Before you shop for a vanity, a toilet, a tub or a run of kitchen cabinets at BVX Home Supply, measure the space, the position of the pipes and the route into the room.
How do you measure for a replacement toilet?
Measure the rough-in from the finished wall, not the baseboard, to the floor bolts that hold the toilet down. Most toilets bolt 12 inches from the wall. Confirm the rough-in matches your new toilet's specification before you buy. Write that number down before you shop.
Bowl shape changes how far the toilet reaches into the room, even when the rough-in matches. Before you buy, measure the clear floor space in front of where the bowl will sit and compare it against the projection listed on the model's spec sheet, since a longer bowl needs more of that space than a shorter one. Browse the full toilets range once you know your rough-in and your floor clearance.
What should you measure before buying a bathroom vanity?
Measure the wall width where the vanity will sit and the depth against how far the door swings open. Write that measurement down so you can compare it against the vanity you plan to buy. Note where the supply lines and the drain leave the wall.
If the top is already drilled for a faucet, the hole spacing has to match the faucet you plan to install: centerset faucets use holes drilled 4 inches apart, widespread faucets use holes 6 to 12 inches apart, and a single-hole faucet needs only one center hole. A vessel bowl set on top of the cabinet needs a taller faucet to clear its rim, so measure the bowl's height above the counter too. If you plan a wall-mounted cabinet, confirm the wall can carry anchors at the height you want, since the cabinet will not rest on the floor. Check the bathroom vanities and sinks & faucets ranges together so the two match.
How do you know if a bathtub will fit?
Measure the alcove wall to wall, both the length and the depth, before you shop for a replacement tub. A standard alcove tub measures 60 inches long by 30 inches wide, a common alcove size, so compare it against your own measurement before you buy.
Note which end of the alcove the existing drain sits on before you buy. A tub that runs longer or wider than your alcove will not sit flush against all three walls. Browse the tubs & showers range with your alcove measurements in hand.
What should you measure before buying kitchen cabinets?
Measure every wall in the kitchen, along with the width and height of any window, door and appliance opening the cabinets will run around. Note the ceiling height too, and write it down next to your wall measurements so every number is ready before you shop.
Mark where plumbing and electrical outlets sit on each wall. Leave a few inches of clearance between the wall and the refrigerator, so air can circulate behind it, per Energy Star. Leave the manufacturer's stated clearance around a range or a built-in dishwasher opening as well. Measure a full run rather than a single cabinet, so the pieces you pick from the kitchen cabinets range add up to the space you actually have.
Will it fit through your doors and hallway?
A carton clears a doorway or hallway turn only when the clear opening, measured with the door fully open, is wider than the carton's narrowest side at every point on the route. Measure each doorway with the door held fully open, then measure hallway turns and stairs the same way, checking against the carton's size, not the item inside it.
A carton that clears a straight hallway can still stop at a tight turn or a stairwell landing, so measure the narrowest point on the route, not the widest. Note any low doorway header, light fixture or handrail along the path too, since a tall carton can clear the floor width and still catch overhead. Once you know the carton will clear your route, how to plan a large item pickup covers the vehicle, the people and the gear for the trip home.
Measurements at a glance
| Item | What to measure | From where to where |
|---|---|---|
| Toilet rough-in | Distance to the floor bolts | Finished wall to the floor bolts |
| Bathroom vanity | Wall width and cabinet depth | Wall to wall, and cabinet front to door swing |
| Faucet holes | Hole spacing on the sink or top | 4 in. apart (centerset), 6 to 12 in. apart (widespread), or one center hole |
| Bathtub | Alcove length and width | Wall to wall |
| Kitchen cabinets | Each wall, opening and ceiling height | Floor to ceiling, corner to corner |
| Appliance opening | Width, depth and side clearance | Cabinet edge to cabinet edge |
| Doorway | Clear opening width and height | Door held fully open, jamb to jamb |
Once the numbers add up, use the inspection guide to check the actual item before you commit to the trip home.