Sink size is a personal choice. For our purposes, in this post we’ll refer to sink length (how far a sink extends along the countertop), width (the distance from front to back), and depth (how deep the bowl is).
An average-sized sink, with room on either side for dirty dishes and drying, in Kitchen of the Week: Practicality in White Marble.
Is there a standard sink size for the kitchen?
Both Buttrick and Williams say they’re seeing many more single-bowl sinks installed than double-bowl.
According to Williams of Cherin’s Appliances, customers typically choose a single-bowl dimension of about 28 to 30 inches long, and “they’re quite happy with that—it gives them enough room to do two things in the sink at once.”
Something to consider: Divided sinks offer relatively little washing space.
How do I know what size sink I need?
A commercially made single-bowl sink can be as long as 33 inches, while a double-bowl model can reach 48 inches. But once your sink is above a certain size, advises Buttrick, you should have a spray head or gooseneck faucet you can use to flush food particles toward the drain.
Photograph by Rory Gardiner.
In Kitchen of the Week: A Family Gathering Spot in a London Victorian, a double-bowl butler sink fits perfectly atop an antique cupboard.
Most kitchen sinks are installed in one of three ways. A drop-in sink fits into a cutout in the countertop, with the rim resting on the counter.
What should I know about installation methods?
A moderately sized undermount sink gets the job done in Kitchen of the Week: Aya Brackett’s Hippie House Update in Oakland (and it’s economical, too: Brackett admired a $2,000 sink before settling on this $300 version by Kraus from Amazon.
What are the pros and cons of a deeper sink?
A number of sinks on the market are two to three inches deeper than the usual eight inches.
“We often have discussions with clients about the benefits of a deeper sink,” says Buttrick.
Photograph by Belathée Photography and courtesy of H2 Design + Build, from Kitchen of the Week: A Before & After Office Rental in Seattle.
Even a petite kitchenette, like this one in a Seattle office, can accommodate a sink suitable for washing dishes and hands. For more sinks in tiny kitchens, see Trend Alert: 20 Well-Designed Kitchenettes.
When counter space is at a premium, you’re likely to go for a smaller sink. New Zealand-based designer Karin Montgomery Spath installs 9-by-15-inch sinks in her kitchenettes; see Expert Advice: The New Kitchenette: 11 Tips for an Efficient Small Kitchen for more.).
What size sink works best in a small kitchen?
Even a minuscule sink serves a purpose, particularly if installed as a secondary prep sink. This one in An Airy Studio Apartment in a Garage suits the tenant’s needs.
Not at all, says Buttrick.
Featured photograph by Belathée Photography and courtesy of H2 Design + Build, from Kitchen of the Week: A Before & After Office Rental in Seattle.
Is a bar sink too small to be useful?
“A separate bar sink is great when you have two people who are active participants in the kitchen. You can use it not just for making drinks, but for, say, vegetable prep or fixing a vase of flowers.” He generally specifies a 12-inch stainless sink for that purpose.
“It’s not that our customers don’t want it,” he says, “but they really don’t have room for it.” As with most renovation decisions, consider your lifestyle to help determine what size sink is right for you: How big are your most-used pans?