A standard walk in tub seat is about 20 to 22 inches wide. A bariatric walk in tub seats 24 to 29 inches, in a shell 33 to 36 inches wide, on a reinforced frame. The door is the part most brands get wrong: a wide bather needs a wide, deep opening, which is why the L-shaped outward doors on the Ella TransferXXL and the U-door on the ShaK are our first recommendations. We have installed bariatric tubs for bathers over 400 pounds; the tub is never the limit, the framing and the water heater are, and we check both before you order.
Bariatric Walk In Tubs: Built for Larger Bathers
Seat width is the number that matters. These tubs seat hips up to 28 inches and bathers up to 7 feet, with doors rated for daily use by larger adults.
29"widest seat
36"widest shell
7'tallest bather fit
1 daytypical install
Models that fit
3555 Plus
35.75" × 55" · Bariatric-width 36-inch tub with the roomiest seat in the line.
View model →
Royal
32" × 52" · seat 24" · Two extra inches of width for a roomier 24-inch seat.
View model →
Big4One
33" × 66" · seat 24" · Built for tall and large bathers up to 7 feet: 33 x 66 with a 21-inch-deep seat.
View model →
ShaK
36" × 72" · seat 29" · The largest single-seat walk in tub we sell: 36 x 72 with a 29-inch seat.
View model →
Front Entry
32" × 40" · seat 24" · Only 40 inches long: the door is on the end, so it fits shower stalls and corners.
View model →
Transfer32
32" × 52" · seat 24" · 32-inch wide transfer tub with a 24-inch seat.
View model →
TransferXXL
36" × 55" · seat 29" · Bariatric transfer tub: 36 inches wide with a 29-inch seat.
View model →
Big4Two
36" × 80" · seat 24" · Two-person tub at 36 x 80: bathe together or with a caregiver.
View model →
Lay Down 30x60
30" × 60" · seat 26" · Lie back like a conventional tub, with a door: 30 x 60 lay-down.
View model →
Lay Down 32x72
32" × 72" · seat 28" · Full-length 72-inch lay-down soaker with a door.
View model →
Escape
36" × 72" · seat 29" · Two-seat 36 x 72 with an inward door for tighter bathrooms.
View model →
Companion
32" × 60" · seat 25" · Two seats in a 32 x 60 footprint with an inward door.
View model →What to check before you buy a bariatric walk in tub
- Seated hip width plus 2 inches is the minimum seat width. Measure on a dining chair.
- Door opening: outward doors open the full seat width; inward doors on wide tubs can still be tight.
- Floor: a 36 x 72 tub with 90 gallons and a bather weighs over 1,500 pounds. Slab floors are fine; crawlspace and second-floor installs sometimes need a sister joist, which we price up front.
- Water heater: 85 to 100 gallon soaks need a 50-gallon-plus heater or a tankless unit for a full warm fill.
- Doorways: a 36-inch shell needs a 32-inch clear path, or we plan to remove a door frame and replace it the same day.
Questions we answer every day
What is the widest walk in tub you sell?
The Ella ShaK at 36 by 72 inches with a 29-inch seat, followed by the Ella Big4Two (36 x 80, two seats), TransferXXL (36 x 55), Escape (36 x 72), Meditub 3660 and the Hydro Dimensions 3555 Plus.
What weight can a bariatric walk in tub hold?
Reinforced-frame models are rated for 400 pounds and up; several handle more. The floor under the tub is what we verify on every bariatric job.
Do bariatric tubs fit a normal bathroom?
A 36-inch-wide tub needs a 36-inch alcove and a clear path in. Many bathrooms have the alcove; the doorway is the usual issue, and widening it is a same-day job for our crews.
Is there a bariatric tub with a wheelchair transfer door?
Yes. The Ella TransferXXL has a 29-inch seat and an L-shaped outward door for a level slide-in transfer.
Free, no-pressure guidance
Let's make your bathroom the safest room in the house.
Talk to a real person about walk in tubs, roll in showers, installation in your area and pricing. Veteran & senior discounts included.