What Is the Step-In Threshold on a Walk-In Tub?

The step-in threshold on a walk-in tub is the low lip you cross at the door, sometimes called the step-over height or step-in height. On Ella tubs it runs roughly 3.5 to 7 inches depending on the model and how the drain is set up, compared with the 18 to 22 inch wall you would swing a leg over on a standard bathtub. That low threshold, paired with a door you walk through, is what makes a walk-in tub accessible.

How It Works

The threshold height is really the height of the tub floor above the finished bathroom floor. The tub sits on adjustable leveling legs, and the drawings on each spec sheet show the factory frame height with the legs at their standard setting. Two things move that number: 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.

Ella does not offer a lift-up or drop-down door. The low threshold itself is the accessibility feature, and the door swings open like any other door.

Which Ella Models Have It

Every Ella walk-in tub has a low threshold. Published drawing values include the Monaco at 3 5/8 inches and the Mobile at about 3 3/4 inches. Team figures put the Transfer32 at about 4 to 4.5 inches, the Big4One and ShaK at about 5 inches, the Ultra at about 6, and the Elite at about 6.5. Wheelchair users usually transfer across the seat of a Transfer model rather than stepping over the threshold, so the L-shape door opening matters as much as the lip on those tubs. Model profiles: Monaco, Mobile, Big4One, ShaK, Ultra, Elite, Transfer32. The full list is in Step-in threshold heights by model.

The legacy S-Class came in 6 inch standard and 3 inch low-threshold versions.

What to Know as an Owner

If a lower step matters to you, talk with your installer before the tub goes in. Thresholds can be reduced to about 3 to 3.5 inches by setting the tub lower with the drain below the subfloor. Cutting the apron or end panel to make that work voids coverage on those altered panels only. Lowering the tub walks through the options and their effect on the warranty.

After installation, keep an eye on the leveling legs; a leg that loses contact with the floor can warp the frame and throw the door out of alignment. If you contact the team about threshold height, have your model name, your serial number, and a tape measurement from the finished floor to the top of the lip. For broader questions about wheelchair access and grab bars, see ADA and accessibility answers, and if you are weighing a tub against a shower, Walk-in tub or low-threshold shower? compares the two.

Related Guides

• Which Ella Walk-In Tubs Offer the Lowest Step-In for Seniors?
• How Deep Is a Shower Pan and Does Depth Matter?
• What is the lowest height bathtub for easy entry?
• Which low-threshold walk-in tubs come with a lifetime warranty?

Common Questions