On average nationwide, sink installation costs $206. That does not include the price of the new sink. For the new sink and installation, expect to pay around $400 total. How much you'll pay will depend the style of sink and whether or not you already have plumbing in place.
A new kitchen sink can change the whole look and functionality of your room. Add a three-foot wide, ceramic farmhouse sink to your kitchen and it goes from ho-hum to Pinterest-worthy. However, getting that look isn't as simple as clicking a 'buy-now' button. You also need someone to install it.
Fortunately, full-service plumbing companies sell and install sinks, though you can also buy one from a home improvement or kitchen and bath supply store, then a local plumber to install it. Before you hire a installer to upgrade your bathroom or kitchen sink, get an estimate on how much it will cost with this guide.
What affects the cost of sink installation?
How much you pay to install a bathroom or kitchen sink depends on the type, material, faucets, and whether or not it's a replacement or a new installation. Adding a garbage disposal to a kitchen sink will also raise costs.
Type of sink
The style you choose will affect the look and function of your room and the sink installation cost, because some styles are more complex to put in than others.
Below are the average costs for sink installation by type:
| Type of sink | Average installation cost |
| Drop-in | $150 |
| Vessel | $200 |
| Pedestal | $210 |
| Undermount | $230 |
| Farmhouse or apron | $240 |
Drop in sinks, as the name says, are dropped into a hole cut in the countertop, with a rim that runs around its edges. These are super easy to install.
Vessel sinks look like bowls that sit atop a cabinet and are popular in high-end bathrooms. They may be made of glass, copper, ceramic, or stone and are fairly easy to install.
Pedestal sinks stand on their own, without a countertop, atop a pedestal. They were popular in the early 20th century and they've made a comeback in recent years. Though it looks like the pedestal supports the sink, the wall behind it actually holds the sink's weight.
Undermounts are mounted below a countertop, so they appear to hang beneath the counter. Undermounts are heavy and need to be installed in a stone or concrete counter on a sturdy cabinet baseĀno laminate counters or MDF cabinets for this style. Installing undermounts is tricky, because the contractor will need to properly seal the edges to prevent leaks and make sure water drains properly.
These are all the rage right now for kitchen sinks, thanks to the contemporary farmhouse look popularized by Chip and Joanna Gaines. They have a vintage look, with a wide front panel that drops over the edge of the countertop. They're big and heavy, so they need specialized base cabinets and require an extensive installation job.
Sink material
The material you pick generally won't affect installation costs (unless you choose a heavy material like ceramic, copper, or cast iron) but it will impact your total remodel cost. Opt for a double basin copper sink with high-end faucets, and you can add thousands to the total cost of putting in that upgraded kitchen sink.
Below are the average prices of different sinks based on their material:
| Material | Description | Average price |
| Solid surface | Made of sheets of polyester and acrylic resins, they're often fabricated of the same material as the counter and molded into one solid piece for an integral look. Common in bathrooms. | $70 to $1,000 |
| Stainless steel | Simple, versatile, and affordable, stainless steel is the go-to for kitchen sinks because it's easy to clean, durable, and matches all those stainless steel appliances. Go with 18- to 20-gauge steel to get maximum durability and strength. | $100 to $800 |
| Composite | These are a manmade mix of quartz dust and resin molded into sink form that's durable, chip-resistant, stain-proof, and more affordable than solid stone. | $149 to $600 |
| Cast iron | An old-time favorite that have made a recent comeback, cast iron sinks are made of iron. They're heavy and hard to install because they need a counter and base cabinet that can support their bulk. | $190 to $2,400 |
| Granite and other solid stone | Gorgeous yet expensive, granite and other solid stones are durable. However, lighter colored stone like marble can stain. | $250 to $800 |
| Fireclay | Fireclay is a type of ceramic commonly used in a lot of farmhouse or other retro style sinks. It's scratch- and stain-resistant, but can be chipped. Ceramic/fireclay is very heavy and needs a counter and cabinet base that can support it. | $350 to $1,000 |
| Copper | Super-luxe and super pricey, copper brings high-end texture and color to your kitchen sink. They're durable, naturally antibiotic, and stain-resistant but also heavy, weighing as much as 50 pounds, and more difficult to install. | $395 to $3,250 |
Adding a garbage disposal to kitchen sinks
If you a garbage disposal to your kitchen sink, expect to pay $150 to $225 for the unit and $70 to $325 for installation, ringing up a total average cost of $255, nationwide.
Faucets
New bathroom or kitchen faucets will cost $115 on average nationwide for installation. The cost of faucets depends on the type you pick, with prices ranging from $100 for a basic, stainless steel, single-handle kitchen faucet to $1,200 for a high-end, two-handle bridge faucet with sprayer and a high, swan-necked arch.
If you're updating your faucets along with the sink, you'll need to pay the plumber to swap them out as well as buy new faucets.
Replacement vs. new sink installation
New sink installation in a place where there wasn't one before, like in a new home, room addition, or as part of a major remodel, is more complicated and expensive, since new plumbing has to be set up. Expect to pay $1,000-$3,500 for the plumber to pipes and tie them to the existing water lines.
A simple replacement will be more affordable, since all of the necessary plumbing is already in place. To cut down on costs, keep the new sink in the same spot as the old one.
Bathroom vs. kitchen sinks
Kitchen sinks usually cost more to install than bathroom sinks because they're bigger and need to be connected to more plumbing fixtures, like garbage disposals or spray nozzles.
Whether you change styles
Installing a different type of sink than your old one will increase the labor costs. Let's say you replace a single basin, stainless steel, drop-in sink with a double-basin farmhouse. You'll need to redo the counter and cabinets around the sink to make it fit. This drives up labor costs, and may require the work of a remodeling company or general contractor as well as a plumber.
Labor costs
Depending on what your remodel and new sink installation involves, you will also have to consider some or all of the following labor costs:
How can you find someone to install a new sink?
To make sure you hire the right person to install your new bathroom or kitchen sink, be sure to:
Whether you're upgrading an old kitchen sink that won't drain properly, or adding a second one to your bathroom as part of a remodel, a professional plumber can help make your home improvements easy. Find a local plumber or installer in your zip code on Thumbtack.