Equipping your commercial washroom with the right number of hand dryers can actually affect the way customers view your establishment and affect your bottom line.

It’s about hygiene, efficiency, customer experience, and long-term value. So, if you’re a business owner that oversees a commercial location or a contractor planning for a busy commercial space, having a knowledge of how many units to install, will help you meet building codes and customer expectations.

In this guide we’ll walk you through the key points to consider when determining how many hand dryers your space needs, and without overcomplicating the process.

Before you continue reading, you can read our recent topic where we suggest that you Stop Providing Paper Towels To Your Customers which reveals a surprising hygiene issue related to washroom paper towels.

Consider the Type and Size of Your Facility

Understand Your Facility’s Foot Traffic

The number of expected users per day determines the capacity required. For instance, a small office with a team of 15 employees doesn’t need the same number of hand dryers as a highway service plaza would.

Here’s some quick guidelines to go by:

Low traffic (under 100 uses/day)

Recommended Setup

One dryer per washroom may be sufficient. This is common in private offices, small businesses, and professional type suites. One dryer is often enough to meet demand, especially if handwashing is spread out over the day.

Why it works

Limited overlap between users reduces the risk of queuing or extended wait times.

Keep in mind

Even if there is low usage, the dryer should be fast and reliable, and if not, people may skip hand drying altogether.

Moderate traffic (100–300 uses/day)

Recommended Setup

One dryer for every 2 sinks is a reasonable rule. This is a typical setup for retail stores, clinics, and moderate-sized restaurants. This ratio keeps user flow steady while still being cost-effective.

Why it works

The demand for hand drying tends to be spread throughout the day with occasional peaks during lunch or shift changes, so there should be an adequate number of dryers to keep up with demand.

Keep in mind

You should install energy-efficient hand-dryer models with quick drying times helps manage crowding even at busy times.

High traffic (300+ uses/day)

Recommended Setup

In this setup, consider installing one dryer per washbasin. This applies to stadiums, airports, shopping centres, schools and hotels. The hand dryers must be high-speed, durable, and ready to handle continual use.

Why it works

Frequent user overlap demands a quick hand drying experience to keep lines moving and avoid hygiene issues.

Keep in mind

Redundancy is essential. One out-of-service dryer in a high-traffic location can immediately cause unwanted and uncomfortable congestion.

Evaluate Male vs. Female Restroom Layouts

In many public buildings, women’s washrooms contain more stalls than men washrooms do. That often means longer handwashing lines and more demand for drying.

Your dryer count should reflect this variation to prevent bottlenecks.

Review Local Building Codes and Accessibility Requirements

Include OBC or ADA Compliance Where Required

Make sure at least one dryer in each washroom meets height, reach, and operability requirements for accessibility. These standards do not affect your total dryer count, but it will influence the placement and type.

Consider Dryer Performance and Speed

Modern high-speed hand dryers can dry hands in 10 to 15 seconds and allow for higher throughput per unit. Older models (or those that take 30+ seconds per cycle) may require doubling up to keep lines moving.

Factor in Noise Level

In places like restaurants, libraries, or health clinics, loud hand dryers may disrupt the atmosphere and peace of the patrons. You may need to balance speed with noise level, which can affect the number of dryers needed to maintain efficiency.

Account for Redundancy and Peak Times

Prepare for Busiest Periods, Not Averages

If your washroom handles peak traffic in short bursts (e.g., during intermissions, recess, or shift changes), your dryer count should reflect those intervals vs the average hourly use.

Avoid Single Points of Failure

Installing at least two dryers in every multi-stall washroom prevents full-service disruption if one unit malfunctions or requires maintenance. One failed hand dryer during peak hours can lead to wet hands, increased mess, frustration and poor user impressions.

Redundancy also reduces stress on individual units, helping extend their lifespan. If your business relies on maintaining a clean, professional appearance, uninterrupted service is essential, especially in customer-facing environments like restaurants, clinics, or event venues.

In high-traffic locations, having a backup hand dryer is less of a luxury and more of a necessity.

Optimize Placement for Flow and Accessibility

Keep Dryers Close to Exits

Placing hand dryers near the exit helps streamline movement through the space and prevents wet footprints throughout the area, thus reducing maintenance calls and slip hazards.

Avoid Crowding or Clashing with Mirrors and Dispensers

Position units where users can stand comfortably without blocking others or bumping into fixtures. Doing so falls under most, if not all building codes in Canada and the US.

Consider Energy and Cost Efficiency

Fewer High-Efficiency Units May Save You More Over Time

Even though it may seem logical to install more dryers for faster throughput, strategic placement of energy-efficient models can keep costs in check too. Simply look for units with low standby power usage, sensor activation, and quick drying times.

Compare Operational Costs with Paper Towel Dispensers

If you're phasing out paper towels, your dryer count might need to increase slightly. Conversely, installing a hybrid drying system can ease pressure on dryers during high-use periods.

Final Checklist Before You Install

Here’s a final checklist of what to review before you get started with your washroom upgrade:

• Reviewed expected daily foot traffic.
• Cross-check sink-to-dryer ratio.
• Verify local building code requirements.
• Account for accessibility and redundancy.
• Match unit performance to space needs.
• Considered energy consumption and placement.