How to Replace a Faucet
Match the holes, shut off the water, swap, then check for leaks.
By Jonathan West · reviewed 2026-10-14 ·how we research these
To change a kitchen sink faucet, match the hole layout, shut off both supply valves, disconnect and remove the old faucet, set the new one, reconnect the supply lines, remove the aerator and flush, then check every connection for leaks. At DIY Repair Guide, we compiled these steps from manufacturer, retailer and editorial guides, plus one published cost estimate.
Delta Faucet rates its kitchen-faucet install upper-beginner and lists 30 to 60 minutes. Delta says a like-for-like swap, with the same hole configuration and faucet type, is a job most homeowners can do. Changing the hole configuration, switching mount style, or dealing with old, corroded or stuck shutoff valves moves the job toward a licensed plumber.
How to Replace a Faucet, Step by Step
Replacing a kitchen sink faucet follows one order: confirm the holes, shut off the water, remove the old faucet, feed the new one through the mounting hole, tighten it from below, then connect and test the supply lines.
- Count the sink holes. On a three-hole sink, measure the spread between the outer holes, then match the new faucet to that layout before you buy it.
- Shut off the supply valves under the sink. Open the faucet to relieve pressure, then confirm that the water is off. If water keeps flowing, stop and call a licensed plumber.
- Place a tray or bucket under the pipes. Disconnect the supply lines with an adjustable wrench.
- From under the sink, loosen the mounting nut. A basin wrench reaches it when the nut is out of easy reach.
- If the faucet is stuck to the sink or counter, break the seal with a putty knife, then scrape off the old putty and wipe the surface with a damp cloth.
- Fit the escutcheon and gasket if the countertop needs them, then feed the new faucet through the mounting hole.
- Under the sink, slide the U-shaped bracket over the shank and thread on the nut. Center the faucet over the sink, then tighten the nut against the underside of the counter.
- Connect the blue cold line and the red hot line. Hand-tighten each connection, then give it about one full turn with a wrench past finger-tight.
- Remove the aerator before turning the water on, so debris stays out of it.
- With the handle full on, run the water 30 to 40 seconds to clear debris, then shut off the water.
- Check every connection. Tighten a leaking connection by another half turn, and do not over-tighten.
Before You Buy: Match the Sink Holes
The new faucet has to fit the holes already in your sink. Count the holes first, then match the faucet type to that count and spacing.
American Standard describes three mount types on its bathroom sink guidance. The table lists what each one fits.
Delta pull-down kitchen faucets include trim and gasket for a single-hole sink. A three-hole countertop needs a 3-hole escutcheon plate and gasket, which are sold separately if not included.
No minimum hole size or deck thickness is published in the sources compiled here. Measure the sink itself and compare that spacing to the table before you order.
| Faucet type | Sink holes it fits | Spacing listed |
|---|---|---|
| Single-hole | A single hole, or a 3-hole sink with an escutcheon (deck plate) | Collection page lists a single hole or a 4-inch escutcheon |
| Centerset | 3-hole sink | 4-inch spread |
| Widespread | 3-hole bathroom sink | 8-inch spread on one page, and 8 to 16 inches apart on the collection page |
Tools and Parts
Delta's install guide lists five tools for a kitchen faucet install.
A basin wrench is a standard plumbing tool that Family Handyman calls indispensable for removing and installing most faucets. You reach it up behind the sink from below and hook its jaws on the faucet nut. You may not need one if the faucet package includes a wrench or other means of installation.
Supply lines use a 3/8-inch compression fitting. If a line does not fit the valve, use an adapter. Family Handyman advises replacing old copper, plastic or flexible steel supply lines during the project.
To size a new line, measure from the faucet connector ends to the shutoff valves and add a few inches. Extensions add another potential leak point.
Keep penetrating oil, a putty knife and a damp cloth nearby. Stuck nuts and old putty come up in the removal steps.
- Phillips screwdriver
- Adjustable wrench
- Bucket
- Flashlight
- Safety glasses
Removing the Old Faucet
Clear the cabinet and place a tray or bucket under the pipes. Delta's removal guide, which covers a bathroom faucet, says to close the hot and cold supply valves, then run the faucet to drain the water left in the lines.
Disconnect the supply lines with an adjustable wrench. Delta says flexible lines may be reusable, while Family Handyman advises replacing old flexible steel lines.
The Home Depot Canada says to apply penetrating oil to the tailpiece mounting nuts and the supply-tube coupling nuts, then wait roughly 15 minutes. Coupling nuts come off with a basin wrench or water-pump pliers, and the tailpiece mounting nuts come off the same way.
Delta says to unscrew the mounting nut under the sink. If it is stuck, apply penetrating oil and wait a few hours or overnight.
Old putty or caulk can hold the faucet on. Break the seal with a putty knife, scrape off the old putty, and wipe the surface with a damp cloth before you set the new faucet.
Installing the New Faucet and Checking for Leaks
Feed the new faucet through the mounting hole and slide the U-shaped bracket over the shank from under the sink. Thread on the nut, center the faucet over the sink, then tighten the nut against the underside of the counter.
Blue marks the cold line and red marks the hot line. Each line has a 3/8-inch compression fitting. If a line is too long, coil it in a loop at least 8 inches in diameter without kinking it.
Delta says to hand-tighten, then give about one full turn past finger-tight with a wrench. Modern braided-steel supply lines have gaskets built into each end, and Family Handyman says to thread those finger-tight, then turn about a half turn with a wrench. Do not over-tighten, because that can damage the fitting or valve.
Remove the aerator before turning the water back on, so debris stays out. On a pullout faucet, unscrew the spray head from the supply tube, then point the tube into the sink while you turn on the water.
Then, as Family Handyman suggests, let it run two or three minutes with a tissue under each connection. Lay a tissue under each connection, because a tissue shows even a tiny leak as a wet spot. Tighten the connection nearest any leak.
Water under a faucet can corrode it or damage the countertop or cabinet.
When Shutoff Valves Will Not Close or Are Corroded: Call a Licensed Plumber
Delta names a stuck or leaking shutoff valve as the most common reason a self-install becomes a bigger job.
Family Handyman notes that old, worn valves that do not close all the way can force you to shut off the main water supply. If a shutoff valve will not fully close, leaks, or is corroded, stop and call a licensed plumber to replace it.
This sequence does not cover a job that changes the hole configuration or switches mount style. Delta says those changes call for a plumber.
If a shutoff valve will not close, leaks, or is corroded, stop and call a licensed plumber before you continue.
What a Plumber Charges
HomeAdvisor publishes a US estimate of $162 to $364 to replace a kitchen faucet, with an average of $262. These are typical figures for orientation, not quotes, and local prices vary.
The same page lists as low as $91 for a basic faucet with partial self-installation, and up to $600 for a high-end faucet with complex professional installation. Its estimator is based on a plumber hourly rate of $45 to $200.
The page does not publish a separate figure for a bathroom faucet, and it does not publish how long a plumber visit takes.
Before you ask a plumber for a quote, count the sink holes and measure the spread between them.
Common questions
How much would a plumber charge to replace a sink faucet?
HomeAdvisor publishes $162 to $364 to replace a kitchen faucet, averaging $262, with a plumber hourly rate of $45 to $200. These are published estimates, not quotes, and local quotes vary. The page does not publish a separate figure for a bathroom faucet.
Are all bathroom faucets interchangeable?
No. A faucet has to match the sink's hole layout. American Standard describes single-hole, centerset and widespread faucets as suited to different hole layouts. Centerset fits a 3-hole sink with a 4-inch spread, and widespread fits a 3-hole bathroom sink with an 8-inch spread on one page and 8 to 16 inches apart on another.
Can you replace a kitchen faucet without removing the sink?
The steps work from above the counter and from under the sink: you feed the new faucet through the mounting hole and tighten the bracket nut from below.
Is it difficult to change a faucet?
Delta rates the kitchen faucet install upper-beginner and lists 30 to 60 minutes. A like-for-like swap with the same hole configuration and faucet type is a job most homeowners can do. A stuck or leaking shutoff valve is the most common reason it becomes a bigger job.