Braillito Maps · Accessibility guides
ADA sink height: 34 inches, and the rest of an accessible sink
The ADA sink height is 34 inches at most, measured to the front of the rim or the counter, whichever is higher (2010 ADA Standards, 606.3). Height is only one of the things the 2010 ADA Standards check at a sink: there must also be room underneath for a wheelchair user’s knees and toes, faucets that work with one hand, pipes no one can touch, and, where there are mirrors, at least one low enough to use from a seated position. These are the measurements, each with its section of the standard.
This is a summary. The official 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design are the reference.
34 inches to the rim or counter
A lavatory or sink is installed with the front of the higher of the rim or the counter surface no more than 34 inches (865 mm) above the finished floor (2010 ADA Standards, 606.3). Two words in that sentence matter on site. Front: what is measured is the front edge, not the bottom of the bowl or the back of the counter. Higher: when a bowl sits on top of a counter, as a vessel sink does, its rim is the higher surface, so the rim is what has to stay at 34 inches or lower.
34 inches is a maximum, not a target. Section 606 sets no minimum height for the rim, but the space under the sink still has to give the knee clearance described below, and that is what decides in practice how low a sink can go.
The standard calls a sink for washing hands a lavatory (2010 ADA Standards, advisory 213.3.1). Section 606 covers lavatories and other sinks alike: its exceptions mention kitchen sinks, wet bars and sinks used by children (2010 ADA Standards, 606.2 and 606.3).
Knee and toe clearance under the sink
In front of the sink there has to be a clear floor space positioned for a forward approach, with knee and toe clearance underneath (2010 ADA Standards, 606.2). A forward approach means the wheelchair rolls in facing the sink, so part of that space is under it. These are the sizes:
| Element | Requirement | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Clear floor space | 30 by 48 inches (760 × 1220 mm) minimum, for a forward approach; it may include the knee and toe clearance | 2010 ADA Standards, 606.2, 305.3 and 305.4 |
| Floor of that space | no changes in level; slopes no steeper than 1:48 | 2010 ADA Standards, 305.2 |
| Toe clearance | the space from the floor up to 9 inches (230 mm); at least 17 inches (430 mm) deep and 30 inches (760 mm) wide; it counts up to 25 inches (635 mm) deep, and no more than 6 inches (150 mm) beyond the knee clearance | 2010 ADA Standards, 306.2 |
| Knee clearance | the space between 9 and 27 inches (230–685 mm) above the floor, at least 30 inches (760 mm) wide | 2010 ADA Standards, 306.3.1 and 306.3.5 |
| Knee clearance depth | at least 11 inches (280 mm) at 9 inches above the floor and at least 8 inches (205 mm) at 27 inches; it counts up to 25 inches (635 mm) deep | 2010 ADA Standards, 306.3.2 and 306.3.3 |
| Sloped underside | between 9 and 27 inches, the depth may shrink by 1 inch (25 mm) for every 6 inches (150 mm) of height | 2010 ADA Standards, 306.3.4 |
| Sink in an alcove | the alcove is at least 36 inches (915 mm) wide when it is more than 24 inches (610 mm) deep | 2010 ADA Standards, 305.7.1 |
Read together, the numbers describe a shape: knees need 8 inches of depth at 27 inches above the floor, and more lower down, where the shins and feet go. So at a height of 27 inches there has to be clear space at least 8 inches deep under the front edge of the sink or counter, and the bowl, the drain and the trap have to stay out of that space. Clearances are measured from the usable clear floor space, not necessarily from the legs or brackets that hold the sink up (2010 ADA Standards, advisory 306.1).
Two smaller rules: the dip of the overflow does not count when the clearances are measured, and in a sink with several bowls only one bowl needs knee and toe clearance (2010 ADA Standards, 606.2, exceptions 6 and 7).
Faucets, soap and paper towels
- Operation: faucet controls follow the rules for operable parts: usable with one hand, without tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist, and with a force of 5 pounds (22.2 N) at most (2010 ADA Standards, 606.4 and 309.4).
- Self-closing faucets: a hand-operated metering faucet, the kind that shuts itself off, stays open for at least 10 seconds (2010 ADA Standards, 606.4).
- Reach: operable parts sit within the reach ranges of section 308 (2010 ADA Standards, 309.3). Reaching forward over an obstruction, the highest point allowed is 48 inches (1220 mm) for a reach of up to 20 inches (510 mm), and 44 inches (1120 mm) for a reach of more than 20 and up to 25 inches (635 mm) (2010 ADA Standards, 308.2.2).
- Soap and towel dispensers: where they are provided, the advisory note to 606.1 says they must be within the reach ranges of 308 and placed so they are easy to use from the accessible sink (2010 ADA Standards, advisory 606.1). With nothing in the way, a forward reach goes from 15 to 48 inches (380–1220 mm) above the floor (2010 ADA Standards, 308.2.1).
The rule is about the hand, not the brand: a small round knob that has to be gripped tightly and twisted is exactly the kind of control it leaves out, while a lever or a sensor does not need that grip.
Insulated pipes and no sharp edges
Water supply and drain pipes under the sink are insulated or otherwise configured to protect against contact, and there are no sharp or abrasive surfaces under the sink (2010 ADA Standards, 606.5). The reason is the knee clearance itself: a person sitting at the sink has their legs right next to the hot-water pipe and the trap.
The standard does not name a product or a method. Pipe covers, a drain set back toward the wall or a panel that keeps the pipes out of reach without taking space from the knees and toes are all ways to the same result: from the clear floor space, nobody can touch a pipe or a sharp edge.
The mirror above the sink
- Above a sink or counter: the bottom edge of the reflecting surface is 40 inches (1015 mm) above the floor at most (2010 ADA Standards, 603.3).
- Anywhere else in the room: the bottom edge is 35 inches (890 mm) above the floor at most (2010 ADA Standards, 603.3).
- Top edge: the advisory note recommends at least 74 inches (1880 mm), so the same mirror works for people standing and seated, and adds that a single full-length mirror suits more people, children among them (2010 ADA Standards, advisory 603.3).
- How many: where a restroom has mirrors, at least one follows 603.3 (2010 ADA Standards, 213.3.5).
Which sinks have to comply
Not every sink in a building has to meet section 606. The standard sets how many do:
- Restrooms: where a toilet or bathing room has lavatories, at least one complies with 606, and that one cannot be inside a toilet compartment (2010 ADA Standards, 213.3.4). The accessible sink is out in the room, not inside a stall.
- Other sinks: where sinks are provided, at least 5 percent, and never fewer than one, of each type in each accessible room or space comply; mop and service sinks are exempt (2010 ADA Standards, 212.3).
- Kitchens and kitchenettes: their sinks comply with 606 too (2010 ADA Standards, 804.4).
The toilet, the grab bars, the stalls and the turning space are in ADA bathroom requirements.
Exceptions: children, homes, kitchens and private offices
- Sinks for children 6 to 12: a knee clearance of 24 inches (610 mm) minimum is allowed where the rim or counter is no higher than 31 inches (785 mm) (2010 ADA Standards, 606.2, exception 4).
- Sinks for children 5 and younger: a parallel approach is allowed, with the wheelchair alongside the sink instead of under it (2010 ADA Standards, 606.2, exception 5).
- Some kitchen sinks and wet bars: a parallel approach is allowed at a kitchen sink in a space without a cooktop or conventional range, and at wet bars (2010 ADA Standards, 606.2, exception 1).
- Homes: in residential dwelling units, a cabinet under the sink is allowed if it can be removed without removing or replacing the fixture, the finished floor runs under it, and the walls behind and around it are finished (2010 ADA Standards, 606.2, exception 3). Kitchen sinks there may also adjust between 29 and 36 inches (735–915 mm), where the plumbing allows the sink to be connected at 29 inches (2010 ADA Standards, 606.3, exception 2).
- A restroom inside a private office: a lavatory in a single-occupant toilet or bathing room reached only through a private office, and not for common or public use, does not need knee and toe clearance or the 34-inch height (2010 ADA Standards, 606.2, exception 2, and 606.3, exception 1).
Recording it in Braillito Maps
Braillito Maps describes every place with ten criteria: step-free entrance or ramp, wide doorway, accessible restroom, accessible parking, tactile paving, braille signage, braille menu, audible signals, guide dogs welcome and a quiet environment. There is no separate question for the sink: it is part of accessible restroom, one of the ten.
Each criterion is answered yes, no or don’t know, and a place’s score counts the yes answers out of ten. Before you mark a restroom, the sink takes a minute to check with this page: can a wheelchair roll in under it, are the pipes covered, does the faucet work without gripping, and, if there are mirrors, can you see yourself in at least one sitting down. The door to the restroom is a separate criterion, wide doorway; its measurements are in ADA door width.
Anyone who needs an accessible restroom can filter the map to the places marked yes for it. Every place you add saves someone else a trip to find out the hard way. Meet Braillito Maps.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ADA sink height?
34 inches (865 mm) at most, measured to the front of the rim or the counter, whichever is higher (2010 ADA Standards, 606.3).
How much knee clearance does an ADA sink need?
At least 30 inches (760 mm) wide, with at least 8 inches (205 mm) of depth at 27 inches above the floor and 11 inches (280 mm) at 9 inches (2010 ADA Standards, 306.3).
Do the pipes under an ADA sink have to be insulated?
They have to be insulated or otherwise configured so no one can touch them, and there can be no sharp or abrasive surfaces under the sink (2010 ADA Standards, 606.5).
How high can the mirror be over an ADA sink?
The bottom edge of the reflecting surface is 40 inches (1015 mm) above the floor at most; elsewhere in the room, 35 inches (890 mm) (2010 ADA Standards, 603.3). Where a restroom has mirrors, at least one has to meet this (2010 ADA Standards, 213.3.5).
Can an ADA sink have a cabinet under it?
As a rule, the space under the sink has to be open knee and toe clearance (2010 ADA Standards, 606.2). A cabinet is allowed in residential dwelling units, if it can be removed without touching the fixture and the floor and walls behind it are finished (2010 ADA Standards, 606.2, exception 3).
What kind of faucet does the ADA require?
One that works with one hand, without tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist, with 5 pounds (22.2 N) of force at most; a self-closing faucet stays open for at least 10 seconds (2010 ADA Standards, 606.4 and 309.4).
More accessibility guides
- ADA bathroom requirements: toilet height and position, grab bar height, sink height, stall sizes and turning space.
- ADA drinking fountains: spout height for wheelchair users and for standing people, hi-lo units, knee clearance, controls and water flow.
- ADA door width: 32 inches of clear width, maneuvering space, thresholds, hardware and opening force.
- ADA compliance: a checklist for small businesses, with the 2010 Standards section behind each item.
- Accessibility symbols: what the wheelchair symbol means, where it is required and the other access symbols.
- All accessibility guides
Sources
Every figure in this guide comes from one of these official texts, which we read in October 2026.
- 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. U.S. Department of Justice, published September 15, 2010; required for new work since March 15, 2012.
Braillito Maps
Find places with ramps, accessible toilets or tactile paving near you in Braillito Maps
In Braillito Maps, every place answers ten questions: step-free entrance or ramp, wide doorway, accessible restroom, accessible parking, tactile paving, braille signage, braille menu, audible signals, guide dogs welcome and a quiet environment. It is built by the people who need it, and every place gets a score out of ten.
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