Kitchen Sinks
Alternatives to Elkay kitchen sinks
Elkay built the standard American drop-in. Matching it is straightforward; beating it on gauge and damping is cheaper than you would think.
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How we assessed these: we compared published manufacturer specifications for the named model numbers, read from each maker's own product page and linked at every figure. We have not installed or tested these sinks and we do not own them. No independent laboratory publishes comparable wear, chip or noise testing for domestic kitchen sinks, so no such figure appears anywhere on this page.
Short answer
The closest alternative to an Elkay kitchen sink is the Kraus Premier KTM100-33: like Elkay's Lustertone Classic ILR3322R it is an 18 gauge Type 304 stainless drop-in on the standard 33 by 22 inch footprint, and it ships with a cut-out template. The best upgrade is the Kraus KHT300-33, which puts TRU16 gauge steel and a 10 inch bowl into the same cutout. If your plumbing is tight, the KWT310-33/5.5 ADA is the one that still fits.
Elkay is on this page because it effectively set the dimensions everyone else works to. Its Lustertone Classic ILR3322R, read from elkay.com on 2026-11-10, is published as a stainless steel 33 by 22 by 7-5/8 inch single bowl drop-in with a left drainboard, in 18-gauge Type 304 steel with a sound-deadening pad. That footprint - 33 by 22 in a 36 inch base cabinet - is the opening in millions of American kitchens, and it is why a replacement sink search so often starts with a part number from a sink that is already there.
Quick picks
Tap any row to jump to the full write-up. There are no scores here because we run no test lab — how picks are chosen is published in full on our methodology page.
| # | Product | Best for | Our read | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Kraus Premier KTM100-33 Best like-for-like | A like-for-like swap in an existing cutout | Same 33 x 22 drop-in footprint, same 18 gauge T-304 | |
| 2 |  Kraus KHT300-33 drop-in sink Best upgrade | Replacing a sink without touching the counter | 16 gauge and a 10" bowl in the same cutout | $544.98 · View on Amazon #ad Affiliate link · Price as of November 11, 2026 |
| 3 |  Kraus KHT302-33 double-bowl drop-in sink Best double bowl | Washing on one side, draining on the other | Two equal 10" bowls, same 33 x 22 footprint | $449.99 · View on Amazon #ad Affiliate link · Price as of November 11, 2026 |
| 4 |  Kraus KWT310-33/5.5 ADA workstation drop-in sink Best for tight plumbing | Shallow cabinets and accessible kitchens | A 5.5" bowl that clears a high trap arm, with a ledge |
Matching the footprint is the whole job
If you are replacing a drop-in in an existing countertop, the cutout is fixed and you are not making it smaller. A drop-in rim can cover an opening slightly smaller than its own footprint; it cannot cover a larger one. So the first and sometimes only specification that matters is 33 by 22 inches, and every pick on this page publishes it except where noted. The second is bowl depth, because that is what decides whether the waste plumbing still lines up.
Elkay publishes 7-5/8 inches of overall depth on the ILR3322R and the Kraus Premier publishes a 7-1/2 inch bowl in an 8 inch body - close enough that an existing trap will almost always still work. Step up to a 10 inch bowl and the outlet drops around two and a half inches, which is where the trap arm check becomes mandatory. Sink sizes and cabinet fit has the arithmetic.
| Sink | Footprint | Gauge | Bowl depth | Mounting | Damping as published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elkay Lustertone Classic ILR3322R (the original) | 33" x 22" x 7-5/8", left drainboard | 18-gauge Type 304 | Not published separately from the 7-5/8" overall | Drop-in | Sound-deadening pad |
| Kraus Premier KTM100-33 | 33" x 22" x 8" | 18 gauge T-304 | 7-1/2" | Drop-in, template in the box | Published per Kraus's listing |
| Kraus KHT300-33 | 33" x 22" x 10-5/8" | TRU16 gauge T304 | 10" | Dual mount | NoiseDefend pads on all sides plus anti-condensation undercoating |
| Kraus KHT302-33 | 33" x 22" x 10-5/8" | TRU16 gauge | 10" both bowls | Dual mount | NoiseDefend over more than 80% of the sink, plus undercoating |
| Kraus KWT310-33/5.5 ADA | 33" x 22" x 6" | TRU16 gauge | 5.5" | Dual mount, with a ledge | Published per Kraus's listing |
Elkay figures read from elkay.com on 2026-11-10 for the ILR3322R; the alternatives from Kraus's own product pages, all linked below. Elkay publishes the overall depth rather than a separate bowl depth on the page we read. The ILR3322R is a drainboard model, so the usable bowl is narrower than the 33 inch overall width - check the spec sheet if the drainboard is what you want to keep.
Product photograph supplied by Amazon for this listing, used under the Associates program.
1. Best like-for-like
Kraus Premier KTM100-33
Kraus · Best for a like-for-like swap in an existing cutout
The plain, serviceable drop-in, and the one most likely to be a direct swap for what is already in your counter: 33 by 22 inches, a bowl 7-1/2 inches deep, 18-gauge Type 304 steel. The shallow bowl is the point — it is the depth older cabinets and high trap arms were built around, and it is getting hard to buy now that every new sink is ten inches deep.
Published specifications
- Overall size
- 33" x 22" x 8" source
- Bowl size
- 27-4/5" x 16" x 7-1/2" deep source
- Gauge
- 18 gauge, T-304 stainless steel source
- Faucet holes
- Pre-drilled for a faucet; Kraus does not publish a hole count for this model source
- Mounting
- Drop-in / top mount, with a cut-out template in the box source
- Drain
- Rear-set source
- Minimum cabinet
- 36" source
- Sound damping
- NoiseDefend pads on all sides plus anti-condensation undercoating source
- Certification
- cUPC to ASME A112.19.3 / CSA B45.4, and MASS source
- Included
- Drain assembly with removable strainer, mounting hardware, cut-out template source
- Warranty
- Kraus limited lifetime source
What works
- A 7-1/2 inch bowl, which is the depth most older cabinets and shallow trap arms were built around
- A rear-set drain, so the trap sits at the back of the cabinet and leaves the front usable
- NoiseDefend pads on all sides rather than bottom pads only, which is unusual on an 18-gauge sink
- Drain assembly, strainer, hardware and a cut-out template are in the box, so the only extra part is the sealant
What does not
- 18-gauge flexes more than 16-gauge under a dropped pan, and the pads damp drumming rather than remove it
- Kraus does not publish a faucet-hole count for this model, so confirm the drilling matches your counter before ordering
- A 33-inch sink still needs a 36-inch cabinet, so it is not a swap for a 30-inch base unit
Skip it if
Skip it if you want a deep modern basin. At 7-1/2 inches the bowl will not take a sheet pan laid flat.
Raw specifications: Kraus’s own page for the Kraus Premier KTM100-33.
Product photograph supplied by Amazon for this listing, used under the Associates program.
2. Best upgrade
Kraus KHT300-33 drop-in sink
Kraus · Best for replacing a sink without touching the counter
The drop-in we would fit in most kitchens, because it is a 16-gauge sink sold as a dual-mount: the rim is finished to sit on the counter, and the same sink can be undermounted later if you ever replace the countertop. At 10 inches deep with a rear-set drain it behaves like a modern undermount while asking nothing of your existing counter.
Published specifications
- Overall size
- 33" x 22" x 10-5/8" deep source
- Bowl size
- 31" x 18" x 10" deep source
- Gauge
- TRU16 gauge T304 stainless steel source
- Mounting
- Dual mount — drop-in or undermount source
- Faucet holes
- Two pre-drilled, for a faucet and a soap dispenser source
- Drain
- Rear-set source
- Minimum cabinet
- 36" source
- Sound damping
- NoiseDefend pads on all sides plus anti-condensation undercoating source
- Certification
- cUPC to ASME A112.19.3 / CSA B45.4 source
- Included
- Bottom grid, drain assembly with removable strainer, decorative drain cover source
- Warranty
- Kraus limited lifetime source
What works
- 16-gauge steel in a drop-in, which is unusual — most top-mount sinks at this size are 18-gauge or thinner
- Dual mount means the sink survives a future countertop replacement instead of being thrown away with it
- A 10-inch bowl with a rear-set drain leaves usable cabinet space under the front of the sink
- Grid, drain and strainer are in the box, so the only extra part is the sealant
What does not
- A 33-inch sink still needs a 36-inch cabinet, so it is not a drop-in replacement for a 30-inch base unit
- A 10-inch bowl is a long reach for a shorter person, and a drop-in rim sits slightly higher than an undermount one
- Kraus publishes no unit weight for this model, so plan the lift by the shipping box rather than a figure
Skip it if
Skip it if your existing cutout is for a 30-inch sink. A drop-in can cover a slightly smaller hole, never a smaller cabinet.
#ad Affiliate link · Price as of November 11, 2026
Raw specifications: Kraus’s own page for the Kraus KHT300-33 drop-in sink.
Product photograph supplied by Amazon for this listing, used under the Associates program.
3. Best double bowl
Kraus KHT302-33 double-bowl drop-in sink
Kraus · Best for washing on one side, draining on the other
The double bowl for people who genuinely use two bowls — two equal 15-1/2 inch basins, both 10 inches deep, in the same 16-gauge dual-mount body as the single-bowl KHT300. Equal bowls are the right split if one side lives full of soaking dishes; a 60/40 split is the better choice if what you really want is one usable bowl.
Published specifications
- Overall size
- 33" x 22" x 10-5/8" deep source
- Bowl size
- Two equal bowls, 15-1/2" x 18" x 10" deep source
- Gauge
- TRU16 gauge stainless steel, 10:18 chromium-to-nickel source
- Mounting
- Dual mount — drop-in or undermount source
- Faucet holes
- Two pre-drilled, for a faucet and a soap dispenser source
- Minimum cabinet
- 36" source
- Sound damping
- NoiseDefend pads covering over 80% of the sink, plus undercoating source
- Certification
- cUPC to ASME A112.19.3 / CSA B45.4 source
- Included
- Two bottom grids, two drain assemblies with strainers, cut-out template, mounting hardware source
- Warranty
- Kraus limited lifetime source
What works
- Two 10-inch-deep bowls rather than one deep bowl and one token shallow one
- Pads over 80% of the body — the most complete damping of any sink on this page
- Both drains come with grids and strainers, which on a double bowl is normally two extra purchases
- Dual mount, so the same sink works on your existing counter now and an undermount counter later
What does not
- Each bowl is 15-1/2 inches wide, which will not take a large roasting pan flat — that is the cost of two bowls at 33 inches
- A center divider means the disposal lives under one side only, so decide which before you plumb it
- Two drain assemblies means two more joints under the sink that can weep
Skip it if
Skip it if you wash big sheet pans and roasting trays. One wide bowl beats two narrow ones for that, every time.
#ad Affiliate link · Price as of November 11, 2026
Raw specifications: Kraus’s own page for the Kraus KHT302-33 double-bowl drop-in sink.
Product photograph supplied by Amazon for this listing, used under the Associates program.
4. Best for tight plumbing
Kraus KWT310-33/5.5 ADA workstation drop-in sink
Kraus · Best for shallow cabinets and accessible kitchens
The drop-in to buy when depth is the problem rather than the goal. The bowl is 5.5 inches deep, which is what makes it ADA-compliant and also what makes it fit over a shallow trap arm — and it still carries a workstation ledge, so the cutting board and the drying rack recover the working space the shallow bowl costs.
Published specifications
- Overall size
- 33" x 22" x 6" deep source
- Bowl size
- 31" x 16" x 5.5" deep source
- Gauge
- TRU16 gauge stainless steel source
- Mounting
- Dual mount — drop-in or undermount source
- Faucet holes
- One pre-drilled, plus a soap-dispenser hole source
- Drain
- Rear offset source
- Minimum cabinet
- 36" source
- Compliance
- ADA; cUPC to ASME A112.19.3 / CSA B45.4 source
- Included
- Bottom grid, bamboo cutting board, roll-up drying rack, drain assembly, cut-out template source
- Warranty
- Kraus limited lifetime source
What works
- A 5.5-inch bowl clears plumbing that a 10-inch bowl simply will not — the commonest reason a sink upgrade stalls
- ADA-compliant depth, which matters if the kitchen has to be usable seated
- The integrated ledge and included accessories give back the working space the shallow bowl gives up
- Rear-offset drain, so the trap sits at the back of the cabinet rather than the middle
What does not
- 5.5 inches is genuinely shallow: a running faucet splashes more, and tall pots have to be filled at an angle
- The accessories are part of the price, and most households will not use all of them
- A shallow wide bowl shows standing water more obviously than a deep one, so the grid earns its place here
Skip it if
Skip it if you have the clearance for a deep bowl and nobody in the house needs an ADA-height basin. Buy depth instead.
Raw specifications: Kraus’s own page for the Kraus KWT310-33/5.5 ADA workstation drop-in sink.
Where the alternatives genuinely beat the original
Two places, both on paper. Gauge: Kraus publishes TRU16 on the KHT300, KHT302 and KWT310 against Elkay's 18-gauge on the ILR3322R, and thicker steel dents less and carries damping better. Damping detail: Elkay publishes a sound-deadening pad, while Kraus publishes NoiseDefend pads on all sides plus an anti-condensation undercoating, and states coverage of more than 80 percent on the KHT302. A pad on the base quiets the spot the tap hits; pads on all sides quiet the whole bowl. 16 gauge vs 18 gauge explains what each actually buys.
The third advantage is one Elkay cannot match on a drop-in-only sink: three of these four are published as dual mount, meaning the same sink can be undermounted into a future stone countertop instead of being thrown away with the old laminate. That is worth real money if a counter replacement is anywhere in your plans.
Which alternative to buy
- Buy the Kraus Premier KTM100-33 for a straight like-for-like swap: same footprint, same 18 gauge T-304, a shallow bowl your existing trap already suits, template in the box.
- Buy the Kraus KHT300-33 if you want the upgrade - 16 gauge, a 10 inch bowl, all-sides damping - and you have checked the trap arm height.
- Buy the Kraus KHT302-33 if you want two equal 10 inch bowls in the same 33 by 22 cutout.
- Buy the Kraus KWT310-33/5.5 ADA if the plumbing under the sink is tight or the kitchen needs an accessible bowl height; the ledge gives back what the shallow bowl costs.
- Keep looking if the drainboard is what you actually want. None of these has one.
What to take away
- Elkay's 33 by 22 inch drop-in footprint is the opening most American kitchens already have, which is why replacement searches start there.
- The existing cutout is the governing dimension - a drop-in rim covers a smaller opening, never a larger one.
- Elkay publishes 18-gauge Type 304 and a sound-deadening pad on the ILR3322R; the Kraus upgrades publish 16 gauge and all-sides damping.
- A 10 inch bowl drops the outlet by around two and a half inches against a 7-5/8 inch sink, so check the trap arm first.
- Three of the four alternatives are dual mount and survive a countertop replacement; a drop-in-only sink does not.
- The ILR3322R is a drainboard sink, and no alternative here has a drainboard.
How we sourced this page
Every figure on this page came from one of the following. Where a manufacturer or an independent lab does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate it.
- Elkay Lustertone Classic ILR3322R drop-in sink with right drainboard (published specifications)
- Kraus Premier KTM100-33 drop-in / top-mount sink product page (published specifications)
- Kraus KHT300-33 drop-in / undermount single-bowl sink product page (published specifications)
- Kraus KHT302-33 drop-in / undermount double-bowl sink product page (published specifications)
- Kraus KWT310-33/5.5 ADA workstation drop-in sink product page (published specifications)
Common questions
- What is a good alternative to an Elkay kitchen sink?
- The Kraus Premier KTM100-33 for a like-for-like swap - 18 gauge Type 304 stainless, the same 33 by 22 inch drop-in footprint and a cut-out template in the box. The Kraus KHT300-33 is the upgrade, putting TRU16 gauge steel and a 10 inch bowl into the same cutout.
- What gauge are Elkay Lustertone sinks?
- Elkay publishes 18-gauge Type 304 stainless steel for the Lustertone Classic ILR3322R, with a sound-deadening pad, read from elkay.com on 2026-11-10. Kraus publishes TRU16 gauge on several sinks in the same footprint, which is thicker metal.
- Will another brand's sink fit my Elkay cutout?
- If it shares the footprint, yes. The standard is 33 by 22 inches in a 36 inch base cabinet and every drop-in on this page publishes it. A rim can cover an opening slightly smaller than its own footprint but never a larger one, so measure the cutout rather than trusting the old part number.
- Is 16 gauge worth it over Elkay's 18 gauge?
- It dents less and carries sound damping better, and in this registry it costs less than you would expect - the Kraus KHT300-33 publishes TRU16 gauge with NoiseDefend pads on all sides. Whether it is worth it depends on how hard the sink gets used; 18 gauge with good damping is perfectly serviceable.
More in Kitchen Sinks
Three specifications settle almost every kitchen sink question: how thick the steel is, how it meets the counter, and what it is made of. Get those right and brand barely matters.
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