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Should I choose a walk-in tub or a roll-in shower?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary6
  1. What a Roll-In Shower Gives You
  2. What a Walk-In Tub Gives You
  3. How to Decide
  4. Related Guides
  5. Related Videos
  6. Common Questions

Choose a roll-in shower when the person bathing stays in a wheelchair or shower chair and needs to roll straight in with no lip to cross. Choose a walk-in tub when you want to sit and soak, add therapies, and still shower from the seat with the hand shower. Ella's broader comparison of tubs and low-threshold showers is in Walk-In Tub or Low-Threshold Shower? Comparing Ella Options for Mobility, Space and Caregivers; this page focuses on the roll-in shower question.

What a Roll-In Shower Gives You

Ella's wheelchair accessible roll-in base is a curb-less pan that a wheelchair rolls straight into. It comes in three standard sizes, 30 x 60, 32 x 60 and 36 x 60 inches, with the drain position specified when you order, and sizes outside those three can be made to order. The 32 by 60 inch barrier-free base is offered in left and right configurations and is ready to ship. Details are in Wheelchair Accessible Shower Base Sizes, Drain Positions, and What Is Sold Separately.

  • The entry is the lowest of any Ella product. AcrylX barrier-free bases have a beveled roll-in entry of 3/4 inch to 1 1/8 inch depending on size, and SMC bases are 1 inch or 1 1/8 inch. One-piece and three-piece stalls have a 4 inch threshold, and a 3 inch step-in base is available for those who prefer a slightly raised edge.
  • The collapsible rubber shower dam keeps water in while a wheelchair rolls over it. The first video shows the dam being installed with silicone and then compressing under the wheels and springing back to hold the water in.
  • Caregiver options include a weighted anti-bacterial nylon curtain, a stainless curtain rod and a slide bar with hand shower.
  • A seat is optional: folding benches and seats rated from 300 to 600 pounds, or a 36 by 60 base with a molded seat.

Shower products are sold per item, so a complete roll-in shower is put together from the base, a wall system sized to it, and accessories such as grab bars or a door. The base and wall options are listed in Shower Bases, Walls, and Filler Pieces.

What a Walk-In Tub Gives You

  • A molded seat and a soak, with soaking depths of roughly 14 to 17 1/2 inches on the models toured in the product videos, and therapy packages such as air massage, hydro massage, foot massage, microbubbles, chromatherapy and a heated seat.
  • A shower as well. The 2-piece and 5-piece fast-fill faucets include a pull-out hand shower, and the optional shower column adds a 10 inch rain head for seated or standing showers. The second video shows how the column kit attaches to a deck-mount faucet.
  • A wheelchair option. The Transfer family adds a wheelchair-height open side, and the transfer-style tub is available in a 60 by 30 inch size, for bathers who can slide across from a chair onto the seat.
  • More plumbing and electrical work. Most models use dual 2 inch gravity drains, jetted packages need one or more dedicated GFCI-protected circuits installed by a licensed electrician, and a soaking tub with no powered options has nothing to plug in.
  • Floor space. Models run from the 26 inch wide Mobile to the 36 by 72 inch ShaK, the most common footprint is 30 by 52 inches, and outward-swing doors need clear floor space in front of the tub.

How to Decide

If the bather stays seated in a wheelchair or rolling shower chair for the whole shower, the roll-in base with the dam is the direct fit. If the bather can transfer from a chair onto a seat, a Transfer tub gives that person a soak and therapies as well. If soaking is the goal, choose the tub. Measure the alcove and the doorway before either purchase; Walk-In Tub and Shower Base Sizes and How to Measure for Fit explains what to measure. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can send drawings for the model or base you are weighing.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Introducing The Ella Shower Dam The Ella flexible shower dam is presented, highlighting its use for wheelchair users to easily roll into and out of a barrier-free shower base.
  2. 0:28 Installing The Shower Dam The installation process begins with measuring, cleaning surfaces, and applying the shower dam to the shower wall and floor.
  3. 1:25 Sealing The Shower Dam Painter's tape is applied, and a thin bead of silicone is used to seal the lower edge and end caps of the shower dam.
  4. 1:44 Final Result And Effectiveness The video shows the final appearance of the installed shower dam and demonstrates its effectiveness in containing water within the shower stall.

Watch: The Ella Shower Dam, Keep Water In, Roll In With Ease | Ella's Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Watch: Easy Shower Column Installation for Your Walk-In Tub | Ellau2019s Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Transfer Tub Series Overview Ella's Bubbles introduces the transfer tub series, designed for effortless entry and exit for wheelchair users.
  2. 0:52 Innovative Jet Design Features The bathtubs offer three-speed air massage with automatic purge and whirlpool with an in-line water heater and intensity control.
  3. 1:33 Dual Drain Technology Ella's Bubbles features large 2-inch dual drains for fast and efficient drainage, providing the fastest gravity drainage in the industry.
  4. 2:20 Optional Accessories Available Optional accessories include MicroBubble infusion therapy, a heated seat and backrest, light chromotherapy, and various support pillows.

Common Questions

Can a wheelchair roll straight into an Ella roll-in shower base?
Yes. The wheelchair accessible base is a curb-less roll-in pan with no threshold to step or roll over, offered in 30 x 60, 32 x 60 and 36 x 60 inch sizes. The collapsible rubber dam lets the wheels roll over it while keeping water in the shower.
Which walk-in tub works best for a wheelchair user?
The Transfer family adds a wheelchair-height open side so a bather can slide across from a chair onto the seat. The transfer-style tub is available in a 60 by 30 inch size. It suits someone who can transfer rather than someone who stays in the chair.
Can I still take a shower in a walk-in tub?
Yes. Every Ella fast-fill faucet set includes a pull-out hand shower for seated showering, and the optional shower column adds a 10 inch rain head for seated or standing showers with any Ella deck-mount faucet.
Does a walk-in tub need more electrical work than a roll-in shower?
Usually. Jetted tub packages need one or more dedicated GFCI-protected circuits installed by a licensed electrician, while a soaking tub with no powered options has nothing to plug in. A roll-in shower base has no electrical connection.
How low is the entry on a roll-in shower base?
AcrylX barrier-free bases have a beveled roll-in entry of 3/4 inch to 1 1/8 inch depending on size, and SMC bases are 1 inch or 1 1/8 inch. One-piece and three-piece stalls have a 4 inch threshold instead.
Does the roll-in shower come as one complete package?
No. Shower products are sold per item, so you put together the roll-in base in your size and drain position, a wall system sized to it, and accessories such as grab bars, a seat or a door.

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