tempered glass and a sliding mechanism. Its listing gives the door handing as left, so check that against your layout.

Sliding, hinged or pivot?

• Sliding (bypass) doors move along a track, so they need no floor space to open. They're the usual choice for tubs and for small bathrooms where a swinging door would hit the toilet or vanity. The tradeoff is a narrower entry, since the panels overlap.
• Hinged and pivot doors swing out and give a wider, easier entry. You need clear floor in front of the shower at least as wide as the door, and building codes generally require hinged shower doors to open outward.

Framed, semi-frameless or frameless?

A framed door has metal, often aluminum, around the edges of the glass. The frame adds rigidity and can handle walls that aren't perfectly straight. A frameless door uses heavier tempered glass with only hinges, rollers and handles showing, which looks cleaner and leaves fewer edges to scrub. Semi-frameless sits in between, with a minimal frame on some edges.

Glass doors are heavy. The doors in this guide are listed between about 42 and 125 pounds, so they need solid anchoring into studs or the right wall anchors. If your walls are out of plumb, a framed door or a professional installer is the safer choice.

Door handing and reversible doors

Handing tells you which side a door opens on or where the handle sits. Listings in our shower door collection give it as left, right, reversible or double slide. A reversible door can be installed to open on either side, which gives you flexibility if you're not sure yet.

Pick the side that lets you reach the shower controls from outside, so you can turn the water on and let it warm up before stepping in. In a tub-shower, that usually means opening on the side where the valve is. Also check that the opening side doesn't land you against the toilet.

Glass and installation basics

Every door in this guide is listed with tempered glass. That matters, because building codes require safety glazing in tub and shower enclosures, and tempered glass breaks into small pieces instead of sharp shards. Clear glass makes a small bathroom feel larger; it also shows water spots, so keep a squeegee nearby.

Most of these doors arrive needing full or partial assembly. Plan on two people, a drill with a bit made for your tile, a level and silicone sealant. If you're drilling into tile for the first time or your walls aren't plumb, a professional installer is worth it.

Doors by opening size

60-inch openings

The 72-by-60-inch sliding shower door is listed at 72 inches high and 60 inches wide, with tempered glass, a sliding mechanism and reversible handing.

48- to 54-inch openings

The 76-by-54-inch sliding shower door is listed at 76 inches high and 54 inches wide. Its listing describes a minimalist frame, a sliding mechanism, transparent tempered glass and reversible handing.

44-inch openings

The 72-by-44-inch aluminum and glass shower door is listed at 72 inches high and 44 inches wide, with an aluminum frame and reversible handing.

Narrow stalls

The 72-by-34-inch aluminum and glass shower door is listed at 72 inches high and 34 inches wide, with an aluminum frame and reversible handing. For an even narrower entry, the 72-by-28-inch aluminum and glass shower door is listed at 72 inches high and 28 inches wide, with tempered glass and reversible handing.

There are many more widths and heights in shower doors. If you're updating the whole room, a seat from shower benches makes a walk-in shower easier to use, and bathroom vanities come in widths from about 10 to 60 inches.

Delivery and returns

We ship to the contiguous U.S. and to Canada (not to Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico). U.S. orders are usually processed in 1 to 5 business days and delivered in about 4 to 10 business days, with tracking by email and free shipping on orders over $120. Canadian orders usually arrive in 4 to 13 business days including processing, with free shipping over $500. We accept returns within 30 days for items that are unused and in their original condition and packaging. With glass, open the carton carefully, check every panel before you start drilling, and keep the packaging until the door is up. Questions? Email help@FurniFindUSA.com or message us on WhatsApp at +1 484-459-6889.

Common mistakes

• Measuring once. One reading at the middle misses walls that lean.
• Ordering by the tub's size alone. A 60-inch tub can have an opening of 58 or 59 inches once tile is on.
• Forgetting the swing. A hinged door that hits the toilet will annoy you every day.
• Choosing the handing last. Decide which side opens before you order, not during installation.

FAQ

How do I measure for a shower door?

Measure the finished opening wall to wall at the bottom, middle and top, and use the smallest number. Then measure height from the tub rim or curb, and check the walls with a level.

What is the difference between a tub door and a shower door?

A tub door mounts on a bathtub rim and is shorter, usually about 55 to 66 inches. A shower door mounts on a curb in a walk-in shower and is usually 70 to 76 inches tall.

Is a frameless shower door better than a framed one?

Neither is better for every bathroom. Frameless looks cleaner and is easier to wipe down; framed is lighter and more forgiving of uneven walls.

What does a reversible shower door mean?

It can be installed to open on either the left or the right, so you can put the opening on the side closest to the shower controls.

Can I install a shower door myself?

Many people do, with a helper, the right drill bit and a level. If your walls aren't plumb or you're unsure about drilling tile, hire a professional.