There are difference in thickness (gauge) and color (how much nickel it has).
FWIW, I always find it easier to ask the entity selling the higher priced version to convince me why ... they should know!

btw unless it is a very large sink, i find the second bowl pretty useless

I had a double bowl sink similar to what you are talking about in my old kitchen. I have a single bowl in my new kitchen and love it way more. Clean up and food disposal is so much easier with the single bowl, especially when using a big pan or pot.

Price difference is exactly how mtnrdedux explained it.

jgopp, I was thinking it would be nice to have the small sink always available for food prep, despite what dirty dishes might be in the bigger one. You did not find that to be the case? Thanks for your input.

There are also 60/40 split sinks. I found in a big enough size the smaller size was actually more usable than the 70/30 split. I'm with you; I'd like to still be able to wash fruti/veggies, fill a measuring cup with water, etc if I have a sink of dirty pans/dishes. I do not have a prep sink either. I think IF I had a prep sink then I'd perhaps have different opinions on the double vs. single basin sinks. As for as price difference; I went with the kitchen designer and picked out a Franke!

There is no right or wrong answer about double vs single bowl. It is a matter of how you use your sink. I put the disposal in the larger bowl of my double bowl sink. This is working well because this is where I do most of the work of scraping plates, etc. I do like having the small bowl in addition -- basically I use it for a drying rack. My large bowl is large enough to set a big roasting pan or cookie sheet. I guess a double bowl works for me because one of my bowls is as large as many single bowl sinks. It also works because I have one of the low divide sinks.

I had double bowl 80/20 with disposer in smaller sink. really disliked it. always wanter disposal in larger sink. in new kitchen i have a ticor d shaped and a kraus rectangular in the butlers pantry - both single bowl with disposals. Much better. Also the grates are terrific. All the crap you would put in a smaller sink goes under the grate in my experience. I have small preference for the ticor although i think both are great and i've never regretted not getting a name brand.

I like a single bowl, but as Francoise already said, there is no "correct" choice - it's what YOU like and want. This topic has been discussed a lot on this forum, so you should do a search for other threads here. However, I would not do a double-bowl sink if you do not have at least a 33" width, preferably 36". Also, if you will have a prep sink elsewhere in your kitchen, you may not need the main sink to be a double-bowl.

Stainless steel sinks is one of the those items where some manufacturers are laughing all the way to the bank. You are paying a big upcharge for the Blanco name badge. Don't let people tell you that somehow the Blanco stainless steel is a superior quality to e.g. Kraus' stainless. Most of the Kraus and Ticor stainless sinks are 16 gauge; the Blanco sinks are mostly 18 gauge (i.e. thinner gauge than 16) with some Blanco sinks at 16 gauge. The Kraus and Ticor sinks are made in China. The Blanco sinks are made in various countries like Germany, Switzerland, Turkey and also China. It depends on the sink model. If the name badge is important to you (and there is nothing wrong with that), then you will pay more for the Blanco's and Frankes. If you don't care about the name, then shop for a sink with the dimensions, shape and price you like, and don't worry about the brand name.

With all the raves of a single bowl, I almost decided that was what we'll install (once this remodel gets under way) but the more I researched, I don't think the single bowl lovers mention often enough that besides the single bowl they have an additional prep sink. If you've got a "closet size kitchen", I'd get the 80/20. We're getting a 70/30 and EVERYTHING I have will fit comfortably in that size (possible exception frig pieces, but then they might).

As far as brands, I read a lot about Kraus and only heard good things about them.

Good luck

Some single bowls are a little more clever than just one big bowl. The Blanco Performa Cascade has a raised ledge where you can put a colander, and I think the colander comes with the sink. The main bowl is 10" deep and the ledge is 7-3/4" deep.

{{!gwi}}

The Franke Orca sink is gorgeous and it has lots of expensive accessories to make it work any way you want it to.

{{!gwi}}

Many on GW recommend Ticor sinks for good quality at a reasonable price. I wouldn't skimp on something I'll use every day, but I wouldn't pay much more than $350 for a sink.

We have installed the 45" Kohler Stages sink. It's just now being plumbed so haven't used it yet. It will be our only sink. It's nice and big. Everyone who has seen it wants one.

We've traded up from a double sink, I suppose 70/30. I hated the sloped surface that caused all glassware to slide down to the drain.

Can't wait to fire up the Stages sink!

I have a 36" single bowl sink and no prep sink. It's the first single bowl I've ever had and would never go back to a double bowl. It's deep, and there's plenty of room to do whatever I need a sink to do.

Well in my case to follow up your question... I am not usually doing prep-work and having dirty dishes around at the same time. I guess it is just the type of cook I am. I prefer to have my prep-cook area clean and available. Only after the meal is complete do I move onto the dishes I've used. I really didn't use the old split for that very often, MAYBE one or two times when family was around. But functionality of the new sink is so much nicer.

I like the Blanco sink pictured below even better than the performa cascade.
This one really allows you to have both prep and clean up in one. Since it has two drains unlike the cascade you can have your garbage disposal in either side. And with the lower divide you can it can accommodate lager pans and handle on pots. I ordered this one for my new kitchen but it is not installed yet
{{!gwi}}
This sink is 441309 PERFORMA MEDIUM 1-3/4 Under Mount Mettalic Grey. It is 33 x 19. It comes in all the other Blanco colors too.