Source: https://metroglasspro.com/projects/single-swing-door-nyc/

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Frameless Shower DoorsConfiguration Guide

# Single Swing Frameless Shower Door: Layout and Clearance Guide

February 2026

![Single swing frameless shower door with satin brass hinges and towel bar handle](https://metroglasspro.com/optimized/46f936af404cfd3c-1440.webp)

A single swing door is one possible layout for a NYC apartment bathroom. It needs suitable wall support, hinge capacity, and clear swing space.

## When a single swing door fits

Most NYC bathrooms are compact. A single swing door keeps things simple — there's no fixed panel eating into the opening width, no track system along the top or bottom, and no multi-panel engineering to complicate the install. You get one clean sheet of tempered glass that swings open and closed.

For apartment bathrooms with standard shower openings between 24" and 32", a single swing door is usually the right call. It maximizes the opening width (no frame or track taking up space), and the frameless look makes the bathroom feel bigger — critical when you're working with 40 square feet.

It's also the fastest to install and the most affordable frameless option, which is why it's the entry point for most NYC homeowners upgrading from old framed doors.

## Glass thickness: 3/8" vs 1/2" for single doors

For single swing doors, 3/8" (10mm) tempered glass is the industry standard and what we recommend for the vast majority of NYC installations. Here's why:

-   **Weight:** A 3/8" panel weighs roughly 5 lbs per square foot. A typical 30"×72" door comes in around 75 lbs — manageable for standard wall-mount hinges and safe for tile walls with proper anchoring.
-   **Strength:** 3/8" tempered glass is extremely strong. The actual glass product and installation should be checked against applicable safety requirements.
-   **Cost:** 3/8" glass is more affordable than 1/2", and the hardware can be lighter-duty, which saves further.

When do we recommend 1/2" (12mm)? For oversized panels — anything wider than 32" or taller than 78" — where the extra rigidity prevents flex. Also for clients who simply prefer the heavier, more substantial feel. The weight difference is noticeable: a 1/2" panel of the same size weighs about 100 lbs, which requires heavier hinges and more robust wall anchoring.

## Inward vs outward swing: which direction?

This is one of the first questions we address during measurement, and the answer depends entirely on your bathroom layout.

**Outward swing (into the bathroom)** is the default in most NYC apartments. The door swings away from the showerhead and water, which means less water escapes when you open it. It also means you don't lose any usable space inside the shower.

**Inward swing (into the shower)** makes sense when the bathroom is so tight that an outward-swinging door would hit the toilet, vanity, or bathroom door. This is more common than you'd think in NYC — especially in older co-ops where the toilet is 18" from the shower opening. An inward swing may affect emergency access and must be checked against the applicable code, hardware, and room layout.

Many of the hinges we use — including the CRL Geneva — support 180° swing, meaning the door can swing both directions. Swing direction depends on the hardware, available clearance, and applicable requirements; it must be decided for the specific opening.

The key measurement: you need at least the full width of the door panel as clear swing space. A 28" door needs 28" of clearance in the direction it swings. We check this during the measurement visit and recommend the best direction based on your specific layout.

## What a single swing door costs in NYC

The published planning range for a single swing frameless door starts around $800–$1,600+. A project-specific quote depends on dimensions, glass, hardware, access, and installation conditions.

### Related Services

[Frameless Shower Doors →](https://metroglasspro.com/frameless-shower-doors-nyc/) [Installation Process →](https://metroglasspro.com/shower-door-installation-nyc/) [Replacement Guide →](https://metroglasspro.com/shower-door-replacement-nyc/)

### Other Configurations

[Door + Fixed Panel →](https://metroglasspro.com/projects/door-fixed-panel-nyc/) [Sliding Bypass →](https://metroglasspro.com/projects/sliding-bypass-doors-nyc/) [Walk-In Panel →](https://metroglasspro.com/projects/walk-in-shower-panel-nyc/)

## Ready for a single swing door?

Send photos and rough dimensions to start a project-specific estimate.

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