What is the ADA wheelchair turning space?
A wheelchair turning space under the 2010 ADA Standards is either a 60-inch diameter circle (§304.3.1) or a T-shaped space within a 60 × 60-inch square with 36-inch-wide arms (§304.3.2). Knee and toe clearance under a counter or lavatory may count toward part of the required space (§304.3).
Source: 2010 ADA Standards §304.3 · Verify against your AHJ and the adopted code edition.
A turning space is the room a wheelchair needs to reverse direction. The 2010 ADA Standards give two options:
- Circular: a 60-inch diameter clear circle — §304.3.1.
- T-shaped: a T within a 60 × 60-inch square, with 36-inch-wide arms and base — §304.3.2. Handy where a full circle won’t fit.
Some of that footprint can overlap knee and toe clearance under an element (a counter, a lavatory), per §304.3 and §306 — so a vanity can share space with the turn.
The floor of a turning space also has to meet the general slope and surface rules, and it’s separate from the clear floor space (30 × 48 in) a person occupies at a fixture.
These are federal new-construction values; state codes (e.g. CBC 11B), ICC A117.1, and alterations can differ — verify with your AHJ.
Look it up: the ADA clearances reference has turning space and the other cited dimensions with drafting diagrams.
Sources
- U.S. Access Board — 2010 ADA Standards — 2010 ADA Standards §304