The third time my plumber came by to fix my kitchen disposal—and the third time he discovered the problem was tiny pieces of grit and gravel jamming the flywheel—he asked me if I was using the sink to pot plants.
“Doesn’t everybody?” I asked.
“There’s a thing called a utility sink,” he said, enunciating each syllable of “u-ti-li-ty” very clearly because he was after all dealing with someone who was a repeat gravel abuser. “In the long run, it might be more economical for you to install one outdoors.”
A work sink—whether for garden, garage, or potting shed—doesn’t have to be expensive, my plumber pointed out. You can mount a simple steel sink in a work table, you can power it with a garden hose, you can even rig up a DIY sink by putting a bucket on a table beneath a garden tap. Or. You can get a deluxe, shiny, freestanding stainless steel scullery sink that weighs a hundred or more pounds, and has multiple bowls.
Whether your budget for a garden utility sink is “high” or “low,” the sink should have a few key features: a deep bowl for pots and planters, a weather-resistant finish, and (if it’s freestanding) adjustable feet so it sits level on uneven surfaces.
Here are 10 of our favorite stainless steel utility sinks—including freestanding, undermount, and drop-in styles—to fit any budget:
Above: Photograph by Michelle Slatalla.
Freestanding
Above: With built-in adjusters to make it sit level on any surface, a 21-inch Stainless Steel Utility Sink can withstand wet conditions in a garage or utility room. Rust- and corrosion-resistant, it is available in six finishes including brushed nickel as shown; faucet not included, $549.95 at Signature Hardware.
Above: A heavy duty Freestanding Utility Sink from Whitehaus weighs 58.5 pounds and has a commercial-grade premium stainless finish to resist corrosion. It has easy-to-adjust legs with reinforced supports; $1,534.99 from Vintage Tub & Bath.
Above: From Elkay, a stainless steel Sturdibilt Scullery Sink has two 14-inch deep bowls and can be customized with two or four faucet holes. The heavy duty sink weighs 104 pounds and is $3,472.
Above: A compact Gridmann stainless steel Commercial Utility Sink is 23.5 inches wide and constructed of 18 gauge stainless steel. It has adjustable feet and a metal backsplash; $229.99 from Amazon.
Drop In
Above: Made in the US from commercial grade stainless steel, a 24-inch-deep Sink With Faucet measures 27.5 inches by 10.25 inches; $559.99 from BBQ Guys.
Above: Blanco’s stainless steel Essential Laundry Sink has a 12-inch bowl depth and brushed satin finish; $381.86 from Amazon.
Above: A 12-inch-deep Drop-In Sink With Faucet Edge from Elkay has a 21-by-15.75-inch bowl is $526 from Grainger.
Above: From Moen, a 24-inch stainless steel Utility Sink with a 7-inch-deep bowl is $190.98 from Build.
Undermount
Above: Kohler’s undermount Undertone Utility Sink measures 23 by 17.5 inches and has a bowl 11 5/8 inches deep.
Above: Elkay’s undermount stainless steel Laundry Sink has a 10-inch-deep bowl and is available in a bright satin finish as shown. It is $757.35 from AJ Madison.
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