Which walk-in tub models have a finished height of 35 inches or less?

Three seated Ella walk-in tubs stand 35 inches tall overall: the Elite at 30 by 52 inches, the Petite at 28 by 52 inches and the Royal at 32 by 52 inches. That is as low as a seated Ella tub goes, since they cannot be built shorter, and the next model up, the Ultimate 30x60, sits at 35 3/4 inches. If you need something lower than 35 inches, the LayDown family is the only option, with the LayDown 30x60 at 21 inches high at the deck edge, and it has no seat. The published dimensions of the 60 inch models are compared in Which Walk-In Tub Fits a 32 by 60 Inch Alcove for a Tall Bather?, and this page filters the lineup by height instead.

Models at or Under 35 Inches, Compared

The table lists the overall height for each model named in Ella's published figures, with the actual exterior size where it is published. The size in a model's name is a rounded nominal figure, so measure against the actual inch value on the current spec sheet.

What the differences mean: if the constraint is a window sill, a vanity top or anything else beside the tub at 35 inches, the Elite, Petite and Royal are the seated tubs that land exactly at that figure, and the choice among them is width, 30, 27.5 or 32 inches actual. The Ultimate is only slightly taller but is a 60 inch tub, so it fills a standard alcove on its own where the three 52 inch tubs use an extension panel. The LayDown clears a far lower sill but changes how you bathe, because there is no molded seat to sit on.

The Three Seated Tubs at 35 Inches

The Elite's actual size is 30 by 52 by 35 inches, and its actual exterior width is 30 inches. The Petite is sold as a 28 inch tub, but its actual width is 27.5 inches, with the 52 inch length and 35 inch height, and it carries the narrowest seat in the lineup at 19 inches. The Royal is the 32 by 52 inch tub at 35 inches tall. All three are 52 inch tubs, so in the usual 60 inch alcove they use an extension panel to fill the gap at one end so the finished installation looks built in, as What Is an Alcove Installation for a Walk-In Tub? explains. Seat height is roughly 17 inches above the tub floor on most models, and the seat is molded into the shell, so a lower overall tub does not mean a lower seat; What Are Seat Width and Seat Height on a Walk-In Tub? covers how to measure yourself against the seat figures.

Why 35 Inches Is the Floor for a Seated Tub, and What Installation Changes

Seated Ella tubs cannot be built shorter than 35 inches, so there is no custom lower version to ask for. What can move is where the tub lands once installed. The height on the drawing is taken with the adjustable leveling legs at their standard setting. A recessed drain lets the tub sit lower, and a different leg setting raises or lowers the frame, so the figure on the drawing is the starting point and your installation decides the final height. The same adjustment is what reduces the step-in threshold: thresholds can be brought down to about 3 to 3.5 inches by setting the tub lower with the drain below the subfloor, and published drawing values run from the Monaco at 3 5/8 inches to the Elite at about 6.5 inches, as What Is the Step-In Threshold on a Walk-In Tub? lists. Cutting the apron or end panel to make a lowered tub work voids coverage on those altered panels only. One visible sign of a lowered tub is the gap under the front apron: the toe kick panel is two inches wide and usually comes installed, and when the tub sits lower the gap drops below two inches and the panel is trimmed to fit, which Gap Between the Front Apron and the Floor walks through. After installation, keep an eye on the legs, because a leg that loses contact with the floor can warp the frame and throw the door out of alignment.

When You Need Lower Than 35 Inches

The LayDown is the only Ella family under 24 inches. The LayDown 30x60 measures 60 inches long by 30 inches wide by 21 inches high at the deck edge, and the backrest end rises to 25 3/4 inches. It is a lie-down soaking tub with no seat, so it answers a low window or a low counter at the cost of the seated bathing that defines the rest of the lineup. If a seat matters, the honest answer is that 35 inches is the lowest seated option, and the installer's leg and drain setting is the only place to find a little more clearance.

How to Measure Your Bathroom for Height

• Measure from the finished floor to the bottom of the window trim or the underside of the counter, and compare that number with the actual height on the model's spec sheet, not the nominal name.
• Measure the width of the opening wall to wall at the back and at the front, since the 52 inch tubs also need room for the extension panel at one end.
• If a lower step matters as much as a lower deck, take a tape measurement from the finished floor to where the top of the lip would sit, and talk with your installer about a recessed drain before the tub goes in.
• When you open a ticket about fit, have the model name, the measured opening, the actual size from the spec sheet and your height measurement ready so the team can confirm the match.

Related Guides

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• Low Windows and Countertops: Checking Tub Height Before You Order

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