Does Ella Have a Walk-In Tub That Fits a 48 Inch Space?

Yes. Ella's standard sizes include a compact 26x45 inch walk-in tub, and it is the one standard footprint in the line that is shorter than a 48 inch opening. Every other standard size is 52 inches or longer, so those tubs will not slide into a 48 inch space unless the opening is reframed. The complete list of sizes is in Walk-In Tub and Shower Base Sizes and How to Measure for Fit, and this page looks at what that list means for a 48 inch space specifically.

Which Standard Sizes Work with a 48 Inch Opening

Ella builds around a set of standard footprints. The table below takes each published size and compares its length with a space that is 48 inches long.

What this means for you is simple. If your space truly measures 48 inches from wall to wall, the compact 26x45 inch tub is the standard Ella size to ask about, and at 26 inches wide it is also the slimmest footprint on the list. If you have your heart set on a 52 inch model, such as the popular 30 by 52, the opening itself has to grow, and that is a framing conversation with your contractor. For the verified width, length and height of individual models, see What are the standard dimensions of a walk-in tub?

Make Sure You Know What Your 48 Inches Measures

Most bathrooms were framed around a 60 inch tub, so a 48 inch space is smaller than the opening most walk-in tubs are planned for. That makes careful measuring even more important than usual. Before you settle on a size, take these measurements and write them down in inches:

• The width of the opening from wall to wall, measured at the back and again at the front. Walls are often slightly out of square, and the smaller number is the one that matters.
• The depth of the space from the back wall to where the front of the tub will sit, so you can compare it with the width of the tub.
• The height available, especially if there is a window, a ledge or a soffit above the space.
• The doorway width, and any tight hallway turn, if the tub has to travel through it to reach the bathroom.

If the 48 inch figure is the depth of the space rather than its length, the picture changes completely, because tub widths in the Ella line run from 26 inches to 36 inches. In that case the length of the opening is the number that decides which models are possible.

Why the Actual Size Matters More Than the Name

The size in a model's name is a rounded, nominal figure. A tub sold as 28 inches can measure 27.5 inches on the drawing, and a tub described as a 5 foot tub can measure 59.5 inches long. Those half inch differences are normal rounding, not a mistake in the drawing, and the actual inch figure on the current specification drawing is always the one to measure against.

With a 48 inch opening there is very little room to spare, so please do not plan from the 26x45 name alone. Ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 for the current spec sheet for the compact tub, and have your installer check the actual length and width against your wall to wall measurements before any framing, tile or plumbing work begins. When an inch figure and a metric figure on a sheet disagree, the inch figure is the correct one.

Closing the Gap at the End of the Tub

A 45 inch tub in a 48 inch opening leaves a small space at one end, and it should look finished, not improvised. On Ella tubs there are three ways a gap like this is handled:

• An extension panel. Ella extension panels mount on shelf brackets at one end of the tub frame and are designed to be cut down on site to close the space between the tub and the wall. They are best known for taking a 52 or 55 inch tub to a standard 60 inch opening. Which models ship with or offer a panel varies, so confirm what comes with the compact tub when you order.
• Framing and finishing. A few Ella models have no extension panel at all, and on those the installer frames and finishes any remaining space. The same approach works any time a gap is not covered by a panel.
• An end panel. If one end of the tub is exposed instead of meeting a wall, that end is closed with the reversible end panel. One is included with every Ella walk-in tub, and it can be placed on either side.

One detail to settle before the tub is built: an extension panel is made for one end of the tub, left or right, and the brackets are fitted at that end. Why Doesn't the Extension Panel Attach on the Faucet Side? explains how the panel side is chosen along with the door and drain side. For the bigger picture of a three wall opening, including the wall access panel your installer should leave behind the plumbing end, read What Is an Alcove Installation for a Walk-In Tub?

If a Tub Is Not the Right Answer for the Space

Some 48 inch spaces are better suited to a shower, and Ella manufactures its own shower bases too. The standard bases are 30x60, 32x60 and 36x60 inches, so they are all longer than a 48 inch opening, but fully custom base sizes are also manufactured. Examples that have been produced include a 36 by 36 inch corner base and a custom 58x30 inch base with a center drain, with the drain placed to your measurements. A custom base typically has a threshold of about 3 inches, and zero threshold bases are available for a barrier free entry. Shower Bases and Wall Panels covers the bases and the wall panel systems that pair with them. If you go this route, confirm your exact base dimensions and drain location with the team before the base is built.

What to Have Ready When You Ask About Fit

A few details let the team give you a confident answer the first time:

1. The width of the opening, measured wall to wall at the back and at the front.
2. The depth and height of the space, and the doorway width on the route into the bathroom.
3. Which end of the space has the existing drain and water supply.
4. The model or size you are considering, and the actual size from its spec sheet if you already have it.

Share those with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, or open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support, and you will know whether the compact tub, a reframed opening or a custom shower base is the happiest fit for your bathroom.

Related Guides

• Will it fit my alcove? Extension panels, end panels, and 60 inch spaces
• Will it fit through my doorway? How to measure your home for a walk-in tub
• Seat sizes and soaking depth: how to measure yourself for a comfortable fit

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