4 Inch vs 8 Inch Faucets: Which to Choose and Why

Trying to decide between a 4 inch vs 8 inch faucet?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Understanding the differences between these faucets can be tricky.

Luckily, you’ve come to the right place for answers.

A 4-inch faucet is ideal for small sinks and may come in centerset or mini widespread design. 8-inch faucets, on the other hand, are ideal for large sinks and come in a widespread design. Both faucets come with single or double handles.

Keep reading to learn more about their differences and choose the ideal faucet that will match your bathroom style!

4 Inch vs 8 Inch Faucets

Remodeling the bathroom has no doubt made you come across a whole host of options. In fact, some of these options may be completely new to you. Such as this one. Should you choose a 4-inch or an 8-inch faucet?

But why is choosing the right faucet so important? Well, the right faucet will save you the hassle of drilling new holes in your sink and will spare you from having to cover up holes in your sink.

Choosing the right faucet will also help you choose spout and handle positions that match the size of your bathroom

So let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of it all. Next up is a list of different bathroom features and the best faucets that match them.

Dive straight in!

#1 The Distance Between the Outer Holes

Are you remodeling your bathroom? Then you will need to find a faucet that will fit the pre-drilled holes in your sink. But as you’ve already guessed, it’s not a case of one size fits all.

A 4-inch faucet will fit sinks with outer holes that measure 4 inches apart. An 8-inch faucet will fit sinks with outer holes that measure 8 inches apart.

Does your sink have a distance of 4 inches between its pre-drilled outer holes? Then you can choose a 4-inch centerset faucet or a 4-inch mini widespread faucet.

What if your sink has a distance of 8-inches between its pre-drilled holes? Then you will have to use a widespread faucet.

What if your sink only has one pre-drilled hole? Not all sinks are suitable for 4-inch and 8-inch faucets. If your sink only has one pre-drilled hole in the middle, you will be best off with a single-hole faucet.

But what if your sink has 4-inch pre-drilled holes, and you want to use an 8-inch faucet? Then you can cover the holes with a plate.

This will give you the flexibility to choose a 4-inch or an 8-inch faucet and drill new holes to accommodate it. There’s no end to the possibilities!

#2 The Size of the Bathroom

How big is your bathroom? Yes, that’s right, even the size of your bathroom should influence your choice of faucet.

If you have a small bathroom, it would be best to choose a 4-inch faucet. If you have a large bathroom it would be best to choose an 8-inch faucet.

Do you have a small bathroom? Widespread faucets might look out of place in a small sink. So, you might like to choose one of the following faucets which use space efficiently.

• A 4-inch centerset faucet. These are available in single and double-handle variations.
• A 4-inch mini widespread faucet. These are also available in single and double-handle variations.

What if you have a large bathroom? Then a centerset faucet might get swallowed up and look lost when placed in a large sink. Instead, consider purchasing a widespread faucet. These faucets are available in double-handle variations. They really look the part in large bathrooms.

Are you designing your own bathroom? Then you can choose to make your spouts and handles as widespread as you like. There is nothing like putting a touch of personality in the bathroom!

#3 The Design of the Spout and Handles

What kind of design are you looking for in the spout and handles of your faucet? There are a couple of variations for you to choose from.

• Attached spouts and handles. These centerset faucets have their spouts and handles on one unit. This makes them look neat and compact. They come with either single or double handles. For a setup like this, you will have to choose a 4-inch faucet.
• Separate spouts and handles. These come in two varieties. They are:
  1. Mini widespread faucets. These come in three separate pieces. They have a 4-inch spread. They come with double handles. For a setup like this, you have to choose a 4-inch faucet.
  2. Widespread faucets. These come in three separate pieces. They can be spread over the top of your sink and have an 8-inch spread. They come with double handles. For a faucet like this, you will have to choose from the 8-inch varieties.

Which Should You Choose?

Here’s a brief summary of what we’ve discussed so far:

Are you still on the fence about whether you should choose a 4-inch or an 8-inch faucet? Then answer the questions below to help you decide which will be best for you.

1. What is the distance between the pre-drilled outer holes in your sink? If it is 4-inches, you should choose a 4-inch faucet. If it is 8-inches you should choose an 8-inch faucet. Alternatively, cover the pre-drilled holes with a plate. These come in a variety of colors, so you don’t need to stick with the ones you see at hardware stores. You will then be able to choose any size faucet and drill new holes. Now that’s adaptable!

2. What is the size of your sink? If you have a small sink you should choose a 4-inch faucet as these are compact. If you have a sink bathroom, consider an 8-inch faucet.

Conclusion

A 4-inch or an 8-inch faucet. What is the difference between them and does it really matter?

Decisions like this can seem like they’re of little importance when you’re remodeling a bathroom. But I hope this article has helped you see the difference between the two. Not only that, but I’m sure it has also shown you how your choice of faucet can change the look of the bathroom. I hope it’s guided you to the best faucet for your sink.

If this article has helped you, then why not check out some of our other articles and free guides? You could even sign up to our email list!

Have a great day!

-Craig