What to buy

The Best Stainless Steel Kitchen Sinks, One for Each Kind of Kitchen

There is no best sink, only the best one for your cabinet and counter. For a solid counter, take the KRAUS KHU100-32. For laminate, take the Delta Lorelai 33. For two bowls, take the Ruvati RVM4350. Each needs a 36-inch cabinet.

by the editorial teamupdated November 3, 20264 min read

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AI-generated image: the edge of a granite countertop over a brushed stainless steel undermount sink, with a sponge and water drops. — Image: AI-generated (OpenAI)

In short

Our main pick is the KRAUS KHU100-32: an undermount in 16-gauge steel with one bowl 30 inches wide and 10 inches deep. Choose the Delta Lorelai 33 if your counter is laminate, the Ruvati RVM4350 if you want two bowls, and the Ruvati RVH8300 if you'll use a ledge and board daily. We compare spec sheets and run no tests.

On this page

Our pick: undermountAd

KRAUS

KRAUS KHU100-32

One big, deep bowl in thick steel for a solid countertop.

Why here: It has the simplest good recipe: one big, deep bowl in thick steel, with pads and undercoating, and the grid in the box.

Best for: Solid counters and a 36-inch cabinet, when you want room for big pans.

16-gauge steel with pads and undercoating
10-inch depth and one 30-inch-wide bowl
Bottom grid and basket strainer included
Rear drain placement, which keeps the pipes farther back

Not for standard laminate counters
Needs a cabinet 24 inches front to back as well as 36 wide
No ledge or cutting board

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Mounting: Undermount
Minimum cabinet: 36 in wide, 24 in front to back
Outside size: 32 × 19 in
Bowl: 30 × 17 in, single
Bowl depth: 10 in
Material: 16-gauge stainless steel
In the box: Bottom grid, basket strainer, template, hardware, towel
Price class: Mid-range

Which sink for which kitchen?

Which one?

If you have a solid counter and want one big bowl → KRAUS KHU100-32
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If your counter is laminate → Delta Lorelai 33
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If you want two bowls on a solid counter → Ruvati RVM4350
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If you would chop at the sink every day → Ruvati RVH8300
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If you may change the countertop later → Kohler Task 33
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If you want a farmhouse sink
See farmhouse sinks

All the picks side by side

Comparison: KRAUS KHU100-32, Delta Lorelai 33, Ruvati RVM4350, Ruvati RVH8300, Kohler Task 33
Comparison	Our pick: undermountKRAUS KHU100-32	Our pick: drop-inDelta Lorelai 33	Our pick: double bowlRuvati RVM4350	Our pick: workstationRuvati RVH8300	Kohler Task 33
Mounting	Undermount	Drop-in (top mount)	Undermount	Undermount	Top mount or undermount
Minimum cabinet	36 in wide, 24 in front to back	36 in	36 in	36 in	36 in
Outside size	32 × 19 in	33 × 22 in	32-1/4 × 18-7/8 in	32 × 19 in	33 in nominal
Bowl	30 × 17 in, single	29.88 × 16 in, single	Two, each 14-1/2 × 16-7/8 in	30-1/2 × 16 in, single	30-1/4 × 14-15/16 in, single
Bowl depth	10 in	9 in	8-1/2 in	10 in	9-3/16 in
Material	16-gauge stainless steel	16-gauge stainless steel	16-gauge T304 stainless steel	16-gauge T-304 stainless steel	18-gauge stainless steel
In the box	Bottom grid, basket strainer, template, hardware, towel	Board, drying rack, grid, strainer, template, hardware	2 rinse grids, 2 strainers, template, clips	Board, colander, drying rack, grid, strainer, template, brackets	Bamboo board, colander set, silicone mat, strainer
Price class	Mid-range	Mid-range to premium	Mid-range	Mid-range to premium	Mid-range
Best for	Solid counters and a 36-inch cabinet, when you want room for big pans.	Laminate counters, or swapping an old 33-inch drop-in for something better.	Anyone who soaks on one side and rinses on the other, on a solid counter.	People who chop and rinse at the sink and would use the ledge every day.	A kitchen that may change counters, from a brand with its own spec sheets.
	On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon	On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon	On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon	On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon	On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon

Specs as stated by the makers or the named sources. No prices here: they move daily, so check the listing. Swipe sideways on a phone.

KRAUS KHU100-32: the one we'd start with

This is an undermount with a single bowl of 30 by 17 inches, 10 inches deep, in 16-gauge steel. KRAUS lists its NoiseDefend undercoating and pads, a rear center drain and a limited lifetime warranty. The bottom grid, basket strainer, cut-out template and hardware come in the box.

Buy it if you have a stone, quartz or solid-surface counter and you wash big pans. Skip it if your counter is laminate, or if your cabinet isn't 36 inches wide and 24 inches front to back. KRAUS states both figures. Read more on undermount sinks.

Delta Lorelai 33: for laminate counters

The Lorelai drops in from above, so it doesn't depend on a solid counter. Delta lists 16-gauge steel, a 9-inch-deep bowl, pads over more than 80 % of the sink, a cutting board and a roll-up drying rack.

Buy it if your counter is laminate and you want more than a bare budget sink. Skip it if your old cutout is smaller than 33 by 22 inches and you don't want to recut it. The drop-in guide covers measuring the old hole.

Ruvati RVM4350: for two bowls

Two equal bowls, each 14-1/2 by 16-7/8 inches and 8-1/2 inches deep. The low divider gives large pots and pans extra clearance, Ruvati says.

Buy it if you soak on one side and rinse on the other. Skip it if you wash big sheet pans most nights, because each bowl is under 15 inches wide. Single or double bowl helps you decide.

Ruvati RVH8300: for the ledge

A ledge along the front and back carries the included board, colander and drying rack. The bowl is 10 inches deep, in 16-gauge steel. The inside corners are sharp, which looks crisp but takes more wiping.

Buy it if you would really use the ledge. Skip it if the accessories would end up in a drawer. See workstation sinks.

Kohler Task 33: for a kitchen that may change

Kohler sells this one for top mount or undermount. It lists 18-gauge steel, a 9-3/16-inch depth and a bamboo board, colander set and silicone mat. The bowl is under 15 inches front to back, which is shallower that way than our other picks.

Buy it if you want to keep your options open, or you'd rather have a Kohler spec sheet behind you. Skip it if thick steel matters most to you.

The budget option: Elkay Dayton

The Elkay Dayton D233193^* is a plain double bowl in the budget class. We could only read the listing for this exact model, so it isn't a pick. Elkay's sheet for a larger Dayton double lists #22-gauge steel, so expect thin steel and check the listing before you buy.

What to check before you buy

Cabinet. Find the minimum cabinet on the spec sheet. Our size guide explains why width is only half of it.
Counter. Laminate means drop-in. See undermount or drop-in.
Gauge and pads. Read both lines. 16 or 18 gauge explains what each one does.
Faucet holes. An undermount has none, so the faucet goes in the counter. Drop-ins come pre-drilled, and the Kohler Task has one hole.
Drain size. KRAUS and Ruvati list 3-1/2 inches, Kohler 3-5/8 and Delta 3.88. Check your strainer or disposal fitting.

Find yours in three questions

Find your sink

Question 1 of 3

What is your countertop?

This one decides the most.

If you only buy one, buy the KRAUS KHU100-32^*, provided your counter and cabinet allow it. If they don't, the Delta Lorelai 33 is the one to read next.

Asked before buying

What is the best gauge for a stainless steel kitchen sink?

For a big single bowl and heavy pans, 16 gauge is the safer choice, because the steel is thicker and Ruvati says it is less likely to dent. For ordinary use 18 gauge is fine. Ruvati calls it often the best choice for most home kitchens, and Kohler builds its Task from it.

What is the best size for a stainless steel kitchen sink?

The largest one your cabinet allows and your counter space can spare. In a 36-inch cabinet that's usually a sink of about 33 inches. All of our main picks list a 36-inch minimum cabinet. For a 33-inch cabinet, Yale Appliance's rule points to a 30-inch sink.

Do you test these sinks yourselves?

No. We read makers' spec sheets, manuals and care guides and compare what they state. Where we could only read the Amazon listing, the product is marked as seller data only and is never a main pick.

Which brand makes the best stainless steel sink?

We can't name one from spec sheets alone. KRAUS, Ruvati, Delta and Kohler all publish full data for the models listed here, and that's why those made our shortlist. Compare the exact model, since gauge differs even within one brand name.