Kohler Walk-In Tubs Review 2025
Kohler walk-in tubs provide an easier alternative to standard bathtubs. They feature a seat and an airtight door, so seniors can walk in, sit down, and then turn on the faucets to fill the bath.
When it’s time to get out of the bath, seniors can simply drain the tub, then open the door and get out comfortably. Many tubs also have safety features such as non-slip surfaces and grip handles to make getting in and out easy and safe.
In this review, we’ll take a closer look at Kohler, one of the country’s most popular walk-in tub manufacturers.
FYI: To learn more about walk-in tubs, check out our rundown of this year’s best walk-in tubs.
Kohler Walk-In Tub Pros and Cons
Pros
- Streamlined Installation: If you think installing a new bathtub sounds like a lot of work, you’re correct! Luckily, Kohler will handle every step of the process, from assessing the aptness of your bathroom to the actual installation, which is usually completed in only one day.
- Safety Features: From their ultra-low step-in thresholds to textured flooring and seating, Kohler walk-in tubs are designed to prevent falls and accidents, ensuring a relaxing bathing experience.
- Comfort features: Although Kohler walk-in tubs excel when it comes to safety, they take no shortcuts with comfort. Their tubs are fitted with hydrotherapy jets, heated backrests, and fast drain technology, turning your bath into a spa-like experience.
Cons
- No ozone cleaning: Ozone systems help keep baths sanitized by killing bacteria, contaminants, and other waste. Unfortunately, Kohler tubs don’t include this feature.
What Is Kohler?
Kohler was founded in 1873, in Wisconsin, by an Austrian immigrant named John Michael Kohler. The company’s humble beginnings were as a foundry producing steel and cast iron products for farming. Ten years later, Kohler entered the plumbing business, and today, the company manufactures and sells bathroom and kitchen fittings worldwide. Kohler’s ethos is all about gracious living, adding safety and comfort features to ensure their products fit comfortably into any existing space.
With walk-in tubs, seniors can bathe more comfortably. The added safety features are reassuring for caregivers, too, especially if the senior in their life is still independent enough to bathe unaided. Kohler’s product range includes walk-in bathtubs designed to make life easier for seniors and facilitate aging in place. Let’s take a closer look at the company’s offerings.
Just So You Know: Don’t worry about removing your existing tub before installation. The experts at Kohler will get rid of it for you, and all of this will be included in their cost estimate.
How to Purchase a Kohler Walk-In Tub
Many people want a walk-in tub to help prevent falls. For older adults, impaired eyesight and other health problems, such as dementia, can make falls more likely, according to the National Institute on Aging. Unfortunately, preventable deaths from falling have been on the rise for the past 20 years. Adults 65 and older comprised 71 percent of preventable deaths from falls in 2022, according to the National Safety Council. Statistics like these make buying a walk-in tub a no-brainer.
You can purchase Kohler walk-in baths at traditional home improvement retailers such as Lowe’s and Home Depot. We recommend purchasing a unit directly from Kohler itself, however, as dealing directly with the manufacturer can be easier if you experience problems with your tub down the road.
You can request a free quote from the company through Kohler’s website or customer service line at 800-707-5276. They will send out an installation specialist who will assess the limitations of your bathroom, discuss what you’d like from your tub, and recommend a few different options.
Once you decide on the features you want, your specialist will quote you a price. This price will cover not only the tub itself but also the complete cost of installation, from removing your current bathtub to fitting the new one with your current plumbing and electrical fixtures.
FYI: Although many brick-and-mortar retailers will quote you a price lower than Kohler’s, only Kohler’s pricing is guaranteed to include installation and any other related expenses. This could end up costing hundreds if not thousands of additional dollars at third-party retailers.
Features of Kohler Walk-In Tubs
Kohler offers a few types of walk-in tubs:
- Standard walk-in tub: The standard tub has a single seat and is, on average, 60 inches long and 32 inches wide.
- Walk-in tub and shower combination: This includes a showerhead, making it a walk-in tub-shower combination.
- Two-seater: Two-person walk-in tubs have two seats for seniors who want to bathe together.
- Wheelchair-accessible tub: The same size as the two-seater tub, Kohler allows for people in wheelchairs to bathe comfortably.
- Oversized tub: Finally, bariatric tubs are best for plus-sized seniors.
With any of the above models, you can get the following features:
- Ultra-Low Step-In: At only 3 inches high, entering your Kohler walk-in tub is not only a breeze but also safe. With 80 percent of all bathroom injuries caused by falls, especially in adults 65 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control, this low height helps mitigate risk.
- Multifunctional Hand Shower: Always within reach, this handy showerhead helps to simplify the actual bathing experience, giving you the precision of a shower with the comfort of a tub.
- Easy Grip Handrails: All Kohler tubs include handrails on both the tub’s interior and exterior, allowing you a firm grip as you sit down and stand up. You can also add on a ballet-inspired barre or an additional grab bar.
- Extra-Wide Entry Door: Kohler’s 17.25-inch-wide door allows for a greater range of mobility. Additionally, this door provides an airtight seal on your tub, ensuring that no water leaks onto the floor.
- Accessible Control Panel: A Kohler tub packs in a whole lot of optional, adjustable features like the whirlpool jets, bubble jets, and heated surfaces. Luckily, you can control all of these elements from the simple ergonomic control panel.
- Water Jets: Much like a traditional hot tub, this Kohler walk-in tub features optional hydrotherapy jets that can deliver a powerful massage to the back, legs, and feet.
- Air Jets: A bit less forceful than the whirlpool jets, the air jets create thousands of air bubbles that surround your body in the water and leave you feeling invigorated.
- Fast-Drain Technology: Unlike a conventional tub, a walk-in tub must drain completely before you can get out (unless you want a flooded bathroom). Thankfully, Kohler’s fast-drain technology pumps the water from your tub quickly, draining all the water in a matter of minutes.
- Heated Surfaces: Using no more energy than a standard light bulb, your Kohler tub can provide additional heat in the neck, back, and seat areas, almost like having a waterproof heating pad.
- Deep Tub: At 31.5 inches deep, Kohler provides a bath large enough for 50 gallons of water.
- Decorative Elements: Kohler is a design-focused company, with 10 wall designs to choose from as well as built-in shelves, showerheads, and faucets.
Kohler Pricing
Kohler is shockingly transparent about its walk-in tub pricing. The initial cost is for the tub itself, which can range from $2,000 to $20,000.
| Type of tub | Features | Minimum cost (tub only) | Maximum cost (tub only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Standard | $2,000 | $5,000 |
| Hydromassage | Jets | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Specialty | Combination tub/shower, two-seater, wheelchair- accessible, or slide-in access | $2,500 | $15,000 |
| Premium | Heated backrest, hand shower, adjustable jets, or oversized tub with no advanced features | $7,000 | $20,000 |
Of course, the walk-in tub isn’t the only cost. You’ll also need to get it installed, and you may want to add some accessories as well.
| Product/service | Minimum cost | Maximum cost |
|---|---|---|
| Walk-in tub only | $2,000 | $20,000 |
| Accessories | $1,000 | $5,000 |
| Installation | $2,500 | $8,000 |
| Total | $5,500 | $33,000 |
Altogether, you’ll pay anywhere from $5,500 to $33,000 or higher for a walk-in tub from Kohler.
Pro Tip: To be prepared in case of a fall, you might consider a medical alert device. To learn more, read our guide to the best medical alert systems.
Warranty
Every Kohler tub is backed by a limited lifetime warranty on the tub itself; for all other parts, there is a one-year limited warranty. Although Kohler installs their tubs themselves, there is no warranty for installation or labor.
Kohler vs. American Standard
Kohler and American Standard are two of the leading brands in walk-in tubs, and while both brands offer a variety of high-quality models, there are some key differences.
Kohler walk-in tubs are known for their luxurious design and high-end features. They offer a wide range of hydrotherapy options, including air jets, water jets, and whirlpools. Kohler walk-in tubs are also available with a variety of add-ons, such as heated seats, music systems, and mood lighting.
American Standard walk-in tubs are known for their affordable price and variety of features. They offer a range of hydrotherapy options, as well as features such as handheld shower wands, self-cleaning systems, and walk-in doors. American Standard walk-in tubs are also available in a variety of sizes and styles to fit any bathroom. American Standard has nearly 90 options to choose from, but only three are installed by one of the company’s professionals. For the rest, you’ll have to deal with installation (and ripping out your old tub) yourself.
The best brand for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. If you are looking for a luxurious walk-in tub with a wide range of features, Kohler is a good option. If you are looking for an affordable walk-in tub with basic features, American Standard is a good option. You can learn more in our American Standard walk-in tub review.
Ultimately, the best way to decide which brand is right for you is to compare different models and features in person. You can also talk to a plumber or bathroom designer to get their recommendations.
Compare Brands
Recap
From the time you receive your in-home estimate to the moment you finally use your walk-in tub, Kohler has you in good hands. The company’s sales representatives are knowledgeable without being pushy, and their installation technicians will take the time to figure out exactly what you need and then clearly explain your options.
The low-entry threshold and comfortable seating ensure your safety, and the combination of jets and quick-drain technology will exceed your expectations when it comes to comfort. To anyone with mobility issues or who works with someone who does, we wholeheartedly can say that a Kohler walk-in tub is a great way to safeguard your well-being without sacrificing comfort.
Methodology
We use the following criteria to evaluate walk-in tubs:
- Installation process: We prefer companies that include both the removal and disposal of the original tub and the installation of the new one. Installation should take no more than a day and, ideally, should be done by someone who works for the manufacturer rather than a contractor.
- Safety: Of course, the tubs need to have safety features like grab-bars, a low step-in threshold no more than a few inches high, a quick drain, a sealable door, and a textured floor to prevent falls.
- Comfort: In addition to safety, tubs should have comfortable features like a heated backrest and seat, aromatherapy, chromotherapy, and water and air jets.
- Pricing: No matter which company manufactures them, walk-in tubs are expensive, starting at about $5,000, including installation. We like to see a range of prices so people can create custom tubs with only the features they want and can afford.
- Third-party reviews: Finally, we consider online customer reviews, looking for companies with ratings of at least three out of five stars, on third-party websites such as the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, and Consumer Affairs.
Kohler Frequently Asked Questions
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Are walk-in baths the same thing as walk-in showers?
Walk-in baths are not the same as walk-in showers, although there are walk-in tub and shower combinations. While both walk-in baths and walk-in showers share a low step threshold for easy entry, walk-in baths offer a seated bathing experience. Additionally, they usually offer additional comfort features like air and water jets.
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How do I know if a Kohler walk-in bath will fit in my bathroom?
Kohler designs each of their walk-in baths to fit the area taken up by a traditional bathtub. If you currently have a bathtub in your home, then it is likely that a Kohler model will fit in your space. Speaking with a Kohler-authorized dealer can help you determine if this is the case.
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Why is a low step-in for a walk-in tub so important?
For people with mobility challenges, ease of access is of the utmost importance. Traditional bathtubs can be as high as 2 feet, which can present a potentially dangerous obstacle, especially on wet bathroom floors. Kohler walk-in baths have a three-inch high threshold, making it safer to step into the tub.
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Is a Kohler walk-in tub right for me?
While specifically designed to suit people with mobility issues, Kohler walk-in baths can be a great option for anyone looking for a luxurious bathing experience.
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How do I care for my Kohler walk-in bath?
Cleaning your Kohler walk-in bath is a simple process. All you need is a nonabrasive multipurpose cleaner, faucet cleaning fluid, and a soft cloth. From there, you spray the cleaners on the appropriate surfaces and wipe them off with the cloth.
