Countertop basins: how to choose and install a vessel basin

A countertop basin (in Italian lavabo da appoggio) sits on top of a vanity, shelf or worktop instead of being fixed to the wall or sunk into the surface. It is one of the most popular choices in new bathrooms because it looks like a piece of furniture and gives you a lot of freedom with shapes and colours. Here is how to choose one and what to plan before you order.

Pros and cons at a glance

• Design freedom: round, oval, square or rectangular bowls, in white or coloured ceramic, on almost any top you like.
• Easy to replace: the basin is not built into the wall, so changing it later is simpler than with an inset model.
• Usable surface: the top around the basin gives you space for soap and everyday items.
• The catch: the bowl adds height, so the top must be lower than for a wall-hung basin, and the tap must be chosen to match. You also have to clean around the base where the ceramic meets the top.

1. Get the height right

This is the most common mistake. A countertop basin is usually around 15 cm tall, so if you put it on a top at standard height, the rim ends up too high. Italian design guides suggest a finished rim height of around 80–85 cm from the floor, which means the top typically sits at about 70 cm. Taller users may prefer more; shorter users less. Basins come in different heights (for example the FORM range is offered in H15 versions), so check the technical drawing of your chosen model and subtract its height from the rim height you want.

2. Choose the tap before the basin

With a countertop basin the tap has to reach over the rim and into the bowl. You have three options:

• Basin with a tap hole: the mixer is fitted directly on the ceramic. See basins with tap hole.
• Tall mixer on the top: a raised mixer fitted to the worktop next to the basin. The spout must be long and high enough to reach the centre of the bowl.
• Wall-mounted tap: the cleanest look, and the top stays free. Plan it before tiling, because the pipework goes in the wall. See basins without tap hole.

Some models, such as the NUR Washbasin 60cm x 40cm, are available both with one tap hole and without, so you can decide once you have chosen the tap.

3. Size the basin and the top

• Top length: a useful rule of thumb is a top about twice as long as the basin, so you have space on the sides.
• Space around: plan at least 60 cm free in front of the basin and about 20 cm at each side to move comfortably.
• Small bathrooms: look at compact bowls of 35–45 cm, such as the UNICA Washbasin Round 40 or the HIDE Washbasin Circle.

4. Plan the drain and siphon

Alice countertop basins are supplied on their own: tap, drain and siphon are not included. Many designer basins have no overflow, so you need a matching waste. Our guide to basin overflows and which waste to choose explains the difference. Two colour-matched options are the Up and Down Ceramic Drain (click-clack) and the Free Flow Ceramic Drain. Under an open shelf the siphon is on show, so the Round Syphon in chrome or matt black is worth considering.

5. Installation basics

1. Fix the top or vanity securely and check it is level.
2. Mark and cut the hole for the waste (and for the tap, if it goes on the top), following the basin's technical drawing.
3. Fit the waste to the basin, then seat the basin on the top with a bead of sanitary silicone.
4. Let the silicone cure as its maker recommends, then connect the siphon to the wall drain and the tap to the water supply, and check for leaks.

Every model has its own technical drawing with hole positions and heights. Ask us with the product code and we will send it.

Watch it done

If you are fitting it yourself, it helps to see the steps first. Browse countertop basin installation videos on YouTube.

Shop countertop basins

• All countertop basins: HIDE, NUR, FORM, UNICA, SPY and more
• Freestanding basins, if you would rather have no top at all
• Semi-inset basins, a middle ground between countertop and inset

Looking for colour ideas? See modern bathroom ideas with Italian ceramics.

Recommended products

HIDE Washbasin Circle

NUR Washbasin 60cm x 40cm

UNICA Washbasin Round 40

Round Syphon for Washbasins

Sources and further reading

• Arredamento.it: choosing a countertop basin (in Italian)
• Arredamento.it: bathroom basin heights and space (in Italian)