What is a quarter bath?
You’ve probably heard the term thrown around before, but maybe aren’t quite sure what it means.
Well, a quarter bath is a restroom that has only one fixture instead of having all the components of a traditional bathroom. Typically due to limited space, a 1/4 bath is different from a full bathroom because it only has a toilet.
A quarter bath is an excellent bathroom renovation to increase the value of your home as well as to make it more functional.
Types of Baths (full, ¾, half, ¼)
There are different types of bathroom classifications. They are denoted by the different fixtures that they contain.
- A full bath refers to a restroom that has
- a toilet,
- a sink or washbasin,
- and a shower
- and a bathtub.
- A master bath is usually a full bath because it contains all the elements of a full bath.
- A three-quarter bathroom is a bathroom that includes
- a sink,
- a shower,
- and a toilet,
- without a bathtub.
- A half bathroom is a room that has
- both a toilet
- and a sink or washbasin
- but NOT a shower or bathtub.
- A one-quarter bath requires the least amount of space because it is
- just a toilet.
Just a Toilet
A room that has just a toilet is known as a quarter bath.
Due to space limitations and functionality, it only needs about two inches of space around the toilet, which makes it ideal for workspaces.
Although having limited area, you can maximize what is available by using built-in toilet paper holders or putting a shelf on the back of the toilet to hold toiletry items.
A quarter bath is a good utilitarian way to use a small space for one purpose only.
Just a Sink
A room with just a sink is not considered a bathroom.
It is just a room with a sink.
If there isn’t enough room in your quarter bath for a toilet and a sink, it may be reasonable to have a sink located nearby or to add a hand sanitizer dispenser in the toilet room.
For real estate purposes, however, you can not count a room with a sink, a bathroom of any type. If you are asking “what is a quarter bath?”, just a sink will not qualify.
Pros and Cons
The pros and cons of having a 1/4 bath vs 1/2 bath are that you need very limited space and budget for a quarter bath, while still counting it as an additional bathroom for selling purposes.
If you are planning on using the space for living, it might be worth the additional cost to add a shower to make it a half bath if you can find the space.
An extra shower space is a perk and can increase your ability to sell your home and the overall market price you receive.
If you don’t have a bathtub anywhere else in the house, a half bath that contains a bathtub can be a huge selling point. Although showers may be more convenient, when buyers have children or dogs, bathtubs might be highly desirable.
Although a quarter bath with only a toilet may seem impractical in a home, if you can find the space for an additional sink, it may help the flow of your home and make it more convenient for living and your guests.
Conclusion
Many homeowners wonder what a quarter bath is, and if it can either increase or decrease the value of their home.
The key to deciding how to configure your bathroom renovation is to maximize the space while also taking special consideration for decisions that will increase your home’s value. Even if you are remodeling for yourself, it is always an excellent idea to always try to improve your home’s equity.
One quarter bath renovations can be inexpensive, but also a huge asset to your home if you can find the space.
When deciding on a 1/4 bath vs 1/2 bath, think about what works best for the space, your lifestyle, and potential future buyers, before making a plan to renovate and beginning any renovations.
I have the master bath plumbed fort a tub but don’t have the tub in there as I prefer the larger floor space. So since it is plumbed can I consider it a full bath?
You contradict your statement that a half bath has no shower OR tub, when you state:
“If you are planning on using the space for living, it might be worth the additional cost to add a shower to make it a half bath if you can find the space.”
Your picture of “just a toilet” has a sink in it! Which confirms my thought that these one quarter baths do not even exist in real life! Who would put a toilet where you can’t fit a hand wash area?
Liz,
I lived in an old rental house with a quarter bath off the kitchen. It had been a closet and they wedged a toilet inside so that the 4 bedroom house would have more than one toilet. We washed our hands in the kitchen and referred to it as a W.C. Not a tall tale, quarter baths exist in the wild!
In central Europe, the toilet usually is separate from the main bathroom, in its own tiny room with a mini sink and door. In poorer areas or rural villages of France there is also a bidet next to the toilet. This still qualifies as a quarter bath, however in Europe it is referred to as the W/C. The actual bathroom was in the next room. The two were separated to allow two family members to do separate duties without hogging one or the other, and perhaps just as important, to keep the smell quarantined to a tiny space. For the smell, a small box of matches could be placed near the toilet; light one and blow out, and the smell is masked within seconds.