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.
Base cabinet size
To determine the maximum sink size for your base cabinet, measure the interior of your cabinet and subtract two to three inches from each dimension. 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.
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.
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.
The length of the sink you order needs to be less than the width of the interior of the cabinet, with a little room to spare. For example, 36'' wide cabinets are often outfitted with 33'' sinks.
What size farmhouse sink should I get for a 36" cabinet? The recommended size for a 36" base cabinet is a 33" farmhouse sink or smaller. It is recommended that your base cabinet be 3 inches larger than the size of the farmhouse sink you are considering to install.
Wondering why you can't fit a 36” sink in a 36” cabinet? That's because of how the sink attaches to the counter! Every undermount sink has a bit of a lip that gets siliconed to the underside of the counter – reinforced with metal clips. That lip and those clips take up an inch or two (and vary from sink to sink)!
Kitchen Cabinet Kings
General rule of thumb is actual sink should be 3" in actual width less than the sink base for smooth fit. However if you notch the sides of the cabinet, you should be able to get something as tight as 1.5 less than cabinet to fit.
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.
The standard sink size is about 22 inches long to 30 inches wide, but once again it's crucial to take proper measurements. If you're replacing a drop-in sink with rims, start measuring from the outer lip of the sink, not the basin itself. If you have an undermount sink, start measuring where the edge meets the counter.
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.
Some sinks will be labeled 30" Kitchen sink, but the basin size is in fact 28". [This sink will fit!] While other sinks are named after their TRUE 30" basin size [This will NOT fit]. Which means you CAN fit some "thirty" inch sinks in a 30" kitchen sink base cabinet.
In general, the standard sink size is 22” x 30”. While single bowl sinks can have a width upto 36 inches, double bowl sinks can go upto 48 inches. The other thing that you need to consider is the depth of the sink. Sinks can have a depth between 6 and 12 inches.
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.
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.
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.
A 33" sink will undermount into a 33" cabinet if you strap or harness, not clip or block, the sink in place. Disregard the sink manufacturer's instructions please; I've done this hundreds of times.It is not a difficult process at all.
You need a 36" cabinet. A 33" cabinet will only fit a 30" sink.
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.
f you want a sink bigger than 22-inches but still compact enough to fit in a smaller kitchen, a 24-inch sink may make sense. This size is great for food prep and basic cleaning tasks but may not be spacious enough for larger pots and pans.
In general your sink should be at least 2-3” smaller than your cabinet size. For example, a 36” sink base cabinet can easily fit a 33” sink.
Regardless of where you place your kitchen sink, you will want to make sure to have at least 20 to 24 inches of countertop space on each side of the sink. This will give you enough room to leave drying dishes, or to prepare food for cooking.
The least amount of space that should exist between the countertop and upper kitchen cabinets is 18 inches, but it may even go up to 20-22 inches. But if you are someone of a shorter height, then you may consider bringing them down a bit to be able to successfully access the top shelves of the upper cabinets.
Double Basin/Bowl Sink
The most popular type of kitchen sink arrangement, dual basins allow for washing on one side and rinsing or drying on the other side.