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How fast will my walk-in tub fill? Fast-fill faucet expectations and operation

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary7
  1. What Fill Time to Expect
  2. What Affects Your Actual Fill Speed
  3. Operating Your Fast-Fill Faucet
  4. Staying Warm While the Tub Fills
  5. The Other Half of Fast: The Drain
  6. Related Guides
  7. Common Questions

How fast will a walk-in tub fill? In real homes, walk-in tub fill time ranges from 7 to 15 minutes depending on the size of the tub and the configuration of your water supply lines. Ella's fast-fill faucets are designed to fill your tub as quickly as your home's plumbing allows: the 2-piece set is designed for 16 GPM and the 5-piece set for 18 GPM, both measured at 60 PSI under ideal in-home plumbing conditions. The faucet sets the ceiling, and your home's water pressure, supply lines, and water heater determine how close you get to it.

What Fill Time to Expect

Fill time is simply water capacity divided by real world flow. Capacities vary widely by model, which is why two neighbors with the same faucet can see different fill times. A few examples from the spec sheets, unoccupied and occupied:

ModelWater capacity (unoccupied)Water capacity (occupied)
Standard65 gal30 to 50 gal
Elite75 gal35 to 55 gal
Capri85 gal45 to 65 gal
Standard60106 gal70 to 90 gal
Shak145 gal80 to 120 gal

Since you fill the tub while seated in it, the occupied figure is the practical one, and it is why fill times are shorter than the unoccupied capacity might suggest. Your exact model's numbers are on its spec sheet under the Downloads tab of the product page, and our water capacity by model guide lists every tub.

Hand testing warm water flowing from the chrome fast-fill faucet on an Ella Elite walk-in tub
Set your temperature at the faucet as the tub fills; the Elite shown here holds 35 to 55 gallons occupied.

What Affects Your Actual Fill Speed

  • Home water pressure. The rated flow assumes 60 PSI. Lower household pressure means a slower fill, and Ella publishes no flow curve for lower pressures.
  • Supply lines. Both faucet sets include two 3/4 inch by 5 foot braided supply lines. We recommend 3/4 inch water lines with easily accessible shut off valves near the tub. Shut off valves are not included. See water supply lines, shut-off valves and pipe size for the planning detail.
  • Hot water capacity. We recommend the maximum capacity water heater available for your house, and anything less than 75 gallons is not recommended. Tankless heaters should be rated 11 GPM or higher. Our water heater sizing article and the video below walk through it.
  • Added valves. A thermostatic control valve added to the hot line may reduce water flow and extend fill time.
Determining Correct Hot Water Supply For A Walk-In Tub
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Hot Water Heater Capacity The video explains the recommended hot water heater capacity for an optimal walk-in tub bathing experience.
  2. 0:37 Finding Tub Water Capacity The video shows how to find the water capacity of Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs on the website.
  3. 1:04 Dedicated Hot Water Supply The video suggests considering a dedicated hot water supply system for your walk-in tub.
  4. 1:16 Supply Lines And Faucet Sets The video recommends 3/4 inch supply lines and mentions included supply lines with Ella's Fast Fill faucet sets.

As the video advises, check your tub's water capacity on the Compare Specs page of the website, make sure the hot water supply covers the tub and the rest of your home, consider a dedicated hot water system for the largest models like the Big4Two or the Shak, and consult your installer or a professional plumber to confirm your setup. Watch: Ella's Bubbles: Determining Correct Hot Water Supply For A Walk-In Tub with chapters and a full transcript.

Fastest Fill Faucets for Walk-In Tubs

This clip shows the fast-fill faucet sets doing what they are designed for, filling a tub at full flow so you spend as little time as possible waiting to bathe. Watch: Fastest Fill Faucets for Walk-In Tubs on its own page.

Operating Your Fast-Fill Faucet

2-piece set:

  1. Lift the lever to turn the water on. Move it left for hot and right for cold.
  2. Press the diverter button under the spout to switch between the faucet and the hand shower.
  3. Push the lever down to turn the water off.

5-piece set:

  1. The red handle is hot and the blue handle is cold. Open both and adjust to a comfortable temperature, taking care not to scald yourself.
  2. The middle selector handle chooses the outlet: facing right for the tub spout, turned to the left for the pull out hand shower. When using the hand shower, point it away from you at first while you adjust the temperature.

Both sets include an extendable multi function hand shower with 5 flow settings on the dial and a 5 foot retractable stainless braided hose. The hand shower is limited to 1.9 GPM, which is a plumbing code requirement for hand showers, so it will always flow far slower than the fill spout. That is normal and not a sign of a pressure problem. To compare the two sets and their finishes, see 2-piece vs 5-piece fast-fill faucets.

Ella 2-piece single lever fast-fill faucet with pull-out hand shower on a walk-in tub deck
The 2-piece single lever fast-fill faucet with its pull-out hand shower.

Staying Warm While the Tub Fills

Answering Your Most Common Question about Walk-In Tubs
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Staying Warm While Filling The video addresses concerns about getting cold while filling and draining a walk-in tub.
  2. 0:37 Heated Seats for Added Warmth The video explains how to use the optional heated seats for extra comfort.
  3. 0:54 Fastest Gravity-Driven Drains The video highlights the quick draining capabilities of Ella Tubs with dual oversized drains.

The most common question Ella hears is whether you get cold while the tub fills and drains. The video answers it: the fast-fill faucets, the insulating acrylic walls and the in-line heater keep the water warm, the optional heated seat warms up after a short preheat and shuts itself off after 20 minutes, and the dual oversized 2 inch drains empty an average tub in about 80 seconds under ideal conditions. Our dedicated article on whether you get cold while the tub fills or drains goes deeper.

In-line Water Heater Maintains Comfortable Water Temperature

Once the hydro massage is running, the in-line water heater maintains the temperature you set at the faucet. It does not raise the temperature of cool water, so fill at the temperature you want. Our in-line water heater article explains what it does and does not do. Watch: Ella's Bubbles: In-line Water Heater Maintains Comfortable Water Temperature with a full transcript.

The Other Half of Fast: The Drain

Fast filling pairs with fast draining. Ella's gravity driven dual drain system empties an average size tub in about 80 seconds under ideal house drain conditions, so you are never sitting in cooling water waiting to open the door. While you wait for the fill, the optional heated seat and backrest keeps you comfortable.

Common Questions

How long does it take to reach jet level?
On a typical home supply, about 10 minutes brings the water above the jets on an average tub, with roughly 6 more minutes to reach the overflow. Your tub's capacity and your water pressure move those numbers in either direction.
What is the flow rate at 42 PSI instead of 60 PSI?
The 5-piece set is rated 18 GPM at 60 PSI. Lower pressure fills more slowly, and Ella publishes no curve for other pressures, so the honest answer is to expect a longer fill and ask your plumber to measure your static pressure.
Will I be cold while the tub fills?
No, you should not get cold while your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub fills. The fast-fill faucets, the insulating acrylic shell, the in-line heater, and the optional heated seat all work together to keep you comfortable. The in-line water heater maintains the temperature you set at the faucet, and the optional heated seat warms up after a short preheat and shuts itself off after 20 minutes. For more details, you can refer to the dedicated article on Will I Get Cold While the Tub Fills or Drains?.
My tub fills much more slowly than the videos show. Why?
The rated flow assumes 60 PSI and 3/4 inch supply lines. Low household pressure, 1/2 inch lines, a partly closed shut-off valve or an added temperature valve are the usual reasons. A plumber can check pressure and line size.
Do the 2-piece and 5-piece faucets fill at different speeds?
The 2-piece and 5-piece fast-fill faucets are designed for slightly different flow rates, with the 2-piece set designed for 16 GPM and the 5-piece set for 18 GPM, both measured at 60 PSI under ideal in-home plumbing conditions. However, in practice, your home's water pressure, supply lines, and water heater determine how close you get to these rates, and your home's water pressure often matters more than the difference between the two sets. You can compare the two sets and their finishes on the Ella Fast-Fill Faucets: 2-Piece vs 5-Piece page.
Why does the hand shower flow so much slower than the spout?
The hand shower flows much slower than the tub spout because hand showers are limited to 1.9 GPM by plumbing code requirements. This is a normal function and is not a sign of a pressure problem with your walk-in tub or plumbing system. Both the 2-piece and 5-piece fast-fill faucet sets include an extendable multi-function hand shower with 5 flow settings and a 5-foot retractable stainless braided hose.
What size water heater do I need?
Ella recommends the largest capacity heater available for your home, with 75 gallons as the minimum worth considering, or a tankless unit rated 11 GPM or higher. The largest tubs such as the ShaK and Big4Two may need a dedicated heater.
Will a thermostatic valve slow the fill?
Yes, a thermostatic control valve added to the hot line can reduce water flow and extend the fill time of your walk-in tub. This type of temperature control valve may impact how quickly your tub fills. Our Thermostatic Control Valve (Anti-Scald) article article](thermostatic-control-valve-explained) explains which faucets include one and provides further details.
Can I enter the tub after it has filled to save waiting time?
No, it is not recommended to enter the tub after it has already filled with water to save waiting time. For safety and proper operation, you should sit down in the tub, close and lock the door, and then begin filling the tub. This ensures a secure and comfortable bathing experience.

Still need help? Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and our team will be glad to walk through it with you.

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.

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