September 9, 2026 Easy Plumbing

Faucet Hole Spacing: Single-Hole, 4" Centerset and 8" Widespread

Before you choose a bathroom faucet, count the holes in your sink and measure between them. Get this wrong and the faucet physically will not mount.

Measure centre to centre

Measure from the centre of the left hole to the centre of the right hole — not the gaps between them, and not the edges. That number decides everything.

The three standard configurations

Single-hole — one hole. A single spout with an integrated handle. The cleanest look and the easiest install. Many single-hole faucets ship with an optional escutcheon plate that covers a three-hole sink, which is how you convert down from a 4" centerset.
4" centerset — three holes, 4" centre to centre. The handles and spout are on one shared base plate. The most common configuration in North American builder-grade bathrooms.
8" widespread — three holes, 8" centre to centre (anything from 6" to 16" is generally called widespread). The spout and the two handles are three separate pieces connected under the deck. A more custom look, and the spread is often adjustable within a range.

There is also mini-widespread, which looks like a widespread but is spaced at 4" — three separate pieces on a standard centerset sink.

Wall-mount faucets

A wall-mount faucet has no deck holes at all; it needs plumbing roughed into the wall at the right height and spread, plus enough spout reach to clear the basin and land water in the drain rather than on the rim. This is a decision to make before the wall is closed, not after.

Converting between configurations

3 holes to 1 — easy. Use a single-hole faucet with a deck plate.
1 hole to 3 — you would have to drill the sink. On porcelain or stone this is a job for a fabricator, and on many vessel sinks it is not possible at all.
4" to 8" — not possible without a new sink or countertop.

If your countertop is already cut, the countertop decides the faucet.

Also check these

Spout reach and height — the water should land in the middle of the basin. A tall spout over a shallow vessel basin will splash.
Deck thickness — thick stone counters sometimes need extension kits for the mounting hardware.
Drain — check whether a pop-up drain is included or sold separately. It frequently is not.
Supply lines — connection sizes vary. Replacing them at the same time is cheap insurance.

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