Is the Ella Tub4Two the right two-seat walk-in tub for couples?

The Ella Tub4Two is a two-seat walk-in bathtub built for couples: two molded seats face each other inside a 32 by 60 inch footprint, and each seat has its own hydro jets, air jets and foot jets, so both bathers get the same massage at the same time. Because it fits inside a standard 60 inch bathtub opening, it is the two-person tub that goes where a conventional tub sat, without moving walls. The measurements and door details are in Ella Tub4Two 32x60: The Two-Seat Tub That Fits a Standard 60 Inch Opening; this page looks at what each bather actually gets, how the Tub4Two compares with the Companion, and what to check before you order.

What Makes It a True Two-Seat Tub

Ella draws a clear line between an extra-large bathtub and a two-seat bathtub. A true two-seat tub has two independent bathing spaces, and in the Tub4Two each seat has its own jets and its own share of the systems, with nothing shared between the sides. The presenter in Two-Seat Tubs on Video makes the same point for the whole family: both bathers get the same back massage, the same air jets and the same foot jets from their own seat.

The seats are 20 inches wide on one side and 22 inches wide on the other, and the comparison chart figures give each side a 12 1/8 inch seat length inside a 56 3/4 inch interior. The depth from the seat to the overflow is 15 3/4 inches, and from the seat to the footwell it is 17 inches. The second video on this page explains that soaking depth comes from three things, the interior length, the seat length and the depth from the top of the seat to the center of the overflow, and that your own size decides how deep you sit. Compare your seated measurements with those figures before you decide, especially if one of you is tall or broad.

A two-seat tub is also a comfortable tub for one. The video tour shows a single bather sitting on one seat with both feet up on the other, like a recliner, so you do not need both seats filled every time you bathe.

What Each Bather Gets

The current Tub4Two spec sheet lists these systems as included:

• Seat hydro massage. A 9 amp, 1250 watt pump feeds 18 upper seat jets, 9 on each seat, with an intensity dial and a digital controller.
• Independent foot and calf massage. A separate 7 amp, 1000 watt pump drives 4 foot jets and 4 calf jets on its own on/off push control, with a 6 amp, 800 watt in-line water heater and ozone sterilization. Both videos call this out as one of the tub's most special features: there is no need to fill the entire tub for a relaxing foot massage.
• Air massage. A 4.5 amp, 500 watt three-speed pump feeds 12 seat jets, 6 on each seat, plus 6 foot jets. Auto Purge activates 20 minutes after the pump is turned off to clear residual water from the air lines, which the videos describe as keeping the tub fresh and preventing mildew.
• LED chromatherapy. A multicolor 0.5 amp LED bulb on a transformer, run from the digital control pad.

Two options are listed on the sheet: a MicroBubble therapy system with a 1 HP, 7.3 amp pump, pressure vessel and agitator valve, which the video describes as generating billions of micro bubbles that moisturize and exfoliate the skin, and a heated seat and backrest. Ask for either when you place your order through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, because they are built into the tub.

Tub4Two or Companion: The Two Tubs That Fit a 60 Inch Opening

Ella makes two two-seat tubs sized for a standard 60 inch alcove, the Tub4Two and the Ella Companion. They share the same 32 by 60 by 40 inch actual size and the same 34 by 62 by 50 inch crate, and the differences are in the seats, the door and the jets.

For a couple, the choice comes down to two questions. If seat width matters most, the Companion's 23 and 25 inch seats are wider than the Tub4Two's 20 and 22 inch seats, which is why Ella sizes the Companion for medium to petite bathers who want extra room on the seat itself. If the massage matters most, the Tub4Two carries more hydro jets, more air jets and more calf jets, and its occupied capacity runs higher. The door decides the rest: the Tub4Two's door swings outward only and cannot be reversed to swing in, so it needs clear floor space in front of the tub, while the Companion's door swings inward and lifts out for cleaning.

Faucet, Drains and Adding a Second Faucet

The Tub4Two ships with one faucet as standard. The spec sheet lists the two-piece fast-fill faucet, a solid brass chrome spout with hot and cold levers, a diverter and a 5-setting pull-out hand shower on a 5 foot braided hose; the brochure lists the fast-fill faucet in either 5-piece or 2-piece form, and the two videos show one of each. The fill rate is designed for 16 gallons per minute at 60 PSI under ideal in-home plumbing conditions, and the hand shower is limited to 1.9 gallons per minute. Because one faucet naturally sits closer to one seat than the other, some couples order a second faucet. It has to be requested at the time of purchase, and your plumber then ties both faucets into the hot and cold supply, as Adding a Second Faucet to the Tub4Two explains.

Draining uses Ella's dual drain technology: two 2 inch four-port PVC drains with two end caps, two overflows and two stainless steel cable-operated openers with extended chrome handles. The videos describe the two 2 inch drains as providing fast, efficient draining, and the brochure callout diagram shows where the two drain plugs, the two openers and the dual spout sit on the deck of a two-seat tub.

What to Check in Your Bathroom

• The opening. The actual size is 32 inches wide by 60 inches long by 40 inches tall. The videos round the width to 31 inches, but the spec sheet figure of 32 inches is the one to plan around, and if you are framing new walls allow a little extra and confirm with the drawing.
• Door clearance. The U-shape door swings outward only, so plan clear floor space in front of the tub for the door and for stepping in.
• Delivery path. The tub ships in a 34 by 62 by 50 inch crate at 325 pounds shipping weight, with a net weight of 230 pounds.
• Electrical. The equipment runs on 115 volt, 60 hertz dedicated GFCI-protected lines. The comparison chart calls for two 20 amp lines for the air plus hydro plus hydro configuration and three with MicroBubble, so have a licensed electrician plan the circuits before delivery.
• Who does the work. Ella's Bubbles does not send technicians. A local licensed plumber and electrician handle the connections, and the team at (800) 480-6850 or ellasbubbles.com/support can answer their questions about the tub's connections. Have your model and serial number ready.

Related Guides

• What is the Ella Big4Two 36 by 80 two-seat walk-in tub like?
• Choosing a Two-Seat Walk-In Tub: Companion, Escape, Tub4Two, and Big4Two Compared

Related Videos

Common Questions