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Your kitchen faucet requires tap holes to be drilled into the counter top or sink for the water connections that come from under the sink. These faucet tap holes are standard sized, and drilled into your counter top or kitchen sink with a drill bit and then enlarged to fit the standard faucet shaft. If you are drilling your own tap holes into a counter or sink, you have to understand the standard measurements involved. 

All tap holes are standard sized at 1 3/8 inches wide, but some faucets require a 1 1/2 inch hole.

Tap holes are spaced apart 4 inches on center for center set faucets, and 6 to 8 inches on center for widespread faucets. Widespread faucets are named so because the handles are spaced wider apart.

A widespread faucet with a independent handles not attached to a base will mount any reasonable distance from the spout, no standard drilling template for the tap holes is necessary.

To drill your own tap holes simply follow the standards for the type of faucet you plan to install; either a center set faucet (if you are installing a center set faucet) or a widespread if installing a widespread.

Learn how to:

Follow this diagram to establish and drill tap holes in a sink or counter top.

Centerset Faucet Tap Holes Measurement

Widespread Faucet Tap Holes

With our instructions and diagrams above we’re sure you’ll be able to drill the holes at exact dimensions, just make sure you do it patiently and with care and it will be easy.