You’ve been planning your home renovation for months, but the one feature you can’t decide on is the sink. Whether it’s in the kitchen, bathroom, or even an outdoor home bar, using a conveniently placed sink can be a game changer. A friend of yours recently suggested that you look for a bar sink for your home remodel. You’ve never heard of such a sink before.
A bar sink is a smaller sink that can be used in other areas of your home such as the kitchen and patio. It works best when placed near an island countertop or cooktop, and most use a garbage disposal attachment for efficiency.
Admittedly, you are interested in the idea of a bar sink, but you want to know more before submitting. Then this introductory article is for you. In it, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about bar sinks, including dimensions, usage, average costs, and even some pros and cons.
Let’s get started!
What is a bar sink?
First, let’s expand on the definition of a bar sink from the introduction.
A bar sink is an indoor or outdoor sink that also goes by the names of a prep sink, entertainment sink, or bar sink. The average size of a bar sink is 15 inches wide, 15 to 25 inches long and 5 to 6 feet deep.
Most bar sinks are copper or stainless steel, but you can also find the ideal small sink in materials such as stone, cast iron or granite. No doubt these are attractive materials, but their heavier weight tends to push up the price of the sink. If you want a bar sink on a budget, stainless steel is one of your best choices because it’s reasonably priced and it’s also much lighter than cast iron or stone.
If this is not what you envision for your home remodel, then you don’t have to use only round sinks. Bar sinks also come in shapes such as square or rectangular.
If you want your bar sink to be mounted below, this is an option for you. You can also mount it on your kitchen countertop, providing you with plenty of versatility when it comes to installation. If you’d like to learn more about the pros and cons of each mounting option, check out our undermount vs. overmount sink guide!
If you’d like to learn more about which size or shape of bar sink is best for your space, this article will be a helpful guide.
What are the uses of bar sinks?
Bar sinks have a variety of uses, so let’s talk more about those now.
As the main sink in a small kitchen
If you live in a very small townhouse or home, then your kitchen is probably just as miniature. An oversized sink can take up too much valuable space and leave you with a lack of counter space. You may have to choose between appliances such as a toaster or microwave, because you can’t accommodate both.
In this case, a bar sink is a perfect solution. It’s equally small, so it frees up more space on your counter. You still have a great sink that you may be able to squeeze into your kitchen with a toaster and microwave so you have more cooking options.
As part of an indoor/outdoor home bar
Assume your home is more conventional in size. Installing a home bar has been your dream, so you’ve finally made it. Whether the home bar is indoors or outdoors, you’ll need a bar sink.
After all, it’s in the name. A bar sink is a great accompaniment to a home bar because you have plenty of room to wash small wine glasses, champagne glasses, shakers and all the other dishes that go into preparing your drinks. This wash load is light enough that your bar sink will never feel too small. Plus, the depth of your bar sink will protect your dirty, fragile glasses until you can roll up your sleeves and start cleaning them.
On your deck or patio
An outdoor kitchen is a beautiful thing. These second centers of culinary creation often include refrigerators, countertops, and even kitchen islands. To keep things neat and tidy while preparing your favorite meals outside, a bar sink is right at home as part of your outdoor kitchen on your deck or patio.
As a second sink in the kitchen
Maybe you only have an indoor kitchen, and it’s the center of many activities. In fact, you’re so busy in the kitchen that you’re considering expanding it. You definitely want a kitchen island, and a second sink will help.
Instead of investing in another full-size sink, try a bar sink. Its slim, streamlined profile makes it an ideal installation for your kitchen island, especially if you also choose a garbage disposal attachment. Now your kitchen island becomes a great place for a quick cleanup.
You can separate your dishes so that the big ones go in the main sink and all the small stuff that piles up in the middle goes in the bar sink. Talk about a divide and conquer approach!
What is the average cost of a bar sink?
You are now very interested in bar sinks for your home, but before you buy one, you need to know how much it will cost. Bar sinks are usually very inexpensive because they are not too big of a sink. That said, slightly larger bar sinks and sinks made from certain materials can be more expensive.
For example, if you choose a stainless steel bar sink, you will probably not spend more than $200 for the sink itself. If you want to customize the size of the bar sink, or if you want a fine material like copper, the cost will be around $400.
These prices are only what you pay for the sink itself, not the installation cost. According to 2020 data from Fixr, it can cost $200 to $1,000 to install an average size sink. The national average sink installation cost is $400.
Since your sink is smaller and easier to install, you’ll probably pay $100 to $400 for most bar sink installation jobs. More complex installations, such as installing a sink in the corner of a bar or kitchen island, may add to the cost.
What are the pros and cons of bar sinks?
So far, you’ve been well educated on bar sinks. You are even inclined to make a buying decision. Before you make up your mind to buy a bar sink, check out the list of pros and cons below:
Pros
Bar sinks are advantageous in many ways, such as
- Hey are cheap, so a bar sink should fit into any home remodeling budget.
- The convenience of a second kitchen sink or home bar sink is unmatched.
- Bar sinks are suitable for both outdoor and indoor use.
- If you entertain a lot, then having a bar sink is practically a must.
- A bar sink can open up your counter space, which is especially popular in smaller homes or apartments.
Cons
You should also be aware of the disadvantages of a bar sink, which include
- Bar sinks are much smaller than your average sink, which limits what you can do with them. For example, if you have to clean pans or pots, you may not be able to fit them into the bar sink. You’ll have to switch to a full-size sink.
- Some bar sinks can be expensive, as expensive as the national average for a regular size sink. This does offset some of the benefits.
Should you buy a bar sink for your home?
Now comes the big question. Is a bar sink right for you?
To answer this question, we highly recommend that you read all the information in this article again, especially the pros and cons, and take a more critical look. Keep in mind that in most cases, your bar sink will not be your primary sink. This makes a bar sink easier to commit to because you will only rely on it sometimes.
Make sure you have room in your budget for a bar sink as well. As we discuss in this introductory article, bar sinks are usually not very expensive, even when installation costs are factored in, but they can be expensive if you want a more luxurious material such as copper or stone.
If you think a bar sink would be beneficial for your home and you can fit it into your budget, then definitely get one. These slim and stylish sinks are definitely for you.
Conclusion
Bar sinks are smaller and thinner than regular kitchen or bathroom sinks, even though they are deep. Bar sinks add to a bustling kitchen and are the perfect addition to a home bar or patio outdoor kitchen. In addition, if you have a small house, then a bar sink may be a better fit for you than a regular size sink.
That’s all you need to know about bar sinks.
You now have all the information you need to decide if you need a bar sink in your home. Good luck and enjoy your new sink!
