Black basins buying guide
A black basin gives a bathroom a strong, dark focal point, and it comes in more forms than one finish. This page holds black basins from Caroma, ADP, Eight Quarters, Otti, Turner Hastings and Timberline: matte black glazed ceramic, black concrete, black terrazzo and a two-tone basin that is black outside and white inside. Most are above counter, with under counter, inset and wall hung options. The guide below covers the finishes, how to care for them, the sizes, and the tap hole and waste lines to read.
The finishes
Matte black on a ceramic basin is a glaze. The Caroma Liano II comes in matte black across round and pill shapes and as a hand wall basin. The Otti range includes the Quay oval, the Oxford and Archie fluted basins and the Artis O'96 oval. The Turner Hastings Narva and Agres under counter basins come in matte black. ADP offers the Margot round and the Stadium rectangle in matte black, and Timberline offers the Allure round and the Myrtle pill in black.
Concrete and terrazzo are different materials. The ADP Norma and Jean concrete basins come in black, and the Eight Quarters concrete circle comes in charcoal. The Eight Quarters terrazzo basins in Naples have a black base with black chips for a textured, monochromatic look, and each basin has its own pattern and may vary from the one pictured. For a concrete basin the black is the colour of the material itself, and photos may not match the real colour, so order a sample if the shade matters. The two-tone ADP Margot Duo is matte black on the outside and white inside. See concrete basins for the material's care rules.
Caring for a black basin
Care depends on the material. For ceramic, wipe the basin with a soft cloth and a weak non-abrasive detergent and dry any spills, because a scratch in glazed ceramic cannot be repaired. Limescale has nothing to do with a fixture's colour, since black and white fixtures share the same characteristics, and the way to prevent it is to dry the surface after use and clean regularly to remove soap residue. Skip bleach and abrasive scrubbers, which can dull a glaze. For a black concrete basin, keep hot liquids and sharp objects off the surface.
Matching the tapware to a black basin
Matte black tapware gives a consistent look, while brushed nickel, gunmetal or brass adds contrast. Choose the tapware early, because the tap height and spout reach have to suit the basin. Matte black gives strong contrast against white ceramics and pairs with dark or warm timber, and it shows water marks and soap residue more than a brushed finish. Gunmetal is more forgiving with water marks, soap scum and fingerprints, and it works as a neutral beside a black basin.
Keep the finishes consistent across the room. Match the basin mixer, the shower mixer, the towel rails, the toilet roll holder and the flush button. Mixed metals, such as gunmetal taps with brushed brass handles, are a growing trend but hard to carry off. For a black basin, the choice is between a mixer that matches it and a mixer that contrasts with it on purpose. Either works. See black taps and basin mixers.
The tap height still has to suit the basin, whichever finish you choose. Most black basins on this page are above counter basins with no tap hole, so the mixer is a tall bench mixer or a wall mixer, and the spout has to clear the raised rim and reach the centre of the bowl. Check that clearance before the bench is drilled and not after.
Bowl volumes of the black basins
Most of the black basins have a published bowl volume, and the figures help compare shapes that look similar. The Caroma Liano II matte black basins hold 9.7 litres for the 400mm round above counter basin and 7.5 litres for the 400mm round inset. The 530mm pill holds 11.9 litres above counter and 10.3 litres as an inset basin, the 580mm pill under or over counter basin holds 6.7 litres, and the hand wall basin holds 2.7 litres. The ADP Stadium holds 10 litres, the ADP Jean concrete 8.5 litres, and the ADP Norma concrete 10.5 litres. The Eight Quarters terrazzo Mini Pod in Naples holds 7.5 litres, and its 390mm circle and the 390mm concrete circle in charcoal both hold 10.2 litres.
A listed capacity can be measured to the rim or to the overflow, so compare like with like when you compare two bowls. The Liano II 440mm round under or over counter basin lists 4.9 litres without an overflow figure and a larger capacity on the overflow version, which shows how much the measuring point changes the number. If two figures appear for one basin, ask which one is the rim volume. See round basins and oval basins for the shapes.
Black concrete and terrazzo: what the colour is and how to look after it
On the concrete and terrazzo basins, black is not a coating. The ADP Norma and Jean concrete basins and the Eight Quarters concrete circle come in black or charcoal, and the colour belongs to the material. That has two consequences. The finish varies from the sample, so order a sample if the shade matters. And the surface carries small marks by nature, with pinprick holes a natural feature of glass fibre reinforced concrete. The Eight Quarters terrazzo basins in Naples have a black base with black chips, and each basin has its own pattern.
The care rules for concrete are not the rules for a glazed black basin, and they conflict with them in one place. A concrete basin is porous unless it is sealed, so the sealer is what makes it watertight and stain resistant. Use only a pH neutral cleaner, such as mild washing-up liquid on a soft microfibre cloth, rinse after use and dry the surface to avoid water spots. Avoid bleach, ammonia, abrasive scrubs, steel wool and scourers, and avoid acids such as vinegar, wine and soda, because acids can etch the surface and corrode the sealant. Vinegar is a routine limescale cleaner on a glazed ceramic basin, so the same product is right on one material and wrong on the other. Check which material the basin is before you clean it.
Heat and light matter on concrete as well. Avoid rapid temperature changes such as boiling water, because thermal cracking is possible, and avoid excessive localised heat, including very hot hair straighteners on the surface. Direct sunlight can slowly discolour concrete, which matters on a dark finish beside a window. A concrete basin cracks only under a strong, forceful impact, much as ceramic does, and a chip is usually repairable by resealing or patching.
How often to reseal depends on the basin. The Eight Quarters basins are pre-sealed and take a wax polish every six months, and for the ADP concrete basins ask us for the schedule that applies to the basin you buy. When you fit a concrete basin, do not use epoxy resin as the sealant, let the sealant cure for at least 30 minutes before the supply lines are connected, and keep acidic cleansers, wire brushes and abrasive cleansers away from it. See concrete basins for the full set of care rules.
Weight is the last difference. A wall hung vanity and its stud frame must support a concrete basin, and floating units use heavy steel brackets fixed to the wall studs. The black concrete basins on this page have no listed weight, so ask us for it before the fixing is designed.
Mounting types in black
Most black basins on this page are above counter basins, which sit on the bench and take a tall mixer or a wall mixer. There are also under counter basins from Turner Hastings and Caroma, inset basins in the Caroma Liano II, and the Liano II hand wall basin for a wall hung layout. Wall hung basins need fixing to a support beam fitted between the studs, with noggins added before the wall is sheeted.
Basin sizes
The Timberline Allure is a 360mm round and the ADP Margot is 360mm across and 130mm high. The ADP Stadium is 465mm by 325mm and 130mm high with a 10 litre bowl, and the Timberline Myrtle is a 550mm by 360mm pill. The Otti Quay is 500mm by 340mm and 120mm high. The Caroma Liano II comes as a 400mm round, a 440mm round and 530mm and 580mm pills, and the hand wall basin is 530mm by 280mm. The Turner Hastings Mini Agres is 440mm by 260mm, the Standard Agres is 543mm by 340mm and the Narva pill is 570mm by 390mm. The Eight Quarters circle is 390mm by 390mm and 125mm high. For compact sizes, see small hand basins, and for shapes see round and fluted basins.
Tap holes, overflow and waste
Nearly every black basin on this page has no tap hole, so the mixer mounts on the bench or the wall. The Caroma Liano II hand wall basin has one tap hole. For black tapware to match, see black taps, basin mixers and basin wastes. Most of these basins are non-overflow only. The Caroma Liano II basins include a matching ceramic pop-up plug and waste, and the Eight Quarters terrazzo includes a matching terrazzo pop-up. The ADP, Otti and Timberline basins are sold with the plug and waste separate: for ADP choose a black waste or one that matches the tapware, and the Timberline Allure basin pairs with a black basin waste. A ceramic basin's waste is tightened by hand only, with a foam washer sealed with neutral cure silicone, and water connections need a licensed plumber.
Brands on this page
Browse Caroma basins, ADP basins, Otti basins, Timberline basins, Turner Hastings basins and Eight Quarters for the full ranges.
How to choose
- Choose the material first: matte black ceramic for a glazed surface, black concrete or terrazzo for a textured one.
- Read the care instructions for that material, since the advice differs.
- Check the tap hole line and plan the tapware finish to match.
- Read the overflow and plug and waste lines, because they differ between makers.
- Check the length, width and height against the bench.
- Check the bowl volume of the basin you choose, and ask us which figure applies if two are given.
The bathroom basins page sets black basins beside the other colours and types.
