Can a cracked sink be repaired?

Sometimes. A crack that only breaks the glaze and stays dry underneath can be filled with a colour-matched epoxy. A crack that runs through the bowl or lets water through cannot be repaired, and the sink gets replaced.

Why did my sink crack?

Most bowls crack from a hard knock, from thermal shock after a pan of hot water, or from age. A bowl that cracked on its own over months often has a thin or unsupported base under it.

Does a sink with a hole leak into the cabinet?

Yes, once the water gets past the bowl. A hole or a through crack lets water run onto the cabinet floor and the base under the counter. Shut the water off and dry it out before the cabinet swells.

Can I fill a hole in a sink with epoxy?

Only when the hole is a shallow chip in the glaze. Epoxy sits on the surface and cracks away from a soft or moving bowl. A hole right through the bowl needs a new sink.

Is it cheaper to replace the sink or the whole countertop?

Replacing the sink alone is almost always cheaper. The countertop comes out only when the cut-out does not fit a standard sink or the counter is damaged around the rim.

Sink has a hole or a crack in the bowl

Reviewed by Josh Arneson, Handyman and Property ManagerPublished November 5, 2026

A hole or crack in a sink bowl is damage to the basin, not to the plumbing underneath. A chip that only breaks the glaze on a hard sink gets filled with a colour-matched epoxy and stays. A crack that runs through the bowl, or a hole with a rough edge, lets water into the base and gets worse with heat and weight, so the sink or the basin gets replaced. Shut the water off and stop using the sink until it is fixed, because a bowl that leaks damages the cabinet below.

Tell a chip from a through crack in 10 minutes

Turn the faucet off and dry the bowl with a towel.
Press a fingernail against the damaged spot. A chip is a shallow divot in the glaze with hard edges and a solid bottom.
Fill the bowl halfway with water and wait 15 minutes.
Shine a flashlight up at the bottom of the bowl from inside the cabinet below.
Look for a slow drip or a fresh damp ring on the cabinet floor.
Press the sides of the bowl gently and watch the damaged spot.

If the bowl stays dry underneath and the spot does not move, it is a cosmetic repair. If water seeps through, or the crack opens and closes as you press the sides, the bowl has failed and gets replaced.

Repair or replace

Situation	What to do
Chip in the glaze, bowl holds water, dry underneath	Repair. Clean and fill it with a colour-matched epoxy or porcelain repair kit.
Hairline crack at the surface, dry underneath, sink over 15 years old	Repair and watch it. Seal it and check it monthly, because hairline cracks spread.
Crack runs through the bowl, or water drips below	Replace the sink. Water is already getting into the cabinet and the base.
Thin composite or stone-resin bowl with a chunk missing	Replace. Filler on a soft bowl pops out under heat and weight.
Cast-iron or porcelain sink, crack moves when you press the sides	Replace. The enamel has separated from the iron and will not bond back.

Can I do it myself?

Yes for a chip in the glaze on a hard sink. Clean the spot with rubbing alcohol, let it dry, press a colour-matched epoxy or porcelain repair kit into the divot, and let it cure for 24 hours before water touches it. No for a crack that leaks or a hole with a rough edge, because filler on a bowl that flexes fails within weeks and hides water damage in the cabinet below. A drop-in or undermount sink swap takes a plumber or handyman about 2 hours, and the countertop cut-out has to match the new bowl.

What a contractor will ask you

Have these ready and you skip the back-and-forth.

How it happened and how long ago. A chip from a dropped glass is different from a crack that grew over months.
A photo of the whole sink and a close-up of the damaged spot.
A photo from inside the cabinet, looking up at the bottom of the bowl and the drain.
The age of the sink, and the brand or model if you know it.
Whether the bowl leaks when it holds water with the faucet off.
Whether you want to keep the countertop and replace only the basin.

Common questions

Can a cracked sink be repaired?: Sometimes. A crack that only breaks the glaze and stays dry underneath can be filled with a colour-matched epoxy. A crack that runs through the bowl or lets water through cannot be repaired, and the sink gets replaced.
Why did my sink crack?: Most bowls crack from a hard knock, from thermal shock after a pan of hot water, or from age. A bowl that cracked on its own over months often has a thin or unsupported base under it.
Does a sink with a hole leak into the cabinet?: Yes, once the water gets past the bowl. A hole or a through crack lets water run onto the cabinet floor and the base under the counter. Shut the water off and dry it out before the cabinet swells.
Can I fill a hole in a sink with epoxy?: Only when the hole is a shallow chip in the glaze. Epoxy sits on the surface and cracks away from a soft or moving bowl. A hole right through the bowl needs a new sink.
Is it cheaper to replace the sink or the whole countertop?: Replacing the sink alone is almost always cheaper. The countertop comes out only when the cut-out does not fit a standard sink or the counter is damaged around the rim.