Which Ella walk-in tubs have an outward swing door?

Ella's Bubbles builds its outward swing doors in two families. The U-shape outward swing door is on the Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, Shak, Big4One and Tub4Two, and the L-shape outward transfer door is on the Transfer26, Transfer30, Transfer32, Transfer60 and TransferXXL. The two 60 inch outswing tubs people ask about most are compared figure by figure in Lounger Versus Transfer60: A Side-by-Side Comparison From the Spec Sheets, and this page lays out the whole outward swing lineup by size, seat and door so you can narrow it to your bathroom.

The Two Outward Swing Door Families

Both families open out into the bathroom instead of into the tub, which is what makes entry and exit easier, and both lock with Ella's gear and shaft mechanism. They differ in the shape of the opening and in the number of latches.

• U-shape outward swing door. A plastic (PVC) composite frame holds a tempered glass panel, and the door closes with a three-latch gear and shaft mechanism. This is the door on the Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, Shak and Big4One. The Tub4Two uses the same outward U-shape door, with a tempered frosted glass panel in a white composite frame. None of these is a stainless steel inward swing door, whatever an older feature list may print.
• L-shape outward transfer door. The L-shape door is the reason the Transfer family exists. Its lower door line lets a bather slide onto the seat from a wheelchair or walker while seated, rather than stepping through a taller opening. It is an extra wide door, it is designed to fit over a toilet, and it locks with a two-shaft gear and lock system. On the Transfer60 the door swings outward through 172 degrees.

The first video on this page shows the locking hardware the two families share: the U-shaped door with its three shaft gear and lock system, the extra wide L-shaped door with its two shaft system, and the handle that engages and disengages for a tight, leak-proof seal.

Outward Swing Models by Size and Seat

The table pulls the published figures for the outward swing models that are most often shortlisted. Nominal sizes are the rounded figures used in model names and on product pages. Actual sizes come from the spec sheet drawing and are the ones to measure an alcove against. Where a figure is not printed in the sources for this page, the cell says not listed.

What the differences mean: the door family decides how you get in, and the width decides how much seat you get. The L-shape models are the ones to look at when a bather transfers from a wheelchair or walker, and among them the seat width climbs from 19 inches on the Transfer26 to 24 inches on the Transfer32 as the shell widens from 26 to 32 inches. The Transfer60 trades a longer footprint for the longest seat, 22 inches wide by 18 1/2 inches long, so it suits a taller bather in a full 60 inch opening. The Lounger gives you the U-shape outward door in a 60 inch length but is three inches narrower than the Transfer60, and that shows up as a 20 inch seat. The Monaco is the U-shape model to look at when a wider seat matters more than length.

Four more U-shape models sit at footprints that are not in the table: the Front Entry at 32 by 40 inches, the Mobile at 26 by 45 inches, the Big4One at 33 by 66 inches and the Shak at 36 by 72 inches. With the Lounger, the Big4One and the Shak are the longer footprints in the U-shape family. The Tub4Two also carries the outward U-shape door, and its size comes from its own spec sheet.

Which Outward Door Tubs Come Without Jets

Every model in the Transfer family is offered as a soaking tub with no jets as well as with therapy packages, and so is the Lounger. On the product page you choose the Soaking option, and the footprint, the door, the seat and the low step-in are the same as on the jetted version. The 60 inch soakers are listed with their footprints in Which 60 inch Ella walk-in tubs come without jets, and how big are they?, and the 52 and 55 inch transfer models are ranked in What is the shortest wheelchair transfer tub and which come without jets?.

If the search is for a 30 by 60 tub with no jets and an outward door, the Transfer60 is the one model that lines up on all three points, as Which 30x60 Walk-In Tubs Have No Jets and an Outward-Swing Door? explains. The Zen60 fills the same 30 by 60 footprint, but its door swings inward and it is built only as a hydro tub, so it does not qualify. On a jetted Transfer tub, the jet count is set by the therapy package you choose rather than by the model name, so pick the footprint and seat first and the package second.

What an Outward Door Means for Your Bathroom

• Clear floor space in front of the tub. An outward swing door needs room to open into the bathroom. Check the published door widths and swing arcs on the model's spec sheet and confirm the door clears the toilet before you settle on a model. The L-shape door is designed to fit over a toilet.
• Door and drain are on opposite sides. 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. Find your house drain before you choose the door side, and have both sides ready when you reach out.
• Measure against the actual size. The Lounger measures 27 by 59 by 40 inches and the Transfer60 measures 29.5 by 60 by 40 inches, so both stand 40 inches high, which sets what the faucet wall and any shower curtain have to clear. The 52 and 55 inch models use an extension panel to fill a 60 inch opening. How do I measure my bathtub and alcove for a replacement? walks through the three measurements to take.

Removing or Replacing an Outward Swing Door

An outward swing door comes off at the hinge without disturbing the tub. The second video on this page shows the job: with a 3/16 Allen wrench, loosen and remove the six bolts on the door side of the hinge, then have an assistant help you lift the door away from the tub. To fit a door, line up the bolt holes on the door with the holes on the hinge and tighten the bolts firmly. If a door or its seal needs replacing, the part ships under the warranty and a local licensed plumber does the labor, since Ella does not send technicians. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 with your serial number.

Watch: Ella's Bubbles: Replacing An Outward Swing Door with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• How Wide Is the Door Opening? Published Door Widths, Swing Arcs and Clearance by Door Family
• Inward or Outward Swing Door: Which Should I Choose Before Ordering?
• How does the outward U-shape door latch and seal against the water?

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