A splash guard is a raised stainless panel on the back or sides of a sink, or a separate panel mounted beside it, that keeps water, soap and food scraps from spraying onto prep counters, walls and the floor. You need one most where a hand sink or wash sink sits next to food prep, next to clean dishes, or against a wall that water would damage.
Shop the equipment in this article: hand sinks, 3 compartment sinks and dishtables. Freight is included on every order.
Many sinks come with a backsplash built in, and some add side splashes. This guide explains where each kind earns its place, what your health department may look for, and which of our sinks and accessories include them.
Why splash control matters in a commercial kitchen
Water that leaves the sink does three kinds of damage. It can carry soap, dirty water or raw food juices onto food or clean ware next to the sink. It wets the floor where staff stand, which is a slip hazard. And it soaks walls and the gaps behind equipment, where mold and pests settle.
The first problem is the food safety one. Ask your local health department whether it wants a splash guard or a set distance between a given sink and food prep; it has the final say, and the answer can differ from one county to the next.
Backsplash vs side splash vs a separate guard
Backsplash
A backsplash rises along the back edge of the sink and protects the wall. Nearly every commercial sink has one. Heights vary; our S3C-242414-NF three compartment sink has a 10 in. backsplash, and our underbar drainboards list a 3 in. backsplash.
Side splashes
Side splashes rise on the ends of a sink to keep spray off whatever sits beside it. They matter most on hand sinks placed near a prep counter, where hands are washed hard and fast many times a shift.
Separate guards
A separate panel mounts between a sink and the next piece of equipment, or on the side of an appliance. Our deep fryer splash guard is a 20.5 x 18 in. panel in 18 gauge type 304 stainless that mounts on the side of a fryer to block hot oil from the wall, counter and equipment next to it.
Hand sinks: where splash guards matter most
Hand sinks are often squeezed between a prep table and a wall. Side splashes let you place them closer to the work without spraying it. From our product pages:
- WHS-1212-5D-SS: 10 x 9 x 5 in. bowl with 8 in. back and side splashes. The page says the side splashes let you place it closer to prep counters.
- HS-1410-SS: 10 W x 14 D x 5 H in., type 304 stainless, side splashes that keep water off nearby counters.
- HS-17SS: 15 x 17 in. wall mount hand sink with knee pedals and two side splashes in 18 gauge type 304 stainless.
Compare all hand sinks, including models with and without side splashes.
Warewashing and prep sinks
A three compartment sink throws water when staff scrub pans and use a pre-rinse sprayer. Common practice is to keep clean ware storage and food prep out of the spray path, use drainboards or dishtables as a buffer at each end, and choose a backsplash tall enough for the wall behind. See 3 compartment sinks and dishtables.
On prep tables beside a sink, a table with a backsplash keeps water off the wall. Our work table with undershelf has a 1.5 in. backsplash. See work tables.
Behind the bar
Bar sinks, ice bins and drainboards sit side by side under the bar top, so spray from one lands in the next. Keep the hand sink away from the ice bin, and use units with backsplashes. Our four tier liquor display adds 14.5 in. side splashes for the back bar. See bar sinks.
A quick check before you install
- Stand at the sink and run the faucet and sprayer at full flow. Watch where the water lands.
- Note what sits within reach of that spray: food, clean ware, outlets, paper goods.
- Check the wall material behind the sink and how high the backsplash needs to reach.
- Confirm faucet handles, knee or foot pedals and soap dispensers stay easy to reach.
Mistakes to avoid
- Placing a hand sink right beside an open prep surface with no side splash and no gap.
- Fixing a plastic sheet to the wall instead of a cleanable stainless guard.
- Blocking faucet handles or pedals with a guard that is too tall or too close.
- Forgetting to clean behind and under guards, where water collects.
Care
Wipe splash guards with the rest of the sink at every cleaning, clean along the seams where they meet the sink or wall, and reseal wall joints when caulk cracks. Stainless guards clean with the same products as the sink; avoid steel wool, which can leave rust spots.
Frequently asked questions
Does a hand sink need a splash guard?
It depends on what sits next to it and on your health department. Side splashes or a separate guard are a common way to protect nearby prep areas.
Can I add side splashes to a sink I already have?
A separate stainless panel can be mounted beside many sinks. Check that it does not block faucet handles or pedals.
What height should a backsplash be?
There is no single height. Choose one that protects the wall behind the sink and the shelves or outlets above it.
Before you order
Freight to the 48 contiguous states is included in every price, and non-powered items like sinks and guards have a 14 day return window from delivery. Lease-to-own financing is available on orders of 500 dollars or more.