Monaco Walk-In Tub Size: Will It Fit a 60 Inch Alcove?

The Ella Monaco measures 32 inches wide by 52 inches long, with a 23 inch wide seat and an outward swinging U-shape door, and the current spec drawing prints its overall length as 51 3/4 inches and its height as 39 1/4 inches. Yes, it fits a 60 inch alcove: Ella tubs shorter than 60 inches include an extension panel, and on the Monaco that panel bridges the gap between the 51 3/4 inch shell and the 60 inch opening. Walk-In Tub and Shower Base Sizes and How to Measure for Fit lists every standard size Ella offers; this page pulls the Monaco figures together and explains what each one means for a 60 inch opening and for the room around it.

The Monaco's Figures, from the Spec Drawing

Ella publishes three outside dimensions for every tub, and the width by length describes the exterior footprint the acrylic shell occupies on the floor, not the bathing space inside. Are Walk-In Tub Dimensions the Floor Footprint or the Inside Bathing Space? explains that difference and uses the Monaco as its worked example. The model guides list the Monaco at 32 by 52 inches, and the sizing guide notes it is available in a 32 by 53 inch or 32 by 52 inch size. The technical drawing on the Monaco spec sheet prints these figures:

• Overall length 51 3/4 inches, with 44 1/2 inches of interior length on the top view.
• Height 39 1/4 inches, a seat back height of 35 3/8 inches and a backrest angle of 101 degrees.
• Interior widths of 23 inches at the seat, then 27 1/4 inches and 31 3/4 inches as the shell widens, with a 31 3/4 inch width reference on the side view.
• A door opening 19 1/4 inches wide, a door 19 1/2 inches wide, and a door swing of 165 degrees outward.
• A step-in threshold of 3 5/8 inches on the drawing, which the model guides round to approximately 4 inches.
• Adjustable leveling legs.

The quarter-inch differences between the drawing and the 32 by 52 name are normal rounding in a model name, not an error, and the actual inch figure on the drawing is the one to measure against. When a metric figure printed beside an inch figure disagrees with it, the inch figure is the correct one. The Monaco video adds the figures that describe the bather's space rather than the footprint: the 23 inch wide seat accommodates almost any size bather, 16 inches of seat length provides leg support, and a generous 26 inches of shoulder width gives room across the back. The video also shows the actual external dimensions of the Monaco so you can check that the tub will fit correctly into your home.

How a 52 Inch Tub Fills a 60 Inch Alcove

The most common walk-in tub size is 30 by 52 inches, a footprint that fits many standard tub alcoves, and the Monaco's 52 inch length puts it in the same class with a wider shell. An Ella tub shorter than 60 inches includes an extension panel that closes the gap at the wall, so a 52 inch tub still fits a standard 60 inch alcove. On the Monaco that panel spans the difference between the 51 3/4 inch shell and the 60 inch opening, and extension panels can be cut down to size if your gap is smaller. This is how Ella fits standard footprints into a range of openings without building custom shells, as Do walk-in tubs come in different sizes to fit my bathroom? explains.

Measure the finished opening wall to wall rather than the framing. A bathroom framed at 60 inches can measure less once the end walls are tiled, and the panel is trimmed to the finished gap. Record the width, length and height of the existing alcove, then measure every doorway and hallway the tub must pass through on the way in, because a tub that fits the alcove still has to reach it.

Room in Front for the Outward Swing Door

The Monaco belongs to Ella's outward swing U-shape door family, so the fit question does not end at the alcove walls. The drawing shows the door swinging 165 degrees outward and draws the swing envelope in front of the tub, and the Monaco video states the 21 inch clearance needed for the outswing door when it shows the external dimensions. That clearance is floor space in front of the tub that a vanity, toilet or bathroom door cannot occupy, so sketch the alcove with 21 inches added at the front before you order. The video also points out what the outward door brings: a low threshold for easy entry and a three-shaft gear and lock mechanism that holds a tight, leak-proof seal, with deck and sidewall grab bars and a textured floor for added safety. For the route into the room, Ella recommends a doorway of at least 32 inches for the Monaco; How Wide Is a Walk-In Tub, and Will It Fit Your Home? explains how to compare a model's actual exterior width with your narrowest opening.

The Monaco Next to Other Ella Sizes

The table places the Monaco among other verified Ella footprints so you can see where it sits. Where a figure is not published in these sources the cell says not listed, and the spec sheet for that model is the place to confirm it.

The Monaco is the widest and tallest of the three 52 inch tubs in the table, which is where its 23 inch seat and 26 inch shoulder width come from, and its 39 1/4 inch height is worth checking against a window sill or a wall-mounted faucet. All three 52 inch tubs fill a 60 inch alcove the same way, with the extension panel, so the choice among them comes down to the depth of the alcove from front to back, the doorway on the way in and the seat you need. Choose the Monaco over the Elite when the alcove has the depth for a 32 inch shell and you want the wider seat; choose the Petite when the doorway or the alcove is the constraint. What are the standard dimensions of a walk-in tub? carries the full model table.

Checking the Monaco Against Your Body

The choosing video asks you to start with yourself before the room. Take a hip measurement while seated, because the tub seat must be wider than your hip size; the Monaco's 23 inch seat sits in the middle of the Ella range, which runs from 19 to 29 inches across the line. Check shoulder width the same way against the video's 26 inch figure for the Monaco. For length, sit in a chair facing a wall and measure from your head to your feet in a relaxed position, then compare that with the tub measurements on the website. Soaking depth is set by three factors: the interior length of the tub, the length of the seat, and the depth from the top of the seat to the center of the overflow drains, and your own size determines the depth you actually get. Once you have the alcove, doorway and hip measurements written down, your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can confirm the fit before you order.

Related Guides

• Will it fit my alcove? Extension panels, end panels, and 60 inch spaces
• Will it fit through my doorway? How to measure your home for a walk-in tub
• How much bathroom space and plumbing does the Ella Monaco need?

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