Wash Basins — Types, Mounting and Sizes
A wash basin is the fixed hand-washing bowl plumbed into a bathroom or cloakroom — what a plumbing schedule calls a lavatory. The types differ in how they carry their own weight, and that is what decides what has to be built behind the wall.
Types of wash basin
- Wall-hung — Bracketed straight onto the wall with nothing underneath. Keeps the floor clear, which makes a small bathroom read larger and much easier to mop — but the wall has to be strong enough, and the trap is visible unless boxed in.
- Pedestal — The basin sits on a ceramic column that hides the trap and supply pipes and carries part of the weight. Forgiving of a weak wall, and still the most widely ordered type across our export markets.
- Half-pedestal — A shroud that covers the pipework without reaching the floor. The visual tidiness of a pedestal with the clear floor of a wall-hung basin.
- Table-top / counter-top — A bowl that sits on top of a counter or vanity. Nothing structural is required of the wall, and the counter gives usable surface either side. The most specified type in new residential work.
- Under-counter — Set beneath the worktop with the counter material forming the rim. The cleanest line and the easiest counter to wipe down, but it needs an accurately cut aperture.
- Corner basin — Triangular, for cloakrooms too tight for anything else.
Typical sizes
| Type | Width | Depth | Rim height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full pedestal basin | 550-650 mm | 430-500 mm | 780-850 mm |
| Wall-hung basin | 450-600 mm | 380-450 mm | 800-850 mm |
| Table-top bowl | 380-500 mm | 380-450 mm | Counter + 120-160 mm |
| Under-counter basin | 480-560 mm | 350-420 mm | Set by counter |
| Cloakroom / corner | 350-450 mm | 280-350 mm | 800-850 mm |
Frequently asked questions
What is a wash basin?
The fixed bowl plumbed into a bathroom or cloakroom for washing hands and face. Plumbing schedules often call it a lavatory, which is a frequent source of confusion because in everyday American usage lavatory means the whole room.
What is the difference between a sink and a wash basin?
A wash basin is for personal washing and lives in a bathroom; a sink is for dishes, food preparation or cleaning and lives in a kitchen or utility room. Sinks are usually deeper, made of steel or composite, and have a larger waste.
Which basin type suits a small bathroom?
A wall-hung basin, because removing the pedestal or cabinet base leaves the floor visible and makes the room read larger. Pair it with a wall-mounted tap to save further depth, and box in the trap if the exposed pipework bothers you.
What is a table-top wash basin?
A bowl that sits on top of a counter or vanity rather than being recessed into it. Nothing structural is asked of the wall, the counter provides surface either side, and the bowl itself becomes a visible design element.
Request the wash basin range
Tell us the mounting types you stock and we will send the range with dimensions and container pricing.
Browse the full range
Buying Guides
- Tile Buying Guide
- Full Body vs GVT Tiles
- Step & Riser Tiles Guide
- GVT vs PGVT
- Tile Size Guide
- Laminate Guide
- Porcelain vs Ceramic Tiles
- What Are Vitrified Tiles
- Types of Tiles
- Tile Thickness Guide
- Glossy vs Matte Tiles
- How to Clean Tile Floors
- How to Remove Tile Stains
- How to Fix Cracked Tiles
- How to Clean Marble Floors
- Bathroom Size Guide
- Powder Room Guide