Widespread bathroom faucets split into three pieces: a spout in the middle and a handle on either side, set further apart than a centerset. The format suits a wide vanity, where a compact single hole tap looks undersized against the counter. Hole spacing decides whether one will fit.
How to choose widespread bathroom faucets
Measure the basin before you look at anything. Three holes in a counter do not by themselves mean this format will fit, because a centerset set uses three holes at 4 inches apart while this one uses three holes at 8. The two are not interchangeable, and that single measurement rules out most of the catalog either way.
Then think about the counter behind the basin. Handles that sit 4 inches to each side of the spout need real estate, and on a narrow vanity the outer handle can end up over the edge of the bowl or hard against a backsplash. A run of at least 22 inches of counter width behind the basin gives the set room to look right.
Handle style is where the character sits. Cross handles read traditional and give good grip with wet hands. Lever handles read transitional and move with a wrist rather than a full grasp. Both connect to the same valve stems underneath, so the choice is visual rather than mechanical.
Hole spacing and rough in for widespread bathroom faucets
The figures below are the ones printed on a US installation sheet.
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Standard spread: 8 inches from the center of one outer hole to the center of the other.
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Adjustable range: many sets flex between 6 and 16 inches, so read the stated span before ordering.
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Hole diameter: 1 3/8 inches is the common cutout for each of the three holes.
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Counter clearance: allow at least 2 inches behind the rear edge of the basin for the handle bases.
Under the counter, the spout connects to each valve with a flexible hose, which is what allows the adjustable spread. Those hoses need room to curve, so a shallow cabinet or a drawer immediately below the basin can interfere. Check the depth under the counter before committing to a three piece set.
Questions about three hole basin taps
What is the difference from a centerset?
Spacing and construction. A centerset joins spout and handles on one 4 inch base plate and installs as a single unit. This format keeps three separate pieces at 8 inches, connected under the counter, so each part is mounted on its own.
Can one be fitted to a 4 inch basin?
No. The outer holes are 4 inches apart on that basin and the handles need 8, so the pieces will not reach their holes. Changing format means a new basin, a new counter, or a single hole faucet with a deck plate covering the existing cutouts.
How do you measure the spread on an existing counter?
Measure from the center of the left hole to the center of the right hole, ignoring the middle one. Four inches means centerset. Eight inches means this format. Anything between the two calls for a set with an adjustable span.
Related pages: Bathroom Faucets, Kitchen Faucets, Single Hole Bathroom Faucets and Gold Kitchen Faucets. The full category is Faucets.
