For a drop-in with faucet holes, pick the Kohler Pennington K-2196-4-7. For undermount, the Kohler Caxton K-2209-7. For a matte black vessel, the Swiss Madison Monaco (straight sides) or Sublime (rounded).
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This guide compares four black bathroom sinks using Kohler and Swiss Madison spec sheets.
Black bathroom sinks compared (maker spec sheets)
On a phone, swipe or scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Model | Maker’s color | Mount | Size | Faucet holes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kohler Pennington K-2196-4-7 | Black Black | Drop-in | 20-1/4 x 17-1/2 in. oval | 3, 4-in. centerset |
| Kohler Caxton K-2209-7 | Black Black | Undermount | 17 x 14 in. oval | None |
| Swiss Madison Monaco SM-VS252MB | Matte Black | Above-counter vessel | 16-9/16 in. round | None |
| Swiss Madison Sublime SM-VS212MB | Matte Black | Above-counter vessel | 16-15/16 in. round | None |
Kohler lists its black as Black Black, color code 7, on vitreous china sinks. Swiss Madison lists Matte Black glazed ceramic vessel sinks. The mounting style decides what faucet and counter you need. For the same shapes in other colors, see our drop-in, undermount and vessel sink guides.
Kohler Pennington K-2196-4-7: drop-in with faucet holes
Choose the Pennington for a black drop-in sink that takes a standard 4-inch faucet. Kohler’s spec sheet (resources.kohler.com) lists a 20-1/4-inch oval drop-in vitreous china sink with three faucet holes on 4-inch centers, an overflow drain and Black Black as color code 7.
The technical table lists a 16 by 11-inch bowl area, a 4-inch water depth, 1-1/4-inch faucet holes, a 1-3/4-inch drain hole and an included cut-out template that Kohler says the countertop cutter must use. It lists ADA compliance when installed as specified and a one-year limited warranty. On October 15, 2026, the standard new offer sold by Amazon.com showed limited stock with model K-2196-4-7. For a matching faucet, see our centerset bathroom faucet guide.
Check Kohler Pennington K-2196-4-7 black bathroom sink on Amazon →
Kohler Caxton K-2209-7: black undermount oval
Choose the Caxton for a black sink under a solid countertop. Kohler’s spec sheet (resources.kohler.com) lists a 17-inch oval undermount vitreous china sink with an unglazed underside, an overflow drain, no faucet holes and Black Black as color code 7, with basin clamps included.
It lists a 15-1/4 by 12-1/4-inch bowl area, a 5-3/4-inch bowl depth, a 4-inch water depth and a 1-3/4-inch drain hole. The cut-out template is required but not included; Kohler offers it online. Because there are no faucet holes, you need a faucet that mounts on the counter or wall. The warranty is one-year limited. On October 15, 2026, the standard new offer sold by Amazon.com was in stock with model K-2209-7. More in our Kohler bathroom sink guide.
Check Kohler Caxton K-2209-7 black undermount sink on Amazon →
Swiss Madison Monaco SM-VS252MB: straight-sided vessel
Choose the Monaco for a straight-sided matte black vessel bowl. Swiss Madison’s spec sheet (images.salsify.com) lists a glazed ceramic above-counter vessel sink with a chrome-finish overflow and a standard 1-3/4-inch drain hole, in matte black among three finishes.
It lists a 16-9/16-inch round size, a 6-5/16-inch height and a 16.5-pound net weight. The pop-up drain with overflow (SM-PD23) and the faucet are sold separately. On October 15, 2026, the standard new offer sold by Amazon.com showed limited stock with model SM-VS252MB.
Check Swiss Madison Monaco SM-VS252MB black vessel sink on Amazon →
Swiss Madison Sublime SM-VS212MB: rounded bowl vessel
Choose the Sublime for a rounded matte black vessel bowl. Swiss Madison’s spec sheet (images.salsify.com) lists a glazed ceramic above-counter vessel with a chrome-finish overflow and a standard 1-3/4-inch drain hole, in matte black among three finishes.
It lists a 16-15/16-inch round size, a 6-11/16-inch height and a 17.63-pound net weight, with the SM-PD23 pop-up drain and faucet sold separately. On October 15, 2026, the standard new offer sold by Amazon.com was in stock with model SM-VS212MB.
Check Swiss Madison Sublime SM-VS212MB black vessel sink on Amazon →
Drop-in, undermount or vessel?
A drop-in sink like the Pennington sits in a counter hole on its own rim and has faucet holes, so a standard centerset faucet fits. An undermount sink like the Caxton hangs below a solid counter, and the faucet mounts on the counter or wall. A vessel sink sits on top of the counter, so it needs a tall vessel faucet or a wall-mount faucet. Vessel bowls add height, so check the counter height plus the 6-5/16 to 6-11/16-inch bowl height before buying.
Faucets and drains for black sinks
Only the Pennington has faucet holes. For the Caxton and the vessel sinks, plan the faucet separately; see our black bathroom faucet guide and wall-mount bathroom faucet guide. All four list a 1-3/4-inch drain hole and an overflow, so use a pop-up drain with an overflow opening. Swiss Madison names its SM-PD23 drain; for others, see our pop-up drain guide.
Sizes and counter space
Measure the vanity before choosing. The Pennington is 20-1/4 by 17-1/2 inches overall with a 16 by 11-inch bowl, and Kohler’s drawing shows a 10-inch depth below the rim. The Caxton is 17 by 14 inches with a 15-1/4 by 12-1/4-inch bowl 5-3/4 inches deep. The Swiss Madison vessels are 16-9/16 and 16-15/16 inches round, so they need at least that much clear counter plus room behind for the faucet. Kohler’s drawings show recommended ADA installation clearances for both Kohler sinks, including a 34-inch rim height and 27 inches of knee clearance.
Installing a black sink
For the Pennington, the countertop cutter uses the template that comes in the box. For the Caxton, Kohler says to use its current online template, and the drawing shows sealant at the rim for marble and wood counters with the included basin clamps. For the vessels, the drain passes through a 1-3/4-inch counter hole; Swiss Madison names its SM-PD23 pop-up drain with an overflow. Kohler’s drawings show a 1-1/4-inch outlet on both of its sinks and recommend its K-8998 P-trap; see our P-trap guide.
Matching finishes in the bathroom
If you are matching a black faucet, drain or toilet, note that finishes are named by each maker. Kohler’s Black Black is color code 7 on these sinks and on the Kohler Highline toilet in our black toilet guide. Swiss Madison offers Matte Black on these vessels and on its St. Tropez toilet. Buying from one maker keeps the color code the same.
Care and warranty
Kohler lists a one-year limited warranty on both sinks and recommends its K-23726 drain treatment and K-23725 cleaner. Swiss Madison’s sheets do not list a warranty term; check the product page before you buy.
Check these before you order
- Mount. Drop-in, undermount or vessel.
- Faucet holes. Only the Pennington has them.
- Template. Included for the Pennington; download for the Caxton.
- Drain. 1-3/4-inch hole with overflow on all four.
- Finish. Kohler Black Black or Swiss Madison Matte Black.
- Drain and faucet. Sold separately for the vessels.
Which black bathroom sink should you buy?
For a drop-in sink that takes a standard faucet, the Kohler Pennington K-2196-4-7. For an undermount oval under a solid counter, the Kohler Caxton K-2209-7. For a straight-sided matte black vessel, the Swiss Madison Monaco. For a rounded matte black vessel, the Swiss Madison Sublime. For a matching toilet, see our black toilet guide.
Frequently asked questions
What do makers call their black sinks?
Kohler uses Black Black (code 7); Swiss Madison uses Matte Black (MB).
Which black sink has faucet holes?
The Kohler Pennington, with three holes on 4-inch centers.
Which mounts under the counter?
The Kohler Caxton K-2209-7.
Do the vessel sinks include a drain?
No; Swiss Madison lists the SM-PD23 pop-up drain as sold separately.
What drain size do they use?
All four list a 1-3/4-inch drain hole.
How we chose
This document-based guide makes no hands-on testing claim. We read Kohler’s sheets for the Pennington K-2196-4 and Caxton K-2209 and Swiss Madison’s sheets for the Monaco SM-VS252MB and Sublime SM-VS212MB. On October 15, 2026, we checked each linked standard new Amazon offer for model, seller, stock and an add-to-cart button. Read our selection method and about Plumbing Picks.
Primary sources
- Kohler K-2196-4 spec sheet (resources.kohler.com): Pennington.
- Kohler K-2209 spec sheet (resources.kohler.com): Caxton.
- Swiss Madison SM-VS252MB spec sheet (images.salsify.com): Monaco.
- Swiss Madison SM-VS212MB spec sheet (images.salsify.com): Sublime.