kitchen sinks

Create a smart and stylish cleanup zone with a kitchen sink that complements your work style and dresses up your cooking area with sleek style or old-fashioned charm.

Sink Materials

Cast Iron: Featuring a layer of porcelain enamel over cast iron, these sinks are durable and easy to maintain. Sinks are heavy, though, and apron-front models often require special sink-base cabinets.

Cast Acrylic: Made of plastic that is reinforced with fiberglass, these sinks are lightweight, easy to install, and affordable. Their surface is stain-resistant.

Composite: Made of a mixture of materials, these lightweight sinks feature a durable, low-maintenance surface and are available in a variety of colors. Molded-through color helps hide chips and scratches.

Copper: These sinks will acquire an aged patina over time. They’re good for prep areas because the metal helps kill bacteria.

Fireclay: These sinks have been fired at very high temperatures, resulting in a durable surface that’s resistant to ships, stains, scratches, and bacteria.

Stainless Steel: These sinks are affordable, durable, and easy to clean. But be sure to check the gauge: The lower the gauge, the thicker the metal—and the more durable and quieter the sink when pots clang against it. Brushed and satin stainless steel help hide scratches, water spots, and fingerprints.

Stone: Featuring a stylish, organic look, these sinks are costly to buy and install. The surface is unforgiving of dropped plates and glasses.

Sink Configurations

Single-Bowl: These sinks offer ample space for washing large pans and baking sheets.

Double-Bowl: Available with two bowls of equal size or one larger bowl and one smaller bowl, these sinks let you multitask more easily.

Three-Bowl: With extra options in depth and proportion, this sink style has a third, shallow bowl for food prep.

Modular: This sink has individual bowls that come in several shapes and sizes. You create your ideal arrangement.

Bar/Prep: Ideal for entertaining areas or island work centers, these smaller, secondary sinks come in a variety of geometric shapes.

Sink Installation

Drop-In: Also called top-mount or self-rimming, these sinks are easy to install and affordable. They feature a lip that overlaps the countertop, which can be difficult to clean. They can be used with any type of countertop.

Undermount: These sinks are installed under the countertop, so there’s no lip to catch food and dirt. They offer a seamless look, but they are typically more expensive and harder to install than drop-in models.

Apron-Front: Also called farmhouse sinks, these models feature an exposed front that makes them a design focal point. They add vintage charm, but they’re often pricey— and water can drip down their exposed front and potentially damage cabinets below.

Planning Tip

Be sure to consider how many faucet holes you’ll need in your kitchen sink. A single-handle faucet requires one hole, while faucets with separate hot and cold handles require three. Add another hole if you want a sidespray, hot water dispenser, or built-in soap dispenser.