Maybe yours has cracked or come loose at the corners. Or maybe you just fancy a different look for the bathroom.
Either way, the panel you order is only as good as the measurements behind it.
This guide walks you through exactly what to measure and how, so the numbers you’re working with are the right ones and you can order your new bath panel with confidence.
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In this guide Before you pick up the tape measure Why the bath, not the old panel Step 1: Measure the front panel length |
What is a bath panel?
A bath panel hides the frame and pipework running underneath your bath. It finishes the room rather than leaving the frame on show, and most clip or screw in place, so the plumbing behind it stays easy to access if ever needed.
Most panels are acrylic, lightweight and easy to wipe down. Wood-effect finishes are usually a laminate over a similar acrylic base rather than real timber, built to handle the damp and condensation a bathroom throws at it daily.
Some baths only need a front panel. Others also need an end panel, depending on how the bath’s installed. L-shaped baths are slightly different again, and we cover those separately below.
Get the measurements right for your bath and the rest of the job will look after itself.
Before you pick up the tape measure
It's always a good idea to check a couple of things first. They'll save you having to re-measure later.
Make sure the bath is fully fitted and won't move again. Baths usually sit on adjustable feet, and once those are levelled and tightened, the bath stays put.
If your bath still rocks or wobbles, make sure to get that stable before you measure anything.
Your bathroom flooring should already be down too. Flooring adds height, so measuring against a bare subfloor will throw your figures off by several millimetres once the real floor goes in.
- A metric tape measure
- A pencil and notepad, or the notes app on your phone
Why the bath, not the old panel
It's tempting to quickly remove the old panel, measure it, and order the same size again.
But that panel might have warped over the years or never sat quite right in the first place, so this method could just give you the same problem you already have.
The bath itself is the one thing that hasn’t changed, and this is where we are going to measure. The first thing to do is remove the existing bath panel so you can see your bath and the frame underneath.
- Measure along the front of the bath, from the wall at one end to the opposite end of the bath.
Record the exact figure in millimetres, not the nearest centimetre. Most UK baths fall somewhere between 1500mm and 1800mm.
If your bath is not fitted wall to wall, you will also need an end panel.
- Run the tape measure from the back wall to the outer edge of the bath.
Standard widths tend to be 700mm, 750mm or 800mm.
- Measure from the floor up to the underside of the bath rim, not the top edge.
The panel sits under the rim, so measuring to the top would give you a panel that's too tall for the gap it needs to fill.
L-shaped baths
An L-shaped shower bath is narrower at the bathing end and wider at the shower end, with a step in the front where the two meet.
The panel needs that same step built in, but it’s measured the same way as Steps 1 to 3 above with front length, end width and height measurements.
Take your measurements again before you order. It only takes a minute, and it’s a lot less hassle than sending a bath panel back!
Whether you're drawn to a crisp white panel, a bold black finish, or a wood-grain style that echoes proper timber, when you're confident in your numbers, you're ready to choose with certainty rather than guesswork.
Check each figure against the exact dimensions listed on the product page rather than the nearest round number.
Our bath panel range covers straight, end and L-shaped panels with multiple sizes available. Why not take a look and see which finish you keep coming back to.
If you're still deciding what to do with the panel once it arrives, our ideas for styling a bath panel might give you some inspiration.
