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What are standard shower pan sizes and how deep are they?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary7
  1. The Standard Sizes
  2. How Deep a Shower Pan Is
  3. Inside the Pan
  4. Choosing Between Sizes
  5. Related Guides
  6. Related Videos
  7. Common Questions

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 with a left or right drain. The depth of a shower pan is really the height of its step-in edge, and Ella offers low-threshold pans as well as barrier-free bases that sit flush with the surrounding floor. If none of the standard footprints fits your room, the limits for a made-to-order base are explained in What Is the Largest Custom Shower Base Ella's Bubbles Can Make?.

The Standard Sizes

All three standard bases share a 60 inch length and differ only in width: 30, 32 or 36 inches. If one of these fits your alcove, it is the simplest choice, because the drain sits in a set position for that size and the base arrives ready to set. A custom base is for the space a standard size will not fit. Custom bases run from a minimum of 30 by 30 inches up to a maximum of 44 inches wide by 80 inches long, in rectangles only, with the drain at least 9 inches from each wall. The full size ranges and drain rules are in Custom-Size Shower Bases: Size Ranges, Threshold Options, Drain Placement Rules, Construction, and How to Request One.

How Deep a Shower Pan Is

When people ask how deep a shower pan is, they usually mean how tall the edge is that you step or roll over. Ella bases come in low-threshold and barrier-free versions, and the height varies by style.

  • Low-threshold pans. A custom base typically has a threshold of about 3 inches. The photo galleries on the custom base page show a 32 by 60 inch base with a 4 inch low threshold and a second version with a 2 inch low threshold, so confirm the threshold height when you order.
  • The Accessible Caregiver Shower Base. This base is built for home care with a low 3/4 inch threshold.
  • Barrier-free bases. Zero threshold bases sit flush with the surrounding floor so a wheelchair can roll straight in, and they ship with a collapsible rubber dam that keeps water in the shower.

A short step-in is still a step. ADA standards generally limit the threshold in a roll-in shower compartment to 1/2 inch, so a low-threshold pan is not labeled ADA, and a 3/4 inch threshold normally does not meet that figure either. That distinction is covered in Is a 3/4-Inch Shower Base Threshold ADA Compliant for a Commercial Building?. Check the threshold figure on the spec sheet before ordering rather than judging from a product photo, because a low step and a flush floor can look similar online.

Inside the Pan

Every Ella base has a textured, slip-resistant floor with the slope and drainage channels molded in, so water is carried to the drain without any added layer. The base is vacuum-molded from an acrylic-capped ABS sheet and reinforced underneath with high-density foam, which makes it light to carry yet rigid enough to sit directly on a subfloor or a concrete floor. It is not set in a mortar or mud bed. Because the shell and foam are molded together, the base cannot be trimmed on site, so it must be ordered in the exact size and drain location you need. The construction details and setting steps are in What the Ella Acrylic Shower Base Is Made Of and How It Is Installed. The acrylic is a finished walking surface, so tile, thinset or a membrane should never be applied over it.

Choosing Between Sizes

Measure the finished opening with your contractor, not the framing, and note where the existing drain sits in the floor. If a 30, 32 or 36 inch width fits a 60 inch alcove, order that standard base with the drain on the side your plumbing needs. If your opening falls between sizes or has a drain in an unusual spot, your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can confirm whether a custom rectangle can be made to match.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Receiving and Inspecting Your Shower This chapter explains how to receive and inspect your shower unit upon arrival, including what to do if there is damage.
  2. 1:17 Dry Assembling Your Shower This chapter demonstrates how to dry assemble your modular shower to ensure all panels and the drain are correct and undamaged.
  3. 2:49 Preparing the Framing Pocket This chapter shows how to check and adjust the framing pocket for proper sizing, squareness, plumb, and level.
  4. 5:02 Installing the Drain Body This chapter guides you through installing the drain body and preparing the drain to meet local plumbing codes.
  5. 5:44 Permanently Installing the Base This chapter details how to permanently install the shower base, ensuring it is level and properly supported.
  6. 8:12 Installing the Wall Panels This chapter demonstrates installing the wall panels using the pin and slot system, starting with the wall opposite the valve.
  7. 9:13 Installing the Valve and Wall This chapter shows how to install the valve and then the valve wall panel, including connecting the water supply lines.
  8. 11:13 Finishing and Sealing the Shower This chapter covers installing surface mount accessories, caulking all seams, and the option of adding a flange trim molding kit.

Common Questions

What standard sizes does an Ella shower base come in?
Ella makes its acrylic shower bases in three standard sizes: 30 by 60, 32 by 60 and 36 by 60 inches. Each is available with a left or right drain. Sizes outside these three can be made to order as rectangles up to 44 by 80 inches.
How deep is the threshold on an Ella shower pan?
It depends on the style. Custom low-threshold bases typically have a threshold of about 3 inches, and the custom base galleries show versions with 4 inch and 2 inch thresholds. The Accessible Caregiver base has a 3/4 inch threshold, and barrier-free bases have a zero threshold that sits flush with the floor.
Is a low-threshold shower pan the same as an ADA roll-in base?
No. ADA standards generally limit a roll-in shower threshold to 1/2 inch, so any step-in pan is not labeled ADA. For roll-in access, choose a barrier-free zero threshold base, and confirm the requirement with your local building department.
Can an Ella shower base be cut down to fit my space?
No. The molded acrylic shell and foam reinforcement cannot be trimmed on site, so the base must be ordered in the exact size and drain position you need. Measure the finished opening with your contractor before you order.
Does the shower pan need a mortar bed or tile on top?
Neither. The base sits directly on a flat subfloor or concrete floor, and a mud bed defeats its foam reinforcement. The acrylic is a finished surface with the slope and drain molded in, so it is ready to use once installed and should not be tiled over.

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