The best freestanding tub for most homes is the Kohler Sunstruck K-6369, a 65-1/2 in acrylic soaker that weighs 110 lbs empty and lists the lowest floor load of our picks. For a 60 in space, choose the acrylic Kohler Stargaze K-24011. For a stone-resin look, the Kohler Ceric K-8335 and Memoirs K-8332 include their drains. Pick the cast iron Kohler Artifacts K-21000 only if the floor can carry it.
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A freestanding tub is a plumbing job first and a design choice second. The drain usually has to move to the middle of the tub, and the filler often needs a new rough-in under the floor. If you are replacing an alcove tub, know what drain you have now; see our guide to bathtub drain types.
Quick comparison
| Check | Sunstruck K-6369 | Stargaze K-24011 | Ceric K-8335 | Memoirs K-8332 | Artifacts K-21000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Acrylic | Acrylic | Lithocast cast resin | Lithocast cast resin | Enameled cast iron |
| Size | 65-1/2 x 35-1/2 in | 60-1/4 x 34-1/4 in | 59-11/16 x 29-7/8 in | 59-11/16 x 34 x 23-3/4 in | 66-1/8 x 32-1/2 in |
| Water depth | 15-3/4 in | 16-1/16 in | 17-1/16 in | 17-7/16 in | 14-3/8 in |
| Capacity | 72.6 gal | 60 gal | 82.5 gal | 80 gal | 69 gal |
| Weight (empty) | 110 lbs | 156 lbs | 250 lbs | 250 lbs | 396.2 lbs |
| Min. floor load | 40.4 lbs/sq ft | 54 lbs/sq ft | 124 lbs/sq ft | Not listed | 90 lbs/sq ft |
| Drain | Center; K-78438 cable drain required | Center; drain trim or K-78438 required | Center toe-tap included | Center toe-tap included | Center; K-7159 drain sold separately |
| Exact purchase | Check the Kohler K-6369-0 on Amazon → | Check the Kohler K-24011-0 on Amazon → | Check the Kohler K-8335-0 on Amazon → | Check the Kohler K-8332-0 on Amazon → | Check the Kohler K-21000-W-0 (white exterior) on Amazon → |
All weights, depths and floor loads above come from Kohler’s spec sheets for each model, linked in the sources. Water depth is Kohler’s listed depth, not the height of the tub.
BEST OVERALL · ACRYLIC · 110 LBS
Kohler Sunstruck K-6369: a full-size soak that is light on the floor
Choose it when you want a roomy soaking tub that two people can carry and most floors can support. Kohler’s K-6369 spec sheet (resources.kohler.com) lists acrylic, 65-1/2 x 35-1/2 in, a 16 in bathing well, 15-3/4 in of water depth and 72.6 gallons. It weighs 110 lbs and lists a minimum floor load of 40.4 lbs per square foot, the lowest of our picks.
The drain is in the center. Kohler lists the K-78438 30 in cable bath drain as a required accessory, so order it with the tub. If a toe-tap or pop-up stopper ever stops holding water, our bathtub drain stopper guide covers the fixes. The spec sheet also says not to carry the tub’s load on its rim, and shows a subfloor clearance for the drain tee.
Skip it if the room cannot fit a 65-1/2 in tub plus walking space on at least one side. Look at the Stargaze below instead.
BEST 60-INCH · ACRYLIC
Kohler Stargaze K-24011: fits where an alcove tub used to be
Choose it when you are converting a standard 60 in bath space. Kohler’s K-24011 spec sheet (resources.kohler.com) lists acrylic, 60-1/4 x 34-1/4 in, 16-1/16 in of water depth and 60 gallons. It weighs 156 lbs, with a minimum floor load of 54 lbs per square foot.
It does not include a drain. Kohler lists drain trim K-T37391 or K-T37392, or the K-78438 30 in cable drain, as required. The tub carries CSA B45.5/IAPMO Z124 and IAPMO certification marks.
Skip it if your old alcove was exactly 60 in between finished walls. A freestanding tub needs space around it to clean and to reach the filler, so measure the room, not the old opening.
BEST NARROW STONE RESIN · DRAIN INCLUDED
Kohler Ceric K-8335: deep soak in under 30 inches of width
Choose it when the room is narrow and you want a matte stone-like tub. Kohler’s K-8335 spec sheet (techcomm.kohler.com) lists Lithocast cast resin, 59-11/16 x 29-7/8 in, 17-1/16 in of water depth and 82.5 gallons. A center toe-tap drain with a Lithocast cover is included.
Weight is the catch. It is 250 lbs empty, and Kohler lists a minimum floor load of 124 lbs per square foot. That is higher than the cast iron pick, because a lot of water sits on a small footprint.
Skip it if the tub is going on an upper floor and nobody has checked the framing. Get that answer first.
BEST TRADITIONAL STONE RESIN
Kohler Memoirs K-8332: a classic shape with an 80-gallon soak
Choose it when you want a traditional rolled-rim look without cast iron weight. Kohler’s K-8332 spec sheet (techcomm.kohler.com) lists Lithocast gloss cast resin, 59-11/16 x 34 x 23-3/4 in, 17-7/16 in of water depth and 80 gallons. It weighs 250 lbs and includes a center toe-tap drain. The Amazon listing’s material field says cast iron; go by Kohler’s spec sheet, which says Lithocast.
The spec sheet tells you to leave a 3 in diameter clearance around the drain pipe in the finished floor, and to measure the actual tub before final rough-in. Do that. Stone-resin tubs cannot be trimmed to fix a drain that is off.
Skip it if you need a published floor load number for a permit or an engineer. This spec sheet does not list one. Ask Kohler or pick a model that does.
BEST CAST IRON · NEEDS FEET OR BASE
Kohler Artifacts K-21000: cast iron for a floor built to carry it
Choose it when you want enameled cast iron and the framing is ready for it. Kohler’s K-21000 spec sheet (resources.kohler.com) lists a nominal 66-1/8 x 32-1/2 in, 14-3/8 in of water depth and 69 gallons. It weighs 396.2 lbs, with a minimum floor load of 90 lbs per square foot.
It needs K-204 claw feet or the K-20027 bath base, sold separately. Kohler recommends the K-7159 1-1/2 in pop-up drain, also sold separately. Exterior color options vary by model suffix. Our Amazon link is the K-21000-W-0, the white-exterior version, so check the full model before you order.
Skip it if the tub must go up a narrow stair or around a tight landing. Plan the carry route and the crew before it ships.
Drain location and floor rough-in
An alcove tub drains at one end, next to the wall, through a waste and overflow you reach from an access panel or from below. A freestanding tub drains through the floor under the tub, often near the center. Every pick here has a center drain.
Kohler’s freestanding bath installation instructions (techcomm.kohler.com), which cover models such as the Ceric and Memoirs, lay out the basic steps. Other models have their own guide, so read the one for your tub:
- Identify the drain type that comes with your tub. That guide covers a 2-13/16 in and a 5 in drain.
- Set the drain body, measure from its bottom to the floor, and cut the drain pipe to stick up exactly that far.
- For the 2-13/16 in drain on PVC, thread on a 1-1/2 in 11-1/2 NPSM adapter.
- Seal the drain with 100% silicone where the guide calls for it.
- Level the tub on a level, supported floor. Shim if needed.
- Fill to the overflow and check every drain connection for leaks before you call it done.
Kohler also says to provide access to plumbing connections for future service. Under a freestanding tub, that usually means access from the room below or a crawl space. On a slab, it means getting the drain right the first time.
Call a licensed plumber to move a tub drain. It means cutting into the floor or slab, setting a new trap and keeping the vent connection to code. Most places need a permit for it. The plumber can rough in the floor-mount filler valve at the same visit.
Weight and floor load
An empty tub is only the start. Add the water and a person, and the load on the floor jumps. Kohler lists a minimum floor load in pounds per square foot on most of its spec sheets. Hand that number to whoever is checking your framing.
- Under 60 lbs per square foot: the Sunstruck (40.4) and Stargaze (54).
- Higher: the Artifacts (90) and Ceric (124).
- Not listed: the Memoirs K-8332 spec sheet gives no floor load.
On a slab-on-grade first floor, floor load is rarely the problem. On an upper floor or over a long joist span, it can be. Have a contractor or engineer check joist size, span and spacing before you order a heavy tub. Also measure every door, hall and stair turn on the way in. Kohler’s guide warns that freestanding baths do not fit easily through doorways.
Acrylic vs cast iron vs stone resin
| Material | Kohler example | Weight trend | Choose it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic | Sunstruck K-6369, Stargaze K-24011 | Lightest: 110 to 156 lbs empty | Upper floors, tight stairs, easy carry |
| Stone resin (Lithocast) | Ceric K-8335, Memoirs K-8332 | Middle: 250 lbs empty | Matte or solid-surface look, deep soak |
| Enameled cast iron | Artifacts K-21000 | Heaviest: 396.2 lbs empty | Classic clawfoot look, very durable enamel |
Acrylic warms up quickly to the touch and is the easiest to set. Cast iron holds heat once the tub warms and takes a lot of abuse, but it needs feet or a base and more help to move. Stone resin is heavier than acrylic and lighter than cast iron. Follow the maker’s care guide for cleaners, since some abrasives can dull the finish.
Hot water matters for every material. Kohler’s spec sheets say the hot water supply should be at least 70 percent of the tub’s capacity. For the 82.5 gallon Ceric, that is about 58 gallons of hot water. A big soaker on a small water heater fills lukewarm.
Pairing a tub filler
Kohler’s freestanding bath guide for models such as the Ceric and Memoirs calls for a floor- or ceiling-mount bath filler. Check the spec sheet of any other tub for its faucet options. Most people use a floor-mount filler, which needs a rough-in valve under the floor, set before the finished floor goes in.
- Height: the spout must clear the tub rim with room to spare. Compare the filler’s spout height to the tub’s height on its spec sheet.
- Reach: the spout should land inside the tub, not on the rim. Set the filler a few inches from the tub wall per the filler’s rough-in sheet.
- Hand shower: a filler with a hand shower makes rinsing the tub much easier. See our handheld shower head guide for hose and flow basics.
- Service: the filler valve sits under the floor. Leave access from below, or make sure the filler’s cartridge can be serviced from above.
Freestanding tub FAQ
How much does a freestanding tub weigh?
It depends on the material. Kohler lists the acrylic Sunstruck K-6369 at 110 lbs, the Lithocast Ceric K-8335 at 250 lbs, and the enameled cast iron Artifacts K-21000 at 396.2 lbs, all empty. Add the water and the bather and the load on the floor is several times that.
Can my floor hold a freestanding tub?
Check the maker’s minimum floor load against your framing. Kohler lists 40.4 lbs per square foot for the Sunstruck, 90 for the Artifacts and 124 for the Ceric. For a heavy tub on an upper floor, have a contractor or engineer look at the joists before you buy.
Do freestanding tubs need a special drain?
Most need a freestanding bath drain that comes up through the floor under the tub, not the wall-side waste and overflow of an alcove tub. Some Kohler tubs include the drain. Others, like the Sunstruck and Stargaze, list a separate drain as required.
Where does the faucet go on a freestanding tub?
Usually on the floor beside the tub, on a floor-mount tub filler with a rough-in valve under the floor. Kohler’s freestanding bath instructions for models such as the Ceric and Memoirs call for a floor- or ceiling-mount filler. Plan the filler rough-in at the same time as the drain.
What size water heater do I need for a freestanding tub?
Kohler says the hot water supply should be at least 70 percent of the tub’s capacity. For the 72.6 gallon Sunstruck, that is about 51 gallons of hot water, so a small tank may run out before the tub is full.
Is acrylic or cast iron better for a freestanding tub?
Acrylic is lighter and easier to get up stairs and through doors. Cast iron holds heat well and is very durable, but it weighs far more and needs feet or a base. Stone resin such as Kohler Lithocast sits in between on weight.
How we chose
This is a document-based comparison from a licensed plumber’s point of view. We read Kohler’s spec sheets and installation guide for each exact model, and picked tubs that publish their weight, capacity, drain details and, where given, minimum floor load. We chose one maker with full published specs across acrylic, stone resin and cast iron so the numbers compare fairly. Sources were read October 14, 2026; sellers and availability change, and freestanding tubs often ship freight. We do not publish prices and did not test these tubs ourselves. More about our selection method and Plumbing Picks.
Primary sources
- Kohler Sunstruck K-6369 spec sheet (PDF) (resources.kohler.com): acrylic, size, depth, 72.6 gal, 110 lbs, 40.4 lbs/sq ft, K-78438 drain, 70% hot water note.
- Kohler Stargaze K-24011 spec sheet (PDF) (resources.kohler.com): acrylic, size, 60 gal, 156 lbs, 54 lbs/sq ft, required drain options, certifications.
- Kohler Ceric K-8335 spec sheet (PDF) (techcomm.kohler.com): Lithocast, size, 82.5 gal, 250 lbs, 124 lbs/sq ft, included drain.
- Kohler Memoirs K-8332 spec sheet (PDF) (techcomm.kohler.com): Lithocast, size, 80 gal, 250 lbs, included drain, 3 in drain clearance.
- Kohler Artifacts K-21000-PL spec sheet (PDF) (resources.kohler.com): enameled cast iron, 69 gal, 396.2 lbs, 90 lbs/sq ft, feet or base, K-7159 drain.
- Kohler Artifacts K-21000-BL spec sheet (PDF) (techcomm.kohler.com): confirms 66-1/8 x 32-1/2 in nominal size and the same weight and floor load.
- Kohler freestanding bath installation instructions (PDF) (techcomm.kohler.com): drain types, rough-in steps, sealing, access, filler requirement, doorway warning.
- Kohler freestanding bathtubs listing (kohler.com): current models and sizes.