There’s nothing nicer than remodeling your kitchen — after all, we’re talking about the room where most of your family members spend time bonding and sharing meals.
However, there are plenty of choices that you have to make over the course of that process. And one of them is what kind of sink you’re going to get.
Sure, undermount kitchen sinks are great — but even within that niche, there are just too many options to pick from. It can be a nightmare to settle on a single sink model — especially because you’ll have a hard time replacing the sink afterward if you’re not satisfied.
Indeed, like most people — you probably never had the faintest idea that the best undermount kitchen sinks could be so diverse. However, that’s the case — which is why you’ll probably want to get some help in choosing the right one.
And that’s just what we aim to provide with this handy guide! By the end of this article, you should have all of the information you need to professionally pick the undermount kitchen sink you want.
Table of Contents
We’ll clarify all aspects of picking the most fitting sink for your kitchen, and provide you with everything required for the formation of an informed opinion — so read on!
Our Pick
Kraus Standart Pro 30-inch Undermount Kitchen Sink
Platters, skillets, pots, pans — it doesn’t matter what you’ve gotten dirty during your latest cooking session; this undermount kitchen sink will be able to handle it.
Even if you’re not intricately familiar with the world of undermount kitchen sinks — we are pretty damn sure that you’ve probably heard about Kraus at some point or another.
This company has been at the very top of the food chain when it comes to all kinds of bathroom and kitchen plumbing fixtures; making their pedigree in the world of undermount kitchen sinks simply unassailable.
Whenever most people decide that they need a brand new sink — more often than not, they’ll turn to Kraus. And seeing as we’re trying to give you the best undermount kitchen sinks and not reinvent the wheel here — we’ll do the same when it comes to our top choice!
What we liked about Kraus Standart Pro
This 30-inch undermount kitchen sink from Kraus is manufactured from stainless steel — guaranteeing longevity and quality.
The fact that it’s a big 30-inch bowl means that you’ll need a 33-inch cabinet at the very least, but the space requirements more than pay off — this sink is deep and large enough for all of your crockery and cutlery tools.
Also, you’ll be glad to hear that this kitchen sink is more than capable of remaining in use for a long time — the T304 stainless steel provides ultimate sturdiness and 16 gauge thickness.
The sink manages to be flexible, durable, and resistant to corrosion simultaneously. Also, the inner body manufactured from stainless steel also contains a great cover made from commercial-grade satin; significantly reducing the chore of cleaning the sink.
There’s also the issue of noise — something deeply bothersome for plenty of kitchen lovers. Luckily, this kitchen sink from Kraus manages to solve that with its revolutionary SoundGuard undercoating, coupled with big soundproofing pads.
And while the latter isn’t anything new in the industry, it’s worth noting that these pads are larger than usual — covering a huge majority of the outer surfaces.
Apart from this, you’ll also be happy to know that the sink’s base contains grooves that were specifically designed to increase the efficiency of drainage. Furthermore, the inner corners are rounded, allowing anyone to quickly clean and swipe with minimum effort.
Also, the sink comes with a fancy Kraus sink towel, a dish grid made from stainless steel which protects the base of the bowl, and a 3-piece strainer.
The company also throws in a limited lifetime warranty, ensuring that they stand behind their products. Plus, you get a cutout template and mounting hardware for easy installation.
The downsides
There aren’t many downsides to this sink, which is why it’s pretty much our top choice on the list. The only small issue we could notice is that the satin finish is prone to scratching and that it holds fingerprints and watermarks.
However, there are no durability or usability issues we have noticed anyone complaining about.
How we chose the best undermount kitchen sink
As you can see, there’s plenty that goes into the choice of the best undermount kitchen sink. And there’s no shortage of excellent models on the market; made more than evident from our other choices below.
Considering that, you need to get into the details in order to pick the truly best sink among all others.
In doing so, we’ve looked at a couple of different factors. For one — manufacturing quality is important, as are the different materials used for the creation of the sink.
The same goes for the finish — the last thing you want is a subpar finish that will leave your sink prone to scratching.
We also considered the size of the sink, a big bowl is something you want in order to fit as many dishes in as possible. Finally — the amount of noise that the sink makes and the thickness of the bowl were factors as well.
Now, let’s talk about alternatives.
Best undermount kitchen sinks
Ruvati 33-inch Single Bowl Topmount
The interior of the bowl is spacious enough, with 31 inches in length and 18 inches in width; allowing you to easily accommodate the biggest pans you’ve got with ease — with this size, you can even place sheet pans inside and wash them without an effort.
We just had to include a token topmount sink on this list, even though the rest is made up of quality undermount sinks. And considering that, you should think about this large Ruvati model.
In the past decade, the Ruvati company has managed to position itself as one of the consumer favorites — easily rivaling Kraus and other industry leaders with reasonable prices and a huge level of quality.
Considering this, we’ll go through the details of their Ruvati RVH8001 — the only topmount sink that we’re going to consider here.
What we liked about Ruvati 33-inch Single Bowl
Washing all of the different assorted cookware that you’ve gotten dirty over the course of your latest cooking spree will be easy — and you won’t find any water spilling over due to the excellent depth.
Now, the reason why we’ve included a topmount sink on a list of otherwise undermount models is that it’s worth considering these as well — they are somewhat easier to install, and their rim sits above the countertop surface.
This particular sink is also excellent in terms of water drainage, thanks to its sloped base and drain grooves. However, contrary to the Kraus model that we’ve reviewed above — this sink has sharper corners, contributing to its modern minimalist visual appeal.
If you’ve already seen its Amazon page, you might have noticed that this is by no means the most affordable sink. However, it gives you a run for its money — offering corrosion resistance and the durability that only stainless steel can provide.
Also, let’s remember that this Ruvati model has a brushed finish and a 16 gauge thickness.
Unlike the sinks with satin finishes, this kind of sink is far less vulnerable to scratches, ultimately making for a sturdier product.
Apart from that, you will also appreciate that the sink contains three holes for dispensers and the faucet, allowing you to connect a soap dispenser or your garbage disposal easily.
Also, while this is a great sink in and of itself — its package also includes mounting accessories you might need, along with a rinse grid and a strainer set.
The downsides
While topmount sinks have their advantages — those like the Ruvati model also have their drawbacks as well; mainly cleaning.
With a topmount model, you’ve simply got too much gunk to deal with — it constantly catches around the sink’s rim.
Also, the type of corners that this sink has are a bit more difficult from a cleaning perspective as well.
Blanco 440194 Single Bowl Undermount
The sinks created with Silgranit are simultaneously elegant, gorgeous, and quite sturdy — while also feeling silky upon touch.
When you’re looking for the best undermount kitchen sinks, there’s one thing that matters — experience. And that’s something that you’re guaranteed with a household name like Blanco.
This company is one of the oldest players in the industries of manufacturing worktops, mixer taps, sinks, and other kitchen pieces. They’ve been creating products in these niches for longer than 30 years across the global market.
What we liked about Blanco
These days, their single-bowl undermount sink is certainly one of the more interesting offerings available. This is mostly due to the use of their patented granite composite called Silgranit — using proprietary Blanco technology.
This is why we can’t ignore the Blanco 440194 model — with it, you get a product that’s as long-lasting as it is pretty.
The sink offers immense heat resistance, and the material is resistant to scratching, staining, and cleaning chemicals which won’t damage its finish.
The downsides
Unfortunately, while the materials used for the manufacturing of this sink are truly revolutionary — it’s also not without its share of issues. For one, the 29-inch diameter of the sink means that it’s one of the smaller ones on our list.
And that’s not great, considering the fact that having enough space is one of the main factors we’ve used when judging different sinks.
Also, the deck thickness of the sink leaves something to be desired — at 18 gauge, it’s thinner than both the Kraus and the Ruvati models.
Though, we do want to point out that 16 and 18 gauge does not mean a lot of difference in terms of shock absorption — but it’s still noticeable for some people.
Apart from this, we’re not happy about the fact that the stopper and strainer for this sink need to be bought separately — just like the mounting clips.
Kraus KHF200-33 Single Bowl Multi-mount
If you want a sink that provides the right combination of aesthetic appeal and practical durability, this will do you great. There’s nothing better than a sink with a certain air of sophistication that’s also just as practical.
The final among the best undermount kitchen sinks that we’ll take a look here comes from Kraus as well — which is fitting, considering just how strong this brand is in the sink market.
This reputable brand has released one of the best farmhouse style sinks you can buy via the Kraus KHF200-33.
What we liked about Kraus KHF200
When it comes to the size of this undermount kitchen sink, it’s pretty much how you want it — with a 30-inch diameter.
This is a perfect size because it allows you to do what everyone would like to — easily submerge and wash sheet pans without performing that awful balancing act in order not to spill water everywhere.
Apart from this, you get all of the perks that you’ve become used to when it comes to high-quality Kraus sinks — there’s the signature T304 stainless steel, along with a finish made out of commercial satin.
The combination of big rubber pads and great undercoating also mean that sound insulation will not be an issue.
You also get a Kraus towel, a bottom grid, and a strainer set packed with your sink — along with a lifetime limited warranty as well.
The downsides
You just need to ensure that your kitchen cabinet has the right dimensions to handle this kind of sink; preferably, you might have to install a new one, which is certainly a hassle.
Also, it seems that this sink is not compatible with laminate countertops, which is an issue for a lot of people.
Things to consider before buying an undermount kitchen sink
As you can see, choosing the best undermount kitchen sink is not as simple as you may have previously considered it to be.
However, there’s no need to worry — we will quickly provide you with all of the information you need to choose the best sink on your own; even if you’re considering a set of sinks different from those that we’ve reviewed here.
After all, you might not have the same range of sinks available in every location — considering that, we’ll give you some advice that will be useful in choosing absolutely any kind of sink.
Undermount vs Topmount Sinks
As you can see, we’ve mostly talked about undermount kitchen sinks here. However, that doesn’t mean that we should ignore the existence of topmount sinks as well.
Topmount sinks are also referred to as “drop-in” sinks because they can be installed by placing them inside the countertop’s available cavity.
On other hand, undermount sinks are those that you put below the surface of the counter. From a practical standpoint, topmount sinks are probably easier to install; however, there are other factors to consider as well.
Firstly, undermount sinks are just far easier to clean — you can sweep all of the food gunk and residue into the sink itself, and there are no edges where the residue can get caught and cause corrosion.
Also, the counter looks more seamless with an undermount, because it’s not as big as it would be when it’s mounted on top of the counter.
Of course, this also means that undermount sinks leave the edges of the counter exposed, unlike a top-mounted sink that protects them.
And the top mounted sinks are more protective of the edges of the counter itself — which is not as important if the counter is a cheaper wooden one, but becomes more crucial for marble counters.
Also, top-mounted sinks are easier to replace as well, unlike the undermounts which are not as simple to modify. Finally — undermounts cost more, in most cases.
As you might have noticed, the general view is that the undermount sinks are better. While they might be a bit more expensive and difficult to install — they make up for this with a lot more practicality and style.
And the fact that they can be complex during the installation process isn’t that important, considering the fact that you don’t really modify or replace your sink frequently.
Number of Bowls
The type of mount is not the only thing that differentiates between various sinks. There’s also the number of bowls — which is another important feature to find out about. In most cases, you’re choosing between a single bowl and a double bowl sink.
If you take a look at your kitchen now, chances are that you’ve already got one of these types of sinks.
However, you may not be aware of the fact that the double bowl sink has a couple of variations; most of these are different based on the proportions of the two bowls.
A majority of double bowls have an even split — with two identical-sized bowls. However, you can also find a 60/40 split, for instance. All of this depends on how much work you do in your sink.
A double bowl simply gives you a better option in terms of multitasking; with this kind of sink, you’ll be able to fill one bowl with your dirty dishes and put the rinsed ones in the other bowl.
However, there are other considerations here — mainly the fact that two smaller bowls have some disadvantages compared to one larger bowl as well.
Many of the more active cooks have a selection of extremely bulky platters, pans, and pots — which can’t fit into either of the small bowls in a double bowl sink.
This is especially true with sheet pans, where it’s pretty much impossible to wash them thoroughly without using one bigger sink.
For this reason, if you do choose a double bowl sink — you may want to consider the type of sink that has one bigger and one smaller bowl; allowing you to have enough room for washing all of your pans and cooking tools.
Of course, a single bowl sink can be just as good of an option, depending on your personal kitchen routine.
Low divide vs Full divide
If you decide to buy a double-bowl sink, there are a couple of other things that you should think about. For example — the aqua divide.
This is just a fancy name for the wall which sets the two bowls apart. And having a full-divide sink means that both of the bowls in your sink stand at an equal level.
But that’s not the only option you have — there are also low-divide kitchen sinks. These contain a dividing wall that stands at half of the depth of your entire sink.
This is a more contemporary design, more frequently found in the newest sink models. It hasn’t exactly entered the mainstream yet, so the jury is still out regarding its practicality.
There are plenty of people that are happy with the versatility that comes with a low-divide wall; it allows you to easily wash small and medium-sized cookware and simultaneously have an opening for your bigger kitchen tools. Of course, there’s the problem of not being able to soak your larger pans and pots.
Farmhouse Sink
Speaking of the different styles of sinks that you can buy — there’s also the famous farmhouse sink.
And while this may seem like just a single model of a sink, it deserves its own separate category — simply because, depending on the manufacturer, it can fall into any of the above.
In other words, farmhouse sinks can be both undermount and topmount; you can find them in both double-bowl and single-bowl varieties.
And if you’ve spent any time browsing the different kinds of sinks out there on the market, you’ll find that these are some of the most aesthetically pleasing and interesting sinks you can find.
Quite simply, these sinks provide a level of style that’s not found with other types — its uniqueness and elegance in the form of a sink. If you want a sink that stands out and becomes the focal point of the kitchen area — you will be able to achieve this with the farmhouse sink.
While the usual type of sink (both topmount and undermount) tries to become a seamless part of the cabinet surface — the farmhouse sink goes the other way. These sinks encourage and appreciate the boldness.
These sinks get their name and design from older sinks “of yore”; in those times, sinks weren’t just used for washing dishes.
Instead, they also needed to hold a lot of water because running water wasn’t a thing yet; you had only the stuff you brought back from wells and rivers.
Unfortunately, if you decide to install a farmhouse sink — you may find that it’s not as easy to set up as the average undermount or topmount sink.
The reason for this is simple — a large majority of cabinets are not manufactured with farmhouse sinks in mind unless you specifically buy one which was designed for that.
In other words — you may have to perform a remodel of your current cabinet for it to be a good fit for the farmhouse sink.
With all of this in mind, the best and easiest way to install a farmhouse sink in your kitchen is to do so while you’re planning your remodel; that way, you’ll be able to prepare the rest of your kitchen accordingly.
Best Materials for Kitchen Sinks
As you might have noticed by now, there’s a wide range of materials that kitchen sinks can be manufactured from. And the materials of your kitchen sink are also important when it comes to their quality.
These materials also play a big role when it comes to the aesthetic design of the sink, offering a variety of different shades and colors.
Considering this, we’ll take a look at the currently available materials you can find.
Stainless Steel
This is the most common material, and pretty much no surprise at all; stainless steel is the biggest staple of any kitchen or cookware item.
The fact that it’s resistant to staining and heat, as well as corrosion, means that it’s one of the most versatile and strongest materials for the manufacturing of kitchen sinks and equipment.
Of course, no material is perfect — stainless steel sinks are known to be notoriously loud, with every piece of kitchenware and water droplet that hits their surface being heard across the room.
If you’re annoyed by this, finding a sink with the proper undercoating or pads is the best possible idea.
Cast Iron
Among the metallic sinks out there, cast iron is also one of the biggest favorites; though quite a lot less common than stainless steel.
Still, this material is just as resistant to wear and tear, and it doesn’t deform easily — which is why plenty of brands have been creating cast iron kitchen sinks in the past couple of decades.
Though, bear in mind that enameled cast iron sinks are on the more expensive side — even though they do give you more abrasion protection, less corrosion, and lesser sensitivity to higher temperatures.
Copper
One of the only problems with copper being used in cookware is that it potentially raises the chances of copper toxicity; however, that’s not an issue with copper sinks, which is why you’ll find plenty of them — particularly of the farmhouse variety.
If you’re looking for a great retro aesthetic, there’s no material better than copper for a shiny and unique sink. However, you should also bear in mind that copper sinks don’t remain the same throughout the lifetime of their use; after a while, your copper sink is likely to experience some discoloration.
Though, some owners choose to view this as a feature instead of a bug — adding to the unique nature of their sink.
Composite Granite
Stone sinks are some of the sturdiest ones you can buy — and when it comes to stone varieties, composite granite proves to be a favorite among sink designers and consumers alike.
For one, they extrude the visual appeal of luxury and elegance — but on the other hand, they don’t scratch or sustain water stains like metal sinks; not to mention the fact that they’re virtually impervious to corrosion.
Unfortunately, there are some downsides to composite sinks as well — for one, the fact that they’re much more prone to cracking. And they’re more difficult to install or modify, thanks to the fact that they’re immensely heavy.
However, if you get used to the fact that a careless approach might lead to your composite granite sink being chipped away; you will start being more careful on a subconscious level as well.
Fireclay
The final material that we’ll take a look at is one of the more niche ones — fireclay. This material is produced at incredibly high temperatures; when it comes to sinks produced from this type of material, they’re pretty much indistinguishable from ceramic.
However, they’re far more durable and resistant to the usual chipping that comes with stone sinks.
That being said, fireclay sinks are much more expensive compared to the basic stainless steel models — and although we haven’t talked about prices too much, your budget is going to be an issue once you start picking the best undermount kitchen sinks!
Make sure you know that you’re within your financial possibilities while browsing.
Frequently Asked Questions
As we’ve already mentioned, there are certain aspects of both types of sinks that give them an occasional upper hand. That being said, undermount sinks give you a better user experience after the initially more difficult installation.
For one, the aesthetics of your kitchen will be improved by the clean, attractive lines of an undermount sink; generally, this sink is far less noticeable than a farmhouse or topmount one.
Plus, using an undermount sink also means that you’ll have a lot more counter space to work with. And probably the biggest advantage of an undermount sink is that it’s far easier to clean; you can just wipe everything down into your sink.
The depth of undermount sinks also makes the cleaning of bigger pans and pots easier as well.
Apart from the brands that we’ve already mentioned above, there are all kinds of sink brands all over the world that you could try.
For instance, Rohl is one of the world’s premier luxury brands — their artisans in New Zealand, North America, and Europe create all of the sinks with methods combining modern functionality with heritage practices.
Also, there’s American Standard — another established brand that has been creating cookware and sink products for almost 150 years.
And they live up to their name, considering a majority of American homes contain at least one of their products; along with everything from stadiums to hotels.
Speaking of great brands, you can also check out Kohler — a private family-led company that’s been a staple of the sink industry since the 1970s, especially when it comes to composite and cast iron sinks; though they have a basic offering of stainless steel sinks too.
The brand gives you an option to choose from all kinds of bowl configurations, allowing you to find your fit for absolutely every kind of kitchen style.
Plus, their sinks are more than durable in terms of staining, chipping, and scratching.
While they’ve been the most mainstream and least interesting option at first — stainless steel sinks have experienced a slew of improvements over the years.
To this day, this is the most cost-effective sink — and it’s also become the premier choice in the professional restaurant industry, considering the ease of cleaning and excellent durability.
The recent developments in design and technology have allowed even stainless steel sinks to display a bigger variety of aesthetic choices; this is no longer the most boring kind of sink.
Plus, it fits in nicely with other stainless steel and chrome appliances in your kitchen; such as fridges, dishwashers, and ovens. This creates a unitary and cohesive look in your kitchen.
On the other hand, there are plenty of reasons to go for a granite sink. For one, it could fit better into your overall kitchen aesthetic, depending on whether you’re going for a retro or a more industrial feel.
Also, stainless steel sinks are a lot more prone to scratching, depending on the steel’s thickness and the quality of the finish. If it’s particularly thin steel, you could also dent it with heavier pans and pots.
Conversely, granite sinks are simply far more resistant to that type of damage; though repairing them if they get chipped is going to be expensive.
When you’re picking your perfect sink, you’ve got a couple of other choices to think about as well.
So far, we’ve described the different types of sinks above — but when you need to make an actual practical choice between a single and a double sink, which one should you go for?
The fact that both sinks exist means that each have their pros and cons. For one, a single-bowl sink might be a better choice for kitchens that don’t have a huge amount of limited counter space; some places just aren’t big enough for a double-bowl sink.
Also, a bigger single-bowl sink can be a great choice if you need more sink space for larger pans and pots. A lobster pot, wok, or roasting pan are just infinitely easier to clean up with a huge and deep single-bowl sink; there’s no divider taking up all of the space.
And even if you’re not prone to cleaning their dishes immediately; a single-bowl sink can be a great place to keep the dishes out of sight and mind.
Unfortunately, there are downsides to a single sink as well — like the fact that these sinks are just not as friendly towards garbage disposals; an issue for people who constantly keep their dirty dishes in the sink for a while.
These days, plenty of people prefer having undermount sinks in their kitchen. But while this cleaner and more minimalist look is easier to maintain; the actual installation can be an issue.
Mainly because of the fact that most undermount sinks don’t actually have pre-drilled holes.
These sinks go below your countertop, and the accessories like faucets get installed on the space above, directly on your countertop.
So, with most models, you won’t need to drill any holes yourself — you simply install the faucet separately.
Wrapping Up
As you might have gathered, the process of choosing the best undermount kitchen sinks is certainly one that requires some forethought.
Remember, you’re not going to be replacing your kitchen sink every single day; with the kind of investment you’re making, you should do everything in your power to make an informed choice.
If you haven’t done so by now, perform the necessary measurements in your kitchen first, before browsing any kitchen sinks.
This will allow you to know precisely what kind of free space you can work with.
Otherwise, if you’re doing an entire renovation of your kitchen; you can choose your favorite sink first and then pick the appropriate cabinets afterward.
