The Benefits of Walk-In Bathtubs by Kohler

As you age, you might start to think about how you can make your home more comfortable and accessible—not just for yourself, but also for your family. One way to age in place is to install a walk-in tub. Walk-in tubs are designed for people with limited mobility and can make bathing much easier and safer by reducing the risk of falling.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that approximately 36 million falls are reported every year among older adults. Three million of those falls lead to injuries and emergency department visits. A recent study showed that in adults over 65 years old, falls make up an estimated 60% of all emergency department visits for injury-related incidents, with up to 80% of falls happening in the bathroom.

While it’s impossible to prevent all falls, you can take steps to reduce your chances. If you’re considering a walk-in tub, Kohler is a great option. Kohler is one of the leading manufacturers of walk-in tubs, and their products are top quality. They offer a variety of features and options to find the perfect walk-in tub for your needs.

Pros and Cons of Kohler Walk-In Tubs

Before deciding which type of walk-in bathtub is right for you, make sure to consider the pros and cons: 

About Kohler Walk-In Baths

A well-known plumbing company, John Michael Kohler founded Kohler Co. in 1873 in Wisconsin. In 2008, the company set a bold goal called NetZero 2035 to minimize the footprint every year until they reach net-zero impact on greenhouse gasses (GHG). They strive to send zero waste to landfills by 2035. The company’s passion and a solid commitment to sustainability and creating water-saving products dates back to the 1970s.

Kohler is a trusted name in the home improvement space. Known for quality craftsmanship and innovative design, Kohler Walk-In Tubs are a great option for those looking for a safe, stylish tub option.

The bath can drain in just a few minutes with its fast-drain technology. While the company assures its customers the specific drain time can depend on your plumbing system, it’s usually faster than a standard bathtub.

Features of Kohler Walk-In Tubs

Kohler walk-in bathtubs are available in various sizes and configurations to suit your needs. They offer both standard and ADA-compliant models and several unique features.

Comfort

• Jets to massage tired muscles
• Heated back, neck, and shoulder surfaces to promote warmth during bathing and while the bath drains
• An easy-to-use control panel to customize your bathing experience 
• Detachable handshower for easy, more comfortable bathing

Safety

• Low step-in height of just 3 inches for easy entry and exit
• Convenient entry door on the side of the tub 
• One handrail and one grab bar so you have support throughout your bathing experience
• Textured flooring to reduce slipping

Design

• Choose from 10 different color and pattern combinations
• Kohler-exclusive LuxStone walls, made of engineered stone materials and natural marble—durable, strong, and won’t chip or fade

Dimensions and Installation

You can customize your Kohler walk-in tub to fit your bathroom. A professional from Kohler will  go to your house and make the necessary measurements to ensure the perfect fit.

When you have decided on the perfect model for your bathroom, it’s time to schedule an installation date. A technician will deliver and install your new Kohler Walk-In Tub. All you need to do is provide them with access to your bathroom on the day of installation. 

Kohler offers a wide variety of walk-in tub models. There are many different styles, colors, and features, which allows you to customize your purchase. You can find the perfect model for your bathroom by visiting a Kohler showroom or going online to kohler.com.

The Standard Kohler Walk-in Bathtub Dimensions:

Check out the printable PDF dimensions here.

How to Purchase a Kohler Walk-In Tub

Kohler doesn’t sell walk-in bathtub units at a traditional home improvement retailer. Instead, you purchase your bathtub directly from Kohler. Purchasing straight from the manufacturer can also save you from third-party seller price hikes. Before committing, you can request a free quote through Kohler’s website or customer service line.

The thought of a bathtub installation may seem overwhelming, but Kohler makes the process easy and provides minimal disruption to your home during installation. Kohler provides an easy one-day process so you can relax and enjoy your bathtub.

Once you receive your quote and everything is finalized, a small team of Kohler installers will visit your home for the plumbing, electrical, and installation work. The team will wear protective equipment like masks, booties, gloves, and more during the installation. Once finished, they will take away your old bathtub for you, so you don’t even have to do any of the heavy lifting.

How Much Does a Kohler Walk-In Tub Cost?

Kohler only gives precise quotes upon request. However, to give you an idea, prices can range from $7,000–$15,000, including the cost of the tub and installation combined.

Financing Options

Kohler works with GreenSky, a financing company that facilitates home improvement loans for finance options. You can download the GreenSky mobile app or contact the company by phone to apply. Most people receive a decision on their application in just seconds. Next, you can use the online customer portal to access your loan details and make payments. You can even set up automatic payments to avoid forgetting to log on each month.

Lifetime Limited Warranty

Kohler offers a limited lifetime warranty that’s included in the overall cost covering. However, the warranty is dependent on making sure to hire a Kohler-certified installer to install your tub. 

The warranty covers manufacturing defects on the bath components, which includes, but is not limited to:

• Hydrotherapy systems
• Bath door seal
• Kohler handshower and faucet

Other Walk-In Tub Brands We Recommend

With various walk-in tubs on the market, it can be hard to choose. While Kohler is a top brand, others may suit your preferences more. Whether you want a walk-in tub or a walk-in tub shower combination in your bathroom, here’s what we recommend:

Safe Step Walk-In Tub

Safe Step Walk-In Tubs and showers offer high-quality options and are perfect for individuals with limited mobility or worries about falling. Their pricing may seem high, but they are one of the leading brands.

Meditub Walk-In Tubs

Meditub offers a variety of models and puts a lot of thought into the design process. These tubs are sold via retailers and straight through the manufacturer.

Ella’s Bubbles Walk-In Tubs

Ella’s Bubbles is known for its quality and reliability and has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau. The company has a pick-and-choose approach, allowing customers to select individual features to narrow down the perfect search for their bathroom.

Kohler Walk-In Tub Customer Reviews

According to Kohler’s website, many people like the ease of comfort, hydrotherapy features,  various wall design options, custom fit capabilities, and the low step-in safety feature. The downside of customer reviews found on various sites are related to expensive price upgrades and how it’s almost impossible to find pricing available online. Third-party sites reviews from Trustpilot and Yelp are mostly mixed on customer service, though there weren’t many, if any, reviews on these sites specifically related to the company’s walk-in tubs. 

Why Trust Us?

The tub reviews that we list follow an extensive examination of manufacturers, stated specifications, and reviews. Our reviewers are people who work to ensure claims made by tub and shower manufacturers are ones that are backed up by performance and results.

Our ratings consider factors we list in the review: comfort, manufacturer guarantee, installation, cost.

During our research process, we:

• Consulted with medical and tub sources
• Surveyed different models of tubs and showers
• Spent hours researching walk-in tubs and showers
• Read hundreds of verified customer reviews

Many products and services featured on AgingInPlace.org will play a crucial role in your daily life. As these products should help enhance aging at home, we work to uncover as much as possible about the products and services we review. We also consult occupational therapists, audiologists, geriatricians, professional adult caregivers, and other experts in the field to ensure we’re providing the most accurate, helpful information.