How do I choose the right hydrotherapy tub for my space and budget?

Choosing a hydrotherapy walk-in tub comes down to three questions, in this order: who will bathe in it, how much room the alcove gives you, and which hydro platform fits the budget. Ella's hydro-massage line runs from the budget Zen and Zen60, through the Standard and Standard60, to the compact end-door Front Entry, and every one of them pairs a hydro pump with an in-line heater, so the decision is mostly about seat size, tub length and the faucet set rather than the therapy itself. How do I choose the best walk-in tub for my space and budget? covers the whole line, including transfer and air models; this page narrows the choice to the hydro-massage tubs and lines their figures up side by side.

Start with the Bather, Not the Bathroom

The video on this page is Ella's own guide to the body measurements that decide which hydro tub will be comfortable, and it is the place to begin. Take a hip measurement first, because the seat of the tub you choose must be wider than your hips. Then check your shoulder width against the tub, since different body sizes call for different size tubs. For length, sit in a chair facing a wall in a relaxed position and measure from your head to your feet, then compare that figure with the tub drawings and specifications. The video also warns that Ella's two extra-large tubs with very long seats are built for taller bathers and would be uncomfortable for a person of normal or shorter height, so a bigger tub is not automatically the better one.

Seat size is where the hydro models differ most, so hold your hip figure against these seat widths and lengths:

• Zen 30x52: seat 20 by 15 inches.
• Standard 30x52: seat 22 by 18 inches.
• Zen60 30x60: seat 21 by 17 inches.
• Standard60 30x60: seat 21 by 20.1 inches.
• Front Entry 32x40: a 25 inch seat on the spec sheet, 13.5 inches long.

Soaking depth is set by three things: the interior length of the tub, the length of the seat, and the depth from the top of the seat to the overflow drains. A longer seat on the same length of tub leaves less leg room but more support, which is why the Standard60's 20.1 inch seat and the Zen60's 17 inch seat feel different even though the two tubs are the same length. Every Ella walk-in tub also has a large foot well, which makes showering while standing or seated easier.

The Hydro Models Side by Side

Every figure below comes from the current spec sheets and the model profiles. Where a source does not print a figure, the cell says not listed.

What the table shows is that the two 52 inch tubs are twins in every measurement that touches your bathroom. They are within a fraction of an inch of each other in width and length, stand the same 37.5 inches tall, hold the same 65 gallons unoccupied and 30 to 50 gallons occupied, ship in the same 32 by 54 by 49 inch crate, and weigh the same 210 pounds net and 310 pounds crated. The differences live inside the tub, in the seat, the jet count and the faucet, and How do the Ella Standard 30x52 and Ella Zen 30x52 compare? walks through them one by one. Move up to the 60 inch tubs and the lines separate a little more: the Standard60 holds 106 gallons on a 20.1 inch seat, while the Zen60 holds 95 gallons on a 17 inch seat and weighs less at 190 pounds net. The Front Entry trades length for a wide seat and a smaller jet count, and the laid-down tubs are a different shape altogether.

Fitting the Tub to the Space

Measure the length of the wall or alcove where the tub will go, then the depth from the back wall to the open edge, and compare both to the tub you are considering. A 52 inch tub in a 60 inch alcove is a common case: the Zen 30x52 ships with an extension panel for 60 inch alcoves, while the Zen60 and Standard60 fill a 60 inch alcove on their own and the Zen60 ships with no extension panel at all. The 60 inch Zen also has two front access panels and one end panel for service, so plan which side stays reachable.

The Ella Front Entry 32x40 is the answer when the room is short rather than narrow. Its door sits on the 32 inch end, so the tub can slide into a space only 40 inches long, and because the outward U-shape door faces the front it is the one Ella model that is not ordered as left-hand or right-hand. It comes with two removable side panels for corner or single-wall placement, but no back panel and no extension panel. It is also the tallest of the group at 40 inches, so check the height of any window, shelf or fixture above the planned location. The laid-down walk-in tub sits at the other extreme, only 21 inches tall, in 30x60 and 32x72 sizes; a tub that is 66 inches long suits someone around 6 feet 4 inches or less who wants to spread out.

The door style changes how you use the room. The Zen, Zen60 and Standard use the inward-swing acrylic S-shape door with the handle inside: you enter, stand, close the door, then fill, and water pressure holds it shut, so it is never opened until the tub is fully drained. The Front Entry's white composite and tempered glass U-door swings outward from the end of the tub with a 3-latch lock, so that end of the tub needs to stay clear.

Where the Budget Goes: Zen Versus Standard

The Zen and Zen60 are Ella's budget hydro-massage tubs, built on the Standard platform so that the parts that matter most for installation and daily use are shared. Both lines carry the same 8.1A 900W pump, 6A 650W in-line heater, intensity dial, push control, U-shape deck and wall grab bar, towel bar, two front and one end access panels, and the same owner's manual. What the Zen gives up is the seat (20 by 15 inches instead of 22 by 18), one jet (17 instead of 18), and the faucet: a 2-piece single-lever set rated up to 16 GPM in chrome or brushed nickel in place of the 5-piece fast-fill set rated up to 18 GPM. If the smaller seat clears your hip measurement and you are happy lifting a lever rather than turning handles, the Zen delivers the same massage.

Two limits to know before you commit to the Zen. It is exclusively a hydro-massage tub, so it cannot be ordered with air jets or as a soaker, and a clearance Zen cannot be modified. If you want a hydrogen option, only the Standard60 offers it. If you want to combine hydro with air or microbubble in a short space, the Front Entry's packages are Air + Hydro, Hydro + Microbubble, Hydro and Soaking, with an optional heated seat, digital controller and seat cushions, though there is no Hydro + Foot option and the LED chromatherapy light is not included with any Front Entry package.

Plumbing and Power to Plan for

Every hydro tub here needs a dedicated GFCI circuit, and the count depends on the package. The Zen calls for one dedicated 20A 120V GFCI outlet, with the heated seat and backrest (4A) optional. The Front Entry needs one dedicated 110/120V 60Hz GFCI line for Hydro or Air + Hydro and two for Hydro + Microbubble or the heated seat. The Standard and Zen drain through one 2 inch gravity drain with overflow and an emergency pull chain; the Front Entry uses a single 2 inch 2-port PVC drain with an emergency pull chain. The Front Entry faucet ships with two 3/4 inch by 5 foot supply lines.

Day to day, a hydro-only tub is simple: the Zen has no Auto Purge cycle because purge belongs to air systems, and the monthly vinegar flush keeps the lines fresh. Where an air package is added, as on the Front Entry, Auto Purge starts about 20 minutes after the air pump is turned off and runs 120 seconds, which is normal. On any hydro tub the lower jets run on the single hydro pump, so the tub must be filled above them before the massage is started.

Watch: How To Choose The Right Walk-In Tub For You | Ella's Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• Choosing a Walk-In Tub on Video: Measuring Yourself, Doorways, Door Styles, Therapies, Hot Water and the Line Overview
• How to Read an Ella Spec Sheet: Actual Versus Nominal Size, Shipping Size, Occupied Versus Unoccupied Capacity, Package Jet Tables, Amp Disclaimers and Known Misprints
• How many gallons does each Ella walk-in tub hold? Water capacity guide

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