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Inward or Outward Swing Door: Which Should I Choose Before Ordering?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary7
  1. Inward-Swing
  2. Outward-Swing
  3. Door Type Is Fixed by Model
  4. Checklist
  5. The Three Door Styles on Video
  6. Related Guides
  7. Common Questions

Choosing between an inward swing door and an outward swing door is mostly about your bathroom and how you enter, because both seal watertight. Ella builds three door styles. Inward-swing doors (brushed stainless with frosted glass on the Elite, Petite, Royal, Deluxe, Ultimate, Companion and Escape; aluminum on the Ultra; acrylic S-shape on the Standard, Zen and Flow) save floor space and are held shut by water pressure. Outward U-shape doors (Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, ShaK, Big4One, Tub4Two, Big4Two) are easier to step through. The outward L-shape door on the Transfer family opens the whole side for wheelchair transfers.

Woman seated inside the Ella Royal walk-in tub holding the handle of the stainless steel inward swing door
The inward-swing stainless steel door on the Royal closes inside the tub and is sealed tighter by the water.

Inward-Swing

  • No floor space needed in front, so they suit small bathrooms and a nearby toilet.
  • Water pressure adds to the seal; stainless and aluminum doors lift off for cleaning.
  • You enter, stand, and close the door past your knees, so some room inside is needed.

Outward-Swing

  • U-shape: white PVC composite and tempered glass, 3-latch gear-and-shaft lock, 165 degree swing, about 21 inches of clearance in front.
  • L-shape (Transfer): aluminum, 2-latch lock, 172 degree swing, about 36.5 inches of clearance; the opening clears a toilet up to about 21 inches tall.
  • No knee clearance needed inside, which many bathers find simpler.
Diagram comparing a standard single latch walk-in tub door with the Ella 2-latch L-shape and 3-latch U-shape outward doors
Outward doors lock with a gear-and-shaft mechanism: three latches on the U-shape door, two on the L-shape door.

Door Type Is Fixed by Model

Doors are not interchangeable. The Royal, Elite, Petite, Deluxe, Ultimate, Ultra, Companion, Escape, and LayDown are inward only; the Monaco is the Royal's outward counterpart at the same size, and the Tub4Two is the outward two-seater. The Transfer family is outward only; Standard, Zen, and Flow are inward only. If you already own a tub and are not sure which door it has, which door does my Ella tub have identifies it by model.

Checklist

  1. Measure clear floor in front of the tub: under 21 in favors inward. The outward door swing clearance guide maps the full 165 degree envelope.
  2. Note the toilet position; a U-door beginning 28 3/4 in from the wall (Lounger) may still clear it. Published door widths and arcs for every family are in door opening widths and swing arcs by model.
  3. Ask whether the bather can close a door past their knees; if not, choose outward.
  4. Match the seat width you need to a model in that door family.

The Three Door Styles on Video

Walk-in Tubs With Stylish, High Quality Doors for Easy Access
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Ella's Bubbles Door Styles Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs feature three distinct door styles for various needs.
  2. 0:18 Outward Swing U-Shape Door The outward swing U-shape door is made of industrial strength PVC with a glass panel and chrome handle.
  3. 0:30 Inward Swing U-Shape Door The inward swing U-shape door is made of brushed stainless steel with a frosted glass panel.

The video shows the three styles: outward doors needing 21 inches of clearance, the L-door needing 36.5 inches and fitting over a toilet, and inward stainless doors that lift off for cleaning. Watch: Walk-in Tubs With Stylish, High Quality Doors for Easy Access with chapters and a full transcript.

Wheelchair Accessible Walk-In Tub Door Options
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Ella's Walk-In Tub Door Styles Ella's Bubbles offers three distinct walk-in tub door styles: stainless steel, acrylic outward swing, and aluminum L-shaped outward swing.
  2. 0:22 Stainless Steel Door Features The detachable stainless steel door makes cleaning hard-to-reach places in your walk-in tub much easier.
  3. 0:50 L-Shaped Door Accessibility The L-shaped door opening provides convenient space for wheelchair access and toilet clearance up to 21 inches in height.

This clip compares the detachable stainless door, the 3-latch composite U-door, and the 2-latch aluminum L-door with its 21 inch toilet clearance. For a closer look at wheelchair entry, see getting into a Transfer tub. Watch: Wheelchair Accessible Walk-In Tub Door Options for Elderly & Disabled with chapters and a full transcript.

Walk-In Tub Door Design Built for Maximum Comfort and Convenience
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Ella's Bubbles Door Construction The video introduces the robust design and construction of Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub doors, highlighting the integrated stainless steel jamb and easily removable door.
  2. 2:07 Competitor Tub One Door The video examines a competitor's walk-in tub door, noting its hollow plastic construction, two-piece design, and short handle with a friction-based sealing mechanism.
  3. 3:44 Competitor Tub Two Door The video analyzes another competitor's door, pointing out its small, wobbly handle, two-piece plastic construction, and a silicone-attached bulb seal that can be easily peeled off.
  4. 5:41 Competitor Tub Three Door The video reviews a third competitor's door, highlighting its two-piece plastic construction, low-quality chrome-plated handle, and an integrated door drain designed to catch leaks.

A dealer walks through the stainless jamb with welded hinges, the roughly 30 lb lift-off door, the integrated lifetime seal, and the long torque-bar handle that clicks when sealed. Watch: Walk-In Tub Door Design Built for Maximum Comfort & Convenience: Best/Safest 2020 with chapters and a full transcript.

Why Choose an Outward Door Swing Walk-In Tub
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Outward Swing Door Styles Ella's Bubbles offers U-shaped and L-shaped outward swing doors for easy entry and exit, especially for wheelchair users.
  2. 0:27 Benefits of Outward Swing Doors Outward swing doors require no knee clearance, making entry and exit simpler and more comfortable.
  3. 0:47 Secure Locking Mechanisms The U-shaped door features a three-latch system, and the L-shaped door has a two-latch system, both superior to single-lock designs.
  4. 1:10 Watertight Gasket Seal Both locking mechanisms work with a watertight gasket that compresses when the door is locked, ensuring a secure seal.

This video makes the case for outward doors: the U-door and L-door need no knee clearance inside the tub, the U-door locks with three latches and the L-door with two, and both compress a watertight gasket when locked. Watch: Why Choose an Outward Door Swing Walk-In Tub with chapters and a full transcript.

Common Questions

Which is safer, an inward or an outward swing door?
Both families share grab bars, textured floors, and multi-latch seals; choose by space and mobility. An outward door is easier for someone who cannot step around a door inside the tub, and an inward door cannot be pushed open by the water.
Will the outward door clear my toilet?
A U-shape door needs about 21 inches of clear floor in front of the tub, and a toilet about 10 inches away will block it. The Transfer L-door is designed to swing over a toilet up to about 21 inches tall. Send the team a sketch with the toilet distance and they will confirm.
Can I get the Royal or Ultimate with an outward door?
No, the Royal and Ultimate walk-in tubs are designed with inward-swing doors only. If you are looking for an outward-swing tub at the Royal's 32x52 size, the Monaco is its outward counterpart. For 60-inch outward-swing options, consider the Lounger or Transfer60 models.
Can an inward door open accidentally while the tub is full?
No, an inward-swing door on an Ella walk-in tub cannot open accidentally while the tub is full of water. Water pressure pushes the inward door firmly against its seal, enhancing the watertight seal. No door on any Ella tub can be opened until the tub has completely drained, ensuring safety during bathing. The article "Why the Door Will Not Open Until the Tub Drains, and Can It Open Accidentally?" further explains this safety feature.
Do I have to close the inward door past my knees?
Yes, when using an inward-swing door, you step into the tub, stand in the footwell, and then swing the door closed past your knees before sitting down. This requires some room inside the tub for the door to clear your legs. If you find knee bend or balance makes this difficult, an outward-swing door avoids this requirement entirely, as it does not need knee clearance inside the tub.
What is the difference between a U-shape and an L-shape door?
The U-shape door is an outward-swing door typically found on seated walk-in tubs such as the Capri and Monaco models. The L-shape door, on the other hand, is an outward-swing door specifically designed for the Transfer family of tubs. This L-shape door is taller and opens the entire side of the tub, providing a wider opening that allows a bather to slide across from a wheelchair for easier access.
Which door has the lowest step-in?
The Transfer L-door tubs are among the lowest in the line at roughly 3.5 to 4 inches, alongside the Monaco and Mobile, whose drawings print 3 5/8 and about 3 3/4 inches. Thresholds for every model are listed in step-in threshold heights by model.
Which models have the acrylic S-shape inward door?
The Standard, Standard60, Zen, Zen60 and Flow. It swings inward like the stainless door but is molded acrylic, so it is not a lift-off door. The Zen spec sheet's mention of a U-shape door is a known misprint; the Zen shares the Standard's S-shape door.
Can the doors be removed for cleaning?
The stainless steel and Ultra aluminum inward doors lift off their hinges. Outward U-shape and L-shape doors stay on their hinges and are cleaned in place; see using your stainless steel inward door for the lift-off steps.
I walk fine now. Do I still need an outward door?
An outward door is easier to step through, pairs with a lower threshold and a taller seat, and suits a bather whose mobility may decline; it also lets a helper reach in. An inward door saves floor space and avoids a toilet or vanity in the swing path. Every Ella tub has a low step in, a door and grab bars whichever way it swings.
Is the outward door hard to close?
No. The U shape outward door uses a gear and shaft latch that closes with little effort from the outside handle, while the inward stainless door is closed by pushing the handle down with your own force. Outward doors are advised for heavier bathers, roughly 200 pounds and up.
Which door is safer for someone with dementia who might open it while bathing?
An inward door cannot be opened while the tub holds water, which some families prefer. The LayDown glass door handle has no lock so a bather can always get out once drained. Leaks come from a pulled seal, an unlevel tub or a hinge bent by leaning on the door, not from the swing direction.
How much clearance does the Elite tub's inward swing door require?
The Elite tub uses an inward swing door and needs about 26 inches of clear floor space in front of the tub. This lines up with how inward doors generally work best when floor space outside the tub is limited. Measuring this clearance before you order helps confirm the Elite will fit your bathroom.
What does a right hand inward swing door mean for the door's direction?
On a right hand inward swing door, the hinge sits on the right hand side, so the door swings inward toward the right. This can be requested so the door swings away from a nearby toilet rather than into it. Let your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 know your bathroom layout so the swing direction works for your space.
Is there a narrower size option for an outward swing tub?
Yes, outward swing tubs are less common in a full 60 inch length, but a 59 inch long by 27 inch wide option is available. This can help an outward swing door fit into a tighter bathroom footprint. Ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 which models offer this size.

For anything model-specific, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850.

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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