Can Ella Build a Walk-In Tub in My Exact Custom Dimensions?

Ella's Bubbles builds its walk-in tubs around a set of standard footprints rather than custom shells, so a tub is not molded to your exact dimensions. The exact fit comes from choosing the closest standard size and closing any gap with an extension panel that can be cut down to size. An outward-swinging door and a combined hydro and air massage package are both available in standard sizes, and Do walk-in tubs come in different sizes to fit my bathroom? shows the full range to choose from.

Why the Answer Is a Standard Size, Not a Custom Shell

A walk-in tub starts as an acrylic shell, and Ella's lineup is built on standard footprints rather than one-off shells. The good news is that the range is wide, so there is usually a close match for an existing opening. The most common footprint is 30 inches wide by 52 inches long, a size that fits many standard tub alcoves. The published sizes also include 32x52, 38x52, 30x60, 30x55, 28x52, 27x60 and 26x45 inch tubs, a transfer-style tub in a 60 by 30 inch size, and larger laid-down soaking tubs commonly sized at 32 by 72 inches.

Two details help when you compare those sizes with the dimensions you have in mind:

• The width by length listed for an Ella tub is the outside of the acrylic shell, the footprint the tub occupies on the floor. It is not the bathing space inside.
• The size in a model's name is a rounded nominal figure. A tub sold as 28 inches can measure 27.5 inches on the drawing, and a tub described as a 5 foot tub can measure 59.5 inches long. The actual inch figure on the current specification drawing is always the one to measure against.

One width that does not exist is 34 inches. A bathroom with about 34 inches of room is usually fitted with a 32-inch tub, with the remaining space closed in afterward.

Standard Options with an Outward-Swinging Door and Both Therapies

If your wish list is an outward-swinging door plus both therapy systems, the Monaco and the Capri are the two models the published guides describe in the most detail. They are the same outward-swing design in two widths, and they share the same jetting, so the hydro massage, air massage and combined therapy packages are configured the same way on both. The table below sets them beside the other ways to match a specific space.

What the differences mean for you: between the Monaco and the Capri, the 2-inch difference in width is the real distinction. Both are 52 inches long, both have an estimated soaking depth of about 33 inches measured from the tub floor to the overflow drain, and both have a seat height of just under 17 inches, so the bathing experience is very similar. The Monaco's extra 2 inches go into the seat and the interior, and the Capri gives them up to fit through narrower openings. Monaco vs. Capri: What Actually Differs Between Ella's Two Outward-Swing 52-Inch Tubs covers that choice in full. Confirm the exact therapy package and accessories for your order with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850.

How the Outward-Swinging Door Works in Your Space

The outward-swing U-shape door is made of PVC composite and tempered glass and locks with a 3-latch gear and shaft mechanism. Because it opens into the room rather than into the tub, plan clearance in front of the tub for the door to swing. That is a measurement a custom shell would not change, so it belongs on your list from the start.

The video on this page shows why many bathers ask for this door. An inward-swinging door has to pass your knees and feet after you enter and again as you exit, while an outward-swinging door needs no knee clearance. The video also shows the three-latch gear and shaft locking mechanism working with the watertight gasket, which compresses when the door is locked.

How an Extension Panel Closes the Gap

When your opening is a little larger than the nearest standard tub, Ella offers extension panels that can be cut down to size to close the space cleanly. This is what makes it possible to fit a standard tub size into an alcove that is slightly larger than the tub itself, without needing a fully custom unit. In practice, the path to an exact fit looks like this:

1. Measure the width, length and height of your existing tub or shower alcove.
2. Measure your doorway width, and every opening on the way in, if the tub needs to travel through it to reach the bathroom.
3. Compare those figures with the exterior sizes in Walk-In Tub and Shower Base Sizes and How to Measure for Fit and pick the closest standard footprint that fits.
4. Close any remaining gap between the tub and the wall with an extension panel cut to size.

Do not skip the doorway step. One customer found that the Monaco would not pass through their bathroom doorway and moved to the Capri for that reason alone, keeping the same depth and seat height. Compare your narrowest opening against the tub widths first, then think about the bather.

Where True Custom Dimensions Are Available

If your project really does call for made-to-measure dimensions, that option exists on the shower side of the lineup. Ella's Bubbles manufactures its own shower bases in standard sizes of 30x60, 32x60 and 36x60 inches, and fully custom base sizes are also manufactured. For example, a custom 58x30 inch base with a center drain has been produced, and a 36 by 36 inch corner base can be ordered with the drain placed to your exact measurements. Shower Bases and Wall Panels explains the base and wall panel choices.

For the tub itself, Ella's Bubbles also offers a walk-in tub builder tool online. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can share the link and help you match a standard size, door and therapy package to the dimensions you measured.

Watch: Why Outward-Swinging Walk-In Tubs Are Better for Safety & Comfort | Ellas Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• Will it fit my alcove? Extension panels, end panels, and 60 inch spaces
• Will it fit through my doorway? How to measure your home for a walk-in tub
• How do I measure my bathroom and myself for a walk-in tub?

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