A Belfast sink changes the way a base unit needs to be built, which is why it needs its own Belfast sink unit, also called a butler sink unit or Belfast sink cabinet. The sink itself is deep, heavy and usually has an exposed front face, so the cabinet underneath has to be designed around it rather than the other way round. This article covers which sink sizes go with which units, how the worktop and cabinet front work together, what to think about with plumbing and waste, and what you need to measure before placing an order.
Classic Belfast Sink Base Unit with Door
Belfast Sink Base Unit with 2 Doors
Belfast Sink Base Unit with 1 Pan Drawer
Shown in Artino Smooth Matt. See all sink base units.
What Is a Belfast Sink Unit?
A Belfast sink base unit is a cabinet built specifically to take a ceramic Belfast or butler sink, rather than a standard inset or undermounted bowl. Because the sink is deeper than a typical stainless steel bowl and often sits with its front face visible, the cabinet carcase and front panel are constructed differently from an ordinary base unit.
The sink stands on the unit and the worktop is notched around it, rather than the sink being dropped into a hole in the worktop. The cabinet's job is mainly to support the weight of the sink and provide storage either side of or below it, while leaving room for the plumbing behind.
Which Belfast Sink Unit Do You Need: 600mm or 800mm?
Belfast sink base units are generally supplied in two main widths. A 600mm unit with a single door suits a single-bowl Belfast sink, and this is the more common size for smaller kitchens or where the sink is one part of a run of units. An 800mm double Belfast sink unit is used for double-bowl sinks.
The 800mm option is available with two doors, or with a single pan drawer, depending on how you want to access the space underneath. The pan drawer version is worth considering if you want to store pans or baking trays close to the sink, though bear in mind that some of that drawer depth will be reduced where the sink bowl sits above it.
- 600mm wide, single door - suits most standard single-bowl Belfast sinks
- 800mm wide, two doors - suits double-bowl Belfast sinks
- 800mm wide, one pan drawer - same width, different internal storage
What Depth Are Belfast Sink Base Units?
All of these units are built to a 570mm depth, the same as our standard base units. They only come in this depth, because the sink bowl and its pipework need the space.
If you are planning a kitchen layout around a Belfast sink, it is worth checking how the sink's own depth works with your worktop and any wall units above before you finalise the layout, because the front of the sink stands slightly ahead of the worktop edge.
Door or Drawer Front - Which Should You Choose?
The choice between a door front and a pan drawer under an 800mm Belfast sink unit comes down to what you want to store and how you use the space. A door front gives you an open cupboard, which some people prefer for bins, cleaning products or awkward-shaped items that do not sit well in a drawer.
A pan drawer gives you a pull-out tray, which can be easier to access than reaching into a cupboard, particularly if the unit is at the end of a run. The trade-off is that the usable drawer depth is reduced where the sink bowl intrudes into the cabinet space above it, so it will not have the same capacity as a pan drawer under a standard base unit.
There is no single correct answer here. It depends on what you are planning to keep in that cabinet and how the rest of your storage is arranged.
How Does the Worktop Sit Around a Belfast Sink?
Unlike a standard inset sink, a Belfast sink typically sits with its front face exposed below the worktop line, rather than being hidden entirely under the surface. The sink stands on the unit and the worktop is notched around it, overlapping the rim slightly at the sides and back, with the front of the sink standing just ahead of the worktop edge.
This means the worktop template needs to account for the sink's external dimensions, not just the bowl size. Getting this wrong is one of the more common mistakes with Belfast sink installations, because the sink is a fixed ceramic unit and cannot be trimmed or adjusted once it is made, unlike a worktop cut-out for some stainless steel sinks.
What Happens to the Cabinet Front Behind the Sink?
Because the Belfast sink's own front face is usually on show, the cabinet behind it often does not need a full-height door or drawer front in that position. Belfast sink base units have a shorter door or drawer front, with a small filler panel in the door colour above it, since the sink itself becomes the visible face of that section of the run.
This is worth checking carefully when you are matching styles across a kitchen. If you are fitting a Belfast sink into a run of units with a particular door style, the area around and below the sink will not carry a full door front in the same way the rest of the run does, so the overall look needs to be considered as part of the design rather than as an afterthought.
What Do You Need to Know About Plumbing and Waste?
Because a Belfast sink sits differently to a standard bowl, the waste and tap positions often need to be planned more carefully. The bowl is deep, so the waste outlet sits lower than it would with many standard sinks, and this can affect how the pipework runs behind the cabinet and through to the main drainage.
Tap position is another thing to think about early. Many Belfast sink installations use a single large bowl with no drainer built in, so taps are often wall-mounted or fitted into the worktop behind the sink rather than onto the sink itself, which has implications for both the worktop cut-out and the plumbing run.
As Better Kitchens supplies units rather than fitting them, it is worth discussing the exact plumbing layout with your plumber or kitchen fitter before the units are ordered, particularly if you are working with an existing waste run that was designed for a standard bowl.
What Should You Measure Before Ordering?
Getting the measurements right before you order is more important with a Belfast sink than with most other kitchen fittings, because the sink itself cannot be altered once it is made. Before ordering your base unit, it is worth measuring:
- The external width and depth of the sink itself, not just the bowl
- The height of the sink from its base to the top of the rim
- The position of the existing or planned waste outlet
- The clearance needed for the worktop thickness and any front edge detail
- The space available either side of the sink for the cabinet carcase
It is also worth double-checking the sink manufacturer's own fitting instructions, since Belfast sinks vary slightly between suppliers in terms of overall dimensions, even within similar bowl sizes.
How Many Styles Are Available?
Belfast sink base units are available in a reasonably wide range of door and drawer styles. The door and pan drawer versions are offered across 53 different styles, while the two-door 800mm version is available in 41 styles. This gives you a fair amount of choice when it comes to matching the unit to the rest of your kitchen, whether you are fitting a shaker-style door or something more contemporary.
If you are replacing just one unit in an existing kitchen, it is worth checking the exact style and finish against your current units before ordering, since even small differences in colour or panel detail can be noticeable once the new unit is fitted alongside older cabinetry.
Is a Belfast Sink Base Unit Right for Your Kitchen?
A Belfast sink suits kitchens where the look and practicality of a large, deep ceramic bowl matters more than maximising storage space in that section of the run. They are heavier and more rigid than many modern composite sinks, and the exposed front face gives a kitchen a particular look that some people want and others find less suited to their style.
If you are undecided, it is worth weighing up how you actually use your sink day to day. A Belfast sink is good for large pans and awkward items, but the reduced storage underneath and the slightly different plumbing arrangement are genuine trade-offs, not just a style choice.
Summary
- Belfast sink base units typically come in 600mm (single door) and 800mm (two doors or one pan drawer) widths
- All these units are built to a 570mm depth, the same as our standard base units
- The cabinet front is shorter than a standard door, since the sink's own front face is visible
- The worktop needs to be templated around the sink's external dimensions, not just the bowl
- Waste and tap positions often differ from a standard sink, so plumbing should be planned before ordering
- Measure the sink itself carefully before ordering the base unit, since Belfast sinks cannot be trimmed to fit
- Door and drawer versions are available in 53 styles, and the two-door version in 41 styles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a butler sink unit the same as a Belfast sink unit?
Belfast and butler sinks are similar deep ceramic sinks, so you will see the same kind of unit described both ways. Check your sink's measurements against the unit before you order.
Do you sell a 500mm Belfast sink base unit?
No. Our Belfast sink units are 600mm or 800mm wide.
What size base unit do I need for a Belfast sink?
Most single-bowl Belfast sinks fit a 600mm wide base unit. Double-bowl Belfast sinks use an 800mm unit.
Can a Belfast sink fit a standard base unit?
Not usually without modification. Belfast sink base units are the same 570mm depth as standard base units, but they are lower and have a shorter front to suit the sink's exposed front face, which a standard base unit is not designed for.
Do Belfast sink base units come with a pan drawer?
Yes, the 800mm width is available with either two doors or a single pan drawer. The drawer gives slightly reduced capacity where the sink bowl sits above it, compared with a pan drawer under a standard unit.
Are Belfast sink base units deeper than standard units?
No. They are 570mm deep, the same as our standard base units, and they only come in this depth.
Does the worktop sit over a Belfast sink or around it?
Around it. The worktop is notched around the sink and overlaps the rim slightly at the sides and back, leaving the front of the sink on show.
Do I need a different tap for a Belfast sink?
Many Belfast sink installations use a wall-mounted tap or a tap set into the worktop behind the sink, since the sink itself often has no built-in tap hole. This should be planned before the worktop is templated.
Why does the cabinet front look different under a Belfast sink?
Because the sink's own front face is usually exposed below the worktop, the cabinet has a shorter door or drawer front rather than a full-height one, since the sink itself becomes the visible surface in that section.
What should I measure before ordering a Belfast sink base unit?
Measure the sink's external width, depth and height, the position of the waste outlet, and the clearance needed for the worktop. Check these against the cabinet dimensions before ordering, since the sink itself cannot be adjusted.
How many style options are there for Belfast sink base units?
The door and pan drawer versions are available in 53 styles, and the two-door 800mm version in 41 styles, giving a range of options to match other cabinetry in the kitchen.
Does plumbing need to change for a Belfast sink?
Often, yes. The waste outlet sits lower due to the depth of the bowl, and tap arrangements can differ from a standard sink. It is worth discussing the exact layout with a plumber before ordering the units.
If you are planning a kitchen around a Belfast sink and want to check which base unit width, depth and style will suit your layout, Better Kitchens supplies a range of Belfast sink base units online on a supply-only basis. Get in touch with our team if you would like help confirming sizes or styles before you order.
Related guides: How to install a Belfast sink unit | Belfast sink options and sizes | Reduced depth kitchen units | Walk-in corner larder units
