Soap dispenser choice usually comes down to one trade-off: manual dispensers are cheaper to buy and need no power, while auto dispensers cost more but cut touch contact and generally get better compliance with hand hygiene protocols in healthcare and food service settings.
Manual dispensers
- Foam: ABS (ML681F, $58.82) or satin stainless steel (ML681SSF, $146.04).
- Liquid, horizontal: satin stainless steel pump action (ML600AS, $111.30) or button (ML600BS, $112.78), white powder coat (ML600W, $125.06).
- Liquid, ellipse profile: satin stainless steel (ML602AR, $161.88, button version ML602BS, $177.09).
- Compact: polished stainless steel (ML606, $113.52).
- Capsule-style: ABS white (ML691_WHT, $95.99).
- Recessed: horizontal (ML640AS, $213.73) or vertical (ML641AS, $255.99).
- In-basin / vanity-mounted: brass, bright chrome (ML616_4, $109.99) or stainless steel & chrome (ML628_4, $125.06), both in two spout lengths.
Auto (touch-free) dispensers
- Foam: satin stainless steel, infrared (ML_MSD_FOAMDISP_SS, $410.26), Designer Black (ML_MSD_FOAMDISP_BLK, $408.39).
- Liquid: ABS white (ML_950DA_WHT, $213.99), satin stainless steel (ML_950SD_SS, $468.23).
- Bench mounted: AC powered, #316 stainless steel, 1500ml (ML_BM_FOAMDISP_SS, $643.42) — the premium option, designed for continuous high-volume use rather than battery operation.
Anti-ligature soap holders
For secure or mental health facility specs, Metlam's anti-ligature recessed soap and shampoo holders (ML236_SS, $197.79; large ML236L_SS, $237.26; heavy duty ML237_1, $77.83) remove the dispenser mechanism risk entirely — see our anti-ligature grab rails guide for the wider context on specifying these facilities.
How to choose
For low-traffic or budget-constrained washrooms, manual dispensers do the job reliably and need no power run. For healthcare, aged care, food service and high-traffic public washrooms, auto dispensers reduce touch-point contamination and are generally considered the better hygiene spec, worth the roughly 3–4x price premium. In-basin dispensers suit vanity-style basins where a wall-mounted unit would look out of place.
Frequently asked questions
Do auto dispensers need mains power or batteries?
Most of the wall-mounted auto units run on batteries; the bench-mounted unit (ML_BM_FOAMDISP_SS) is AC powered, which suits continuous high-volume commercial use better than a battery-dependent unit.
What's the difference between foam and liquid soap dispensers?
The dispensing mechanism and soap formulation — foam dispensers aerate the soap as it's dispensed, which many facilities prefer for perceived hygiene and reduced product usage per hand wash.
Are in-basin dispensers compatible with any vanity?
They require a pre-drilled or drillable deck mount, similar to a basin mixer tap — check the vanity or benchtop can accommodate the spout length and mounting hole before specifying.
Is Designer Black available on manual dispensers too?
Currently Designer Black is offered on the auto foam dispenser and the matching sanitiser dispenser, not across the full manual range — check individual product availability.