Can you make a custom shower base smaller than 30 by 30 inches?

No. The smallest custom shower base Ella's Bubbles can build is 30 by 30 inches, and that minimum applies to both three-wall alcove bases and corner bases, so a 24 by 38 inch pan for a motorhome falls under the limit on its 24 inch side. Length is where a custom base is flexible, so the closest build to that request is a pan at least 30 inches on both sides, such as 30 by 38 inches with a center drain. The whole run of sizes, from the 30 by 30 inch minimum to the custom maximum, is laid out in What sizes do shower pans come in, from smallest to largest?, and this page covers what happens when your space asks for less.

Why 30 Inches Is the Floor on Every Custom Base

Ella manufactures its own acrylic shower bases, and every custom base is a rectangle built within one fixed range: a minimum of 30 by 30 inches and a maximum of 44 inches wide by 80 inches long, with the threshold on the longer side. Corner bases top out at 42 by 60 inches. The 30 inch minimum is the same whether the base is going into a three-wall alcove or a corner, so there is no base style that gets under it, and bases with angled or curved edges are not offered at all.

The standard line does not help with a small footprint either. The three stock sizes are 30 by 60, 32 by 60 and 36 by 60 inches, and all three share the 60 inch length, so any square or short pan is already a custom request. A footprint under 30 inches on either side is outside what can be built, whichever way you turn it. Custom bases are built to the values you submit, entered in quarter inch increments, and custom orders are final with no returns or refunds, so the measurements need to be settled before the order goes in.

Where a Custom Base Can Shrink: The Length

Width cannot go below 30 inches, but a base shorter than the standard 60 inches is routine. A 58 by 30 inch base with a center drain has been produced, sizes such as 46 by 46, 50 by 30 and 36 by 44 inches have all been handled as custom builds, and a 36 by 36 inch corner base has been made. The table shows how typical requests land against the limits, using only sizes that have been built or ruled on.

What this means for a tight space is simple. If the room gives you 30 inches in one direction, the other direction can run anywhere from 30 inches up to 80 inches, and you can bring the length down to whatever your wall allows above that minimum. If the room gives you less than 30 inches in either direction, an Ella base is not a fit for the opening as it stands, and the question becomes whether the layout can be changed to find the 30 inches. For a space that measures about 25 inches wide, it is worth talking the layout through with the team to see whether a 30 inch width can be worked into the room. The rules on the upper end are in What Is the Largest Custom Shower Base Ella's Bubbles Can Make?.

Drain Placement on a Short or Narrow Pan

On a custom base the drain can be set left, right, center or custom, but it must sit at least 9 inches from the back and side walls. A drain only 7 inches from the threshold edge is not possible even on a custom pan. On a pan that is close to the minimum, that rule leaves less room to move the drain toward an edge than it would on a full 60 inch base, which is why a center drain is the usual answer on a 30 by 38 inch pan. The standard bases are different: the drain sits in a set position for each size, specified at the time of order as left or right, so tell the team where your existing drain line sits in the floor before you decide between a standard and a custom base. Standard and custom drain positions are compared in What Sizes Do Ella Shower Bases and Shower Pans Come In?.

Does a Custom Base Come with a Flange?

Yes. A custom base has a tile flange, which is why it works well in a shower where the walls will be tiled. The flange is the edge the wall finish comes down over, so water runs onto the pan rather than behind it. The base itself is finished acrylic with the slope, threshold and drain molded in, and it is the walking surface as shipped, so it is never tiled over; a tiled look belongs on the walls above it. If you would rather not tile, acrylic wall systems are made to pair with the bases, and the choices are gathered in Shower Bases and Walls: Roll-In, Seat, Custom Sizes, Thresholds and Wall Systems.

Fitting a Motorhome or a Very Small Bathroom

A motorhome opening is often sized around a pan that no longer exists, so start from the finished space rather than the old base. Measure the width and the length of the opening between the finished walls, note where the existing drain line comes through the floor, and put it on a simple drawing with the walls marked. Then check the two numbers against the 30 inch minimum. If both are at or above 30 inches, a custom pan is a straightforward request. If one of them is under 30 inches, share the drawing and the measurements with the team at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850 before anything is ordered, because the team confirms whether a base can be made to match the space and what drain hardware ships with it. Custom sizes have not always been offered and the limits have been corrected in the past, so confirming before your contractor cuts the floor is the safe order of work. Your own contractor sets the base and a local licensed plumber connects the drain once it arrives.

Related Guides

• Custom-Size Shower Bases: Size Ranges, Threshold Options, Drain Placement Rules, Construction, and How to Request One
• How do you build a custom shower pan or base?
• Can You Get a Custom Size Shower Tray or Shower Base?

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