Where can I find a 28-inch wide bathtub for a small bathroom?
Yes, a 28-inch wide bathtub exists, and Ella's Bubbles makes two walk-in tubs that answer the search. The Ella Flow measures 28 inches wide by 48 inches long and fits through a 28 inch doorway, and the Ella Petite is sold as the 28 x 52 nominal size with an actual width of 27.5 inches on the current spec sheet. Both are ordered through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, and Are there walk-in bathtubs only 28 inches wide for small bathrooms? explains the Petite's nominal and actual figures in detail.
Why the 28-Inch Search Comes Up Empty
Most of the tubs a search returns are conventional step-over alcove tubs, and those run wider. Ella's own step-over microbubble tubs are the Solo 32x60 at 32 inches and the Fiji 36x66 at 36 inches. The narrow end of the market is the walk-in tub, which stands taller and seats the bather upright, so it needs far less width to deliver a deep soak. Within the Ella line the narrow tubs cluster between 26 and 30 inches wide, and two of them carry a 28 in their size.
Two different numbers can describe the same tub, and knowing which is which saves confusion at the tape measure. The Petite is labeled 28 x 52 on the product page and in the brochure, and that is the number that appears in search results. Its spec sheet prints an actual size of 27.5 by 52 by 35 inches, and the imperial figures on the current spec sheets are the authoritative specifications, so 27.5 inches is the width to write on your notes. The Flow's 28 inches is its actual width. Whenever you compare a tub against an opening, use the actual exterior width rather than the name.
The 28-Inch Tubs and Their Nearest Neighbors
The table uses the actual sizes from the current spec sheets and the published articles, listed from the two 28-inch tubs outward.
| Model | Actual size (W x L x H) | Seat width | Door | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flow | 28 x 48 x 36 1/2 in. | 20 in. (seat 13 in. long) | Inward acrylic S-shape | The Ella tub that is exactly 28 inches wide; fits through a 28 inch doorway |
| Petite | 27.5 x 52 x 35 in. (28 x 52 nominal) | 19 in. | Inward stainless steel and glass, removable | The 28-inch name with a half inch to spare, and the lowest deck at 35 inches |
| Lounger | 27 x 59 x 40 in. | 20 in. | Outward-swing U-shape | A narrow tub at nearly full alcove length |
| Mobile | 26 x 45 in., 39 1/4 in. high | 19 to 20 in. | Outward-swing U-shape, 165 degree swing | When 28 inches still will not pass the doorway or fit the space |
| Transfer26 | 26 x 52 x 40 in. | 19 in. | L-shape outward door | Wheelchair transfer at the narrowest width |
| Elite | 30 x 52 x 35 in. | 22 in. | Inward stainless steel and glass | The same 52 inch length as the Petite with a wider seat |
Read the table in two directions. Width decides whether the tub passes the doorway and how much elbow room the bather has, and length decides whether it fits the opening along the wall. The Flow and the Petite sit within a half inch of each other in width, but the Flow is shorter along the wall at 48 inches while the Petite runs the usual 52 inches. The Petite stands lower at 35 inches, which many shorter bathers find easiest to settle into, while the Flow's seat is 13 inches long, the shortest seat length listed. A bather who wants a wider seat at the same 52 inch length steps up to the 30 inch Elite, and a room that cannot pass 28 inches points to the 26 inch Mobile or Transfer26.
What the Flow and the Petite Carry Inside
The Flow is designed as a space saver for small to average size bathers. It gives 38 inches of interior length behind an inward-swing acrylic S-shape door. Its hydrotherapy system has an intensity control dial and an inline heater, with foot and calf jets for the lower legs, and it comes with a two-piece fast-fill faucet with hand shower, a dual-port oversized drain with an emergency pull chain, and a single dedicated GFCI connection. It can come with an extension panel so it fits neatly into a 60 inch tub alcove, and it has an end panel on the faucet side. Because its footprint is smaller than Ella's own 32 by 60 inch roll-in shower base, it is one of the two jetted tubs that can replace a shower stall, as Is there a whirlpool walk-in tub small enough to fit a shower space? explains.
The Petite video on this page walks through the other 28-inch tub. Its 19 inch wide seat combines with over 42 inches of interior length and a 13 1/2 inch long seat, and it offers 15 inches of soaking depth, which the video notes will vary with the size of the bather. The dual massage version carries a 3-speed air massage with auto purge, a hydro massage with an intensity control dial and an inline water heater, ozone sterilization, dual four-port T-type drains, a two-piece fast-fill faucet with an extendable multifunction hand shower, a 360-degree swivel tray, a sturdy grab bar, a textured floor, and LED chromatherapy, with an optional heated seat. The inward-swing stainless steel and frosted glass door is removable for cleaning. The Petite ships with a 7 inch extension panel that fills a 60 inch alcove, and its published shipping weight is 305 pounds, which matters when you plan how the crate gets from the curb to the bathroom.
Getting a 28-Inch Tub Through the Door
The doorway is usually harder than the bathroom itself, so measure the path first. The passage must be wider than the actual width of the tub you choose, counting corners and turns along the way. For the Petite, a 30 inch door is no problem, while a 28 inch opening leaves very little margin. The Flow fits through a 28 inch doorway. If the opening is 25 inches, the Mobile is the only option, and only with the door frame removed. The Mobile video on this page shows that tub, 45 inches long and nearly 26 inches wide with a 19 inch seat, and What is the smallest bathtub size you can buy for a bathroom? compares it with every other compact model.
Door swing matters once the tub is in place. The Flow and the Petite both swing inward, so they need no clear floor in front of the tub to open. The Mobile's U-shape door swings outward 165 degrees, and the Capri tour makes the point that an outward-swing door needs about 21 inches of clear floor in front, which a compact bathroom may not have. Can a walk-in tub fit in a small bathroom, and which models work? covers the measuring, and if clearance is tight you can open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with your measurements before ordering.
Fit for the Bather, Not Just the Room
A narrow tub has to fit the person as well as the floor. Take hip and shoulder measurements seated in a chair, and measure head to feet while seated for length. The Petite's 19 inch seat suits average widths, and bathers over about 5 ft 10 may find legroom tighter than in longer models. The Flow is built for small to average size bathers, and its 13 inch seat length is the shortest listed. For the same inward door with a wider seat, the Elite 30x52 has 22 inches and the Royal 32x52 is the next step up. If the lowest step-in and seat is what you mean by small, What is the shortest walk-in bathtub Ella's Bubbles makes? sorts the compact tubs by length, height and seat.
Watch: Mobile Acrylic Walk-In Tub: Space-Saving Design for Small Bathrooms | Ella’s Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.
Related Guides
- Ella Flow 28x48 vs Petite 28x52: which 28 inch tub is better?
- Walk-In Tub Dimensions Explained: Which Figure Is the Width, the Length and the Height, and Where to Find the Spec Drawing
- 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
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Common Questions
Is the Ella Petite really 28 inches wide?
Which Ella walk-in tub is exactly 28 inches wide?
Will a 28-inch walk-in tub fill a standard 60-inch alcove?
Is there a walk-in tub narrower than 28 inches?
Do the 28-inch walk-in tubs have massage jets?
Where do I order a 28-inch Ella walk-in tub?
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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