Measuring a Chicago bathroom for a walk-in tub
Chicago bathrooms come with quirks: radiators, plaster, narrow stairs and walls that are not quite square. Ten minutes with a tape measure prevents the most common ordering mistakes.
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Why measuring matters so much
Walk-in tubs are built in fixed sizes with a left or right drain, and many options are installed at the factory. Order the wrong drain side or a tub that will not fit up the stairs and you are looking at delays, restocking or extra remodeling. Most of those mistakes are avoidable with a few numbers and photos.
You will need a 25-foot tape measure, a phone camera and a notepad. Measure in inches. Where a space is uneven, measure in more than one spot and use the smallest number.
1. The tub alcove
Measure wall to wall along the back of the tub at the top rim, the middle and the floor. Then measure from the back wall to the front edge of the tub. Finally, note the ceiling height or any window or shelf above the tub.
Many Chicago bungalows have a standard 60-inch tub alcove, which is the footprint many walk-in tubs are built for. Shorter alcoves suit compact models, and a filler panel can close a small gap. Plaster walls are often slightly out of square, which is why the smallest of your measurements counts.
Built-in tile tubs: some vintage bathrooms have a tub framed in with tile on the front. Measure the full opening, not just the tub interior, and take a photo of the front.
2. The drain side
Stand facing the long, open side of the tub, where you step in. If the drain and faucet are on your left, it is a left-hand drain. If they are on your right, it is a right-hand drain. Write it down and take a photo.
Choosing the matching drain side keeps plumbing changes to a minimum. In older homes with cast iron drain lines, moving a drain can mean opening a ceiling below, which matters a lot in a two-flat with neighbors downstairs.
Photo list
- The tub from the bathroom door
- The drain and faucet end up close
- The bathroom door and hallway
- The water heater label
- The electrical panel with the door open
3. Door swing and clearances
In front of the tub
Measure the clear floor space between the tub's front edge and the nearest obstacle: toilet, vanity, radiator or opposite wall. An outward-swing tub door needs room to open fully, plus room for the bather to stand.
Radiators
Steam and hot water radiators are common beside tubs in older Chicago homes. Note where yours is and how far it is from the tub. It can affect door choice and grab bar placement.
The bathroom door
Note which way it swings and its width. Inward-swinging bathroom doors in small rooms can collide with a tub door or a walker.
Windows
Tub-wall windows are common in bungalows. A window low on the wall can affect faucet placement or surround panels.
4. The path from the street to the bathroom
This is the measurement people forget. The boxed tub has to make it from the curb to the alcove. Measure the width of every door on the route and the narrowest point of each hallway. Note any tight turns, especially at the top or bottom of stairs.
For two-flats and three-flats, measure both the front stairs and the back porch stairs. The back route is sometimes wider. In high-rises, measure the service elevator door width and the cab's depth and height, and ask management about reservation rules.
- Front or back entry door width
- Stair width and any landings or turns
- Hallway width at the narrowest point
- Bathroom door width
- Elevator door and cab size, if any
5. Water heater and electrical
Find the label on your water heater and photograph it. It shows the tank size in gallons, or the flow rating for a tankless unit, and the fuel type. Deep walk-in tubs use a lot of hot water, and winter inlet water in Chicago is cold, so tank size matters more here than in warmer places.
If you are considering jets or heat, photograph your electrical panel with the door open. An electrician can tell from the photo whether there is space for a dedicated circuit.
Basement heater, second-floor tub? Long pipe runs mean waiting for hot water to arrive. Tell us where the heater is relative to the bathroom.
A simple measurement sheet
Copy this onto a piece of paper and fill it in. Sending it with your photos lets us narrow the options in one conversation.
- Alcove length: top ___ middle ___ floor ___ inches
- Alcove depth from back wall: ___ inches
- Drain side: left / right
- Clear floor space in front of tub: ___ inches
- Bathroom door width: ___ inches; swings in / out
- Narrowest door or hallway on the route: ___ inches
- Stairs: number of flights ___; width ___; turns yes / no
- Water heater: ___ gallons; gas / electric / tankless; age ___
- Building type and floor: ________
Do not stress about precision. Approximate numbers and good photos get the conversation started. We confirm everything before anything is ordered.
Notes by building type
| Building | Watch for |
|---|---|
| Bungalow | Often a standard 60-inch alcove; plaster walls; check floor framing under tile and the drain side |
| Two-flat or three-flat | Narrow stairs and landings; neighbors below; old cast iron stacks |
| Greystone | Older layouts, radiators and narrow bathrooms; door swing clearance |
| Vintage condo or co-op | Building approval for plumbing work; elevator size; shared stacks |
| Newer high-rise | Management rules, work hours, elevator reservations |
| Suburban ranch or split-level | Often more space for wider models; check slab or crawl space for the drain |
Measuring questions
My walls are not square. Which measurement do I use?
Use the smallest measurement you find. A tub sized to the widest point will not fit where the walls pinch in. Send us all of the numbers and a photo so we can see the variation.
Can you measure for me?
Yes. Your own measurements and photos help us narrow down models quickly, and we confirm everything before anything is ordered.
What if the tub will not fit up my stairs?
Check the back porch route and consider compact models, which travel through tighter spaces. If no tub can make the trip, a shower conversion built in place may be the better answer.
Got your numbers? Let's look at models.
Honest guidance for Chicago-area homes. No pressure, ever.