Faucets

A faucet has to match the holes already drilled in the sink or the counter before style enters the decision. One hole takes a single lever mixer, four inch centers take a centerset, and eight inches or more takes a widespread set. Kitchen spouts need 8 to 10 inches of reach.

Single hole: one drilling, usually 1 3/8 inches across
Three holes: 4 inches between outer centers for a centerset, 8 to 16 inches for a widespread set
Kitchen reach: 8 to 10 inches so the stream lands over the drain

How to choose faucets

Count the holes in the sink or the countertop first. That single number rules out most of the catalog before style enters the conversation. One hole takes a single lever mixer. Three holes at four inch centers take a centerset unit with the handles on one plate. Three holes spread eight inches or more take a widespread set with separate handles, and a deck plate can cover three holes if you want a single hole fixture on an existing sink.

Kitchen and bathroom sinks then ask for different things. A kitchen wants height and reach: a tall arc to fill a stockpot, a pull down spray head to rinse the corners of the basin, and a hose that retracts cleanly. A bathroom wants the stream to land in the middle of the bowl rather than at the back, which is a question of spout reach against basin depth, and it matters most with a vessel basin standing proud of the counter.

Hole spacing and spout reach for faucets

Measure the sink and the space around it before you shortlist anything. These are the standard US figures.

Single hole: one drilling, usually 1 3/8 inches in diameter.
Centerset: three holes with four inches between the outer centers.
Widespread: three holes spread 8 to 16 inches apart.
Kitchen spout: 8 to 10 inches of reach so the stream lands over the drain, not the basin wall.

Two clearances get missed. Check the height of the fixture against a window sash or an upper cabinet behind the sink, since a high arc that cannot swing is worse than a low one. Then check the maximum deck thickness the mounting hardware accepts, because a stone countertop plus an undermount sink rim can exceed what a short shank will grip.

Which faucet for which sink

Faucet type	Best in	What it does	Price here
Pull out kitchen faucets	A kitchen sink used for pots and pans	A spray head that pulls out and retracts	$140 to $260
Swivel spout kitchen faucets	A double bowl sink, an island sink	A spout that turns to reach either bowl	$82 to $290
Waterfall bathroom faucets	A basin where the faucet is on show	An open sheet of water instead of a stream	$150 to $270
Wall mounted and concealed	A vessel basin, a counter kept clear	Nothing on the counter and nothing to wipe around	$150 to $290
Vessel and widespread basin faucets	A bathroom basin being replaced	A body sized to the holes already in the counter	$160 to $330
Smart, filtered and heated	A kitchen where hands are often full	A sensor, a display or filtered water at the faucet	$82 to $220

What to measure first

Solid brass: The body material behind most faucets on this page. It resists corrosion better than a plated alloy and it carries the weight you feel when the handle moves. The product page names the material, and it is the first thing to read.
Single hole: The faucet drops through one opening in the counter or the sink. A good part of this range is built that way. Count the holes already drilled before ordering, because a single hole body will not cover three without a plate.
Three hole and widespread: The spout and the two handles mount separately, each through its own opening. Several models here are built this way, and the spacing between the holes has to match what is already drilled in your counter.
Deck mounted and wall mounted: Deck mounted means the faucet sits on the counter or the sink rim. Wall mounted means it comes out of the wall, with the valve concealed behind it, which has to be planned before the wall is tiled.
Finish: Chrome, brushed nickel, brushed gold and black are the finishes that repeat across this range. Brushed surfaces hide water spots better than polished ones, which matters more on a kitchen faucet than on a basin.

Questions about kitchen and bathroom sink fixtures

How do I know which type fits my sink?

Count the drillings and measure between the outer centers. One hole means a single lever mixer, four inches between centers means a centerset, and eight inches or more means a widespread set. On a countertop installation, measure the drillings in the stone rather than the basin.

Can a single hole model go on a three hole sink?

Yes, with a deck plate. The plate spans the outer holes and gives the single lever a solid seat, and most single hole designs list a matching plate in the same finish. Going the other way is not possible without re drilling the sink or the countertop.

Which finish holds up on daily use?

Brushed nickel and brushed gold hide water spots and fingerprints better than polished chrome, which shows every mark but wipes clean in a second. Matte black looks sharpest in a room with hard water when it is dried after use. Match the finish to the cabinet hardware and the bathroom accessories already fitted.

Sources

Hole spacing and spout reach figures on this page follow common US sink and countertop practice rather than a single published standard. On water use, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency labels a bathroom sink faucet WaterSense when it flows at no more than 1.5 gallons per minute, against a standard flow of 2.2 gallons per minute: see Bathroom Faucets from the EPA WaterSense program.

Browse by category: Kitchen Faucets, Bathroom Faucets, Single Hole Bathroom Faucets and Pull Down Kitchen Faucets. See also Bathroom Accessories.

Buying guide reviewed October 2026 by the OroDwell editorial team.