Wash Basins: Types, Sizes and How to Pick the Right One

A wash basin gets used dozens of times a day, for brushing, shaving, washing hands after meals and rinsing small things. The type you pick decides how much floor space you lose, whether pipes show, and how easy the area is to keep clean. This page compares the main basin types so you can narrow down before you visit.

The main basin types

• Wall-hung basin. Bolted straight to the wall, with nothing touching the floor. The bottle trap below is usually visible. See wall-hung basins.
• Table-top basin. A bowl that sits on top of a counter or vanity, with the counter edge and the bowl both on show. See table-top and under-counter basins.
• Under-counter basin. Fixed below a cut-out in a granite or stone counter, so the counter top runs right up to the bowl edge.
• Full pedestal basin. A basin resting on a floor-standing column that hides the waste pipe. See pedestal basins.
• Half pedestal basin. Wall-mounted, with a short column below that covers the trap but stays off the floor.
• Designer free-standing basin. A tall, single-piece sculptural basin standing on the floor, used where looks matter more than space.

Comparison at a glance

Choose by bathroom size

In a compact apartment bathroom, every few inches count. A wall-hung or half pedestal basin of around 16x13 to 18x16 inch keeps the floor clear and leaves room for the door to open. In a bigger bathroom or a master bath, a vanity with a table-top or under-counter basin gives storage for toiletries, which most families need. Full pedestal and free-standing basins need the most room around them to look right.

Choose by who uses it

• Children. A basin fixed slightly lower, or a table-top bowl on a lower counter, is easier for them to reach. Wall-hung basins let you choose the fixing height.
• Elderly family members. Avoid deep table-top bowls on tall counters. A wall-hung basin at a comfortable height, firmly fixed, is often easier. Never lean heavily on any basin.
• Guests and dining areas. Many Indian homes keep a basin near the dining table for washing hands after meals. A table-top basin on a small counter, or a neat wall-hung basin, works well here. Our dining area page has tile ideas for that wall.

Check the plumbing points first

Before you pick a type, look at where the water inlet and waste outlet are on the wall or floor. Waste coming out of the wall at mid height suits wall-hung, half pedestal and vanity basins. Waste coming from the floor or very low on the wall suits a full pedestal. Moving pipes means breaking tiles, so in a ready flat it is usually easier to choose a basin that suits the existing points. If you are renovating, decide the basin before the plumber and tiler start. The bathroom page explains how wall tiles and basin positions work together.

See them in person

Basin shapes and bowl depths are hard to judge from photos. Note your available width and pipe positions, then contact the shop to ask what is in stock and come and compare a few side by side.