Grab Bar Length, Diameter, Weight Rating and Wall Spacing

Ella stainless steel grab bars come in two lengths, 24 inches and 36 inches, and both are 1.25 inches in diameter. They exceed the 250 pound minimum load called for by ADA and ANSI accessibility guidelines, the bar diameter sits within the 1.25 to 1.5 inch range those guidelines specify, and the bar stands 1.5 inches off the wall so a hand can wrap fully around it.

Two Lengths, One Diameter

The only difference between the two grab bar models is the length. The number near the end of the model code tells you which one you have: a code with 24 in it is the 24 inch bar and a code with 36 in it is the 36 inch bar. Both bars are 1.25 inch diameter stainless steel, so grip feel and finish are the same whichever length you choose. If you are unsure which length your shower or tub package includes, check the code on your order paperwork or on the box label before anyone drills a hole.

Weight Rating and Compliance

Ella grab bars exceed the 250 pound minimum load requirement set by ADA and ANSI accessibility standards. The diameter and wall spacing described below are the other two parts of that same standard. Keep in mind that the rating describes the bar itself. A bar is only as strong as what it is anchored to, so a bar fastened to drywall alone, or to a shower wall with nothing solid behind it, cannot be relied on to hold what the bar is rated for. Your installer should fasten the bar into solid backing, and on an acrylic tub deck or shower wall the mounting holes must be pre-drilled first. The article on which screws to use and why you must pre-drill covers that part.

Wall Spacing and Grip

Once the bar is mounted, there is 1.5 inches of clearance between the wall and the back of the bar. That gap lets fingers close all the way around the tube without scraping knuckles, and it is the spacing accessibility guidelines call for. The 1.25 inch tube diameter falls inside the 1.25 to 1.5 inch range those same guidelines define for a graspable bar, so the bar is comfortable for smaller hands as well as larger ones.

Choosing Between 24 and 36 Inches

The longer bar covers more of the wall, which helps when you want a continuous hold while moving from standing to seated. The shorter bar suits narrower wall sections and tighter layouts. Wall length matters more than most people expect. On some one-piece showers even the 24 inch bar does not fit the back wall, and the article on the 24 inch grab bar not fitting the back wall of a one-piece shower explains what to do in that case. If you want grab bars included with a 5-piece shower stall, see the 5-piece shower stall with soap ledges, a bench or grab bars. The list of accessory sizes and finishes is in the shower doors, seats, grab bar sets and accessories spec article.

What the Grab Bar Is Not for

Grab bars on a walk-in tub are for the bather to hold. They are not lifting handles. Moving the tub by its grab bars can bend the bar, crack the acrylic around the mount or loosen the anchors, so always lift by the frame as described in lift your walk-in tub by the frame, never by the grab bars. If the bar that arrived is the wrong length, or was not in the box at all, this article on wrong-size or missing grab bars covers the next step.

Related Guides

• Grab Bars: What Is Included, Installing the Deck-Mount Bar, and Add-On Wall Bars
• Does Drilling Holes for a Faucet or Grab Bars Void the Ella Warranty? Pre-Drilled Holes, Reinforced Walls and Choosing an Installer
• ADA Seat Height and Grab Bar Placement Compared With Ella Walk-In Tub Dimensions

Common Questions

Still Need Help?

Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and have your model and serial number ready.