Short answer
In the kitchen, use a fine mesh basket strainer sized for a 3-1/2 in opening, or a silicone strainer that sits flat over the drain. In the bathroom, use a drop-in hair catcher made for sinks, or a flat mesh cover over a grid or fixed drain. A drop-in catcher only fits if your stopper comes out or stays out, so check before you buy.
Kitchen vs bathroom strainers
They solve different problems. A kitchen strainer catches food: rice, peels, coffee grounds. A bathroom strainer catches hair, which slips through most kitchen mesh and wraps around anything it can find. Buy the one made for the job.
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01Kitchen
Mesh basket strainer (kitchen)
Best for: catching food scraps in a sink without a disposal
- Fits
- Usually 3-1/2 in openings
- Material
- Stainless mesh
- Holds water
- Usually no
- Fine mesh catches smaller bits than the stock basket
- Lifts out by a rim or handle to empty into the trash
- Pair with the stopper you already have when you need to hold water
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02Flexible
Silicone strainer (kitchen or bath)
Best for: a strainer that sits flat and will not rust
- Fits
- Lays over the opening
- Material
- Silicone
- Clean
- Rinse or dishwasher, per the maker
- Flat style sits over the drain rather than in it
- Holes are usually bigger than fine mesh
- Some double as a plug when flipped: read the description
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03Bathroom
Drop-in hair catcher (bathroom)
Best for: sinks where the stopper comes out or stays out
- Fits
- Check the size range
- Style
- Sits inside the drain
- Clean
- Pull and wipe
- Hair wraps around the catcher instead of the pipe
- SinkShroom and similar products are sold for sinks; check the fit range
- Takes the place of a pop-up stopper while it is in
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04No removal
Flat mesh hair cover (bathroom)
Best for: grid drains and stoppers that do not come out
- Fits
- Lays over the drain
- Material
- Steel mesh or silicone
- Holds water
- No
- Nothing to install; it sits on the bowl
- Works over a fixed grid drain
- Lift it to clean the hair off
Check the fit before you buy
| Drain | Opening | What fits |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen basket strainer | 3-1/2 in | Mesh baskets and silicone strainers made for standard kitchen openings (Houzer lists 3-1/2 in as its strainer size). |
| Bathroom pop-up | About 1-1/4 to 1-3/4 in | Drop-in catchers made for sinks, with the stopper removed. Hunker notes bathroom holes vary, so check the range. |
| Grid drain | Fixed grate | Flat covers only; nothing drops in. |
| Push button drain | Cap stays in | Flat covers, or unscrew the cap and use a drop-in. |
Not sure what you have? The sink drain size guide shows how to measure.
Hair catchers: sink vs tub versions
Drop-in catchers are sold for tubs and sinks, and the names get mixed up. TubShroom is made for tub drains: Bob Vila reports it fits tub drains about 1.4 to 1.8 in across. For a bathroom sink, look for the sink version of a drop-in catcher and check the size range on the package against your drain. A catcher that is too small slides down; one that is too big will not sit flat.
Keeping strainers clean
- Kitchen: empty the basket into the trash after washing up, not into the sink. Rinse the mesh with hot tap water and a brush.
- Bathroom: pull the catcher every week or two and wipe the hair off with a paper towel. Waiting longer makes it harder to pull out.
- Both: a strainer that stays clogged slows the sink. If the water is slow with the strainer out, the clog is further down: see how to fix a slow sink drain.
Strainer vs the drain itself
A drop-in strainer sits on top of the drain you already have. If the drain itself leaks or the stock basket will not seal, you need a replacement drain, not a strainer: see kitchen sink drains or bathroom sink drains. If hair has already built up below the stopper, clear it first with how to unclog a bathroom sink, then add a catcher to keep it from coming back.
Questions people ask
What is the best way to stop a bathroom sink from clogging with hair?
Keep hair out of the drain in the first place with a drop-in hair catcher made for sinks or a flat mesh cover, and pull and clean the stopper every few weeks. Most bathroom clogs are hair and soap caught at the stopper.
Does a TubShroom fit a bathroom sink?
TubShroom is made for tub drains; Bob Vila reports it fits tub drains about 1.4 to 1.8 inches across. For a sink, look for the sink version of a drop-in catcher and check the size range on the package against your drain.
Can I use a hair catcher with a pop-up stopper?
Usually only if the stopper comes out. A drop-in catcher sits where the stopper goes. Some people remove the pop-up stopper and use the catcher instead, then use a flat plug when they need to hold water.
What size strainer fits a kitchen sink?
Most US kitchen sinks have a 3-1/2 inch drain opening, and most kitchen strainers are made for it. Measure across the opening and compare with the strainer rim or basket size on the listing.
Are silicone or metal sink strainers better?
Metal mesh catches finer bits and lasts a long time but can rust if the steel is poor quality. Silicone strainers are flexible, easy to clean and do not rust, but their holes are usually larger. Many people keep a mesh basket in the drain and a silicone one for the second bowl.
Sources
Last reviewed October 12, 2026. Parts, sizes and listings change; check the product details before you buy, and follow the maker’s instructions.