Types of Sinks: The Complete Guide

Dive into the most popular types of sinks and learn what each style is best suited for.

Robert Peterson

Today's sinks combine style and functionality, making this upgrade an easy way to spruce up your kitchen, laundry, bar, or other utility spaces. From large farmhouse-style kitchen sinks to decorative vessels in the bathroom, a sink is just as much a design statement as it is a practical feature.

But with endless options on the market to choose from, it can be challenging to narrow down a sink that best suits your needs and personal design style. To help you choose the right one for your space, we've detailed the most popular sink types available right now, along with the pros and cons of each.

Ryan Bent Photograhy

These deep, wide, basin-style sinks will give you plenty of space to wash larger pots and pans, soak dishes, prep food, clean up, or bath pets. They serve as more of a utilitarian option than standard sinks. Though typically installed in rustic, cottage-style, or traditional spaces, today's farmhouse sinks can also boast a more modern, industrial appearance. These sinks can adapt to many styles, sizes, and shapes in residential applications, but their customizability may also complicate the installation job—which often requires sized-to-fit cabinetry and countertops, boosting labor costs. Still, these spacious sinks remain a go-to option for many homeowners—most notably due to their size and timeless beauty.

These sinks feature a built-in drainboard, which allows water to flow from drying dishes directly into the sink. It's a great choice for those who need to care for fragile kitchenware or prefer handwashing dishes. You can also use the drainboard section to hold a dish drying rack or for food prep. But a drainboard sink can appear cluttered or crowded if you place one in a small space. In addition, it takes up a larger section of your countertop, so if you're going for a high-end look where you prefer to show your countertop stone more, it's not the best option.

Robert Peterson

Unlike a farmhouse sink's front-facing panel, which is completely visible, an undermount sink fits snug underneath the edge of a countertop. Considered a more compact option, this sink frees up countertop space and tends to be smaller and lighter than farmhouse models. You can also wipe any food or debris directly from your countertop into your sink without any of it catching on the sink's lips. However, if you don't seal this sink properly, the seam (between the sink and countertop) can harbor dirt and moisture, leading to mold. When it comes to installing this upgrade, under-mount sinks may still require a professional to ensure a proper fit. But their stylish and functional traits may outweigh the installation costs, especially if you're looking to achieve a more high-end aesthetic.

Bar or prep sinks tend to be smaller and function as secondary sinks in a space, offering limited functionality due to their size. Designed to be compact, these sinks are typically no longer than 25 inches and 6 inches deep and are often found in home bars or butler's pantries. Bar and prep sinks also come in rectangular, square, and round shapes, often constructed from stainless steel, granite composite, or copper. They are usually installed as drop-in or under-mount configurations.

It's possible to confuse drop-in sinks—also called overmount or top-mount sinks—with undermount sinks, but there's a key difference between the two. To start, an undermount sink seamlessly flows from the counter to the sink, while drop-in sinks feature exposed rims, creating a protruding edge from the top of the countertop. In turn, this rim takes up more counter space and requires extra cleaning as debris can latch onto its perimeter. Yet, this drop-in design is also what makes these sinks one of the easiest and most affordable installations. Since drop-in sinks are compatible with almost any type of countertop material, they're an easy upgrade to include in DIY renovations.

Designed to disappear when not in use, these sinks boast one of the tidiest appearances possible when it comes to sink designs. As this sink camouflages into a countertop, it gives you back more food prep and serving space. But, because of its mechanics and material costs, disappearing sinks tend to be more expensive and cumbersome to install and operate. Some components of disappearing sinks may also require more cleaning and maintenance. So, if you're placing this sink in a heavy-traffic location, covering and uncovering it may get tedious.

Many of the sinks listed in this guide come in both single or double basin options—but how do you know which is a better fit for you? It's best to look at your lifestyle and daily sink activities first to decide. Know that a single basin typically has a larger surface area and is more flexible in organizing and cleaning dishes (especially larger pots and pans), as there is no separation. But since double basins feature a partition, you can sort clean and dirty dishes (or even make space for soaking dishes or rinsing vegetables), so it can offer more multi-tasking capabilities.

John Granen

Featuring a space-saving design, wall-mounted sinks do not take up any floor space and keep the space beneath the sink area clear. You can even customize the height of these sinks during installation. However, since this sink foregoes any cabinetry below, it may not be a suitable option for you if you're prioritizing more storage. And depending on the type of sink you purchase, your exposed plumbing may not complement or match your hardware and plumbing fixtures. For an easy fix, search for models that offer a cover, or take a DIY route by using decorative boxing or curtains. To get the best look, it's recommended to scout a drain and decorative trap that coordinate with the other finishes in your space. Just remember that wall-mount sinks also require sturdy wall support.

These sinks will convert your washing area into a full workstation. With built-in accessories like folding racks, colanders, and cutting boards that slide onto the sink's existing tracks, you're equipped with a full workspace (clearing up your countertop space too). Workstation sinks will be more expensive than traditional sinks and may require extra installation costs and plumbing. Plus, all the accessories will require additional cleaning, maintenance, or replacement if something breaks over time.

Kerry Kirk

Bowl sinks sit on top of a counter, placing them at a greater height than traditional sinks, which can make them more ergonomic than traditional sinks. But, this setting can also potentially make these sinks more prone to breakage, and they can be less stable than undermount sink. And since they require precise installation (you must align and drill each hole perfectly for proper drainage), their installation can be challenging. Yet, because vessel sinks come in a variety of artistic iterations, including glass, hammered copper, pottery, and stone, they can cater to many design styles. Because the sink is not part of the countertop, the area around the base is more susceptible to catching dirt, making it harder to clean.

With an integrated sink, the sink and countertop are made from a single piece of material, which makes them a sleek and modern option for both bathrooms and kitchens. Since there are zero seams, edges, or rims, these sinks are easier to maintain. Integrated sinks are also highly customizable, so if you're someone who's looking to tailor your sink's every detail from shape, material and size, choosing an integrated sink design can be a creative process. Just know you'll have to commit to your choice upfront because these sinks are a more permanent solution. Integrated sinks are not a good fit for those who like to refresh or update their spaces regularly, as these sinks offer very limited flexibility once installed. In addition, if any part of your piece gets damaged, there's no option to swap out the sink; you may end up needing to replace your entire unit, which can be costly and inconvenient.

Jay Wilde

Like the name suggests, corner sinks maximize the corner of smaller spaces. You can also customize a corner sink's size, shape, and material. But, if you're installing it in conjunction with cabinetry, corner sinks will need a custom countertop and cabinetry layout. On the other hand, if you're choosing a corner wall-mount sink, you can easily install this solution in small corner spaces, especially small powder rooms.

Ramp sinks are typically easier to clean because of their shape and slope, which prevents water from pooling inside the basin. Their minimalist and elegant design can also be an idyllic choice for modern bath spaces.

If you're looking for a greater degree of minimalism, zero-depth or basinless sinks deliver precise craftsmanship with a gradual and shallow slope to direct water flow, foregoing a basin altogether. Usually featuring a small linear cut for the drain, these sinks appear as completely straight-edged countertops from certain angles. Basinless sinks make for a contemporary upgrade to any bath space, a trend that's gaining popularity. Since this is a more elaborate and luxurious update, it will require a specialized sink fabricator to get the functionality and style just right.