Quartz Kitchen Sinks: Pros, Cons, Sizes and Care Tips

Quartz kitchen sinks have become popular in modular kitchens because they look like part of the counter rather than a metal bowl dropped into it. They come in solid colours with a matt finish and feel solid when you use them. They do need a little more planning than steel, mostly around weight, cut-out and cleaning.

What a quartz sink is

A quartz sink (also called a granite or quartz composite sink) is made from crushed quartz or granite stone mixed with a resin binder and moulded into shape. The result is a hard, dense bowl with colour running all the way through, so small scratches do not show bare metal or a different colour underneath.

Quartz sinks usually come in a matt finish, in colours like dark brown, ivory and smoky black, in sizes of 16x18, 18x21 and 18x24 inch, with a bowl depth of about 8.5 inch (around 215 mm).

The good points

• Looks. A matt black or brown sink against a granite or quartz counter looks clean and modern, especially in open kitchens visible from the dining area.
• Quiet. The thick stone body does not drum when water or vessels hit it, unlike thin steel.
• Colour matching. You can match or contrast the sink with your counter and backsplash. Dark sinks pair well with black granite, and ivory suits lighter counters.
• Hides scratches. The matt finish and through-body colour hide everyday marks better than glossy steel.

The points to plan for

• Weight. Quartz sinks are much heavier than steel. The counter and its support must be strong, and under-mount fitting needs solid brackets.
• Accurate cut-out. The granite cut-out must match the sink template closely. Give the fabricator the template, not just the size.
• Stains. Turmeric, tea, coffee and coloured gravies left in the bowl can leave marks, especially on ivory and lighter colours. Dark colours hide this better.
• Heavy impacts. Dropping a heavy cast-iron kadai or dosa tawa from height can chip the bowl. Place heavy vessels in gently.
• Hard water. White scale shows on black and dark brown sinks if water is left to dry.

Cleaning and care

• Rinse the bowl after washing vessels and wipe it dry at night.
• For daily cleaning, use a soft sponge with mild liquid soap.
• For turmeric or tea marks, a paste of baking soda and water, rubbed gently, usually lifts them.
• For hard water scale, a diluted vinegar wipe followed by a rinse helps.
• Avoid steel wool, harsh acid cleaners and bleach left standing, which can dull the matt surface.

Quartz vs steel at a glance

For a fuller look at steel, read our page on stainless steel kitchen sinks. For tiles around the sink, see the kitchen page and kitchen backsplash tile ideas.

Which one should you pick?

If you want the sink to match a modern counter, cook mostly in regular steel vessels and are happy to rinse the bowl daily, quartz is a good fit. If you wash heavy cast-iron vessels every day or want the simplest option to replace later, steel may suit you better. Some homes use quartz in the main kitchen and steel in the utility area.

Bring your counter colour, platform measurements and cut-out size, and contact the shop to check which quartz sink colours are in stock.