Inside.

I'd definitely prefer to have inside the bathroom with me, rather than outside, accessible to others (who might accidentally bump into the switch, and turn it off while the bathroom is being used!).

All of the US is covered by building codes. Just because there is no code enforcement where you live doesn't mean that doing the absolute minimum for safety shouldn't be planned for. That does include the elecrical switches inside the bath where they belong.

Inside and I wouldn't have it any other way. If I need more lighting, I can easily flip a switch without having to open a door and reach outside of the bathroom to do it. And, like cat_mom said, what happens when it's dark out and someone accidentally turns off the switch from the outside?

I have one of each, the outside switch is in the guest room. Everyone always reach into the bathroom looking for the switch. Common where I live to have them in the bathroom.

I remodeled a bath that had the switch on the outside. I left that one for the overhead light, then had the sconces and shower spot put on switches inside the bath. I knew after 30 years of flipping that light on from the outside it would make me crazy if it were removed.

In the new bath they installed the kind of switches that you press instead of flip, each with a dimmer button. That does make me crazy - I want to flip a light switch, not press it, not look at a gazillion LED lights that those controls have. I feel like an old curmudgeon, but I really prefer just a flip-on switch. So if you have any thoughts about what kind you'd like, be sure to specify.

I would not want to even use/ be in a bathroom if the switch to turn off the light was located outside the room.

In some countries (like England, I think) the switches *must be outside the bathroom.

In the complex that I just moved out of most of the switches for lighting were Outside the door because anywhere inside the door was not the required three feet away from the bathtub in a horizontal position unless it was well inside the bathroom somewhere else, and you would have had to walk into the dark bathroom to turn the lights on. The fan switch was inside because it did not need to be both adjacent to the door and 3 feet from the tub, just 3 feet from the tub.

The switches should be inside the room, near where you will use them. Most newer bathrooms have more than one light switch (overhead , wall sconce, mirror, etc) plus a fan switch. You aren't going to put all these switches on the outside of the room.

If you have concerns you could put the lighting circuit on a GFI.

I have one switch outside the bathroom door for an overhead light inside the bathroom, and another inside for lighting over the shower. About the only thing you shouldn't be doing is having switches or receptacles on the walls inside the wet area.

If putting it right inside the door puts it in a position like this, I would put one outside the door and have lighting over the vanity on a separate switch in that location, for example:

My home (1963) has the switch in the inside just like that photo. I am redoing the bathroom and plan to keep it there, although I am sure it is again codes. That area is so small, nowhere else to go but outside.

The only disadvantage of inside placement of the light switch (vis ÃÂ vis many advantages) is that the bathroom is dark when you enter it in the middle of the night. That problem can be solved with an LED electrical fixture at the mains outlet where the bidet toilet seat is plugged in.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pass & Seymour LED mains outlet

In my house the switches are on the inside. My daughter's master bath has the light switches on the both outside and the inside of the room.

It never occurred to me that someone would put a light switch outside the bathroom.

I learn something new every day on Gardenweb!

Inside the bathroom makes more sense to me. If one needs to turn on the light in the middle of the night or has a very early start to work, one can turn on and off the light without disturbing your partner.

Many thanks for all the inputs.

Yes, my experience is of England/ British Commonwealth countries and have never had a light switch inside a bathroom.

The odd time when the lights would be switched off when we were children, was when a sibling would see someone disappear inside brandishing a thick book to read and see the door shut for an inordinately long time :-)

People seem to forget that depending on where you live, code may force you to put the switch on the outside. This a safety issue, not a matter of aesthetics or preference.

Bad memories of my brother turning off the light while I was in the shower would make me never consider an outside switch.

I think in most situations a switch can be placed inside the bathroom if you don't mind opening up some gyproc in order to put the switch on the opposite wall.