Ella Standard 30x52 vs Elite 30x52: what does the value tub give up?

The Ella Standard 30x52 gives up therapy choice rather than size. It is a hydro-only tub with 18 hydro jets, a single 2 inch drain and an inward-swing acrylic S-shape door, while the Ella Elite 30x52 can be ordered in five configurations from soaking to dual massage packages and adds a removable brushed stainless steel door, dual 2 inch drains, ozone sterilization and an LED chromatherapy light. Both fill the same 52 inch footprint and the same 60 inch alcove with an included 7 inch extension panel, so the decision comes down to what you want inside the tub. Ella Standard 30x52 and Standard60 30x60: Hydro-Only Value Tubs profiles the Standard on its own, and this page lines it up against the Elite figure by figure.

Standard and Elite Side by Side

Every figure below comes from the current spec sheets and the two model profiles. Where a spec sheet does not list an item, the cell says not listed rather than guessing.

The table shows two tubs that occupy almost the same space and behave very differently inside. The Standard is a fraction of an inch narrower than the Elite and slightly longer, stands 37.5 inches tall against the Elite's 35 inches, and holds 65 gallons unoccupied against 75. The seat is 22 inches wide on both, though the Standard's runs 18 inches long where the Elite's video tour gives about 14 inches. Everything else in the table, from the door material to the drain count to the therapy list, is where the value tub saves.

What the Standard Gives Up

The Standard ships in one configuration, and its spec sheet lists no other. The Elite's five packages, and the equipment that comes with them, are the clearest difference between the two tubs.

• Air massage. The Elite can be ordered as Air + Hydro with 16 air jets (8 in the seat, 8 in the foot well) on a 6.4A three-speed pump. Auto Purge then runs for 120 seconds about 20 minutes after the air pump is turned off to clear the air lines. The Standard has no air system and therefore no purge cycle after a bath.
• Microbubble and independent foot massage. The Elite offers Hydro + Microbubble with a 1 HP, 7.3A pump, and Hydro + Independent Hydro Foot Massage on two pumps. Neither is available on the Standard, and the Standard is not offered as a soaking-only tub either.
• Ozone and the LED light. The Elite's hydro system includes ozone sterilization, and LED chromatherapy rated 0.5A comes with any dual package. The Standard spec sheet lists no ozone generator and no LED light, so the monthly vinegar flush is what keeps its lines fresh.
• The door. The Elite uses a U-shape brushed stainless steel inward-swing door with frosted tempered glass, closed by a chrome locking handle and removable for cleaning. The Standard's door is an inward-swing acrylic S-shape door, the same platform the Zen and Zen60 use.
• Dual drains. The Elite has two 2 inch 4-port PVC drains with two overflows and stainless steel openers with extended chrome handles, and its video describes them as independently operated. The Standard empties through one 2 inch gravity drain with an overflow and an emergency pull chain.
• Comfort extras. The Elite ships with a removable swivel tray in a white matte finish and a removable backrest, and it offers an optional digital controller. The Standard spec sheet lists neither a tray nor a digital controller; its only add-on is the heated seat and backrest.

Because the Elite's compact frame carries two systems at a time, it is not offered with three or four therapies together. If you want more than two, Ella Elite 30x52 Versus the 60-Inch Inward-Swing Tub explains what the longer shell allows.

What the Standard Keeps, and Where It Is Ahead

The value tub is not a stripped tub. Several of its figures match or exceed the Elite's hydro package.

• More hydro jets on a larger pump. The Standard runs 18 hydro jets from an 8.1A 900W pump with a 6A 650W in-line heater, an intensity dial and push control. The Elite's hydro package lists 16 jets (10 seat, 6 foot) on a 5 to 7A pump with a 5.5A 650W in-line heater. Both heaters maintain water temperature while the pump runs.
• A longer seat and interior. The Standard seat measures 22 by 18 inches, and its video gives 43 inches of interior length and a 15 inch soaking depth. The Elite's video tour gives a 22 inch seat about 14 inches long and 42 inches of interior length.
• The same 5-piece faucet. Both tubs ship with the 5-piece fast-fill faucet designed for up to 18 GPM at 60 PSI under ideal in-home plumbing conditions, with two 3/4 inch by 5 foot braided supply lines and a pull-out hand shower limited to 1.9 GPM with five settings. The Elite also offers the 2-piece set. Shut-off valves are not included with either tub.
• Grab bars and towel bar. The Standard includes a stainless steel chrome U-shape deck and wall-mount grab bar and a brushed stainless towel bar. The Elite includes a deck and wall-mounted chrome grab bar; a towel bar is not listed on its sheet.
• The same panels. Each tub comes with a reversible end panel, two front access panels and a 7 inch extension panel, so either one fills a standard 60 inch alcove or a 52 inch space.
• The same shell and frame. Both are gloss white acrylic reinforced with fiberglass gelcoat on a stainless steel frame with adjustable leveling legs, with a low threshold and a textured floor.

Height, Drains and Electrical in Your Bathroom

Three practical differences show up during installation.

1. Deck height. The Standard stands 37.5 inches tall and the Elite 35 inches. Check the deck height against any tile line, window sill or wall fixture you plan to keep.
2. Drain plumbing. The Standard's single drain sits on a T-type body with four 2 inch ports, so the installer can run the drain pipe in either direction and the unused ports come capped. PVC pipe connections are not included, and reducers can adapt smaller drain pipes. The Elite's two 4-port drains give the installer two connections to make.
3. Dedicated lines. The Standard spec sheet calls for one dedicated 110/120V line with a 20A GFCI outlet and lists the 4A heated seat as its only option. The Elite needs one 20A line for Hydro or Air + Hydro and two for Hydro + Microbubble, Hydro + Independent Foot, or a heated seat. Your electrician confirms the count against the schematic for the package ordered.

Both tubs need a doorway wider than their actual width. Plan around 30 inches for the Elite and 29 5/8 inches for the Standard, and measure every hallway and turn on the way in. The crates are close in size, 32 by 54 by 49 inches for the Standard and 32 by 54 by 50 inches for the Elite, but the shipping weights differ at 310 pounds against 230.

Which One to Choose

Choose the Standard if you want hydro massage and nothing else, and you like the idea of 18 jets on the larger pump, a longer seat and the included towel bar. Choose the Elite if any of the following matters to you: air massage, microbubbles, independent foot massage, a soaking-only tub, ozone sterilization, the LED light, the removable stainless door or dual drains. Ella Elite 30x52: Specs, Packages, Jets, and Fit lists every Elite package, and What is the Ella Elite 30x52 inward swing door walk-in tub? walks through the tub on video. If the Standard is still more tub than you need, Ella Zen 30x52 and Zen60 30x60 describes the budget step below it on the same platform, with a smaller seat, 17 jets and a single-lever faucet. Whichever you pick, confirm the package and options with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 before your order is finalized.

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