Are Kitchen Faucets Universal?

When you are redecorating your kitchen, there is one thing that can completely transform the way your kitchen looks. A kitchen faucet.

The kitchen faucet is a very important part of any kitchen and it will help to make cooking in this space much more enjoyable.

If you have ever been to a restaurant or hotel where they use high-end stainless steel kitchen sinks with beautiful finishes, then you know what we are talking about.

These types of kitchen faucets are not only expensive but also take up a lot of room on the countertop.

Kitchen faucets can determine how much you enjoy being in the kitchen. After all, everyone dreads washing the dishes.

Though if you have a kitchen faucet that accommodates washing dishes by having an extending faucet, then washing the dishes no longer seems like a chore.

So, when you are choosing a new kitchen faucet for your kitchen there is one thing that you need to know.

If this kitchen faucet will fit. There is nothing quite like finding the perfect appliance, whether that will be a showerhead or even a set of draws, and finding out it doesn't quite fit as you are installing them. That is why many people ask if kitchen faucets are universal.

If you want to know more about whether or not kitchen faucets are universal, then you've come to the right place. We are going to tell you everything you need to know about kitchen faucets and if they are universal.

Are Kitchen Faucets Universal?

The short answer to this is that kitchen faucets are not universal. The reason why is because each manufacturer has their own design and style. Due to this there may be different requirements in terms of measurements.

So to put it simply, there is not one universal size of kitchen faucet as there is no standard size. Since different types of kitchen faucets have different design functions, some will require a different style of plumbing compared to others.

In some cases, kitchen faucets that have both a spray faucet and a stream faucet, might require more intricate plumbing since they might need to reach a larger area than a faucet with just a stream.

Whilst there is no standard size or universal faucet, the size of the pre-drilled faucet mounting holes on most counters for faucets do come in an ideal size of 1 3/8 inches.

This is the size of the whole that a lot of manufacturers choose to pre-drill into their faucets.

You might be wondering why this size isn't labeled as the standard size or a universal size.

Well, this is due to the fact that although a lot of manufacturers choose this size hole, some manufacturers have pre-drilled holes that are different to this. The different sizes are dependent on the needs of the faucet.

So saying one size is universal would possibly cause people to buy faucets that do not suit their plumbing requirements.

Tips For Buying The Right Kitchen Faucet

Now that we know there is not a universal kitchen faucet, let us look at some tips to make sure you end up with a kitchen faucet that works for your kitchen.

Using Pre-Existing Sink Holes

If you are planning on only changing the kitchen faucet and not the sink, then you need to consider how many holes there are already in your sink.

For example, if you buy a kitchen faucet that requires three holes, you'll need to make sure your sink has three holes. This type of faucet will usually have holes for two faucet handles and one for the spout.

If your sink only has one whole, buying a faucet that requires three holes will not work, unless you drill the extra holes in by yourself.

The Position Of The Sink Holes

When it comes to ensuring that your faucet will work nicely with your kitchen sink then you need to consider where your kitchen sink holes are.

It is quite common for the kitchen sink holes to be in the middle of the sink, however this is not always the case.

Some kitchen sinks have the faucet holes placed to one side of the sink. This means that the type of faucet you purchase will determine how much you enjoy using that kitchen sink.

For example, if the faucet holes on the sink are to the side, then you need to buy a faucet that has a long enough spout or an extendable spout so the water can reach the other side of the sink.

If you buy a faucet that is too short, you will not be able to easily get water to the other side, which can be a nuisance when you are trying to clean the kitchen sink.

Look At Your Water Lines

Another thing to consider when buying a new kitchen faucet is whether the water lines are compatible with the faucet.

The simplest way to make sure the water lines are compatible with your kitchen faucet is to measure them or look to see if the measurements are listed. It is important that your valve to shut the water off is the same size as the lines.

A lot of the newer faucets actually come with flexible lines. These flexible lines help to connect the faucet to the water supply and are great if you are working with a small, tight area.

So if you do happen to use the flexible lines which are usually 3/8 inch, then you need to make sure that you replace the valve to shut off the water supply to one that is also 3/8 of an inch.

You might already have a shutoff valve that is already this size installed, however, older ones tend to be around 1/2 inch.

The Design Finish

This is something that isn't quite as important as making sure the kitchen faucet is compatible with the sink. However, it is about checking if the kitchen faucet is compatible with your room.

Sometimes when we purchase something new it is because we like the look of that specific design and color. More often than not, we can forget that when we buy a single item it needs to match the other items we already have.

The design finish of your kitchen faucet is something that needs to be considered. When you are purchasing a new kitchen faucet it is important that the design matches your kitchen's aesthetic, so it doesn't look out of place.

For example, if you have a very modern and industrial looking kitchen, a retro styled faucet might look out of place in this kitchen.

Another thing to consider is the finish of the faucet. What we mean by this is the color finish, whether it is chrome or even matte.

If your other appliances have a shiny silver chrome finish, then installing a kitchen faucet that is gold or brass would look out of place. The same goes for if your other appliances are matte and you install a shiny faucet.

Final Thoughts

Unfortunately, all kitchen faucets are not universal. This is because kitchen faucets have different design requirements which means they might need different sized holes compared to the faucet you had before.

With kitchen faucets not being universal, it might seem as though finding the perfect kitchen faucet has just got a lot trickier.

However, there are some things you can do to narrow down what type of kitchen faucet you should buy that would be compatible. This way you can easily avoid any mishaps when it comes to buying a kitchen faucet.

We hope that this guide has helped you with your journey on finding out whether kitchen faucets are universal.

Hopefully, you feel much more confident about buying a kitchen faucet that suits your kitchen. Please share this guide with others who might find it useful. Thank you for reading!