Sink Plunger vs Toilet Plunger: Everything You Need to Know

We do not recommend using a sink plunger on a toilet for a few reasons. The flat cup design seals well against flat surfaces like sinks, tubs, and other drain types. However, cup plungers cannot create a good seal in a curved toilet bowl. Without that strong seal around the toilet drain, you won't get enough pressure to clear the clog, and you'll likely just splash dirty water around.

Another reason we do not recommend using a sink plunger on a toilet is due to sanitation. Without getting into specifics, do you really want a reusable plunger that is for your kitchen sink inside of a toilet bowl?

We do not recommend using a toilet plunger in a sink, especially if someone has already used it. The flange plunger is incapable of creating a seal on flat surfaces, which is why it should only be used for unclogging toilets.

The best plunger for toilets is the Korky Beehive Max®, which is designed to create a powerful seal around the drain in all toilet bowls. Other styles, like accordion plungers or traditional flange plungers, may work in some toilets; however, they do not perform as consistently. While there are many variations of flange plungers, none match the reliability and effectiveness of the beehive plunger.

The best plunger for sinks is the Korky Beehive Mini®. Its compact size and flat cup design make it ideal for sealing against flat surfaces.

Ideally, yes - it's a good idea to keep both a sink plunger and a toilet plunger on hand. Each one is designed for a specific type of clog. Most people already have a toilet plunger, but sink plungers are also important to have.

In the past, people would use harmful drain chemicals to help clear clogs in sinks or tubs. Sink plungers are better because, unlike a bottle of drain chemicals, you can reuse the sink plunger as many times as you'd like. 

A toilet plunger head is larger because it needs to create a seal inside a wider, curved toilet drain. The extra size and shape of the beehive design help move more water, which generates the pressure needed to remove clogs. 

In contrast, the sink plunger needs to be smaller because it is used on drain openings that sit against the walls of sinks, tubs, or showers. The size difference ensures that the center of the sink plunger head aligns with the center of the drain for the best seal.