Pros and Cons of a Half Bath

A half bath is a bathroom with a sink and toilet and no shower or tub. These are often guest bathrooms or a bathroom for a home office. A full bath has the sink, toilet, and a tub with or without a shower. Installing a half bath has pros and cons.

Pros

A half bath may make better use of a small space than trying to fit in a crowded full bath. A half bath can often be added in a space intended for a closet or under a stairway, so if the homeowner needs an additional bathroom, it can be more easily added than a full bath. A half bath also saves money on plumbing and fixtures.

Cons

If there are limited bathrooms in the house, then a full bath can be useful for children or guests. A full bath may add more value to a home than a half bath when it comes time to resell the house. An unused half bath may be taking up space better used for storage or adding to the floor space of a room.

When considering adding a half bath, a homeowner should consider what the family’s needs are, how often guests visit, what the budget is, and how the bath will fit into the existing floor plan.