Most base cabinets come in widths that accommodate the standard kitchen sink sizes. A 30-inch wide or a 36-inch wide cabinet are most common. The height of the cabinet can be customized, but 36 inches is average. A typical 33 x 22-inch sink will fill a 36-inch base cabinet.
The base cabinet should be wide enough to accommodate the sink, with additional space on either side for plumbing and dish soap. It should also be deep enough to prevent water from spilling out onto the floor. Think about the type of material you want the cabinet to be made of.
No matter what you do, you will most likely need a special or custom cabinet to accommodate your new farmhouse or apron sink. This is because there are many styles of sink designs and how they need to be installed, typically requires a non-standard cabinet. The two most common types are Drop-in or Undermount.
A 36″ base cabinet can handle a 33″ sink at most; a 30″ cabinet should be fitted with a sink no larger than 27″ wide. The average 24″ sink base cabinet comfortably accommodates a standard 22″ sink; be sure to consider the depth of your sink when planning storage inside the base cabinet.
You need a 36" cabinet. A 33" cabinet will only fit a 30" sink.
Another larger option, that provides more variety in its use is a 29" double bowl sink. This sink will fit in your 30" kitchen sink base cabinet and provide you with two 16x13"basins.
TIP: Standard cabinet sizes are in 3” increments. I.E.: 27”, 30”, 33”, 36”, etc. In general your sink should be at least 2-3” smaller than your cabinet size.
Measure the opening width under your existing sink (or where the new one will be installed) from left to right. This measurement is your cabinet size. Then, allow at least 2-3 inches on both sides for mounting hardware. For example, a 36" cabinet can accomodate a 30-32" sink.
If there isn't enough width available in the cabinet, you won't be able to go for the bigger sink, even if there is room on the counter. Also, remember that you are going to have to create a larger hole in the counter to suit the new sink.
The most common sink sizes for a 30-inch cabinet are 24 to 27 inches wide. These sizes offer a comfortable fit within the cabinet and provide enough room for daily use.
A base cabinet will have drawers at the top. A sink base will have drawer fronts only for decoration, but not functional. Sink base cabinets do not typically have a back panel, shelves, or drawers. A sink base cabinet is specially designed to allow room for plumbing access.
A typical 33 x 22-inch sink will fill a 36-inch base cabinet. If you're replacing a sink, make sure it fits the existing cutout. If the cabinet allows, you may be able to install a larger sink by expanding the cutout. A farmhouse sink may require a special cabinet size.
Standard sink base cabinet dimensions range from 30 to 42 inches wide. 30 inches is the standard single basin sink base width. 33 inches is the typical double-basin, offset sink cabinet size. 36 inches is the standard double-basin sink cabinet dimension.
Depending on the cabinet, you may have to do a little more work to make room for plumbing. If you're having any trouble at all with plumbing, consult a plumber. And if you want to fully convert your kitchen cabinet into a bathroom vanity, you'll need to trim down the height and depth.
A 36" sink will fit into a 36" cabinet easily if you strap it in place. Manufacturer's allow for chubby plumber fingers to access clips to tighten. If you eliminate the clips, you eliminate the need for access.
Sink Landing Counter Space
The landing space requirement at a main sink is 24″ on one side and 18″ on the other side. The countertop landing area beside the main sink helps with Clean-up duties. With the dishwasher typically places on one side of the main sink the 24″ landing counter is taken care of.
Never Place a Full-Height Cabinet Above the Sink
We strongly recommend that a full-height IKEA cabinet above the sink must have an open space that's at least 12”(H) and 30”(W). The reasons why are two-fold. First, it's pretty awful to work over a sink with a full cabinet inches away from your face.
It is recommended that your base cabinet be 3 inches larger than the size of the farmhouse sink you are considering to install.
Start by measuring the depth of your cabinet. Place your tape measure along the bottom of the cabinet and measure from the back to the front edge. Next, measure the total width. Place your tape measure along the bottom of the cabinet to measure from the left edge to the right edge.
Standard-sized kitchen sinks measure 22 inches by 30 inches.
While the front-to-back measurement of the sink typically remains the same (roughly 22 inches) due to the size of most cabinets, the length of various kitchen sinks can vary immensely. This size range will cover most of the options you'll find when shopping.
Standard Kitchen Sink Sizes to Know
On average, customers who purchase single-bowl sinks prefer 30-inch-long dimensions at most. Experts recommend at least 22 to 27-inches in length, which also works for small kitchens.
The most common sizes for a kitchen sink are 30" or 33", however a standard size could measure anywhere between 24" and 36" in length. Generally, sinks up to 30" will contain one large single bowl.
Dawn 22" Undermount Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink
This little gem measures overall at a little less than 22" left to right. This allows this sink to very easily fit in a 24" sink base cabinet.