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Washing dishes, washing fruit and vegetables, filling large pots with water, and draining liquid from cooked food are some things a kitchen sink can do for you. However, have you paid attention to the kitchen sink size? You only notice the size when you run out of room to complete cooking and cleaning tasks.
Bigger is always better in the kitchen, and adding a double bowl sink is a wise investment. A double-size sink bowl has two connected bowls and a faucet in the center. That means you can multitask (i.e., soaking dirty dishes in one bowl and washing leafy greens in the other).
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I have found many single-bowl sinks to be very limiting, even in smaller kitchens that do not have much space. I considered my perfect sink size based on future family needs and home resale. Sure, as a single individual or young couple, you might believe you’ll never have shorter family members to keep you busy.
However, I remember having fun with my daughter as she poured paint through a colander in the sink. It was fun and messy, but we also had a double bowl kitchen sink, each of equal size.
Besides learning the standard size for a double bowl kitchen sink, learn about the double sink types and materials. The right kitchen sink size will always depend on your particular use case and situation. So think wisely because kitchen renovations are the most expensive home improvement projects for any homeowner.
Table of Contents
Sink Style
Undermount Sink
A sink where the entire body and outer rim fit under the countertop and cabinet cut-out is an undermount sink. In particular, the extensive base goes inside the pre-measured deep hole while the sink rim fuses underneath the countertop with adhesive, brackets, or clips. The rest of the sink uses a cabinet-style covering to blend it in with kitchen cabinetry.
The good news is the undermount is a space saver. It gives you so much counter space to do whatever you please. The bad news is those sinks are heavy; water can land between the rim and countertop to weaken its foundation.
Overmount Sink
Unlike the undermount, the overmount sink fits inside the cabinet cut-out. The top of the sink rim sits on the countertop. This sink is easy to install and easy to replace with a new sink. Overmounts, drop-in, and top mount sinks conceal the sink front with a cabinet-style covering. There is good and bad news. Sadly, this sink takes inches of countertop space away, whereas the good news is the flexibility. The drop-in overmount works with any existing sink cabinet depth. It meshes well with the material and size of the top counter space.
Farmhouse Sink
Apron sinks, also called farmhouses, are not as prevalent as the others on the list. Instead of two separate sink bowls, this sink is one large, flat, rectangular bowl on top of the base cabinet. In place of the 24-inch cabinet-style front, the front sink is showing and protruding outward.
The good news is the larger sink size. The large single bowl is between 8 and 9 inches deep. It requires a custom fit as it doesn’t match the size of most countertops.
The bad news is the installation. Should you replace it, you must stick with a farmhouse or apron type. Choosing a different sink requires a new countertop and a cabinet overhaul.
Prep Sink
A new kitchen sink type focusing on food preparation, prep sinks take up less space than standard size sinks. Instead of a double basin sink, they are single bowl kitchen sinks. Alternatively labeled bar sinks, the small bowl is next to a more oversized sink, on a kitchen island, or around a wet bar.
Understand that the small sink is a secondary sink and will not take the place of a standard kitchen sink. If you have enough room for a bar sink, get one.
Drainboard Sink
Drain boards install like an overmount, undermount, or farmhouse, but the drain board sets the double-bowl sinks apart from others. A section on one side of the sink is a drying rack or drainboard. The grooves sticking upward collect dripping water from the wet items and guide it into the sink.
AdvertisementsEven though there are two sides, you end up with a single basin sink. Another downside is drainboards occupy countertop and cabinet space. You can also add a drainboard to an old sink as an attachment.
Add other attachments like a soap dispenser, garbage disposal, cutting board, sink strainer, and sink grids.
Oversized Sink
The standard sink size for single bowl sinks is 36 inches or fewer. I consider a sink larger than 36 inches to be an oversized sink. A small kitchen cannot handle big sinks, but a large kitchen can. Luxury homeowners of estates and spacious contemporary homes will always exceed the standard length and size range for almost any fixture, furniture, and design accent because they can. Money talks.
Oversized sinks are a perfect solution for spacious kitchens where the average kitchen sink will not suffice. Like the farmhouse and drainboard, it takes up cabinet and countertop space because of its massive size. Therefore, most oversized versions are in commercial buildings and not residential.
Kitchen Sink Material
The variety of kitchen sink materials is impressive. There are stone, cast iron, fireclay, copper, and stainless steel sinks that bring different benefits to the kitchen. You must pick a material that suits your cleaning and cooking habits in the kitchen.
- A stainless steel kitchen sink is the most popular and best sink material. It is durable, easy to clean, reasonably priced, rust-proof, and a safe kitchen decor choice. The material is stain, chip, and crack resistant with a sound-deadening material that doesn’t make noise when a stream of water hits it.
- A copper sink is a handcrafted, durable material that kills bacteria and viruses on contact. The valuable material is rust-proof and tarnish-proof. Wash and wax the interior to prevent discoloration, or let it develop a beautiful patina appearance by doing nothing.
- A cast iron sink is a solid iron material that is both heavy and indestructible. The most durable on the list, cast iron, will not burn, chip, or crack. It is simple to clean because of its porcelain enamel coating and glass-looking finish.
- Similar to cast iron, fireclay sinks mimic the appearance and porcelain enamel coating. Common in apron/farmhouse sinks, fireclay is durable, rust resistant, scratch-resistant, chip-resistant, acid damage resistant, fade resistant, and no discoloration. Fireclay gets its name from its construction: a clay-made item baked at extreme temperatures.
- Travertine, marble, or granite stone sinks use the actual material to carve a sink out, so no two sinks will match. However, the beautiful and durable sink requires extra maintenance for continued use. A more popular stone option that is easier to clean is a composite version mixed with acrylic or quartz.
Kitchen Sink Dimensions
The style and the material will not matter if the dimensions are not in line with the size of the sink. Compared to 46 inches with triple bowl sinks, a standard double kitchen sink will be smaller, ranging from 30 to 36 inches in standard width. Meanwhile, a standard kitchen sink size for a single bowl is between 24 and 30 inches.
Besides learning the width of different types of sinks, the height of double sinks, or the long end going in a vertical direction, is a 22-inch sink. The sink height is essential because it connects to depth (the measurement between the top and bottom of the sink).
Common sizes for standard double bowl sink depth runs between 6 and 10 inches deep. Picking shallow sinks between 6 and 8 inches deep won’t leave enough space for larger pots. A sink depth of 8 to 10 inches is a deeper sink, offering generous space.
Complete the measurement by focusing on the size of your kitchen. Smaller kitchens don’t need large sinks and vice versa. The right size is crucial to add balance and appeal.
Finally, the back dimensions of the sink matter. Will it be near a window or a backsplash? Include space for kitchen faucet installation.
If it is near a backsplash, it will affect depth as the tile thickness absorbs much-needed countertop space. For sinks near a window, the right sink size is the one that closely matches the window length. The width of the sink may match window width, as a wider sink looks awkward against a smaller window and vice versa.
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