How do the Ella Tub4Two, Big4Two, Companion and Escape compare?

All four Ella two-seat walk-in tubs are true two-seaters with a molded seat at each end and jets at each seat, and they sort into two footprints and two door styles. The Tub4Two and the Companion share the 32 by 60 inch footprint that fits a standard 60 inch opening, while the Escape at 36 by 72 inches and the Big4Two at 36 by 80 inches need a wider and longer wall; within each footprint the Tub4Two and Big4Two have the outward-swinging U-shape door and the Companion and Escape have the inward-swinging brushed stainless steel door. What is the difference between the Ella Tub4Two and Companion tubs? covers the 60 inch pair in depth, and this page puts all four side by side, including the Companion versus Escape and Big4Two versus Escape pairings the pairwise guides only touch on.

The Four Two-Seat Tubs Side by Side

The Tub4Two figures come from its spec sheet dated 04/01/26, the Big4Two figures from its spec sheet dated 6/7/23, the Escape figures from its spec sheet and the Escape video, and the Companion figures from the Companion video and the published model guides. Where no figure is published the cell says not listed.

What the table means: choosing a two-seat tub is two decisions at once, footprint and door. If the bathroom has a standard 60 inch opening, the choice is between the Tub4Two and the Companion. If the wall is longer and wider, it is between the Escape and the Big4Two. Within each pair, the door decides: outward U-shape on the Tub4Two and Big4Two, inward stainless steel on the Companion and Escape. Seat width follows the model rather than the shell, which is why the smaller Companion carries seats an inch wider than the Big4Two and the Escape has the widest seats of all.

Two Footprints: A 60 Inch Alcove or a Longer Wall

The Tub4Two and the Companion both measure 32 by 60 inches, so either one fits a standard 60 inch opening where a regular bathtub once sat. The Escape is 36 by 72 inches and gives a full 60 inches of overall soaking length between its two facing seats, which the Escape video describes as a tremendous amount of interior soaking space. The Big4Two is 36 by 80 inches, the longest shell in the family, and it is the tub to choose when the wall can take 80 inches and you want the most room of any two-seater. The Big4Two and the Escape share the same published water figures, 145 gallons unoccupied and 85 to 135 gallons occupied, so the Big4Two's extra length shows up in stretch-out room rather than in water volume.

Two Doors: Outward U-Shape or Inward Stainless Steel

The Tub4Two and the Big4Two have an outward-swinging U-shape door made of plastic composite with a tempered glass panel in a white frame, locked by a 3-latch gear and shaft mechanism. The Companion and the Escape have the inward-swinging brushed stainless steel door; the Companion's has frosted glass, and on both tubs the door lifts out for easy cleaning. An inward door needs no floor space in front of the tub, which is why the Companion is the answer when a 60 inch alcove has a toilet or vanity close in front of it. The Companion only comes with the inward door, and the Escape only comes with the inward door, so if you want the white outward door in either footprint the model is the Tub4Two or the Big4Two. One more difference matters for planning: every Ella model except the Companion and the Escape can be built with the door on the left or the right, so with those two the door position is fixed. Common Model Questions collects the short answers on two-seat doors.

What Each Seat Includes

All four tubs are built around the digital controller and always include at least one massage system, so there is no two-seat soaker. All four appear in the Available On box of the Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot digital controller schematic, explained in What the Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot Digital Controller Schematic Shows, where the air pump is a variable speed pump with Auto Purge that starts about 20 minutes after the air massage is turned off and runs for 120 seconds to clear the air lines. Jet counts published for each model:

• Big4Two: 16 upper seat hydro jets, 8 at each seat, plus 4 foot and 4 calf hydro jets, 18 seat air jets, 9 at each seat, and 4 foot air jets.
• Companion: 14 jet three-speed air massage and 20 hydro massage jets, plus independent foot massage.
• Escape: independent foot massage with foot and calf jets, so a hydro foot massage can be enjoyed without filling the tub; three-speed air massage with auto purge; hydro massage with an in-line water heater and an intensity control dial; and ozone sterilization working with the hydro system. Jet counts are not listed.
• Tub4Two: not listed in the published sources.

The Escape video also shows a twin two-piece fast-fill faucet set with dual extendable multi-function hand showers, dual 2 inch 4-port drains, the removable brushed stainless steel door, a 360 degree swivel tray that comes standard, and optional heated seats that activate with a push of a button. The Big4Two accessories video shows the options built for that tub: a four-fold glass screen that combines with a three-fold screen as an alternative to a shower curtain, dual rain shower heads so one bather can stand while the other sits, and dual extendable multi-function hand showers.

The Escape Pairings

Companion versus Escape is the simplest comparison in the family, because both have the inward stainless steel door and the difference is size. The Companion is 32 by 60 inches with 23 and 25 inch seats; the Escape is 36 by 72 inches with 27 and 29 inch seats. Choose the Companion when the opening is a standard 60 inches, and the Escape when the wall allows it and the bathers want the widest seats Ella makes.

Big4Two versus Escape pits the two 36 inch wide tubs against each other. The Big4Two is longer at 80 inches and has the outward U-shape door with 22 and 24 inch seats; the Escape is 72 inches long with the inward door and wider 27 and 29 inch seats. The Big4Two is also the heavier tub at 328 pounds net and 531 pounds shipping against 286 and 398 for the Escape. Pick by door swing and seat width first, then confirm the wall can take the length. What is the difference between the Ella Tub4Two and Escape? and What is the difference between the Ella Big4Two and Companion? cover the diagonal pairings. For help choosing among all four, reach out to your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850.

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