Vanity units

If you’re buying one piece of bathroom furniture, this is it. The vanity unit is the bathroom’s anchor: it combines the basin and the storage in one piece, sets the style of the room, and decides how the rest of the furniture (mirror cabinet, tall unit, set pieces) coordinates around it.

Get the vanity right and the bathroom plans itself. Get it wrong and everything else has to work around the mistake. This page covers what a vanity unit actually is, the sizes that fit each bathroom type, the wall-hung vs freestanding choice, and how to match it to the rest of the room.

What is a vanity unit?

A vanity unit combines a basin with built-in storage beneath it in a single piece of furniture. The basin sits on or into the cabinet top; the cupboard or drawers below provide storage and hide the supply and waste pipework. The result is one coordinated unit doing the job of a separate basin (with its pedestal or wall fixings) plus a separate storage cabinet. Cleaner, more storage, less visible plumbing.

Most modern vanity units include the basin as standard, sometimes called a "vanity unit with basin" or a "basin vanity unit." A smaller number are sold as the cabinet only, designed for a separate countertop basin you choose yourself. The product listing always specifies which.

Vanity unit sizes

Vanity units come in standardised widths so the basin sizes and storage configurations align across the range. The table below matches common widths to the rooms they suit best.

Width	Height	Depth	Suits
400–500mm	800–850mm	350–400mm	Cloakrooms and tight ensuites
600–700mm	800–850mm	450–500mm	Standard family bathrooms
800–900mm	800–850mm	450–500mm	Larger family bathrooms with extra storage
1000–1200mm	800–850mm	500–550mm	Master bathrooms; double-basin where width allows
1200mm+	800–850mm	500–550mm	Double vanity units for shared or ensuite bathrooms

Two practical notes on sizing. Measure the wall run carefully — a vanity that fits the wall in product photos won’t fit if the door swing or radiator intrudes. Check the basin width within the unit width; a 600mm vanity might have a 550mm basin, leaving 25mm of counter on each side, which can feel cramped at the taps.

Wall-hung vs freestanding vanity units

Two mounting types dominate the range, each with practical trade-offs:

• Wall-hung. The vanity mounts directly to the wall with no contact to the floor underneath. Looks more modern, makes the bathroom floor easier to clean, and visually opens up smaller rooms. The catch: the wall needs to be strong enough to take the load (a 600mm vanity full of contents is typically 30–40kg), so stud walls often need reinforcing.
• Freestanding. The vanity sits on the floor with a kickplate at the base. Simpler to fit (no wall reinforcement needed), hides the pipework completely behind the cabinet back, and reads as warmer in traditional or country bathrooms. Slightly harder to clean around the base over time.

For the full picture, browse wall-hung vanity units or read the wall-hung vs freestanding comparison guide.

Choose a style and a matching set

The vanity sets the style of the bathroom, so style is the next decision once you’ve picked the size and mounting. Traditional vanities (panelled fronts, classic handles, painted or oak finishes) suit period homes; modern vanities (handleless or push-open doors, gloss or matt finishes) suit contemporary homes. Match the vanity style to the rest of the house, not to personal taste in isolation.

The bigger value, though, is buying the vanity as part of a matched set. A coordinated vanity + mirror cabinet + tall unit in the same range guarantees the finish whites match exactly, the proportions read as a designed family, and the per-piece price is usually 10–20% lower than the same three pieces bought separately. The vanity is the anchor; the set is what makes the bathroom read as planned rather than assembled.

Browse bathroom furniture sets, or read how to build a matching set if you’d rather assemble one piece by piece from a single range.

Vanity unit FAQs

What is a vanity unit?

A vanity unit combines a basin with built-in storage beneath it in a single piece of furniture. The basin sits on or into the cabinet top; the cupboard or drawers below provide storage and hide the supply and waste pipework. One coordinated unit replacing what would otherwise be a separate basin plus a separate storage cabinet.

What size vanity unit do I need?

Cloakrooms suit 400–500mm wide vanities; standard UK family bathrooms suit 600–800mm; larger family bathrooms suit 800–1000mm with extra storage; master bathrooms and shared ensuites suit 1000mm+ or double units from 1200mm. Always measure the wall run and check the basin width within the unit width before ordering.

Do vanity units come with a basin?

Most modern vanity units include the basin as standard (sold as a "vanity unit with basin"). A smaller number are sold as the cabinet only, designed for a separate countertop basin. The product listing always specifies. If you’re replacing an existing vanity, the basin-included option is usually the simpler buy.

Single or double vanity unit?

A double vanity (two basins side by side) suits shared bathrooms and ensuites from about 1200mm width, where morning routines compress and two people need the basin at once. Below 1200mm, a single vanity with extra storage usually serves better than a double with cramped basins. Double vanities also need two sets of supply and waste pipework, which adds to install cost.

Can I fit a wall-hung vanity to any wall?

Most walls can take a wall-hung vanity, but stud walls often need reinforcing with timber backing to take the load (a 600mm vanity full of contents is typically 30–40kg). Brick and block walls are straightforward. Worth confirming with a plumber or installer before ordering if you’re not sure what your wall is made of.

Filter the grid above by width, mounting, finish and basin-included. For the broader category, browse the bathroom furniture hub, or pair the vanity with a matching mirror cabinet.

We’ve been supplying UK bathroom furniture since 1999, with a 4.8/5 rating from over 60,000 Trustpilot reviews, free UK delivery, a price match promise and 365-day returns, so a vanity-led refresh is a low-risk job to commit to.

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