Bathroom basins buying guide
A bathroom basin is the fixture you wash at, and the choice has three parts that depend on each other: how it mounts, where the tap goes, and what it is made from. This page holds basins in ceramic, fine fire clay, concrete, stone composite and solid surface, in round, oval, rectangular, square, pill and arch shapes, for above counter, inset, semi-recessed, undermount, wall hung and freestanding fitting. The guide follows the order most people decide in: the mounting type first, then the tap holes and the waste, then shape, material, size and finish. Where two basins of the same shape differ on a detail such as the overflow or the plug and waste, the line to check before you order is flagged in the sections below.
Types of bathroom basin
The mounting type decides how the bench or wall is prepared, so it is the first choice to settle. The six types sit differently in the room and ask different things of the vanity.
Above counter basins sit on top of the bench, so the whole bowl is visible and the bench does not need a cut-out. They suit a bench that is already finished or a top that cannot be cut, and they make the basin the feature of the vanity. The trade-off is height: the bowl adds to the bench height, so pair it with a tall mixer that clears the rim. The above counter basins on this page have no tap hole, so the tapware mounts on the bench behind the bowl or on the wall.
Inset basins drop into a cut-out in the bench and rest on a rim, so the bench stays level with the bowl edge. An inset basin is simpler to fit than an undermount and works with more bench materials. Tap holes vary: the inset range includes basins with no tap hole, with one tap hole for a basin mixer and with three for a three-piece set. With no ledge beneath the rim and no overhang, the surface around an inset bowl wipes clean in one pass.
Semi-recessed basins sit partly into the vanity and project past the front edge of the bench. That saves space and gives more usable bench area, because the part that overhangs the vanity is bowl, not bench. They also suit a shallow vanity, where a full above counter bowl would stand too far forward. Check the basin's width and depth against the cabinet depth before you order.
Undermount basins are fixed beneath the bench, so the bench surface runs unbroken and leaves more usable counter. They suit a stone or timber bench, and because the edge sits under the top, there is no rim for water to collect on. That is why they are the usual call for a family or main bathroom where practicality matters. Undermount basins here have no tap hole and suit bench mounted or wall mounted tapware.
Wall hung basins fix to the wall and leave the floor clear below, which suits a compact powder room or ensuite and makes the floor easier to clean. They also give more room to reach the basin and the mirror, which helps wheelchair users, and the assisted living basins page covers that need. A wall hung basin offers little counter space, so plan extra storage nearby. Wall hung basins come both ways on tap holes: some have none and suit wall mounted tapware, others have one for a mixer on the basin, and the Luna shelf wall basin comes with none or one. A wall hung basin hangs its weight on the wall, so the wall needs support, which the installation section below covers.
Freestanding basins stand on the floor and do not need a vanity. The Caroma Contura II freestanding basin is 900mm high, 530mm long and 380mm out from the wall, which is the figure to compare with the space you have.
Tap holes and mixers
The tap hole count decides which tapware fits. A basin with no tap hole takes a mixer fixed to the bench or a wall mounted spout. A basin with one tap hole takes a basin mixer on the bowl. A basin with three takes a three-piece set, the older arrangement with a spout in the middle and a handle on either side. Because most above counter and undermount basins here have no tap hole at all, the tap position is set by the bench or the wall, not the basin, so decide the tapware before the bench is cut or the wall is lined.
Spout height and reach matter as much as the hole. Match them to the basin type to prevent splashing: an above counter bowl raises the rim, so it takes a taller mixer than an inset basin does, and a spout that is too short will drop water on the rim instead of in the bowl. See basin mixers, bathroom basin taps and three-piece bathroom taps once the basin is chosen.
Overflow, plug and waste
Check whether the basin has an overflow. Some are non-overflow only, which means a plain waste with no overflow hole in the bowl, and others have an overflow included. The ADP Miranda under counter basin has an overflow, the Bao Pill above counter basin is non-overflow only, and the Clark basins have an integrated overflow. The overflow is built into the basin, so it cannot be added later, and the plug and waste has to match it.
The plug and waste is where basins differ most. Caroma basins come with a plug and waste, in flush fitting chrome or colour matched ceramic pop-up form. Clark basins include a chrome pop-up plug and waste. ADP, Fienza, Bao, Otti, Eight Quarters and Kaskade basins usually have the plug and waste sold separately, which lets you match the finish to the tapware but adds a second item to the order. Waste sizes are 32mm on several concrete and stone basins and 40mm on the Caroma Contura II basins, so a replacement waste has to match the size of the one it replaces. Check the plug and waste on every basin before you order, because the same shape can come either way.
A few fitting details are worth knowing. A ceramic basin uses a thin foam washer under the waste neck, sealed with neutral cure silicone, and the waste is tightened by hand only, because over-tightening stresses the basin. A removable plug has a rubber seal and an O-ring that must be in place. A waste that will not hold water is usually debris, a plug that is not locked in, or silicone missing under the waste rim. See basin wastes for the matching fittings.
Basin shapes
Shape sets how the basin reads on the vanity and how much bench it takes, and the sizes show the difference. Round basins start from 390mm across, such as the Eight Quarters concrete circle. Oval basins and pill shaped basins, which are an elongated oval, run longer and narrower: the Bao Pill is 500mm long and 370mm wide, the Kaskade oval stone basin is 500mm by 350mm and the Fienza Jada pill is 600mm by 280mm. Rectangular basins and square basins have straight edges that line up with a straight-edged vanity. The range also has fluted and arch shaped basins. Choose the shape the bench can carry with room left for the mixer.
Materials
Ceramic is the material most basins here use, with a glazed surface that is smooth and stain resistant. Ceramic basins include fine fire clay, which the Caroma Liano II basins use for more resistance to impact. A scratch in glazed ceramic cannot be repaired or removed, so use a soft cloth and a weak, non-abrasive detergent, and dry spills. Concrete basins have a textured surface and need sealing from time to time. Solid surface basins and stone basins come in solid surface, stone and stone composite, and solid surface and stone resin are durable. Solid surface takes a soft damp cloth and mild detergent, with a non-abrasive polish for gloss finishes and a scourer pad for matte ones.
Basin size
The spec line gives the length, width, overall height and, for an above counter basin, the height above the bench. These figures show how basin shapes use space. The Eight Quarters 390mm concrete circle is 125mm high and holds 10.2 litres. The Fienza Jada concrete pill is 600mm long and 280mm wide, 120mm high and holds 12.3 litres. The Caroma Contura II above counter basin is 530mm long and 360mm wide, 175mm high and holds 9.2 litres. A basin that is too large overwhelms the space and one that is too small is not functional, so measure the bench, leave room for the mixer and consider the bowl depth for a shared family bathroom. For small rooms, the small hand basins page lists the compact sizes.
Colour and finish
White is the base of the range, in gloss and in matte. Matte finishes, organic shapes and earthy tones are the current direction, and the range includes matte white, black, grey and green basins, with sage and blush in concrete. Keep the basin finish consistent with the tapware and accessories, so settle the basin colour before the metal finish of the mixer.
Brands on this page
The basins come from several makers, and what is in the box differs. Caroma basins mostly include a plug and waste. ADP basins cover ceramic, concrete, stone composite and solid surface in many shapes. Fienza basins are mostly concrete, and Otti basins include fluted forms. Timberline basins and Turner Hastings basins are ceramic, Clark basins are ceramic in round and square shapes with an integrated overflow, Kaskade stone basins are stone composite, and Eight Quarters basins are concrete, terrazzo and ceramic. The Bao basins are ceramic.
How to choose a basin
- Match the mounting type to the vanity or wall: an inset or above counter basin to a finished bench, an undermount to stone or timber, a wall hung basin to a wall that can carry it.
- Read the tap hole line and choose tapware to suit, since most basins here have none and the bench or wall sets the tap position.
- Check the overflow and the plug and waste before you order, because they differ between basins of the same shape.
- Check the length, width and height against the bench and the space around it, including room for the mixer.
- Choose the material for how the bathroom is used, and keep the finish consistent with the tapware.
- Arrange a licensed plumber for the water connections.
Completing the vanity area
The basin is easiest to choose once the vanity and tapware direction are set. See bathroom vanities for the cabinet and bench, and basin mixers and basin wastes for the fittings that complete the basin.
