Pedestal, Wall-Hung or Countertop Basin Guide

"Should I get a pedestal or a wall-hung basin? What size? And at what height should it be installed?" These questions come up in every bathroom fit-out, and the basin decides where the water supply and drain pipes go, so you need to decide before the plumber closes the wall. In this guide from Tawredaat (توريدات), an electrical and finishing materials store in Cairo and Giza, we explain the types of bathroom basins, the differences between them, how to choose the size, the height and the clearances around the basin based on well-known design sources, and the right mixer for each type.

What are the types of bathroom basins?

• Full pedestal basin (Pedestal): the basin is fixed to the wall and the pedestal goes down to the floor, supporting it and hiding the trap and pipes.
• Half pedestal basin (Half / Wall pedestal): the basin hangs on the wall, and the half pedestal is fixed to the wall under the basin without reaching the floor. It hides the trap and the floor stays clear.
• Wall-hung basin without a pedestal (Wall-hung): the basin alone on the wall, with the trap visible, so it is paired with a good-looking trap.
• Over-counter basin (Over-counter / Countertop): a bowl that sits on top of a stone counter or a vanity unit.
• Under-counter basin (Under-counter): installed from below an opening in a stone or quartz counter, so the surface looks continuous.
• Furniture basin: a basin with a flat rim installed on top of a bathroom cabinet of the same width.

Pedestal, wall-hung or countertop basin: what's the difference?

Who should choose which?

• ✔ Pedestal: if you want easy installation and a classic look, and the pipes in the wall aren't set at a specific height.
• ✔ Half pedestal or wall-hung: if the bathroom is small and you want the floor clear for mopping, or you want to choose the basin height yourself.
• ✔ Over- or under-counter: if you need a place to put your things and a storage cabinet, and you have enough width.
• ⚠ Wall-hung and half-pedestal basins need a solid wall (solid brick or concrete) and suitable fixing bolts; in a plasterboard (gypsum board) wall you need a frame or reinforcement inside the wall.

What size should a bathroom basin be?

There is no single right size: the size is set by the width of the wall the basin will be installed on and the space in front of it. These are the common widths in catalogs, with examples of models available on Tawredaat:

These sizes are the basin width written in the model name and on the product page. Also pay attention to the depth (how far the basin projects from the wall): for example, the Villeroy & Boch Avento basin measures 60 × 49.5 cm, so it projects about half a meter from the wall.

How much space do you need around the basin?

The NKBA Bathroom Planning Guidelines (the US National Kitchen & Bath Association) give useful numbers, converted here to centimeters:

• ✔ What does that mean in practice? If the basin sits between two walls, the minimum clear width you need is about 76 cm (38 + 38), and a comfortable width is about 102 cm (51 + 51). If the space is narrower than that, choose a smaller basin or a wall-hung one on the wider wall.
• ✔ Measure in front of the basin: the basin's projection from the wall + the clear space in front of it. With a basin projecting about 50 cm and the recommended 76 cm of clear space, you need about 126 cm from the wall to the door or bathtub (calculated from the numbers above).
• ⚠ Don't put the basin so close to the toilet or the door that your elbow hits it; the 38 cm from the basin centerline is the minimum, not the target.

How high should a bathroom basin be from the floor?

• ✔ Geberit says the top rim of the basin is usually between 85 and 90 cm above the floor, and that standard heights suit people up to about 176 cm tall, so if your household is much taller or shorter, adjust the height.
• ✔ NKBA gives a wider range for adult basin height, from 81 to 109 cm (32–43 in), depending on the user's height.
• ✔ A full pedestal basin has its height set by the pedestal's length, so you can't change it much. Wall-hung and half-pedestal basins give you the freedom to choose the height.
• ✔ Over-counter basin: height = counter height + bowl height. That's why the counter is set a little lower, so the top rim of the bowl stays in the comfortable range.
• ⚠ Before the plumber closes the wall, agree with him on the drain and supply outlet heights from the catalog of the basin and pedestal you chose, especially with a half pedestal, because it has to hide the trap exactly.

Which mixer suits each basin type?

• ✔ Pedestal, wall-hung and furniture basins: a standard basin mixer installed in the basin's tap hole. Make sure the basin has one hole for a single-lever mixer, or 3 holes if your mixer has two separate handles.
• ✔ Over-counter bowl: needs a high-spout mixer on the counter, or a wall-mounted mixer; a short standard mixer won't reach above the bowl's rim.
• ✔ Under-counter: the mixer is installed in the counter itself or in the wall, so the tap hole is made when the counter is cut.
• ✔ Details on mixer types and materials are in our guide to choosing a bathroom and kitchen mixer.

Common mistakes when choosing and installing a bathroom basin

• ⚠ A half pedestal without solid fixing: a wall-hung basin carries its weight on the wall, and if the fixing is weak it can tilt or crack over time.
• ⚠ An over-counter bowl with a short mixer: the water won't fall properly inside the bowl; the fix is a high-spout or wall-mounted mixer.
• ⚠ Forgetting the overflow: if the basin has an overflow, use a waste with an overflow slot, and if it doesn't (like many bowls), use a waste made for basins without an overflow; check this on the product page.
• ⚠ Choosing the size without measuring the space: measure the wall width and the space in front of the basin before buying, especially if the door opens inward.
• ⚠ A pedestal from another brand: pedestals and half pedestals are made for a specific basin model, so buy one from the same series.

Basins and pedestals available on Tawredaat

These models are available to buy now on the site:

• Basin + pedestal: Ideal Standard New Esedra 55 cm · New Esedra 65 cm with the New Esedra pedestal or the New Esedra pedestal model G281601 · Ideal Standard Tesi 65 cm with the Tesi pedestal
• Wall-hung / half pedestal: Ideal Standard Connect 70 cm wall-hung with the Connect pedestal · Sanipure Vega 60 cm with overflow · Sanipure Flora 60 cm · Sanipure Rosetta half pedestal for 55/60 cm basins · Rosetta half pedestal for 45 cm basins · Villeroy & Boch Avento 60 cm · V&B Architectura 60 cm · Roca Beyond Totem wall-hung 43 cm
• Over- and under-counter: Roca Beyond over-counter 56 × 43 cm · V&B Onovo under-counter 53.5 cm · V&B Vanchello under-counter 63 cm · Sanipure Titan furniture basin 85 cm
• Mixers: Roca L90 high spout · Ideal Standard Eurostorm high spout (for over-counter bowls) · Ideal Standard Ceraflex standard basin mixer

You can see every model in our bathroom basins collection, basin pedestals, all basins and bath and shower mixers. And if you are fitting out the whole bathroom, also see our guide to choosing a shower: rain or regular.

Frequently asked questions

Pedestal or wall-hung: which is better for a small bathroom?
A wall-hung or half-pedestal basin is usually better for a small bathroom, because it leaves the floor clear, so the bathroom looks bigger and is easier to mop. But it needs a strong wall and solid fixing.

What is the standard bathroom basin size?
Most bathrooms take a basin 55–65 cm wide. A guest toilet can take 45 cm, and a spacious bathroom 70 cm or a furniture basin of 85 cm or more.

At what height should a basin be installed?
Geberit says the top rim is usually 85–90 cm above the floor, and NKBA gives a range of 81–109 cm depending on the user's height. Adjust the height if your household is much taller or shorter.

How much space do I need between the basin and the wall?
According to NKBA: from the basin centerline to the side wall, 38 cm minimum and 51 cm recommended, and clear space in front of the basin of 53 cm minimum and 76 cm recommended.

Can I install any mixer on an over-counter bowl?
No. A bowl needs a high-spout or wall-mounted mixer so the water falls inside it. A short standard mixer won't reach above its rim.

Can I buy the pedestal from one brand and the basin from another?
Better not. Pedestals and half pedestals are designed for a specific basin model in shape and fixing points, so buy them from the same series.

About Tawredaat: Tawredaat (توريدات) is an Egyptian supplier of electrical and finishing materials and sanitary ware, serving homeowners, companies and contractors in Cairo and Giza. Questions? See our FAQ.