Franke Drop-In Sinks

Twenty three Franke drop-in sinks, also sold as inset or top-mount. Franke describes it plainly: the sink is installed from above and set into the worksurface with the rim sitting slightly proud of the material. Sizes here run 760mm to 1500mm wide. For the other sink types see Franke kitchen sinks, or start at Franke.

Drop-In or Undermount

Two things settle it, and neither is looks. The first is the worktop material. Franke states inset sinks suit almost any worksurface, laminate included, while an undermount sink goes into any material apart from laminate, because water gets into the chipboard core. If your kitchen has laminate or a wrapped board top, the decision is already made.

The second is whether the worktop is already cut. A drop-in goes into a hole cut from above and its rim covers the cut edge, so a rough or previously cut opening is hidden. That makes it the practical choice for replacing a sink in a top you are keeping. Undermount needs a finished, sealed edge and is normally settled before the stone is templated. Franke publishes a cut-out template on each product page, so give the fitter the model code before anyone cuts.

Bowl Layouts and Drainer Side

The last two digits of the model code give the layout. A 611 is a single bowl: Quinline QLX611 at 900 by 500mm, Cascade CDX611 at 925 by 500mm. A 621 is a double, covering Cascade CDX621-120 and Quinline QLX621-120 at 1200 by 500mm. A 651 is one and a half, a full bowl plus a smaller tidy bowl, in the Cascade CDX651 and Quinline QLX651. Cascade CDX-671 runs three bowls, and the Studio STX621 LHD is the corner sink, an 830 by 830mm square. LHD and RHD mark whether the drainer sits left or right.

The Ranges Stocked Here

Quinline is the deepest at six models and Cascade follows with four, both pressed stainless and both reaching the wider double sizes. Trendline adds four at 535mm front to back, Projectline two, Neptune two in mirrored left and right versions, Nouveau one. Maris brings three, the Fragranite MRG621 and MRG610-72 and the stainless MRX110-34. No black body is drop-in, so if you came for Franke black sinks you want undermount or a prep bowl.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I choose a drop-in or an undermount kitchen sink?

Start with the worktop. Franke states inset sinks suit almost any worksurface, laminate included, while undermount works with any material apart from laminate because water reaches the chipboard core. Then ask whether the worktop is already cut. A drop-in rim covers the cut edge, so it suits a replacement in a top you are keeping. Undermount is normally settled before the stone is templated.

Can a Franke drop-in sink go into a laminate worktop?

Yes. Franke states inset sinks are compatible with almost any worksurface material, including laminate, because the rim sits over the cut edge and is sealed down onto the surface rather than under it. That is the main reason drop-in remains the more common fitting in South African kitchens, where wrapped board and laminate tops are still widely specified alongside granite and engineered stone.

Can I replace my old sink without recutting the worktop?

Often, but measure first. Compare the existing cut-out with the cut-out dimension for the new model, which Franke publishes as a template on each product page. A new sink whose cut-out matches or is slightly larger can be worked, since the opening is enlarged and the rim covers it. A smaller sink cannot bridge a bigger hole, so that one means a new worktop.

What do LHD and RHD mean on a Franke sink?

They give the drainer side. LHD is a left hand drainer and RHD is a right hand drainer, confirmed in Franke's own product naming. The bowl sits on the opposite side to the drainer. Choose by where the sink meets a wall, a hob or the end of the run, and by which hand you work with. Neptune Nex621 is stocked here in both.

Which Franke drop-in sinks have two bowls?

Look for 621 or 622 in the code. Cascade CDX621-120 and Quinline QLX621-120 are 1200 by 500mm doubles, Quinline QLX621-110 is 1100 by 500mm, Quinline QLX622 is a 1500 by 500mm centre layout and Neptune Nex621 is 1160 by 510mm in left and right versions. Trendline TRN721 and Nouveau NVN621 are also doubles. Cascade CDX-671 carries three bowls.