When you’re engaging in DIY or having home renovations done, you get to decide almost everything that gets added or changed.
One of the more important rooms is the bathroom, where your morning routine takes place and where you unwind after a long day.
With so many fixtures in the bathroom, you’ve probably never thought too much about the faucets you’re choosing.
They are only a small part of the room, after all.
While they all do the same thing, faucets aren’t made equal.
Two of the most popular faucet types are called widespread and centerset faucets, where the main difference is the handle arrangement.
There are other similarities and dangers, however, and that’s what we’re covering today.
We’ve researched the pros and cons of each faucet type and have summarized what we found below.
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What Are Widespread Faucets?
Let’s start with what widespread faucets are. The main thing that makes a widespread faucet stand out is its handles.
In a widespread faucet, the handles are disconnected from the water spout so that it comes in three separate pieces.

Naturally, this means it needs to be installed in a certain way that other faucets, like centerset models, aren’t.
Each one needs to be individually connected to the waterworks of the sink for them to work.
They’re popular for both bathrooms and kitchen sinks but they still have a limit on how far the pieces can be spread out, typically at 16 inches.
Pros
Here are some pros that best explain why widespread faucets are so commonplace in kitchens and bathrooms across the world.
- Adjustability – When the handles are stored away from the faucet, they can be placed even further apart. A centerset unit forces the handles to be part of the tap but this isn’t the case with widespread models.
- Variety – While centerset faucets are quite uniform, widespread faucets can come in a wide variety of art styles and décors. From the Victorian era up to now, there are so many designs that can mesh with the aesthetic of your bathroom.
- Better To Clean – Since there is space between the pieces of a widespread faucet, cleaning them becomes much, much easier. There are fewer tight spaces where dirt can form and grow, so you can keep your bathroom cleaner without spending much effort.
Cons
As for the downside, there are only a few that we can think of.
- Complex Installation: First, the fact that it’s three independent pieces getting installed means that it’s a more complex process. If you’re doing it yourself, maybe that’s not a problem. If you’re contracting the work, however, then it may mean you pay more for a harder job.
- You Need A Lot of Space: Second, they can take up more room than centerset alternatives, though individual pieces will vary in size and cost.
Best Use
With the above in mind, what is the best use of widespread faucets?
If you have a larger sink where a centerset installation wouldn’t look right, a widespread faucet can help cover more surface area to make the sink look more balanced.
Similarly, widespread faucets work well for undermount sinks that are physically built into the counters of your home.
This is because they rely on a tap that needs to be away from the rest of the sink’s waterworks, to arc above it and stand out on the countertop.
Lastly, if faucet holes happen to be spaced 6 or more inches apart, you are going to need widespread faucets. Centerset faucets don’t spread that far, so they are unsuitable.
Also, if there are any corner-mounted faucets, widespread models are necessary there too.
- 【Good Quality】- The bathroom faucet adopts brushed nickel finish/brushed gold surface, which effectively resists corrosion, scratches and rust in daily use; High quality ceramic valve core, advanced water control system with lifetime leak-free and maintenance-free performance, these durable valves are not affected by extreme temperatures, sand, rust and other conditions.
- 【Quick install】- Special design of the bathroom basin sink faucet and hose connection, quick connection structure, easy to install, is easy to install by yourself without a plumber; Widespread design dtstance adjustable, 3 hole mount with 6-12 inch widespread design, the distance is adjustale up on your actual requirements. Hole size: 30-35mm/ 1.18-1.38 Inch.
- 【Safe and Harmless】- Bathroom sink faucet meets CEC, cUPC and NSF certification requirements in pursuit of a safe environment; Equipped with copper pipes to ensure safe water quality; easy to clean, resistant to fingerprints and water stains under any circumstances
- 【Classic and Elegant Design】- Two handle bathroom sink faucet, double handle for effortless flow and water temperature control; The design of the red and blue rubber ring makes it easier to distinguish between cold and hot water; Gorgeous brushed nickel finish/brushed gold finish will instantly enhance the appearance of any bathroom sink faucet and complements most decorating styles.
- 【Good Service】 - We have 24-hour customer service and 7 days unconditional return. We provide you with the best product and service. If you have any problem, please let us know, and we will solve the problem ASAP. Thank you so much.
- Meets ADA/ANSI A117.1 requirements, ensuring accessibility to all disabled persons
- Pforever Seal—advanced ceramic disc valve technology with a never leak guarantee
- At Pfister, we know what you want out of a faucet because we know what we want out of a faucet. And because we're faucet people, we know how to make that happen – beautifully, reliably, and affordably
- Meets or exceeds EPA WaterSense Standards, which reduces water consumption by 3% and helps average households save up to 2 Dollars in their annual water bill
- Faucet mounted on sink deck or countertop
- The water flow rate is 1.18GPM Please check the size before buy 3 Holes Fit for 8-inch Center(the left to the right) Sink at least
- ☀Need longer hose to the handles please check the page. Cold and hot water mixing,Controlled with two handles
- GGStudy Carrington two handle widespread lavatory faucet
- Highly reflective mirror-like chrome finish
- The faucet come with the same color pop up drain with overflow
- 【UPGRATE: METAL PUSH & SEAL POP UP DRAIN INCLUDED, WATER HOSE NOT INCLUDED】 —— Phiestina 2 Handle 3 Hole Brushed Nickel Widespread Bathroom Sink Faucet Come With a Overflow Drain. The whole drain is made of copper to offer durable use without leaking. Updated pop up drain is easier to install and use than traditional lift road drain.
- 【CREATIVE QUICK CONNECT TECHNOLOGY】 —— Original creative fast connect construction is easy to install by yourself without a plumber! SAVE PLUMBING INSTALLTION FEE WITH PHIESTINA FAUCET!
- 【LEAD-FREE ROW MATERIALS HAVE CERTIFIED TO CUPC AND NSF 61 LEAD-FREE STANDARD 】 —— Phiestina offer you a safety 3 hole widespread bathroom sink faucet to protect you and your family’s healthy from daily use.
- 【DIMENSIONS】 —— Overall Heigh: 4.68 inch(119mm); Spout Reach:5.15 inch(131mm); Spout Heigh: 2.99 inch(76mm).8 inch widespread design faucet for bathroom sink is easy to install by yourself without a plumber! SAVE PLUMBING INSTALLTION FEE WITH PHIESTINA FAUCET!
- 【24HOURS CUSTOMER SUPPORT】 ——To obtain service or inofrmation for phiestina bathroom faucet please call 866-675-2011. Phiestina have professional supoort team as your service for 24hours.
- Matte Black Finished, plate, not painting. Corrosion resistant. Color matching overflow pop up drain with built-in stopper included
- Solid Brass Body Construction, 360-Degree high-arc swivel spout offers more clearance and better access to your sink
- 3-Piece complete set is ready for Installation. Quick connect fitting hose, and 23.6 inches cUPC water supply lines (US Standard 3/8 inch connector) are included
- 2 handle metal lever with modern design for precise control in both Volume and Water Temperature, quarter turn ceramic cartridges have drip-free performance after 300,000 times use
- Easy DIY Installation, 3 Mounting Holes Required, Widespread Installation on 8~16 inch Centers. Mounting hole size 1.14-1.41 inch, Maximum deck plate thickness 1.57 inch.
What Are Centerset Faucets?
With widespread faucets covered, let’s get into centerset faucets and what they can be used for.
While widespread faucets can be used in both bathrooms and kitchens, centerset faucets tend to be used as the standard for bathrooms, and it has been this way for many years.

Centerset faucets can’t be spread out like widespread ones can because they keep the handles close.
When you buy centerset faucets, you get just one unit, a block with the faucet spout and the handles already connected and ready to go.
All you need to do is attach it to a base plate and use the provided parts to make sure the water is working. Your local hardware store is practically guaranteed to have a few in stock.
Pros
With these pros, you should start to see why centerset faucets are the favorite of bathroom designers.
- Easy To Install – First, don’t underestimate convenience and how much it influences our buying decisions. By their nature, centerset faucets will always be easier to fit than widespread alternatives. That may be a non-issue if you’re paying somebody else but, if it’s your own DIY, many would advise centerset.
- More Compact – You shouldn’t have many compatibility issues with centerset faucets. While there are some instances where widespread faucets are better, like if there were a corner faucet as outlined above, the smaller build of centerset faucets allows them to fit in almost anywhere.
Cons
The cons of centerset faucets are pretty much the opposite of the widespread faucets.
- For example, the centerset is going to be harder to clean due to the fact it’s a block, not made up of several isolated lights. In that same vein, there isn’t as much opportunity to add décor signals or personal touches to these faucets, making them more boring and appealing less to the eye.
Best Use
As with the widespread faucet, there are contexts where a centerset model is the best for the job.
First, a centerset faucet may only work if you’re at a sink less than 6 inches from the center. If there are more than 6 inches, you’re going to need widespread faucets.
Once that is understood, we can start comparing the two. First, centerset faucets work much better when combined with a pedestal basin sink.
Once again, it’s because these are much smaller than built-in kitchen sinks and so centerset installations are the most feasible.
Then there are drop-in sinks, sinks that have a lip around their perimeter while the basin itself plunges into the surface. They are remarkably similar to undermount sinks but with a steeper decline and centerset faucets instead.
- Sleek Design---Tulip kitchen faucet design make your kitchen room simple and fresh, easy to match most sink.
- Multifunctional Outlet Water Effect---3 way spray setting(STREAM,SPRAY,PAUSE),stream for filling water, spray for rinsing, pause for avoiding splashing in multitask mode.CEC listed. Flow Rate: 1.8 Gallons Per Minute.
- Easy to Install---Pull down hose and water Line hose altogether preinstalled in kitchen faucet to save much time under the sink,no require plumber,finish DIY installation less than 30 minutes.
- Easy to Operate---Single handle control water temperature and flow volume easily,high arc 360 degree swivel spout supply full range washing access, sprayer head always retract back to spout after each use.
- Easy to Maintenance---Superior corrosion & rust-resistant finish prevent dirty from sticking to faucet surface, clean faucet by cloth is enough in Daily Use.
- INSTALLATION: Designed to fit 3-hole, 6-16-in. widespread bathroom sink faucet configurations
- PURCHASE SUPPLY LINES SEPARATELY: Standard bathroom faucet supply lines are required for installation and must be purchased separately to complete the unit
- DRAIN ASSEMBLY INCLUDED: A coordinating matte black pop-up bathroom sink drain assembly is conveniently included in the box
- WATERSENSE LABELED: Delta WaterSense labeled bathroom faucets use at least 20% less water than the industry standard—saving you money without compromising performance
- LIFETIME LIMITED WARRANTY: You can install with confidence, knowing this bathroom faucet is backed by Delta Faucet's Lifetime Limited Warranty
- 【Waterfall Faucet For Bathroom Sink】The Black Bathroom Faucets Spout Delivers A Visual-Pleasing Waterfall Water, Which Helps Create A Serene Bathroom Environment. Filtered On Spout Can Filter Dirt In Water And Prevent Water Splash Out, Produce A Smooth Waterfall Flow.
- 【The Most Easily Install Single Hole Bathroom Faucet】 Waterfall Bathroom Faucet Packed With 2 Piece Of Standard 3/8" Hot And Cold Water Supply Hoses.Black Bathroom Sink Faucet Is Suitable For Single-Hole Sink 1 Or 3-Hole Sink For Easy Installation(Include A Deck Plate). Waterfall Black Bathroom Faucet Features An Easy-To-Clean Surface.
- 【Matte Black Finishing Bathroom Faucets】 Elegant And Modern Design Waterfall Faucet Bathroom With Superior Corrosion & Rust-Resistant Finish Will Prevent Dirty From Sticking To The Black Sink Faucet Bathroom Surface, Resist Water Spots, Fading And Daily Scratches.
- 【Drip-Free Valve Of Ceramic Disc Cartridge】 Faucets Bathroom Sink Built-In A Ceramic Disc Cartridge, A High Seal Performance Cartridge Valve Provide You A Smooth Stream And Low Probability Of Leakage. The Faucets For Bathroom Sinks With Commercial Ceramic Cartridge Has Passed 500,000 Cycle Testing To Ensure That Matte Black Bathroom Faucet Handle To Provide Professional Drip-Free Durability Performance.The Main Body Is Made Of Solid Brass Material.
- 【EASY TO RETURN 100%】 Lifetime replacement warranty and you're protected by getting a new bathroom faucets guarantee ! Any issues of the black waterfall bathroom faucet, please contact us! YUNDOOM provides any replacement in the future ,so contact unhesitatingly once you meet any problem. Your complete satisfaction is important to us.
- A PERFECT HEIGHT - Your black kitchen faucet features an industrial kitchen faucet open spout, 18.5” height fits under most cabinets. 10 inches deck plate included, one hole kitchen faucet or 3 hole kitchen faucet available.
- SPECIFICATIONS - Spout reach 9", spout height 5", overall height 18.5". Maximum Deck Thickness: 2.5", Pre-drilled hole size requirement: 1.38"--1.5". Pull out the hose 17.7" easily reach any position of the sink.
- DUAL MODE SETTING - Your kitchen faucets with pull down sprayer provides soft aerated stream and splash-free powerful spray due to its hard rubber sprayer holes. 360 degree kitchen sink faucets sprayer, the switch can be placed in every position as you like.
- HEALTHY QUALITY - The SUS304 stainless steel kitchen faucet, has no worry of LEAD. Black kitchen sink faucet made up of food-grade PEX inner hoses, enjoy your healthy utility sink faucet.Ceramic disc valves exceed industry longevity standards, ensuring durable performance for life. High performance aerator.
- EASY INSTALLATION - 1 or 3-hole installation, 3/8" H & C water hoses and mounting hardware included. Easy DIY installation less than 25 minutes, NO NEED plumber, save money and time. Attention: Not included deck plate,if need it, pls buy it together in our store !
- Modern 4-inch Bathroom Faucet for Sink ----No-leak 4 inches centerset bathroom faucet fits two or three holes. The whole faucet size is 5.75"L x 2"W x 8.25"H; The Pop-up Drain Stopper measuring 2.25"L x 2.25" W x 8.5"H; Made of rust-proof, anti-scald, fingerprint-proof metal material with updated advanced technology eliminates leakage problems. Ideal for the bath room, such as the master bath, travel trailers room, powder room and so on
- Easy to Install & Clean ---- Comes with everything you need: a faucet body, mounting nuts, base plate, pop-up drain stopper, adapters, water hoses, and installation guide. The installation will only be a breeze because everything is lined up and attached perfectly. An updated integrated pop-up drain stopper can be set up quickly. Besides, the detachable faucet head and the drain stopper head allow you to pull it up periodically to clean it. Both of them will bring you a great convenience
- Adjustable 360°Rotation & 2 Lever Handles Design ---- You can use the lavatory vanity faucets freely. The 360 degree rotating faucet body be a nice feature that can move the spout from side to side to supply a full range washing access. Great water flow and being able to swivel the neck are just so practical! Equipped with double handles with a 90° forward rotation, which makes it easy to adjust the water flow and the different temperatures water
- Removable Aerator & Soft Foam Water ---- The high-quality and removable aerator can help you conserve water and give you ample soft foaming clean water beneath the spout with no splash everywhere. It can be taken down directly with your hands if you don't need to use it. Water self-clean system that meets the American standard. The bubble oxygenation water offers a higher comfort level and clean water to protect you and your family's healthy from daily use
- Well Craft & Intimate Customer Service ---- VXV offers cUPC, NSF-61, and 100% lead-free certified quality faucets. We keep on creating practical and great valued products for our users. Superior construction and material ensuring durability and dependability; We stand by our products, and we always provide the best service to all of our users. If you have any questions or suggestions about VXV products, please feel free to reach out to us, we will always be here to take great care of you
Do Faucets Have To Match?
When outfitting your bathroom with faucets, you may be tempted to make sure that the sink, bath, and any other faucets in the room are of the same kind.
Whether this is for décor purposes or because you prefer everything to be the same, it is possible to get the same bathroom fixtures.
That said, it isn’t necessary and so it’s up to the discretion of the homeowner, as per usual. Maybe you’d prefer to change the faucets for some stylistic reason since you can get faucets in pretty much every style and color.
If you get faucets that are similar but not quite the same, nobody will really notice except for you.
If you can’t get your hands on identical faucets but you want them to match, it’s as simple as matching the color and texture.
With so many colors available, especially ones in neutral metallic colors that are easy to match with one another, matching shouldn’t be a problem for you.
If you can match your chosen décor/style, even better.
Can A Sink Fit Any Faucet?
Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that your sink right now will support a new faucet.
As we have stated above, there are holes into which the faucets are placed.
They are inches apart and oftentimes; they’ll be too short or too long for any old handles you have to lie around.
Many sinks have just one faucet hole, some two, others three, and then they could all be different distances away from each other and the center of the sink.
Measure from the outside of one hole to another or keep an approximation if you’ve already installed a faucet there. From there, measure from the center of one handle to the other.
If it is over in 6 inches then you’ll want a widespread feudal.
If it is under 6 inches then you’ll want to get a centerset or at the very least a mini widespread test, if you can.
- [Waterfall Spout] 6.22''/158mm wide curved spout sends out laminar water flow to create a natural waterfall effect and presents a stylish modern look
- [Easy Control] Paired with 2 square knob handles, this modern waterfall bathroom faucet provides effortless adjustment on temperature and the hot & cold water flow.
- [Premium Quality] Constructed from solid brass in polished chrome finish, this waterfall faucet for bathroom sink offers durable, reliable performance & original appearance
- [Easy Installation] Suitable for widespread installation at 9" and above (from 1st to 3rd hole, center to center). Connection Size: 1/2". All mounting hardware included.
- [Warranty& Service] Lifetime Limited (residential), 5 Year Limited (commercial). If there is any question, please feel free to contact us.COGITIL customer service team will respond within 24 hours and try the best to address the problem.
- 【Good Quality】- The bathroom faucet adopts brushed nickel finish/brushed gold surface, which effectively resists corrosion, scratches and rust in daily use; High quality ceramic valve core, advanced water control system with lifetime leak-free and maintenance-free performance, these durable valves are not affected by extreme temperatures, sand, rust and other conditions.
- 【Quick install】- Special design of the bathroom basin sink faucet and hose connection, quick connection structure, easy to install, is easy to install by yourself without a plumber; Widespread design dtstance adjustable, 3 hole mount with 6-12 inch widespread design, the distance is adjustale up on your actual requirements. Hole size: 30-35mm/ 1.18-1.38 Inch.
- 【Safe and Harmless】- Bathroom sink faucet meets CEC, cUPC and NSF certification requirements in pursuit of a safe environment; Equipped with copper pipes to ensure safe water quality; easy to clean, resistant to fingerprints and water stains under any circumstances
- 【Classic and Elegant Design】- Two handle bathroom sink faucet, double handle for effortless flow and water temperature control; The design of the red and blue rubber ring makes it easier to distinguish between cold and hot water; Gorgeous brushed nickel finish/brushed gold finish will instantly enhance the appearance of any bathroom sink faucet and complements most decorating styles.
- 【Good Service】 - We have 24-hour customer service and 7 days unconditional return. We provide you with the best product and service. If you have any problem, please let us know, and we will solve the problem ASAP. Thank you so much.
- Brass construction
- Duraseal washerless cartridge
- Porcelain cross handle
- Single faucet mount hole
- 8-Inch to 16-Inch adjustable spread.Spout height(inches): 5.3125
- Premium Brass Quality - The 3 hole bathroom faucet body is solid brass construction to resist corrosion and rust for durability, 100% lead free to ensure water safety for your family. The ceramic disc cartridges have been tested for over 600,000 uses, the 27.6 inches supply lines and hoses are kink-resistant and heat-resistant for leak-proof performance.The widespread bathroom faucet is cUPC/ADA/NSF compliant.
- Elegant Finish - The 3 hole brass bathroom faucet is brushed finish plated with multiple layers to resists water spots and fingerprint, requiring less cleaning. With a new coating technology, the golden appearance will have different color changes under different lights. Match various decoration styles, whether it is modern, vintage or farmhouse style bathroom.
- Easy to Install - The bath faucet is designed for 6 -12 inches widespread configuration. For ease of use, the faucet comes with valves, a matching finish pop-up drain assembly, 2 quick screw-in fitting hoses and 2 supple lines. You can easily install or replace your own taps at bathtub, farmhouse, RV, bathroom vanity and basin sink, no need to buy the rest of the fittings.
- Precise Water Adjustment - The 2 handle bath faucet allows to separately adjust hot and cold water temperature, water flow is strong and focus, the aerator creates soft bubble stream.
- Backed by Warranty - You can install Lava Odoro's lavatory faucet with confidence in the bathroom vanity and basin sink, knowing we provide limited lifetime warranty. This modern bathroom faucet is the best choice for remodeling bathroom.
- INSTALLATION: Designed to fit 3-hole, 6-16-in. widespread bathroom sink faucet configurations
- PURCHASE SUPPLY LINES SEPARATELY: Standard bathroom faucet supply lines are required for installation and must be purchased separately to complete the unit
- DRAIN ASSEMBLY INCLUDED: A coordinating matte black pop-up bathroom sink drain assembly is conveniently included in the box
- WATERSENSE LABELED: Delta WaterSense labeled bathroom faucets use at least 20% less water than the industry standard—saving you money without compromising performance
- LIFETIME LIMITED WARRANTY: You can install with confidence, knowing this bathroom faucet is backed by Delta Faucet's Lifetime Limited Warranty
Widespread Faucet vs Centreset Faucet
Hopefully, this short guide on widespread and centerset faucets is just what you needed to decide between them.
Maybe your decision has already been made up for you due to where you live, or because your sink can’t support larger widespread faucets.
Whichever is the case, you can see which type of faucet would be best for you thanks to the pros and cons we have provided.
For those of you who are preparing for some bathroom DIY, remember that installing centerset faucets tends to be easier than widespread faucets, with small widespread faucets being a compromise between the two.
Last update on 2023-03-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API