24 Practical Outdoor Sink Ideas to Make Life Easier [Pics]
To upgrade your backyard’s design and convenience, you’ll need a few outdoor sink ideas. The life of a gardener, outdoor cook, or pet enthusiast is so much easier with this simple addition.
According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, outdoor sinks are considered one of the top renovation additions to an outdoor kitchen budget of $5,000 or more. An outdoor sink installation improves your:
- garden
- outdoor kitchen
- outdoor wet bar
Outdoor sinks come in a variety of materials, sizes, plumbing and style options. The final cost depends on all these details and will range between $100 – $2000+.
Which type of outdoor sink is going to suit you best? What style looks best in your backyard? Below you’ll find inspiration for outdoor kitchen sinks, rustic garden sinks, useful utility sinks, potting benches sinks, and more!
1. Rustic Outdoor Kitchen Sink
This brick outdoor kitchen is pure eye candy. Even though it’s not easy to find such a treasure, it’s worth the time and money spent!
The most common places for these finds are flea markets.
An outdoor sink in the picture above only has access to cold water. It’s a good choice if you’re prepping food inside, as well as washing and cleaning up after parties indoors.
If you need more convenience, adding a hot water line will help, though it’ll vastly increase the budget.
2. Traditional Outdoor Kitchen Sink
While the sink is usually not the focal point of an outdoor kitchen, it can still be a beautiful complement. This 304 stainless steel round outdoor sink is placed far from the grill and separated by a gap – by looking at the space, you know it’ll be comfortable to cook or work there.
That begs the question: how can you see convenience?
There are outdoor kitchen design principles called outdoor kitchen zones rules that specify which appliance should be next to which. The rules say the wet zone (sink) should be separated from the hot zone (grill) with the dry zone (countertop space).
As you can see in the design above, all these rules have been implemented.
3. Outdoor Sink With a Pull-Down Sprayer
This outdoor sink is pretty wide for a single basin sink and has a faucet with a pull-down sprayer. This feature almost seems like a luxury outdoors, doesn’t it?
The important elements in this picture are the cabinet doors below the sink. They hide plumbing, but also give access to it for repairs and winterizing (and hiding detergent).
The most ideal cabinets should be made out of waterproof materials to avoid rotting or mold, such as HDPE outdoor cabinets.
It’s funny to me that the main lighting of this outdoor kitchen area is right above the sink (you can immediately see the last job to be done before calling it a night). Hopefully, they have a portable outdoor lamp for their grill, too.
4. Along the Fence Rustic Outdoor Sink
This beautiful granite outdoor sink is based in one of the Austrian gardens. It composes so well with the brick wall, it gives the impression it was there for a hundred years.
What I really enjoy about this set-up is the faucet and the brick composition around it. This timeless look is simple, yet marvelous. If you have (or can build) a brick wall, this is one of the best outdoor sink ideas for you.
5. Mediterranean Rustic Outdoor Sinks
If rustic is your style of choice, getting inspired by original Italian sinks is the way to go. Both sinks in the pictures are made out of marble, but are far from fancy and polished.
Both of them look approachable and inviting. Each of the sinks runs only cold water – for plenty of backyards, that’ll be more than enough.
What are the advantages of going with super-simple solutions? The plumbing is super simple and inexpensive. You can use a bucket under the sink or a dry well (just don’t wash any food in it, as food particles in the dry well will smell terribly later).
The variety in sizes here is interesting, too. While the first one can be used for plenty of jobs, including washing clothes, the second one has enough space for hands and tiny pots. Size matters, so pick one that suits your needs best.
6. Double-Duty: Planting or Food Prep
Outdoor kitchen sink ideas can be expensive additions to the house, so make the most out of it! Your sink can easily do double duty as a potting bench or food prep station.
What are advantages? First of all, you don’t have to pay a penny more for this function. Second of all, the height is super comfortable for your back. Thirdly, this outdoor kitchen sink is made out of high-quality materials that won’t get ruined with soil and water.
The disadvantages? Well, you have to clean after yourself, so using the basin as a soil container is not the best idea. It might also be difficult to store potting accessories in one of the cabinets, as they’re usually full of cooking pots and pans.
What is crucial is picking proper stainless steel. Although there are plenty of types, not all do well outdoors.
If you want your sink to last more than five years, remember to buy a 304 stainless-steel. It is resistant to corrosion.
To check if your sink is 304, try to stick a magnet to it. If it doesn’t stick, you’ve got 304 stainless steel.
Stainless steel may be a dependable and easy-to-clean material for the outdoors, but it has its flaws. It reflects light easily, which can be annoying when you’re trying to cook or clean. It’s also easy to scratch and make a dent.
If you want to consider an alternative, try hammered brush nickel texture for your stainless steel sink. It’s easier to maintain and doesn’t show new dents and scratches daily. It also looks so much more interesting!
7. Rustic Outdoor Sink Ideas: Copper
Copper is an excellent material for a rustic outdoor sink. It ages with grace and looks so unique!
Since it’s a non-standard material, you’re unlikely to find one in any of your neighbors’ backyards. Copper sinks are pretty subtle, but catch the eye with their shine. They look lovely on both dark and light backgrounds.
It looks best with a complementary faucet, too.
8. Rustic Wooden Bowl Outdoor Sink
Wood isn’t a standard material for an outdoor sink. It can create an impressive statement piece, though.
If you’re into the rustic aging of wood, its appearance won’t be an issue. Oiling it from time to time will increase the longevity of the sink and improve its look as well. You’ll know it’s time to oil it up when the wood starts losing its color.
Silver detailing complements the wood very well, so if you’re going to pick this design, it’s worth adding a stainless steel faucet.
What’s amazing to me is how a wooden sink can complement a variety of outdoor kitchen staples, such as a stone countertop.
9. Wooden Trough Outdoor Sink
This outdoor sink is truly unique (and a fern wall only emphasizes its beauty). It also serves so many needs as the faucet is distant enough from the sink to allow filling a watering can or even cleaning a small dog!
This kind of sink looks especially nice if you have other wooden elements, like the wooden mantel of an outdoor fireplace, rustic wooden furniture, or an old-fashioned house exterior.
10. Plant Bark Outdoor Sink
This sink is in Thailand, consisting of an emptied wood log, ceramic basin, and stainless steel faucet. As you can see in the picture, it is based close to a very simple wooden dining area.
What makes this sink stand out are the plants enveloping it. With lush green leaves and flowers in the background, the rather rough structure looks even more natural. If you’re planning to place your outdoor kitchen sink ideas in a wild garden, try this on for size!
11. Stone Outdoor Sink Ideas
A stone is a natural material, so it’s a natural choice for the outdoors. Unfortunately, not all of them are a great choice for your outdoor kitchen sink ideas.
The sink in the picture is from a public park in Thailand. The finishes on it make it truly unique. It’s also easy to see how stone visually changes with water exposure and time.
Choosing a solution made of granite or quartz is ideal (though soapstone and slate are good options, too). Some stones stain easily, like basaltina, sandstone, and marble.
Check out my guide if you need some inspiration on choosing stone for your outdoor kitchen.
12. Luxurious Ceramic Outdoor Sink
The ceramic bowl may seem an unusual choice for an outdoor sink, but look at how well it composes with a dark granite countertop. This faucet and bowl combination is modern, minimalistic, and luxurious at the same time.
Not only do I like the high contrast of the bowl, faucet, and countertop, but the difference in how these materials reflect light.
13. Spanish Outdoor Sink
Do you need inspiration for a Spanish-style house? Take a look at this beauty.
It consists out of two parts – the clay sink and the wall board. It’s a pretty clever idea, as the set protects the wall from spraying. It’s also incredibly eye-catching.
As the size is limited, this outdoor kitchen sink may work best for washing hands.
14. Outdoor Sink Ideas: a Wine Barrel
A wine barrel can become a very handsome outdoor sink. Just look at the one above – the faucet is simple, while the sink itself is a most basic round basin.
This is a design that creates plenty of opportunities. The first benefit is enjoying a construction that becomes your backyard’s statement piece.
The second is you can use a variety of plumbing options. Since these outdoor kitchen sink ideas aren’t permanently attached to the ground, no permit is needed to create it.
The plumbing type depends on the way you’re going to use the barrel. If you’re willing to use it as an indoor sink, you’ll have to connect it to the septic system or make it a self-contained lift station. Adding connections to lines can get pricey or even impossible.
A self-contained lift station is a solution to this problem that doesn’t require permits. It’ll still be movable, too!
Another nice option is to implement the barrel under the sink bucket. Cutting doors in the barrel will make this move possible (and make the plumbing cost the lowest it can be).
The last thing you can add to your barrel is a dry well (also known as a French drain). It may require a permit, though, and will limit the use of your sink to washing your hands or garden produce. If that’s all you need, a dry well is an excellent choice with little to no maintenance.
Need to learn more about maintaining your outdoor kitchen sink? Check out my outdoor sink plumbing compendium.
15. Japanese Garden
Isn’t this Japanese-style composition simply perfect? A granite sink is unique, especially with a proper faucet or a bamboo pipe!
I love how textures of all the elements vary – even the pole keeping the pipe in place is interesting (the way the pipe is knotted to the pole is also neat).
This is a perfect solution for a minimalist backyard or a Japanese-style garden.
16. A Fish-Faucet
A faucet is an element that gives your sink extra character. In the picture above, you can see a simple basin, neutral wall, and a fish-faucet with a unique handle.
This picture was taken in Romania. Hunting for such treasures on flea markets can really pay off.
This intriguing faucet is a solution if you don’t want to add anything over-the-top to your backyard, but still want some personality to your space.
17. Low-key Potting Station
If you’re looking for a simple solution to improve your gardening, these outdoor sink ideas are charming inspiration. It not only works as a potting station, but as a utility sink or space for dishwashing.
What’s crucial for a potting bench is a countertop on the side of a sink. Without a working space, this area would instead be a utility sink.
With such a big tank for water, it’s super-comfy and convenient to use. If you’re unsure how long a project like this could take you, check out my guide on timespans for building an outdoor kitchen.
18. Potting Bench With a Metal Tub
A potting bench is an amazing solution for a backyard since you can wash veggies as well as clean your hands and pots.
It’s a super convenient option that can be upgraded with storage and created in various budgets and styles.
As you can see, not every outdoor sink needs to be connected to plumbing. A tub under the sink is useful for potting benches, as you can use the basin as a soil container during planting.
19. Potting Bench With Double Basin
Potting benches bring gardening to a whole ‘nother convenience level. These outdoor sink ideas are simple, but have so much function if you’re an avid gardener.
The countertop is made from stainless steel to keep it super durable (which is important when working with soil). The two basins are spaces not only for soil, but also compost or plant parts.
If you wish to create a space like this for yourself, check out the Setting For Four Interiors tutorial.
20. Simple Patio Island Sink
A single basin sink is an excellent solution for any patio (unless you cook a lot and need a more advanced solution). It allows you to wash your hands, prep food, and clean pans and pots.
This one is so basic, it can fit in most backyards.
To make a sink comfortable, you need to have free countertop space around it. It should be at least 18″ on both sides. If you don’t figure out space requirements early, you’re more likely to need a remodel in the future.
Check out my handy guide to learn more about the ins and outs of outdoor kitchen counters and height.
21. Outdoor Utility Sink Potting Bench Mix
A sink and a chair create enough space to perform a lot of functions. Since it’s mounted low, it’s also easy to cover up some of your backyard behind plants in pots or a wall.
You don’t need visitors knowing everything about your backyard, do you?
An outdoor utility sink is an all-in-one option for handy jobs, gardening, cleaning animals, and even cooking. Utility sinks are distinguished by:
- lower mounting height, so it is easier to put heavy objects in
- greater depth to accommodate bigger objects
A utility sink is a versatile solution that can suit most of the needs pretty well. The only concern here is cooking: if the sink is mounted low, it may not work best here.
22. Outdoor Sink Station With a Mirror
A sink with a mirror is a rare combination to see in a garden. First of all, sometimes you simply want to see how you look and be able to clean not only your hands, but your face with water.
Second of all, mirrors do miracles to spaces not only inside of the house but outside as well. You can check your clothes for dirt stains or see if your summer tan is coming in.
What differs in this composition from the mirror in your powder room are the outdoor materials. Even though it’s not finished in marble, a flower pot on the counter or nearby bushes make the space as inviting as can be.
23. Outdoor Patio Sink
Like with any location, a patio sink comes with a few challenges, too. First of all, this kind of sink needs to suit overall patio or be separated.
Second, connecting a drain to a septic tank is not the cheapest plumbing option available, but often the most wanted. It enables not only cleaning your hands, but scrubbing off greasy grill crates and dishes.
The overall design of the picture above is pretty simple, but the sink is a really interesting element of it. It has an irregular shape, texture, and an intriguing faucet. It doesn’t scream ‘look at me’, but when you do, it looks amazing.
Take the look at what is under it – a storage box for detergent that also hides plumbing behind it. Clever!
24. Outdoor Sink for a Wet Bar
An outdoor bar without a sink is a nice area, but misses out on functionality. Access to water makes preparing drinks easier and enables cleaning glasses.
For this purpose, a 15″ sink is big enough (though the width can be reduced a little to 13″). A double basin sink is simply too much for the area.
Most often, wet bar sinks have only cold water access. They can be equipped with a filtering system, that makes serving and prepping so much easier!
There are many solutions for hosts who like to entertain, and a simple sink is not the only option. Have you heard about bar centers? These are ready-to-use modules that can give you features of a sink and are equipped with ice storage bin, removable condiment trays, bottle shelf, and more.
Such a solution takes more space – about 30″ of a counter width – but organizes the space. This one I’d recommend if you entertain company a lot.
Top 3 Factors to Consider When Budgeting Outdoor Sink Ideas
The prices of the two options vary a lot. A simple, small outdoor sink with a faucet can cost as little as $150. Compare this to a bar center, which can cost $1,000+.
Below are the top factors to take into account when putting yours together.
Outdoor Sink Materials
Some materials are pricier than others – however, some materials are longer-lasting, too! Balancing quality and price is easier when you use mainstays like:
- Outdoor-friendly stone like quartz or granite
- Treated wood
- 304 stainless steel
Functional Accessories
If you plan on doing a lot of cooking, cleaning, or gardening, you’ll need a few accessories to supplement your sink. Useful choices that may bump up your budget a little include:
- Shelves
- Stools
- Chairs
Plumbing
Do you plan on attaching your outdoor sink ideas to plumbing? Unless you have years of plumbing experience, you’ll need to hire a professional.
A plumber can cost between $45 to $150 per hour– it’s worth it to get the job done right!
Now that you have some outdoor kitchen sink ideas, you can learn even more ways of customizing your outdoor kitchen! Check out these articles:
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