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Home » DIY Projects » How to Make a Sink Drip Rail

How to Make a Sink Drip Rail

June 29, 2022 | By Jenna Sue DIY Projects

Could your kitchen use a little something extra to make it feel more custom and elevated? Are you tired of water dripping onto your sink cabinet? Well, I have a quick and easy project that solves both of these problems and can be done for around $10 (or using scrap wood & stain in your garage!) 

diy drip rail tutorialPin

Jump to:

  • What is a drip rail?
  • Supplies needed
  • How to make a sink drip rail
  • How to install a sink drip rail
  • FAQ

What is a drip rail?

Also called drip edge or ledge, drip rails are a strip of material (typically wood) mounted below sinks to protect the cabinet doors from dripping water. It is designed to divert water away from the face of the cabinetry via a channel routed along the underside.

Drip rails can also be used to hide a rough edge of a farmhouse sink cutout, or any uneven gaps. While they aren’t a common feature in most kitchens, you’ll spot them in the work of top designers like Jean Stoffer, Studio McGee and The Fox Group. Providing both form and function, this is one simple detail that’s a no-brainer to try at home.

sink drip railPin
Christopher Scott Cabinetry

Supplies needed

  • Wood board (we used 1x3x3′ oak)
  • Wood screws (we used 3″)
  • Stain + sealer
  • Drill
  • Jigsaw (for a radius edge)
  • Router or table saw (for the channel)

How to make a sink drip rail

Step 1: Measure and cut your wood

We used 1×3” oak sold by the foot at Home Depot (total = around $10). You can choose any type of wood you’d like, but a a typical drip rail is between 3/4”–2” thick, and a 1×3” is the most cost effective option.

1x3 oak board at home depotPin

The drip rail width and depth is also entirely up to you. We chose to have ours stick out just under 1″ deeper than the sink, and extend ~1” past each side of the sink (our sink is 30”, sink cabinet is 33”).

Step 2: Route a channel on the underside

This step is optional if your drip rail is purely decorative, but it’s important if you’d like the ledge to function properly. The groove will divert dripping water away from the face of the cabinets, preserving the finish on the doors. Lucas routed a groove by hand, near the front edge of the rail. 

routing drip rail groovePin
diy drip rail groovePin

If you don’t have a router, you could also make a few passes with a table saw set at the minimum blade height. 

Step 3: Cut curved edges

This step is also optional, but the radius edge will eliminate the risk of bumping into sharp corners. Trace a round object onto each end and cut out with a jigsaw—easy peasy!

radius edge oak boardPin
jigsaw cutting curvePin

Step 4: Sand, stain and poly

Finally, use an orbital sander to round off the sharp edges until you’re happy with the shape. I layered on a few different stains until I was happy with the color: Minwax Weathered Oak, Tinsmith Gray, and Special Walnut. 

staining sink drip railPin

Because it will be exposed to water, make sure to seal it well with poly or varnish. I applied three layers of a clear matte varnish.

How to install a sink drip rail

Step 1: Pre-drill holes below the sink

Clamp your drip rail in place and mark the bottom edge on the cabinet. Remove the drip rail and measure half the distance between the sink and your mark—this should be the center of your drip rail height. Mark a dot at this distance in the center, and near both ends of the sink. Then, drill through using a bit slightly smaller than the screws you plan to use. 

installing a sink drip railPin

We have a 2×4” frame behind the cabinet, so we had a long flexible bit extender to push the bit all the way through to the other side without hitting the sink. 

installing a sink drip ledgePin

Step 2: Clamp drip rail in place and mark hole locations

Once your holes are drilled, re-clamp the drip rail in place. From the back side of the cabinet, insert the same small drill bit into each hole. Use a hammer with enough force to leave an indent in the back of the drip rail. 

installing a sink drip edgePin

Step 3: Pre-drill holes into drip rail

Remove the drip rail, and locate the indentations made by the drill bit. Use the same bit to drill holes through each mark. This will ensure the screws are inserted in the correct location, and prevent the wood from splitting.

Pin
Pin

Step 4: Drill screws through back of sink cabinet

From the inside of the cabinet, drive screws into the holes until they start to peek through. The screws should be long enough to go at least 1” or so into the drip rail (we used 3” screws). 

installing a sink drip railPin

Step 5: Position rail under sink and drive screws through

Position your drip rail so that the screws line up with the holes, and clamp in place on last time. Finish driving each screw into the rail until tightened. 

installing a sink drip railPin

Unclamp, step back and admire your work!

wood sink drip rail closeupPin

Not only does break up the cabinetry and tie in with the oak wood floors, it grounds the large farmhouse sink and makes everything feel balanced. You just can’t go wrong with a drip rail!

diy sink drip railPin

FAQ


Are drip rails necessary?


Not at all, but they’re useful if water frequently drips onto your sink cabinets. Some farmhouse sinks have a built-in drip ledge (our Fireclay sink does!) so make sure to check first.


What can drip rails be made out of? 


While wood is the most common (and cost effective) choice, some designers choose to use the same material as the countertops (marble, quartz, stone etc). For a more subtle look, consider painting the drip rail the same color as your cabinetry to blend in.


Can I buy a pre-made drip rail?


Because of the many variables (sink and cabinet size, material, etc) you’d be hard pressed to find “standard” drip rails for sale. They may be available as an add-on option with a fully custom cabinetry builder. Fortunately, they are very simple and inexpensive to DIY—or a quick job for any carpenter/woodworker for hire. 

studio mcgee kitchen sink drip railPin
Shea McGee

Tell me: are you on board with the drip rail trend? Let me know in the comments!

Next week: sharing my experience trying Venetian plaster for the first time—you can follow along in my Instagram stories before the reveal!

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Comments

  1. af says

    August 9, 2022 at 3:57 pm

    Does the grove in the rail, under the sink, collect water? Can it get moldy in there?

    Reply
    • Jenna Sue says

      August 10, 2022 at 9:29 am

      There’s nothing holding the water there so it should drip down once it hits the groove 🙂

      Reply
  2. Ivory says

    July 7, 2022 at 11:21 pm

    Soooo pretty. If I had a farmhouse sink, I would want this for sure. Nicky done

    Reply
  3. Diana says

    July 3, 2022 at 7:28 pm

    I so admire all the beautiful work you and your husband do. Thank you so much for creating a post that walks through how to make the drip rail. This is definitely on our list of diy’s to tackle this summer!
    Can’t wait to incorporate this element into our kitchen!

    Reply
  4. sherry says

    June 29, 2022 at 8:15 pm

    where does the water go? does it stay on the rail and is wiped off later? Is the groove deep enough to catch much water?

    Reply
    • Jenna Sue says

      July 1, 2022 at 10:32 am

      In theory, the water should drip down the front of it and fall to the ground once it reaches the channel (in front of the cabinets). Using a caulk or silicone sealer underneath the sink is a good idea and we’ll get around to that soon. The wood is sealed but it would still be wise to wipe up any sitting water as needed.

      Reply
  5. suzanne says

    June 29, 2022 at 12:06 pm

    Love it! I’m a huge Devol/English country kitchen fan. I had no idea it would be so easy. Thank you!

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Jenna and I’ve been designing and DIY’ing my way through homes since 2008. Join me as I learn, share my experience, and hopefully encourage/inspire you along the way!

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