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Choose the KBU44 if its shallower bowl and broad rounded corners suit your washing habits and the complete installed quote is lower. Choose the 16-gauge KHU100-32 if you want a deeper bowl and tighter corners. Both start with a 36-inch minimum cabinet, but their outlines differ. The shared “32-inch” label does not make them interchangeable.
This comparison concerns KBU44 and KHU100-32 in stainless steel, single-bowl undermount configurations. It does not cover the separate KHU100-32/18 variant or a faucet bundle. Match the complete model before comparing offers.
Dimensions · Daily use · Replacement checks · Which to buy
The important differences are inside the bowl
| Published specification | KBU44 | KHU100-32 |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior, left to right × front to back | 32⅜ × 18½ inches | 32 × 19 inches |
| Bowl, left to right × front to back | 30⅜ × 16⅝ inches | 30 × 17 inches |
| Published bowl/sink depth | 8⅝-inch bowl; 9-inch overall in KBU44 sheet | 10-inch sink depth in KHU100-32 sheet |
| Steel gauge | 18 | 16; separate /18 model excluded |
| Minimum cabinet in specification | 36 inches wide; 24 inches front to back | 36 inches wide; 24 inches front to back |
| Corner shape | Broad rounded corners | Tighter-radius corners |
The KBU44 is slightly wider outside, while the KHU100-32 extends farther front to back. Inside, one is slightly wider and the other slightly deeper front to back. A single “bigger sink” label hides those differences. Compare your largest pot or tray at the height where it will actually rest.
Depth needs a second check: the current KHU retail description distinguishes a 10-inch bowl from a 10½-inch overall depth, while its specification summarizes sink depth as 10 inches. Use the full dimensional drawing and actual assembly for plumbing clearance; do not budget under-cabinet space from the short product title.
Shallower reach or deeper washing space?
A useful way to choose is to rehearse the task you repeat most often. For wiping a frying pan, think about reaching its far edge and lifting it out. For filling a tall stockpot, think about faucet clearance and how much of the pot you want below the countertop. Those preferences can point to different sinks.
The KBU44’s broader corner curves reduce the tight turns a cloth must follow. The KHU’s tighter corners preserve a more rectangular shape near the edges. Neither fact proves faster cleaning in your kitchen, and a published bowl rectangle does not guarantee that a square pan will sit flat on the bottom grid. Bring the cookware, or a full-size outline including its handles, when checking a physical sink.
Both models include a protective grid and strainer in the manufacturer documentation. The grid changes the height where a pan rests and needs its own cleaning. Our KBU44 grid and drain guide explains why the bowl opening and grid dimensions should not be substituted for each other.
What does 16 gauge buy you?
The KHU100-32 uses thicker steel than the 18-gauge KBU44. That is a construction difference, not a measured noise or damage score. Both specifications describe sound-dampening treatment; we have not tested either with a disposal or dropped cookware, so we cannot rank their installed loudness.
If gauge is your only reason to pay more, inspect the whole design first: bowl depth, corners, grid, support and the quote from your installer. The 16-versus-18-gauge explanation puts thickness in that broader context. A sink that fits your work habits can be the better purchase even when it is not the thicker option.
Check 16-gauge KHU100-32 on Amazon
An existing cutout changes the decision
Before choosing either model for a replacement, have the fabricator compare the actual countertop opening with the new sink’s rim, corner geometry and mounting method. A small difference in outer width says little about whether the flange will be supported all the way around. Avoid ordering on the assumption that two nominally 32-inch sinks use the same template.
- Cabinet: check the manufacturer’s minimum, then the usable interior, supports and mounting access. The cabinet measurement guide separates these dimensions.
- Countertop: confirm the finished opening and intended reveal with the actual sink and current template.
- Plumbing: compare the drain position and the proposed strainer or disposal assembly with the wall outlet. We do not infer a common drain position from the bowl width.
- Reach: include countertop thickness, grid height and faucet position in the dry run.
Compare the installed job, not just the sink price
Ask for two itemized totals: sink package, required fittings, countertop work, support changes and plumbing labor. If the cheaper sink needs more fabrication, the initial saving may disappear. Conversely, there is little reason to pay for a deeper bowl you find awkward to reach into.
- Shortlist KBU44: you prefer broad corners and a shallower basin, and its complete quote offers a worthwhile saving.
- Shortlist KHU100-32: the deeper, tighter-corner bowl matches your cookware and you value its thicker steel.
- Choose neither yet: the old cutout, drain clearance or cabinet requirement has not been approved.
Neither model has the integrated accessory ledge that defines a workstation sink. If that is the feature you actually want, start with the KHU100-32 versus KWU110-32 comparison.
View KBU44 package and current offer
View KHU100-32 package and current offer
Research basis: KRAUS KBU44 specification and installation manual; KHU100-32 specification and product description; exact US Amazon variants. No interchangeable-cutout, quietness or durability test was performed. Checked September 23, 2026. This is document-based buying guidance, not a hands-on test. Product packages and offers can change.
If the lower-priced KBU14 is also on your shortlist, compare its current bowl dimensions, center drain and included package against KHU100-32. KBU14 and KBU44 are different models; older KBU14 reviews can also describe equipment that is not listed in the current package.