What sizes do roll-in shower bases come in, and which include a seat?

Ella's roll-in shower bases come in three standard sizes, 30 by 60, 32 by 60 and 36 by 60 inches, each with the drain on the left or the right, and a rectangular base can be made to order up to 44 inches wide by 80 inches long when none of those fits. A seat is optional on every one of them: folding benches and seats rated from 300 to 600 pounds can be added to any size, and the 36 by 60 base is the one that can be ordered with a molded seat. The standard footprints and the drain rules are listed in Wheelchair Accessible Shower Base Sizes, Drain Positions, and What Is Sold Separately, and this page adds the seat choices and how the sizes compare.

The Standard Sizes, Side by Side

All three standard roll-in bases share the 60 inch length and differ only in width, so the width of your alcove usually decides which one fits. Each is an ADA curb-less pan that a wheelchair rolls straight into, and the drain position is specified when you order. The 32 by 60 inch base in left and right configurations is the one described as ready to ship. The table also shows the custom option and two related products that are often confused with a roll-in base.

What the differences mean is simple. If the person bathing stays in a wheelchair or shower chair, any of the three standard widths works and the choice comes down to the alcove and the drain line in the floor. If a built-in seat is a must on a curb-less pan, the 36 by 60 base is the one to plan around, because it is the only standard roll-in size offered with a molded seat. The 60 by 33 inch kit with a molded seat is a different product: a multi-piece shower kit with its own pan and a low threshold rather than a curb-less entry, so it suits someone who can manage a small step. A custom base buys room but follows its own drain and shape rules, covered below.

What Makes These Bases Roll-In

A roll-in shower is built on a curb-less base, so a wheelchair or shower chair rolls straight in with no lip to step or roll over. Four things define Ella's version, as explained in What is a roll-in shower and who should get one?.

• A curb-less pan. All of Ella's standard roll-in bases are ADA curb-less pans, so there is no threshold at the entry.
• The lowest entry Ella makes. AcrylX barrier-free bases have a beveled roll-in entry of 3/4 inch to 1 1/8 inch depending on size, and SMC bases are 1 inch or 1 1/8 inch. By comparison, one-piece and three-piece shower stalls have a 4 inch threshold, and the 3 inch step-in base is offered for anyone who prefers a slightly raised edge.
• A collapsible shower dam. Every roll-in and barrier-free base ships with a self-adhesive collapsible rubber dam that flattens under the wheels and springs back to keep water in the stall. The video on this page shows the dam being measured, the surfaces cleaned with denatured alcohol, the dam set with silicone and painter's tape along both sides, and then the wheels compressing it on the way in and out.
• A finished acrylic surface. Ella shower pans are finished acrylic, so they need no tile and are ready to use once installed.

Which Bases Include a Seat, and the Seat Options

No roll-in base includes a seat by default, because many bathers stay in their own wheelchair or shower chair and need the floor clear. A seat is added when the person transfers out of the chair to bathe, and there are two ways to do that. Folding benches and seats rated from 300 to 600 pounds can be added to any of the three standard sizes. The 36 by 60 base can be ordered with a molded seat, which is part of the pan itself rather than a mounted accessory. Caregiver options for any size include a weighted anti-bacterial nylon curtain, a stainless curtain rod and a slide bar with hand shower.

The practical rule: choose the 36 by 60 base with the molded seat when you want a seat that is always there and never needs to fold away, choose a folding bench or seat when the stall also has to stay open for a wheelchair, and skip the seat entirely when the bather showers from the chair.

Custom Sizes When a Standard Base Will Not Fit

When none of the three standard sizes fits, a rectangular base can be made to your dimensions. The custom range runs from a 30 by 30 inch minimum up to 44 inches wide by 80 inches long, in a rectangle only, with the threshold on the longer side, and corner bases top out at 42 by 60 inches. The drain can be placed left, right or center, but it must sit at least 9 inches from each wall; a drain only 7 inches from the threshold edge is not possible even on a custom pan. Bases with angled or curved edges are not offered. Pans shorter than 60 inches are routine, and a 58 by 30 inch base with a center drain has been produced, while a request such as 53 by 76 inches cannot be. The full custom ranges are in What sizes do shower pans come in, from smallest to largest?.

Measure the finished opening, not the framing, before requesting a custom size. Because the online drain-placement tool can round measurements up to the nearest inch, confirm your exact drain location with the team before the base is built, a point made in Walk-In Tub and Shower Base Sizes and How to Measure for Fit.

Standard Versus Custom, and What Is Sold Separately

The three sizes above are the published standard list; any other footprint is a custom build, and no other standard sizes are listed, so ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 if you are hoping for a different stock size. The base is sold on its own. Shower products are sold per item rather than as one bundle, so a complete roll-in shower is put together from the base in your size and drain position, a wall system sized to it, such as the plain white acrylic three-piece panel kit, a CNC engraved acrylic pattern or a marble-look three-piece kit, and accessories such as grab bars or a shower door. An 8 inch wide L-shaped plastic filler piece is available to close a gap between the base and an adjoining wall or fixture, and it can be trimmed if it is too large, as described in Shower Bases, Walls, and Filler Pieces. Tell the team your exact opening, where the drain line sits in the floor and whether you want a seat, and they will confirm the size, drain position and seat option that fit your space, and can point you to a dealer in your area.

Watch: The Ella Shower Dam, Keep Water In, Roll In With Ease | Ella's Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• What is a roll-in shower and who is it designed for?
• What Is a Collapsible Rubber Dam on a Roll-In Shower?
• Custom-Size Shower Bases: Size Ranges, Threshold Options, Drain Placement Rules, Construction, and How to Request One

Common Questions