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Seat sizes and soaking depth: how to measure yourself for a comfortable fit

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary7
  1. How to Measure Your Body, Step by Step
  2. Seat Widths from Smallest to Largest
  3. Understanding Soaking Depth
  4. Seat Height and the Foot Well
  5. More on Measuring Soaking Depth
  6. Related Guides
  7. Common Questions

The most important fit numbers in a walk-in tub are the seat width and the soaking depth, and both start with measuring you, not the bathroom. The quick answer: Ella seat widths run from 19" (Petite, Transfer26) to 29" (TransferXXL), and the tub seat must be wider than your hip measurement. Soaking depth is determined by the interior length of the tub, the length of the seat, and the depth from the top of the seat to the overflow drains.

How To Choose The Right Walk-In Tub For You
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Measure Your Hip Width The video explains how to measure your hip width to ensure the tub's seat is wide enough for you.
  2. 0:16 Measure Your Shoulder Width The video demonstrates how to measure your shoulder width to find a tub that accommodates your body size.
  3. 0:35 Measure For Tub Length The video shows how to measure your body length while sitting to determine the appropriate tub length.
  4. 1:08 Determine Soaking Depth The video discusses the factors that determine the overall soaking depth of an Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub.

Watch: How To Choose The Right Walk-In Tub For You with chapters and a full transcript.

How to Measure Your Body, Step by Step

Follow the same process our measuring video demonstrates:

  1. Sit in a chair facing a wall, in a relaxed position.
  2. Measure your hips while seated. The tub seat must be wider than your hip size.
  3. Measure your shoulder width while seated, and make sure the tub you choose has the proper shoulder width for your body size.
  4. Measure from your head to your feet while sitting, to gauge the tub length that fits you.
  5. Compare your numbers to the tub drawings and specifications on each product page, and be exact: different body sizes require different size tubs.

One tip from the video worth repeating: we have extra-large tubs with very long seats designed for taller bathers, and those can be uncomfortable for an average or shorter person, so bigger is not automatically better.

Overhead view of a woman seated in the Ella Petite walk-in tub showing the 19 inch seat width and interior shoulder room
The Petite's 19 inch seat is the narrowest in the line; measure your seated hips against the seat width first.

Seat Widths from Smallest to Largest

Seat widthModels
19"Petite, Transfer26
20"Zen (20" x 15"), Flow (20" x 13"), Capri, Mobile, Lounger
21"Standard60, Zen60, Deluxe, Ultimate
22"Standard (22" x 18"), Ultra, Elite, Transfer30, Transfer60
23"Royal, Monaco
24"Transfer32, Big4One
25"Front Entry
27" to 29"Escape (27" and 29" seats), ShaK (28"), TransferXXL (29")

Seat length, interior length and seat-to-overflow height for every model are tabulated in interior dimensions and soaking depth by model.

Overhead view of the Ella TransferXXL walk-in tub showing its 29 inch built-in seat, air jets and grab bars
The TransferXXL carries the widest single seat in the line at 29 inches.

Understanding Soaking Depth

How to Measure the Soaking Depth of Your Walk-In Tub

Watch: How to Measure the Soaking Depth of Your Walk-In Tub with a full transcript.

As the video explains, the overall soaking depth of a walk-in tub is determined by three factors: one, the interior length of the tub; two, the length of the seat; and three, the depth from the top of the seat to the overflow drains. Your own size then determines your personal soaking depth, because a taller bather sits higher in the water than a shorter one in the same tub. As a concrete example, the comparison chart lists the Transfer32 with 43 3/4" of interior length, a 16 7/8" seat length and 19 3/4" from the seat to the overflow.

Seat Height and the Foot Well

Seat height is 17" on most models, a comfortable chair-like height that makes sitting down and standing up easier. All Ella walk-in tubs also have a large foot well, which gives you easy access and room for seated or standing showering. The seat is molded and not adjustable, but a seat pillow riser adds a few inches; see seat risers and cushions. If you are between two models, our team is happy to talk through your measurements with you and recommend the best match.

More on Measuring Soaking Depth

How to Measure the Soaking Depth in Your Walk-In-Tub

This companion video is a second walkthrough of measuring the soaking depth in your walk-in tub, a useful refresher before you compare your own measurements with the spec sheet. For the whole choosing process on video, from body measurements to doorways and door styles, see the choosing a walk-in tub video guide. Watch: How to Measure the Soaking Depth in Your Walk-In-Tub with a full transcript.

Common Questions

My hips measure 21.5 inches. Which seat do I need?
Choose a seat that is wider than your seated hip measurement with a little room to spare, so a 22 to 24 inch seat is the right range. That points to the Elite, Ultra, Transfer30 or Transfer60 at 22 inches, the Royal or Monaco at 23 inches, or the Transfer32 and Big4One at 24 inches. Measure your shoulder width and your seated head-to-feet length as well, since the shoulder room and interior length of the tub matter as much as the seat.
Which tub has the widest seat?
The TransferXXL at 29 inches is the widest single seat in the Ella line, followed by the ShaK at 28 inches. Among the two-seat tubs, the Escape has 27 and 29 inch seats. These extra-large tubs are built for larger and taller bathers, so an average or shorter person may find them less comfortable than a standard-size model.
I am 6 feet 4 inches and 300 pounds. Which tub fits?
The Big4One is built for bathers around 6 feet and taller, and the ShaK for the very tallest, so both are worth a close look at your height. For larger bathers who are not especially tall, the TransferXXL and Transfer32 are favorites because of their wide seats. There is no set bather weight limit on any Ella tub; see bariatric and large-bather options for the full comparison.
I am about 5 feet tall. Will my feet reach the footwell?
A shorter interior helps a shorter bather, so the Petite, Transfer26, Front Entry and Mobile keep the footwell wall within comfortable reach, and any 30x52 model suits an average-size bather. The two extra-large tubs with very long seats are not recommended for shorter people, because bigger is not automatically better. Measure from your head to your feet while seated and compare that number with the interior length on each spec sheet.
Is there an adjustable-height seat?
No. The seat is molded into the acrylic shell at about 17 inches high, a comfortable chair-like height that makes sitting down and standing up easier, and it cannot be adjusted. If you would like to sit higher, a seat pillow riser cushion adds a few inches.
How deep is the water when I am seated?
Use the seat-to-overflow figure for your model, which is the depth from the top of the seat to the overflow drains: roughly 15 1/2 inches on the Elite, Petite and Royal, 17 inches on the Capri and Lounger, 19 inches on the Deluxe and 22 inches on the Big4One. The water cannot rise above the overflow, so that figure is the maximum depth over the seat. Your own build then sets your personal soaking depth, since a taller bather sits higher in the water than a shorter one in the same tub.
Is there a soaking depth calculator on the website?
There is no soaking depth calculator on the website. Instead, compare your seated torso measurement with the seat-to-overflow figure on your model's spec sheet, keeping in mind the interior length and seat length that also shape the soak. If you are between two models, the team at (800) 480-6850 or through ellasbubbles.com/support is glad to work through your measurements with you.
Where do I find my model's seat measurements?
Seat width, seat length and seat-to-overflow height are shown on the drawings and spec sheet under the Downloads tab of each product page. They are also collected in our fit and measuring common questions, and the table above lists the seat width of every model from smallest to largest.
The spec says hip width 17 inches but my hips are 39 inches around. Which number matters?
Seat width is matched to hip width measured straight across the widest point while seated, not around the body. Sit on a firm chair on a tape measure and read where the body meets the chair, then add a couple of inches for comfort; the seated figure should be under the seat width.
Which tubs suit a tall bather, and which suit a short one?
Bathers around six feet are steered to the 55 and 60 inch models for legroom, such as the Deluxe, Lounger, Transfer60, Big4One and Shak. Bathers around five feet do better in 52 inch models so the footwell is not too deep to reach. The TransferXXL seat is about 17 3/4 inches front to back, shorter than the long seats on the Shak or Big4One, which suits shorter bathers.
Can a tub be too big for someone?
Yes. A small bather in a very large tub can float away from the backrest and struggle to reach the controls, so the team asks for the height and weight of the largest bather, the space available and mobility before recommending a seat. The Shak's footwell is about 28 inches deep, a long reach for someone with limited mobility; the Big4One is the same layout slightly shorter.
How many different walk-in tub models does Ella's Bubbles offer?
Ella's Bubbles offers 27 different walk-in tub models, each with its own seat width, seat length and interior dimensions. That range exists so a tub can be matched to your seated hip width, shoulder width and body length rather than relying on a single one-size-fits-all design. Comparing your own measurements against the spec sheet for each model is still the best way to find which of the 27 fits you.
What is the overall size of a standard Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub?
The regular, standard-size Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub measures 30 inches wide by 52 inches long, a footprint used across many models in the line. Bathers who need extra room can also choose models in other footprints, including some that are 32 inches wide or up to 60 inches long. Your seated hip, shoulder and body-length measurements against each model's spec sheet remain the best guide to the right fit.

Still need help? Open a support ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support and the team will be glad to confirm the exact numbers for your model, 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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