It’s a kitchen design question as old as time: Double sink or single sink, which is better? Some readers recently started commenting back and forth on the question, and it occurred to me that we’d never discussed and debated this topic in a story. (We did discuss the classic toilet paper over or under question, though!) Above: Illustration of American-Standard kitchen cabinets and sinks from a 1953 catalog.
Of course, each design has its pros and cons. [Above: Illustration from 1953 Crane kitchen catalog.]
Double sink pros and cons:
- Double sinks make it easier to wash on one side, stack to dry on the other.
- Or procrastinators can wash on one side, pile dirties on the other, and get to finishing up when you can. [I plead guilty, but you could guess that already, couldn’t you?]
- On the flip side, double sinks typically are smaller, so you sometimes cannot get a big pot or tray completely into one of the bowls. Jamming a large tray into one side of a double sink kinda runs the risk of scratching or dinging it.
- In the same vein, they can take up more room.
Single sink pros and con:
- Single sinks can be sized larger, so they can fit large pots and pans and trays. [My husband is in the single sink camp for this reason.]
- I guess you could say: They encourage you to clean as you go, because there is no second bowl to pile in the dirties.
- Overall, they likely take up less room, so there is more counter space for prep.
Dennis says
I prefer a single sink. It’s just more versatile. In addition, I’d never NEVER never be without a dishwasher, which not only handy, but a great place to store dirty dishes. Our trusty old school Kitchen Aid (much like the one Pam has, from the ’80s!) does a great job every time.
Jay says
Single sink, no room for a double; there would be no counter space. Besides there is a dishwasher where rinsed dirties go. Stuff not dishwasherable sits in sink or to right of sink (dirty side). Never had a double bowl anywhere, the kitchens were too small.
Joy says
Having grown up with single sink & no dishwasher. I prefer two, one to wash and one to rinse & drain.
Debbie in Portland says
I vote double sink. Dirty dishes can be soaking on one side, other side is still available. I only have a couple of items that are too big to easily wash in the kitchen sink, so those go downstairs to the big laundry sink. I’d never go back to a single kitchen sink.
CarolK says
Debbie in Portland, if I had a laundry sink in the basement, I might chose a double sink as well. Not only don’t I have a laundry sink anywhere, I don’t have a basement, just a crawl space. (Don’t have a working washer right now, either, as ours just bit the dust.) Anyway, I don’t exactly need the big sink to bathe the dogs currently as my Shih tzu crossed the Rainbow Bridge late last fall, my dachshund would probably go nuts if I bathed her and Gwen, the Lab mix, has showers. I’m not worried about dirty dishes piling up in the sink as I hope they’ll go straight in the dishwasher,
Chrissy says
Ok. So this is a real issue in our house and we had to update the kitchen in the new to us house because it was poorly laid out and completely dysfunctional (None of us will every be the sole cook and a tiny little woman). Some of the occupants of our home refuse to take care of things in the sink immediately and the other occupants refuse to take care of other people’s gross things. However, we need a big sink. Our solution? Two big sinks. Thankfully, we have the room to do this. A bit insane? Perhaps but at least there will always be one clear sink in the kitchen (and I plan to have a cutting board custom made to hide the other one’s contents). We super hemmed and hawed on this because the house is mid mod but you would never have seen two single sinks side by side in a mid mod (right?) but for our use, we need them or a full time housekeeper. Two sinks seems cheaper in the long run.
Pam Kueber says
Made me laugh out loud because… so close to home:
Retroski says
I dunno. Double? That’s what I’ve got now. Am I the only one who keeps the drying rack in the other sink bowl? My main beef is having a deep bowl. We had a deep single bowl in my apt (no dishwasher) which was great in some ways but bad in others since I crammed everything in and it took too loooong to wash dishes.
Double bowl. As long as it’s 8” on one or both sides.
Kitty says
Absolutely I keep the drying rack in the second sink bowl too! Dish drying is a household chore that will do itself if you just leave things long enough. And the shelves where the dishes are stored are close to the drying rack sink, so I can put the dry dishes and glassware away really quickly with no steps in between stations.
Margaret says
Double or single, the most important thing I want if I ever get a new kitchen, is TWO sinks! I am so fed up with people wanting to wash their hands or rinse out something and interrupting me when I am using the sink while cooking! Every kitchen should have one sink for food prep and one for everything else.
Vintigchik says
I used top be in the double bowl camp but having paid attention to how I wash dishes, i’m switching to a single bowl. The hubby is single bowl guy so it works out. Can’t wait to build the house now so we’re can get the cool double drainboard sink!
CarolK says
Like Melinda, Vickie, and Lyndasewsalot, I’m going for a large single sink when we finally renovate the kitchen this year. I want to be able to wash my large roasting pans, stockpots and half sheets easily in the sink. Oh, and bird feeders. (Feeders are real pain to wash in a double sink.) Most of the other stuff, save my cast iron, knives, cutting boards and the occasional champagne flute, will go in the dishwasher. I’ve been without a dishwasher for going on 13 years and I’m fed up with dishpan hands.
Those of us who have small dogs also find that large single sinks are good for doggie baths. My Shih tzu, even though she was tiny, would not fit in one side of our double sink.
Ranger Smith says
Double porcelain sink for sure. Wash in one side and rinse in the other.
GlenEllyn says
Amen, Ranger! I’m stuck with a single sink now and no hope of fitting a double in the space. Good old-fashioned porcelain, in white, please! One sink for washing, the other filled with hot rinse water, and the dish drainer on the counter. That’s my dream because most of the time I don’t use my dishwasher. I’m no longer cooking and cleaning up after the family – it’s just me now.
Ranger Smith says
🙂