Will a Tub Transfer Bench Fit Your Bathtub? How to Measure

A tub transfer bench straddles the side of the bathtub, so it needs room in two places: inside the basin and on the bathroom floor. To check the fit, measure the tub at the spot where the bench will sit. Compare those numbers with the tub dimensions specified for the exact model. A listing that gives only seat width leaves several fit questions open.

Four bathtub measurements to take before shopping

Pick the side you would approach from and sketch the tub in cross section, as if you had sliced through it from side to side. Mark these four distances in inches:

1. Tub wall height. Measure from the bathroom floor to the top of the rim. If the tub floor is raised, also record the height from inside the basin to the rim. Label each measurement so the supplier can match it to the model’s diagram.
2. Rim width. Measure across the ledge the bench will span. Include any fixed door track in your sketch and record its height separately.
3. Inside width at the top. Measure the clear opening from the inside edge of the near rim to the opposite inside wall.
4. Inside width at the bottom. Measure across the usable tub floor where the feet would rest. In a tub with sloping sides, the basin can be several inches narrower here than at the rim.

A worked example using the Drive Medical Splash Defense bench

For model RTL12032KDR, Drive lists a tub height of up to 15.5 inches and an edge width of up to 5.5 inches. The opening must be at least 23 inches wide at the top and 18.5 inches at the bottom. These limits are specific to this bench. Drive Medical’s dimensional specifications.

Suppose your tub measures 24 inches across the top and 18 inches at the bottom. The opening meets the top-width requirement, but the base is half an inch too narrow for this model. Discovering that before checkout saves you from assembling a bench that cannot fit as specified. See the Splash Defense transfer bench.

Check the bathroom side before you order

Mark the proposed outside leg positions on the dry floor using the manufacturer’s footprint. Open the bathroom door fully. Check the distance to the toilet and vanity, and whether there is room to approach the exposed end of the seat. If your tub has a fixed glass panel or a raised door track, photograph it and ask the supplier to confirm compatibility with that exact enclosure.

For a fit check, send the model number, your four labeled measurements and a photo showing both sides of the rim. If the listing gives seat dimensions alone, ask for a drawing showing the legs and the clearance under the seat before placing your order.