List of Bathtub Drain Locations

Overflow Drain

• Every tub has an overflow drain, just like every sink has an overflow drain. These are drains that exists specifically to cover their eponymous function, keeping the tub from overflowing should the owner forget that they left the water on while filling the tub. They also help with overflow from when a person steps into the tub and has filled it with too much water, which needs to be displaced to keep the water from going over the edge of the tub. These are located at the top edges of tubs.

Bottom End of Tub

• The most common placement for a bathtub drain is in the lowest part of the bottom end of the tub. This is the lowest point in the tub. All tubs have built-in slopes in the base, which forces water down toward the drain. It is usually located at the foot of the tub or the place where your feet rest when you are laying down inside of the tub. While the exact type of drain varies, this is the type used in most tubs around the world.

Middle Side of Tub

• More common in Jacuzzis and whirlpool tubs than your typical acrylic or plastic tub, the middle-side drain is used in larger tubs that don’t have a prolonged length, but instead are custom shaped and large enough to accommodate two or more people. Generally, the tub slopes toward a drain that is located on the bottom of the tub on one side or the other, usually located in the middle of the “length” of the tub, but on one side rather than in the actual middle of the tub itself.

Custom Tub

• Custom tubs can have their drains placed wherever the builder wants. While custom bathtubs are not very common due to their extreme complexity in terms of planning and building, they can have their drains placed anywhere in the floor of the tub based upon the personal preference of the builder/designer. As long as the floor slopes to the drain and forces water out of the tub when it is not in use, it fulfills its function.