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How to Replace a Bathroom Faucet: What to Buy Before You Start

A bathroom faucet swap takes about an hour with the right parts. Count your sink's holes first, then buy the faucet, supply lines and a basin wrench.

By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 6 min read

Time
1-2 hours
Cost
$50-$150
Difficulty
Medium
The open cabinet under a bathroom sink with shutoff valves, supply lines, a basin wrench, a bucket and a towel ready for a faucet swap
In this guide
  1. Quick answer
  2. Free vs. permanent fix
  3. What you'll need
  4. Why it happens
  5. Try this first (free)
  6. When free fixes aren't enough
  7. Buy the fix
  8. Know your sink: three layouts
  9. Check the drain before you buy
  10. What to skip
  11. FAQ
  12. Related problems

Quick answer

To replace a bathroom faucet, first count the holes in your sink and measure the spacing. For a three-hole sink with about 4 inches between the outer holes, buy a centerset faucet, plus new supply lines and a basin wrench. Then shut off the water, remove the old faucet, set the new one, connect the lines and check for leaks. A drip or weak flow can often be fixed for free, so check that first.

Free fix vs. permanent fix

Free fix · 15 minutes

Try a free repair before you replace

  • Unscrew the aerator and rinse out grit if flow is weak or splashy
  • Tighten a loose handle with its set screw
  • Check under the sink for drips at the supply lines
  • Look up a repair kit for your model before you toss it

How long it lasts: Fixes weak flow or a messy spray. It will not fix a corroded finish or a faucet that leaks from the body.

Most readers choose Permanent fix
4-inch centerset bathroom faucet with pop-up drain (illustration)
Illustration

A 4-inch centerset bathroom faucet

A new faucet fixes worn cartridges, a corroded finish and a wobbly body in one job. Matching the hole layout is what makes it a one-hour swap instead of a weekend of drilling.

What to get: 4-inch centerset bathroom faucet with pop-up drain

How long it lasts: Many years. A new faucet with brass parts and ceramic cartridges resists drips.

Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What you'll need

  • Tape measure

    For counting holes and measuring the spacing

    You have it

  • Bucket and towels

    Catch the water left in the lines

    You have it

  • Adjustable wrench

    For the supply line nuts

    You have it
  • Basin wrench (illustration)
    Illustration

    Basin wrench

    Reaches the mounting nuts high up behind the sink

    Check price
  • Braided supply lines (illustration)
    Illustration

    Braided supply lines

    New lines are cheap and safer than reusing old ones

    Check price
  • Our pick
    4-inch centerset bathroom faucet (illustration)
    Illustration

    4-inch centerset bathroom faucet

    For three-hole sinks with 4 inches between the outer holes

    Check price

Why it happens

1

Worn cartridge or washers

Drips and leaks at the handle come from worn seals. A repair kit often fixes them if the faucet is otherwise sound.

2

A corroded or pitted finish

Hard water and cleaners eat through plating. Pitting and flaking cannot be repaired.

3

A loose or leaking body

A faucet that rocks or leaks at the base may have worn gaskets or a cracked body, particularly on older plastic parts.

4

A change of style

Some people replace a working faucet to match new fixtures. That is a fine reason, and the steps are the same.

Try this first (free)

Do these in order, starting with the simplest.

  1. Match the sink: count the holes and measure

    Tool used: Tape measure

    Count the holes in the sink: one or three. On a three-hole sink, measure from the center of the left hole to the center of the right. About 4 inches means centerset. 6 to 16 inches means widespread.

  2. Shut off the water and clear the cabinet

    Tool used: Bucket and towels

    Turn both shutoff valves under the sink clockwise until they stop, then open the old faucet to drain it. Put a bucket and towels under the pipes. If a valve will not turn or leaks when you touch it, stop and call a plumber.

  3. Disconnect the lines and remove the old faucet

    Tool used: Basin wrench

    Loosen the supply nuts with the adjustable wrench, then reach up with the basin wrench to remove the mounting nuts. Unhook the pop-up lift rod from the drain strap. Lift the old faucet out and wipe the sink deck clean.

    Basin wrench (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Basin wrench · Reaches the mounting nuts high up behind the sink

    Check price on Amazon

  4. Set the new faucet

    Follow the maker's instructions for the gasket or a thin bead of plumber's putty. Push the faucet through the holes, hand-tighten the mounting nuts from below, then give each a quarter-turn with the basin wrench so the faucet does not spin.

  5. Connect the drain and the supply lines

    Tool used: Braided supply lines

    Fit the new pop-up assembly and lift rod using the maker's diagram. Then screw on the supply lines, hot on the left and cold on the right. Tighten by hand, then about a quarter-turn with the wrench. Do not crank them.

    Braided supply lines (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Braided supply lines · New lines are cheap and safer than reusing old ones

    Check price on Amazon

  6. Flush and check for leaks

    Take off the aerator, open both valves slowly and run the water for a minute to flush out grit. Put the aerator back, then touch a dry tissue to each joint. Check again after an hour.

When free fixes aren't enough

A repair kit is the cheapest fix if the faucet only drips. But if the finish is flaking, the body is cracked or the faucet is decades old, parts can be hard to find. Replacing it also lets you swap the supply lines, which are a common leak source. If your shutoff valves are stuck or leak, or the pipes are old and corroded, stop and call a plumber.

Buy the fix

Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.

Our picks compared
PickProductFixesWho it's forBuy
Best pick
4-inch centerset bathroom faucet with pop-up drain (illustration)
Illustration
4-inch centerset bathroom faucet with pop-up drain
a leaking, corroded or worn faucet on a standard three-hole sink Most owners with a three-hole sink and 4-inch spacing. Check price
Budget pick
Basic 4-inch centerset faucet (illustration)
Illustration
Basic 4-inch centerset faucet
a failed faucet at the lowest cost Rentals, a guest bath or a home you plan to sell. Check price
Upgrade pick
Solid brass centerset faucet (illustration)
Illustration
Solid brass centerset faucet
a faucet that keeps failing Hard-water homes and bathrooms with heavy daily use. Check price
Best pick
4-inch centerset bathroom faucet with pop-up drain (illustration)
Illustration

4-inch centerset bathroom faucet with pop-up drain

Fixes: a leaking, corroded or worn faucet on a standard three-hole sink

Look for: Listed for three-hole sinks with 4-inch spacing; A brass body or brass waterways; Ceramic disc cartridges; A pop-up drain included, if yours needs replacing.

Who it's for
Most owners with a three-hole sink and 4-inch spacing.
Honest downside
Your sink has one hole, or the holes are 8 inches apart or wider. Measure first.
Check price on Amazon
Budget pick
Basic 4-inch centerset faucet (illustration)
Illustration

Basic 4-inch centerset faucet

Fixes: a failed faucet at the lowest cost

Look for: A 4-inch centerset fit; Metal handles; Supply lines included.

Who it's for
Rentals, a guest bath or a home you plan to sell.
Honest downside
This is the bathroom you use every day and you want it to last.
Check price on Amazon
Upgrade pick
Solid brass centerset faucet (illustration)
Illustration

Solid brass centerset faucet

Fixes: a faucet that keeps failing

Look for: A solid brass body; Ceramic cartridges; A brushed finish, which hides water spots better than chrome.

Who it's for
Hard-water homes and bathrooms with heavy daily use.
Honest downside
You are on a tight budget. The cheaper faucet does the job.
Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We don't show prices because they change, so use the button to see today's price.

How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on faucet installation manuals, plumbing guides, and the fit and leak problems people report in reviews. We do not test products by hand.

Know your sink: three layouts

  • Single-hole: one hole, one handle or lever.
  • Centerset: three holes about 4 inches apart, with the spout and handles on one base plate.
  • Widespread: three holes 6 to 16 inches apart, with the spout and each handle as separate pieces.

Check the drain before you buy

Many three-hole faucets come with a pop-up drain and lift rod. Check that the new faucet's listing includes them if you need them, and that the lift rod lines up with your drain.

What to skip

Reusing the old supply lines

Old supply lines can be stiff, kinked or corroded. They cost little to replace, and they are a common leak source after a faucet swap. Replace them when you replace the faucet.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know which bathroom faucet fits my sink?
Count the holes in the sink and measure between the outer ones. One hole takes a single-hole faucet. Three holes about 4 inches apart take a centerset faucet. Three holes 6 to 16 inches apart take a widespread faucet.
Do I need a plumber to replace a bathroom faucet?
Many people do it themselves in an hour or two when the shutoff valves work and there is room to reach. Call a plumber if the valves are stuck, the pipes are old or the sink needs drilling.
What is a basin wrench and do I need one?
A basin wrench has a swivel head that grips nuts high up behind the sink, where a normal wrench will not reach. Most faucet swaps need one, and it costs little.
Can I put a single-hole faucet on a three-hole sink?
Often, with a deck plate that covers the extra holes. Many single-hole faucets include one, but check the listing before you buy.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure

4-inch centerset bathroom faucet with pop-up drain (illustration)
Illustration

Our pick: 4-inch centerset bathroom faucet with pop-up drain

Check price