Updated on Sep 29, 2024 8:09 AM EDT
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A utility sink, also called a laundry, wash, or mud sink, has a larger capacity than a bathroom or kitchen sink. The bathroom sink might work fine for soaking stained clothes and the dog can get his bath in the tub, but while these are options to complete “dirty” tasks, doing so can stain, chip, or scratch nice plumbing fixtures. A better option is to install a utility sink in your garage or laundry room. A utility tub is made of rugged thermoplastic or stainless steel that won’t stain lightly from paint or damage easily with heavy or sharp objects.
Like kitchen sinks, utility sinks come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and styles to help in your cleaning and organizing tasks. Our favorite is the Jackson Supplies Tehila Utility Sink thanks to its large-capacity bin and included high-arching faucet. What’s the most important thing to remember when choosing a utility sink? “Don’t cut corners,” says Michael Kootchick, a general contractor and real estate developer with OneStop ADU in San Diego, California. “Do it properly the first time to avoid future headaches and unforeseen costs. My motto: Spend now to save later.” Check out our guide, which reviews features to consider and highlights some more of the best utility sinks on the market.
The list below includes a mix of different types of utility sinks to suit purely utilitarian laundry rooms and garages as well as more sophisticated laundry rooms. It includes the best stainless steel utility sink as well as several high-quality plastic models.
The Tehila utility sink from Jackson Supplies checks all the boxes for what a utility sink should do. Its large basin measures 22.25 inches long by 18.75 inches wide by 13 inches deep, offering ample space for soaking laundry, cleaning paint out of brushes, and many other utility needs. Its thermoplastic material can withstand hard metal objects.
This Tehila sink comes with a high-arching kitchen faucet that provides plenty of clearance below it for larger items. The faucet’s spray option is ideal for cleaning paint brushes, rinsing large pots, or even bathing a small dog. And while it is clearly a utility sink, it’s also stylish enough to suit laundry rooms with more refined decor.
Get the Jackson Supplies Tehila utility sink at The Home Depot or Wayfair.
This simple thermoplastic sink is a great option for those looking for a wall-mount option or who simply don’t want to pay a lot for a utility sink. It’s made of durable thermoplastic that resists stains, scratches, and damage and features a reinforced rim that gives it added strength. Its 18-gallon capacity and 14.375-inch depth place it among the larger utility sinks on the market, making it suitable for washing bigger items or filling big buckets.
The Utilatub comes with three predrilled holes and is compatible with a 4-inch on-center faucet. A wall-mounting bracket that allows it to be mounted to either a concrete wall or wall studs is included.
Get the Mustee 20-inch utility sink at The Home Depot or Menards.
This utility cabinet sink from Glacier Bay is a great choice for those who want a utility sink that doesn’t look like one. With its stainless steel apron and white cabinet, this sink has a more refined look than the average model. A corner-mount stainless steel faucet adds to its sleek appearance.
There is also plenty of function to go with this sink’s form. A high-gloss laminate PVC front panel on the cabinets is tough enough to endure the rigors of life in a laundry room. Its gooseneck sprayer faucet and 12-gallon capacity are suitable for soaking clothes or washing larger items. The utility sink with cabinet features soft-close doors and some storage space behind them.
Get the Glacier Bay utility sink at The Home Depot.
With its large dimensions and 12-inch depth, this stainless steel sink is ideal for upscale laundry rooms that feature solid granite, quartz, or stone countertops. The under-mount sink’s ample measurements give it plenty of volume for hand-washing clothes or even bathing a small dog.
Its 18-gauge stainless steel material offers excellent dent resistance, ideal for cleaning tools. Extra-thick pads around the basin provide soundproofing that mutes any clanging while washing tools or other hard objects.
Get the Kraus utility sink at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Wayfair.
Most drop-in sinks have a shallower depth that renders them less useful as utility sinks. That’s not the case with this model from Ruvati, which features a 12-inch depth and measures 22 inches long by 25 inches wide. Whereas many drop-in sinks have a rounded bottom, this model has sharp inside corners, adding to its overall capacity.
With the basin’s boxy shape, this utility sink is large enough to clean tools or even fill a tall bucket. Its stainless steel construction resists staining, making it ideal for treating clothes or even cleaning paint brushes. The sink is insulated, so it makes less noise when running water or washing solid objects. It also comes with a handy rinse grid and basket strainer.
Get the Ruvati utility sink at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Wayfair.
This massive stationary tub allows you to wash the family dog and clean a set of dirty paint brushes or soak laundry all at the same time. Its 38 gallons of capacity are divided into two 19-gallon sections. It measures some 40 inches wide, making it suitable for larger laundry rooms or garages.
The large thermoplastic tub sits atop four sturdy heavy-gauge metal legs that provide plenty of support when the sink is full. Levels on all four legs make it suitable for basements or garages with uneven floors. The Mustee Utilatwin has three precut holes for a faucet and comes with two drain assemblies, one for each basin.
Get the Mustee 40-inch utility sink at Ace Hardware or The Home Depot.
Utility sinks tend to be rather large, which makes adding one to a smaller laundry room a challenge. At 19.5 inches wide and 15.75 inches long, this narrow-fit utility sink is ideal for tight spaces. And despite the fact that it’s a small utility sink, it still offers a surprising amount of volume, thanks to its 13-inch depth.
The deep basin coupled with a high-arching sink faucet can help when washing larger objects or filling tall buckets. The freestanding utility sink also comes equipped with a pull-down sprayer capable of extending to the sink bottom for washing smaller items. Four sturdy metal legs with levelers provide ample support for the sink.
Get the Jackson Supplies Tehlia Space Saver utility sink at Amazon, The Home Depot (with chrome faucet and side sprayer), or Wayfair.
This stainless steel utility sink from Ukinox is ideal for laundry rooms thanks to a design that suits hand-washing clothes. While it does lack the depth of some utility sinks, it does have a unique feature for cleaning clothes. One wall of the sink is angled and includes a built-in washboard for scrubbing laundry that runs its entire width.
With its dual-mount design, this sink is ideal for laundry rooms with solid countertops. The 18-gauge stainless steel has a satin finish that resists stains and scratches, plus it’s equipped with thick rubber pads that dampen noise.
Get the Ukinox utility sink at The Home Depot.
In determining the best utility sinks on the market, we considered what makes a utility sink useful. A utility sink is supposed to handle duties that the kitchen sink can’t, such as washing large objects (or even a pet) and filling tall buckets. With that in mind, we chose models with large capacities and deeper basins that would allow the user to fit larger items or animals in them.
A utility sink should also withstand cleaning paint brushes or washing tools, so we chose stainless steel and plastic models that are designed to resist chipping or cracking.
Some people see their laundry rooms and garages as pure utility areas, while others decorate them as they would any other room in the house. Keeping that in mind, we chose a mix of more expensive sinks that add style to a laundry room and affordable models that prioritize function over style.
It’s crucial to consider factors such as material, sink capacity, and any accessories that come with the sink.
Utility sinks are larger than kitchen sinks, allowing them to handle tasks that a kitchen sink might not have the volume or depth to handle. Laundry sink dimensions average about 23 inches wide, 20 inches long, and 13 inches deep. However, utility sinks can be as much as 40 inches wide and up to 15 inches deep. This larger size makes these sinks suitable for soaking clothes or filling a tall bucket that wouldn’t fit under the faucet of a standard kitchen or bathroom sink.
It’s also important to consider the sink’s shape. Sinks that have steeper sides will drain more quickly than those with flat bottoms; however, a flat-bottomed sink will have a larger capacity for soaking items, such as stained clothing or paint brushes. Some sinks also have soundproofing, which muffles the noise of water running into the sink or the sound of hard objects bumping up against the sink walls.
Many of the best utility sinks also come with faucets, eliminating the need to buy one separately. These faucets are often high arching, giving them more clearance than other faucet types, and may come with pull-out sprayers that make it easier to clean items in the sink’s basin or to rinse out the basin itself.
Kootchick offers his expert advice on what to look for—and what not to: “Avoid undersized or poorly made sinks. For utility sinks, bigger is better to handle messy jobs.” He also recommends an offset drain to provide maximum sink space.
Utility room sinks come in several types, ranging from a standard floor-mounted utility sink to under-mount models. Read on to learn more about the different types of utility sinks.
A drop-in sink, also called a top-mount sink, has a rim that extends over the sink. With this style of sink, the countertop holds the sink’s entire weight. Drop-in sinks are among the most affordable sink types and are easy to install; however, the lip makes it harder to wipe debris from a countertop into the sink.
Wall-mount sinks are more common in public restrooms due to their utilitarian look. Though you won’t find these in many bathrooms (with the exception of those with a more vintage look), their small profile makes them a popular option for laundry rooms. Per the name, the sinks attach to the wall, gaining all of their support from wall studs. Since there are no supports under the sink, the plumbing is exposed, which is why this sink type isn’t particularly popular in bathrooms.
Kootchick says that he prefers wall-mounted sinks for utility purposes. “They maximize floor space and allow for hose attachment.” He adds, “I install extra wall support to handle the weight. Wall mounts may require minor wall repair, but the benefits outweigh costs.”
Under-mount or flush-mount sinks are fitted to the countertop’s underside. They typically fit to solid countertops, such as granite or quartz. There are two types of under-mount sinks. A reveal under-mount sink has a small rim that extends about 0.5 inch beyond the edge of the countertop. With an overhang under-mount sink, the counter edge extends over the edge of the sink, hiding it from view. Under-mount sinks may be more attractive than other sink types, but they also cost more.
This type of sink rests on a cabinet that sits on the floor. The cabinet hides the sink’s plumbing and serves as a storage space for cleaners and laundry supplies. Since this laundry sink vanity has a cabinet, it tends to require more floor space than other utility sink types.
Floor-mount utility sinks have the most utilitarian look. A floor-mount sink consists of a large basin that rests on four feet. These sinks are often made of heavy-duty plastic, which makes them ideal for utility areas of the home. Plastic construction also means these sinks are among the cheapest utility sink options.
If you’re wondering if there’s a difference between a utility sink and a laundry sink, or how big a laundry sink should be, then read on for answers to some of the most common questions about these specialized plumbing fixtures.
Utility sinks can meet a variety of needs. It’s ideal for hand-washing delicates and serves as a place to soak stained clothes. Larger, more rugged utility sinks, sometimes called slop sinks, are also ideal for rinsing out paint brushes or filling large buckets that don’t fit under a kitchen sink faucet.
The difference between the two depends on the user. A utility sink is typically made from thermoplastic with a deep basin and metal legs and has a purely utilitarian look. For many, this style of sink is also suitable for their laundry room. Those with more sophisticated laundry rooms may use a laundry sink that has a larger capacity than a kitchen sink but isn’t as large as a utility sink. These sinks are usually made from stainless steel, which is more attractive and has either a cabinet base or is under-mounted to solid countertops.
While a utility sink is a nice accessory to have in a laundry room, it isn’t a necessity. One can also use a simple plastic basin filled with water to treat stained clothing or clean tools.
The best type of sink for a utility room is usually a floor-mount sink. These sinks offer the largest capacity of any utility sink, which makes them more versatile. They also are made from rugged plastic that resists wear and tear. Thermoplastic sinks are also more affordable than stainless steel models.
While laundry room sinks come in a variety of size options, most are about 23 inches wide and 20 inches from front to back, with a depth of at least 13 inches. These dimensions create enough volume for soaking clothes or filling a bucket for mopping the kitchen floor.
To make a utility sink look more chic, it is possible to build a cabinet around it. Just make sure to build in a door or leave an opening that allows for access to the plumbing for periodic maintenance or repairs.
The depth allows you to do tasks that couldn’t otherwise be done in a kitchen or bathroom sink, like fill a large bucket of water or a watering can. You can also soak large items and prevent splashing more effectively while cleaning.
Tony Carrick is a freelance writer who has contributed to BobVila.com since 2020. He writes how-to articles and product reviews in the areas of lawn and garden, home maintenance, home improvement, auto maintenance, housewares, and technology.
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