Drainage is often an afterthought in a bathroom reno. Sure, the water needs to leave the room, but does the hole it goes through really matter?

Short answer: yes. At least if you want your bathroom to be as beautiful and functional as possible.

The right drain will rid your wet area of water quickly and will look great while it does it. It will also be easy to clean and maintain – a consideration that renovators often overlook, only to be caught out months down the track.

In this guide you’ll learn how to choose the ideal drain for your new bathroom.

The main types of bathroom drainage

While it might just be a hole in your bathroom floor, these days drains are available in a huge variety of shapes, colours and designs. The four main types of drain that you’ll find in residential bathrooms are:

• Square/round floor drains: The traditional option, these drains are about the width of the drainage pipe, and are usually placed in the middle of the shower and bathroom floor.

• Channel drains: A newer, more stylish option, these long, slotted drains are typically placed at the back wall of a shower or sometimes along the length of a bathroom wall.

• Tile insert drains: These drains feature a cover that matches the tiles around the drain, and water falls down a small gap around the outer edge of the drain. Once installed they’re almost invisible and offer the cleanest look.

• Shower grates/bases: Rather than tiling your shower, you might choose a one-piece base that includes a built-in drain.

How to choose the right drain for your space

What do you need to consider when choosing the right drain for your bathroom? Here are the main things to keep in mind.

1. Practical realities

Before you start drain shopping, you need to understand your bathroom situation and limitations. Consider:

• Plumbing position: If you're renovating rather than building new, relocating a floor drain can be a costly and complex task, so most people just work with the existing position, which could limit your choice of drain.
• Floor fall complexity: Think about the gradient or slope of your bathroom floor that will direct the water to the drain. Linear drains require a simple slope, central drains require fall from all directions. Again, renovators may need to work with what they’ve got.
• Cleaning and maintenance: Tile-insert grates need to be lifted to be cleaned; linear drains can collect debris along their length; traditional drains are the simplest to maintain.
• Shower base vs tiled floor: If a one-piece shower base is being used, the drain decision is generally made for you.

2. Tile size and fall

Your choice of drain is directly connected to your choice of tile.

Large tiles (600mm+) don’t really work with traditional central floor drains, because it’s difficult to create the dished effect that ensures the water always runs toward the drain. These big tiles pair better with channel drains that only require a simple, monodirectional slope toward the wall.

Smaller tiles (300mm, mosaic) work well with traditional round or square floor drains because they can adapt to more complex falls. For medium-sized tiles (450mm) it’s best to check what a professional like a tiler, plumber or builder might recommend for your particular situation.

3. Aesthetics

Once tile size is settled, your choice of drain can be based on form as well as function. Try to match the style of your bathroom – the drain finish matching your tapware finish creates a nice cohesive look – and consider whether you want your drains to be a subtle feature or an eye-catching highlight. Here are a few ideas on how different drain styles can be used:

• Channel tile-insert drains: An almost invisible and seamless addition to your shower that suits clean, modern and minimalist bathrooms.
• Statement finishes: Brushed nickel for a showpiece drain, matte black for a more subtle but still beautiful option.
• Chrome round drains: Suits heritage, classic and country aesthetics where a sleek linear drain or jazzy colour would feel out of place.

Quick reference: which drain suits which bathroom?

• Large format tiles + contemporary look = linear drain
• Invisible floor + any tile size = tile-insert drain
• Classic aesthetic + smaller tiles = traditional round drain
• Simplicity + no drain decision required = shower base

Ready to find your perfect drain?

The perfect bathroom drain will get rid of water while looking good and being easy to clean and maintain.

But drainage is just one piece of the bathroom puzzle. If you’re at the beginning of your reno journey, you might want some other inspo too. Check out our fullbaths collection and browse ourtapware to find fixtures that pair well with your drains. You can also get some design inspo from our guide to the latest bathroom trends.

And if you'd like a hand figuring out your design, our team is always here to offer expert advice.