Sinks are one of the most important and commonly used parts of a tiny house kitchen.
It’s where you do all your food prep, cleaning and other household tasks.
The average person spends about 30 minutes per day just doing dishes. This can add up quickly when considering how many days there are in a year!
That’s why selecting the right one is important. Tiny house kitchen sinks need to be high quality, durable, big enough to clean your tiny kitchen utensils and have an attractive design.
There are lots of styles to choose from including stainless steel, ceramic, composite and more. We’ve selected some great examples of each to share with you later on.
We’ll also cover all the different design options for your tiny house kitchen sink, including undermount vs inset fittings and single vs double sinks.
Each has its own pros and cons, so read on if you want to discover them.
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Table of Contents:
What are tiny house kitchen sink dimensions?
Kitchen sinks in tiny houses are generally between 24 and 30 inches wide.
Some can be wider, even up to 46 inches if there’s enough countertop and cabinet space.
They can also be shorter, as the smallest tiny house sink size we found was 12 inches wide by 7 inches long.
Many tiny house owners like to have their sink as deep as possible.
This is because they don’t want to have a lot of cabinet space dedicated just for the sink.
The best tiny house kitchen sinks are deep enough that you can wash large pots and pans in them without having water run over onto your counters or floor, but not so deep so that it will take up too much precious cabinet area below the countertop.
If you don’t have a washer-dryer in your tiny home, you may have to use the sink to wash your clothes. This is where deeper kitchen sink dimensions come in handy!
How to choose a tiny house kitchen sink
Choosing the right tiny house kitchen sink for your small space can be a difficult decision.
There are many factors to consider, such as:
- Undermount vs drop-in sinks
- Single basin vs double basin sinks
- Drainboards
- Sink position in the kitchen
You may also have to decide if you want an integrated or separate faucet system.
We’re here to will discuss all of these options and help you figure out which one is best for your needs!
Undermount vs inset sinks
There are two main types of sinks: undermount and inset sinks. So which one should you choose?
The undermount sinks are where the basin and drain sit below the surface of the countertop in your tiny kitchen.
Inset sinks (also known as drop-in or top-mount sinks), on the other hand, are where the top of the basin is level to the countertop, so the sink lip is visible.
Some pros of inset are:
- They are easier to install yourself as space you make for the sink does not have to match the dimensions of the basin perfectly
- They can be used with pretty much any type of countertop material
- Cheaper to build
- Easier to clean than undermount sinks as they don’t have a gap between the top of the sink basin and the countertop. With undermount sinks, food can build up in this gap.
Inset sinks are the most popular choices for tiny houses.
Some pros of undermount sinks are:
- The lip of the sink is beneath the countertop, so you can place boards over the top of the sink that can be used for additional counter space. This can be a big deal for tiny homeowners with limited countertop space
- They tend to look more aesthetically pleasing and modern in your tiny house kitchen
- Undermount sinks make cleaning countertops easier, as you can easily sweep debris from the counters right into the sink, as the lip is lower than the countertop
Undermount sinks are more feasible if you have stone or wooden countertops. Other countertop materials are especially hard to install, such as laminate.
Single basin vs double basin sinks
There are more tiny house kitchen sink options for tiny house owners that just undermount vs inset sinks. You can choose whether you want a single or double basin too!
As the name suggests, single basin sinks are simply one basin or bowl for you to do all of your washing in.
A double basin sink contains two bowls, one on either side of the kitchen sink and this allows you to wash two different items at once.
Theoretically, a double basin sink could be better for efficiency if there are multiple people washing dishes together because they can divide up the washing.
The question then becomes whether or not having more than one bowl is worth the extra cost.
Some pros of single bowl sinks in tiny homes are:
- If you’re using the same area, a single basin sink will be bigger than the individual double basins, so you will be able to fit larger items in the sink
- There are more choices available in stores and online for single basin kitchen sinks
- They are generally cheaper
- They are easier to install in most cases
- You don’t need to think too hard about where the faucet will go
On the other hand, some pros that may make you consider double basin sinks are:
- May use less water if you are just using one of the basins (both basins may be smaller so less water is required to fill one)
- You can do two things at once in them, i.e. food preparation in one and washing in the other
- Some people feel they have more space with them
Drainboards
Most people use separate drainboards or dish drainers in their tiny house kitchen to help with drying cutlery and kitchenware after washing them.
However, with a separate drainboard it’s hard to keep all the water contained and many times it will run out onto the work surface, down the side of cabinets and on to the floor.
This is why many people love the idea of a drainboard built into their sink, so all the water flows straight back into it.
Drainboard sinks usually work best with inset (drop-in) sinks and they can be used with either single or double basin tiny house kitchen sinks.
The two biggest advantages to drainboard sinks are:
1. It saves countertop space that would be taken up by a separate drainboard. The space that a built-in drainboard takes up can be used as countertop space for preparing food. Just make sure to clean in between the grooves of the drainboard before you prepare anything!
2. You don’t have to keep moving around and tidying away an external drainboard, you can just use the built-in one or keep a drying rack on top of it.
Installation too should be fairly straightforward. With conventional, inset sinks, you can make space for the drainboard and drop the sink in.
Sink position
One thing to consider for your tiny house kitchen sink is its position in the kitchen.
Some tiny house builders decide this very early on in the building process. They then construct the plumbing and then build the counters and cabinets around the sink.
Would you want your tiny house kitchen sink in the corner of your main countertop, in the middle or on a kitchen island?
Deciding on its position mainly comes down to practicality.
A sink near the dishwasher and garbage bins mean food waste and kitchenware doesn’t have to be carried too far.
Also, you don’t want to split your counter space to where neither side of the sink is large enough to prepare food.
Lastly, consider the aesthetic aspect of your sink position. Maybe you want it to be underneath a window so you can enjoy your view.
Tiny house kitchen sink ideas
One important question you need to ask yourself when considering the type of tiny house kitchen sink is what will work best for your needs.
There are many options: farmhouse sinks, ceramic sinks, composite sinks, stainless steel sinks or no sink at all!
We’ll explore all these choices in detail so that you can make an informed decision about which option will best suit you and your home.
Farmhouse sinks
Farmhouse sinks are very popular in tiny house kitchens. They offer a rustic and traditional feel that pairs very well with the rest of the home.
They’re rather unique and very different to the other types of tiny house kitchen sink.
Farmhouse sinks are large basins where the front of the sink is visible as they appear to be placed on top of a cabinet and between two countertops.
Many people love the look of the farmhouse sink – you notice it as soon as you walk into the kitchen.
They can offer twice the space of a typical sink. They provide more room for dirty dishes, pots and pans, or even dirty hands to scrub without bumping elbows.
The BOCCHI Classico farmhouse sink offers a protective bottom grid and strainer for your kitchen.
As one of the most durable sinks, it constantly protects your home from any stains and damages you may encounter while cooking dinner!
BOCCHI’s product provides resistance to heat to help minimize the risk of experiencing scratching, cracking or breaking due to high temperatures coming from pots and pans.
Farmhouse sinks also make it easier to wash dishes due to the fact that there is no countertop lip in front of the sink. This means you can get closer to the sink itself to help with the washing.
However, this does mean that it’s easier to get water on the floor and down the front of the cabinets as there is no countertop lip to protect from splashes!
Some farmhouse sinks also don’t have an overflow drain, which helps save you if you accidentally leave the faucet running.
If you’re willing to spend a little extra and love the look of the farmhouse sink, then it’s well worth considering.
Ceramic sinks
Ceramic sinks are becoming increasingly popular in households, with many homeowners opting for them over stainless steel or composite sinks.
Ceramic sinks are made from clay, filler (sand or crushed stone) and fluxes that are all fused together in a firing process. This means they can be very durable because they are heated to high temperatures.
Ceramic sinks have a number of benefits that make them an excellent choice for tiny house kitchen sinks.
But they may not be the right fit for everyone – so we will take a look at both the pros and cons to help you decide if these are the sink that is best suited to your needs.
Pros:
- Since they are made by heating materials to high temperatures, they are resistant to fading, staining, burning and scratching
- They are also resistant to denting unlike some stainless steel sinks
- Ceramic kitchen sinks can come in many different shapes, styles and colors, unlike stainless steel sinks which can only be made in one color. They have the ability to be single, double, pedestal or even a drainboard sink
- You don’t have to do much maintenance to keep your ceramic sink clean from dirt – just wipe it over with a kitchen cloth
Cons:
- Ceramic sinks are more likely to chip than stainless steel sinks and if the glaze on it is damaged then it can discolor over time
- They can be quite heavy, similar to composite sinks which can be a disadvantage in tiny homes as you must make sure the cabinets and floor are strong enough to support the additional weight
- Ceramic sinks are also very expensive, costing a lot more than stainless steel alternatives
Made from a special fireclay that’s durable enough for the intense demands of commercial kitchen use, Lordear Double Bowl Kitchen Sink is made to last.
With minimal sound and vibration for a quieter experience, it delivers with its wealth of capacity that is 33 inches wide and 10 inches deep — perfect for medium to large-sized pots and pans.
Clean it easily with soapy water; food or liquid won’t stain the surface, making this sink an elegant upgrade to your home.
This Kraus sink is the perfect addition to any tiny house kitchen.
The stainless steel core mixed with enamel finish will withstand almost anything you can throw at it. It’s tough enough to resist impact, scratches, chips, and stains.
It also comes with extra-thick rubber padding to reduce noise and keep your kitchen as tranquil as possible.
This durable, sleek design from Kraus is sure to keep up with all of your cooking needs.
Composite sinks
Composite kitchen sinks are a combination of materials and can be made from acrylic resins.
They usually contain pulverized minerals, such as quartz or granite (or both) and may be referred to as ‘quartz sinks’ or ‘granite sinks’ even they are a composite.
Composite will be cheaper than solid granite or quartz material but looks similar, with similar advantages and disadvantages as ceramic sinks.
Pros:
- It’s easy to find the right one for you as composite sinks come in all different colors and designs
- Composite sinks are very durable as they are fired at extreme temperatures. They are ‘resistant’ to heat, however, they can warp if exposed to very high levels of heat
- They’re also easy to clean with soap and water; just wipe them down from time to time when there is a lot of dirt around. Many composite sinks also contain minerals that help repel bacteria from the surface
Cons:
- Similar to ceramic sinks, the material is so dense and hard that if glasses and crockery are dropped into the sink they can easily crack, chip or break
- An important consideration for tiny house kitchen sinks is their weight. Ceramic and composite sinks are heavy compared to stainless steel sinks
Some investments in sinks don’t last as long due to less durable materials and inherent flaws that come with cheaper products.
That shouldn’t be an issue if you invest in Kraus’ Black Onyx Kitchen Sink! The construction itself was made for durability – it’s heat resistant up to 650 degrees Fahrenheit!
Similar to the Kraus quartz composite sink, it uses natural material containing silver ions that help repel unhealthy germs and bacteria. Additionally, the thick material is designed to eliminate harsh noises from crockery when washing.
The drop-in sink has two bowls unlike the quartz product above and is also available in a farmhouse style variant.
Stainless steel sinks
Stainless steel sinks come in many different shapes and sizes, perfect for any type of tiny house kitchen.
However, they do have their disadvantages as well as their benefits.
Pros:
- Stainless steel sinks are relatively inexpensive compared to ceramic and composite sinks
- They are also strong and heat resistant, so they can withstand hot water without being damaged
- Stainless steel sinks will not break dishes when you drop them as they are not as hard and compact as composite or ceramic sinks; this may be an important factor to consider for those of you with children
- They are also much lighter and easier to install than other types which can be useful if you have limited space for the installation
Cons:
- They only come in the color grey, so it may not look as attractive in your home compared to a ceramic sink which come in many different colors
- Although very resistant to heat and scratching, stainless steel sinks can be dented if you are not careful
- They can be noisy when putting down dishes, glasses or cutlery on them. This is because they make a “clanging” noise when the dish hits the metal, which may sound unpleasant for some people
The Hykolity stainless steel sink is a deep single bowl (18″ x 30″ with other sizes available) with a low center divider for containing splashing.
The commercial-grade stainless steel will stand up to many years of use and matches most kitchen appliances.
Included accessories of 3-piece stainless steel bottom grids, basket strainer, mounting hardware help you finish the installation quickly.
This is another great sink design from Kraus.
Their double basin stainless steel sink is corrosion and rust-resistant, with T304 stainless steel for superior strength and durability.
With an attractive strong design, this sink is built to last in your small space.
No kitchen sink
A no-kitchen-sink design is an option for tiny homes because it helps to free up space.
Some people may think that this type of design limits your cooking options and forces you to eat out all the time – but there are a variety of creative ways to cook without using a sink!
Without a kitchen sink, you can still cook on the stovetop, use a microwave, and cook in an oven.
To wash up your dishes, cutlery and glasses, the easiest option is to use a dishwasher. For larger items and kitchenware, you can siphon off clean water from your supply to fill a bowl and then use that.
If you’re only going without a sink temporarily, some home improvement stores offer a rent-a-sink type deal.
And lastly, you could consider using a stand-alone outside sink that hooks up to your plumbing.