Kitchen Sink Sizes: Standard Dimensions, Bowl Depth and Cabinet Fit
Sizes for every common kitchen sink style, the cabinet each one needs, and the details that decide whether a replacement drops straight in: rim size, cutout, bowl depth, drain and faucet holes.
The standard US kitchen sink is 33 × 22 in (84 × 56 cm), front to back 22 in, with bowls 8 to 10 in (20 to 25 cm) deep. It fits a 36 in (91 cm) sink base cabinet. Single-bowl sinks run 24 to 33 in wide, farmhouse sinks 30 to 36 in, and bar or prep sinks about 15 × 15 in.
- Standard size
- 33 × 22 in
- Bowl depth
- 8-10 in (20-25 cm)
- Sink base cabinet
- 36 in (91 cm)
- Drain opening
- 3.5 in (89 mm)
On this page
Standard kitchen sink sizes chart
Sizes are outside dimensions, width × front-to-back. A drop-in sink's rim sits on the counter, so its outside size is larger than the hole; an undermount sink hangs below the counter, so the hole is cut to the bowl.
| Type | Width | Front to back | Bowl depth | Base cabinet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double bowl (drop-in) | 33 in 84 cm; 30 to 36 in | 22 in 56 cm | 8 to 10 in | 36 in |
| Single bowl | 24 to 33 in 61 to 84 cm | 18 to 22 in 46 to 56 cm | 8 to 10 in | 27 to 36 in |
| Large single / workstation | 36 to 45 in 91 to 114 cm | 19 to 22 in | 9 to 10 in | 39 to 48 in |
| Farmhouse (apron front) | 30, 33 or 36 in 76, 84, 91 cm | 18 to 25 in 46 to 64 cm | 8 to 10 in | Matching apron base |
| Triple bowl | 42 to 48 in 107 to 122 cm | 20 to 22 in | 8 to 10 in, center often shallow | 45 to 48 in or more |
| Corner sink | 32 to 36 in along each wall | About 20 to 22 in deep bowls | 8 to 9 in | Corner sink base |
| Bar or prep sink | 12 to 18 in 30 to 46 cm | 12 to 18 in | 5 to 8 in | 15 to 21 in |
Double-bowl splits: 50/50, 60/40 and 70/30
Within the same 33 in sink, the split decides how big each bowl is. In a 50/50 sink each bowl is roughly 14 to 15 in wide, enough for a dinner plate but not a large sheet pan. A 60/40 sink gives a main bowl of about 17 to 18 in and a 70/30 sink about 20 to 21 in. A "low divide" sink, with a divider a few inches lower than the rim, lets long pans lie across both bowls. If you wash large pans by hand, a single bowl or a 60/40 split is more useful than two equal bowls.
Which sink fits which cabinet
The base cabinet under the sink has side walls about 3/4 in thick, and the countertop edge needs some material on each side of the cutout. That is why a sink is normally about 3 in narrower than its cabinet.
| Sink base cabinet | Maximum sink width (outside) | Typical sinks |
|---|---|---|
| 24 in (61 cm) | 21 in | Small single bowl, prep sink |
| 27 in (69 cm) | 24 in | Single bowl |
| 30 in (76 cm) | 27 in | Single bowl, compact double bowl |
| 33 in (84 cm) | 30 in | 30 in single or double bowl |
| 36 in (91 cm) | 33 in | Standard 33 × 22 in double bowl |
| 42 in (107 cm) | 39 in | Large single, workstation |
| 48 in (122 cm) | 45 in | Workstation, triple bowl |
Manufacturers print a "minimum cabinet size" on every spec sheet, and it overrides this rule of thumb: some undermount sinks with a thin flange fit a cabinet only 2 in wider, while apron-front sinks often need a cabinet 3 in wider than the sink or a dedicated apron base of the same nominal width. Cabinet widths and the sink base itself are covered in the kitchen cabinet dimensions guide.
Sink depth
Bowl depth is measured from the top of the rim or deck to the drain. Deeper bowls hide dishes and stop splashing; shallower bowls are easier on your back.
- Standard: 8 to 10 in (20 to 25 cm). With a 36 in counter, the bottom of a 9 in bowl is 27 in from the floor.
- Deep: 10 to 12 in (25 to 30 cm). Good for large pots, but tall users bend further, and an undermount sink adds the counter's 1.25 to 1.5 in thickness to the reach.
- Accessible: 6.5 in (16.5 cm) maximum under the 2010 ADA Standards, with the rim no higher than 34 in and knee space below. NKBA's recommended knee space under a sink is 36 in wide, 27 in high and 8 in deep, increasing to 17 in deep in the toe space up to 9 in from the floor.
- Prep and bar sinks: 5 to 8 in, since they are used for rinsing produce and glasses.
Front-to-back size and faucet space
US countertops are 25 to 25.5 in deep. A 22 in drop-in sink leaves about 1.5 to 2 in at the front and 1.5 in at the back, so its faucet holes are on the sink's own rear deck. Undermount sinks are smaller front to back, usually 16 to 19 in, which leaves 3 to 4 in behind the bowl for a faucet mounted in the countertop.
- Faucet holes: about 1 3/8 to 1 1/2 in (35 to 38 mm) in diameter. Sinks are sold with 1 to 4 holes; a 3-hole layout with an 8 in spread (holes on 4 in centers) suits a faucet with separate handles.
- Behind the faucet: single-lever faucets need 2 to 3 in behind the spout base for the handle to swing back. Check this against the backsplash before cutting the counter.
- Windows: a faucet under a window sill needs the spout height plus the handle swing clear of the sill.
Drain, trap and garbage disposer sizes
| Part | Size |
|---|---|
| Drain opening | 3.5 in (89 to 90 mm), for a basket strainer or disposer flange |
| Tailpiece and trap | 1.5 in (38 mm in the US, 40 mm in the UK and EU); IRC Table P3201.7 sets 1.5 in for kitchen sinks |
| Bar sink drain | Often 2 in (51 mm), which does not accept a standard disposer |
| Supply lines | 3/8 in compression connections to the faucet |
A garbage disposer hangs about 12 to 15 in below the sink and takes much of the sink base's height. With a 10 in deep bowl in a 34.5 in cabinet, check that the disposer outlet sits above the drain pipe in the wall, or the waste will not flow.
Stainless steel sink gauge
The gauge number is a thickness, and lower numbers are thicker. 16 gauge stainless is about 0.0625 in (1.6 mm) thick and 18 gauge about 0.05 in (1.3 mm). Thicker steel dents less and drums less when water hits it; most quality kitchen sinks are 16 or 18 gauge. Gauge does not change the outside dimensions.
UK and European kitchen sink sizes
European kitchens mostly use inset sinks with a built-in drainer, sized in millimeters to fit 500 or 600 mm base units.
| Layout | Size (mm) | Size (in) | Typical base unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single bowl and drainer | 860 × 500 | 33.9 × 19.7 | 500 mm |
| 1.5 bowl and drainer | 1000 × 500 | 39.4 × 19.7 | 600 mm |
| Double bowl and drainer | 1160 × 500 | 45.7 × 19.7 | 800 mm |
| Undermount single bowl | about 340 to 500 × 400 | 13.4 to 19.7 × 15.7 | 400 to 600 mm |
European bowls are typically 180 to 200 mm (7.1 to 7.9 in) deep, shallower than US bowls, and the drain is the same 90 mm (3.5 in) size. Because the drainer is part of the sink, a European sink is much wider than its bowl and sits partly over the neighboring base unit.
Where the sink goes
- Landing space: NKBA recommends a 24 in (61 cm) counter on one side of the main sink and 18 in (46 cm) on the other, and a 36 × 24 in prep area right next to it.
- Dishwasher: within 36 in of the sink, usually directly beside it, so the drain hose and water line are short. See the dishwasher size guide.
- Next to a range: the two landing areas combine, so leave at least 36 in between sink and range rather than 24 in.
Counter depths and overhangs around the sink are in the countertop size guide, and the full set of kitchen clearances is in the kitchen dimensions guide. For bathroom basins, see bathroom vanity sizes.
How to measure a kitchen sink for replacement
- Outside size: for a drop-in sink, measure the rim from edge to edge, left to right and front to back.
- Cutout: from underneath, or after lifting the old sink, measure the hole in the counter. A new drop-in sink must have a rim larger than the hole and a bowl smaller than it.
- Bowl depth: lay a straightedge across the rim and measure down to the drain.
- Cabinet: open the doors and measure the interior width between the cabinet sides. This limits an undermount sink's outside width.
- Holes: count the faucet and accessory holes and note their spacing, so the new faucet and soap dispenser line up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the typical kitchen sink width?
33 in (84 cm) is the most common width, for both double-bowl and large single-bowl sinks. Smaller kitchens use 25 to 30 in sinks, and large kitchens 36 in or more, up to 45 to 48 in workstation and triple-bowl sinks.
What size are standard sink bowls?
In a 33 in 50/50 double-bowl sink, each bowl is roughly 14 to 15 in wide and 16 in front to back. In a 60/40 sink the large bowl is about 17 to 18 in wide. A single-bowl 33 in sink has one bowl of about 30 × 16 to 18 in. Bowls are 8 to 10 in deep.
What is the standard kitchen sink size in cm or mm?
The US standard 33 × 22 in sink is 838 × 559 mm. UK and European inset sinks are commonly 1000 × 500 mm (1.5 bowls and a drainer) or 860 × 500 mm (one bowl and a drainer), with bowls about 180 to 200 mm deep.
Is the kitchen sink drain a standard size?
Yes. Kitchen sinks in the US and Europe have a drain opening of about 3.5 in (89 to 90 mm), which takes a standard basket strainer or a garbage disposer. Below that, the tailpiece and trap are 1.5 in (38 to 40 mm).
How deep is a kitchen sink?
Standard bowls are 8 to 10 in (20 to 25 cm) deep, measured from the rim to the drain. Deep sinks are 10 to 12 in. An accessible sink under the ADA Standards may be no more than 6.5 in (16.5 cm) deep, so a seated user can reach the bottom.