Your Guide to Buying a Bathroom Faucet
Choose a bathroom faucet that fits your style, pairs with your sink and will perform well over time
When it comes to selecting a faucet for a bathroom sink, there’s more than meets the eye. You may be drawn to a certain look, but it’s important to also think about how the faucet works with your sink, the materials that lie beneath the beautiful finish, which handle type best meets your needs and more.
If your goal is merely to replace a corroded or leaky faucet in an existing bathroom, you’ll be constrained by what’s already there. If you’re remodeling or building a bathroom, you’ll be confronted by a seemingly infinite array of options when choosing a bathroom faucet. Either way, this bathroom faucet buying guide will help you make an informed decision.
If your goal is merely to replace a corroded or leaky faucet in an existing bathroom, you’ll be constrained by what’s already there. If you’re remodeling or building a bathroom, you’ll be confronted by a seemingly infinite array of options when choosing a bathroom faucet. Either way, this bathroom faucet buying guide will help you make an informed decision.
Bathroom Faucet Construction
Solid brass (forged or cast) and stainless steel (304 or 316 grade) faucets last a long time. While brass contains antibacterial copper, it also may contain hazardous lead, which makes brass easier to machine. Kitchen and bathroom sink faucets sold in the United States, however, must meet NSF International’s “lead-free” standard, which in 2014 went down from a maximum of 8% lead to 0.25%. People looking to avoid lead altogether can seek out stainless steel faucets.
Faucets made of zinc alloys (aka zamak) are less durable. Plastic faucets are even more susceptible to wear and tear.
Marks of quality ceramic disc cartridges include brass or stainless steel stems; brass, stainless or aluminum housings; and lubricant-free cartridges.
Of course, it can be hard to know what material lurks under a faucet’s finish. Here’s what you can do to find out:
Solid brass (forged or cast) and stainless steel (304 or 316 grade) faucets last a long time. While brass contains antibacterial copper, it also may contain hazardous lead, which makes brass easier to machine. Kitchen and bathroom sink faucets sold in the United States, however, must meet NSF International’s “lead-free” standard, which in 2014 went down from a maximum of 8% lead to 0.25%. People looking to avoid lead altogether can seek out stainless steel faucets.
Faucets made of zinc alloys (aka zamak) are less durable. Plastic faucets are even more susceptible to wear and tear.
Marks of quality ceramic disc cartridges include brass or stainless steel stems; brass, stainless or aluminum housings; and lubricant-free cartridges.
Of course, it can be hard to know what material lurks under a faucet’s finish. Here’s what you can do to find out:
- Read the box. “All brass” and “all brass construction” indicate solid brass, while “zamak,” “all metal,” “brass construction” and “all brass body and spout” indicate the presence of zinc. “All brass faucet” is ambiguous since “faucet” could refer to the entire fixture or just the body.
- Pick up the faucet. A solid brass faucet is heavier than its zinc or plastic counterpart.
- Look inside the spout. A brown, green, coppery or brassy color indicates brass. A dull gray indicates zinc.
Faucet Mounting Options
Faucets can be mounted to connect to the water line under the sink (aka deck-mounted), in the wall or under the floor. The mount, hole configuration, spout, handle and finish work together to define a faucet’s style.
Deck. A deck-mounted faucet sits on the countertop, as shown in the previous two photos, or on the sink ledge, as pictured here. Since it’s the most common type of mount, there are many choices in all price ranges.
Faucets can be mounted to connect to the water line under the sink (aka deck-mounted), in the wall or under the floor. The mount, hole configuration, spout, handle and finish work together to define a faucet’s style.
Deck. A deck-mounted faucet sits on the countertop, as shown in the previous two photos, or on the sink ledge, as pictured here. Since it’s the most common type of mount, there are many choices in all price ranges.
Wall. A wall-mounted bathroom sink faucet needs to be in a stud-free location that’s low enough to avoid splashing and high enough to allow washing. Having to get behind the wall to access the pipes, especially if they’re behind a stone or tile backsplash, can make a wall-mounted faucet more difficult and expensive to replace than a deck-mounted one. On the plus side, a wall-mounted faucet frees up space on the counter and makes it easier to clean.
Floor. A floor-mounted faucet is more often used as a tub filler in the U.S., but here it’s seen paired with a freestanding sink in a contemporary bathroom.
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Find a bathroom designer near you on Houzz
One-, Two- and Three-Hole Configurations
If all you want to do is replace your existing faucet without any unnecessary drilling or filling, you can simply let the holes you already have dictate the configuration of the new faucet. A baseplate may be covering holes you can’t see. It also may be used to hide holes you no longer want.
One hole. A one-hole configuration is for a faucet that unites the spout, valve and one or two handles in a single streamlined unit that’s easy to clean around. A single handle is convenient when you have only one hand free (if you’re left-handed, though, think about that control’s placement) and it can be a safer choice for homes with young children, who otherwise might reach for the dedicated hot-water valve.
If all you want to do is replace your existing faucet without any unnecessary drilling or filling, you can simply let the holes you already have dictate the configuration of the new faucet. A baseplate may be covering holes you can’t see. It also may be used to hide holes you no longer want.
One hole. A one-hole configuration is for a faucet that unites the spout, valve and one or two handles in a single streamlined unit that’s easy to clean around. A single handle is convenient when you have only one hand free (if you’re left-handed, though, think about that control’s placement) and it can be a safer choice for homes with young children, who otherwise might reach for the dedicated hot-water valve.
Two holes. This two-hole configuration has separate holes for hot and cold valves. A bridge connection above the sink mixes the water before it gets to the spout.
Having individual controls for the hot and cold water lets you adjust the water flow and temperature precisely.
Having individual controls for the hot and cold water lets you adjust the water flow and temperature precisely.
Another two-hole configuration dedicates one hole to the spout and the other to a mixing valve.
Three holes. A three-hole configuration has separate holes for the spout, hot-water valve and cold-water valve. If the valves are 6 inches or more apart center to center, you need a wide-spread (aka 8-inch-spread) faucet. If they’re less than 6 inches apart, you need a center-set or mini-spread (aka 4-inch-spread) faucet. On center-set models like this, the components are joined on top of the sink; on mini-spread versions, they’re separate.
Spout, Drain and Aerator
The faucet should look in proportion to the sink, and that means considering the spout’s height and projection. Spout height ranges from a standard short curve or angle to a tall arch (aka high arc or gooseneck) or L shape. Spout projection, or reach, measures the longest point from where the spout connects to the faucet to where it extends over the sink. A good rule of thumb is for the end of the spout to line up with the drain.
If a lift rod located near the spout operates the drain, the drain often comes with the faucet. But drains — including the press-and-seal, twist-and-turn and strainer kinds — usually are a standard size, making it easy to order them separately.
The faucet should look in proportion to the sink, and that means considering the spout’s height and projection. Spout height ranges from a standard short curve or angle to a tall arch (aka high arc or gooseneck) or L shape. Spout projection, or reach, measures the longest point from where the spout connects to the faucet to where it extends over the sink. A good rule of thumb is for the end of the spout to line up with the drain.
If a lift rod located near the spout operates the drain, the drain often comes with the faucet. But drains — including the press-and-seal, twist-and-turn and strainer kinds — usually are a standard size, making it easy to order them separately.
A low spout with a short projection can make it difficult to wash your hands, let alone anything else, or cause you to slop water behind the faucet. But pairing such a spout with a petite basin can come in handy where space is tight. A high spout with a shallow sink can make for excessive splashing. A vessel sink like this one often takes a faucet with an extra-tall spout to reach over the rim.
Beyond the basic spouts are the practical swiveling spout; the decorative channel spout, which this faucet also has; and the wider waterfall spout, such as the one in the next photo, which comes as a set with a glass vessel sink from Vigo.
Beyond the basic spouts are the practical swiveling spout; the decorative channel spout, which this faucet also has; and the wider waterfall spout, such as the one in the next photo, which comes as a set with a glass vessel sink from Vigo.
Bear in mind that hard water flowing over open-topped channel and waterfall spouts may leave behind unsightly mineral deposits, especially on dark finishes. These spouts also may splash more since they don’t have aerators.
Often inserted in the spout or screwed on to the end, water-saving aerators are little screens that mix in air to reduce the water flow while maintaining the perceived pressure. Although federal regulations enacted in 1992 set the maximum flow rate for bathroom sink faucets at 2.2 gallons per minute at 60 pounds per square inch of pressure, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends WaterSense-certified bathroom sink faucets, which flow at 1.5 gpm or less. Some states have even stricter rules; in California, for example, the flow can’t exceed 1.2 gpm.
Often inserted in the spout or screwed on to the end, water-saving aerators are little screens that mix in air to reduce the water flow while maintaining the perceived pressure. Although federal regulations enacted in 1992 set the maximum flow rate for bathroom sink faucets at 2.2 gallons per minute at 60 pounds per square inch of pressure, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends WaterSense-certified bathroom sink faucets, which flow at 1.5 gpm or less. Some states have even stricter rules; in California, for example, the flow can’t exceed 1.2 gpm.
Bathroom Faucet Handle Types
Most faucets have cross, knob or lever handles, and some have handles but can be operated without hands. When selecting your faucet, ensure that there will be enough room in front of the backsplash to turn the handle.
Cross. Bulbous polished nickel cross handles like these, capped with porcelain temperature indicators, have a vintage charm that complements traditional and transitional spaces. Straight-lined versions have a more contemporary look.
Most faucets have cross, knob or lever handles, and some have handles but can be operated without hands. When selecting your faucet, ensure that there will be enough room in front of the backsplash to turn the handle.
Cross. Bulbous polished nickel cross handles like these, capped with porcelain temperature indicators, have a vintage charm that complements traditional and transitional spaces. Straight-lined versions have a more contemporary look.
Knob. Popular in the postwar U.S., knob handles in blade, fluted and acrylic styles have since been revamped with square shapes, real crystal and more.
Lever. Widely available lever handles include ones that look like pump handles and joysticks. Lever handles typically are a bit easier to operate than cross and knob handles for children and those with compromised dexterity or muscle weakness. People with these issues and those looking to age in place may want to consider faucets that are compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Hands-free. Specialized “wrist blade” levers are designed for hospitals and other commercial settings where people need to be able to turn on the faucet and adjust the temperature without using their hands. Other developments in hands-free faucets include ones activated by a quick tap, a foot pedal and voice (through smart speakers such as the Amazon Echo and Google Assistant). The faucets in this high-tech bathroom are controlled by motion sensors in addition to the lever handles.
Shop for ADA-compliant bathroom sink faucets
Hands-free. Specialized “wrist blade” levers are designed for hospitals and other commercial settings where people need to be able to turn on the faucet and adjust the temperature without using their hands. Other developments in hands-free faucets include ones activated by a quick tap, a foot pedal and voice (through smart speakers such as the Amazon Echo and Google Assistant). The faucets in this high-tech bathroom are controlled by motion sensors in addition to the lever handles.
Shop for ADA-compliant bathroom sink faucets
Popular Faucet Finishes
A lustrous finish can elevate the sink faucet from utilitarian to jewel-like. Reactive base materials like brass need a finish to keep them from tarnishing (nonreactive stainless steel doesn’t). Electroplating, powder coating and physical vapor deposition are the most common finish applications. PVD finishes are considered top-notch and relatively eco-friendly, though thickly and meticulously hand-plated and -polished finishes can rival them in durability and expense. Here’s a rundown of some popular finishes.
Gold metallics. Gold tones are making a big comeback in today’s homes. Polished and satin brass are bright yellow and uniform. Chemically treated aged and antiqued brass are darker and more mottled. Gold (in some cases 24-karat) tends to look richer and, well, less brassy, with a price tag to match. French gold and rose gold have brown and pink undertones, respectively. Brushed golds, such as the copper-tinged champagne bronze on these Trinsic single-handle faucets from Delta — offer a more muted, matte and modern look.
Silver metallics. Shiny chrome, a favorite for commercial kitchens and bathrooms, is tough, easy to maintain, virtually tarnish-free and relatively inexpensive. Warmer-toned than bluish chrome, classic polished nickel imparts a subtler, more traditional feel and, if lacquered, resists tarnish. Satin and brushed chrome and nickel hide water spots and fingerprints better than their polished counterparts, with brushed showing more texture than satin. Pewter is a sought-after finish for period homes.
A lustrous finish can elevate the sink faucet from utilitarian to jewel-like. Reactive base materials like brass need a finish to keep them from tarnishing (nonreactive stainless steel doesn’t). Electroplating, powder coating and physical vapor deposition are the most common finish applications. PVD finishes are considered top-notch and relatively eco-friendly, though thickly and meticulously hand-plated and -polished finishes can rival them in durability and expense. Here’s a rundown of some popular finishes.
Gold metallics. Gold tones are making a big comeback in today’s homes. Polished and satin brass are bright yellow and uniform. Chemically treated aged and antiqued brass are darker and more mottled. Gold (in some cases 24-karat) tends to look richer and, well, less brassy, with a price tag to match. French gold and rose gold have brown and pink undertones, respectively. Brushed golds, such as the copper-tinged champagne bronze on these Trinsic single-handle faucets from Delta — offer a more muted, matte and modern look.
Silver metallics. Shiny chrome, a favorite for commercial kitchens and bathrooms, is tough, easy to maintain, virtually tarnish-free and relatively inexpensive. Warmer-toned than bluish chrome, classic polished nickel imparts a subtler, more traditional feel and, if lacquered, resists tarnish. Satin and brushed chrome and nickel hide water spots and fingerprints better than their polished counterparts, with brushed showing more texture than satin. Pewter is a sought-after finish for period homes.
“Living” finishes. So-called living finishes are meant to change over time from oxidation and use. Unlacquered brass will darken and dull. Oil-rubbed bronze’s matte, near-black coating gradually wears away to reveal brass highlights. Periodic waxing can retard patination, and polishing usually can restore these finishes to near-original condition. However, standard industry practice is not to guarantee them.
Nonmetallics. Nonmetallic finishes, often powder-coated, tend not to bond as well as metallics to the base material and therefore can be susceptible to chipping if not handled with care. Graphic matte black has been dominating this category, but now it’s getting some competition from matte white. This Metropol bathroom sink faucet from Hansgrohe stood out at the 2020 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas earlier this year.
See the Latest Trends in Bathroom Faucets, Showers, Tubs and More
Nonmetallics. Nonmetallic finishes, often powder-coated, tend not to bond as well as metallics to the base material and therefore can be susceptible to chipping if not handled with care. Graphic matte black has been dominating this category, but now it’s getting some competition from matte white. This Metropol bathroom sink faucet from Hansgrohe stood out at the 2020 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas earlier this year.
See the Latest Trends in Bathroom Faucets, Showers, Tubs and More
Mixing and matching finishes. Polished chrome and nickel look much the same from manufacturer to manufacturer, so if you’re hoping that your replacement chrome faucet will match your existing chrome shower head, you’re probably in luck. This isn’t the case with polished brass, satin finishes and brushed finishes, so if you want a cohesive look with these, it’s best to stick with the same maker and maybe even the same collection.
Mixing finishes is trendy but needs to be done carefully to avoid looking chaotic. This is just one area where an interior designer can help.
One trick is to use the same finish on the same horizontal plane. Designer Susan Klimala of The Kitchen Studio mixed metals in this way to connect disparate elements in this bathroom for two young girls: Chrome faucets and towel racks at midheight tie in with the gray floor tile, while brass on the mirrors, light fixtures and cabinet hardware work with the blush pink walls (Benjamin Moore’s Love & Happiness) and the quarter-sawn white oak veneer on the vanity.
Find an interior designer near you
Mixing finishes is trendy but needs to be done carefully to avoid looking chaotic. This is just one area where an interior designer can help.
One trick is to use the same finish on the same horizontal plane. Designer Susan Klimala of The Kitchen Studio mixed metals in this way to connect disparate elements in this bathroom for two young girls: Chrome faucets and towel racks at midheight tie in with the gray floor tile, while brass on the mirrors, light fixtures and cabinet hardware work with the blush pink walls (Benjamin Moore’s Love & Happiness) and the quarter-sawn white oak veneer on the vanity.
Find an interior designer near you
A two-tone (aka split) finish can facilitate mixing. The customizable sink faucets in Rohl’s new Eclissi bath collection are designed so that the spout and handle’s outer ring are one finish, while the handle’s inner circle can be another. Polished chrome, satin nickel, matte black and satin gold mix and match for a total of 16 combinations. These wall-mounted Eclissi faucets contrast matte black with satin nickel accents.
Reliability and Warranties
To get an idea of a faucet’s reliability and its maker’s customer service, you can consult online reviews, consumer publication ratings and plumbers for recommendations.
Construction and finish warranties (and what isn’t warranted) can be indicators of faucet quality, but be sure to pay attention to any exclusions in the fine print in the warranty or terms of sale, and understand that the warranty covers parts but not labor for repair. Also note that most so-called lifetime warranties actually are good only as long as the faucet buyer owns the house in which the faucet is installed. A lifetime warranty also assumes that the manufacturer has a system for providing parts for discontinued products.
Commercial use (as opposed to a residential application), purchase from an unauthorized dealer, improper installation, improper care and hard-water damage are among the common things that can void a warranty.
To be prepared for a problem with your faucet, StarCraft Custom Builders suggests putting the warranty, receipt, installation instructions, spare parts, special tools and installer’s business card in a plastic bag and taping it to the back of the vanity or another nearby location that you or your plumber will be sure to see.
More on Houzz
How to Choose the Right Bathroom Sink
Read other stories about bathroom design
Find a local plumber to install your faucet
Shop for bathroom products
To get an idea of a faucet’s reliability and its maker’s customer service, you can consult online reviews, consumer publication ratings and plumbers for recommendations.
Construction and finish warranties (and what isn’t warranted) can be indicators of faucet quality, but be sure to pay attention to any exclusions in the fine print in the warranty or terms of sale, and understand that the warranty covers parts but not labor for repair. Also note that most so-called lifetime warranties actually are good only as long as the faucet buyer owns the house in which the faucet is installed. A lifetime warranty also assumes that the manufacturer has a system for providing parts for discontinued products.
Commercial use (as opposed to a residential application), purchase from an unauthorized dealer, improper installation, improper care and hard-water damage are among the common things that can void a warranty.
To be prepared for a problem with your faucet, StarCraft Custom Builders suggests putting the warranty, receipt, installation instructions, spare parts, special tools and installer’s business card in a plastic bag and taping it to the back of the vanity or another nearby location that you or your plumber will be sure to see.
More on Houzz
How to Choose the Right Bathroom Sink
Read other stories about bathroom design
Find a local plumber to install your faucet
Shop for bathroom products
Besides the all-important choice of base material and valve type, there’s the practical matter of where to mount the faucet and how many holes it needs for installation.
Then there are the visible parts of the faucet to think about: the spout, handle and finish. Some spouts work better with vessel sinks or have water-saving aerators. Some handles are more suitable for arthritic hands. Certain finishes are easier to maintain or match than others.
In this bathroom faucet buying guide, we’ll take a closer look at each of these factors, all critical to selecting a bathroom sink faucet.
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