When planning on what faucet or sink you will buy, it is extremely important to make sure the holes of both components match. In this article, we will go through types of the faucets available, how many holes come with each type of the faucet, what are the sizes, and how to match with your new or existing sink, and if the size doesn’t match what you can do. If you are thinking of renovating your own kitchen DIY style, then “What Are the Standard Faucet Hole Sizes for Kitchens and Bathrooms” is the article for you.
The standard size of a faucet is 1 3/8” or 1.375 inches (34.925 mm). Though this size varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, therefore, the manufacturer will mention on the product package what size is the faucet hole.
The interesting fact is the thickness of the deck of a sink plays a crucial role. If the thickness of the deck of a sink is too thick, the faucet will not fit. The problem is if you do a workaround it may lead to the damage of the faucet. So, the best solution is to know the size of the hole of a faucet and the sink before committing to a specific model of faucet.
If your looking to do your own kitchen handy-work, try checking out our article on how to repair a single handle faucet or how to remove kitchen faucet without a basin wrench.
How to measure the Standard Faucet Hole Sizes for Kitchens and Bathrooms?
The best way to measure the size of a faucet is by using a vernier caliper. The vernier caliper has a measuring accuracy of from +/- 0.001″ to +/- 0.0015″ (+/- 0.02 mm to +/- 0.04 mm). So, this tool will definitely provide you the true size of the faucet’s hole. Check out this video on how to use vernier calipers to measure your faucet hole size for kitchens and bathrooms.
Standard Faucet Hole Sizes for Kitchens and Bathrooms for most common faucet brands
| Brand | Model | Hole Size | Maximum Deck Thickness Allowed |
| Moem | 7594ESRS | 1 1/4″ | 2 1/2″ |
| American Standard | 4175. 300. 002 | 1 3/8 | 2″ |
| Delta | 759-CZ-DST | 1 1/4″ to 1 1/2″ | 3″ |
| Kraus | KEF-15000ORB | 1 3/8″ | 1 3/8″ |
| Kraus | KPF-1602SS | 1 3/8″ | 1 3/8″ |
| Bellevue | PB-K07CP | 1 3/8″ to 1 1/2″ | 1 5/8″ |
| Moem | 7185C | 1 1/2″ | 2 1/2″ |
| Delta | 9178-RB-DST | 1 3/8″ | 2 1/2″ |
| Delta | 567LF-PP | 1 1/4″ to 1 1/2″ | 2 1/4″ |
| Kohler | K-560-VS | 1 5/16″ | 2 1/2″ |
Typical design for Standard Faucet Hole Sizes for Kitchens and Bathrooms
Single-hole and Double-hole Faucet
The single-hole faucets are the most common on the market. The single-hole faucets have one hole for a single-hole faucet. Although, some of the sinks have pre-drilled two holes, you can cover the second hole with a escutcheon plate. On the other-hand, the two-hole faucets are designed for having a faucet and the sprayer or soap dispenser and has no escutcheon.
Centerset
A Centerset faucet has the handles which are usually placed 4-inch apart from the spout. So, there are three holes, combining the spout and two handles on a single base. Sometimes, the faucet has the handles mounted onto a single plate with 6-inches apart.
Minispread
The Minispread and Centerset are more or less the same. The main difference is, the spout and handles are not connected by a single plate.
Widespread
Three-hole sink, nowadays, is a common trend. The faucets used on the three-hole sinks have a base plate, or also known as the escutcheon. This escutcheon not only helps to cover the holes but also covers the extra holes when installing a single-hole faucet on a three-hole sink. Furthermore, the spout and handles are six to sixteen inches apart.
Vessel
The Vessel configuration is only for the tall faucets. The sink in this format is usually higher than for other types. Also, the hole is not drilled into the sink and they come with a single handle.
Wall-Mounted
A Wall-mounted faucet doesn’t attach to the sink as its counterparts but is mounted onto the wall. Normally, they come with long spouts and they must have a good basin clearance.
What to do with the Three- and Four-hole Kitchen Sink
Three-hole sink, nowadays, is a common trend. The faucets used on the three-hole sinks have a base plate, also known as the escutcheon. This escutcheon not only helps to cover the holes but also covers the extra holes when installing a single-hole faucet on a three-hole sink.
A four-hole kitchen sink is the most widely common type of kitchen sink. It is like the three-hole faucet with an extra hole is set a little away for the soap dispenser. A four-hole sink is the most common type of kitchen sink. It is similar to a three-hole design with an extra hole set a little further away for a sprayer or soap dish.
Sink Hole Space Configuration
We recommend to purchase a Center Set or Minispread faucet if the distance between the outer sinkholes on a three-hole sink measures 4 inches. This is because both the single- and two-handle faucets fit in this sink and it is a common bathroom faucet hole size. The pro of this hole size is, you don’t need to modify the sink when installing either type of faucet.
The well-known faucet manufacturer Moen recommends to purchase a widespread faucet if the holes are 6 inches apart or more. Many two-handle and single-handle kitchen faucets are, nowadays, widespread faucets. There are many of the three- and four-hole kitchen sinks which have 6 or 8 inches is a standard sink faucet hole size. The faucets with widespread holes consist of separate parts that are individually spaced without an escutcheon or base plate joining them.
Drilling holes into your sink
Depending on your sink or countertop material, holes can be drilled in a sink to accommodate an odd-sized faucet that does not fit in the pre-drilled holes of your sink. A standard sink faucet holes have a diameter of 1 3/8 inches, but because not all faucets are the same, some will require a 1 1/2-inch hole. It’s also important to check the depth of the sink or countertop before installing a faucet or drilling a hole. If the deck is too thick the faucet may not fit correctly.
Measurements to consider before buying a faucet
Before you buy a faucet, you must measure the distance from the center of the holes to the backsplash and the edge of the sink. Then compare it to the width of the faucet escutcheon, or base, to make sure the faucet will fit. If you are going from a three- or four-hole faucet to a single-hole faucet, many bases will cover holes up to 4 inches apart and some single-hole faucets have bases that will cover up to 8 inches.
FAQ’s on Standard Faucet Hole Sizes for Kitchens and Bathrooms
How to install a faucet step-by-step?
Read this great article to know about installing faucet
How do you fix a leaky Kohler kitchen faucet?
You have to replace the valve/cartridge that is located beneath the handle. The number of parts of the replacement valve will vary depending on the faucet model. Wash the aerator with water prior to reinstalling. Check out this video guide for more details Kohler faucet repair: valve stem replacement to stop dripping faucet – YouTube.
What happens if the faucet doesn’t fit properly on the kitchen or bathroom sink?
If the faucet is not installed properly on the kitchen or bathroom sink, you will find the water is leaking from the faucet.
How do I know if my faucet cartridge is bad?
The signs that a cartridge faucet needs repair are water dripping from the spout, difficulty adjusting the water temperature, hot water entering cold water outlets like toilet supply lines, and insufficient heated water at some faucets.
What kitchen faucets do plumbers recommend?
A good plumber will suggest you select a faucet that will give you service without a leak for a long time, as many holes as possible, and as many smart options as possible with the faucets to make washing hassle-free.
Final words
We must admit, changing the older faucet with a new one or installing a new faucet is a bit tricky for some people. In this article, we tried to simplify the whole procedure from selecting a new faucet to how to install it and how to understand when the faucet is giving you trouble and determine the Standard Faucet Hole Sizes for Kitchens and Bathrooms.
We can assure you, this article will help to save a lot of time to look at the websites and talk with professionals regarding the best approach of how to select the perfect faucet that matches the sink’s hole. The article will further make your life hassle-free, with quality time with the faucet. Happy cooking!
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Written By James Wayne
James is a plumber and handyman hailing from the southwest with over 20+ years of experience in his field. He has incredible knowledge on all the brands in the market and how to perform installation, maintenance and repairs of anything you need in the kitchen.