Vanity Sizes, Heights and Single vs Double Sinks

Most vanity decisions come down to a few dimensions: how wide, how deep, how high, and whether one or two sinks fit. Getting them right decides whether the bathroom feels comfortable or tight, whether the drawers clear the toilet, and whether the mirror and lights line up. This page covers common sizes and how to choose. The dimensions below are common manufacturing sizes and designer rules of thumb, not code requirements; code clearances are on our bathroom plumbing code page.

Common vanity widths

Stock and semi-custom vanities are made in a set of standard widths. Custom cabinetry can be any width.

Measure the wall, then subtract what has to stay clear: the toilet's side clearance, door trim, a window casing, a heating register and room for drawers to open past anything nearby. A vanity that fills a wall wall-to-wall needs filler strips at the ends so doors and drawers clear the walls.

Depth

A common bathroom vanity depth is about 21 inches, shallower than a kitchen base cabinet. Shallow vanities, often about 18 inches or less, are made for narrow rooms and powder baths. Deeper cabinets give more storage and a bigger sink but take floor space in front.

• The countertop overhangs the cabinet slightly, so the finished depth is a little more than the box.
• A deeper top pushes the faucet further back, so check that you can reach the handle comfortably.
• In a narrow room, depth matters more than width. A couple of inches of floor in front of the vanity changes how the whole room feels.

Height: standard vs comfort height

• Vessel sinks sit on top of the counter, so the rim ends up several inches higher than the counter. Pair a vessel sink with a lower cabinet, or the sink will be uncomfortably high. See bathroom sinks.
• Two heights in one room. In a primary bath with two users of very different heights, two separate vanities at two heights are an option.
• Seated use. For a wheelchair user or anyone who needs to sit, an open knee space under a lower counter matters more than cabinet storage. The ADA's accessibility dimensions can be used as a design reference in a private home, although they are not required there. See aging-in-place bathrooms.

When a double vanity fits

A double vanity works when two people use the sinks at the same time and there is room for both to stand and open drawers without bumping. A double vanity generally starts to make sense at about 60 inches wide, and is comfortable at 72 inches and more. Those are rules of thumb used by designers, not code.

• Sink spacing. A common designer rule of thumb is to keep the two sink centers at least about 30 inches apart, so two people can stand side by side. Wider is more comfortable.
• Counter between the sinks. A stretch of counter between the bowls gives each person a landing space and keeps splashes apart.
• Two vanities. Separate vanities on two walls, or split by a tower, give each person their own storage and allow different heights.
• One sink, long counter. In a room under about 60 inches of vanity wall, one sink with more counter and better drawers is usually the better plan.

In JDI Construction's published cost calculator, a double vanity is an add-on with a planning range of $3,000-$8,000, on top of the base bathroom range. That figure is a planning range, not a quote; see bathroom remodel cost in Vancouver, WA.

Lining up the mirror, lights and outlets

The vanity sets the grid for everything on the wall above it. Decide the vanity first, then place these.

• Mirror. A common designer choice is a mirror a little narrower than the vanity, centered on the sink (one mirror per sink on a double vanity). A recessed medicine cabinet needs a stud bay without plumbing, wiring or ductwork in it. See mirrors and medicine cabinets.
• Lights. As a designer rule of thumb, sconces on each side of the mirror at roughly face height light the face evenly; a single fixture goes above the mirror. Our bathroom lighting page covers fixture types and color.
• Outlets. Where a receptacle must be relative to the basin is set by the electrical code. Plan it before tile so it does not land in the middle of a backsplash. See the bathroom electrical code.
• Faucet and backsplash. A tall faucet or a full-height backsplash changes where the mirror bottom can sit. See bathroom faucets.

What to check before you buy

1. Wall width, minus clearances for the toilet, door, window trim and registers.
2. Finished depth including the countertop overhang, and the floor left in front.
3. Height with the sink type you chose, especially a vessel sink.
4. Drawer and door swing past the toilet, the door and any wall at the end.
5. Drain and supply heights against the cabinet's interior, especially for a floating vanity.
6. For a double vanity: width, sink spacing and counter between the bowls.
7. Where the mirror, lights and outlets will go relative to the sinks.

Who should choose which

• Powder rooms: 18 to 30 inches, often shallow, often floating.
• Hall baths shared by kids and guests: 36 to 48 inches, one sink, comfort height or standard height with a step stool.
• Primary baths for two people on the same schedule: 60 inches and up with two sinks, or two separate vanities.
• Tall households: comfort height or a floating vanity hung to suit.
• Anyone who sits at the sink: a lower counter with open knee space.

Our bathroom designer measures the room, draws the vanity to scale in the plan and checks every clearance before anything is ordered. For more on choosing the cabinet itself, see bathroom vanities, or start your project with bathroom remodeling in Vancouver, WA.