Best Kitchen Sink in Australia

Why Your Kitchen Sink Choice Matters

The kitchen sink is used more than almost any other fixture in an Australian home — studies suggest households interact with the kitchen sink 20 to 30 times per day. Yet it's routinely the last thing homeowners think about during a renovation, often chosen as an afterthought once the benchtop and cabinetry decisions are already locked in.

That's a mistake. The wrong sink — wrong size, wrong mounting style, or wrong material for your water conditions — will frustrate you every single day. The right sink, on the other hand, quietly makes everything easier: draining vegetables, filling pots, rinsing boards, washing hands. It should work seamlessly with your benchtop, your tapware, and the way you actually cook.

Australia is fortunate to have some of the world's best kitchen sink manufacturers — most notably Oliveri, whose Apollo and Sonetto ranges have been built right here in Australia for decades. This guide takes you through everything you need to know, with real products and prices from our range at 2 Magpies.

Sink Types: Undermount, Topmount & Flush

Topmount (Drop-In)

The most traditional Australian installation. The sink has an exposed rim that sits on top of the benchtop and drops in from above. Easy to install and replace without special benchtop preparation. The rim is visible and can trap food and moisture if not properly siliconed. Works with all benchtop materials including laminate — making it the choice for budget renovations and laundry installs.

Undermount

The current preference in mid-to-high-end Australian kitchen renovations. The sink is clipped to the underside of the benchtop, leaving a seamless surface with no rim. Crumbs and liquids can be swept straight into the bowl — a genuine hygiene improvement. Requires a solid benchtop (stone, timber, or Corian) to provide the necessary support and a clean edge. Most of the Oliveri Apollo range offers this option.

Flush / Universal

Some sinks — including much of the Oliveri Sonetto range — are designed for flush or universal installation, sitting level with the benchtop surface for an almost invisible transition. A popular choice in contemporary flat-pack kitchen builds.

Materials: Stainless Steel vs Granite Composite

Stainless Steel — The Australian Benchmark

Stainless steel has dominated Australian kitchens for generations, and for good reason. It's hygienic, heat-resistant, non-porous, and easy to clean. Two specifications matter most:

• Grade: Standard Australian kitchen sinks use 304-grade stainless steel (18% chromium, 8% nickel). It resists corrosion well for inland homes. For coastal properties within a kilometre or two of salt air, consider 316-grade steel (like the Oliveri Essente 316 Mixer) which adds molybdenum for superior chloride resistance.
• Gauge (thickness): Thicker is better. Quality Australian-made sinks like the Oliveri Apollo use 1.2mm (roughly 18-gauge) steel. Cheaper imported sinks often use 0.8mm, which dents more easily and amplifies noise with every dropped spoon.

A quality stainless kitchen sink also features a Sound Deadener coating — a rubberised undercoating applied to the bowl base that reduces reverberation and condensation. Oliveri fits this as standard across their Apollo and Sonetto ranges.

Granite Composite — The Coloured Sink Revolution

Composite granite sinks are made from approximately 80% crushed granite bonded with high-quality acrylic resin. The result is extremely hard — resistant to scratching, chipping, and thermal shock. They're non-porous, so they don't harbour bacteria, and they naturally dampen sound far better than stainless. Most importantly, they're beautiful.

The dominant colour in the Australian market is matte black, which works with stone benchtops, engineered marble, and concrete finishes. Oliveri's Italian-made Santorini range and Modern National's European-made Como, Ria, and Dello series are the standout options in this category.

Oliveri Kitchen Sinks — The Australian Standard

Oliveri is one of Australia's most trusted kitchen sink brands, with a manufacturing history stretching back to the 1950s. Their Apollo and Sonetto stainless steel ranges are made in Australia from 304-grade, 1.2mm brushed stainless steel and fitted with a Sound Deadener coating as standard. Their Santorini composite granite range is made in Italy. Browse the full Oliveri range at 2 Magpies.

Modern National — Style Meets Value

Modern National has built a strong following in Australia by offering design-forward kitchen sinks at competitive prices. While their stainless steel sinks use the same 304 grade 1.2mm construction as competitors, their real point of difference is finish variety: select stainless steel models come in Gun Metal, Light Gold, and Copper via a durable PVD coating — an option virtually no other kitchen sink brand offers at this price.

Their granite composite range — the Como, Ria, Dello, and Cremona — is made in Europe and offers a slightly different aesthetic to the Oliveri Santorini: a flatter, more contemporary profile that suits modern minimalist kitchens.

Single Bowl vs Double Bowl: Which Is Right for You?

This is the question we get most often. Here's the honest answer:

Choose a single bowl if:

• You have a dishwasher and rarely hand-wash full loads of dishes
• You frequently fill large stockpots, trays, or baking sheets
• Your benchtop run is under 600mm
• You want to maximise usable bowl depth — single bowls are typically deeper

Choose a double bowl if:

• You hand-wash frequently and want to soak in one bowl while rinsing in another
• You do a lot of fresh vegetable preparation and want a dedicated rinsing side
• You have children who need a dedicated hand-washing bowl separate from food prep
• Your benchtop has the run to support a wider sink (typically 900mm+ cabinet)

If you can't decide, a 1½ or 1¾ bowl is often the best of both worlds — a full main bowl with a smaller secondary bowl for prep or rinsing. The Modern National 1½ Bowl and Oliveri Apollo 1¾ Offset Bowl are popular choices in this configuration.

Pairing Your Sink with the Right Mixer Tap

A kitchen sink is only half the equation — the tap you pair it with dramatically affects both the look and the function. Here are three pairing ideas:

Black Granite Sink + Gun Metal or Matte Black Mixer

A matte black or gun metal mixer tap is the natural partner for a black granite composite sink. The Linkware Gabe Mixer in Gun Metal or a Modern National tap in Matte Black tie the look together beautifully.

Stainless Sink + Brushed Stainless or Chrome Mixer

Stainless steel sinks pair naturally with a brushed stainless or polished chrome mixer. The Linkware Elle Swivel Mixer in Brushed Stainless is a seamless match. For a practical upgrade, the Elle Pullout Mixer adds pull-out functionality that makes rinsing large pots far easier.

Coloured PVD Sink + Matching PVD Mixer

If you've chosen one of Modern National's Gun Metal or Light Gold PVD sinks, match the finish in your mixer. The Modern National Montpellier Pullout Mixer in Brushed Nickel coordinates well with the Light Gold sink finish for a refined warm-toned palette.

Browse our full range of pull-out kitchen mixer taps or explore the Modern National Montpellier tapware collection to find a finish that ties your whole kitchen together.

Quick Comparison: Top Kitchen Sinks at 2 Magpies

Buying Tips: Sizes, Gauges & WELS Ratings

Confirm Your Cabinet Opening First

The most common renovation mistake is ordering a sink before confirming the cabinet opening. Undermount sinks require the stone or timber benchtop to be pre-cut to the exact dimensions. Get the sink model confirmed before your benchtop is templated — many stone masons charge for re-cuts.

Steel Gauge Matters More Than Price

A 1.2mm (18-gauge) bowl will resist denting and sound dramatically better than a 0.8mm imported sink. The Oliveri Apollo and Sonetto ranges hold 1.2mm as a standard spec. When comparing sinks, always check the spec sheet, not just the price.

Sound Deadener Is Worth Having

The rubberised bitumen-based undercoating applied to quality Australian sinks significantly reduces reverberation. It also prevents condensation from dripping into your cabinetry. Oliveri fits SoundTech™ as standard. If a stainless sink spec sheet doesn't mention a sound deadener, it probably doesn't have one.

Taphole Count

Check how many tapholes the sink is pre-drilled with. Most Australian kitchen sinks come with one taphole — for a mixer tap — but some come with two (for separate hot/cold or for a water filter tap). The Linkware Elle 3-Way Filter Mixer uses a single taphole and provides a dedicated outlet for a filtered water line.

Warranties

Australian kitchen sinks from reputable brands carry two warranties: a short parts-and-labour warranty (typically 1 year) and a longer replacement warranty on the finish and construction. Oliveri offers up to 25 years on their Apollo range. Modern National offers 1 year parts/labour and 15 years replacement. These warranties are only valid for products purchased through authorised Australian retailers — another reason to buy from 2 Magpies.

Shop Kitchen Sinks at 2 Magpies

2 Magpies is an Australian online retailer specialising in premium kitchen and bathroom products with fast, nationwide delivery. We stock the full Oliveri range including Apollo, Sonetto, Santorini, Diaz, and Endeavour, as well as Modern National's stainless and granite composite range. Explore our Stainless Steel Kitchen Sinks collection, browse pull-out kitchen mixer taps to complete your renovation, or shop kitchen sink wastes and accessories to finish the job.