Which walk-in tubs fit a space 59 inches long and 38.5 inches wide?

For a space 59 inches long and 38.5 inches wide, the length is what limits you, because every Ella 60 inch model is at least 59.5 inches long and will not go in. Several shorter tubs fit easily: the Elite and the Transfer30 at 30 by 52 inches, the Petite at 27.5 by 52 inches, the Transfer26 at 26 by 52 inches, the TransferXXL at 36 by 55 inches, the Flow at 28 by 48 inches and the Mobile at 26 by 45 inches. The complete size list is in What are the standard dimensions of a walk-in tub?, and this page works through the 59 by 38.5 inch question one model at a time.

Why the 60 Inch Tubs Are Out

Ella's 60 inch tubs are named for the standard 60 inch alcove they are built to fill, and their actual lengths sit just under that round number. The Ultimate and the Zen60 are 59.5 inches long, the LayDown60 is 59 3/4 inches and the Standard60 is 59.84 inches. Every one of those figures is longer than a 59 inch opening. These are outside measurements of the acrylic shell, not a trim piece an installer can cut back, so a tub that is even half an inch too long is simply too long for the space.

Before you rule them out, measure the opening again from finished wall to finished wall, once at the back of the alcove and once along the front edge. Walls that look parallel often are not, and the smaller of the two readings is the one the tub has to clear. If both readings come in at 59 inches, set the 60 inch models aside and choose from the shorter footprints below. If the front reading turns out wider than the back, tell the team both figures, because the difference changes how the end of the tub is finished.

The Ella Models That Fit a 59 by 38.5 Inch Space

The figures below are the outside measurements of the tub shell from the current spec sheets. Width is the short side that runs from the front of the tub to the back wall, and length runs along the wall.

What the differences mean: the Elite and the Transfer30 share the most common Ella footprint, so they are the natural first choice if you want the fullest tub the opening can take, and the Transfer30 is the one to pick if the bather will transfer from a wheelchair. The Petite and the Transfer26 give up width for a narrower tub, which matters more for the doorway than for this alcove. The TransferXXL goes the other way, using 36 of your 38.5 inches of width and 55 inches of the length, so it is the largest tub that fits this opening. The Flow and the Mobile leave more of the opening to finish, and the Mobile has no extension panel, so the installer frames the remaining space instead. The 60 inch tubs are the only ones ruled out, and they are ruled out by length alone.

Closing the Gap at the End of a Shorter Tub

A 52 inch tub in a 59 inch opening leaves a gap at one end, and that gap is normal. An Ella tub shorter than 60 inches includes an extension panel that mounts at the end of the tub frame and closes the space at the wall, so the finished installation looks built in. The panels can be cut down to size, which is how a standard tub fits an alcove that is a little larger than the tub itself without a custom shell. Walk-In Tub and Shower Base Sizes and How to Measure for Fit covers the cut-to-fit panels, and What Is an Alcove Installation for a Walk-In Tub? explains how the panel, the tile flange and the wall surround come together in a three-wall opening.

• The Front Entry and the Mobile have no extension panel. With those models the installer frames and finishes any remaining space.
• Alcove placement puts the plumbing end of the tub against a wall, so ask your installer to add a wall access panel behind it. Pumps and drain connections can then be reached without disturbing tile.
• A shower column on a tub with an extension panel uses the long 4 to 5 inch pipe connector to reach the wall, and the 4-fold glass screen converts to a 3-fold screen by removing one section. Mention the alcove and the panel when you ask about either accessory.

Width, Doorways and the Path into the Bathroom

Every tub in the table is narrower than 38.5 inches, including the TransferXXL at 36 inches, so the width of this opening does not rule anything out. Where width usually decides the job is the route the tub must travel to reach the bathroom. How Wide Is a Walk-In Tub, and Will It Fit Your Home? lists the verified widths and explains which figure on a listing is the width.

The first video on this page walks through the method. Measure every doorway and hallway the tub must pass through, then open the download tab for the tub you are considering on the Ella website to find its specific dimensions, and compare the actual exterior width with your narrowest opening. The video gives the Petite as an example, listed as a 28 inch tub with an actual exterior width of 27 1/2 inches. The width it quotes for the Elite is an older figure; the current spec sheet lists the Elite at 30 inches, so use the spec sheet for whichever model you are measuring for. The second video shows the Transfer family up close: the outward swing door opens a full 180 degrees and there is no sidewall next to the seat, so a bather can wheel up to the tub, drop the chair arm and transfer straight onto the seat.

Before You Choose

The width and length on a listing describe the floor footprint, not the bathing space inside. The interior is described separately by seat width, seat length and the depth from the top of the seat to the overflow, which runs roughly 15 to 18 inches across the mid-size models. Are Walk-In Tub Dimensions the Floor Footprint or the Inside Bathing Space? explains both sets of numbers, and it is worth reading before you pick between two tubs with the same footprint.

The same method works for any opening. The size in a model's name is a rounded nominal figure, so a tub sold as 28 inches can measure 27.5 inches and a 5 foot tub can measure 59.5 inches. The actual inch figure on the current spec drawing is always the one to measure against, and when a metric figure printed beside it disagrees, the inch figure is correct. The smallest standard size Ella lists is 26 by 45 inches, the longest models run to 72 inches, and heights run from 21 inches on the LayDown to 40 inches on the Lounger, so a short wall, a long wall or a low window can all be checked the same way.

If you would like the team to confirm the fit, have the width of the opening measured wall to wall at the back and at the front, the model name, and the actual size from the spec sheet, then contact your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, or open a request at ellasbubbles.com/support. With those three things the team can confirm the extension panel and the finishing details for your bathroom.

Watch: Wheelchair Transfer Walk-In Tubs Designed for Easy Access | Voted Safest/Best 2020 | Ella’s Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

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

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