By Zach Wennstedt, owner of Aging Safely Baths. Sizes below are taken from our own product pages; always confirm on the spec sheet before ordering. Updated October 2026.
"Our bathroom is too small for a walk in tub." We hear it every week, and most of the time it is not true. A standard walk in tub is about 51 to 60 inches long, the same as a regular tub. But there are compact models built for small hall baths, condos and older homes, and a few front-entry tubs short enough to fit where no regular tub would.
Compact walk in tubs, smallest first
| Model | Width x length (inches) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro Dimensions 3137 | 31.5 x 37.25 | Very small spaces, front entry |
| Meditub 3238 | 32 x 38 | Front entry in a short alcove |
| Meditub 2739 | 27 x 39 | Narrow and short spaces |
| Ella Front Entry 3240 | 32 x 40 | Front entry, deep seat |
| Meditub 3140 | 31 x 40 | Short alcoves |
| Hydro Dimensions 2645 | 26 x 45 | Narrow bathrooms, smaller bathers |
| Ella Mobile | 26 x 45 | Narrow spaces |
| Meditub 2646 | 26 x 46 | Narrow spaces |
| Meditub 2747 | 27 x 47 | Small alcoves |
| Hydro Dimensions 3048 | 27.75 x 47.75 | A little more room in a short space |
| Ella Flow | 28 x 48 | Small alcoves |
Sizes from each model's product page. Height, door side, seat height and therapy options vary by model; check the spec sheet.
Not sure which fits? Try the 10-second product finder or compare tubs side by side.
Front-entry tubs: the small-bathroom secret
Most walk in tubs have the door on the long side. A front-entry tub has the door on the short end, so you step in facing the seat. Because the tub is short, around 37 to 40 inches, it can fit in a corner or a short alcove where a standard 5-foot tub space does not exist. They tend to be deeper, so you still get a real soak.
How to measure a small bathroom
- The tub or shower space: length wall to wall, and depth from the back wall to where the front of the tub would sit.
- Clearance in front: room to stand and swing the door. Inward doors need less room outside the tub.
- Every doorway and turn on the way in. The tub has to fit through the house, not just the bathroom.
- Ceiling height if you want a shower over the tub.
You do not have to get this perfect. Once you pick a model, a tech comes out for a site visit before install day and measures everything, including the path in from the street.
What you give up with a compact tub
- Leg room. Taller bathers may find short tubs cramped. Sit in the seat position on a kitchen chair and measure from the seat back to your feet.
- Seat width. Narrow tubs have narrower seats.
- Options. Some compact models offer fewer therapy options than full-size tubs.
The upside: a smaller tub holds less water, so it fills and drains faster and needs less hot water. See fill and drain time and water heater size.
Too small for any tub?
If the space is under about 37 inches, or the person does not need to soak, a roll in or transfer shower may be the better fit. Compare roll in, transfer and curbless showers.
Call 1-888-779-2284 (7 days, 7am to 8pm MT) or request your price range. No high-pressure sales pitch. Once you pick your unit, a tech visits your home before install day.
Frequently asked questions
What is the smallest walk in tub?
Front-entry walk in tubs are the most compact, at about 37 to 40 inches long. Among our models, the Hydro Dimensions 3137 is about 31.5 by 37.25 inches and the Meditub 3238 is 32 by 38 inches.
Can you put a walk in tub in a small bathroom?
Often, yes. Compact walk in tubs run from about 37 to 48 inches long, compared with 51 to 60 inches for standard models, and front-entry tubs fit short alcoves and corners.
What is a front-entry walk in tub?
A walk in tub with the door on the short end instead of the long side. It is shorter and usually deeper, so it fits small spaces and still allows a deep soak.
Do small walk in tubs fill faster?
Yes. A smaller tub holds less water, so it fills and drains faster and needs less hot water than a full-size tub.