The inlets on a faucet are the components that connect to your water supply lines. Most faucets in the United States have a 1/2" MPT (male) or 1/2" FPT (female) threaded inlet. These connections use the NPT (National Pipe Thread) standard.
The most common size used by kitchen tap manufacturers is M10 size, however some of taps have M8 or M12 water inlet connections.
Ensure that the connector sizes match those of your faucet and shut-off valve. Common connector sizes are typically 3/8-inch compression or 1/2-inch threaded fittings. Measure the distance from the shut-off valve to the faucet to determine the appropriate length of supply lines needed.
Are all kitchen taps the same size? Kitchen taps come in many sizes in terms of the height of the neck and the spout. But their base sizes range from 44-60mm, all of which fit into a kitchen sink's standard size pre-drilled tap hole of 35mm.
The standard size hole for a kitchen faucet is typically 1 3/8 inches (35 mm) in diameter, as per industry norms . This size is commonly used for the mounting hole in most kitchen sinks. It's important to note that this is a general standard, but variations may exist.
Faucet Connector Sizes
The inlets on a faucet are the components that connect to your water supply lines. Most faucets in the United States have a 1/2" MPT (male) or 1/2" FPT (female) threaded inlet. These connections use the NPT (National Pipe Thread) standard.
Once you've identified the type of tap you're interested in purchasing, then you can start thinking about the concept of a 'standard size'. Most modern mixer taps will fit a standard sized mounting hole in your sink/worktop. The standard size for the hole is 35mm.
To measure, take a ruler to the outside thread and note down the width between both widest points. If your tap, for example, is measuring 1” then minus ¼” of an inch to get the size of connector required. In this case, that would be a ¾” Tap Connector.
Measure the countertop behind the sink, and the diameter of the pre-drilled holes and the distance between their centers. The hole dimensions are how to determine what size faucet will fit, before you buy the faucet.
15 mm is the most common copper pipe size in the UK. 15 mm pipe is widely used for transporting water around homes for fixtures such as taps and showers. 15 mm pipes are also used in central heating systems to carry water to radiators.
Typical "Regular" size for a faucet aerator is 15/16" male threaded or 55/64" female threaded, while "Junior" size is 13/16" male threaded or 3/4" female threaded. Some faucets use a smaller "Tom Thumb ®" metric-size aerator, which is M18x1 male threaded or M16x1 female threaded.
Moen faucets typically utilize either flexible supplies with ⅜" compression fittings or ½" IPS connections.
20mm BSP is one of the most common garden fittings used at the moment. However, you'll notice that some older properties used larger garden taps and used 25mm fittings. Some even went as far as using 32mm fittings but those are not commonly used now.
1/2" BSP - Bathroom basin taps and kitchen sink taps, radiator connections, shower hoses, old outside tap outlets, toilet cistern fill / ball / float valves. 5/8" BSP - Old outside tap outlets (we have an adapter for this size). 3/4" BSP - Bath taps, washing machine inlet hose connections, modern outside tap outlets.
If your sink has a different hole configuration, you may need to look for a different tap or consider drilling additional holes to accommodate the fitting. It's also worth noting that while most kitchen tap fittings are designed to be compatible with standard sink sizes and configurations, there are some exceptions.
BSP or British Standard Pipe is an industry wide term with most basin taps using 1/2" BSP and bath taps 3/4" BSP thread sizes. Signs that suggest your valves may need replacing: Intermittent dripping. A constant leak, even when the tap is fully shut.
Most of the time, the hole for your kitchen faucet will be 1 3/8 inches across. That's the standard size you'll typically see. But here's the catch - not all faucets play by the same rules. Some of them require a little more breathing room with a 1 1/2-inch hole instead.
Faucets are not universal, as they come in a variety of sizes, styles, and designs to fit different sinks, countertops, and bathroom/kitchen configurations. Additionally, faucets use different mounting systems and connections, which may not be compatible with all sinks or countertops.
Sinks and faucets come in different configurations. The faucet configuration has to line up with the number of holes in the sink. The two components don't necessarily have to match exactly, as extra holes can be hidden with plugs and baseplates.
The most common faucet connection size is 1/2 inch. This is the size that most faucets use, including bathroom sinks and kitchen sinks. You can determine which size your current faucet uses by checking the pipes that are connected to either end of the faucet.
To find out the exact connector size, measure the center pin and the inner diameter of the port. Then, compare the sizes to determine which type of adapter you need to buy.
Basin taps are typically designed to fit standard basin tap holes, which are about 35mm in diameter. This size can slightly vary depending on the design and brand.
Most faucet centers range between 4 and 16 inches, with widespread faucets typically measuring at 6 to 8 inches and centerset faucets measuring at 4 inches. If your sink or vanity has only one pre-drilled faucet hole, then you'll want a single-hole faucet that includes a handle.