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What is the difference between a roll-in and a walk-in shower?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary6
  1. Roll-In Showers: No Threshold
  2. Walk-In Showers: A Low Step-In Edge
  3. What Both Styles Share
  4. Related Guides
  5. Related Videos
  6. Common Questions

A roll-in shower has a barrier-free, curb-less base with no threshold at all, so a wheelchair can roll straight in. A walk-in shower has a low raised edge that you step over, such as Ella's three-inch step-in threshold base. Both use the same wall systems and accessories, and the full range of bases is described in Shower Bases, Walls, and Filler Pieces.

Roll-In Showers: No Threshold

Ella's roll-in bases are ADA curb-less pans. The 32 by 60 inch barrier-free roll-in base is available in left and right configurations and is ready to ship. The wheelchair accessible roll-in base comes in three standard sizes, 30 by 60, 32 by 60 and 36 by 60 inches, and the drain position is specified when you order. Sizes outside the standard three can be made to order, including pans shorter or longer than 60 inches. Details are in Wheelchair Accessible Shower Base Sizes, Drain Positions, and What Is Sold Separately.

Because there is no curb, a roll-in shower needs another way to keep water in the stall. Ella offers a flexible shower dam made for the barrier-free base. The dam is compressible, so wheelchair wheels roll over it on the way in and out and it returns to its original shape. The video below shows how the dam is measured, cut, bonded with silicone and finished with end caps, and how well it contains water once installed.

Walk-In Showers: A Low Step-In Edge

For customers who prefer a slightly raised entry instead of a barrier-free design, Ella offers a three-inch step-in threshold. The raised edge holds water in the stall without a dam, and the step over it is far lower than the side of a conventional tub. This is the style most people mean by a walk-in shower. If a wheelchair user will bathe in the shower, the roll-in base is the better fit because nothing has to be crossed at the entry.

What Both Styles Share

Shower products are sold per item rather than as a single bundle, so either style is put together from the pieces you need:

  • The base in your size and drain position.
  • A wall system sized to the base, such as the plain white acrylic three-piece panel kit, a CNC engraved pattern or a digital print finish. Large acrylic panels include 98 by 60 inch back walls and 36 to 38 by 96 to 98 inch side walls.
  • Accessories such as grab bars or a shower door.
  • An 8 inch wide L-shaped filler piece, which can be trimmed, to close a gap between the base and an adjoining wall or fixture.

Measure the finished opening, not the framing, before you order, and confirm your drain location with the team because the online drain-placement tool can round measurements up to the nearest inch. The measuring steps are in Walk-In Tub and Shower Base Sizes and How to Measure for Fit. For current availability on any base, wall kit or accessory, contact your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Introducing The Ella Shower Dam The Ella flexible shower dam is presented, highlighting its use for wheelchair users to easily roll into and out of a barrier-free shower base.
  2. 0:28 Installing The Shower Dam The installation process begins with measuring, cleaning surfaces, and applying the shower dam to the shower wall and floor.
  3. 1:25 Sealing The Shower Dam Painter's tape is applied, and a thin bead of silicone is used to seal the lower edge and end caps of the shower dam.
  4. 1:44 Final Result And Effectiveness The video shows the final appearance of the installed shower dam and demonstrates its effectiveness in containing water within the shower stall.

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

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Receiving and Inspecting Your Shower The video provides visual guidance for installing a barrier-free five-piece shower, emphasizing the importance of inspecting the unit upon arrival and noting any damage.
  2. 1:32 Dry Assembling Your Modular Shower The installer dry assembles the modular shower in an open space to ensure correct panels, drain location, and proper alignment before moving it to the bathroom.
  3. 3:04 Preparing the Framing Pocket and Subfloor The installer checks the framing pocket for proper sizing, squareness, plumb, and level, making necessary adjustments and inspecting the subfloor for integrity.
  4. 4:05 Installing the Shower Pan and Drain The installer cleans the pocket, dry fits and levels the pan, installs the drain body, and adheres the pan to the subfloor using silicone adhesive and bracing.
  5. 7:40 Assembling and Securing Shower Panels The installer places protection on the floor, caulks the pan ledge, and installs the lower and upper back panels, securing them to the studs.
  6. 8:31 Installing the Valve Wall and Plumbing The installer caulks the pan ledge and vertical back wall seam, sets the panel, drills holes for the valve and supply outlet, and connects the PEX supply lines.
  7. 11:05 Adding Accessories and Finishing Touches The installer marks, drills, and caulks around pilot holes for accessories, then caulks all seams and the front edge of the threshold, recommending a water retainer and shower curtain.

Common Questions

Can a wheelchair roll straight into an Ella roll-in shower base?
Yes. The roll-in bases are ADA curb-less pans with no threshold to step or roll over. They come in 30 by 60, 32 by 60 and 36 by 60 inch standard sizes, and custom sizes can be made.
How does a roll-in shower keep water inside the stall?
Ella's flexible shower dam bonds to the base with silicone along the entry edge. Wheelchair wheels compress it as they roll over, and it springs back to shape to hold water in. The video on this page shows the installation and the result.
How high is the threshold on Ella's step-in shower base?
The step-in base has a three-inch threshold. It is offered for customers who prefer a slightly raised entry instead of a barrier-free design. The roll-in base has no threshold at all.
Do the shower walls come with the roll-in base?
No. The base is sold on its own, and the wall system, grab bars and shower door are separate items. Choose a wall kit sized to your base, such as the white acrylic three-piece kit, the CNC pattern or a digital print finish.
Can I order a roll-in shower base in a custom size?
Yes. When a standard size will not fit, a base can be made to your dimensions, including pans shorter or longer than 60 inches or with a center drain. Measure the finished opening before requesting a custom size.
Where do I specify the drain position on a shower base?
Drain placement is specified at the time of order. Tell the team where your existing drain line sits in the floor so it can confirm which position matches your size. Confirm the exact location with the team at (800) 480-6850, since the online tool can round to the nearest inch.

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