What Are the Standard Shower Base Sizes Ella Offers?

Ella's Bubbles manufactures its own acrylic shower bases in three standard sizes, 30 by 60, 32 by 60 and 36 by 60 inches, each available with a left or right drain, and all three are curb-less roll-in pans. A space that none of those footprints fits is served by a custom rectangular base, made up to 44 inches wide by 80 inches long with the drain placed left, right or center. The walls and surrounds that pair with the bases are covered in Shower Bases and Wall Panels; this page is about the base sizes themselves, so you can check your alcove against them before your contractor opens the floor.

Standard and Custom Sizes Side by Side

What the table means for your bathroom is that the three standard bases share the same 60 inch length and differ only in width, so the first measurement to take is the width between the finished walls. If that width is 30, 32 or 36 inches and the length is 60 inches, a standard base is the simplest choice. If either figure is different, or the drain has to sit in the center, the base becomes a custom order, and a 3 inch step-in threshold is also offered for anyone who prefers a slightly raised edge over a barrier-free entry.

Why a Standard Size Is the Simplest Choice

On a standard base the drain sits in a set position for that size, in either the left or right corner. Tell the team where your existing drain line sits in the floor and it confirms which drain position matches your size, so your plumber does not have to move the waste line. All three standard sizes are ADA curb-less roll-in pans that a wheelchair can roll straight into, and roll-in and barrier-free bases ship with a self-adhesive collapsible rubber dam. The 32 by 60 inch barrier-free base is ready to ship in left and right configurations. What ships with the base and what is sold separately is explained in Who Makes Custom Shower Pans and Bases for Accessible Showers?.

When Your Space Needs a Custom Base

The largest custom base is 44 inches wide by 80 inches long, and only rectangular sizes are made; bases with angled or curved edges are not offered. A 38 by 80 inch base with a left drain is within the limits, a custom 58 by 30 inch base with a center drain has been produced, and a 36 by 36 inch corner base has been ordered with the drain placed 9 and 5/8 inches from each of two adjacent walls. A request larger than the maximum, such as 53 by 76 inches, cannot be produced. Custom bases are made for three-wall alcoves and for corner installations, and the team asks which layout you have so the drain and edges are placed correctly.

• 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 base.
• The online drain-placement tool can round measurements up to the nearest inch, so confirm your exact drain location with the team at (800) 480-6850 before the base is built.
• If your existing drain is in an unusual spot, or the installation is on a concrete slab with no access from below, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with a simple drawing showing the walls, the size you want and where the existing drain is.

The full set of limits, and why it is worth confirming before your contractor cuts, is in What Is the Largest Custom Shower Base Ella's Bubbles Can Make?.

Threshold Height and the Finished Floor

A custom shower base typically has a threshold of about 3 inches. For a barrier-free entry, zero threshold bases sit flush with the surrounding floor instead of that step, which can make entry easier. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can confirm which threshold style suits your bathroom and how it fits with your existing plumbing rough-in. Ella shower pans, standard or custom, are finished acrylic and are ready to use once installed, so they do not need to be tiled over; your contractor sets the base, connects the drain and finishes the walls around it.

Ella also offers cultured marble shower bases, and the video on this page shows them. They come in three sizes, are molded solid cultured marble with a glossy gel coat finish and an ADA-compliant slip-resistant textured floor, and the video describes them as reversible with a low threshold. Unlike lightweight acrylic bases, they are heavy and need at least two people to install, which matters if the base has to travel up stairs or through a tight hallway.

Closing Gaps and Pairing Walls

If a standard base leaves a gap to an adjoining wall or fixture, an L-shaped filler piece is available. It is a plastic accessory 8 inches wide, comes with brackets for installation, and can be trimmed down if it is too large for the space. Ella also makes wheelchair rolling bases and SMC seamless showers, described in Shower Bases, Walls, and Filler Pieces. Shower products are sold per item, so a complete shower is put together from the base in your size and drain position, a wall system sized to the base, and accessories. Ella's shower wall panels are manufactured at 98 inches high, with side panels measuring 40 inches and the back wall panel measuring 60 inches, in a plain white finish, a CNC routed design with light gray grout lines, or a digital print option. Before you order any of it, measure the width, length and height of the alcove and the doorways the pieces must pass through, following Walk-In Tub and Shower Base Sizes and How to Measure for Fit.

Watch: Cultured Marble Reversible Shower Base with Low Threshold for Safer Bathing | Ella’s Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• What the Ella Acrylic Shower Base Is Made Of and How It Is Installed
• Custom-Size Shower Bases: Size Ranges, Threshold Options, Drain Placement Rules, Construction, and How to Request One
• Shower Base Sizes and Thresholds Compared: AcrylX Barrier-Free, SMC Linear-Drain, Molded-Seat and Cultured Marble Bases

Common Questions