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Kitchen design

Plate Racks: Drying and Displaying China the Old Way

Wall-hung and over-sink plate racks: the simple piece of kitchen furniture that dries and stores plates at once.

By NiamhAI-assistedApproved for publication by BeneRecipes Editor on 9 October 2026Updated 8 October 2026
A wall-mounted rack drying a row of plates above a sink
Photo: Mcapdevila · CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)

A plate rack over the sink is one of the oldest ideas in the British kitchen: wash the plates, stand them in the rack and let them drip-dry, and there they stay until the next meal. No drainer on the worktop, and nothing to put away.

Where to buy

Browse current options and prices at the retailer. These are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no cost to you (disclosure).

Dressers & Shelving on Amazon UK(affiliate link, opens in a new tab)

Types

RackBest for
Wall-hung wooden rack over the sinkDrip-drying and everyday storage in one
Plate rack built into a dresser topDisplay of best china. See Welsh dresser styling
Metal rail rackModern kitchens; often part of a rail system with utensil hooks
Freestanding worktop rackRented kitchens where you can't fix to the wall
An early 1900s design drawing for a mahogany hanging plate rack
An early 1900s design drawing for a mahogany hanging plate rack · Photo: Unknown artist (Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum) · Public domain

What to check

  • Fixings: a full rack of plates is heavy. Fix into studs or solid masonry with suitable plugs.
  • Spacing of the dowels to suit your plates, and whether there is room for bowls and cups.
  • Wood that copes with water: oiled hardwood, or painted and well sealed.
  • A drip tray, or position it directly over the sink so water falls into the bowl.

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