Sink Tip-Out Trays: Sizes, Clearance and Buying Guide

A sink tip-out tray is a shallow container attached behind a hinged sink-front panel. The panel tilts outward to reveal storage for small items such as sponges and scouring pads. It works only when the cabinet front can be adapted and the tray, hinges, and contents clear the sink throughout the opening movement.

Before buying, inspect the space behind the false drawer front. Cabinet width alone does not establish whether a tray will fit, and a panel that looks like a drawer is not necessarily designed to open.

How Does a Sink Tip-Out Tray Work?

The tray attaches to the back of a front panel that pivots outward on dedicated tip-out hinges. Unlike a conventional drawer, it does not slide forward on drawer runners.

When closed, the panel maintains the appearance of the cabinet front. When opened, the shallow tray becomes accessible from above.

Three components must work together:

• The cabinet front, including its dimensions, material, and attachment.
• The tip-out hinges and their mounting arrangement.
• The tray and its clearance behind the panel.

A tray sold separately may not include hinges, fasteners, or everything required to convert a fixed front.

Tip-Out Trays vs. Pull-Out Shelves

A tip-out tray uses the narrow space immediately behind the sink-front panel. A pull-out shelf travels forward on slides from a larger cabinet compartment.

Choose between them by the storage problem you want to solve. A small sponge tray cannot replace accessible storage for cookware, and a full-depth pull-out may not fit around the sink and plumbing.

Our pull-out cabinet shelf guide explains how to evaluate sliding storage in base cabinets.

Is a Sink Tip-Out Tray Worth Adding?

It can be useful when you want a small, concealed place for sink accessories and have a compatible front and enough clearance.

It is less useful when you need substantial storage, prefer to leave cleaning tools out to dry, or would need extensive cabinet alterations to gain a very small compartment.

A tip-out tray is an optional convenience. Keeping a fixed panel is reasonable when the space behind it is too restricted or the proposed conversion is unsuitable.

Check the False Drawer Front Before Choosing a Tray

First determine how the existing front is attached. It may use clips, brackets, screws, or another fastening arrangement.

Inspect from inside the cabinet rather than pulling on the panel from outside. Support the front before releasing its fasteners, and check whether the proposed change is permitted for that cabinet.

One Wide Front or Two Separate Fronts?

A sink base may have one wide false front or two smaller panels. That arrangement affects tray length, hinge placement, and the number of components needed.

Two panels may require separate trays and hinge pairs. A wide panel does not automatically accept one long tray: its support, opening, and movement still need checking.

Count the fronts and inspect the cabinet behind them before comparing kit quantities.

A Decorative Panel Is Not a Complete Tip-Out Assembly

The panel needs suitable mounting surfaces for both the hinges and tray.

On a five-piece Shaker front, the recessed center and surrounding rails may have different thicknesses. Fasteners must suit the actual attachment location without penetrating the visible face.

Ordinary door hinges are not substitutes for the specified tip-out hinges. The opening movement and mounting geometry are different.

For the broader cabinet arrangement, see our kitchen sink base cabinet guide.

How to Measure for a Sink Tip-Out Tray

Measure the actual front opening and the space behind it. Compare those measurements with the selected tray and hinge instructions before removing or drilling the front.

Opening Width

Measure the clear width available for the assembly, including the space needed by the hinges at each side.

The tray may be narrower than the required cabinet opening. Its listed width alone does not establish the complete installation width.

For two separate fronts, measure each opening individually.

Opening Height

Check the opening height, panel height, and the intended mounting position of the tray.

A container may fit behind the panel while leaving too little room to reach into it when open. The hinge arrangement and panel movement also affect access.

Depth Behind the Front

Measure from the back of the front panel toward the nearest obstruction at the proposed tray location.

The obstruction may be the sink bowl, mounting hardware, a support component, or another part of the installation. Check more than one point if the sink surface curves or slopes.

A tray’s physical depth is not necessarily the minimum installation clearance. The required space may also include hardware, setbacks, and the opening movement.

Clearance While Opening

Check the full movement from closed to open. A tray that fits in the closed position can still contact the sink as the panel rotates.

Also inspect the panel’s lower edge and handle. They must clear the doors below and any neighboring hardware.

Changing the tray position may affect more than one clearance, so review the complete assembly after any adjustment.

What Sizes Do Sink Tip-Out Trays Come In?

Sizes vary by manufacturer and product family. Some trays have fixed dimensions, while others are specifically designed to be cut to length.

As a published manufacturer reference, Rev-A-Shelf’s 6572 series specification sheet lists the following polymer tray sizes:

These are product dimensions from the referenced specification sheet, not universal cabinet-opening requirements or RARA accessory specifications. Confirm the current model, included components, and installation drawing before ordering.

Source: Rev-A-Shelf sink-front tray specification sheet.

A Simple Fit-Check Example

Suppose a cabinet has 2 inches of measured space behind its false front. A tray that is 2⅛ inches deep already exceeds that space by ⅛ inch, before any additional installation clearance is considered.

That tray is not a suitable choice for the measured location.

A shallower tray might be worth investigating, but it still needs a complete clearance check. Do not move sink supports or cut the cabinet front simply to accommodate the first accessory you find.

Standard, Slim, and Cut-to-Size Trays

Choose the product format around the space available rather than selecting a material or width first.

Standard-Depth Trays

A standard-depth tray may offer more front-to-back storage than a slimmer alternative within the same product range.

Check the size of the items you intend to store. Extra depth has little value if the assembly cannot clear the installed sink.

Slim Trays

Slim models are intended for more restricted spaces, but “slim” does not describe one universal depth.

Compare the actual dimensions and required clearance. A slim tray can still be incompatible with a sink positioned close to the cabinet front.

Cut-to-Size Trays

Only trim a tray that is explicitly designed for cutting.

For example, Rev-A-Shelf’s 6551 product family uses an extruded polymer tray with end caps. This format allows the length to be adjusted according to its instructions.

That does not mean every fixed-size tray can be shortened. Cutting an unsuitable tray may remove mounting features or leave an open end that cannot retain its contents.

What Can You Store in a Tip-Out Tray?

Keep the contents small enough to sit within the tray and clear the sink when the panel closes.

Suitable items may include a compact sponge, scouring pad, or small cleaning accessory, depending on the tray’s shape and dimensions. Tall bottles, large brushes, and bulky tools usually need another storage location.

Check the contents as part of the fit test. An empty tray may operate correctly while a projecting handle or upright sponge creates interference.

Keep the Tray Clean and Dry

A concealed tray still needs regular cleaning. Remove accumulated water and debris, and allow wet cleaning items to dry in a suitable location.

Follow the tray manufacturer’s cleaning instructions. If the design allows the container to lift off its mounting screws, use that feature as instructed rather than forcing it off.

A tip-out tray is not a leak-protection system for the cabinet below.

Can You Add a Tip-Out Tray to an Existing Sink Cabinet?

Sometimes, but the front attachment and available space determine whether the conversion is practical.

A useful assessment follows this sequence:

1. Identify the sink cabinet and inspect the front attachment from inside.
2. Record the front and opening dimensions.
3. Measure the space behind the panel with the sink installed.
4. Select a compatible tray and hinge system.
5. Review the mounting locations, fasteners, and permitted modifications.
6. Test the complete movement before loading the tray.

Do not use a generic drilling pattern or screw length for every cabinet. Panel construction and hinge systems differ.

If the false front cannot be removed without damage, or the hinges lack suitable mounting surfaces, retaining the fixed front may be the better choice.

Planning a Tip-Out Tray With New RARA Cabinets

Choose the sink, sink base, and storage accessories together.

When reviewing RARA kitchen cabinet collections, identify the exact sink-base model and ask how its false front is attached. Provide the sink model and the proposed accessory’s installation drawing when requesting a compatibility review.

Also confirm whether a tip-out option is available for the selected cabinet. Do not assume it is included because a rendering shows a handle on the false front.

The same checks apply to pre-assembled kitchen cabinets. Factory cabinet-box assembly does not establish that an optional organizer has been supplied or installed.

Before ordering, confirm:

• The sink-base SKU and front configuration.
• Whether the front can accept the proposed conversion.
• Tray and hinge model numbers.
• Required opening and movement clearances.
• Suitable attachment locations and fasteners.
• Components included and any installation work remaining.

For a new kitchen layout, request a free room design review and identify the sink-front storage you would like to include. Final accessory compatibility should be confirmed for the selected cabinet, sink, and hardware.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Install a Tip-Out Tray Below a Farmhouse Sink?

Only if that particular sink and cabinet arrangement provides a suitable front and enough clearance. A visible sink apron may occupy the area where a conventional false front would otherwise be located.

Can You Add a Tip-Out Tray After the Countertop Is Installed?

It may be possible, but access can be more restricted. Inspect the fastening locations and available working space before buying the kit or removing the panel.

Do Tip-Out Trays Need Handles?

Follow the intended opening arrangement. Some systems use a pull, while other designs may provide a different gripping method. A handle should not be added without checking the panel and fastening location.

Does a Soft-Close Tip-Out Hinge Fit Any Tray?

No. Confirm compatibility among the front, hinge system, tray, and cabinet. Soft-close describes an operating feature; it does not establish fit.