Kohler Wellworth Toilet Review – Features & Comparisons

Last Updated on July 17, 2023 by toilethaven

Is Kohler Wellworth a Good Toilet?

Kohler Wellworth comprises many different models of the same toilet but with different features and specifications. Kohler makes it in the United States, and it is one of their most known model along the Kohler Cimarron and Highline.

The Kohler K-3987-96 Wellworth toilet is a 2-piece round-front dual flush toilet with a 12-inch rough-in and a standard height. It consumes 1.1/1.6 gallons of water per flush and is, therefore, EPA WaterSense certified.

Kohler Wellworth is a good toilet if you are looking for a toilet in the mid-range price region. It has decent flushing power, is water-efficient, and, most importantly, you get a 5-year warranty on the toilet tank parts and a life-long warranty on the vitreous china material.

 Although there are different models of the Kohler Wellworth, the Kohler K-3987-96 Wellworth toilet is the most popular. The other 2 popular Wellworth models are:

1. Kohler K-3998-0 Wellworth Toilet – Elongated bowl
2. Kohler K-3948-T-0 Wellworth Toilet – 14-inch rough-in

We will therefore start by looking at the Kohler K-3987-96 Wellworth model and compare it with other toilet brands and other Kohler toilets in the same price range or even higher, like the Kohler Cimarron and Kohler Highline.

Kohler K-3987-96 Wellworth

Features and Specifications

• 2-piece toilet
• Round-front toilet bowl
• 14.5-inch bowl height
• 16. 5-inch bowl with seat
• 12-inch rough-in
• 86.3 pounds
• Colors: white, black, biscuit, and almond
• Flush lever on the left
• 2-1/8 inch full glazed trapway
• Toilet seat not included
• Mounting bolts, water supply line, and wax ring not included
• Floor mounted
• Class five flushing technology
• 1.6/1.1 gallons per flush
• Gravity flush
• One-year limited warranty
• WaterSense certified
• 3-bolt tank installation
• Toilet dimensions: 27.75 x 18 x 29.25 inches (D x W x H)

Pros and Cons of Kohler K-3987-96 Wellworth Toilet

So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of installing the Kohler K-3987-96 Wellworth among other models or any other toilet in general? Let us start with the benefits.

1. Best for Small Bathrooms

The Kohler Wellworth has a depth of 27.75 inches which is 2 inches or even more, less than most elongated toilets. For people with a small bathroom, every inch counts. This is why the more comfortable elongated toilets have not completely phased out the round-front toilets.

2. Comfortable for Kids

Although elongated toilets are marketed as more comfortable than round toilets, most people don’t bother to get kids’ opinions. Ask any kid, and they will tell you they feel like they are all falling inside the bowl when using an elongated toilet.

Round toilets are about 16.5 inches in length, while elongated toilets are 18.5 inches long. Their widths are almost standard. The extended length of the elongated toilets is too much for kids.

This makes the Kohler Wellworth a good toilet for the children’s bathroom.

3. Standard Height

A standard-height toilet is a great choice for people not tall and children. In order to use a toilet comfortably, both legs need to be solid on the ground.

Using a toilet while your feet are dangling in the air is a health risk and uncomfortable. Check out this post for more on the pros and cons of comfort height vs. standard height toilets.

4. Kohler Wellworth Black Toilet

The Kohler Wellworth is available in white, black, biscuit, and almond, but the black one stands out. Black is so bold, and as they say, you can never go wrong with black. A black toilet looks great, especially when paired with another black fixture, like a bathroom sink against bright bathroom walls. If you would like to see more black toilets check out this post.

5. Dual Flush

Kohler K-3987-96 is a dual-flush toilet. You will have the option to use either 1.1 or 1.6 gallons of water based on the load you need to flush, thanks to its dual-flush functionality. It may not look like much, but Kohler estimates you could save up to 4000 gallons of water in a year.

Different from the dual flush buttons of other toilets, this toilet has 2 levers. There is the green and longer lever for liquids (1.1 GPF) and the chrome lever for solids (1.6 GPF.)

6. Powerful Flush

The Wellworth uses Kohler’s class five flushing technology, designed to flush a toilet powerfully and quickly thanks to its large flush valve. It uses a canister flush valve that allows water to enter the bowl from all sides hence cleaning and rinsing the bowl.

7. The DryLock tank installation system

To install most toilet tanks on the toilet bowl, you would need to put the tank bolts inside the tank and then through 2 holes at the bottom of the tank. The Kohler Wellworth is different.

The toilet tank has no bolt holes, but rather what you do is hook up the bolts from underneath the tank and proceed to install it. This system is fast and also prevents leaks which normally happen between that tank and the bowl.

The Cons

Some of the pros of Kohler Wellworth turn into cons when the end user is changed. Let us look at the disadvantages of owning a Kohler Wellworth toilet.

1. They are not very comfortable for adults

Compared to oval/elongated toilets with more surface area, Kohler K-3987-96 Wellworth toilets are less comfortable for adults. Due to their anatomy, men prefer an elongated toilet way more than round-front ones.

2. They are not ADA-Compliant

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted to regulate the height of toilet bowls, among other requirements. The specific requirement about toilet bowl heights is that they should be of comfortable height (17-19 inches)

Apart from the ADA requirement, ADA-height toilets are also ideal for tall people, older adults, and people with limited mobility.

3. Do not come with a toilet seat

The Kohler Wellworth is not sold with a toilet seat, and therefore you will need to buy one separately. It does also not come with the wax ring and water supply line, which you will also have to buy separately.

Kohler K-3998-0 Wellworth

The Kohler K-3998-0 Wellworth toilet is a 2-piece elongated single flush toilet. How does it compare against the Kohler K-3987-96 Wellworth?

Features and Specifications

• 2-piece toilet
• Elongated toilet bowl
• 1.28 gallons per flush
• 2 -1/8 inch full glazed trapway
• Class five flushing technology
• 12-inch rough-in
• Seat not included
• Floor mounted
• EPA WaterSense certified
• Colors: white, black, biscuit, and almond
• Toilet bowl height: 14.5 inches
• Depth: 30 inches
• Width: 18 inches
• Height: 29.25 inches

As you can see, the difference between the Kohler K-3998-0 Wellworth and Kohler K-3987-96 Wellworth is the dimensions, water consumption, and the toilet bowl.

While one is manufactured for a smaller bathroom, the other is made for an ordinary bathroom. Another difference between the two is the price. The Kohler K-3998-0 Wellworth is way cheaper than the Kohler K-3987-96 Wellworth.

Kohler K-3948-T-0 Wellworth

The Kohler K-3948-T-0 Wellworth toilet is a 2-piece elongated toilet with a 14-inch rough-in. It has 1.28 gallons per flush rating and has a standard height.

The rough-in is the distance between the rear wall of a toilet and the center of the toilet’s drainpipe. If your toilet is already installed, you should measure from the wall to one of the toilet bolts.

Most modern toilets have a rough-in of 12 inches, but in old houses, toilets have a rough-in of 10 or 14 inches. A toilet with a rough-in of 12 inches cannot be replaced with a 14 inch.

A 14-inch rough-in toilet can, however, be replaced with a 12-inch rough-in toilet. A 2-inch gap will, however, be left between the toilet and the wall. The Kohler K-3948-T-0 Wellworth is a 14-inch rough-in toilet that should not be confused with the 12-inch rough-in Kohler K-3987-96 Wellworth toilet.

Kohler Wellworth vs Kohler Cimarron

Kohler Cimarron is a 2-piece comfort height single flush elongated toilet that is one the best black toilet. It has a water consumption of 1.28 gallons per flush.

Unlike the Kohler Wellworth, Kohler Cimarron is a single-flush toilet with a depth of 28.75 inches, a width of 17.625 inches, and a height of 30.75 inches. Its toilet bowl height without a seat is 16.5 inches.

In terms of appearance, the Kohler Cimarron looks sleeker and more modern than the Wellworth, which appears more standard. The elongated bowl helps to enhance the Cimarron’s appearance.

Both toilets flush quite powerfully, but Kohler Cimarron has a slight edge over the Kohler Wellworth thanks to its AquaPiston canister that ejects water into the bowl at a 360 degrees angle.

To read more reviews on the Kohler Cimarron, check out this post.

Kohler Wellworth vs Kohler Highline Toilet

Kohler K-3999-0 Highline is a 2-piece single flush comfort height toilet with a water consumption of 1.28 gallons per flush.

Like Kohler Wellworth, it uses Kohler’s class five flushing technology, but it’s a single-flush toilet. It has an elongated bowl and is available in white, black, almond, and biscuit.

The Highline has a length of 29.75 inches, a width of 18 inches, and a height of 31.25 inches. The toilet bowl height without a seat is 16.5 inches. It also has a rough-in of 12 inches.

Apart from the dimensions, toilet bowl, and dual flush, the Kohler Highline is not very different from the Kohler Wellworth. The Wellworth is, however, more expensive than the Highline.

Kohler Wellworth vs Kohler Santa Rosa

The Kohler Santa Rosa is a one-piece single, flush compact elongated toilet that uses 1.28 gallons of water per flush.

Compact elongated toilets were designed to take up the space normally occupied by round toilets without compromising the comfort of elongated toilets. If you, therefore, need an elongated toilet but have a small bathroom, you should consider Kohler Santa Rosa.

Its dimensions are 27.75 inches in depth, 18.75 inches in width, and 28.187 inches in height. The toilet bowl height is 16.5 inches without a toilet seat.

Kohler Santa Rosa is a beautifully designed and sleeker toilet, way more than the Kohler Wellworth. With all these nice features, Kohler Santa is more expensive than Kohler Wellworth.

Kohler Wellworth vs Toto Drake

The Toto Drake is a 2-piece single flush elongated toilet with a water consumption of 1.6 gallons per flush. It uses Toto’s G-max flushing system. However, this is somewhat of an older technology because Toto toilets are now using the E-max flushing system.

The E-max flushing system works like the G-max but uses less water (1.28 GPF). 1.6 GPF toilets are not WaterSense certified and can not be sold in California.

The Toto Drake has a depth of 28.125 inches, a width of 19.875 inches, and a height of 30.5 inches. Its toilet bowl height is 16.5 inches from the floor.

A Toto Drake toilet is cheaper than a Kohler Wellworth toilet. It also does not come with a toilet seat. To read more on Toto Drake, check out this post.

Kohler Wellworth Vs. American Standard H2 Option

The American Standard H2 Option is a dual-flush elongated toilet that consumes 1 or 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Like the Kohler Wellworth, it is a standard-height toilet with a bowl height of 15 inches without a toilet seat.

Its surface is coated with American Standard’s EverClean additive to inhibit the growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria. Its 2-inch trapway is slightly smaller than that of the Kohler Wellworth.

The H2 Option has a depth of 29. 75 inches, a width of also 29.75 inches, and a height of 30 inches. It has a bigger width, therefore

A round-front bowl version of this American Standard also exists. Its dimensions are 27.75 inches in depth, 27.75 inches in width, and a height of 30 inches. It also has the same flushing rate of 1/1.6 GPF.

To read more on this toilet and other American Standard toilets, check out this post.

Final Words

The Kohler K-3987-96 Wellworth toilet is one of the best mid-range toilets. It is an excellent choice for people with small bathrooms who need to utilize every inch of space available. The dual-flush feature means it is very water efficient and yet flushes powerfully.

Of the five toilets that we have compared the Kohler Wellworth with, Kohler Santa Rosa was the one that gave the Wellworth a run for its money. The Santa Rosa, however, cost way more than the Kohler Wellworth.

If the Kohler Wellworth is currently out of the range for you but wouldn’t mind an elongated toilet, the Toto Drake elongated bowl and tank toilet would be an excellent choice. It flushes well and is considerably cheaper. If you only need a Kohler, the Kohler Wellworth elongated toilet should suffice.

Another great choice would be the American Standard H2 Option, whether elongated or round. For anyone wishing to experiment with a black toilet, Kohler Cimarron wouldn’t be a bad choice at all.

If you need a 10-inch rough-in toilet with about the same specifications as a Kohler K-3987-96 Wellworth, you should consider the Kohler K-3889-T-0 Highline toilet. It has a round bowl and a flushing rate of 1.28 gallons per flush.