How does the shower niche calculator work?

You enter your wall tile size, grout joint, the recess or cavity depth available, your desired niche width and height, the number of stacked niches and the sill height. The tool snaps the opening to whole or half tiles so the tiles at the niche edge are cut cleanly, caps the recess depth to fit the wall, and suggests a sill height and a slight sill fall so water drains back into the shower.

What size and depth should a shower niche be in India?

For Indian bathrooms a recess of roughly 75 to 100 mm deep works well and needs a waterproof backer behind it. Sizing to your wall tile, such as one 600 by 300 mm tile, keeps cuts clean. Set the lower sill around 1200 to 1300 mm from the floor for easy reach and to stay clear of the shower valve. Slope the sill a few millimetres so water drains out.

How accurate is this calculator?

It is indicative and meant for planning, snapping your niche to the tile grid and fitting it within the depth you enter. Always confirm the true wall cavity, brick thickness or stud spacing at 450 mm centres, and the routing of shower valve and supply pipes on site before you chase the wall. Waterproof the recess and sill fully, and verify details with your tiler or a professional as needed.

Shower Niche Calculator India 2026 — Size, Depth & Placement

Shower Niche Calculator

Size and place a recessed shower niche so it lands cleanly on the tile grid and fits inside the wall cavity. Get the niche width, height, recess depth, sill slope and mounting height. Indicative India 2026 — confirm on site before you chase the wall.

Your wall & niche

Recess available (mm)

Grout joint (mm)

Wall tile size

Desired width (mm)

Desired height (mm)

Number of niches

Sill height (mm)

This wall carries the shower valve / pipes

The opening snaps to whole/half tiles so cut tiles at the niche edge stay clean. Recess depth is capped to 100 mm and needs a waterproof backer. Slope the sill ~12 mm back-to-front so water drains out.

Recommended niche opening

0 × 0 mm

1 × 1 tiles per niche, recessed 70 mm

Niche width

600 mm

1 tiles wide

Niche height

300 mm

1 tiles high

Recess depth

70 mm

too shallow

Lower sill

1,200 mm

aim 1200–1300 mm

Elevation — niche(s) set on the tile grid; sill sloped ~12 mm for drainage.

Wall gives only ~70 mm usable depth — a niche wants 75–100 mm. Use a shallower shelf, a surface-mounted caddy, or build the wall out.

Desired size vs the size snapped to the tile grid. Indicative — confirm on site.

Detail your niche & waterproofing

Get niche tile, trim and sill-waterproofing guidance from DesignAI.

Go deeper

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Estimates are indicative and snap the opening to whole/half tiles to keep cuts clean. Always confirm the true wall cavity, stud spacing and pipe routing on site before chasing the wall, waterproof the recess and sill fully, and slope the sill so water drains back into the shower.

Frequently asked questions

How does the shower niche calculator work?: You enter your wall tile size, grout joint, the recess or cavity depth available, your desired niche width and height, the number of stacked niches and the sill height. The tool snaps the opening to whole or half tiles so the tiles at the niche edge are cut cleanly, caps the recess depth to fit the wall, and suggests a sill height and a slight sill fall so water drains back into the shower.
What size and depth should a shower niche be in India?: For Indian bathrooms a recess of roughly 75 to 100 mm deep works well and needs a waterproof backer behind it. Sizing to your wall tile, such as one 600 by 300 mm tile, keeps cuts clean. Set the lower sill around 1200 to 1300 mm from the floor for easy reach and to stay clear of the shower valve. Slope the sill a few millimetres so water drains out.
How accurate is this calculator?: It is indicative and meant for planning, snapping your niche to the tile grid and fitting it within the depth you enter. Always confirm the true wall cavity, brick thickness or stud spacing at 450 mm centres, and the routing of shower valve and supply pipes on site before you chase the wall. Waterproof the recess and sill fully, and verify details with your tiler or a professional as needed.

Related Guides — Deep-dive reading

Shower Niche India: Building a Recessed Wall Shelf That Holds Shampoo Without Ever Leaking

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Where grab bars and handrails go in an Indian bathroom — beside the WC, in the shower, by the tub and at the door — with heights in mm, the ~100+ kg load they must take, why fixing into solid blocking (not tile) is non-negotiable, stainless vs nylon, foldable options, retrofit into masonry, CPWD guidance and rupee costs.

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