Is he building the pan or using a pre-formed one, like a Kohler cast iron pan? If he's building it, then of course, it can be wider unless there's some code issue. If he's using a pre-formed pan, then it is what it is.

Code actuallyrequires that a 30'' circle be able to fit inside the shower at the fixture. That actually requires a 32'' width as the minimum in order to be compliant. 24'' is so far below code as to be useless as a shower. That's a dog wash station, and a small dog at that. Code also requires that the shower wall or vanity side remain at least 15'' from the center of the toilet waste pipe.

Something is just not right with this picture. Do you have a layout that you can post? Where did you find this guy?

Codes have their place but not everyone has a house that can meet codes and still allow you to make some updates and changes. I have a 100 year old house with a small bathroom. I ripped out the tub and I am installing a walk in shower. It is 29.5 inches wide to the inside edge of curb and about 31 inches to where glass wall and door will be. ...and 60 inches long. I only have 13.5 inches to the center of toilet waste pipe. I don't have any other room without taking out an outside wall.

My contractor is pouring the pan so that doesn't constrain me to a preformed size. I agree with trying to get a poured pan. You might also consider a glass wall with hinged door. That might also give you a little more room than slider. Poured floors I believe in general have less risk of leaking than a membrane. Tell your contractor you would really like a wider shower and ask him how can he help u achieve this.

If it is replacing a bathtub they will often make an exception and allow a 30"x 60" exterior shower pan which will end up about 26" inside the curb by about 58.5"

Thank you everyone for the responses. Seems like he did what you are saying palimpsest. I did ask to make it as large as possible so seems he did not try very hard. I also did not notice the small space until the shower door was put in. And so unfortunately was one of the last things done for the renovation. As mentioned from outside saddle to sink is about 4 1/2 inches. The sink is only 15 inches wide since I opted for a "larger" shower over a normal size sink. There is then about 8 inches from the sink to the toilet. So perhaps there isn't enough room to expand it by much. I just wanted to know if he made a mistake or not and it seems that he did not but probably could have done a bit more since it is only 24 inches to inside curb and should have been 26 or more ...

The shower/bathtub in my basement is 24" wide on the inside.

The bathtub is still made, primarily as a replacement for old small bathtubs.

The potential problem here is that with a shower door vs. a bathtub/shower curtain is that your elbow room is going to be tight.

I had a shower/tub combo of similar size in my last place, and it was tight elbow-room wise and I would sometimes bang my head on the door. I ended up taking the door off and replacing it with a shower curtain for more breathing room.

thanks again palimpsest. Yes the 24 with the shower door was too tight ... this was a full remodel of the bathroom so i think he could have done much better than 24 ... or if 24 was somehow the max, then perhaps he should not have recommended a shower door as you mention

I have a similar situation. A sliding shower door certainly takes up too much room and whats with 6 inch saddles why do contractors insist on 6 inch saddles when even 3" would be enough for a standard glass wall with a door opening outside.