For a standard 60 × 32-inch alcove, pick the Kohler Entity acrylic tub if weight matters (61 lb) or the Kohler Mendota enameled cast iron tub (351 lb) for a heavier, heat-holding tub. Order the right drain side before anything else, and budget for the drain kit, which usually ships separately.
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This guide covers three-wall alcove bathtubs and the plumbing details that decide which one fits.
Alcove tubs compared (Kohler specs)
| Tub | Size and material | Weight / water capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Kohler Entity K-26108-LA | 60 × 32 in., acrylic | 61 lb / 40.6 gal |
| Kohler Mendota K-505 | 60 × 32 in., enameled cast iron | 351 lb / 45 gal |
| Kohler Villager K-713 | 60 × 34-1/4 in., enameled cast iron | see spec sheet |
An alcove tub fits a three-wall opening, usually 60 inches long, with a finished front apron and a flange on the three wall sides that tile or a surround laps over. The two choices that matter most to the plumbing are drain side and material.
Left or right drain: get it right before you order
Stand in the room facing the tub opening. If the drain end, where the faucet and spout go, is on your left, you need a left-hand drain tub. Each of the tubs here is the left-drain version; Kohler sells mirror right-drain models under related numbers.
Check the existing drain location before ordering. Moving a tub drain to the other end means opening the floor and rerouting the trap and drain, which is far more work than buying the right tub.
Measure the opening, too. A 60 × 32-inch tub needs a 60-inch opening between the studs plus room for the flange, so check the maker’s rough-in drawing; the Villager’s 34-1/4-inch width needs a deeper alcove.
Kohler Entity K-26108-LA: light acrylic
Choose the Kohler Entity when weight matters, such as an upstairs bath or a remodel you carry in by hand. Kohler’s spec sheet (resources.kohler.com) lists a 60 × 32-inch acrylic alcove bath with an integral apron, integral flange, low step-over height, round overflow, integral lumbar support and a textured bottom. It weighs 61 pounds with a 9-1/8-inch water depth and 40.6-gallon capacity, and Kohler lists a minimum floor load of 36 pounds per square foot.
The listing title notes the drain is not included. On October 15, 2026, the standard new offer from Buildcom showed stock with model 26108-LA-0.
Check Kohler Entity K-26108-LA-0 alcove bath on Amazon →
Kohler Mendota K-505: cast iron, 60 × 32
Choose the Kohler Mendota for a solid enameled cast iron tub in the common 60 × 32 size. Kohler lists (resources.kohler.com) a Safeguard slip-resistant surface, integral apron, integral lumbar support and integral flange, 351 pounds empty, a 10-7/8-inch water depth, 45-gallon capacity and a minimum floor load of 56 pounds per square foot.
Kohler lists required drain trim and cable drain options for it, so budget for the drain separately. Cast iron holds heat well and resists flexing, but plan for the weight: it takes two or three people to set, and the floor framing should be checked against the maker’s floor-load figure.
On October 15, 2026, the standard new offer from a third-party seller showed limited stock with model 505-0.
Check Kohler Mendota K-505-0 cast iron alcove bath on Amazon →
Kohler Villager K-713: a wider cast iron tub
Choose the Kohler Villager K-713 if your alcove is deeper than 32 inches. Kohler lists (resources.kohler.com) it as a 60 × 34-1/4 × 14-inch enameled cast iron alcove bath with Safeguard surface, integral apron, lumbar support and flange, and a left drain.
The linked listing is the biscuit color (-96), not white. On October 15, 2026, the standard new offer from a third-party seller showed limited stock with model 713-96.
Check Kohler Villager K-713-96 alcove bath (biscuit) on Amazon →
Acrylic, cast iron or enameled steel?
Acrylic tubs are light, warm to the touch and easy to carry up stairs, which is why many remodels use them. They need proper support under the base so they do not flex, so follow the maker’s bedding instructions.
Enameled cast iron is very heavy and rigid, holds bath water heat well and has a hard glossy surface. Its weight is the main drawback; check the floor-load figure on the spec sheet and plan the carry.
Enameled steel sits between them: lighter than cast iron, stiffer than thin acrylic, and usually the lowest-cost option, though the enamel can chip if something heavy is dropped in it and it does not hold heat as long as cast iron.
Replacing an old tub
Measure the old tub and note its drain side and the height of the valve and spout before you tear out. Old cast iron tubs are often broken up in place with a sledgehammer under a blanket rather than carried out whole; wear eye and hearing protection.
Check the drain shoe, trap and overflow pipe while the wall and floor are open, and replace corroded parts rather than reusing them. A new tub is a good time to add a proper access panel and a shutoff that can be reached.
Plan the wall finish too: the tub flange has to sit under the backer board or surround so water runs into the tub, not behind it.
The drain, overflow and valve
Most alcove tubs ship without the drain. Kohler’s spec sheets list required or recommended drain kits, including cable bath drains and rotary-turn trim. Buy the drain to match the tub and the finish of your faucet.
Our bathtub drain types guide covers drain styles and threads, and our tub overflow gasket guide explains the gasket that seals the overflow.
The tub and shower valve and spout are separate too. Check the spout reach so water lands inside the tub; our tub spout guide covers spout types.
Setting an alcove tub
Set the tub on a level subfloor and support and fasten it exactly as the maker’s installation instructions for that model describe; requirements for setting beds and flange fastening differ between acrylic and cast iron tubs, so read them before you frame or pour anything.
Leave access to the drain: our access panel guide covers the IRC’s 12-inch minimum opening for slip-joint access.
Fill the tub to the overflow and check the drain and overflow joints for leaks before you close the wall or tile over the flange.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a standard alcove tub?
60 inches long is standard, commonly 30 or 32 inches wide. The Kohler Entity and Mendota here are 60 × 32 inches.
How do I know if I need a left or right drain tub?
Stand facing the tub opening. If the drain end is on your left, you need a left-hand drain.
How heavy is a cast iron alcove tub?
Kohler lists the Mendota K-505 at 351 pounds empty, versus 61 pounds for the acrylic Entity.
Do alcove tubs include the drain?
Usually not. Kohler’s spec sheets list required or recommended drain kits, and the Entity listing says the drain is not included.
Acrylic or cast iron?
Acrylic is light and easy to carry; cast iron is heavy, holds heat and feels solid. Check the floor-load figure for cast iron.
How we chose
This document-based guide makes no hands-on testing claim. We read Kohler’s spec sheets for the Entity K-26108-LA, Mendota K-505 and Villager K-713. On October 15, 2026, all three linked standard new offers showed stock or limited stock. Read our selection method and about Plumbing Picks.
Primary sources
- Kohler Entity K-26108-LA spec sheet (resources.kohler.com): acrylic 60 × 32, features, 61 lb, 36 lb/ft² floor load, 9-1/8 in. depth, 40.6 gal.
- Kohler Mendota K-505 spec sheet (resources.kohler.com): cast iron 60 × 32, features, 351 lb, 56 lb/ft² floor load, 10-7/8 in. depth, 45 gal, required drains.
- Kohler Villager K-713 spec sheet (resources.kohler.com): cast iron 60 × 34-1/4 × 14 in., features, left drain.