Double Vanity Upgrade: Layouts, Sizes, Costs

The standard double vanity is 60 inches wide, with 72 inches the next most common size and 48 inches the practical minimum. Two sinks can usually share the existing wall drain, so most upgrades don't need new rough in plumbing. Double sink vanities with the top included run 48 to 104 inches wide and start at about $1,020 with the Manarola 48.

Two sinks was the only thing on the list for this primary bath remodel, and the owner had already measured the wall at 62 inches, which I appreciated. He'd also read somewhere that a double needed two drains, and he had a plumber's estimate for $1,400 to open the wall and add one.

The second drain is the expensive myth in this job, and I believed it too until I'd seen enough drain heights come back on worksheets. Most doubles share one wall drain with two traps, and the wall never opens. Miss that detail and the plumbing estimate alone can run more than the vanity.

A 60 inch double is the standard, it fits a 62 inch wall, and two sinks can usually share the drain that's already there. Here's the layout, the sizes, and what it really costs.

Standard double vanity size

A standard double vanity is 60 inches wide, 20 to 22 inches deep, and 34 to 36 inches tall with the countertop. The two sinks sit about 30 inches apart on center. 72 inches is the next standard width and puts the sinks about 36 inches apart. 48 inches is the minimum that fits two usable sinks.

Those widths come from the sink spacing rules, not from cabinet manufacturing. The NKBA bathroom planning guidelines recommend 36 inches between sink centerlines with 30 inches as the code minimum, and 20 inches from a sink center to a side wall with 15 inches as the minimum. Add those up and 60 inches is the narrowest cabinet that meets every minimum.

What's on the market follows the same pattern. The widest choice is at 60 inches, then 72, with fewer options at 48, 55 and 84 inches and a handful of 80, 92 and 104 inch models with built in linen towers. Use the Sink Quantity filter for double sinks, then narrow by width.

• 48 inches: sinks about 24 inches apart. Fits a 50 inch wall. Tight for two adults, fine for a kids' bath.
• 55 to 60 inches: sinks 28 to 30 inches apart. The standard primary bath size. Fits a 62 inch wall.
• 72 inches: sinks about 36 inches apart with 12 to 18 inches of counter between them. The comfortable size.
• 84 inches and up: room for a center tower or a makeup area between the sinks.

Will a double vanity fit your bathroom

You need a straight wall at least 2 inches wider than the vanity, 30 inches of clear floor in front of it, and a drain and supply that land inside the cabinet. Measure the wall at counter height, note the door swing and the toilet, and check that the existing drain is within 12 inches of the new cabinet center.

Wall width. A 60 inch vanity wants a 62 inch wall so the end drawers clear the trim. A 72 inch vanity wants 74 inches. If the wall is 56 inches, a 55 inch model like the Lugano 55 or Sintra 55 fits where a 60 will not.

Clearance in front. The NKBA recommends 30 inches from the counter edge to the nearest fixture or wall, with 21 inches as the code minimum. Two people standing side by side need the full 30.

The toilet next door. Code requires 15 inches from the toilet center to the side of the vanity, and the NKBA recommends 18. A 72 inch vanity on an 8 foot wall leaves 24 inches for the toilet, which doesn't work, and I've had to talk a few people down from the 72 for exactly this reason. A 60 inch vanity leaves 36, which does.

Depth. A 22 inch deep vanity across from a door leaves 3 feet in a 5 foot wide bathroom. Floating models at 20 inches deep buy back 2 inches. The floating vs freestanding guide compares depth and install work.

Plumbing for two sinks: one drain or two

Two sinks can share one wall drain, and most single to double upgrades do exactly that. Either each sink gets its own P-trap and the two trap arms join under the cabinet before entering the wall, or both sinks run to one trap through a continuous waste. New construction usually gives each sink its own drain and vent instead.

Option 1: one wall drain, two traps. Each sink gets a P-trap. The trap arms run toward the center and join at a sanitary tee that connects to the existing wall drain. This is the usual retrofit and needs no wall work when the drain is near the cabinet center. Keep the trap arms short and sloped 1/4 inch per foot.

Option 2: one wall drain, one trap. A continuous waste connects both sink tailpieces to a single P-trap. The Uniform Plumbing Code allows one trap for up to three lavatories when the outlets are no more than 30 inches apart, per the IAPMO code spotlight on UPC 1001.2. That covers a 48 or 60 inch vanity. Sinks on a 72 inch vanity are about 36 inches apart, so they need two traps.

Option 3: two wall drains. Each sink gets its own drain stub and trap, usually sharing one vent. This is the cleanest install and the standard for new work. In a remodel it means opening the wall, cutting into the drain stack and adding a vented branch, which is plumber work at $45 to $200 per hour.

Water supply. Tee the existing hot and cold stubs inside the cabinet and run four braided lines, or add two more stops while the wall is open. One pair of stubs serves both sinks on a 60 inch cabinet.

Where the existing drain sits. A drain centered on the old single vanity is almost never centered on the new double, so measure where it is before you pick a cabinet. If it lands under one sink, run that sink straight to it and bring the second sink's trap arm across. If it lands under a drawer stack, the vanity plumbing alignment guide covers notching drawers and moving the trap.

What a double vanity costs

Double sink vanities with the top and sinks included start at about $1,020 with the Manarola 48, and most sell between $1,900 and $2,900. Installation adds $200 to $1,000 for a straight swap. Adding a second drain in the wall adds $400 to $2,000 in plumbing. A typical all in upgrade lands between $2,500 and $5,000.

Starting prices by width:

• 48 inches: from $1,020 (Manarola 48 wall mounted, quartz top).
• 55 inches: from $1,540 (Ronda 55 wall mounted).
• 60 inches: from $1,200 (Manarola 60 wall mounted) with most between $1,900 and $2,400.
• 72 inches: from $1,430 (Manarola 72 wall mounted) with most between $2,200 and $2,900.
• 84 inches: from $2,630.

The median double vanity is about $2,370 for floating and $2,460 for freestanding. Marble tops, solid wood boxes and fluted doors push the top of the range. Shipping is free on nearly every model.

Labor. This Old House puts professional vanity installation at $200 to $1,000 and plumbers at $45 to $200 per hour. HomeAdvisor lists plumbing line installation for a new vanity at $400 to $2,000, averaging $1,000, and removal of the old vanity at $115 to $500. Parts for the second sink add $150 to $500.

Browse double sink floating vanities and double sink freestanding vanities, filtered by width and countertop material.

Looking for a 1500 vanity? That is 59 inches

A 1500 vanity is a 1500 millimeter wide vanity, which is 59.1 inches. The US size is 60 inches, or 1524 millimeters, and that half inch doesn't matter in practice. If you searched 1500 vanity expecting a price, which happens more than you'd think, KBF also has a guide to vanities under $1,500 with the countertop included.

Metric vanity sizing is standard in Australia, the UK and much of Europe, where 600, 900, 1200, 1500 and 1800 millimeter cabinets are the common steps. The US equivalents are 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 inches.

The nearest matches to 1500 millimeters are the 60 inch double sink models, the 55 inch models such as the Ronda 55 (1397 millimeters) and the Fiona 63 inch wall mounted vanity at 1600 millimeters. A 60 inch vanity needs a 62 inch wall, or 1575 millimeters. If the wall was framed for a 1500 cabinet with 25 millimeters of play, a 55 inch model is the safer order.

Layouts, mirrors and storage

Pick the layout by how the two people use the room. Side by side sinks with a shared counter suit 60 inch cabinets. Sinks pushed to the ends with a makeup or storage zone between them suit 72 inches and up. Freestanding gives the most drawers. Floating gives open floor and the easiest cleaning, with a little less storage.

Mirrors. Use one wide mirror the full counter width, or two mirrors each no wider than its sink section. Two round mirrors over a 60 inch vanity should be 24 to 28 inches across. Sconces between the mirrors light faces better than one bar above.

Storage. A 60 inch freestanding double with two door bays and a center drawer stack holds the most. A 72 inch floating double with four wide drawers holds nearly as much and keeps the floor clear. The vanity storage guide compares the layouts.

Tops. Reinforced acrylic integrated tops are the lightest and easiest to clean. Quartz and sintered stone with undermount sinks look custom and resist heat. Natural marble needs sealing twice a year.

For contractors and designers

Spec the sink centerlines, the drain and vent plan and the blocking before the vanity is ordered. Hold 36 inches between sink centers, 20 inches from each center to a side wall, and 30 inches clear in front. Rough drains at 18 inches and supplies at 20 to 21 inches. Floating doubles need continuous blocking across the full width.

Dimensions. Per the NKBA guidelines: 36 inches between lavatory centerlines recommended, 30 inches code minimum; 20 inches from centerline to wall recommended, 15 inches minimum; 30 inches clear in front recommended, 21 inches minimum; lavatory height 32 to 43 inches. Fixr gives the drain rough in at 18 inches minimum and supplies 20 to 21 inches, with 32 inches standard and 36 inches comfort cabinet height.

Drain and vent. One trap for two lavatories is allowed under UPC 1001.2 when the outlets are within 30 inches and the fixtures are adjacent in the same room. Beyond 30 inches, each lavatory needs its own trap. Two traps can tie into one branch if it is sized and vented for two fixture units. Confirm local amendments, since some jurisdictions require separate traps regardless.

Floating doubles. A 72 inch wall mounted cabinet with a stone top and two full sinks can exceed 250 pounds. Install 2x8 blocking between every stud across the full width at the rail height, flush to the stud face, and fasten with structural screws into every bay. Confirm the drain exits above the cabinet bottom with clearance for two trap arms.

Accessibility. Where one lavatory must be accessible, the U.S. Access Board requires a 34 inch maximum rim height, 27 inch knee clearance, 17 to 25 inches of knee and toe depth, a 30 by 48 inch clear floor space and protected pipes. A floating double at 34 inches with an open underside on one side meets this without a custom cabinet.

Commercial restrooms. Double vanities cut wait times in hotels, gyms and coworking restrooms. Spec PVC or plywood boxes, integrated acrylic or quartz tops and soft close hardware. 60 inches suits offices and retail, 72 inches suits hospitality. Freestanding units install fastest.

The 62 inch wall got a 60 inch double with one drain and two traps. The $1,400 line came off the estimate, the wall stayed closed, and the vanity went in on a Saturday.

Frequently asked questions

Call 657-279-8130 or visit the KBF showroom in Anaheim, CA. We ship to the lower 48 states.