The most popular brass bar sink size with our customers is 12 inches inside: deep enough to rinse wine glasses and shaker tins, wash fruit or fill an ice bucket, so the sink can double as a prep sink. Choose 10 inch if you want to keep more counter space free for prep, and 8 inch if you only rinse barware and space is tight. All three sizes are measured across the inside of the basin, not the rim, so check your cabinet and counter before you order.
In this article
- What do 8, 10 and 12 inch actually measure?
- How do the three sizes compare side by side?
- Which size fits how you use your bar?
- How much counter and cabinet space do you need?
- What faucet works with a small round bar sink?
- When should you go bigger than 12 inches?
- Frequently asked questions
What do 8, 10 and 12 inch actually measure?
Each number is the inside diameter of the bowl: the usable space where water lands, measured wall to wall. The rolled rim sits outside that measurement, so the sink's overall footprint is a little larger than the size name.
This matters because you wash in the inside of the bowl, but you cut the countertop around the outside. When you compare our sinks with others, check whether a listing quotes the inside or the outside. Two "12 inch" sinks can hold very different amounts of water.
Depth grows with diameter too. On our hand-hammered round bar sink, the 8 inch bowl is 140 mm deep (about 5.5 inches), the 10 inch is 160 mm (about 6.3 inches) and the 12 inch is 180 mm (about 7.1 inches). That extra depth is what keeps splashes inside the bowl when you rinse something tall.
How do the three sizes compare side by side?
Here is how the three sizes of the Tangier Brass Bar Sink line up. Prices are current at the time of writing.
| Size (inside diameter) | Depth | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 in (20 cm) | 140 mm (about 5.5 in) | Rinsing glasses and bar tools, tight counters, butler's pantries | $162 |
| 10 in (25 cm) | 160 mm (about 6.3 in) | Everyday home bars: glassware, shakers, garnish prep | $220 |
| 12 in (30 cm) | 180 mm (about 7.1 in) | Bars that double as prep zones, outdoor kitchens, filling pitchers | $274 |
All three come with an unlacquered brass basket strainer for a standard 3-1/2 inch drain opening, and all three can be installed undermount or drop-in.
Round, hand-hammered in Fes with a rolled rim and aged finish. Choose 8, 10 or 12 in inside diameter.
Which size fits how you use your bar?
Start with the biggest thing you will regularly put in the sink, then pick the smallest bowl that handles it comfortably.
- Choose 8 inch if the sink is mainly for a quick rinse of rocks glasses, jiggers and bar spoons, or if it sits in a narrow pantry or on a bar cart style counter where every inch of surface counts.
- Choose 10 inch if you make cocktails at home often. It takes a Boston shaker tin or a stemmed wine glass without tipping, and you still keep room on the counter for a cutting board.
- Choose 12 inch if the bar is also where you wash herbs and citrus, fill a pitcher or empty an ice bucket. The deeper bowl handles more water and more splashing.
If you are torn between two sizes, go with the larger one. A bowl that is too small gets used less, while a slightly bigger one rarely feels like too much.
How much counter and cabinet space do you need?
Think about three things before you order: the counter around the sink, the cabinet below it and the way it will be mounted.
Counter space. National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) planning guidelines recommend at least 3 inches of countertop on one side of an auxiliary sink and 18 inches on the other, as summarized in this guide to NKBA kitchen clearances. That 18 inch side is your landing zone for glasses, garnishes and a board. On a short bar run, a smaller bowl can be the difference between meeting that guideline and not.
Cabinet space. Measure the inside width of the cabinet under the sink, not the outside. The bowl, the strainer and the drain pipes all need to fit inside it, along with the faucet supply lines. If the cabinet also holds a wine fridge or ice maker, check that the bowl depth leaves room for the plumbing.
Mounting. Our round bar sink works undermount or drop-in. Undermount gives a clean stone or wood edge you can wipe straight into the bowl. Drop-in shows off the rolled rim and is often simpler on butcher block. Ask your fabricator or installer to cut from the actual sink, since each piece is shaped by hand and measurements are approximate.
What faucet works with a small round bar sink?
A tall gooseneck spout is the easiest match for a small round bowl. It gives you clearance to slip a bottle or shaker under the stream, and the arc lands water near the center of the basin instead of on the rim.
Look for a spout that reaches toward the middle of the bowl. On an 8 inch sink, a long reach can overshoot, so set the faucet a little farther back or choose a 10 inch bowl. A single lever also keeps one hand free while the other holds a glass.
Unlacquered solid brass, single hole mount, in aged, brushed or polished brass.
When should you go bigger than 12 inches?
If your bar is really a second kitchen, with a wine fridge, a dishwasher drawer or regular entertaining, a round 12 inch bowl may feel small. A square prep sink gives you more usable floor area for the same counter width, which helps with sheet pans, colanders and larger pitchers.
Our square undermount island sink starts at 13 x 13 inches inside, which works as a compact bar or prep sink, and goes up to 16 x 16 and 17 x 17 for a generous island prep station. For a fuller look at what living with brass involves, read our guide to brass kitchen sink pros and cons.
Straight walls and sealed corners, from a 13 x 13 in bar size up to 21 x 21 in.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular bar sink size?
For our round brass bar sink, 12 inches inside is the most popular size. It handles stemware, shaker tins and pitchers and works as a small prep sink. Go to 10 inches to save counter space, or 8 inches for rinsing only.
Is a bar sink size measured inside or outside?
Our sizes are the inside of the basin, wall to wall, excluding the rim. The overall footprint is a little larger, so always check the actual sink before cutting your countertop.
Can a brass bar sink be installed undermount or drop-in?
The Tangier Brass Bar Sink can go either way. Undermount gives a clean edge you can wipe into, while drop-in shows off the hand-rolled rim and is often easier on wood counters.
What drain size does a brass bar sink use?
Our round bar sink comes with an unlacquered brass basket strainer for a standard 3-1/2 inch drain opening, the same size most kitchen sinks use. That makes plumbing parts easy to find.
How do I care for an unlacquered brass bar sink?
Rinse and wipe it dry after use and wash with mild soap. Avoid bleach and abrasive pads. The brass will deepen in color over time, and you can polish it back whenever you like. See our Care and Patina Guide and our step by step post on how to clean a brass sink.
Find the right bar sink for your space
Handmade brass and copper bar and prep sinks, hammered by artisans in Fes, Morocco.
Shop bar and prep sinks →In-stock sizes ship from New Jersey. Need a custom size? Contact us with your cutout measurements.