Support Center / Sizes, Fit & Measuring / Left-Hand or Right-Hand? Choosing Door, Drain, and Faucet Side
Back to Sizes, Fit & Measuring

Left-Hand or Right-Hand? Choosing Door, Drain, and Faucet Side

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary7
  1. How to Decide
  2. Your House Drain Need Not Dictate the Side
  3. Faucet Position
  4. LayDown Tubs
  5. Choosing a Tub on Video
  6. Related Guides
  7. Common Questions

Choosing a left-hand or right-hand walk-in tub comes down to one question: which end of the tub should hold the door and seat, and which end should hold the drains and faucet? Every Ella walk-in tub except the Front Entry is built in left-hand and right-hand versions, even though product photos show one side. The side is named as you face the tub, ready to enter: the door and seat are on one side, and the drains, water supply and faucet are at the opposite end. A right-side door means left-side drains; a left-side door means right-side drains.

Top-down view of the Ella Capri walk-in tub showing the door and seat at one end and the faucet and drain end opposite
Seen from above: the door and seat sit at one end, the faucet and drains at the other.

How to Decide

  1. Stand where you will approach the tub and note which end has the existing house drain.
  2. Decide which side the seat and door should be on for grab-bar reach; someone with use of only one arm may prefer the seat position that keeps the grab bars on that side.
  3. Remember the faucet always sits at the drain end, opposite the seat.
  4. Check the swing of an outward door against your toilet and vanity. Our guide to bathroom layout planning walks through toilet clearance and corner placement.

Your House Drain Need Not Dictate the Side

Plumbing can run under the tub. There is roughly 3 inches of clearance beneath the frame, enough for a 2 inch PVC line, so a tub with drains on the right can connect to a house drain on the left. The dual T-type drains have four 2 inch ports; connect the ones you need and cap the rest, and a 2 inch house drain gets the most from the dual drain. Confirm the plan with your licensed installer before ordering, and see plumbing and drain configurations for connection layouts.

Fastest Dual Drain Technology for Walk-In Tubs
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Ella's Dual Drain Technology Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs feature exclusive dual drain technology with oversized two-inch drains for efficient water removal.
  2. 0:17 How Dual Drains Work The video explains how Ella's dual two-inch drains connect to a house drain, offering maximum draining capacity.
  3. 0:47 Connecting to Your House Drain The video demonstrates connecting the tub's dual four-port t-type drains to a house drain on either the left or right side.
  4. 1:14 Dual Air Vents and Gravity Easy-turn drain handles double as air vents, eliminating air pockets and maximizing water outflow through a gravity-driven system.

This video shows why the side choice is flexible: the two oversized 2 inch drains feed dual 4-port T-type drain bodies, and the installer can connect all four ports to the house drain or connect on the left or right side only and seal the unused ports with the included caps. The drain handles double as air vents, and because the system is gravity driven there is no pump to fail. Read more in Dual Drain Technology explained. Watch: Fastest Dual Drain Technology for Walk-In Tubs with chapters and a full transcript.

Diagram comparing a standard 1.5 inch bathtub drain with the Ella four-port 2 inch dual drain that connects from either side
The four-port dual drain body lets the installer connect the house drain from the left or the right.
Ella's Bubbles: Dual Drain Technology and House Drain Connection
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Dual Drain Technology Overview The video introduces Ella's Bubbles dual 2-inch, four-port drain system and its connection to a house drain.
  2. 0:20 Live Drain Demonstration A live demonstration shows water flowing through the dual 2-inch, four-port drains.
  3. 0:39 Drain Setup Images Actual images display a drain setup before and after the installation of the dual drain system.
  4. 1:01 House Drain Connection Options The video explains recommended house drain connections and how installers determine the best setup.
  5. 1:27 Easy Turn Drain Handles The easy turn drain handles are shown, which also function as dual air vents to maximize water outflow.
  6. 1:40 Single Drain and Gravity Driven System Some tubs feature an oversized single drain with emergency pull chain, and the gravity-driven system is highlighted.

Watch: Ella's Bubbles: Dual Drain Technology and House Drain Connection with chapters and a full transcript.

This installer walkthrough shows a before-and-after connection with dual P-traps and a new main line. The two 2 inch drains feed four T-type ports, all of which can connect to the house drain; a 2 inch main is recommended, but a T or Y fitting into a 1.5 inch line works, and the installer picks the side and caps the unused ports. One line in the video describes the door and drains as being on the same side; the current spec sheets and drawings place the door and seat at one end and the drains at the opposite end, so follow the rule in this article when you order.

Faucet Position

Ella Capri walk-in tub with outward swing door open and the chrome faucet set at the drain end
The faucet holes are drilled at the factory at the drain end, opposite the seat.

Faucet and control holes are pre-drilled for the faucet you select and cannot be moved; drilling new holes voids the warranty on the altered shell. A tub with no faucet holes can be built for customers supplying their own fixtures; ask for that at order time. The article on what can and cannot be customized covers other fixed features.

LayDown Tubs

LayDown tubs are ordered by drain side; the 32x72 is listed in left and right versions (SKUs end in L or R). The glass door position is set at the factory and cannot be reversed after delivery, so confirm the orientation with the team before ordering. Details for both sizes are in the LayDown tub guide.

Choosing a Tub on Video

How to Choose A Walk-In Tub That's Best For You
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Considering Your Personal Needs The video discusses important factors to consider when choosing an Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub, including personal needs and mobility.
  2. 0:40 Measuring for Proper Tub Fit The video explains how to take shoulder, hip, and overall body measurements to ensure the walk-in tub fits properly.
  3. 2:26 Home Accommodation and Placement The video advises checking door widths and hallways to ensure the chosen tub will fit into the home and bathroom.
  4. 4:17 Ensuring Proper Water Supply The video recommends having a maximum capacity water heater and three-quarter inch supply lines for the walk-in tub.
  5. 4:47 Designing Your Walk-In Tub The video details how to choose jetting packages, including air, hydro, and MicroBubble therapy, and other innovative features.
  6. 6:15 Adding Optional Accessories The video showcases various accessories like heated seats, digital controls, headrests, and a four-fold glass screen.

The video covers measuring yourself and your doorways, choosing the door side against the house drain connection, capping unused ports, the 2 inch house drain recommendation, and water heater and supply-line planning. Two of its lines are superseded by current documents: the door and drains are on opposite sides, and the Elite's width is 30 inches per the current spec sheet. Watch: How to Choose A Walk-In Tub That's Best For You with chapters and a full transcript.

Common Questions

Can the door be flipped to the other side after delivery?
No, the door cannot be flipped to the other side after delivery. Each Ella walk-in tub is built at the factory with a specific hand, meaning the shell, seat, and drilled deck are mirrored for that side. You must choose the correct side before ordering; if you are unsure, send the team a sketch of your bathroom layout.
How is right-hand or left-hand defined?
Stand facing the tub as if you were about to step in. The side the door and seat are on is the named side, and the drains and faucet are at the opposite end. The name refers to your left or right as you face the tub, not the tub's own left or right.
Does an outward door swing toward the drain?
On seated tubs, the door hinges at the seat side and opens into the room, away from the faucet end. An outward U-shape door requires approximately 21 inches of clear floor space in front of the tub for its swing. A Transfer L-shape door needs about 36.5 inches of clear floor space for its outward swing.
My house drain is on the right but I want the door on the left. Is that a problem?
Not usually. A left-door tub has its drains on the right, which matches your house drain. And even when the sides do not line up, the plumbing can run under the tub in the roughly 3 inches of clearance beneath the frame.
Can the faucet be moved to the seat end?
No, the faucet cannot be moved to the seat end. The faucet always sits at the drain end, and the faucet holes are pre-drilled at the factory for the faucet you select. Drilling new holes in the tub shell will void the warranty on the altered shell. If you plan to supply your own wall-mounted fixtures, you can order the tub without faucet holes.
Is the Front Entry available in left and right versions?
The Front Entry is the one Ella walk-in tub model whose door is on the end of the tub rather than a side, so it is not ordered by hand in the usual way. For this model, you should ask the team about the specific drain position needed for your bathroom layout.
Are the measurements different for left-hand and right-hand tubs?
No, the measurements are not different for left-hand and right-hand tubs. The spec sheet applies to both hands of a model, meaning the dimensions are identical and simply mirrored for the opposite orientation.
Which side does the house drain connect on?
Whichever side your installer chooses. The T-type drain bodies have 2 inch ports facing both directions, so the house connection can come in from the left, the right, or both, with the included caps sealing any unused ports. The tub hand decides where the drains sit; the ports decide how they connect.
Do both hands of a model offer the same door style?
Yes, both hands of a model offer the same door style. The door style is fixed by the specific model, not by the hand, so a Royal walk-in tub will have an inward-swing door in either a left-hand or right-hand version. Similarly, a Monaco walk-in tub will feature an outward-swing door regardless of whether it's a left-hand or right-hand model. You should choose your preferred door style first, then select the appropriate hand for your bathroom layout.
Should I choose an outward swing or inward swing door for my walk-in tub?
An outward swing door works best in a bathroom with open floor space, since nothing like a toilet or vanity is in the way of its arc. Outward U-shape doors need about 21 inches of clear floor in front of the tub, and the Transfer L-shape door needs about 36.5 inches. If your bathroom is tighter on space, an inward swing door may fit better. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can help you match the door style to your bathroom layout.
Can the tub door be removed to make access easier for a disabled user?
Some Ella walk-in tub doors use a stainless steel frame that opens easily and can be taken off completely, which can help with access for someone with limited mobility. Ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 about which models offer this fully removable door option.
Can I choose a different door and drain configuration than what appeared on an earlier proposal?
Yes, when you order a new walk-in tub you can select whichever door and drain configuration suits your bathroom, even if an earlier proposal listed a different side. Since each tub is built at the factory for a specific hand, confirm your chosen configuration with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 before the order is finalized.
What kind of drain does the ES3060 have?
The ES3060 has a T-type drain with two ports, one facing left and one facing right, and each port is 11 inches long. That gives your installer a choice of which side to bring the house connection in from. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can confirm the best layout for your bathroom.
Can a 90-degree elbow be used to connect the drain?
Yes, the drain connection can be made in more than one way, including with a 90-degree elbow through either the left or the right port. This is one more reason the house drain side does not have to decide which hand of tub you choose. Confirm the plan with your licensed installer before ordering.
Is an outward-opening door easier to get in and out of?
An outside door is generally easier to get in and out of. It works best when you have open floor space in front of the tub, since the door swings into the room. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can help you match the door style to your bathroom layout.

For anything model-specific, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support 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

Did this solve your question?

If not, open a ticket and our team will pick it up from here.

Open a Support Ticket