What Is a Roll In Shower? Meaning, Sizes, ADA Rules and Cost
The plain-English definition, the ADA numbers, how it compares to a walk in shower and a transfer shower, and what one costs installed in a day.
Accredited since 2012★ 4.9 Google (35 reviews)In business since 2011No in-home sales visitWhat is a roll in shower?
A roll in shower is a shower with a threshold of 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches, or none at all, so a wheelchair can roll straight in and an unsteady person can step in without climbing a curb. The floor slopes gently to a drain to keep water in, and most add a fold-up seat, grab bars and a handheld wand. The standard size is 60 by 30 inches, the same footprint as a bathtub, which is why most are installed as tub replacements in a single day.
Roll in shower meaning, in plain terms
"Roll in" refers to the wheelchair rolling in, not the water. In the ADA Standards for Accessible Design, a roll-in type shower compartment is at least 30 inches deep by 60 inches wide with a threshold no higher than 1/2 inch (a 2 inch beveled threshold is allowed only for transfer-type showers in existing buildings). Residential roll in showers follow the same idea with a little more flexibility: a beveled threshold of about 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches, which keeps water in better than a flush floor and is still easy to roll over.
Roll in shower vs. walk in shower vs. transfer shower
| Type | Threshold | Entry | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roll in shower | 0 to 1.5 inches | Wheelchair rolls in, or step in flat | Full-time wheelchair users, caregivers, aging in place |
| Walk in shower | 2 to 6 inch curb, no door | Step over a low curb | Cane or walker users, anyone who wants easy entry |
| ADA transfer shower | Half-height curb, 36 x 36 | Sit on the L-shaped seat from the chair and swing in | Small bathrooms, people who transfer rather than roll |
| Walk in tub | 3 to 7 inch door threshold | Open the door, step in, sit | People who want to soak and can step over a few inches |
Roll in shower facts
- Threshold 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches (ADA: 1/2 inch max)
- Standard size 60 x 30; residential up to 75 x 49
- Floor slopes to a center, end or trench drain
- Fold-up seat 17 to 19 inches high
- Grab bars 33 to 36 inches, 250 lb rated
- Curtain or collapsible water dam, no swinging door
- One-piece or multi-piece (multi-piece fits up stairs)
- Installed in a day as a tub replacement
Roll in showers we install
Full roll in shower guide → · Walk in showers for disabled people → · ADA code-compliant units →
How a roll in shower keeps water in without a curb
Three things do the job: a floor that slopes about 1/4 inch per foot toward the drain, a drain sized for the flow (a 2 inch center drain, an end drain, or a trench drain along the entry), and a water stopper: either a weighted curtain that overlaps the pan edge or a collapsible rubber dam you roll over. Done right, the bathroom floor stays dry. Done wrong, with a flat pan and a plain curtain, it does not, which is why we install the pan dead level and test with the wand before we leave.
How much does a roll in shower cost?
Installed by our crews, a 60 x 30 roll in shower system with seat, grab bars, wand, demolition, plumbing and wall system runs about $15,500 after the current $2,000 promotion, and oversized one-piece systems about $17,000, itemized. Supply-only systems start in the low thousands with free shipping to the lower 48 on many models. National TV brands quote $20,000 to $30,000 for the same work. Itemized cost guide →
Who pays for a roll in shower
- Veterans: the VA HISA grant, up to $6,800, with our four-minute estimate planner.
- Medicaid waivers: most states fund bathroom modifications for eligible seniors and adults with disabilities.
- Medicare Advantage home-safety allowances on some plans; Original Medicare does not pay.
- Everyone: monthly financing and senior, veteran and disability discounts.
Roll in shower or walk in tub?
If the bather uses a wheelchair full time, a roll in shower is faster to use and easier for a caregiver. If they can step over a few inches and want to soak, a walk in tub with a heated seat is the better buy. The middle path is a tub shower combo. We will tell you which on the first call.
What Is a Roll In Shower? Meaning, Sizes, ADA Rules and Cost FAQ
What is a roll in shower?
A roll in shower is a shower with a threshold of 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches or none at all, so a wheelchair can roll straight in. The floor slopes to a drain to keep water in, and most add a fold-up seat, grab bars and a handheld wand. The standard size is 60 x 30 inches.
What does roll in shower mean?
"Roll in" means a wheelchair can roll into the shower without climbing a curb. In the ADA standards a roll-in shower compartment is at least 60 inches wide by 30 inches deep with a threshold no higher than 1/2 inch.
What is the difference between a roll in shower and a walk in shower?
A walk in shower has no door but usually a 2 to 6 inch curb to step over; a roll in shower has a threshold under 1 1/2 inches or none at all so a wheelchair can enter. All roll in showers are walk in showers, but most walk in showers are not roll in.
How big is a roll in shower?
The ADA standard is 60 inches wide by 30 inches deep, the footprint of a bathtub. Residential one-piece and multi-piece systems run from 60 x 30 up to 75 x 49.
How much does a roll in shower cost?
Installed, most roll in shower projects land between $13,500 and $17,000 itemized, including pan, walls, seat, grab bars, demolition and labor. Supply-only systems start in the low thousands.
Does a roll in shower need a door?
No. A roll in shower uses a weighted curtain or a collapsible water dam instead of a swinging door, so nothing blocks the wheelchair or a caregiver.
Let's make your bathroom a safer 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.