Pedestal Basins: Full vs Half Pedestal and Where Each Fits

A pedestal basin hides the pipes under the basin with a ceramic column, giving a clean, classic look without needing a vanity. There are two kinds: the full pedestal, which stands on the floor, and the half pedestal, which hangs on the wall. Which one suits you depends mostly on where your pipes come out and how you like to clean.

Full pedestal basins

A full pedestal is a basin plus a floor-standing column. The column hides the waste pipe and trap completely, and also gives the basin some support. Full pedestal basins usually run from about 500x410 mm to 620x440 mm (roughly 20x16 to 24x17 inch), with a total height of about 830 to 950 mm.

Full pedestals tend to suit:

• Rental flats. A durable, no-fuss basin that tenants understand and that hides untidy plumbing.
• Older homes. Many older bathrooms have the waste outlet at floor level or very low on the wall. A full pedestal covers it neatly without moving pipes.
• Larger bathrooms where there is space around the basin and you want a traditional look.

The one downside is cleaning. Water and dust collect around the base of the column, and the gap behind it is awkward to mop. Seal the base to the floor with a thin bead of white silicone so water does not seep under it.

Half pedestal basins

A half pedestal (sometimes called a wall-hung pedestal) is a wall-hung basin with a short column fixed below it. The column covers the bottle trap and the pipe going into the wall, but stops short of the floor.

Half pedestals suit:

• Easy floor cleaning. The floor below is completely open, so mopping is quick.
• Wall waste outlets. When the waste comes out of the wall at mid height, the half column covers it perfectly.
• Small and medium bathrooms where you want a tidier look than an open bottle trap.

Like any wall-hung basin, a half pedestal must be bolted into a solid wall. Our wall-hung basins page covers fixing and height in detail.

Full vs half at a glance

Placing the pedestal and the plumbing points

This is where most problems happen. The pedestal column must sit right in front of the waste pipe, or the pipe will be visible beside it. Before tiling:

• Mark the basin centre on the wall.
• Keep the waste outlet on that centre line, low enough to sit inside or behind the column.
• Place the water inlets (angle valves) on either side, close enough that they are mostly hidden by the basin edge.
• For a full pedestal, check the floor is level where the column will stand, so the basin does not tilt.

If you are replacing an old basin in a finished bathroom, measure the existing waste position from the floor and from the side wall, and bring those numbers when you choose.

Floor and wall tiles around it

Use a matt or anti-skid floor tile in the basin area, since splashes land there. A full pedestal on a highly glossy floor shows every water ring around the base. See the bathroom page for tile pairings.

If you need storage, compare table-top and under-counter basins, or read the wash basins overview for every type side by side.

Note your waste pipe position and contact the shop to ask which pedestal sets are in stock.