Most pedestal basins sold in Australia are 500 - 630mm wide and 370 - 500mm deep, with the rim fixed at about 805 - 865mm above the floor by the height of the pedestal. Console basins on legs run wider, from 600 - 920mm. Before you choose one, allow at least 600mm of clear floor in front, ideally 700mm, and check that your waste and water points can hide behind the pedestal.
A pedestal basin suits a small bathroom, and in a period home it is often the right choice. It takes up little visual room, it suits the tiles and tapware of an Edwardian or Art Deco bathroom, and it leaves the floor around it open. The trade-off is flexibility: the pedestal sets the height and the plumbing has to suit it, so the measurements matter more than they do with a vanity.
Pedestal Basin Sizes at a Glance
| Basin Type | Width | Depth | Rim Height | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact pedestal | 450 - 550mm | 370 - 410mm | 805 - 820mm | Powder rooms, small ensuites, cloakrooms |
| Standard pedestal | 550 - 630mm | 410 - 500mm | 805 - 865mm | Family bathrooms and main ensuites |
| Semi-pedestal | 500 - 600mm | 400 - 450mm | About 850mm, set on the wall | Small rooms where the floor stays clear |
| Console basin or basin stand | 600 - 920mm | 500 - 560mm | 840 - 880mm | Larger bathrooms that need a towel shelf |
Compact Pedestal Basins of 550mm or Less
A compact pedestal suits a powder room or a narrow ensuite where a vanity would crowd the door. In our range, the RAK Lara Pedestal Basin is 510mm wide and 405mm deep with an 805mm rim, and the RAK Compact 550 Pedestal Basin is 550 x 410mm with an 820mm rim. At this size the bowl is shallow and fine for washing hands and brushing teeth, but not for filling a bucket.
RAK Compact 550 Pedestal Basin, 1TH, Gloss White: 550mm wide and 410mm deep, with an 820mm rim
Standard Pedestal Basins Over 550mm
A family bathroom usually suits a basin 550 - 630mm wide. The RAK Washington Pedestal Basin sits at 560 x 420mm with an 840mm rim, and the Turner Hastings Claremont is 580 x 450mm with an 805mm rim. Our own Emile 60cm Pedestal Basin and Francis 62cm Pedestal Basin are 600 and 625mm wide, both 500mm deep, and stand 910mm and 900mm to the top of their raised backs, with the front rim lower.
The extra depth gives a roomier bowl and space for a three tap hole set, which suits a traditional bathroom. Both Schots basins come in one and three tap hole versions, with the outer tap holes 200mm apart.
Francis 62cm 3 Tap Hole Pedestal Basin, White: 625mm wide and 500mm deep
Console Basins and Basin Stands From 600mm
A console basin sits on two or four legs instead of a single pedestal, with the back fixed to the wall. It gives you a towel rail or shelf underneath and a wider ledge for soap and toiletries. The Bristol 62cm Console Basin is 625 x 500mm and stands 880mm high, with a towel rail between the legs. For more bench, the Dublin 92cm Marble Console Basin runs to 920mm wide and stands 970mm overall, and the Turner Hastings Mayer basin stands come in 750mm and 900mm widths with legs you can adjust.
Bristol 62cm 1 Tap Hole Console Basin, White and Stainless Steel: 625 x 500mm, 880mm high
Dublin 92cm 3 Tap Hole Bianco Carrara Marble Console Basin, White: 920mm wide, 970mm overall
Rim Height Is Set by the Pedestal
A vanity can be hung at any height, but a full pedestal basin can't. The pedestal is a fixed piece of ceramic, so the rim lands wherever the maker set it, usually 805 - 865mm. That is a little lower than the 850 - 900mm Australians are used to at a vanity, as our Bathroom Vanity Size Guide explains.
If height matters to you, there are two ways round it. A semi-pedestal basin is fixed to the wall with a short pedestal that covers only the trap, so your plumber can set it at the height you choose; about 850mm is typical. A basin stand with adjustable legs, like the Mayer, can be raised or lowered within its range.
Side View of a Pedestal Basin
Plumbing Behind a Pedestal
The pedestal's second job is to hide the plumbing, so the waste and water points have to sit where it can cover them. Most pedestal basins sold in Australia take a 32mm basin waste with an overflow. With a full pedestal the trap usually runs inside it, either down through the floor as an S-trap or back into the wall as a P-trap. A semi-pedestal doesn't reach the floor, so it always needs a P-trap into the wall.
Every model has its own setout. One major Australian maker's full pedestal brings the waste up through the floor 155mm out from the wall, with the hot and cold inlets 380mm below the rim. A semi-pedestal from another brand takes the waste into the wall 570mm above the floor, with the water points at 640mm. Those numbers are a long way apart, which is why the specification sheet has to reach your plumber before the wall is lined.
On most models the pedestal doesn't carry the basin. The basin bolts to the wall, and in a timber-framed wall it needs a noggin, a horizontal piece of timber between the studs, at the fixing height. Ask your builder to put one in before the plasterboard and tiles go on.
Space Around a Pedestal Basin
The National Construction Code requires every home to have a washbasin but sets no size for it, so clearances come from good practice, not regulation. Australian bathroom planning guidance allows 700mm of clear floor from the front of the basin to the nearest wall or fitting, and UK guides accept 600mm in a compact cloakroom. UK bathroom guidance allows at least 100 - 150mm between the side of the basin and a side wall.
Next to a toilet, the Livable Housing Design Standard, which applies to new homes in most states and territories but not NSW or WA, keeps a vanity or other fixture at least 450mm from the centre of the toilet pan. A pedestal basin counts. Accessible bathrooms built to AS 1428.1 need knee room under the basin, which a full pedestal blocks, so a wall-hung basin is the better choice there.
Pedestal Basin or Vanity?
Choose a pedestal when the room is small, the style is traditional or the floor needs to feel open. Choose a vanity when you need storage, when your plumbing can't move to suit a pedestal, or when you want the basin at a specific height.
- A pedestal has no storage, so plan a medicine cabinet or shelf above it.
- The wall must be reinforced to carry the basin.
- The rim height is fixed unless you choose a semi-pedestal or an adjustable stand.
- Waste and water points must sit behind the pedestal, which can mean moving pipes in an older home.
Pedestal Basin Materials
| Material | In Our Range | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Vitreous china and ceramic | RAK Lara, Compact 550 and Washington; Emile, Francis and Bristol | Glazed and non-porous, hard-wearing and easy to clean. The most common basin material. |
| Fireclay | Turner Hastings Claremont | Fired into a thicker, heavier body with a deep glaze. Check the wall fixing can carry the extra weight. |
| Solid surface | Fienza Minka freestanding basin | A cast mineral and resin material with a matte finish; light scratches can usually be buffed out. |
| Marble | Turner Hastings Mayer stands and the Dublin console | Natural stone with its own veining. Keep it sealed and wipe up acidic products, which can etch the surface. |
Pedestal and Console Basins in Our Range
| Basin | Type | Width x Depth | Height | Tap Holes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAK Lara Pedestal Basin, 1TH, Gloss White | Full pedestal | 510 x 405mm | 805mm rim | 1 or 3 |
| RAK Compact 550 Pedestal Basin, 1TH, Gloss White | Full pedestal | 550 x 410mm | 820mm rim | 1 or 3 |
| RAK Washington Pedestal Basin, 1TH, Gloss White | Full pedestal | 560 x 420mm | 840mm rim | 1 or 3 |
| Turner Hastings Claremont 58x45cm Fireclay Basin and Pedestal | Full pedestal | 580 x 450mm | 805mm rim, 875mm overall | 1 or 3 |
| Emile 60cm 3 Tap Hole Pedestal Basin, White | Full pedestal | 600 x 500mm | 910mm overall | 1 or 3 |
| Francis 62cm 3 Tap Hole Pedestal Basin, White | Full pedestal | 625 x 500mm | 900mm overall | 1 or 3 |
| Bristol 62cm 1 Tap Hole Console Basin, White and Stainless Steel | Console on legs | 625 x 500mm | 880mm overall | 1 or 3 |
| Dublin 92cm 3 Tap Hole Bianco Carrara Marble Console Basin, White | Marble console | 920mm wide | 970mm overall | 3 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestal Basin Sizes
How Tall Is a Standard Pedestal Basin?
Most pedestal basins sold in Australia have the rim 805 - 865mm above the floor. Heritage-style models with a raised back can measure 900mm or more overall.
What Size Should a Bathroom Wash Basin Be?
For a pedestal, 500 - 630mm wide suits most bathrooms, and 450 - 550mm suits a powder room. Our Bathroom Basin Size Guide covers vanity basin widths.
Is a Pedestal Basin or a Small Vanity Better?
A pedestal is better in a small or period bathroom where you want the floor open and the look traditional. A vanity is better when you need storage or a basin at a specific height.
What Are the Downsides of a Pedestal Basin?
No storage, a fixed rim height, a wall that must be reinforced, and waste and water points that have to sit where the pedestal can hide them.
Are Pedestal Basins Difficult to Install?
Not for a plumber, but the setout has to be right. The waste and water points must match the basin's specification sheet, and the basin must be bolted to a reinforced wall.
What Waste Does a Pedestal Basin Need?
Most take a 32mm basin waste with an overflow, run as an S-trap through the floor or a P-trap into the wall.
How Much Room Do You Need in Front of a Basin?
Allow at least 600mm of clear floor in front of the basin, and 700mm if you can.
Related Guides
More from our bathroom guides:
- Bathroom Basin Size Guide - the four most common basin widths
- Bathroom Vanity Size Guide - single and double vanity widths, depths and heights
- Bathroom Mirror Size Guide - sizing and hanging a mirror over the basin
- Medicine Cabinet Size Guide - storage above a basin that has none below
- Kitchen Wash Basin Size Guide - fitting a kitchen sink to the bench and cabinet
- Bathtub Size Guide - standard bath sizes for your renovation
- Bathroom Lighting Ideas - wet area zones and IP ratings
- Luxury Bathroom Design Trends - ideas for the room around the basin
Shop Basins
Browse the full range or jump straight to a category below.
- Bathroom Supplies and Fittings - browse every bathroom category in one place.
- Pedestal Basins - pedestal, console and freestanding basins.
- Wall Hung Basins - basins that leave the floor clear.
- Bathroom Vanity Sinks and Basins - basins to sit on or in a vanity.
- Bathroom Basin Tapware - taps for one and three tap hole basins.
- Bathroom Mirrors - mirrors to hang above the basin.
- Medicine Cabinets - mirrored storage for bathrooms without a vanity.
