Shower Drains / Spec Guide
Linear vs. Square Shower Drains, Specified
The drain is the least glamorous fixture in the shower and the one most likely to ruin the floor if you pick the wrong one. Here is how to choose between linear and square — and how to choose a finish — using VIGO Elan drains specified at the Omni Dallas Hotel and Canopy by Hilton Tempe.
VIGO Elan 24" linear shower drain in chrome (VG07002CH) — as specified at Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown.
Choose a linear shower drain for curbless, modern, or large-format-tile showers — the floor slopes one direction toward a single channel against the wall. Choose a square (point) drain for compact, budget-conscious showers where the floor slopes from four sides to the center. For finish, chrome is the safe, versatile default; matte black coordinates with black fixtures and makes a statement. VIGO's Elan line offers both formats in both finishes.
Decision 1
Linear vs. square shower drain: which should you choose?
A linear shower drain is a long channel — typically 24 to 36 inches — installed against one wall or at the shower entry, so the entire floor slopes in a single plane toward it. That single slope is what makes linear drains the standard for curbless, walk-in, and large-format-tile showers: big tiles can't bend to a four-way slope, but they can tilt in one direction. A square (point) drain sits in the center and needs the floor to pitch from all four sides, which means smaller tiles or a mosaic around the drain — but it's compact, simple, and the most economical option.
- Formats: Linear + Square
- Finishes: Chrome / Black
- Body: Brass + 304 SS
- Proof: 2 Hotels
- FIG. 1 — Drainage footprint (not to scale): Linear = 24" channel · 1-way slope; Square = point drain · 4-way slope
Decision 2
What finish should a shower drain be?
Match the drain to the rest of the room. Chrome is the versatile default — it reflects surrounding tile, hides limescale reasonably well, and coordinates with almost any fixture, which is why it was the right call for the bright, clean showers at Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown. Matte black is the statement choice: it reads as a deliberate graphic line, disappears into dark tile, and ties the drain to black faucets, frames and shower systems — the logic behind the matte black square drain specified at the Omni Dallas Hotel. The rule of thumb: a drain should either match your floor (to vanish) or match your fixtures (to coordinate) — never float as a third, unrelated finish.
The Proof
Where these VIGO drains are installed
Omni Dallas Hotel & Resort — Elan square drain, matte black
The Omni Dallas specified VIGO's Elan square shower drain (VG07004) in matte black — a compact, high-durability point drain whose brass body and 304 stainless cover stand up to the cleaning cycles of a major convention hotel while keeping the floor detail tight and modern.
Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown — Elan 24" linear drain, chrome
Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown used VIGO's Elan 24-inch linear shower drain (VG07002) in chrome, the single-slope channel that pairs cleanly with large-format tile and a contemporary walk-in shower — proof that the same Elan drain family scales from a statement-black point drain to a near-invisible chrome line.
"Nobody photographs the drain — but it decides your tile layout, your slope, and whether the floor still looks right in five years. Spec it first, not last." — VIGO Product Team
VIGO Elan square shower drain in matte black (VG07004MB) — as specified at the Omni Dallas Hotel.
Datasheet
Datasheet — VIGO Elan shower drains
Both Elan drains share the same core build — a brass body with a 304 stainless steel grate or cover and a standard 2" outlet — so the choice comes down to format, footprint and finish.
Featured in this story
Shop the piecesElan 24" Linear Shower Drain
Single-slope channel for curbless & large-format-tile showers. As specified at Canopy by Hilton Tempe.
~$94.90 · Chrome
View productElan Square Shower Drain
Compact center point drain in brass + stainless. As specified at the Omni Dallas Hotel.
~$54.90 · Matte Black
View productShop these categories
Explore the rangeLinear Shower Drains
Long single-slope channel drains — the standard for curbless, walk-in and large-format-tile showers.
Shop Linear Shower DrainsSquare Shower Drains
Compact center point drains that pitch the floor from four sides — the simplest, most economical format.
Shop Square Shower DrainsAll Shower Drains
Browse every VIGO shower drain — brass bodies, 304 stainless covers, chrome and matte black finishes.
Shop All Shower DrainsReference
Questions, answered
What is the difference between a linear and a square shower drain?
A linear shower drain is a long channel (often 24-36 inches) set against one wall, so the floor slopes in a single direction and works with large-format tile. A square (point) drain is a small center drain that requires the floor to slope from four sides. Linear suits curbless and modern showers; square is compact and economical.
What finish should a shower drain be?
Match the shower drain finish to the other fixtures. Chrome is the versatile default and disappears into light tile; matte black makes a graphic statement and coordinates with black faucets and frames. VIGO Elan drains come in finishes including chrome and matte black.
What size linear shower drain do I need?
Choose a linear drain length that matches the width of the shower wall it sits against, or the shower entry for a curbless design. VIGO offers a 24-inch Elan linear drain; longer 36-inch options exist for wider showers. Confirm the drain outlet connects to a standard 2-inch waste line.
Are VIGO shower drains used in commercial projects?
Yes. VIGO Elan shower drains are specified in hospitality projects — including a matte black square drain at the Omni Dallas Hotel and a chrome 24-inch linear drain at Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown — because the brass-and-stainless build holds up to high-traffic use.
Further reading
Spec the drain first, not last
Nobody photographs the drain — but it decides your tile layout, your slope, and whether the floor still looks right in five years. Pick the format that matches your slope and tile, match the finish to your fixtures, and the rest of the shower falls into place. VIGO's Elan drains cover both formats in chrome and matte black, with the same brass-and-304-stainless build specified at the Omni Dallas Hotel and Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown.
