A kitchen wash basin in Australia is usually 450 - 860mm wide for a single or double bowl and 440 - 510mm from front to back. Stainless steel bowls are about 200mm deep and fireclay butler sinks closer to 250mm. The size that suits your kitchen comes down to three measurements: a benchtop that is usually 600mm deep, the width of the base cabinet underneath, and the minimum cabinet size printed on the sink's specification sheet.
Our Kitchen Sink Sizes guide lists the common bowl configurations. The sections below go a step further and show how to make a basin fit the bench, the cabinet and the people using it, which is where many kitchen sink mistakes happen.
Kitchen Wash Basin Sizes at a Glance
| Basin Type | Overall Width | Front to Back | Bowl Depth | Typical Cabinet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact or prep bowl | Under 450mm | 270 - 450mm | About 200mm | 450 - 600mm |
| Standard single bowl | 500 - 600mm | 440 - 500mm | 180 - 210mm | 600 - 700mm |
| Large single or butler sink | 600 - 850mm | 440 - 510mm | 200 - 260mm | 700 - 900mm |
| One and a half bowl | 600 - 800mm | 440 - 450mm | 180 - 210mm | 700 - 900mm |
| Double bowl | 720 - 860mm | 440 - 460mm | 180 - 210mm | 800 - 900mm |
| Bowl with drainer | 840 - 1160mm | 440 - 480mm | 180 - 230mm | Sized to the bowl; the drainer sits over the next cabinet |
Measure the Bench and Cabinet First
Australian kitchen benches are built to a few settled numbers. The finished bench is usually 900mm high, with 850 - 1000mm used for shorter or taller cooks. The benchtop is 600mm deep, sitting over a base carcass 560 - 580mm deep with a small overhang at the front. Front-to-back size is rarely the problem, because nearly every sink is designed to drop into that 600mm.
Width is where most sink and cabinet clashes happen. Flat-pack and custom base cabinets come in steps such as 300, 450, 600, 750, 800, 900 and 1000mm, and a 1200mm single sink cabinet is usually a custom job. Compare the cabinet's nominal width with the minimum on the sink's specification sheet, and for an undermount or butler sink also check the clear width inside, because the side panels take up room and the cabinet sets the largest sink it can hold.
Before you settle on a position, check two neighbours. A standard dishwasher is 600mm wide (slimline models are 450mm) and its drain hose needs to reach the sink, so most makers want it close by. And keep the sink clear of a corner, where the bowl and the cabinet door fight for the same space.
Sink Width and Cabinet Width
Every sink specification sheet lists a minimum cabinet width, and that number overrules any rule of thumb. Two 540mm single bowls from different Australian makers can call for a 600mm and a 700mm cabinet, because one needs more room for its mounting clips and bowl walls than the other.
| Sink Overall Width | Example | Minimum Cabinet |
|---|---|---|
| 540mm | Single bowl, maker A | 600mm |
| 540mm | Single bowl, maker B | 700mm |
| 724mm | Double bowl | 800mm |
| 780mm | Large single bowl | 900mm |
| 1080mm | Bowl and a half with drainer | 800mm (drainer over the next cabinet) |
Our single kitchen sinks start with prep bowls under 400mm wide, small enough to sit beside the main sink, while our double kitchen sinks run to 1160mm with a drainer. Ask our team for the specification sheet of any sink before your cabinetmaker builds the carcass.
How a Kitchen Sink Sits in a 600mm Benchtop
Bowl Depth: 200mm or 250mm
Most stainless steel kitchen sinks sold in Australia have bowls 180 - 210mm deep. Fireclay butler sinks go deeper: retailers list the bowl of the Belfast 60x46cm Fine Fireclay Sink at 215 - 260mm deep. Some listings quote the overall height of the sink rather than the depth of the bowl, so check which number you are reading.
A deeper bowl hides dishes and cuts splashing, and it swallows a stockpot or a roasting tray. The trade-off is bending: every extra centimetre of bowl is a centimetre you reach down, and an undermount sink sits lower again by the thickness of the benchtop, often 20mm or 40mm of stone. If the main cook is on the shorter side, a 200mm bowl on a 900mm bench is the comfortable choice; for a tall household, a 250mm butler sink or a bench raised towards 950mm works better. A pull-out or gooseneck mixer also saves bending, because the water comes to you.
Belfast 60x46cm Fine Fireclay Sink, White: 600mm wide and 460mm front to back
Inset, Undermount and Butler Sinks
An inset or drop-in sink sits on top of the benchtop, its rim covering the edge of the hole. The cut-out is usually 20 - 25mm smaller than the sink's overall size, and the sink comes with a template for the benchtop maker to follow. It is the most forgiving choice for a laminate or timber benchtop.
An undermount sink fixes beneath the benchtop, and the cut-out follows the bowl, not the rim. The benchtop edge is exposed around the bowl, so it suits stone and solid surfaces that can be polished. Leave a solid margin of benchtop in front of the bowl so the edge isn't weakened.
A butler or farmhouse sink has an exposed front, or apron, that sits in line with or slightly proud of the cabinet doors. It needs a matching sink cabinet with a lowered front and a support frame to carry its weight, because a fireclay sink full of water is heavy. Fireclay is fired at high temperature and every sink varies slightly, so have the actual sink on site before the cabinet is finished or the stone is cut.
Stainless Steel or Fireclay?
Most of the kitchen sinks in our range are fireclay, with a smaller stainless steel range alongside. The material changes the bowl depth, the weight the cabinet has to carry and how the sink wears.
| Material | Typical Bowl Depth | Strengths | Watch For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel | 180 - 210mm | Light, simple to install and unbothered by hot pans; PVD-coated finishes such as brushed nickel or gunmetal add colour | Shows fine scratches and water marks over time; thinner sinks are noisier |
| Fireclay | 215 - 260mm | Clay fired at high temperature under a thick glaze that resists stains and scratches; suits butler and farmhouse kitchens | Heavy, so the cabinet needs a support frame; the edge can chip if a heavy pot is dropped on it |
Kitchen Sink Single Bowl 550 x 450, Stainless Steel: 550 x 450mm, 200mm deep
Wexford Premium 61x45.9x25.4cm Single Fireclay Sink, White: 610 x 459mm, 254mm high overall
Tap Holes, Wastes and Drainers
A kitchen mixer needs a 35mm tap hole, either in the sink deck or drilled into the benchtop behind the bowl. The sink's outlet is a 90mm hole that takes a basket waste, which connects to a 40mm or 50mm trap below; ask your plumber which one your system uses. Our kitchen sink basket wastes suit the standard 90mm outlet.
A drainer adds roughly 300 - 400mm to the overall width. In our range, a 450mm single bowl grows to 840mm with a drainboard, and an 860mm double grows to 1160mm. Decide which side the drainer sits on before you order, because most sinks with a drainer are made in a left-hand or right-hand version.
Kitchen Sink Single Bowl and Drainboard 840 x 440, Brushed Nickel: 840mm wide with the drainboard
Kitchen Sinks in Our Range by Size
| Sink | Type | Width x Front to Back | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen Sink Single Bowl 380 x 440, Shadow | Compact stainless | 380 x 440mm | 200mm |
| Kitchen Sink Single Bowl 450 x 450, Shadow | Compact stainless | 450 x 450mm | 200mm |
| Wexford Premium 61x45.9x25.4cm Single Fireclay Sink, White | Fireclay butler | 610 x 459mm | 254mm |
| Kitchen Sink One and Half Bowl 670 x 440, Shadow | One and a half bowl | 670 x 440mm | 200mm |
| Wicklow Premium 68.5x48.3x25.4cm Single Drop In Undermount Fireclay Sink | Fireclay inset or undermount | 685 x 483mm | 254mm |
| Kitchen Sink Single Bowl 760 x 440, Brushed Nickel | Large stainless | 760 x 440mm | 200mm |
| Cornwall Premium 83.5x50.8x25.4cm Double Fireclay Sink, White | Fireclay double | 835 x 508mm | 254mm |
| Kitchen Sink Double Bowl 860 x 440, Shadow | Stainless double | 860 x 440mm | 200mm |
| Double Bowl and Drainboard 1160 x 440, PVD Brushed Nickel | Double with drainer | 1160 x 440mm | 230mm |
Frequently Asked Questions About Kitchen Wash Basin Sizes
What Is the Standard Size of a Kitchen Wash Basin?
There is no single standard, but most Australian single bowls are 450 - 600mm wide and doubles 720 - 860mm, with almost all of them 440 - 510mm from front to back to suit a 600mm benchtop.
What Size Cabinet Do I Need for a Kitchen Sink?
Use the minimum cabinet width on the sink's specification sheet. Expect the cabinet to be 60 - 160mm wider than a bowl-only sink: a 540mm single usually needs a 600mm or 700mm cabinet, and a double needs 800mm or more.
How Deep Should a Kitchen Sink Be?
Around 200mm is the comfortable standard for stainless steel. Fireclay butler sinks run to about 250mm, which suits big pots and tall households but means more bending.
Is a 380mm Sink Too Small?
For a main kitchen sink, usually yes, because a 380mm bowl won't take a large tray or pot. It works well as a prep bowl beside the main sink, on an island or in a butler's pantry.
What Size Sink Suits a Small Kitchen?
A single bowl of 450 - 550mm fits a 600mm cabinet and leaves bench space either side. A sink with a drainer adds 300 - 400mm, so skip it if the bench is short.
Are Kitchen Tap Holes a Standard Size?
Yes. Kitchen mixers in Australia take a 35mm tap hole, either in the sink or in the benchtop behind it.
What Size Is a Kitchen Sink Waste?
Kitchen sinks have a 90mm outlet that takes a basket waste, connecting to a 40mm or 50mm trap underneath.
Related Guides
More from our kitchen and bathroom guides:
- Kitchen Sink Sizes - the common single, double and one and a half bowl configurations
- Laundry Sink Size Guide - tub and laundry sink sizes for every cabinet
- Pedestal Basin Size Guide - widths, rim heights and the space a pedestal needs
- Bathroom Basin Size Guide - the four most common bathroom basin widths
- Bar Stool Sizes - stool heights for 900mm benches and raised bars
- Pendant Light Size Guide - sizing pendants over an island bench
- Kitchen Pendant Light Height Guide - how high to hang pendants over the bench
- Kitchen Lighting Ideas - layering light over the sink and benches
Shop Kitchen Sinks
Browse the full range or jump straight to a category below.
- Kitchen Fittings - browse every kitchen sink, tap and fitting in one place.
- Kitchen Sinks - stainless steel and fireclay sinks in every size.
- Single Kitchen Sinks - single bowls from compact prep sinks to large butler sinks.
- Double Kitchen Sinks - double bowls, with and without drainers.
- Kitchen Tapware - mixers and taps to suit a 35mm tap hole.
- Kitchen Sink Basket Wastes - wastes for the standard 90mm outlet.
- Laundry Sinks - deep tubs and sinks for the laundry.
