The Best Camper Van Sink Ideas For Any Budget

Including a camper van sink in your van build is a basic necessity for any van conversion. You will need a place to wash your hands, do dishes, brush your teeth, etc. It’s not a question of whether or not you need a sink in your van, but which is the best camper van sink for you.

In this article I’ll share the best camper van sink ideas I’ve seen, including my own van sink, and discuss what to consider when picking the right camper van sink for your build.

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Best Camper Van Sink Ideas From Budget To Luxury

There’s no right or wrong choice when it comes to a van life sink. Depending on your style, travel plans, layout and available space you’ll find the perfect sink for your van conversion. Here are a few ideas for camper van sinks:

• Combo Camper Van Sink + Stove
• Workstation Van Sinks
• RV Fold Down Sink
• Built-In Foldable Faucet Camper Van Sink
• Boxio Portable Camper Van Sink
• DIY Camper Van Sinks

1. Combo Camper Van Sink And Stove

A great space saver, the combo camper van sink and stove allows you to utilize additional countertop space when the sink or stove are not in use.

Traditionally, these have been very popular in boats and RV kitchens.

The primary downsides to the combo sink and stove are that it requires a propane hookup and that they are fairly expensive to purchase.

However, if you’re counting the purchase as two appliances – a camper van sink and a stovetop – then they’re not quite as outrageously pricy.

2. Workstation Van Sink

This is the sink I have in my van. It’s a workstation sink that has built-in features designed to enhance its functionality and efficiency.

These camper van sinks typically have a colander and a wooden cutting board, which significantly increases the working space in your van.

These sinks are common for bars, backyard grill stations or outdoor kitchen spaces, and they also work perfectly as a camper van sink!

You can install them under or over-mounted. They don’t come with a faucet, so you’ll get to pick the design and model you prefer.

I installed a tall faucet so it would be easier to do dishes and wash my face in the sink. My faucet also has a built-in spray hose, which comes in handy for cleaning the sink.

I also wanted to add a water filter for drinking/cooking in my van, so I drilled a second hole into my camper van sink and added a small filtered water faucet.

My favorite thing about this sink is the depth. The dimensions (side to side, front to back) are compact and don’t take up a ton of countertop space, but it’s still deep enough that I can wash dishes without any problems.

3. RV Or Marine Fold Down Sink For Van Conversions

These folding RV sinks are designed specifically for use in recreational vehicles and boats- which means they’re also perfect as a folding camper van sink.

They come in various sizes and shapes and are often made of durable materials such as stainless steel or acrylic.

Highly designed to be space efficient, these sinks usually fold down flat – including the faucet!

The downside to these sinks is that they tend not to be very deep, which can make washing dishes by hand more challenging.

4. Built-In Foldable Faucet Torva RV R9 Camper Van Sink

Similar to the folding RV sinks above, this new sink from Torva is designed to be compact and perfect for van life.

This sink gets it’s own spot on this list because it’s far more innovative than your traditional RV folding sink.

Not only does Torva come in several color options, but there are also many size options which makes it perfect to find the right one for your van layout.

Every part of this sink has been impeccably designed. For example, the corners have a 10° curve to make cleaning easy. My van sink has blunt 90° corners and trying to scrub them is a thorn in my side every time.

The faucet folds down, just like an RV folding sink, but it stands taller which makes washing dishes and brushing your teeth much easier.

5. Boxio Portable Camper Van Sink

The Boxio portable van sink is a great option for weekenders or SUV car campers.

It doesn’t require any plumbing, and it can be set up inside your van or outside at your campsite. It can even double as a camper van shower!

The entire sink fits neatly into a box. Under the sink is a fresh water tank, and a gray water tank to collect water through the drain.

There’s no electricity needed for this camper van sink. The hand pump is used to pressurize the system and create water flow through the integrated faucet.

6. DIY Camper Van Sink

Making a DIY camper van sink requires some basic plumbing and carpentry skills, but you can make a sink out of a variety of items which makes this a very budget-friendly project.

Here are some general steps to follow:

1. Choose a sink bowl: You can choose a stainless steel, porcelain, or ceramic sink bowl. You can also repurpose an old sink or use a container like a bucket or a basin as a sink bowl.
2. Create a countertop: You can use wood, metal, or any other durable material to create a countertop that fits your sink bowl. I used wood to make my countertop. Cut the material to size, sand and seal the edges, and attach it to the base. Note: be sure to use food safe sealant on wood countertops, like Polycrylic (which is what I used).
3. Cut a hole for the sink: I used a jigsaw to cut a hole in my countertop that fits my sink. Make sure the hole is slightly smaller than the sink bowl to prevent it from falling through.
4. Install the sink bowl: Apply silicone sealant around the rim of the sink bowl and place it into the hole in the countertop. Secure it in place using sink clamps or brackets.
5. Install the faucet: Install a faucet onto the countertop or the wall behind the sink. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for connecting the water lines.
6. Connect the drain: Connect the drain pipe to the sink bowl and attach it to your plumbing system. Make sure the drain pipe is properly sealed to prevent leaks. My preference is to use plumbers putty.
7. Test the system: Turn on the water and check for leaks. This is so important to do before you install walls or anything that will prevent you from being able to access the plumbing. Adjust the connections as needed. Be sure to fill the sink with water and let it sit for a few hours to really test your drain connection for potential water leaks.

With a DIY camper van sink the possibilities are endless. I love the creativity Eric Frantz used on his camper van sink, which is installed on his van door.

Things To Consider When Selecting The Best Camper Van Sink

There are a few things you want to think about when deciding on the perfect van sink for your build.

Over Mount Vs Under Mount

An over mounted sink sits on top of the countertop, whereas an under mounted sink is installed below the countertop surface. There are benefits and challenges to each.

An over mount van sink is easy to install but can collect dirt and grime along the sink edge that meets the countertop. Mine does this and it drives me nuts.

However, an over mount sink is preferable for wood countertops as it keeps the wood dry and in better condition long term. Since many van countertops are made of wood, this is an ideal type of sink in a van.

An under mounted camper van sink is nice because you can wipe down your countertops directly into the sink, there’s no edge to get in your way.

Material

Van sinks come in many different materials but the most popular is stainless steal.

You’ll want to pick something that is fairly lightweight and can take a lot of vibration without cracking.

I do not recommend stone or ceramic materials because they can crack due to rough roads, hitting a speed bump too hard, or having something fall into them while you’re driving.

Weight

Weight is an important factor in every van build decision. The more your sink weighs the heavy your van will be, resulting in worse gas mileage.

You also want to make sure that your countertop is able to withstand the weight of your van’s sink.

Size

Be sure you pick a sink that is large enough to do dishes in. Or, if you’re like me, to leave several days worth of dishes in.

The most important factor here is depth. A deep sink, even if it’s small, is more valuable than a wide but shallow camper van sink.

Faucet Placement

Consider where you plan to mount your faucet and whether this will work with your preferred van sink.

Some sinks come with pre-drilled faucet holes, which means you’ll be committed to that layout.

Conclusion – The Best Camper Van Sinks

The best sink for van life is a stainless steal under mount van sink. These are durable, fairly lightweight, and easy to install.

The Ruvati workstation camper van sink is the best option on the market as it’s affordable, and provides additional workspace which optimizes your vans kitchen space.