American Standard vs Kohler: A Walk-In Tub Comparison

Three-quarters of Americans 50 and older would like to remain in their current homes for as long as they can, according to a 2024 survey from AARP. “Aging-in-place,” as it’s known colloquially, means staying in one’s home and community as opposed to being moved to a nursing home or assisted living facility. In the same survey, however, half of adults said they aren’t confident that their community will meet their needs as they age. Accessible products like walk-in bathtubs can help seniors comfortably age-in-place and lower their risk of falls.

American Standard and Kohler are two of the U.S.’s largest manufacturers of walk-in tubs. While American Standard offers a whopping 86 self-installed models plus three professionally installed models, Kohler offers four customizable walk-in tubs with a slew of design options to choose from. In this article, we’ll compare the walk-in tubs from American Standard and Kohler head to head, comparing equipment, features, safety, and costs to help you make the best buying decision for you. Whether you’re looking to save money or to make your bathroom beautiful as well as accessible, you should be able to find a tub that works for you from one of these companies.

Company Background and Reputation

In general, American Standard has a strong history of providing bathroom fixtures and accessibility solutions, while Kohler is known for their innovation in bathroom design. American Standard was originally founded as the Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company in 1875, making the company exactly 150 years old as of 2025. They were the first company to create built-in tubs, faucets that mixed both hot and cold water, and one-piece toilets. Today, American Standard is known for not only tubs but also for toilets, showers, faucets, sinks, and vanities.

Kohler, on the other hand, was founded in 1873, two years before American Standard. Originally, the company made farm equipment, but in 1883, they pivoted into the bathroom space, selling a hog scalder and water trough as a bathtub. Fortunately, the company’s bathroom products have improved since then, and Kohler is now known for well-designed kitchen and bathroom products.

Both companies are known for making some of the best walk-in tubs on the market, and both have high ratings on Consumer Affairs, a third-party review site. While American Standard has a 4.6 out of five stars, Kohler has a 4.9. Kohler also fared slightly better with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), with an A+ rating compared to American Standard’s B-; American Standard lost points for not responding or resolving complaints. As far as customer support goes, Kohler has consistently good reviews, from the sales process to maintenance, while American Standard’s reviews are mixed. Both companies offer customer service through online forms and phone lines during normal business hours.

Core Product Lines

American Standard offers 89 tubs to choose from, and Kohler offers only four, although Kohler tubs are more customizable and design-focused.

American Standard offers 86 self-installed tubs grouped into three main categories: acrylic, gel-coated, and safety tubs. Each tub differs in terms of size as well as features like jets, drain position, and more. But all tubs have the basic safety features you’d want in a walk-in tub, such as grab bars and low step-in thresholds. For people who want factory-certified installation, American Standard also offers three “Liberation” tubs, all of which include 44 hydrotherapy jets, quick drainage, chromotherapy, and aromatherapy. The only difference between the Liberation tubs is their size, with the 2848 as the cheapest walk-in tub model that you won’t have to install yourself:

Safety Features

Aesthetics aside, the main point of a walk-in tub is to keep you safe while you’re bathing, and both companies understand that, including safety features with their tubs such as:

• Entry threshold heights: While Kohler offers a 3-inch step-in with any of their tubs, American Standard’s threshold heights vary by model, but tend to be higher. The 32-by-52-inch Value Series bath, for instance, has a 7-inch threshold, which may be too high for some people.
• Door design and sealing mechanisms: American Standard offers both inward and outward-swinging doors, while Kohler offers inward only. No matter what door you choose, it will create a watertight seal to keep the rest of your bathroom dry.
• Anti-slip surfaces and texturing: Both companies’ tubs have safety handrails, but the floors in Kohler tubs are not textured. American Standard’s Liberation line of tubs, on the other hand, have textured floors.
• Grab bar placement and accessibility features: You can choose the grab bar placement with Kohler, either inside the tub, outside the tub, or both. There are two bars available: traditional bars with rounded edges, or straight bars with straight edges. You can also add the Barre, like the type you’d use in ballet. American Standard also offers various options in models with both inside and outside bars.
• Emergency drainage systems: One of the quirks of having a walk-in tub is waiting for it to drain. If you get out before it drains, you risk flooding your bathroom. Fortunately, both companies understand this and offer quick drainage. You can get out of your American Standard tub in under two minutes, while Kohler isn’t willing to make such a specific commitment, citing differing water pipe capacities and flow rates within different households.

Comfort and Therapeutic Options

Of course, safety isn’t the only concern. Taking a bath can be quite therapeutic. Here are the therapeutic options you’ll find with each company’s walk-in tubs:

• Water and air jets: Kohler offers 10 water jets and 17 air jets for a total of 37 jets. The water jets massage the feet, back, and legs, while air jets are located on the bath’s lower perimeter. American Standard’s Liberation tubs, in contrast, have 44 hydrotherapy jets: 16 water and 28 heated air. Walk-in tubs with jets are great for soothing sore muscles, improving circulation, and decreasing body pains and aches. Water jets do the most work massaging your muscle tissue, while air jets simply make you feel weightless. Between the two, American Standard has more of both types of jets compared with Kohler.
• Heated surfaces and temperature maintenance: One of the drawbacks of a walk-in is that you have to sit in the tub as it fills up with water, which can be cold at first. Kohler offers a heated backrest with three levels of heat to help bathers stay warm, while the Liberation tubs have a heater inline to regulate temperature.
• Seating design and ergonomics: Both companies offer 17-inch high seats for comfort during the bath, and American Standard offers wider seats as well. In addition, Liberation tubs have an air-filled pillow for neck support.
• Available upgrades and therapeutic add-ons: American Standard’s Liberation tubs have some cool extras like chromotherapy and aromatherapy, which is not an option with Kohler. You can always light a scented candle or use a colored light bulb in the room, so these features are of course not essential.
• Handheld shower: Both companies have models with handheld showers, which may make it easier for people with mobility issues to clean areas that are hard to reach. Additionally, both companies offer walk-in tub/shower combinations.

Installation

Both American Standard and Kohler offer professional installation, although American Standard only professionally installs three Liberation models, following an in-home evaluation and price estimate. If you choose one of these models, your old tub will be removed and disposed of and your new tub installed by factory-trained specialists. To get started, you’ll need to call the company directly at 888-758-9701 to schedule your in-home consultation and estimate. American Standard’s tubs are installed by the Safety Tube Company, which is affiliated with American Standard Brands. Unfortunately, the company does not provide pricing information, or even a range, until you get the in-home evaluation. So it’s only worth calling if you’re ready to schedule the in-home assessment.

The installation process is similar with Kohler. Professional Kohler-certified installers will come to your house and complete the installation, including removing and discarding your current tub. Like American Standard, Kohler offers an in-home evaluation. To schedule the visit, fill out a form on the Kohler website or call 800-707-5276. Then you can schedule installation with a dealer authorized to sell Kohler tubs, which may be a third party. Installation costs anywhere from $2,500 to $8,000, depending on your bathroom’s layout.

Cost Analysis

Although both Kohler and American Standard start at around $5,500 for a walk-in tub, Kohler can be as high as $33,000 once you include the tub, accessories, and installation costs. American Standard’s 86 tubs do not come with any installation options, so you can either install them yourself or pay a third-party contractor to do it. These tubs range from about $5,700 up to $14,800. If you want American Standard to remove your old tub and install a new one, you’re limited to the three Liberation tubs, and you’ll have to pay for the professional installation. Unfortunately, pricing information is not available without an in-home assessment.

With Kohler, each type of tub has a different price range:

Along with the cost of the tub itself, you could also pay anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 for accessories such as extra grab bars or a shower option, plus another $2,500 to $8,000 or higher for installation. Altogether, you’ll spend at least $5,500 on a walk-in tub from Kohler, with the most expensive options totaling $33,000 or higher. Note that your installation cost will vary based on the current layout of your bathroom and any plumbing or electrical work needed.

Got sticker shock? Fortunately, both companies offer financial assistance for walk-in tubs. Certain authorized Kohler dealers offer financing through GreenSky that’s based on your credit score. American Standard also offers third-party financing with any purchase of at least $10,000. Keep in mind that if you don’t pay the full amount within a year, interest will accrue on the balance at a rate of 17.99 percent, and the walk-in tub will have to be paid off within seven years.

As far as warranties go, American Standard has a lifetime warranty on the tub itself as well as installation and labor. Kohler, by comparison, has a lifetime limited warranty on only the tub itself and a one-year limited warranty on any other parts, with no warranty for installation or labor.

You might be wondering if you can use Medicare to pay for a walk-in tub. Unfortunately, walk-in tubs do not count as durable medical equipment, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, so in most cases, you won’t be able to use Medicare. However, Medicare would consider reimbursement if you have a prescription from a health care provider specifying what type of bathtub you need and why. For example, a homebound person who needs whirlpool therapy may be able to get one covered. You’ll also need a doctor’s prescription to get a walk-in tub covered through private insurance.

Customer Experience

American Standard and Kohler fared very well on Consumer Affairs, with ratings of 4.6 and 4.9 stars, respectively. When it came to reviews that mentioned customer service specifically, American Standard had mostly five-star reviews, including one from Shanda from Milledgeville, Georgia, that reads: “During the sales visit, the representative did a good job. He was respectful and broke down payment details, asking what type of bathroom I was aiming for…The crew was respectful and responsive, even cleaning up well afterward. I especially liked the grab bars and the marble stone, as it doesn’t get dirty quickly. Safety-wise, besides the grab bars, there’s the slide feature in the shower and strips on the floor for added grip. In the master bathroom, they also installed a bidet. Overall, I’d definitely recommend American Standard; they did a great job and didn’t take long to finish. If you’re looking for reliable bathroom work, I’d say give American Standard a call.” Negative reviews, in contrast, included complaints about the installation costs, which vary, and the fact that not all tubs include installation.

Kohler also has a pristine record when it comes to customer service. Catherine from Smithfield, Rhode Island wrote: “The sales guy was very professional. It a professional, timely, and very good experience. They even came to my home for a presentation and provided a clear timeline for the installation, which they adhered to perfectly. The installation went very smoothly and was completed in just one day. I had a new walk-in shower installed and though I’m not totally familiar with all the terms, I can say we’re really happy with everything.” Cons included the expensive upgrades, which are, of course, optional.

Conclusion and Recommendations

If you want a more “standard” walk-in tub (no pun intended), choose American Standard. Although there are only three options that include professional installation, you’ll open up your choices considerably if you buy the tub on its own (though you’ll either have to install the tub yourself or hire a third party.) Kohler, on the other hand, is much more designed-focused and has many more customizable features. If you care about aesthetics, Kohler might have more appeal, but total costs can add up depending on how many options and extras you want in your tub. If you want a walk-in tub with more therapeutic features, American Standard is for you.