Quick answer: Measure your vanity unit first. Your mirror should be wider than the basin bowl but no wider than the vanity unit below it: about the same width, or a few centimetres narrower. For most single basins that means a 500mm to 600mm wide mirror, and 500mm x 700mm is the most popular size. Most mirrors are 600mm to 800mm tall. For a round mirror, aim for about 60 to 80% of the basin width. Hang it with the centre at eye level, around 150cm to 160cm from the floor.
- Single basin: 500mm x 700mm or 600mm x 800mm mirrors
- Round mirror over a basin: 600mm or 800mm
- Double basin: one wide landscape mirror or two matching mirrors
- Prefer a size chart? See our mirror sizing guide
At a glance
- Width: wider than the basin bowl, no wider than the vanity unit.
- Most popular size: 500mm x 700mm for a standard single basin.
- Height: most mirrors are 600mm to 800mm tall; a high ceiling can take around 1000mm.
- Hanging height: centre at eye level, around 150cm to 160cm from the floor, and at least 10cm above the tallest tap.
- Cabinet depth: our surface-mounted LED cabinets are roughly 112mm to 140mm deep.
- Motion sensor mirrors: keep 15cm clear around the sensor.
How do I measure for a bathroom mirror?
Start with the furniture, not the wall. Measure the width of your basin and the vanity unit or cabinet below it, because that is what the mirror needs to line up with. Then measure the clear wall space from side to side, noting anything that limits it: light fittings, the edge of a tiled splashback, pipework, a towel rail, an extractor fan or a sloping ceiling. Finally, measure from the top of the basin or splashback up to the ceiling or any overhead fitting, so you know how tall a mirror the wall can take with space to spare above it.
If you're planning wall lights either side of the mirror, take those into account too. In that layout the mirror is usually a little narrower, because the lights need clear wall beside it. See our guide to bathroom wall lights.
What width of mirror suits my basin?
A mirror wider than the basin bowl but no wider than the vanity unit below it looks balanced. Most people choose a mirror the same width as the vanity unit, or a few centimetres narrower. Going wider than the vanity makes the wall look top-heavy; going much narrower makes the mirror look lost.
- Cloakroom basin (around 400mm to 500mm): a 400mm to 500mm mirror, or a 500mm round. See mirrors for small bathrooms.
- Standard single vanity (around 600mm): a 500mm to 600mm wide mirror. Our 500mm x 700mm mirrors are the most popular choice.
- Wider single vanity (800mm): a 600mm to 800mm mirror, or an 800mm landscape mirror.
- Double basin (1000mm and over): one wide landscape mirror spanning both basins, or two matching mirrors centred over each basin. See 1000mm mirrors.
How tall should a bathroom mirror be?
Most bathroom mirrors are 600mm to 800mm tall, which shows your face and shoulders at a comfortable distance. In a room with a high ceiling, a taller mirror of around 1000mm keeps the proportions right and stops the wall above looking empty. In a room with a low or sloping ceiling, leave at least 15cm to 20cm of clear wall above the top of the mirror so it doesn't look squeezed in. A portrait mirror draws the eye up and makes a low room feel taller; a landscape mirror makes a narrow room feel wider.
What size round mirror do I need?
A round mirror about 60 to 80% of the basin width looks well proportioned. For most single basins that's a 500mm or 600mm round mirror; 800mm and 1000mm suit wide vanities and statement walls. Our round mirror size guide goes through each size, and choosing the right mirror shape compares round, rectangular, arched and pill mirrors.
Does the style of my basin affect the mirror?
Yes. Basins and vanity units with rounded corners suit round mirrors or mirrors with rounded corners, while square, angular furniture is usually better matched with a rectangular mirror. Think about how many people use the basin too: in a busy family bathroom, a larger mirror lets two people use it at once, and a second mirror elsewhere in the room, for example above a radiator, can take pressure off the basin at peak times. If two people often share a wide vanity, our large bathroom mirrors are 1000mm wide, with room for both.
How deep is a bathroom mirror cabinet?
Our surface-mounted LED mirror cabinets are roughly 112mm to 140mm deep, depending on the model, and each product page gives the exact depth. That's enough for toiletries, medicines and grooming kit. Size a cabinet by width in the same way as a mirror: about the width of the vanity unit, or a little narrower. Before you buy, check the door swing against nearby walls, towel rails and the bathroom door, and check which side the hinge is on. If the space in front of the basin is tight, a recessed cabinet sits inside the wall so only the door shows. Read our bathroom mirror cabinet guide or compare mirror or cabinet.
How high should I hang the mirror?
Hang it with the centre of the glass at the average eye level of the people who use it, which for most adults is around 150cm to 160cm from the floor. Leave at least 10cm between the top of the tallest tap and the bottom of the mirror, so it stays clear of splashes and doesn't look cluttered. Our guide to how high to hang a bathroom mirror explains how to work out the height for a whole family.
How much space do mirror features need?
If your mirror has a motion sensor, keep at least 15cm clear between the sensor and the nearest wall, object or tile trim, so nothing sets it off by mistake. If it has a shaver socket, leave room at that side to plug in a shaver or toothbrush, especially if the mirror sits close to a side wall. LED mirrors with electrical parts must go in Zone 2 or outside the zones, never in Zone 1 above a bath or in a shower. See IP ratings and bathroom zones explained.
What are the most common sizing mistakes?
- Choosing by looks before measuring. Find a mirror you love, then check its dimensions against your space, not the other way round.
- Forgetting the frame. A frame or border adds to the visual width, which matters if you're close to the edge of the vanity.
- Ignoring the basin and taps. A deep basin or tall tap eats into the space below the mirror, so measure from the top of the tallest tap.
- Going too small in a large bathroom. A 400mm mirror above a 900mm double vanity looks lonely. Scale up, or use two mirrors.
- Not planning for change. If you're renovating, check whether the vanity might change size later.
Your five-step measuring checklist
- Measure the width of your basin and vanity unit.
- Measure the clear wall width, noting any obstructions.
- Measure from the top of the tallest tap or splashback to the ceiling or overhead fitting.
- Check the wall for pipes, cables, sockets and light fittings that affect the position.
- For a cabinet, check the depth you can allow and the door swing clearance.
Write those five numbers down before you start shopping.
What guarantee comes with a Pebble Grey mirror?
Every LED mirror and cabinet comes with 12 months' cover as standard, extended free to 10 years when registered within 30 days of purchase (iron and PVC models excluded). See our guarantee page.
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