Ella Mobile 26x45 vs Flow 28x48: which fits through a narrow doorway?
Updated September 2026
The Ella Mobile passes the narrower doorway. Its 26 inch shell is the narrowest in the Ella line, and for a 25 inch opening the team names the Mobile as the only option, with the door frame removed so the shell can clear the jamb. The Ella Flow is built to pass a 28 inch doorway, because its shell measures 27 3/4 inches wide, and it is the tub to choose when the doorway allows it and you want a longer tub with an inward door and an extension panel for a 60 inch alcove. The full Flow specification is in Ella Flow 28x48: The Tub That Fits a 28 Inch Doorway.
Mobile and Flow Side by Side
Both are compact tubs, but they sit on different door platforms and were designed to solve different problems. The figures below are published actual sizes, and a cell says not listed where the spec sheet prints the value as an image or does not give it. Where the Mobile's video quotes a slightly different figure from the spec drawing, both are shown. The rest of the compact lineup is compared in What is the smallest bathtub size you can buy for a bathroom?.
| Feature | Ella Mobile 26x45 | Ella Flow 28x48 | What it means for the doorway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Actual size (W x L x H) | 26 x 45 x 39 1/4 in | 28 x 48 x 36.5 in | The Mobile is narrower and shorter; the Flow is lower overall |
| Shell width that passes the door | 26 in (25 3/4 in in the video) | 27 3/4 in on the drawing | The shell, not the nominal size, is what has to clear the jamb |
| Narrowest doorway the team names | 25 in, only with the door frame removed | 28 in | Only the Mobile is offered for a 25 inch opening |
| Shipping crate | not listed | 32 x 54 x 49 in | The Flow's crate is wider than the door it fits, so it is opened outside |
| Door | Outward-swing U-shape, 165 degree swing, 19 1/4 in opening | Inward-swing acrylic S-shape, handle inside, held shut by water pressure | The Mobile needs clear floor in front; the Flow does not |
| Seat and interior | 19 to 20 in wide by 13 in long seat; 38 7/8 in interior length | 20 by 13 in seat; 39 3/8 in inner length on the drawing | Similar seats, with slightly more interior length in the Flow |
| Extension panel | None | Included for a 60 in alcove | The Flow can fill a standard alcove; the Mobile suits a 45 in space or a corner |
| Water and weight | not listed | 65 gal unoccupied (30 to 50 occupied); 210 lb net, 310 lb shipping | Only the Flow's floor load can be worked out from published figures |
What it means: if the doorway is the deciding constraint, the Mobile is the tub that gets through, and it does so without an extension panel and with an outward door that needs swing room. If the doorway is 28 inches or wider, the Flow gets through too and brings a 48 inch length, an inward door that needs no clearance in front, and a panel that lets it fill the standard 60 inch opening most bathrooms were framed around.
Measure the Route, Not Just the Room
Every Ella tub ships in one piece with removable aprons and panels, so the shell width is the figure that has to clear each door and hallway on the way to the bathroom. Measure every exterior and interior door width along the path, not just the bathroom door. The video presents the Flow as fitting through a 28 inch doorway; the 27 3/4 inch shell is what passes, and the 32 inch crate can be opened outside. For the Mobile, a 25 inch opening works only with the door frame removed, which is a job for your installer. If your narrowest opening falls between those two figures, the Mobile is the safe choice and the Flow needs a check with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850. The ten fit questions the team hears most, including doorways and disassembly, are answered in Common Fit Questions.
Once the Tub Is Inside
Getting through the door is only half the fit. The Mobile suits a 45 inch space or a corner, because no extension panel is offered for it, and it needs clear floor in front of the door, which swings outward 165 degrees. The Flow is 48 inches long and ships with a removable front apron, a removable end panel that covers the faucet end, and an extension panel so it can still fill a standard 60 inch alcove. Its Economy extension kit holds 2 L-shaped stainless brackets, 1 L-shaped plastic bracket, 2 pressure metal clips and four 1/2 inch nuts. The Flow's inward-swing acrylic S-shape door carries its handle inside and is held shut by water pressure, so nothing swings out into the room. The Flow stands 36.5 inches high against the Mobile's 39 1/4 inches, and the Mobile's step-in is published at about 3 3/4 inches. The Flow's drawing also shows a 16 1/2 by 22 1/2 inch foot well and a 96 degree backrest, while the Mobile's backrest is drawn at 101 degrees.
Bathing and Therapy Differences
The Mobile follows the outward-door family menu: Air + Hydro, Hydro + Foot, Hydro + Micro, Hydro and Soaking, with the LED chromatherapy light included with the dual package. Its air system has 14 jets on a three-speed pump with Auto Purge, and its hydro system has 15 jets with an intensity dial, in-line heater and ozone sterilization. Because the equipment sits under the seat, the Mobile carries at most two systems.
The Flow is a hydro tub: 16 jets, including foot and calf jets, on an 8.1 amp, 900 watt pump with an intensity dial, push control and a 6 amp, 650 watt in-line heater. It is the only Ella tub whose spec sheet calls for a 15 amp GFCI outlet on a dedicated 110/120 volt line, where other Ella tubs specify 20 amps, and your electrician should still confirm local code. Optional extras are a heated seat and backrest at 4 amps and a removable head and neck support. The Mobile offers an optional digital touchpad and heated seat and backrest.
The two share the Ella 2-piece fast-fill faucet in chrome or brushed nickel, with two 3/4 inch by 5 foot supply lines, a hand shower and a fill rate of up to 16 gallons per minute, and each has one 2 inch drain with an emergency pull chain. The Flow's drain is a gravity drain on a T-type dual-port body, and the Mobile's is an oversized drain with an easy-turn opener. One Mobile video mentions a 5-piece faucet option, so confirm the faucet at order time.
Mobile Homes, Floors and Availability
Ella's team recommends the Mobile, along with the Front Entry, for single-wide mobile homes, and suggests compact models like the Flow for mobile homes and trailers. For RVs the team has no direct installation experience, so the floor structure and plumbing capacity must be confirmed by the owner before ordering. A walk-in tub loads the floor with the tub, the water and the bather at once, and water weighs about 8.34 pounds per gallon; the Flow weighs 210 pounds empty and holds 65 gallons unoccupied, while the Mobile's capacity and weight must be requested from your Ella dealer or the team. Availability of the Flow has varied, so check when you plan. The mobile home checklist and the three compact models are covered in Where can I buy a walk-in tub sized for a mobile home?.
The first video shows the Flow's 28 inch doorway fit, its 38 inches of interior length and the extension panel that lets it fill a 60 inch alcove. The second shows the Mobile at 45 inches long and 25 3/4 inches wide with its outward-swing door, low threshold and oversized drain.
Chapters in this video
- 0:00 Introducing the Ella Flow Tub This chapter introduces the Ella Flow, a new space-saving walk-in tub designed for small to average-sized bathers and smaller bathrooms.
- 0:44 Safety and Design Features This chapter highlights the tub's easy entry, low threshold, textured floor, secure door handle, and sleek acrylic finish.
- 1:04 Hydrotherapy and Faucet Systems This chapter details the tub's hydrotherapy system with intensity control, inline water heater, foot and calf jets, and the fast-fill faucet with a hand shower.
- 1:33 Drainage and Power This chapter explains the dual-port oversized drain with an emergency pull chain and the tub's GFCI power connection.
Watch: The Ella Flow: Best Compact Walk-In Tub for Seniors | Ella’s Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.
Chapters in this video
- 0:00 Compact Tub Dimensions The video introduces the Mobile walk-in tub, highlighting its compact size for smaller bathrooms.
- 0:18 Outward Swing Door Features The tub's outward swing door, low threshold, and textured floor are shown for easy and safe entry.
- 0:34 Jetting and Sterilization The tub's acrylic surface, air massage with auto purge, hydro massage, and ozone sterilization are presented.
- 1:09 Drain and Faucet Options The oversized drain, fast drain system, and available Fast Fill faucet sets are demonstrated.
- 1:35 Additional Comfort Options Chromotherapy, a digital touch pad, and a heated seat and backrest are shown as additional options.
Watch: Mobile Acrylic Walk-In Tub with Outward Swing Door & Seat, Easy Entry Bathing | Ella’s Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.
Related Guides
- Will it fit through my doorway? How to measure your home for a walk-in tub
- Walk-In Tub Dimensions Explained: Which Figure Is the Width, the Length and the Height, and Where to Find the Spec Drawing
- How Do I Choose the Right Walk-In Tub for My Bathroom?
Related Videos
Chapters in this video
- 0:00 Ella Mobile Walk-In Tub Overview The Ella Mobile walk-in tub is introduced as a compact bathing solution for smaller bathrooms, highlighting its dimensions and generous seat width.
- 0:19 Door, Safety, and Surface Features The video showcases the easy-open outward swing U-shaped door, low threshold, textured floor, and durable acrylic surface of the tub.
- 0:43 Innovative Jetting and Massage Options Ella's innovative jetting design is featured, including the three-speed air massage with auto purge and the powerful hydro massage with intensity control.
- 1:20 Dual Massage, Faucet, and Heater The dual massage package with LED light chromotherapy is shown, along with the fast-fill faucet set, hand shower, and inline water heater.
- 1:47 Ozone, Drain, and Emergency Chain Eco-friendly ozone sterilization, the large easy-turn drain opener, oversized two-inch drain, and emergency pull chain are presented.
Common Questions
Will the Ella Mobile fit through a 25 inch doorway?
Will the Ella Flow fit through a 28 inch doorway?
Which of the two tubs can fill a 60 inch alcove?
Does the Flow offer an air massage package like the Mobile?
Do the Mobile and the Flow need the same electrical circuit?
Which tub has the lower step-in threshold?
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