sink sizes

15 years ago

Here's my problem. I just ordered a single bowl 36"x18"x10" sink to replace an old triple 42"x 22" sink (in a 45" cabinet). Am I going to hate the 18" part? I couldn't find a 22" and don't have the time for custom (messed up the timing on this). I don't have anything wider than that to clean--I just wonder if it will feel tight all the time. 18" seems to be the norm now. My GC thought it was for water conservation?

Also, if that's my main sink in the counter, what size for the island? I have 77" there and am thinking about an 18x18. Too big? Thanks.

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Comments (6)

breezygirl
15 years ago
The good news is that you shouldn't have any problems with the faucet handle hitting the backsplash like can happen with sinks that are deeper front to back.

18x18" isn't too big for a prep sink at all, but whether you could get by with a slightly smaller one depends on your layout in my mind. IMHO, if the sink is one one end of the island and you still have at least 4.5' of open prep space you should be fine. I like to spread out though. If you went smaller, I wouldn't do smaller than 15-16" anyway so we're not talking much difference.

It sounds like you're talking SS sinks, yes? Not that it matters. Just curious.
User
15 years ago
Is 18" the exterior dimension, front to back? If so, is the interior dimension much smaller than that?

Did the 22" front to back measurement of the sink you're replacing include a lip or faucet deck? Or was that really the dimension of the interior of the bowls?

I just put in a stainless single bowl sink that is has interior dimensions of 34 1/2" x 17 3/8", and it seems gloriously huge to everyone who's seen it. Nothing that I have put in the sink so far has felt the least bit crowded.
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blfenton
15 years ago
My prep sink is 16"x16" and I find it plenty big enough. I don't use it for anything else except prepping for meals, I don't use it for clean up or for baking. And I'm into as much counter space as is humanly possible in my space. (comes from having nothing but 2'x4' worth of counter for the last 27 years where EVERYTHING was done)
kimithy48
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks! This is all so helpful. Yes, stainless--need a change of look from 25 years. I'm purposely moving the prep sink to the side of the island bec. I've never had an expanse of island space to work with--so looking forward to that. My original was 22" edge to edge so yes, now that I think of it, the bowl had to be smaller. I'm going with an 18x17x8. I could do 10" but maybe overkill?
blfenton
15 years ago
If the sink is an undermount sink, yes the sink is 8" deep but putting it undermount lowers it by the depth of the counter, by probably 1" so now your depth is 9". I would leave it at that. A 10" deep sink becomes 11" deep and that can be tough to work in because of how far you have to lean in to the sink to work.
kimithy48
Original Author
15 years ago
Finally, a right decision by luck! I hadn't thought of the counter depth. Thanks, blfenton.