Your Guide to Bathroom Sizes, From Quarter Bath to Full Bath

If you're a prospective homebuyer, one area that should never be overlooked when perusing listings is the bathroom. Not only can the number of bathrooms and their size increase your future home's value, but it's also important to ensure this space will suit you and your family's needs.

There are four types of bathrooms you should know: quarter bath, half bath, three-quarter bath, and full bath. To help break down the differences between each one, we spoke to experts who define each type of bathroom, the differences that separate them, and what type will increase your home’s value the most.

Types of Bathrooms

These are the most common types of bathrooms to consider when shopping for a home or if you're planning a renovation.

Full Bath

A full bathroom is composed of four parts: a toilet, a sink, a shower, and a bathtub. (The shower and the bathtub can also be combined.) You’ll likely find a full bathroom attached or adjacent to the main bedroom, as well as close to secondary bedrooms and guest areas. Full bathrooms could also have a double sink, a space for linens, and other utilities—but the room must have the four main components in order to be considered a proper full bathroom. 

Three-Quarter Bath

Three-quarter bathrooms are, more often than not, a toilet, a sink, and either a shower or a bathtub. Sometimes, a three-quarter bath can also be a shower, a tub, and a sink—without a toilet. “The three-quarter bath is the most versatile option for homeowners,” says Jane Lockhart, BAAID, principal at Jane Lockhart Design. “In smaller or older homes, you may only find a three-quarter bath, which includes the original bath but has no additional space available to expand without significant renovation. Bathtubs were the original bath fixture, rather than a shower. Converting these has become a top priority of homebuyers, as showers are typically more desirable today.”

Half Bath

Also known as a powder room, a half bath typically has two out of the four components of a full bath, like a toilet and a sink. You’ll likely find a powder room on the main floor of a home as a space to freshen up; a convenient place for guests to use the bathroom without having to enter the main living space. The concept dates back to the 1700s and was typically only found in wealthier estates.

Quarter Bath

A quarter bath, the least common of the bunch, is just a room with a toilet or a shower. This may come in handy if your home is overcrowded with guests or if you have a pool and need a space to rinse off. “Older homes or cottages may have a quarter bath, where a toilet, shower or hand sink is included in another room to serve a function,” says Lockhart. “Laundry rooms, mudrooms, some service rooms, or secondary recreation rooms will occasionally include one of these functions to take on any overflow of residents’ bathroom needs.”

Choosing the Right Type of Bathroom for Your Home

While any type of bathroom will add some level of value to your home, the more inclusive the room can be for both residents and guests, the higher the value will be when it comes time to sell. For example, three-quarter bathrooms are ideal for their versatility—but quantity matters, too. "Often, the more bathrooms a home has, the higher the home’s value," says Lockhart. "Today, bathrooms off of each bedroom are highly desired, where possible."

With that being said, homeowners should also keep functionality in mind when thinking about bathroom installations, says Amanda Pendleton, Zillow home trends expert. If all bathrooms are on the second floor, for instance, adding a half bath to the first floor is a worthwhile improvement. Half baths are also great for visiting guests who won't be staying for an extended period and don’t require a shower, says Lockhart.

And if resale is a concern, consider what will interest prospective buyers most. While one person may only use a stand-up shower, an incoming family with children would benefit from a bathtub. "Replacing a stand-up shower with a shower-bath combination could make a home appealing to more potential buyers, which can boost its value," says Pendleton.