Getting bathroom tap sizes right for your next renovation

Like sinks, bathroom tapware can come in various shapes and sizes, and choosing the right size is about taking a number of different measurements to find the best fit. This includes:

• Height: Measure the height at which your sink sits off the floor and off the countertop, the depth of the sink, and the height at which you wash your hands in the sink.
• Centre of the sink: Measure the length and width of your sink to tell where a tap will sit compared to the centre of your sink.
• Distance from fixture to sink: You will also need to know where your tap will be fixed. Will it be on the wall, behind the sink, or attached directly to the sink? Measure the distance from the fixation to the edges of the sink.

These measurements are a general guide to finding which bathroom taps will fit in the space you have planned in an easy and comfortable way.

The height of your sink and how you plan to use it will significantly impact the most appropriate size of the tap. If the sink is only for washing your hands and is at a lower height, you will want to have different taps to a higher sink used for washing your face and other activities.

A standard bathroom sink height ranges between 29 to 35 inches off the floor, depending on the height of the people using the sink. If you have to bend down to use the sink, you may not want a tall tap that could get in the way. Similarly, slightly higher sinks may function better if the fixtures are taller and out of the way.

You will also need to consider the water pressure in your bathroom. If you have good water pressure, you should be able to choose from most styles. However, for homes with low or below-average water pressure, you may be limited in which styles you can choose.

Larger tap styles with a greater water flow need high pressure, or you risk having a very slow water flow. Bathroom sink taps with a standard 15 mm thread are the most common, but you might need a smaller thread adjuster if water pressure still remains an issue.

If you are looking for taps for a smaller bathroom, single hole taps with attached handles take up less space and can be installed onto the back or side of the sink. Swivel spouts can also save space while giving great flexibility. They are the easiest to install with a single lever for hot and cold water and sit at around 5 to 7 inches above the sink.

For bathrooms that don’t have much space around the sink, wall-mounted taps can be a great way to save space and leave the counter clear. Wall-mounted taps usually protrude around 7 to 12 inches from the wall. For standard sinks, wall taps should not be installed over 10 inches high or the water will splash around the basin.

Related article: 15 small bathroom ideas on a budget

For an average-sized bathroom, the size of the tap will depend on the size of the sink. Widespread and pillar taps are a great way to adapt the tap size to the sink size.

Widespread taps with two separate handles usually have around 1 to 3 inches between each unit, while pillar taps can be set equidistant from the edges of the sink. Widespread taps can range in size from 5 to 10 inches in height. The separate handles will be slightly smaller but increasing the spacing between the units can make them appear larger. These taps are usually set around 4 inches apart.

Pillar taps are usually similar to single hole taps but suit larger sinks as you have two, not one. You will have more flexibility with these styles of taps and can balance a long sink with pillar taps set further apart.

In a larger bathroom, you can use much larger taps without it looking unusual. Center set faucets feature a single spout and two handles connected as a singular unit. In smaller bathrooms, they can look bulky as they are usually between 8 to 12 inches long and can be over 6 inches in height.

These basin taps look best on sinks with plenty of space behind the counter.

For large bathrooms that don’t have much space behind the sink, vessel taps look more opposing. Vessel taps are installed on the counter, not the sink, requiring additional height to clear the edge of the sink. Tall and thin, they can balance out a large bathroom without taking up counter space. Vessel taps come in a range of styles, some of which can be quite unique, and will generally be over 13 inches in height.

There are many different styles and types of bathroom taps to choose from and each will impart their own distinctive look and feel to a space. It’s important to take this into account as part of your overall decision-making process. While most of the tips above have focussed on the important area around the basin itself (and rightly so), the view from the entryway of the bathroom is just as important.

Stylistically you’ll probably already be inclined to follow the particular theme of your bathroom, whatever it may be. These bathroom styles will naturally have an impact on your bathroom tap sizes. For example bathroom fittings for minimalist bathrooms tend to be smaller and more inconspicuous than those designed for industrial-styled bathrooms.

Proportion is also important, irrespective of style. For example, small taps in a bathroom with large fixtures and fittings may look inadequate and inferior while the opposite in a small space may look distracting. Thinking about the view of your basin area from a difference is key to understanding the proportional size that will work best for you.

With so many bathroom tap sizes and styles available, the more measurements you have, the more factors you consider and the more appropriate your styling - the better informed your choice will be. As one of the most used areas of the bathroom, it’s important to make the best decision you can for the benefit of all that will use the space for years to come.

Related article: 10 of the best bathroom taps