Bathroom faucets mount in one of three ways, and the basin decides which. Single hole, four inch centerset and eight inch widespread are separate products rather than sizes of one product, so measure the deck before looking at finishes. Every fitting here names the bathroom in its specifications.
How to choose bathroom faucets
Start with the holes already drilled in the basin or the counter. Measure center to center between the outer two. Four inches means a centerset, where the spout and both handles share one plate. Eight inches or more means a widespread, where the three pieces mount separately. A single opening means a one hole mixer, and a deck plate can adapt that mixer to a three hole basin.
Spout height and reach come next, and a vessel bowl changes both. On a drop in or undermount basin, a spout 4 to 6 inches above the deck lands water near the drain. On a vessel standing 5 or 6 inches proud, that same spout pours onto the rim. Reach counts as well, since the stream should meet the middle of the bowl rather than the back of it.
Handle style is a daily decision more than a visual one. A single lever sets temperature and flow with one hand, which suits a small basin and a crowded deck. Two handles give finer control and read more traditional. Chrome and brushed nickel hide water marks, matte black shows residue where the water is hard, and brass shifts the whole room warmer. Handle projection matters in a small room, since a lever that swings back toward a mirror frame meets it before reaching full flow.
Hole spacing and spout height for bathroom faucets
The figures below are the standard US measurements. Take them off the basin already installed, because the drilling is fixed and the fitting is the part with options.
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Single hole: one opening, usually 1 3/8 inches across.
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Centerset: three holes at 4 inches center to center on the outer pair.
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Widespread: three holes at 8 to 16 inches center to center.
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Standard basin spout: 4 to 6 inches above the deck.
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Vessel basin spout: 12 to 16 inches tall, measured from the deck.
Two more checks save a second trip under the sink. Confirm the deck thickness the shank has to pass through, since a thick stone counter needs a longer threaded body than a thin porcelain rim. Then note the supply connection, because most US shutoff valves take 3/8 inch compression flex lines and a mismatch there stops the job at the last step. Two more items belong in the same look under the counter: the drain assembly, which some fittings include and others leave to a separate pop up waste, and the escutcheon, which has to suit both the finish and the drilling.
Common questions about basin taps
How do I measure hole spacing?
Measure from the center of one outer hole to the center of the other. Four inches is centerset, eight to sixteen is widespread, and a single opening takes a one hole mixer. Do this with the old fitting removed if the deck is hidden under an escutcheon plate.
What separates a centerset from a widespread?
Construction, not just spacing. A centerset joins spout and handles on one body across a 4 inch span. A widespread uses three independent pieces connected under the deck, which lets the handles sit 8 inches or more apart and suits a wider counter.
Can a one hole mixer go on a three hole basin?
Yes, with a deck plate. The plate covers the outer two openings and gives the mixer a finished base. Check that the plate is included or offered in the same finish, since an uncovered pair of holes beside a slim mixer looks unfinished.
How tall should the spout be over a vessel bowl?
Tall enough that the outlet clears the rim by two or three inches, which usually means a body 12 to 16 inches high on a bowl standing 5 to 6 inches proud. Measure the bowl first, then subtract nothing, because the rim height is the whole constraint.
Which finish holds up in a humid room?
Chrome and brushed nickel handle constant humidity and hide water spotting well. Matte black and brushed brass wear just as long but show mineral residue sooner in hard water areas, so they ask for a wipe with a soft cloth rather than an abrasive pad.
Related pages: Kitchen Faucets, Single Hole Bathroom Faucets, Pull Down Kitchen Faucets, LED Vanity Mirrors and Vessel Sink Faucets. The full category is Faucets.
