You have settled on the size and style of bathtub you want, and then the product page asks a question you were not expecting: left-hand, right-hand or centre drain? It looks like a small checkbox, but pick the wrong one and your new tub will not line up with the plumbing already roughed into your floor. This guide explains how drain locations are named, how to work out which one your bathroom needs, and where each option genuinely shines, whether you are renovating in Vancouver, Regina or Halifax.
What left, right and centre actually mean
Drain location describes which end of the tub holds the drain and overflow. The naming convention is based on your point of view as you stand in the room facing the long, open side of the tub. Drain at the end on your left: it is a left-hand tub. Drain at the end on your right: it is a right-hand tub. A centre drain sits at or near the middle of the tub floor, with the bathing well sloped toward it from both ends.
One honest caution. Most manufacturers follow this convention, but product photos are sometimes mirrored and short descriptions can be ambiguous. You will also see the spelling center drain on many spec sheets, since technical drawings are usually produced for the North American market as a whole. Trust the dimensioned line drawing on the spec sheet, not the photo and not the name alone.
Your rough-in decides, not your preference
The tub drain has to land on the waste rough-in already in your floor. In a replacement project, that makes the decision for you: stand facing your existing tub, note which end the drain is on, and order the matching hand. Moving a drain is real plumbing work. It means opening the floor or the ceiling below, relocating the trap and often revisiting the vent, and in a basement bathroom on a slab it can mean cutting concrete. Costs vary widely across the country and depend on what is hiding under your floor, so treat a drain move as a line item to price with your plumber, not an afterthought.
There is a cold-climate wrinkle worth knowing too. Canadian plumbers generally keep traps and waste lines away from exterior walls and unheated spaces, a habit that earns its keep everywhere from the Prairies to rural Quebec in February. If flipping the drain to the other end of the alcove would push pipe runs toward an outside wall or over an unheated garage, that is a strong argument for keeping the drain where it already is.
Where each drain location fits best
| Drain location | Typical tub styles | Best suited to | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Left-hand | Alcove, skirted, drop-in | Replacing an existing left-drain tub, alcoves plumbed on the left | Must match the rough-in; apron orientation is fixed |
| Right-hand | Alcove, skirted, drop-in | Replacing an existing right-drain tub, alcoves plumbed on the right | Same constraints, mirrored |
| Centre | Freestanding, clawfoot, larger drop-in soakers | New builds and gut renovations, two-person soaking | Rough-in lands mid-floor; rarely fits an existing end-drain alcove without plumbing changes |
Left-hand and right-hand tubs dominate the alcove and skirted category. Because the finished apron faces the room, the tub cannot simply be rotated to swap ends, so alcove models from lines like Maax, American Standard and Kohler are moulded as dedicated left or right versions. If you are shopping this style, confirm your hand first, then browse the full bathtub collection for models offered in your orientation.
Centre drains are the home turf of freestanding and clawfoot designs. Brands we carry such as Victoria + Albert and Cheviot typically place the drain at or near the middle, which lets both ends of the bathing well slope like a backrest, a real comfort win for two-person soaks. Placement is also more forgiving in a new build or gut renovation, since the rough-in comes up through open floor wherever the tub will sit. Explore our freestanding bathtubs if that flexibility suits your project.
Drop-in and undermount tubs sit somewhere in between. The deck is built around the tub, which gives your contractor some room to position things, but the drain and overflow still need clear access below, and therapeutic models from makers like Bain Ultra have equipment placement to respect as well. Once again, the spec drawing is your friend.
Do not forget the waste and overflow
The drain assembly itself, called a waste and overflow, is usually sold separately from the tub. Kits differ in overflow height, cable-operated versus lift-and-turn stoppers, and finish, so you can match your tub filler rather than settling for builder chrome. OS&B, a familiar Canadian name in bath wastes, and Mountain Plumbing both make kits we stock in a range of finishes. Look for cUPC or CSA marks on whatever you buy: the National Plumbing Code sets the baseline here, but provinces adopt and amend it on their own schedules, so let your plumber and local inspector have the final say on trap and venting details. You will find compatible kits in our drains collection.
Quick checklist before you order
- Stand facing the open side of your current tub and note which end the drain is on.
- Pull up the spec sheet for the tub you want and confirm the drain location on the dimensioned drawing.
- For alcove and skirted tubs, confirm the apron faces the room and the tub length matches your opening, measured stud to stud.
- Check where your access panel is, or plan one, so the trap and waste connections stay serviceable.
- Ask your plumber whether the existing trap and vent can stay put with the model you have chosen.
Every tub we sell ships Canada-wide, and if you are still weighing formats and materials, our buying guides hub has more planning help for every room.
Frequently asked questions
Can a left-hand tub be installed as a right-hand tub?
Not if it is an alcove or skirted model. The finished apron has to face the room, so the drain end is fixed at the factory. Some symmetrical drop-in shells can be rotated because there is no apron, but the interior slope and drain position still have to work with your deck and plumbing, so check the drawing before assuming anything.
Is a centre drain better for two people?
Usually, yes. With the drain and overflow in the middle, both ends of the tub can be sloped for reclining and nobody has hardware at their back. That is why most freestanding soaker tubs use a centre or near-centre drain. The trade-off is that centre drains are rare in standard alcove sizes, so this comfort mostly comes with a freestanding or large drop-in format.
Do I have to move my drain to switch from an alcove tub to a freestanding tub?
Very often, yes. An alcove rough-in sits at one end, tight to the wall, while a freestanding tub usually wants its drain out in the open floor beneath it. Budget for plumbing work in that conversion, and have your plumber confirm what your joist direction and venting allow before you commit to a specific model.
How do I read drain location on a spec sheet?
Look for the plan-view drawing, the one that shows the tub from above with dimensions. It marks the drain centreline and its distance from the end and side walls, which you can compare against your rough-in. If the sheet only says left or right, apply the standard convention: you are standing in the room, facing the long open side of the tub.
