A standard toilet cubicle in Australia measures roughly 800mm to 950mm wide and 1500mm to 1600mm deep. That surprises plenty of specifiers, because it isn’t written into any Australian Standard. Only accessible and ambulant cubicles carry dimensions you can be held to. Here’s what applies to each type, and where the numbers come from.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Standard cubicles have no mandated size: 800mm to 950mm wide by 1500mm to 1600mm deep in practice.
- Ambulant cubicles must be 900mm to 920mm wide under AS 1428.1, with a 700mm clear door opening.
- Accessible unisex compartments need 1900mm by 2300mm of circulation space.
- NCC Part F4 requires one ambulant cubicle per sex at every qualifying toilet bank.
What size is a standard toilet cubicle in Australia?
No Australian Standard sets a minimum size for an ordinary toilet cubicle. The National Construction Code regulates how many pans a building needs through Part F4 sanitary facilities, not how wide each one sits. Industry practice has settled on 800mm to 950mm wide by 1500mm to 1600mm deep, and most commercial fitouts land on 900mm by 1600mm.
| Element | Typical Australian range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cubicle width | 800mm to 950mm | Practical minimum |
| Cubicle depth | 1500mm to 1600mm | Wall to door face |
| Door clear opening | 600mm to 700mm | Below ambulant minimum |
| Partition panel height | 1800mm to 2000mm | Excludes floor clearance |
| Floor clearance | 100mm to 150mm | Allows cleaning access |
Those ranges are convention, not regulation. Most commercial toilet partition systems are made to order for exactly that reason.
| No Australian Standard prescribes a minimum width for a general use toilet cubicle. The National Construction Code sets fixture counts under Part F4, while AS 1428.1 governs only accessible and ambulant compartments. Standard cubicle sizing is industry convention: 800mm to 950mm wide and 1500mm to 1600mm deep. |
What are ambulant toilet cubicle dimensions under AS 1428.1?
An ambulant cubicle must measure 900mm to 920mm wide under Standards Australia’s AS 1428.1:2021, with a clear door opening of at least 700mm and grabrails on both side walls. The standard also requires 900mm of clear space in front of the pan, which puts the working depth at about 1600mm. The door swings outward, never in.
| Requirement | AS 1428.1 dimension |
|---|---|
| Cubicle width | 900mm to 920mm |
| Clear space in front of pan | 900mm minimum |
| Door clear opening | 700mm minimum |
| Door swing | Outward |
| Grabrail height above floor | 800mm to 810mm |
| Pan seat height | 460mm to 480mm |
Get the width wrong by 20mm and the cubicle fails an access audit. Exact panel figures sit in the model technical data sheets.
| Under AS 1428.1, an ambulant toilet cubicle must be 900mm to 920mm wide with a minimum 700mm clear door opening, grabrails 800mm to 810mm above finished floor level, and a pan seat height of 460mm to 480mm. The door must open outward so it can’t trap an occupant who falls. |
How big does an accessible unisex toilet need to be?
An accessible unisex sanitary compartment needs a minimum circulation space of 1900mm by 2300mm, with the pan set 450mm from its centreline to the side wall. The basin, shelf and sanitary disposal all sit inside the compartment, not outside in a public area.
| Requirement | AS 1428.1 dimension |
|---|---|
| Minimum circulation space | 1900mm by 2300mm |
| Pan centreline to side wall | 450mm |
| Pan front to rear wall | 800mm clear |
| Door clear opening |
| AS 1428.1 sets a minimum circulation space of 1900mm by 2300mm for an accessible unisex sanitary compartment. The pan sits 450mm from centreline to the adjacent side wall and 800mm clear of the rear wall, and the basin, shelf and sanitary disposal must all be inside the compartment. |
How many of each type does a building need?
Accessible unisex compartments are required on every storey where sanitary compartments are provided. Beyond that, the ABCB’s guidance on accessible sanitary facilities sets at least one ambulant cubicle for each sex at any toilet bank holding one or more toilets in addition to the accessible compartment. An ambulant cubicle never substitutes for an accessible one.
An ambulant cubicle suits someone who walks with a stick or a frame, not a wheelchair, so no accessible path of travel is required. A complete washroom package covers both types.
Why UK cubicle guides give different numbers
Search results are dominated by UK suppliers quoting 750mm or 850mm widths against Approved Document M. Those figures don’t apply here. Australia works to AS 1428.1 and the NCC, and on ambulant width the gap runs to 170mm.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum width for a standard toilet cubicle?
There’s no legal minimum for a general use cubicle in Australia. Practical experience puts the floor at 800mm, below which the door can’t swing clear of the pan. Most specifiers choose 900mm, which gives clearance without wasting floor plate.
Do toilet cubicle doors have to open outwards?
Only ambulant and accessible compartments must swing outward, so an occupant who falls can’t block the door. Standard cubicles may open inward, provided the pan still has clear space. Outward swing costs circulation space, so resolve it at plan stage.
How high should toilet partitions be?
Australian commercial partitions typically run 1800mm to 2000mm in panel height, mounted 100mm to 150mm above the floor for cleaning access. Full height floor to ceiling cubicles are increasingly specified for privacy in workplaces and schools, particularly in gender neutral washrooms.
What’s the difference between an ambulant and an accessible toilet?
An ambulant cubicle is a 900mm to 920mm wide compartment inside a standard washroom, built for people who walk with difficulty. An accessible unisex toilet is a separate room sized at 1900mm by 2300mm for wheelchair use. A building usually needs both.
Specify with confidence
Rynat has manufactured commercial washroom partitions in Australia for more than 30 years, built to AS 1428.1 and NCC requirements. Browse the partition systems range, download model specification sheets for exact panel dimensions, or talk to the team about a custom fitout.