The Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Sink Materials: Pros and Cons of Stainless, Copper, Brass, Bronze, Cast Iron & More

Two curious corgis take center stage on a kitchen sink - designed to last generations.

Without question, your kitchen sink decision is the most important decision you’ll make in your new kitchen. Mistakes here can be extremely costly. Among all kitchen components, the sink is easily the most expensive to replace—often requiring new countertops, plumbing changes, and sometimes even cabinetry adjustments.

To help you make an informed and confident decision, I’d like to offer a brief overview of the pros and cons of the most common kitchen sink materials:

Stainless Steel: Stainless steel is easily the most commonly used material for kitchen sinks. The grade and thickness of the stainless steel is vitally important. The quality stainless steel sinks are made of 16-gauge thickness. Counterintuitively, the lower the gauge number is, the thicker the material is. Inexpensive sinks are typically made of 22 or 20 gauge material. Most sinks are made of 18-gauge material. Only the finest sinks are made of 16-gauge material. Relying on the gauge of the stainless steel to make an investment decision can be misleading. There is a very important consideration that must be made alongside the gauge of the material. It is the material alloy! Most stainless steel sinks are made of type 304 stainless steel. Type 304 stainless steel is quite affordable, and if you are careful, it will last quite a long time. That being said, type 304 cannot withstand the use of Clorox and other aggressive cleaners without permanent damage. The next step up in material quality is type 316 - often referred to as marine-grade stainless steel. Very few manufacturers use this material due to the significantly higher cost. The top grade of stainless steel for kitchen sinks is called 316L. The "L" stands for low carbon, offering significantly higher corrosion resistance than type 316. That is why we use only domestic 316L stainless steel for our sinks. There are also visual cues to look for when considering a stainless steel sink. If the sink has tight corners, look at how smooth the inside corners of the bowl are. There are quite a few well-known sinks out there with very rough interior corners. Our interior corners are smooth as glass. That is why we show high-resolution photos of our interior corners. Best yet, head to Houzz.com and read comments about the brands you are considering. We offer a lifetime transferable warranty for your peace of mind.

Copper: Copper sinks are easily the most difficult sinks to understand the quality. First off, there are two types of pure copper: annealed and cold rolled. Annealed copper is copper that has undergone a heat treatment process to make it softer and more ductile. During annealing, copper is heated to a specific temperature and then cooled slowly, which relieves internal stresses and reduces hardness. The end result is a very soft copper that is easy to dent and deform during shipping. Cold-rolled copper is processed at room temperature by passing copper sheets or strips through rollers to compress and harden the material. This method increases the copper’s strength and hardness due to work hardening. Cold-rolled copper has a smoother finish, higher strength, and is more rigid compared to annealed copper. It holds its shape better under stress and is used in applications requiring higher structural integrity. Most imported copper sinks are using annealed copper. We only use domestic cold-rolled 14-gauge copper. Cold-rolled copper is approximately 50-80% harder than annealed copper. Of significant importance is the method that the copper is treated. We naturally age the copper simply using vinegar applied with a natural sea sponge. This allows for the natural beauty of copper to show itself and become what we call a self-healing patina. Copper wants to always be the color of an old penny. If you see a finished copper sink that is not the coloration of an old penny, be assured the finish is not natural. You should read the use and care instructions of every company offering copper sinks. Many indicate you must dry the sink after every use and should never use abrasives. This is because the sink likely may pool water and cause discoloration. The use of abrasives will remove the faux finish, and it will not reappear like it was when new. We do not require drying our copper sinks, nor do we warn against using abrasives. Read about our copper use and care  👉 here. Scroll down that page to find the copper use and care. We offer a lifetime transferable warranty.

Cast Iron: Cast iron sinks offer colors that other materials do not offer; hence, they are popular in contemporary kitchens. That being said, they are prone to chipping and dulling over time - especially if abrasive cleaners are used. While the enamel coating is durable, it can chip if hit with heavy objects, exposing the iron underneath. Once the enamel is chipped, rusting can occur. In my opinion, this is not a wise long-term investment unless you are not a heavy user of your kitchen sink. Many users mention that pots and pans leave marks on the surface and require an abrasive cleaner to remove them. Read our solution for  👉 cast iron and fireclay farm sinks.  

What’s Not Covered Under Cast Iron Sink Warranties:

Chips, cracks, or burns from dropped items or misuse

Scratches, dulling, or stains from normal wear

Damage from abrasive cleaners or harsh chemicals

Improper installation or care

Incidental or consequential damages

Fire Clay: Fireclay sinks feature a timeless, smooth, and glossy finish that brings both elegance and charm to any kitchen. While they are often linked with farmhouse or traditional kitchen styles, their versatile design can complement modern aesthetics as well. Despite their notable durability, fireclay sinks aren't without a few drawbacks. Even high-end models can sometimes struggle with proper drainage, leading to water pooling, which means you may need to squeegee the sink dry after use. I have read that water pooling is often not considered a warranty issue. Fireclay is susceptible to heat shock. This means you should not pour boiling hot water in the sink if the sink is cool. It can cause what is referred to as crazing. Crazing is tiny hairline cracks in the surface that, over time, collect dirt and show up visually. Just like cast iron, the surface can lose its glossy finish over time if abrasives are used.  

What’s Not Covered Under Fireclay Sink Warranties:

 Chipping, cuts, nicks, scratches, scuffs or stains during normal use 

Thermal shock from sudden temperature changes

Damage from improper installation

Use of abrasive cleaners or harsh chemicals

Scratches, stains, or normal wear

Labor, removal, or reinstallation costs

Freight or shipping damage

Failure to register or provide proof of purchase (if required)

Synthetic Granite: There are several brands offering synthetic granite sinks. Synthetic granite sinks are highly durable and resistant to scratches, stains, and chips, making them ideal for busy kitchens. Their tough composition ensures they can handle heavy use over time. That being said, I have personal experience with a Blanco white Silgranite sink that I purchased for my mother many years ago. It did stain, and nothing we tried would remove the stains. There are many folks on Houzz that are quite happy with their synthetic granite sinks; however, there are some that indicated a hot pot can leave a permanent mark in the sink, and several have mentioned that a heavy pot cracked the sink. A recent customer sent me a photo of her sink with a hole in the back of the bowl - she was unaware of what caused the catastrophic failure after a few years of use. Most often, these sinks can crack if the drain is overtightened during installation, and that is not covered under warranty. Please research these sinks on Houzz.com  

What’s Not Covered Under Blanco Silgranit’s Warranty:

 Chips, scratches, or scuffs from normal use. Cracks from impact (e.g., dropped pots or pans)Damage from improper installation or drilled holes. Heat damage above 536°F (e.g., hot pans)Chemical damage (e.g., bleach, grout, paint removers)Freight or shipping damage. Labor, removal, or reinstallation costs. Normal wear (gloss loss, minor stains)

Black Stainless Steel: Let’s clear something up: there is no such thing as “black stainless steel.” What you’re seeing is a black coating—typically a PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) finish—applied over standard silver-colored stainless steel. The term “black stainless” is a marketing invention, not a material breakthrough. No matter what the warranty claims, I’ll stake my reputation on this: with regular use, especially in a kitchen sink, the black coating will wear down. Over time, heavy pots, utensils, or even standard cleaning habits will expose silver scratches beneath the coating. While research indicates that PVD coatings are technically robust, they are also incredibly easy to scratch or chip in a real-world kitchen environment. One major manufacturer even warns: "Avoid all abrasive scrubbing pads such as Scotch-Brite… minor scratching of the sink’s surface can be difficult to avoid with everyday use.” – Ruvati USA Here’s the kicker: warranties do not cover scratching or chipping. So if your black sink starts showing silver lines or patchy wear, you’re on your own. If long-term durability and low maintenance are a priority, I strongly recommend looking elsewhere. A true heirloom-quality sink should get better with age—not worse.

Bronze: There are very few true bronze kitchen sinks on the market—and for good reason. Bronze is a premium material, and when fabricated properly, it's exceptionally durable and visually stunning. But if you come across a bronze sink at a low investment, proceed with caution. There's always a reason for the price. A genuine bronze finish should never appear perfectly uniform. A consistent, painted-looking finish is often a red flag—it likely indicates a faux finish or a coating that will become a daily maintenance chore. Look for solid 14-gauge bronze or cast bronze. Cast bronze, while beautiful, is extremely heavy and typically more ornamental than functional. For daily use, solid fabricated bronze in 14-gauge is the better choice. If you're making the investment in bronze, make sure it’s in a workstation configuration. That way, you're pairing beauty with unmatched function. You’ll see a wide range of pricing when it comes to bronze sinks. Do yourself a favor: avoid the very low end. The quality and longevity simply won’t be there—and warranties are often nonexistent or not honored. Our  👉bronze sinks come with a lifetime transferable warranty—because they’re built to last for generations, not just a few years

Brass: Just like bronze, brass kitchen sinks are fairly rare. You should be looking at the same considerations as mentioned about bronze. 14-gauge material, a non-uniform finish, or a completely unlacquered finish that may be uniform. The bowl should, under no circumstances, be shiny. That will never last a month in a kitchen sink. You will generally see very low and very high prices. Do yourself a favor and avoid the very low prices of brass sinks. Look at the warranty. Our 👉brass sinks come with a lifetime transferable warranty!

Lastly, if you are looking for sinks made in the USA, don't be fooled by company names with USA in the name. Make sure they say their sinks are actually MADE in the USA. 

If you see anything that you can illustrate is incorrect in my assessment above, please let me know and show me your research. I am not perfect and am always open to learning!