I’m working on finalizing the bathroom vanities for our new build, so I’ve spent a LOT of time lately looking at vanity options and sorting through all of the details. We’re doing a mix of custom and premade vanities throughout our home, depending on the space, our needs, and our budget.
I’ve heard from so many of you that shopping for a bathroom vanity online can feel overwhelming, and I totally get it! There are a lot of details to consider beyond simply finding one with a look you love. But once you know what to look for, it’s much easier to narrow down your options and avoid costly mistakes.
From getting the size and storage right to choosing the countertop, sink, and cabinet construction, a little planning upfront goes a long way. So while all of these decisions are fresh in my mind, I’m sharing 10 things to consider when choosing the right bathroom vanity for your space. Let’s get to it… (post includes commissionable links; for more information, see my full disclosure statement {here})
1. Measure More than Just Your Wall Space
The first step in choosing a bathroom vanity is figuring out what size will work best in your space. Don’t simply measure your available wall space and buy the largest vanity that will fit. Think about everything around it too, including:
- Toilet clearance: You need at least 15″ from the center of the toilet to the side of your vanity, but 18″+ is more comfortable.
- Doors: Make sure your bathroom, closet, and shower doors can open fully without hitting the vanity.
- Drawer clearance: Make sure drawers won’t hit nearby door trim, walls, towel bars, or other obstacles when they’re fully opened.
- Wall & door trim: Baseboards, door casings, and other trim can affect how closely a vanity can sit against a wall.
- Existing plumbing: If you’re remodeling, keeping your sink near its current location can save you the added expense of moving plumbing.
And if your vanity is going between two walls, measure carefully before trying to squeeze a premade vanity into a space that’s close to the same width as the vanity. Since walls aren’t always perfectly square, it’s not always that cut and dry! And don’t forget to account for baseboards and other trim.
We ran into this when we remodeled our girls’ bathroom and found {this 54″ vanity”} for our 55″ wide niche:
Sources: Wallpaper | Double vanity | 2-Light cone sconces | Medicine cabinet mirrors | Faucets | White hexagon floor tile
I created a cardboard template of the vanity and made sure it fit the 55″ nook at multiple points, from the height of the vanity top all the way down to the floor.
2. Choose Storage That Works for You
Some bathroom vanities have mostly cabinet storage while others are primarily drawers – it’s important to choose the mix that’s right for your space! For bathrooms connected to bedrooms, I prefer to go heavy on the drawers. Bonus points if they have built-in organizers like my girls’ bathroom vanity that has a faux drawer with a tilt-out toothbrush holder:
and another drawer with built-in dividers:
Pay attention to drawer height too, especially if you want to store taller bottles upright. I almost pulled the trigger on {this beautiful wall-mounted vanity} for one of my girls’ bathrooms but realized the drawers aren’t deep enough to hold taller hair spray and cleaning bottles:
Sources: Vanity | Wall-mount faucet | Metal mirror | Sconces
A vanity like this would be better suited for a guest bathroom or powder room where storage needs are minimal.
3. Know Exactly What’s Included
A huge plus of buying a premade vanity is that most are sold as complete packages that include the cabinet, countertop, sink, hardware, backsplash, and sometimes side splashes. One example is {this double vanity} that we added to the primary bathroom in our previous home:
Sources: Wood & rattan double vanity | Vanity knobs | Vanity lights | Vanity mirrors (gold) | Round seagrass tray on vanity (similar) | Soap & lotion sink set with tray
While it’s definitely not cheap, the price includes the vanity cabinet, countertop, backsplash, and sinks. That’s important to keep in mind when comparing prices! A premade vanity may cost a few hundred dollars more than a custom vanity cabinet at first glance, but once you add the cost of the countertop slab, fabrication, sinks, and backsplash to the custom vanity, the premade option can end up costing significantly less.
Some things to think about include:
Hardware: Is it included and, if so, do you like it? If you don’t love the included knobs or pulls, can they easily be swapped out?
Backsplash: If you want a backsplash, is it included? If you prefer no backsplash but one is included, is it packaged separately so you can choose whether or not to install it?
Side splashes: If your vanity sits against a side wall and you want a side splash, is that an available option?
4. Look at What It’s Made Of
While most custom vanities are well constructed, the quality of premade vanities can vary quite a bit. Solid wood can be a sign of a quality vanity, but well-made plywood and moisture-resistant MDF can also be good choices for bathroom cabinetry when properly constructed and finished. Avoid vanities made with particleboard, which is more likely to swell and deteriorate when exposed to moisture.
A few other features to look for include:
- Dovetail drawer construction (a sign of quality craftsmanship)
- Full-extension drawer glides that let you access the entire drawer (not a must-have but a nice extra!)
- Adjustable shelves
- Soft-close doors and drawers
- U-shaped drawers that fit around plumbing (instead of just a faux drawer front), such as this one in our powder bath vanity:
5. Pay Attention to the Countertop
If the countertop is included with your vanity, make sure it fits both your taste and your lifestyle. Quartz is a great low-maintenance option because it’s durable and doesn’t require sealing. Marble is beautiful, but it’s more prone to etching and staining and requires a little more TLC. Specifically, sealing it with an impregnator sealer like {this one} penetrates below the surface of the marble and helps protect it from stains:
Also keep in mind that if the countertop is marble or another natural stone, every slab is unique, so the veining and coloring won’t be identical to what you see in the product photos. With quartz and other engineered stone countertops, you have a much better idea of exactly what you’re getting.
One more important detail to check is the faucet hole configuration. Premade vanities with countertops will typically have the faucet holes pre-drilled to fit either a widespread faucet (faucet + two handles) or a single-hole faucet. If you’ve already chosen your faucet or have a preference for the type of faucet, make sure the vanity top will work with it before ordering.
6. Make Sure Your Plumbing Will Work
If you’re replacing an existing vanity and don’t want to move your plumbing, look closely at the back of the vanity and its drawer configuration. Some vanities have a large open area in back that gives your plumber plenty of room to work around existing pipes, while others have drawers or structural pieces that leave much less flexibility.
Sink placement matters too. If your current plumbing is centered on the wall and you choose a vanity with an offset sink like {this one}…
you may end up with more plumbing work than you expected. That’s not necessarily a dealbreaker, but it’s something you’ll want to know before ordering rather than discovering it on installation day.
7. Consider Delivery & Installation Logistics
This is one of those things you don’t think about until a giant, extremely heavy vanity gets dropped off at your doorstep. 😂 Vanities with stone countertops can weigh hundreds of pounds, so check the weight before ordering and have a plan for getting it where it needs to go. This is especially important if the bathroom is upstairs!
It’s SO important to check exactly what type of delivery is included with your vanity order. There’s a big difference between a vanity being delivered curbside (they won’t go further than the end of your driveway), having it brought inside your entryway, and having it delivered to the room of your choice (often for an additional fee). In some cases (like with Wayfair vanities), delivery options aren’t part of the product listing but are provided as part of checkout.
Also check whether the countertop ships attached to the vanity or separately. Having the cabinet and countertop in two pieces can make getting a large vanity into place MUCH easier. But for this baby that was delivered with the countertop attached, some major muscle is required!
And before ordering, measure every doorway, hallway, stairway, and tight turn between your home’s entrance and the bathroom to ensure it will fit.
8. Read ALL the Customer Reviews
I rely so much on customer reviews when buying premade bathroom vanities! And for me, it’s less about the number of stars and more about what reviewers actually have to say. You’ll hardly ever see a product that everyone is satisfied with, but if the same issue is consistently described across multiple reviews, that’s when I’d reconsider buying that vanity.
Also check customer photos if they’re available – those are gold!
Customer photos are especially helpful for getting a better idea of the true color and finish. Wood tones and paint colors can look VERY different in real life than they do in the manufacturer’s images, especially now that so many manufacturers are using AI to create their images.
9. Check the Return Policy
Before ordering, check the return policy so you know what your options are if the vanity doesn’t meet your expectations. Pay attention to how long you have to make a return, whether you’ll be responsible for return shipping, and if there are any restocking fees. With something as large and heavy as a bathroom vanity, return shipping can be pricey!
10. Plan Ahead for Lead Time
Pay attention to the estimated shipping or lead time and don’t wait until the last minute to order your vanity. Even if it’s listed as in stock, shipping can take several weeks depending on the retailer and type of delivery. I also recommend building in some extra time in case your vanity arrives damaged. You’ll be glad you have a little wiggle room if you need to order a replacement without holding up your entire bathroom project.
When to Consider a Custom Vanity
The biggest benefit of a premade vanity is that it’s almost always less expensive, but there are definitely times when going custom is worth the added cost. One huge benefit is that a custom vanity can be made to fit your exact space. It’s especially nice if you have an unusual layout or want to maximize every inch of storage.
You also get to choose EXACTLY what you want, including drawers vs. doors, color or finish, type of countertop, and type of sink. In our new build, I’m using a premade vanity in one of my daughter’s bathrooms and our guest bathroom. But in our primary bathroom and my other daughter’s bathroom, I’m going with custom vanities.
The two custom vanities in our primary bathroom will each be 66″ long to maximize the available wall space, with beautiful fluted detailing along the top. This rendering is missing the decorative toekick we added but it gives you an idea of the final look:
Source Links: Mirror | Sconces
I’ve also designed my vanity to have a drawer with outlets and holders for my hair dryer and curling iron.
The reason I chose a custom vanity in one of my daughter’s bathrooms is that the vanity is in a nook with walls on both sides and a cabinetmaker will be able to make a vanity that’s a perfect fit. This is our current design plan for it:
Sources: 38″ Scalloped wood mirror | Olive leaf sconces | Arched faucet
Where to Buy Bathroom Vanities
I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time shopping for bathroom vanities over the years and my #1 source is Wayfair. It’s where I’ve bought three of my four premade vanities. Their selection can’t be beat and I find their customer reviews to be extremely helpful. In addition to the two vanities in our current home, I also bought this vanity from Wayfair for the guest bathroom in our previous home:
My exact vanity is no longer available, but {this vanity} is a similar option except it’s drilled for a single-hole faucet rather than a widespread faucet.
For our new build, two of the vanities I’m considering for our guest bathroom are {this natural oak vanity} and {this light sage vanity}:
And some of the contenders for my daughter’s bathroom are {this gray bathroom vanity}, {this light blue bathroom vanity}, and {this gorgeous vanity} (if it goes on sale – it’s a pricey sucker!):
Other online sources for bathroom vanities include Pottery Barn, Rejuvenation, and Lowe’s.
I hope this post makes shopping for a bathroom vanity online a little less overwhelming and helps you find one that’s a great fit for your space! If you’re working on a bathroom remodel or new build, you can find more of my bathroom design tips and ideas here:
Mixing Metals in Your Bathroom
Must-Have Bathroom Measurements
15 Bathroom Remodel Ideas on a Budget
20 Small Bathroom Storage Ideas
XO,
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Becky says
Kris, we just went through this and these tips are so helpful. Our vanity (92”) was custom, and one thing we did was have the center cabinet made as a pullout hamper. It’s worked out so well! I’m sure your tips will come in handy for lots of people!