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Are Ella walk-in tubs ADA compliant? Accessibility and wheelchair answers

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary8
  1. What ADA Compliance Actually Means for a Tub
  2. Accessibility Features Built into Ella Tubs
  3. Wheelchair Users: The Transfer Family
  4. Three Ways in
  5. Planning a Wheelchair Transfer
  6. Remodeling for Accessibility, and Paying for It
  7. Related Guides
  8. Common Questions

Are Ella walk-in tubs ADA compliant? There is no official ADA certification for walk-in tubs, or for any product: the U.S. Access Board, which writes the ADA standards, does not evaluate or certify products. ADA standards apply to buildings such as public accommodations and government facilities, not to typical private homes, and Ella tubs are designed for residential bathrooms with many ADA-compatible elements, including a 17 inch seat height on most models, low thresholds, grab bars, textured floors, and ADA lever faucet handles. For wheelchair users, the Transfer family with its wide L-shape door is built for seated transfers.

What ADA Compliance Actually Means for a Tub

  • The ADA regulates places, not products. A hotel, clinic, or other covered facility needs its bathing room to meet the ADA standards, including clear floor space, a seat, grab bars, control placement, and a hand-held shower spray unit.
  • Private homes are not covered by the ADA unless part of the home is open to the public as a business.
  • Ella tubs are not marketed as ADA-certified because no such certification exists. They are sized for residential bathrooms and include multiple ADA-compatible design elements. If you are outfitting a covered facility, review the specific model's spec drawings against the standards with your architect or contractor.
  • What the tubs are certified to, including UL, CSA and the faucet listings, is a separate question answered in safety certifications.

Accessibility Features Built into Ella Tubs

  • Low step-in thresholds and textured, slip-resistant floors on all walk-in models; the figure for each model is in step-in threshold heights by model.
  • Seat height of 17 inches on most models, similar to a standard chair.
  • Deck and wall-mounted grab bars, strategically placed for entry and exit. Most seated tubs include one or two deck-mount bars, and more can be added to the surrounding walls; see grab bars included and add-on.
  • Fast-fill faucets with an extendable hand shower; the 2-piece faucet cartridge is certified with an ADA lever.
  • Optional heated seat and backrest, and easy-touch or digital controls.

Wheelchair Users: The Transfer Family

Video
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Ella Transfer Walk-In Tub Features The video introduces the Ella acrylic Transfer walk-in tub, highlighting its L-shaped door, low threshold, textured floor, and secure two-latch gear and shaft lock.
  2. 0:45 Tub Sizes and Soaking Depth The video details the two available sizes of the Transfer tub, including seat dimensions and interior length, and explains how soaking depth is determined.
  3. 1:57 Air and Hydro Massage Systems The tub's air massage with auto purge and hydro massage with an inline heater are showcased, along with strategic foot jets and ozone sterilization.
  4. 2:38 Dual Drain and Fast-Fill Faucet The video explains the best-in-class dual drain technology for quick draining and presents the five-piece fast-fill faucet set with a hand shower.
  5. 3:00 MicroBubble and Chromatherapy Options The Infusion MicroBubble option for skin softening is presented, along with the heated seat and backrest, and the dual massage package with chromatherapy.

Watch: Wheelchair Accessible Transfer Walk-In Tubs in 30x52 & 32x52 Sizes with chapters and a full transcript.

Our wheelchair-accessible Transfer tubs use an extra-wide L-shape outward-swing door built for seated transfers. As the video shows, the warm, soft-to-the-touch frameless door provides easy access, there is a low threshold and a textured floor, and an exclusive two-latch gear and shaft lock keeps the door secure and leak-proof. The door opens 172 degrees, with the handle on the front of the door, and the solid white acrylic door has no glass panel. The video covers the two 52 inch models: the Transfer32 (32 x 52 inches) with a 24 inch seat width, 44 inches of interior length, and a 15 1/2 inch seat length, and the Transfer30 (30 x 52 inches) with a 22 inch seat width and the same interior and seat lengths. The Transfer32's soaking depth is 14 1/2 inches. Three more sizes round out the family: Transfer26 (26 inches wide, 19 inch seat) for narrow spaces, Transfer60 (29.5 x 60 inches, 22 inch seat), and TransferXXL (36 x 55 inches) with the widest seat we make at 29 inches. The whole line is compared in the Transfer tub family guide.

Person transferring sideways from a wheelchair onto the seat of an Ella Transfer30 walk-in tub through the open L-shape door
A lateral transfer into the Transfer30: the chair pulls parallel to the open L-shape door and the bather slides onto the molded seat.

Three Ways in

Wheelchair Transfer Walk-In Tubs Designed for Easy Access
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Transfer Walk-In Tub Overview The video introduces Ella's Bubbles transfer walk-in tubs, ideal for unobstructed access and available in five sizes.
  2. 0:38 Easy Access and Transfer Options The presenter demonstrates how bathers can easily transfer into the tub from a wheelchair or by stepping in.
  3. 1:17 Quality Door and Tub Features The video highlights the robust, integrated door, ergonomic handle, and strategically placed grab bars for safety.
  4. 2:17 High-Flow Faucet and Customization The presenter explains the high-flow faucet, dual drains, and various customization options like hydro and air jets.
  5. 3:24 Space-Saving Design and Plumbing The video shows how the tub's door design allows installation in tight bathrooms, swinging over a toilet.
  6. 4:10 Unrestricted Water Flow System The presenter details the three-quarter inch braided supply lines and valve system for unrestricted, high-volume water flow.
  7. 4:51 Wide Range of Transfer Tub Sizes The video showcases the Transfer Triple XL model and emphasizes the wide selection of transfer tubs available to fit any space.

Watch: Wheelchair Transfer Walk-In Tubs Designed for Easy Access | Voted Safest/Best 2020 with chapters and a full transcript.

This dealer walkthrough of the Transfer line shows the three entry methods the door allows: a lateral wheelchair transfer onto the seat, a sit-and-swing entry where the bather sits on the seat edge and lifts the legs over the low threshold, and a plain step-in for a bather who can stand. It also shows the heavy door with its mortised hinges and integrated seal, the two-pin lock, the door wing swinging out over a toilet, the two 2 inch drains and the foot jets. The current published figures for the door and the family are the ones in this article and the spec sheets. The Transfer tub family guide linked above describes each entry method step by step.

Planning a Wheelchair Transfer

  1. Leave clear floor space beside the tub so the wheelchair can pull parallel to the open L-shape door for a lateral transfer onto the molded seat.
  2. Remember the outward door needs front clearance for its 172 degree swing; the arc for each model is in outward door swing clearance.
  3. To close the door, turn the front-mounted handle clockwise.
  4. All five Transfer sizes share one owner's manual, available on each product page under Downloads.
Man in a wheelchair opening the outward-swing L-shape door of an Ella Transfer26 walk-in tub
The Transfer26's L-shape door opens outward from a seated position, with the handle on the front of the door.

Remodeling for Accessibility, and Paying for It

If you are expanding a bathroom for ADA-style accessibility, plan for a wide doorway and appropriate clear floor space, and work with a local contractor; we can provide the tub specifications and drawings your remodeler needs, and in some areas we can recommend an accessibility remodeler. On funding: we do not work with Medicare, Medicaid, or the VA directly. Some customers purchase first and then seek partial reimbursement from their provider, and reimbursement is never guaranteed. Veterans may qualify for grants such as the VA HISA program, so check with your local VA or veterans organizations; we are happy to supply the product documentation your application needs. The details are in Medicare, insurance and VA coverage.

Common Questions

Is the tub ADA certified?
No product is. ADA standards apply to public and commercial bathing rooms rather than private homes, and there is no certification body for tubs. Ella tubs include ADA-compatible elements such as the 17 inch seat height on most models, grab bars, lever faucets and a hand shower.
Which model is best for a wheelchair user?
One of the Transfer family: Transfer26, Transfer30, Transfer32, Transfer60 or the bariatric TransferXXL. All use the L-shape outward-swing door that opens 172 degrees so the bather can slide from the chair onto the seat; the team can match the size to your bathroom and your seat width.
What is the seat height and threshold on the Transfer tubs?
The seat sits about 17 inches from the floor, in line with a standard chair, and the Transfer door gives the lowest step-in in the line. The exact threshold for each model is in the step-in threshold article linked above, and the team can confirm the figure for your tub.
Does the L-shape door open over the toilet?
Yes, the door wing is designed to swing out over a toilet placed beside the tub, which is often what makes a Transfer tub fit a small bathroom. Measure the clearance for the 172 degree swing before deciding on the door side.
Are grab bars included, and can I add more?
Yes, seated Ella walk-in tubs include one or two deck-mount grab bars, strategically placed for entry and exit. If you need additional grab bars, they should be mounted to the surrounding walls rather than drilled into the tub itself. Modifying the tub by drilling into it will void the warranty.
Does Medicare, Medicaid, insurance or the VA pay for a walk-in tub?
Original Medicare generally does not, and Ella's Bubbles does not bill Medicare, Medicaid, insurers or the VA. Some customers obtain partial reimbursement after purchase through a Medicaid waiver, a private insurer or VA programs such as the HISA grant, usually with a doctor's letter of medical necessity, and the team can provide a formal proposal and product documentation for your application.
I am not disabled but want an accessible remodel. Which tub should I look at?
Any Ella walk-in tub gives you the low threshold, the 17 inch seat, grab bars and textured floor. If you may need a wheelchair later, the Transfer door keeps that option open; otherwise the choice comes down to space and therapies, and the team can help you compare the families.
Is there a bariatric or extra-wide option?
Yes. The TransferXXL has the widest seat at 29 inches and the L-shape door, and larger-frame bathers who do not need a transfer door are also served by the ShaK, the largest single-seat tub. Ask the team for the weight capacity of the model you are considering.
Can you install the tub or the grab bars for me?
Ella's Bubbles supplies the tub, the specifications and the drawings; installation, wall grab bars and any remodeling are done by a local licensed contractor. The team can point you toward a licensed installer in many areas.

Still need help? Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support and our team will be glad to confirm the exact numbers for your model, or call (800) 480-6850.

About this guide. Answers in the Ella’s Bubbles Support Center are compiled from real conversations with tub owners, our technicians’ notes and the product documentation, then reviewed by our team. Tub models and options have evolved over the years, so a detail here may differ slightly from your exact tub. If something looks different on yours, send us your serial number and a specialist will confirm it for your model.

Related guides

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