Kitchen Sink Replacement Cost in Singapore (2026): Labour, Sizes

Check the rim: a top-mount rim sits on the counter, an undermount sink hangs below it, and an integrated sink has no joint.

In most HDB kitchens the sink is a stainless steel top-mount. Undermount sinks are typical under quartz, granite and solid-surface tops. Some older ones are bonded with cement rather than clips, making removal slower and riskier for the countertop.

Switching from undermount to top-mount works when the new sink's listed cut-out fits the existing hole and its rim covers it, and it avoids recutting the stone.

Measure the hole in the countertop, not the old sink, and buy a sink whose listed cut-out size suits that hole.

1. Empty the cabinet and find the edge of the hole from underneath the counter.
2. Measure the hole's width and front-to-back depth in three places each; note the smallest and largest figures.
3. Check the new sink's cut-out template or spec sheet, not its overall size.
4. Make sure the listed cut-out fits the smallest figures and the rim overlaps the largest by about 12 mm.
5. Check where the tap hole is: on the sink or the counter, and on which side.
6. Check the bowl depth against the cabinet space, and the waste outlet against the existing pipe.

For example, a 780 × 480 mm top-mount sink might list a 738 × 450 mm cut-out.

A listed cut-out larger than your hole means enlarging the countertop first. If the rim won't cover the hole, choose a wider rim.

HDB publishes no standard kitchen sink size, so the right size depends on your own countertop and cut-out.

In recent BTO flats of 3 rooms and bigger, HDB's standard fittings don't include a kitchen sink. Sizes vary with each owner's renovation.

Most Singapore kitchen counters are about 600 mm deep, which fits a sink up to about 450 to 500 mm front to back. Single-bowl sinks sold in Singapore are commonly about 450 to 600 mm wide, or up to about 830 mm with a drainer. Bowls are usually about 190 to 250 mm deep.

Single or double bowl?

A single large bowl suits woks in a compact kitchen. A double sink under about 800 mm wide leaves each bowl too small for a wok.

Stainless steel or granite composite?

SUS304 (18/8) stainless steel is the usual grade. Its bowl sheet is typically about 1.0 to 1.5 mm thick; a "3 to 5 mm" claim usually refers to the rim. Granite composite resists scratches and heat, but light colours can stain from curry and turmeric.

A like-for-like top-mount swap typically takes 1 to 2 hours on site, plus time for the silicone to cure.

1. Turn off the water and disconnect the tap hoses.
2. Unscrew the bottle trap and waste, with a bowl underneath to catch water.
3. Cut the old silicone and release the clips, supporting an undermount sink from below.
4. Lift out the old sink and clean the countertop edge.
5. Dry-fit the new sink, then fit the tap and waste to it.
6. Lay a continuous bead of silicone, set the sink and tighten the clips.
7. Reconnect the hoses and trap, run the tap and check every joint underneath for drips.

Many wet-area silicones need about 24 hours before the joint can take water, so avoid soaking the bowl or splashing the rim for a day.

Should you change the tap, waste and trap at the same time?

Change what's worn, and reuse what's sound:

• Tap: reuse it if it works and its hole suits the new sink. Fitting a new one through the tap replacement service costs from $70 plus the tap; see the tap replacement cost guide.
• Hoses: replace old flexible hoses, a common source of leaks.
• Waste: a new sink usually needs its own strainer waste.
• Bottle trap: most HDB flats use a bottle trap under the kitchen sink, according to HDB: Sinks and wash basins. Reuse it unless it's cracked or misaligned.

If water drips after the swap, see leaking under the sink to find the faulty joint.

You need one when the countertop itself must change: an enlarged cut-out, an undermount or integrated sink, or a damaged cabinet.

• Laminate or solid-surface tops: a carpenter or solid-surface fabricator can enlarge the hole.
• Quartz, granite or sintered stone: a stone fabricator recuts the hole, because a wrong cut can crack the slab.
• Integrated sinks: the sink and that section of the top are replaced together.
• Soft or swollen cabinet base: a carpenter replaces the base panel before the new sink goes in.

If the cabinet swelled from a slow leak, have the leak traced first; SG QuickFix's leak repair service covers under-sink leaks.

Yes. HDB needs no permit to reposition a sink, but its conditions apply: the floor slab stays untouched and the pipework follows PUB rules.

Under HDB's plumbing works guidelines, a diverted sink waste pipe must not be embedded in the floor slab. It may run within the floor finishes, but HDB discourages concealed waste pipes because a poor job can leak into the flat below. Where the sink sits on a tiled concrete counter over 63 mm hollow walls, that counter slab, including finishes, should not exceed 50 mm.

A PUB Licensed Plumber must carry out the waste-pipe work and any supply-pipe extension, which is regulated water service work. Since 1 Apr 2018, it has been an offence to engage a plumber not licensed by PUB for regulated water service and sanitary plumbing works. Replacing floor tiles for the move needs an HDB permit. See which plumbing jobs need a PUB-licensed plumber.