3/4 Bathroom – “Hey, Where’s the Rest?”

Bathrooms are funny things; they are apparently subject to interpretation.  The 3/4 bathroom is one example.  What is this three-quarters bathroom and how does it differ from other bathrooms?

And why do they call it a 3/4 bathroom in the first place?

The Full Bathroom

Call it what you wish.  My thoughts are that, since we’re speaking in terms of fractions, why not call this a 4/4 bathroom?  Or, hell, at least call it a 100% bathroom.  I doubt my wishes will be heeded though, because “full bathroom” is pretty much lodged in bathroom terminology, and consists of:

1. Toilet
2. Sink
3. Shower
4. Bathtub

Got that?  Now, let’s cut it in half:

The Half Bathroom

This is where things get tricky.  This room is sometimes called the half-bathroom.  That is, when it’s not being called the guest bathroom.  Or the powder room.

One thing is clear:  you cannot bathe in a half bathroom.  It’s a very small room–sometimes as small as 16 square feet–giving you and your guests the chance to wash their hands after that big, greasy meal you served.  Or for a quick movement of the bowels.

1. Toilet
2. Sink

The 3/4 Bathroom (Three-Quarter)

So, we’re somewhere between a full bathroom and a half bathroom now, right?  Yes, but things still get a little hazy.  What is clear is that the three-quarter bathroom must have a toilet and a sink.  But what is the remaining quarter, a tub or a shower?

A 3/4 bathroom can be either:

1. Toilet
2. Sink
3. Shower

Or it can be:

1. Toilet
2. Sink
3. Bathtub

In most cases, it is the former (toilet, sink, and shower), simply because due to space considerations, this works out best.  But in theory, a 3/4 bathroom could also mean a toilet, sink, and tub.