Faucets are manufactured in three basic styles. With a two-handle centerset style, common in the bathroom, the spout and both valves are combined on a single base unit. Single-handle faucets, common in both baths and kitchens, are centersets where hot and cold are controlled by one lever or knob that's often part of the spout. The third type is called a widespread faucet—with this, the hot-water valve, cold-water valve, and spout are all mounted separately.

Though antique-style separate valves—where hot and cold each have their own handle and spout—are still made, nearly all present-day faucets have mixing valves, where hot and cold are mixed and delivered through a single spout.

The right type to choose depends on your preference, your budget, and the sink (or counter area) where the faucet will be mounted. Kitchen sinks generally have holes drilled for 8-inch centers or a single hole for single-handle faucets (escutcheons are made for converting multiple-hole sinks to receive single-hole faucets). Bathroom vanity and pedestal sinks are designed for widespread, single-lever, and centersets.

Before you buy a faucet, it's essential to know the sink or countertop's hole configuration unless you're drilling the countertop to suit a particular faucet. If you're going to want an instant hot-water spout, a soap dispenser, a sprayer, or the like, be sure to get a sink that has holes to accomodate these.

For kitchens, a single control is, by far, the most popular type. A single-control faucet is also handy in a bathroom and suits a very contemporary style; widespread sets offer more flexible placement. But you pay a premium for widespread styling—as much as twice the price as the same faucet would cost in a centerset.

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