Kohler Wellworth Compact Two-Piece Compact-Elongated 1.28 GPF Toilet

The Kohler Wellworth Compact positioning

The Wellworth Compact (K-3978) is Kohler's compact-elongated variant of the volume Wellworth Classic K-3987 — providing the same value-tier rebuild-grade Wellworth engineering in a 17.5" compact-elongated bowl shape rather than the standard 16.5" round-front or 18.5" full-elongated configurations. At $210-$290, it occupies the value-tier compact-elongated niche within Kohler — competing with Glacier Bay Compact Smart Height ($120-$180) and American Standard Cadet 3 Compact ($220-$270).

The Wellworth Compact is the Kohler that landlords spec for apartment-bathroom rebuilds where the unit floor plan has limited floor depth. Apartment construction since 2010 has trended toward compact-elongated bowls (17.5") because the 1-inch savings vs full-elongated meaningfully impacts the bathroom floor plan in apartments where every inch is engineered. For property managers turning over apartment toilets, the Wellworth Compact offers Kohler brand + Class Five flush + WaterSense compliance at sub-$300 pricing.

The compact-elongated bowl size

The compact-elongated bowl shape (17.5" front-to-back) sits between round-front (16.5") and full elongated (18.5"). This is the design choice for bathrooms that need elongated comfort but have only 26-27" of floor depth available. Common use cases:

• Apartment and condo bathrooms with tight floor plans
• Powder rooms under stairs or in tight corner installations
• New-construction tract houses with engineered floor plans
• RV-conversion residential applications
• Tiny-house bathrooms

For households with adults over 6 feet tall, the 17.5" compact-elongated may feel slightly small for longer sittings. For typical adult use, the difference between compact-elongated and full-elongated is barely noticeable.

Wellworth Compact vs Wellworth Classic

The variant matrix

What's in the box

• Tank with pre-installed Class Five flush valve, Fluidmaster-pattern fill valve, chrome trip lever
• Compact-elongated bowl (pre-drilled for 12" rough-in)
• Tank-to-bowl gasket and brass bolts
• Wax ring NOT included
• SoftClose seat NOT included — Kohler Brevia compact-elongated SoftClose ($45-$70) or universal Bemis 1500EC ($35) recommended
• Installation manual

Install requirements and procedure

• Rough-in: 12 inches (standard).
• Weight: ~78 lbs total (tank ~32, bowl ~46). One-person install comfortable.
• Standard two-piece install — identical procedure to Wellworth Classic. See Wellworth Classic install walkthrough.
• Universal aftermarket parts — Korky and Fluidmaster fit throughout the tank trim. Standard Class Five flapper (Korky 100 2-inch or 2032BP 3-inch — verify the specific Wellworth Compact revision for valve diameter).

What owners report

• The compact bowl size + comfort height combination is the sweet spot for apartment-bathroom rebuilds. Owners specifically mention "the Wellworth Compact fit perfectly where my old toilet was too cramped."
• Class Five flush at 700g MaP is solid for normal use. Heavy paper users occasionally need a second flush.
• The Kohler brand confidence at sub-$300 is why landlords and property managers consistently choose Wellworth Compact over Glacier Bay for upscale rental units.
• Standard ceramic glaze shows hard-water spots in mineral-heavy regions — typical of Class Five Kohlers.
• Service is straightforward. Universal Korky/Fluidmaster aftermarket parts at every Home Depot. Flapper at 5-7 years; fill valve at 10-12 years.
• Service life: 20-25 years porcelain.
• Common upgrade path: when Wellworth Compact eventually wears out, owners typically replace with a Cimarron Comfort Height in the same bathroom for the AquaPiston canister upgrade.

Where Wellworth Compact wins vs competitors

The verdict

Buy Wellworth Compact if:

• Apartment, condo, or tract-home bathroom with limited floor depth (need compact-elongated 17.5")
• Landlord rebuild, property management spec, or rental property turnover
• You want Kohler brand + Class Five flush at sub-$300 with compact bowl
• Universal parts service matters (Korky / Fluidmaster aftermarket fits perfectly)

Skip Wellworth Compact and choose Glacier Bay if:

• Budget is the absolute priority — Glacier Bay Compact is $80-$130 less
• Short-term rental property where 7-10 year service life is acceptable

Skip and choose Persuade if:

• You want dual-flush in compact-elongated bowl (Persuade is at $320-$430 with dual-flush)

Skip and choose Wellworth K-3988 if:

• Bathroom has space for full-elongated bowl — saves $40-$50 over Compact for slightly larger seat

Warranty

Kohler Wellworth Compact residential warranty: 1 year on tank trim, lifetime on porcelain, 5-year limited on Class Five flapper. Standard Kohler customer service. Universal aftermarket parts widely available.

Pricing reality (2026)

Wellworth Compact K-3978-0 (White): $210-$260. Home Depot: $239-$269. Lowes: $219-$249. Build.com: $199-$229. Biscuit variants +$30-$50. Property-management bulk purchases (10+ units) often discount to $179-$199 per unit through Ferguson trade accounts.