Remember that a 6x6 shower is actually 4x the size of a 3x3 , not twice as big.

I had a client who had a 6x6 shower and it ended up requiring a special pressure system and its own water heater to supply enough water for the shower heads.

Whether or not you will find it cold partly depends on where you live and the temperature of your bathroom overall. Personally I would find this shower too big, and I find big showers cold and drafty and stand just as close to the shower head as i would in a tiny shower but you may not. Maybe go somewhere where you can try one out

Digging up the slab to move the drains isn’t cheap. The end result of that, and shower that is quadruple the average 3x3 size shower, has to be worth the big expense. It can’t be done halfassed and cheap.

If it is *designed appropriately*, with supplemental heat, extra lighting, benches, extra water sources, and a glass enclosure, then it will be fine. AKA the 20-40K shower. If you’re just walling off a corner and pay no attention to all of the little or big details, then it will be a cold drafty dim cave not worth the effort.

Yes, this is an example of "bigger isn't always better". It'd be too big for comfort. You wouldn't be able to reach the controls without fully stepping into the shower, and while washing you'd be out in the middle of that big, empty space, which would feel odd ... more than a step away from the side where the shampoo is stored.

A shower that large would also be difficult to clean ... even with a hand-held sprayer, the water wouldn't reach (with any pressure) to the far side.

If this much space already exists, I'd see about making a pull-out closet from part of this space.

Find some cardboard and mock it up for yourself. See how you'd feel in the space.

Do 2 people shower together usually ? IMO you might get dome real help here with a to scale floor plan of the bathroom and a bit more info.

I think it might depend a bit on how you do it. I used to use a 4x6 ADA shower, and it wasn't overly large or needed any special pressure or additional heating or lighting. Just had one normal shower head with the controls at a good level. Had grab bars too. Having a bench would have been counter productive for the person in the wheelchairs accessability. It was part of the rest of the bathroom (4x8) with just a curtian between the shower area and the rest. It was meant so the curtian could be open during showering with an aide present to assist. It was super easy to clean since it was all tile. Regular sprayer head worked fine to reach it all. I think a 6x6 could be done without any special stuff really. Just good planning.

But it might not be the best use of your space either. I currently have a 4x4.5 shower with a small closet on one side and yeah, the space for the closet used for that is way better than having the bigger shower would be. It's sprayer head is fine for the space and it does have a small corner bench. If I ever remodel that is coming out, I don't like it. I have a shower chair from mom visits and that gets used instead.

When I have used a large shower, the only issue was running the water for a long time to get the space heated up so I didn't catch a chill when I walked in. Tile & glass are cold surfaces.

Good advice above. In my experience, the sweet spot for shower size is closer to 4x5.

I think it might depend a bit on how you do it. I used to use a 4x6 ADA shower, and it wasn't overly large or needed any special pressure or additional heating or lighting.

That's a full 30% smaller than the OP is describing.

In my experience, the sweet spot for shower size is closer to 4x5.

Agree. That even gives space enough for grab bars, which take up more space than you'd expect.

We just enlarged ours from 4x4 to 7x4 i love the spaciousness. it hasnt felt cold to me, but we have a steamer, so even when not using that, the shower is completely closed in so no cool air gets in.

It's both a matter of math and of geometry:

3x3=9 square feet

4x4=16

5x5=25

6x6=36

10x10=100.

Stating the obvious to a lot of people here, but I know plenty of people when asked would say 6x6 was twice as big as 3x3.

A 4x9 shower is 36 square feet and so is a 6x6 shower but there is more "containment" of heat in the 4 foot dimension because of the reach of shower heads and such, imo. A square has a space in the middle that is equally far from every wall. A rectangle does not.

Yes Mrs Pete a 4x6 niche is smaller than a 6x6. But when you moved the curtian the shower was an 6x8 with a toilet on one side and a sink on one end. There wasn't an enclosure for the shower. It was kind of a big wet room since it was all tiled, though the shower was 4x6. None of us were prone to showering outside the 4x6 area but the aids utilized that extra space outside the curtian to help with bathing when needed. That's why I think a 6x6 could work with good planning if the OP wanted to use the whole space for that.

I also happen to like my current 4x4.5 shower with a closet on one side, so that's why I mentioned that too. The OP might like to consider utilizing the space in different ways as options in their planning.

• Thank you for your helpful answeers. The current jacuzzi tub is being removed regardless of where I put the shower. A white freestanding tub will take its place if the shower doesn't. We have dual shower heads in our current shower, and we love it. However, based on your answers, I think the 6 x 6 will be too cold, so will rethink the plan. We are in California and water usage is a concern as well.

@Patricia Colwell Consulting, I think I'll draw up a rough plan when I go back this weekend. What I really want to do is get dual shower heads in the existing shower, but I think it is too narrow.

In CA, or at least LA county, you can not have 2 fixtures in a shower that can be used at the same time. You can have 2 shower heads, but you have to have a diverter so only one can be used at a time. If you don't plan on having it permitted then it isn't an issue.

We followed the rules for all but one of the five bathrooms we remodeled. Our master already had 2 shower heads with individual water supply and controls, and all we were doing was re-tiling the whole bathroom and not moving anything major around. After talking with some realtors, they assured us not getting a permit for cosmetic upgrades in one bathroom would not impact us, and it didn't when we sold the house a few years later. Everything else we did had permits.

@chispa, I had no idea! My current bathrom was remodeled with the two shower heads 15 years ago, so it must have been allowed back then. I imagine the contractor is going to pull a permit on this other home, but I'll check with him. Either way, this is certainly interesting to note, but not something I'd intend on following. Does it take more water to take showers at the same time or to take individual showers one after the other? I'd say its a draw, unless something other than showering is going on! : )