Which walk-in tubs or tub shower combos fit a space 55 inches or shorter?

Several Ella walk-in tubs fit a space 55 inches long or shorter. The Deluxe, at 55 inches long, is the inward-swing stainless door model built for an opening of exactly 55 inches, and the 52 inch Elite, Petite, Royal, Transfer30 and Transfer26 leave room to spare. For a tighter room the Flow at 48 inches, the Mobile at 45 inches and the Front Entry at 40 inches go shorter still, and What is the smallest bathtub size you can buy for a bathroom? profiles the smallest of them in detail.

The Ella Models 55 Inches Long or Shorter

The table uses the actual exterior sizes from the current spec sheets and from our team's own answers, not the rounded sizes in the model names. Width comes first, then length, because length is what decides whether a tub fits a short opening and width is what decides whether it passes the doorway. Where a source does not give a figure, the cell says so.

What the differences mean is simple. Every tub in the table clears a 55 inch opening, so the choice comes down to how much of the length you want to use, how wide the doorway is, and which door style suits the bather. The Deluxe uses all 55 inches, the 52 inch models leave 3 inches at one end, and the Flow, Mobile and Front Entry suit rooms that were never framed for a full tub. Two more models belong in the conversation even though they are not in the table: the Transfer30 at 30 by 52 inches and the TransferXXL at 36 by 55 inches, both with the L-shape outward door for wheelchair transfer.

Matching a Model to the Opening You Measured

These are outside shell dimensions, so measure from finished wall to finished wall at the tightest point, not stud to stud. Then compare your number against the length column.

• Exactly 55 inches long. The Deluxe fits with nothing to spare, which is why the 52 inch Elite, Petite and Royal are worth knowing too. They leave a few inches of margin for an out-of-square wall, and the installer frames and finishes whatever space remains.
• 54 inches or less. The Flow at 48 inches, the Mobile at 45 inches and the Front Entry at 40 inches are the shorter choices, and all of the 52 inch models fit as well.
• 59 inches long and 38.5 inches wide. Length is the limit here, because every Ella 60 inch model is at least 59.5 inches long. The Ultimate and Zen60 are 59.5 inches, the LayDown60 is 59 3/4 inches and the Standard60 is 59.84 inches, so none of them fit a 59 inch opening. The 52 inch tubs fit easily, and if you want something wider the TransferXXL at 36 by 55 inches still sits inside a 38.5 inch width.
• 48 inches by 32 inches. The Mobile at 26 by 45 inches fits with room on both sides. The Front Entry at 32 by 40 inches uses the full 32 inch width, and the Flow at 28 by 48 inches uses the full 48 inch length, so both work only if the finished measurement truly is that number.

How Do I Evaluate a Walk-In Tub's Footprint for a Small Bathroom? turns these figures into a step-by-step check of the opening, the path into the room and the floor the door needs.

Inward or Outward Door in a Short Space

In a small bathroom the door style matters almost as much as the footprint. The inward-swing stainless steel doors on the Deluxe, Elite, Petite and Royal, and the inward acrylic S-shape door on the Flow, open into the tub and need no floor clearance in front of it. The outward-swing U-shape doors on the Mobile and Front Entry, and the L-shape outward doors on the Transfer models, swing into the room, so the floor in front of the tub has to stay clear. The L-shape door has an extra wide opening for wheelchair users, fits over a standard size toilet and requires 36 1/2 inches of clearance. The door video shows each of these door styles opening so you can picture the swing in your own room.

The door side also settles the drain side, because the drains sit on the side opposite the door: a right-side door tub has its drains on the left, and a left-side door tub has its drains on the right as you face the tub. Left hand or right hand is the one detail nothing else decides, so confirm it with your installer before you order.

Doorways count as well. The Flow passes through a 28 inch doorway and the Mobile passes a 25 inch doorway with the frame removed, which is why those two keep coming up for older homes. Where can I find a 28-inch wide bathtub for a small bathroom? explains the Petite's nominal and actual widths if you are working to a 28 inch figure.

Making a Short Tub a Tub and Shower Combo

Ella does not build a separate combo model. Any walk-in tub ordered with the 2 piece or 5 piece deck mounted fast fill faucet set works as a tub and shower combo, because the faucet includes an extendable multi-function hand shower you can use seated with the door closed. For an overhead shower, the optional 10 inch rain shower column kit connects to a diverter on either faucet set, adjusts up to 7 feet tall, and its head can be aimed at the seat for a seated shower or at the footwell for a standing one.

That means every model in the table can be a combo, including the 52 inch models and the shorter Flow, Mobile and Front Entry. Before adding the column, check the ceiling height above the tub, and measure the doorway and the path to the bathroom as well as the opening itself. If your room was framed for a standard tub and you only have a short space because of a vanity or a wall, What Is an Alcove Installation for a Walk-In Tub? explains how most 52 and 55 inch models use an extension panel to fill a 60 inch alcove instead.

Send your finished wall-to-wall measurements, the doorway width and the hand you need to your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, or open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support, and the team can confirm the fit for your exact opening.

Watch: Pick the Perfect Walk-In Tub Door: 5 Elegant Door Options | Ella’s Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• Will it fit through my doorway? How to measure your home for a walk-in tub
• Will it fit my alcove? Extension panels, end panels, and 60 inch spaces
• How do I measure my bathroom and myself for a walk-in tub?

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