Standard Bathtub Shower Curtain Size: The Complete Sizing Guide
A standard bathtub shower curtain size is 70 inches wide by 72 inches long. That’s the size built around America’s 60-inch tub, and it’s the one stocked on shelves everywhere from Target to Bed Bath & Beyond without a special order. If your tub isn’t standard — a 5-foot soaker, a clawfoot, or a corner unit — the number you need is different, and we’ll walk through each one below.
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Standard Bathtub Shower Curtain Size Chart
Here’s how curtain size lines up with the most common bathtub types. Use your tub’s actual length, not just its label, since “standard” and “5-foot” often describe the exact same tub.
Tub Type | Curtain Size (W x L) | Notes |
Standard tub (60″) | 70″ x 72″ (also sold 72″ x 72″) | ~5″ overlap on each side |
5-foot tub (60″) | 70″ x 72″ | Same as standard — 60″ is 5 feet |
4.5-foot tub (54″) | 66–70″ x 72″ | Standard 70″ still works fine |
Corner tub | 70–72″ x 72″ | Measure both walls if angled |
Clawfoot / freestanding | 108–180″ wraparound x 72″ | Needs an oval or curved rod |
Deep soaking tub, tall walls | 70″ x 84″ | Extra length clears higher walls |
Why 70 x 72 Inches Is the Bathtub Standard
Almost every U.S. bathtub-shower combo measures 60 inches from end to end — that’s the size prefab tub units settled on decades ago, and builders have stuck with it ever since. A 70-inch-wide curtain gives you roughly five inches of overlap on each side of that 60-inch tub, enough to block splashing water without the curtain bunching up or looking oversized.
The extra two inches in the 72-inch length aren’t there for style. They cover the drop from your curtain rings, so the hem lands just above the tub floor instead of dragging in it. Some brands round the width up to a full 72 inches instead of 70, and it genuinely doesn’t matter which you buy — both fit a standard tub correctly.
What Size Shower Curtain Do You Need for a Standard Tub?
For a standard 60-inch tub-shower combo, buy a 70 x 72 inch curtain. It’s the safest default, it’s the size every retailer keeps in stock, and it fits without any measuring if your bathroom is a typical builder-grade layout. Pair it with a liner in the same 70 x 72 size so the waterproof layer doesn’t hang short of the outer curtain’s edges.
If you’d rather confirm than guess, measure your rod wall-to-wall and add 10 to 12 inches. Land close to 70 inches and a standard curtain is correct — land well past 72, and you’re likely dealing with a corner or extra-wide setup instead.
What About a 5-Foot Tub?
A 5-foot tub is 60 inches long, which makes it the same tub most people mean when they say “standard.” You don’t need a different curtain size just because your tub is labeled by its foot measurement instead of “standard” — a 70 x 72 inch curtain fits a 5-foot tub exactly as well as it fits any other standard unit.
Where this trips people up is with 4.5-foot tubs, which run about 54 inches and show up more in older homes and apartments. A 70-inch curtain still works there — you’ll just get a bit more overlap and softer folds, which isn’t a problem. Sizing down to match the tub exactly buys you nothing and narrows your options at the store.
Clawfoot and Freestanding Tub Curtain Sizes
Clawfoot and other freestanding tubs need a wraparound curtain, not a standard rectangular one. Because the tub sits away from the wall, the curtain has to circle most of its perimeter rather than just span one straight opening — that puts most clawfoot curtains in the 108 to 180 inch range, hung from an oval or curved rod mounted from the ceiling or floor.
Measure the tub’s full outer perimeter first, then subtract the section facing the wall if your rod doesn’t fully enclose it. A standard 70-inch curtain will not reach around a freestanding tub; it’s built for a straight opening, not a wraparound one, so this is one case where sizing down to “standard” actually creates a gap instead of preventing one.
How to Measure Your Bathtub for the Right Curtain Size
If you want to double-check before buying, four measurements settle it:
- Measure your tub’s length, end to end, along the wall it sits against.
- Add 10 to 12 inches to that number for the total curtain width — this is what gives you soft folds instead of a flat, stretched look.
- Measure from your curtain rod down to the tub floor.
- Subtract 6 to 10 inches from that for your curtain’s length, which accounts for the curtain rings and keeps the hem off the floor.
Land close to 70 x 72? You’ve got a standard tub, and a standard curtain is the right buy. Land noticeably wider, you’re likely working with a corner tub or a freestanding one, and the sections above will point you to the right range.
Curtain vs. Liner Size for a Bathtub
Your liner should match the curtain’s width or run slightly narrower — never wider. The liner is the waterproof layer that actually stops water from a bathtub shower, and it hangs on the inside, closest to the spray, while the decorative curtain hangs outside it. A 70 x 72 curtain pairs correctly with a 70 x 72 liner; if the liner is noticeably smaller, water finds the gap at the edges and ends up on your bathroom floor instead of in the tub.
“A good option to look at: the Crystal Clear PEVA Shower Curtain Liner (72×72″) — it’s odor-free and has built-in weighted magnets so it won’t cling or billow.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard bathtub shower curtain size?
The standard bathtub shower curtain size is 70 inches wide by 72 inches long, sometimes sold as a 72 x 72 inch square. Both fit a typical 60-inch bathtub-shower combo without alteration.
What size shower curtain fits a 5-foot tub?
A 5-foot tub is 60 inches long, the same as a standard U.S. bathtub, so it takes the same 70 x 72 inch curtain. There’s no separate “5-foot” curtain size to shop for.
What size shower curtain do I need for a standard tub and shower combo
A 70 x 72 inch curtain fits a standard tub-and-shower combo. Pair it with a liner of the same size, and hang the rod so the hem sits about an inch above the tub floor.
What size shower curtain fits a clawfoot bathtub?
Clawfoot tubs need a wraparound curtain between 108 and 180 inches, hung from an oval or curved rod that circles most of the tub’s perimeter. A standard 70-inch curtain is too narrow to reach around a freestanding tub.
Should a bathtub shower curtain touch the floor?
No. Leave a half-inch to two-inch gap between the hem and the tub or bathroom floor. A curtain that drags on the floor stays damp, mildews faster, and can become a slipping hazard when you step out of the tub.
Do the curtain and liner need to be the same size for a bathtub?
They should be close in width, with the liner the same size as the curtain or slightly smaller — never larger. This keeps the liner tucked inside the curtain instead of hanging past its edges, where water can leak through.
The Bottom Line
70 x 72 inches covers the overwhelming majority of American bathtubs, including anything labeled “standard” or “5-foot.” Measure first only if your tub is a corner, clawfoot, or freestanding unit — those need a size built for their shape, and grabbing a standard curtain off the shelf will leave gaps you’ll notice the first time you shower.