Updated October 2026
I'm Clare, and I'll let you in on a little secret: I sell drainboard sinks, but I don't have one in my own kitchen. That doesn't mean they aren't wonderful. It means they're wonderful for the right person, and I'd love to help you work out whether that's you.
The short answer: a farmhouse sink with a built-in drainboard is perfect if you hand-wash a lot, love a true vintage look, or are restoring an older home. It's also brilliant in a laundry room. The trade-off is a smaller bowl and less counter space. Choose fireclay for the authentic look, and put the drainboard on the side you naturally work toward.
What Is a Drainboard Sink?
A drainboard sink has a ribbed, gently sloped surface built into the sink itself, right beside the bowl. You set wet dishes on it, and the water runs straight back into the sink instead of pooling on your counter. Drainboards were standard in kitchens a hundred years ago, long before dishwashers, which is why they instantly say "vintage."
Who a Drainboard Sink Is Right For
- People who hand-wash a lot. If you wash pots, glassware or delicate pieces by hand every day, a built-in place to drain them is a real luxury.
- Vintage purists. If you're restoring an older home, a drainboard sink is about as authentic as it gets.
- Laundry rooms and mudrooms. More on this below, but this might be where drainboards shine brightest.
Clare's tip: I'll be honest: I don't love drainboards in most kitchens. They take up valuable real estate and leave you with a smaller sink. But if you hand-wash a lot, I can absolutely see why you'd want one, and nothing else gives you that true vintage look.
Know the Trade-Offs Before You Buy
A drainboard has to come from somewhere, and it usually comes from the bowl. The Nantucket 36" Italian farmhouse sink has a 24" bowl, and even the grand Whitehaus 42" Heritage sink has a 22" bowl. That's smaller than many 30" single bowl farmhouse sinks.
- Counter space: the drainboard sits where you might otherwise have counter to work on.
- Cabinet space: the whole sink, drainboard and all, needs a farmhouse sink base cabinet. The Whitehaus 42" needs a cabinet at least 45" wide, so you don't gain storage underneath to make up for the smaller bowl.
- Weight: these are big pieces of fireclay. The Nantucket weighs about 109 pounds, so your cabinet needs to be built to support it.
Clare's tip: Look at the underside of a drainboard sink before you decide. I couldn't see how it would leave you any useful space under the counter to make up for the smaller sink. Go in with your eyes open, and you'll love it for what it is.
Put the Drainboard on the Right Side
Think about how you move at the sink. You wash, then you reach to set things down to drain. For most right-handed people, that natural movement is to the right. If you're left-handed, it may be the other way around. Also think about where your dishwasher sits, if you have one.
Some drainboard sinks have the drainboard on one fixed side, so check before you order. The Whitehaus 42" Heritage, with its high back, has its drainboard on the left. Others are reversible, so you can install them with the drainboard on whichever side suits you. The Nantucket 36" Italian sink and the Whitehaus 36" Farmhaus Quatro can both be installed either way, which is why you'll see photos of them with the drainboard on the left and on the right. The Quatro also comes in several colors, from matte white to cement and blue.
Clare's tip: I recommend the drainboard on the right for right-handed people. It's a natural movement from the sink to the drainer.
Love the Vintage Cast Iron Look? Here's Why I'd Choose Fireclay
Many people searching for a drainboard sink picture an old enameled cast iron sink, salvaged from a farmhouse. I understand the appeal, but I'd steer you toward fireclay instead:
- The same classic look. Glossy white fireclay gives you that timeless vintage style.
- New, not salvaged. You get a sink with a perfect finish and a warranty, instead of a salvage-yard gamble.
- A hard, non-porous glaze. Fireclay is fired at extremely high temperatures, so the surface resists stains and is easy to keep clean.
- Warmer dishwater. Cast iron is metal, and it pulls the heat out of water fast. Fireclay holds on to that warmth much better.
Clare's tip: When I renovated my 1908 house, I put in a cast iron clawfoot tub. We were relocating the bathroom door anyway, which left a big hole in the wall, or it never would have fit, and now it can never leave that room! I loved that tub, but cast iron pulls all the heat out of the water. My hot bath was cold before I was ready to get out. For me, the only drainboard sink that makes sense is one with that vintage look, and that means fireclay.
Don't Forget the Laundry Room
A drainboard sink is a dream in a laundry room or mudroom. You can soak and hand-wash delicates, then leave them on the drainboard to drip. You can rinse muddy boots, water plants, or arrange flowers. The Whitehaus 42" Heritage, with its high back to protect the wall from splashes, has a real vintage utility charm that's perfect for the job. Browse our laundry and utility sinks.
Clare's tip: In the laundry room, a drainboard makes total sense!
Want Drying Space Without Giving Up Your Sink? Try a Workstation Sink
If you like the idea of a place to drain dishes but don't want to give up bowl size, consider a workstation sink. It has a ledge built into the bowl, where a drying rack, cutting board and colander can sit. When you need the whole sink, you simply lift the rack off.
Clare's tip: I prefer the drying rack on my workstation sink to a drainboard. I can remove it whenever I need to use more of the sink.
The Alfi 32" fireclay workstation sink comes with a drying rack, a bamboo cutting board and a bottom grid, and the Nantucket 30" matte black workstation apron sink brings the same idea to a farmhouse sink. Browse all our workstation sinks.
Our Picks
Browse all our fireclay sinks, workstation sinks and laundry and utility sinks.
Common Questions
What is a drainboard on a sink for?
It's a ribbed, sloped surface built into the sink where you can set washed dishes to dry. The water runs back into the bowl, so you don't need a drying rack on the counter.
Which side should the drainboard be on?
Put it on the side you naturally reach toward after washing. For most right-handed people, that's the right. Check which side the drainboard is on before you order, or choose a reversible sink.
Do drainboard sinks need a special cabinet?
They need a farmhouse sink base cabinet wide enough for the whole sink, drainboard included, and built to support its weight. Have the sink on hand before your cabinets and counters are made.
Is fireclay or cast iron better for a drainboard sink?
I recommend fireclay. It gives you the same classic look, with a hard, non-porous glaze, and you get a new sink instead of a salvaged one. Cast iron also pulls heat out of water quickly.
Are drainboard sinks good for laundry rooms?
Yes, they're ideal. A drainboard gives you a place to drip-dry hand-washed delicates, rinse boots, or work with plants and flowers.
Not sure a drainboard is right for you? Call me at 1-800-359-4460. Tell me how you cook and clean, and I'll give you my honest opinion.
