How do I measure myself and my bathroom for a walk-in tub?

Measure the bather first and the bathroom second. For the bather, sit in a straight chair and take seated hip width, seated shoulder width and seated length, then choose a tub whose seat is wider than the hips and whose interior length matches the seated length. For the room, measure the finished alcove wall to wall, back wall to front edge and floor to window sill, note which side the house drain is on, and measure every doorway and hallway on the route in, then compare each number with the actual size on the model's spec sheet rather than the nominal size in its name. How Do I Choose the Right Walk-In Tub for My Bathroom? covers the four big decisions; this page is the step-by-step measuring checklist that feeds them.

Step 1: Measure the Bather

The first video on this page is Ella's own guide to body measurements, and it is the place to start, because different body sizes require different size tubs. Keep the tape level for every measurement.

1. Hips. Sit in a straight chair with your feet flat and measure straight across the pelvis at the widest point. The tub seat must be wider than this figure.
2. Shoulders. Measure across the shoulders. The tub you choose must have proper shoulder width for your body size.
3. Seated length. Sit in a chair facing a wall in a relaxed position and measure from your head to your feet. For soaking length specifically, measure from the back of the chair to the tips of your feet. Compare these with the tub drawings and specifications.

The second video explains soaking depth, which is set by three factors: the interior length of the tub, the length of the seat, and the depth from the top of the seat to the center of the overflow drains. A taller bather sits higher in the water on the same seat than a shorter one. The Ultra puts real numbers on these: a 17 inch seat height, a 19 inch seat length, a 17 1/2 inch soaking depth from the top of the seat to the center of the overflow, 42 inches of interior length, 24 inches of shoulder width and a 22 inch seat width. Ella also has two extra-large tubs with very long seats designed for taller bathers, and those would be uncomfortable for a person of normal or shorter height, so bigger is not automatically better. How do I choose the best walk-in tub for my space and budget? turns these body figures into a model shortlist.

Step 2: Measure the Finished Alcove, Not the Old Tub

Measure the finished space rather than the tub that sits in it, and include the tile in your figures so they match what the new tub will actually meet.

• Length between the finished walls at the two ends of the alcove.
• Width from the back wall to the front edge of the alcove.
• Height from the floor to the bottom of any window sill, and the ceiling height as well if you are considering a shower combination model.
• If you are replacing a shower stall, take the wall to wall distance as it will be after the seat, glass enclosure and curb come out.
• The distance from the tub space to your water heater is also helpful to note.

Ella walk-in tubs come in sizes from 26 by 45 inches up to 32 by 72 inches, with the 30 by 52 inch footprint the most common, and the line also includes 32x52, 38x52, 30x60, 30x55, 28x52, 27x60 and 26x45 inch tubs. If your alcove is slightly larger than the tub, an extension panel can be cut down to close the gap cleanly, so a standard size can finish neatly in an alcove that is a little longer than the shell. The full size list is in Walk-In Tub and Shower Base Sizes and How to Measure for Fit. The window sill height matters most for a low tub: the laid-down models stand only 21 inches tall, so check that figure against any window, shelf or fixture near the planned location, as Laid-Down Walk-In Tub Dimensions and Fit explains.

Step 3: Find the Drain and Plan the Door

Find your existing drain and note whether it sits left or right as you face the tub. On every Ella walk-in tub the door and the drains are on opposite sides: a right-side door tub has its drains on the left, and a left-side door tub has its drains on the right, with sides taken as you face the tub. The hand is set at the factory and cannot be reversed after delivery, so this is a decision to settle before ordering. The tub drain does not have to sit directly over the floor drain. The drain body can be connected from the left, the right or the center, the T-type drains have ports that let the pipe run in either direction, and the tub can be shifted sideways with PVC running beneath it to the trap, so the house drain does not strictly dictate the side. How far can the floor drain be offset from the tub drain? explains what your plumber will check, and your licensed installer should confirm the plan.

Then look at the floor in front of the tub. If an outward swing door interests you, plan on at least 20 inches of clear floor space in front of the tub so the door can open fully without hitting a toilet or vanity. Inward-swing doors need no floor space in front of the tub, which is why a smaller bathroom often favors one. Also plan where the tub will land in relation to the toilet, sink and shelves, not just whether it squeezes into the opening.

Step 4: Measure the Route into the Bathroom

A crated tub is larger than the tub itself, so measure the bathroom doorway width and every opening, hallway and turn along the route from the front door to the alcove. Then compare the route with the actual width on the model's spec sheet. The Petite, for example, is listed as a 28 inch tub when its actual exterior width is 27 1/2 inches. Working from the actual figure rather than the name is what tells you whether a given tub clears a given doorway.

What the table means: the first three rows decide which models are comfortable, and the last four decide which models fit. A tub only belongs on your shortlist when it passes both groups. Where the room is the tighter constraint, the fit rows narrow the list first and the body rows pick among what is left; where the room is generous, start from the body rows and let the room rows confirm.

Step 5: Compare with the Spec Sheet and Confirm

Compare every number with the actual size on the model's spec sheet, not the nominal size in the model name, because nominal sizes are rounded. Each model's product page has a Downloads tab with that model's specs and measurement instructions, so you can print them and hand them to your contractor. A licensed local contractor or plumber should do the final fit check, measuring the space and the route in and locating the drain before anything is ordered. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 is glad to go over your measurements against the spec sheet for the model you like.

Watch: How to Measure the Soaking Depth of Your Walk-In Tub | Ella’s Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• Will it fit through my doorway? How to measure your home for a walk-in tub
• Will it fit my alcove? Extension panels, end panels, and 60 inch spaces
• How many gallons of water does a walk-in tub hold?

Related Videos

Preguntas comunes