Comparison

Apron vs Farmhouse Sink: Mostly Two Names for One Thing

In shops you can treat them as one thing. Apron describes the exposed front panel, and farmhouse describes the style and where it comes from. Signature Hardware simply calls farmhouse sinks apron-front sinks. So check the specs, not the name.

by the editorial teamupdated November 3, 20262 min read

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AI-generated image: a stainless steel apron-front sink in white shaker cabinets under a wood counter. — Image: AI-generated (OpenAI)

In short

There's little real difference. Magnus says the terms are often used interchangeably: apron means a sink with an exposed front panel, and farmhouse describes the lineage, a wide, deep, rural-looking vessel. Signature Hardware calls farmhouse sinks apron-front sinks. What matters is the apron height, the material and what the sink needs from your cabinet.

On this page

You won't be able to sort sinks by these two words. Sellers use them for the same products.

What each word describes

	Apron	Farmhouse
The word points to	The exposed front panel	The style and its history
Per Magnus	Replaces the cabinet panel in front of the basin	Any wide, deep vessel with a rural, utilitarian look
Cabinet	May need custom cabinetry	May need custom cabinetry
Depth	Deep basins	Similar depth

What to check instead

The apron height. A full apron is usually about 10 inches, Signature Hardware says, and a retrofit one about 3 inches less. That decides how much of your existing cabinet changes. Short apron is the word to search for.

The material. Steel, fireclay, cast iron or something else. It changes the care and the weight far more than the name does. Fireclay vs stainless steel compares the two you're most likely to choose between.

The mounting. Makers vary here too. Kohler calls the Whitehaven an undermount apron sink with a Self-Trimming front. Other designs sit differently, so read the install notes.

The faucet. Most have no holes, so it goes on the counter or wall.

The bowls. Signature Hardware says single bowls are more common, though doubles exist.

Next steps

If you already want one, our farmhouse page has the picks: the KRAUS KHF200-33^* in steel and the Ruvati RVL2300WH^* in fireclay. To see what the work involves, read the install overview.

Asked before buying

Is an apron front sink the same as a farmhouse sink?

For shopping purposes, yes. Magnus says the terms are often used interchangeably and separates them only by design intent and configuration. Signature Hardware defines farmhouse sinks as apron-front sinks. You'll find both words on the same products.

Do both need a special cabinet?

Generally, yes. Magnus lists possible custom cabinetry for both, and Signature Hardware says a farmhouse sink needs a custom cabinet or custom support. The exception is a retrofit sink with a short apron, which is made to fit existing cabinets with less work.

Is a farmhouse sink always white?

No. Signature Hardware lists fireclay, porcelain, stainless steel, copper, natural stone and cast iron. The white ones are the best known, but the shape isn't tied to the color. Our steel pick is the KRAUS KHF200-33.