Your kitchen sink is an essential part of your home, especially considering the kitchen is often considered the heart of a home. Many kitchens are busy places, bustling with activity throughout the day as people come and go. Whether you’re preparing a meal or washing dishes, there’s a good chance you’ll need to use your kitchen sink at some point.
So, if you’re remodeling your kitchen (or starting from scratch), you might be weighing the virtues of each option. A double sink might be better for some folks, while a single sink is a superior option in other cases. If you’re stuck between the two choices, we’re here to help!
In This Article:
Which Sink Is Best For The Kitchen, Single Or Double?
Before selecting the best sink for your kitchen, single or double, there are a few things to consider. Each option has its ups and downs, which can help narrow down the ideal choice for your kitchen.
Single Sinks
Kitchen sinks come in various configurations, but one of the trendy picks in today’s market is the single sink. Featuring a large, single bowl, these sinks are a solid choice. Single basin sinks tend to be quite large, although plenty of smaller options exist.
These are often the ideal choice for small, compact kitchens where there isn’t enough space for more than a single basin. Small single-bowl sinks can be deeper than usual, which makes up for their small footprint.
Design trends today favor single-bowl sinks, offering contemporary and minimalist touches to the space. Aside from the favorable looks, single-basin sinks are handy for their sheer size. The large, deep single-basin sinks are ideal for washing larger dishes, as there’s plenty of space to submerge the entire dish.
Pros And Cons
Before you commit to one sink over another, it doesn’t hurt to weigh the pros and cons of the runner-up and your first pick. If you’re stuck between choosing a single-basin or double-basin sink, here are a few things to consider:
Pros
- Can be easier to clean and maintain
- Might be less expensive to purchase
- Less expensive to install (single drain assembly)
- Makes it easier to wash large dishes
- Available in varying sizes to fit any kitchen
- Straightforward faucet placement
Cons
- Lack of design variation
- Not as versatile
- May require more water and detergent to wash dishes
- May require additional counter space
Double Sinks
While single-bowl sinks are an excellent choice, double-basin sinks provide competition. These sinks are ideal for busy kitchens, where you might not have time to wash dishes as they come in. if you have a single-bowl sink, piling all the dishes in the sink may prevent you from using the sink.
However, if you have a double-basin sink, you can pile all the dishes in one sink, then leave the other side for rinsing produce, washing the necessary dishes, and anything else you might need.
Aside from the convenience of the double-bowl design, these sinks often feature additional accessories for efficient usage. For example, some double-bowl sinks feature a grate that fits over the sink, allowing you to drain produce and dry dishes without water getting everywhere.
Or, some sinks come with a cutting board that fits into a groove along the sink’s edge, allowing you to rinse, chop, and dispose of scraps (if you have a garbage disposal), all in one place. This makes food prep much easier, as you can get it all done without having to bustle all over the kitchen.
What Is The Point Of A Double Sink?
In previous years, double kitchen sinks were standard. This is primarily due to the lack of a dishwasher in most kitchens, which didn’t become prevalent until the 1970s. So, for efficient washing, folks used a double sink.
Oftentimes, people would use one basin for washing and the other for rinsing. The added bowl gave people an easy and efficient way to wash dirty dishes without piling them in the sink or overfilling the washing sink with water as they rinse the dishes.
Pros And Cons
As mentioned earlier, it doesn’t hurt to consider the pros and cons of your top picks. So, if the debate continues between single and double-bowl sinks, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Pros
- Ideal for busy kitchens
- May use less water and detergent for handwashing
- May free up counter space
- May come with accessories for easier use (cutting board, draining grate, etc.)
- Versatile, each basin can be used separately
Cons
- Not ideal for small kitchens
- Fewer faucet installation options
- Tricky to wash large dishes
- May require more maintenance
- Can be more expensive
Single-Bowl vs. Double-Bowl Sinks
While browsing through the pros and cons of each option will help you decide which option is best for your home, we think it’s easier to have a direct comparison. So, instead of jumping back and forth from each pro/con list, let’s look at these options head-to-head.
Use And Configuration
We discussed the use of each sink earlier when examining each type by itself. The general consensus here is that the double-bowl sink is ideal for busier kitchens, especially when you don’t have time to wash the dishes to use the sink.
The double-bowl sink is ideal for soaking dishes, as you can soak dishes with baked-on food in one sink and still have the other sink free for use.
However, if you have quite a few large pots or pans, you might have a tough time washing them in a double-bowl sink. In this case, a single-bowl sink is the star of the show. Of course, some single-bowl sinks are small, but some are large enough to easily wash your dishes without a hitch.
On top of this, you also should consider how much water you’ll use. If you have a massive, single-bowl sink, you’ll need more water to fill the sink with enough water for washing dishes. On the other hand, a double-bowl sink of the same size won’t require the same amount of water since the sink is split into two bowls.
Installation
Single-bowl sinks tend to be easier to install compared to double-sinks. While it ultimately depends on what kind of sink you have (undermount, drop-in, etc.), you’ll need to hook up the plumbing for a functional sink.
If you’re an avid DIYer, you’ll have a bit of extra work cut out for you if you choose a double sink. Why? The extra basin also has its own drain, so you need to hook up the plumbing to both drains and then connect them to the main drain line under the sink. The process can be somewhat complicated if you’re unfamiliar with plumbing projects.
Of course, you could outsource the project to a professional, but if you’re set on doing it yourself, you might find it easier to install a single-basin sink.
Counter Space
In tiny kitchens, every inch of counter space counts. It’s important to optimize what you have to the best of your ability, which sometimes means the sink you like won’t work. Double-bowl sinks are great for small kitchens, although not ideal for tiny kitchens.
The extra bowl allows you to place a drying rack over one of the sinks, saving counter space in the process. Of course, you could always put a drying rack over the basin of a single-bowl sink, but your sink might not be functional while the dishes dry. This probably won’t be a problem in kitchens with a massive single-bowl sink.
That said, it doesn’t hurt to keep this in mind as you browse for the perfect sink.
Price
Generally, double-bowl sinks tend to be slightly pricier than single-bowl configurations. While this is subject to change based on the size, material, and brand of the sink, it is pretty consistent for most. For example, a stainless-steel double sink is usually more expensive than a stainless steel single-bowl sink, even though they’re made by the same manufacturer and are the same size.
For reference, let’s consider a 33-inch sink. This is on the larger end of kitchen sinks, but we’ll use it as an example. A single-bowl undermount sink of this size usually costs $225 to $400 on average. On the other hand, a double bowl sink (same size, also undermount) usually costs about $300 to $500 on average.
In addition, installation tends to be more expensive for a double sink than for a single sink. This is primarily due to the extra work required to connect the second drain to the drainage line.
