Our Favorite Kitchen Sinks Will Make a Splash in Your Living Space (2024)

Our Top Picks

Our recommendation for the best kitchen sink is the Kraus Loften. This stainless steel sink is simple enough to blend into most kitchen styles, but offers outstanding durability. The 9.5-inch basin is deep enough to contain a stack of dinner dishes and durable enough to resist dents; it’s constructed of 18-gauge stainless steel, which is heat- and corrosion-resistant and generally is considered a good compromise between value and durability.

The offset drain might be a departure from the rear drain placement of most kitchen sinks, but it offers more functionality by giving you space for large pots and pans on one side of the sink and access to the drain on the other side. Additionally, this type of drain means your plumbing and garbage disposal are located on one side of your under-sink cabinet; this gives you a lot more front-and-center storage space.

You may need to spend a little time reworking your under-sink plumbing while installing the sink, but the installation is straightforward otherwise. You can install the Kraus Loften as a drop-in or undermount sink, too—a real perk.

This popular kitchen sink is also the complete package. It includes a commercial-style, pull-down kitchen faucet, and a drain assembly and cover. The pull-down faucet is a big help when rinsing any leftover food down the drain, since debris can sometimes become trapped on the far side of the sink—plus, you don’t need to worry about purchasing a separate faucet unit that’ll look nice with your new sink.

_{Dimensions: 33 x 22 x 9.6 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Number of Basins: 1 | Installation Type: Drop-in or undermount}

The Elkay Dayton makes an affordable and effective choice for any kitchen sink. For less than half the cost of our top pick, you get a dual-basin sink with three mounting holes for a faucet, sprayer, or soap dispenser. The sink is available in multiple bowl depths, but most households will find the 8-inch-deep basins to be the most practical for everyday kitchen tasks.

The sink features drop-in installation with the help of underside mounting clips to hold the sink basin securely in place. The trade-off for the economical price is a thinner-gauge steel material, which can increase the chance of dents. The Elkay Dayton utilizes 20-gauge stainless steel for the 8-inch-deep basin model, while the models with 6- and 7-inch-deep basins are made with a slightly thinner, 22-gauge stainless steel.

Water spots show easily on the sink’s surface if they’re not wiped before drying, but that’s also a common complaint for many stainless steel sinks. If you really want a double-basin sink that will minimize that issue, consider the Karran Double Bowl Composite Drop-in Kitchen Sink (our best double-basin pick). It costs about $145 more, but the non-porous composite material is better at preventing water stains.

_{Dimensions: 33 x 22 x 8 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Number of Basins: 2 | Installation Type: Drop-in}

For a modern kitchen sink, we recommend a composite basin, because it has an attractive and stone-like appearance. A popular pick is this model from Blanco, which overcomes several of the most common challenges of composite sinks, including extensive care requirements and frequent scratches. Plus, it comes in a slew of colors to coordinate with your kitchen decor.

The Blanco Precis kitchen sink is an undermount model made of Blanco’s patented Silgranit material: a granite composite that claims to be resistant to damage from heat, stains, chipping, and scratches. Adding to its appeal, the composite material is non-porous so it doesn’t absorb odors easily. Your purchase doesn’t include a drain kit, but you can order one to match the color of the sink you choose.

Like all composite sinks, you’ll have to care for this sink differently than a stainless steel version. For instance, you shouldn’t use any abrasive cleaning agents or scrubbers on the sink’s surface. Regularly cleaning your sink with a small amount of dish soap or baking soda on a soft cloth or sponge, and occasionally using a limescale remover, should do the trick.

Many competing models suggest the regular use of special cleaning agents or even mineral oil to preserve the finish, so the simpler care routine for the Blanco Precis is another reason we recommend this as the best composite kitchen sink.

_{Dimensions: 30 x 18 x 9.5 inches | Material: Granite composite | Number of Basins: 1 | Installation Type: Undermount}

Fireclay sinks and the farmhouse kitchen style go together hand-in-hand. This apron-style sink from Sinkology is made of fireclay: a ceramic that has been molded, glazed, and fired at high temperatures for a finish that is durable and long-lasting. Sinkology offers a lifetime warranty for the finish—which is great news for families that toss silverware into the sink, or frequently wash large pots and pans that might otherwise scuff or scratch more easily damaged sink materials. (Just be careful of pouring boiling water into the sink, since doing so has been known to crack fireclay sink basins.)

A crisp white finish is the most popular look for a farmhouse kitchen sink, but it’s not the only option for the Josephine sink. It’s also available in colors like matte black or blue, and has very roomy dimensions. The deep, 9-inch basin gives you plenty of room for any kitchen task and the flat, level bottom means that stemware or glasses won’t tip over.

Keep in mind that the basin of this fireclay sink is thicker than the standard kitchen sink. As a result, it’s heavier than other sinks and requires a drain with extended threading for proper sink installation. If you’re taking on a sink swap as part of a DIY project, make sure you read through the installation instructions and have the necessary components before getting started.

_{Dimensions: 34 x 24.25 x 9 inches | Material: Fireclay | Number of Basins: 1 | Installation Type: Drop-in}

If you find yourself hand-washing dishes or frequently multi-tasking in the kitchen, a double basin sink is a practical pick. We recommend the Karran Double Bowl Composite Drop-in Kitchen Sink because it offers two matching basins with a low divider, which minimizes any splashing and also gives more clearance for the handle of a large pot or pan.

The non-porous material is a composite of quartz crystals and acrylic resin, and it’s available in a handful of colors to match your countertops. Just order the matching drain assembly for each basin, since they’re sold separately from the sink.

The composite quartz material eliminates the possibility of rust and elevates the appearance of this double-basin kitchen sink, making it a great match for modern or contemporary kitchens. It hides water spots well and resists scratching, but you’ll need to follow the brand’s instructions for cleaning and maintenance, including an occasional application of an oil-based cleaner to preserve luster.

_{Dimensions: 33 x 22 x 9 inches | Material: Quartz composite | Number of Basins: 2 | Installation Type: Drop-in}

We recommend the Kraus Standart Pro as the most durable kitchen sink because it’s made of extra-thick, 16-gauge stainless steel with straight walls and rounded corners for easy cleaning and maintenance. It also has a wear-resistant satin finish, and includes a stainless steel bottom grid. Although it’s a tight fit to insert and remove the grid, it ensures your dishes and cookware are elevated, reducing the chance of dents and scratches—some of the most frequent complaints about stainless steel kitchen sinks that see regular use.

The fact that there’s no mounting deck for this undermount model means you can wipe debris or water from the countertop directly into the sink. It also gives the sink a streamlined look that fits right into most modern kitchens. While the bottom of the sink is sloped with small channels to promote drainage, it can be a challenge to completely rinse the sink of debris, compared to a bowl-shaped sink. Using a pull-down faucet with a sprayer can help to more effectively clear a flat-bottomed sink like this.

Once you’ve cleared the sink of leftover food, the included basket strainer makes it easy to remove any waste. A drain cover can also be used to stop up the sink for soaking produce or washing dishes. To conserve your valuable cabinet storage space, the sink has a rear drain so plumbing connections will be at the back of the cabinet, leaving the center of the cabinet open for storage of tall items, if necessary.

The underside of the sink is also outfitted with noise dampening pads, which make the sink quieter when running a garbage disposal. They are also insulated to control condensation, which might otherwise cause damage to the interior of the cabinet.

_{Dimensions: 32 x 19 x 10 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Number of Basins: 1 | Installation Type: Undermount}

The Ruvati Workstation Kitchen Sink is a drop-in style sink that doesn’t short you on function. It has a single, extra-deep, 10-inch basin for prep tasks or washing dishes. It also has a ledge at the front and back of the sink to accommodate the included accessories: a cutting board, colander, and drying rack.

Design professional Octavio Estrada says that workstation sinks are “[a] perfect selection for smaller kitchens with limited counter space,” since the cutting board or drying rack will sit over the sink basin. Drop-in sinks are known for being easy to install, too, since you can do the work of fitting the sink from above. This Ruvati kitchen sink is truly no exception and it includes the necessary components for installation: mounting brackets, a template, and a drain assembly.

It’s constructed of 16-gauge stainless steel for the sake of durability and has a brushed finish to better conceal any scratches, plus a stainless steel grid that fits in the bottom of the sink to help prevent even more scratches from occurring. Despite the sloped bottom of the sink, expect to put some effort into thoroughly rinsing food debris down the drain. And if you’re bothered by the sight of water spots, know that you’ll need to dry out the sink regularly.

_{Dimensions: 33 x 22 x 10 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Number of Basins: 1 | Installation Type: Drop-in}

Final Verdict

The Kraus Loften Drop-In Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink is our best overall pick for a kitchen sink because it’s constructed of corrosion-resistant stainless steel and can be installed as a drop-in or undermount sink. The single-basin design is both practical and modern, too. Consider the Elkay Dayton Drop-In Double Bowl Sink if you want to spend under $100. It’s made of a thinner-gauge stainless steel, but offers two basins for tasks like washing and drying dishes.