9 Pros and Cons of Wall-Mounted Faucets

There are three main types of faucets: deck-mounted faucets, floor-mounted faucets, and wall-mounted faucets. Of these three, the wall-mounted faucets are the most popular, but what exactly makes them so popular, and do they have any major drawbacks?

If you’re new to the world of bathroom faucets, it can be overwhelming because there’s so much to learn. But don’t despair: Get a quick run-down of the basic types of bathtub faucets before you get overwhelmed. (What you learn in that post applies to sink faucets as well.)

And when you’re ready to press on, take a look at the biggest pros and cons of wall-mounted faucets. At the end of this post, I’ll share two of my favorites and point you to resources to help you understand faucet finishes. 

Wall-Mounted Faucets: Pros and Cons

Here are the 6 main pros and 3 cons of wall-mounted faucets:

1. PRO: Wall-Mounted Faucets Are Very Versatile

Wall-mounted faucets are very popular and the most versatile. Their versatility means that you can get a wall mount faucet in almost any size, shape, color, metal, and style. Not only are all of these options available, but they also all look good!

2. PRO: Wall-Mounted Faucets Are Readily Available

Another bonus of wall-mounted faucets is their availability. 

If you look for floor-mounted faucets, you’ll find that they are not always easy to source, especially if you are looking for a particular style. This is because they’re generally less popular unless you have a freestanding bathtub. Then a floor-mounted faucet can be the faucet of choice.

3. PRO: Wall-Mounted Faucets Can Be Used With Any Bathtub

Wall-mounted faucets can be used for any bathtub size or shape and with any bathtub material, including stone or wood. And since a wall-mounted faucet doesn’t attach to the tub itself, it can also be used with any type of bathtub, including a jacuzzis, alcove tubs, and drop-in tubs. 

Compared to deck- and floor-mounted faucets, which have more limited applications, it’s easy to see the advantage of wall-mounted faucets:

Wall-Mounted Faucets Aren’t Limited to Tubs With Prominent Edges

A deck-mounted faucet requires the bath to have some kind of edge on which the faucet can be mounted. Wall-mounted faucets can be used for sleek, narrow-rimmed bathtubs as well as bathtubs that have thicker edges.  

Wall-Mounted Faucets Are Great for Alcove Bathtubs

Now consider a floor-mounted faucet. You can technically install a floor-mounted faucet for most bathtubs as well, but it would look odd and be inconvenient with an alcove bathtub. But a wall-mounted faucet is perfect in an alcove.

4. PRO: Faucets Mounted on a Wall Save Space

There are two ways that wall-mounted faucets help you to save space:

Doesn’t Use Horizontal Surface Space

If you have a smaller bathroom, then installing a wall-mounted faucet is an excellent option. Your vertical wall space is much less in-demand than horizontal surface space. Both deck- and floor-mounted faucets use up your horizontal surface space, while a wall-mounted faucet will use the vertical surface space.

Increases Bathtub Volume with Same Tub Footprint

Additionally, if you have a wall-mounted faucet, then you can get a bathtub with a smaller ledge or even just a narrow rim. This means that your bathtub can hold a greater volume but fit into the same footprint as a tub with a wider rim.

With a deck-mounted faucet, you’ll need a tub with a considerable ledge, so you’ll lose the opportunity for more water volume.

5. PRO: Water Cannot Pool Around Wall-Mounted Faucets

When you have a deck-mount faucet (the second most popular option), the fact that the faucet is fixed onto the edge of the tub means that water can drip around the faucet. 

This can also be a problem with floor-mounted faucets, although to a lesser extent.

However, bathwater will never pool around the wall-mounted faucet fixtures because they are attached to a vertical surface and are separate from the bathtub.

Problems Caused by Water Pooling Around Faucets

The pooled water can catch dirt, cause the build-up of calcium deposits, make your faucet more vulnerable to rust, and increase the chance of bathroom mold and mildew growth.

Less Cleaning and Maintenance

There is less cleaning and maintenance required for wall-mounted faucets. I’m sure I’m not the only one who counts this benefit twice when weighing up the pros and cons!

Longer Life for Your Faucet and Tub

Eliminating pooling water preserves the integrity of the faucets, extending their functional life. It also extends the life of the bathtub, which can easily become stained around the deck-mounted faucet fixture if you don’t regularly clean the tub and faucet.

6. PRO: Wall-Mounted Faucets Can Increase Accessibility

With a wall-mounted faucet, you can position it higher above the bathtub and get one that extends further out toward the tub. This can be especially important for anyone who is filling up a baby bath on the regular or needs to fill buckets of water for another reason.

7. CON: Wall-Mounted Faucets Are More Complicated to Install

For deck-mounted faucets, the holes are already built into the tub or ledge, so installation is relatively simple. 

With wall mount faucets, you have to cut out the hole or holes (depending on the style of wall-mounted faucet you are using) into the wall. This makes installation a more complicated and invasive process. 

In a new build, the installation is not so difficult. However, bathroom renovations will always be trickier. This is particularly true if your wall is tiled. 

8. CON: Wall-Mounted Faucets Are More Difficult to Repair

Just as wall-mounted faucets are more complicated to install, they are also more difficult to repair. 

You might have to open up a hole in the wall, and a hole in the middle of your wall is always more challenging to seal up again and make the patch look seamless.

Once again, a tiled bathroom wall with grout lines is even more problematic when you have to fix a wall-mounted faucet. If you do not have the same tiles, then you might have to replace the tile around the tub on the whole wall. Let’s not even talk about if your floor and walls are all tiled to match!

9. CON: Wall-Mounted Faucets Are Only for Tubs by a Wall

If you have a wall-mounted faucet, you will have to have your bathtub next to the wall. 

For most people, a bathtub by the wall is the only option because typically, bathrooms are not large enough to put a freestanding tub in the middle of the floor. However, if you have room, then choosing a wall-mounted faucet will eliminate that option.

You can, however, still use a freestanding bathtub with a wall-mounted faucet. The tub just has to be close enough to the wall, and the faucet must extend far enough out over the tub to make it practical.

Are Wall-Mounted Faucets More Expensive to Install?

The exact cost of installing a wall-mounted faucet will depend on a number of factors, including:

• If you are installing it yourself or getting a professional to do the job
• Whether you are installing a wall-mounted faucet for the first time or just replacing an existing wall-mounted faucet
• Whether your walls are painted or tiled
• The age and condition of your plumbing
• Whether you are installing a one-, two-, or three-hole (or more) faucet 

Ultimately, a wall-mounted faucet is likely to be more expensive to install than a deck-mounted faucet but less or equally expensive than a floor-mounted faucet.

Best Wall-Mounted Faucets

Here are a few of my favorite wall-mounted bathroom faucets for the sink and tub:

Sumerain Matte Black Tub Filler

The Sumerain Matte Black, Wall-Mount Tub Filler is beautiful inside and out. 

It is made from solid brass metal, which means that it’s corrosion-resistant, durable, and has antibacterial properties. 

The extra-long spout gives it an unusually sleek look. The electrophoresis (as opposed to simply painted) matte black finish is sophisticated, and as a bonus, the matte does not show up watermarks and fingerprints, so it’s easy to keep clean. 

It is a three-hole installation—hot and cold taps with a separate faucet—and the two taps have an ergonomic cross-handle design.  With a high flow rate, you’ll be blissing out in the tub before you know it.

Buluxe Waterfall Single-Hole Faucet

I’m in love with the Buluxe Waterfall Single-Hole Faucet! But that’s because I’m partial to waterfall faucets. These faucets are designed to give your bathroom a spa-like feel, as the water gently and rhythmically cascades into the tub or sink. 

This wall-mounted faucet has a swivel handle. Made from solid brass with a polished chrome finish, it will give your bathroom a contemporary vibe.

Hanebath Brass Brushed Gold Sink Faucet

The Hanebath Brass Brushed Gold Wall-Mounted Bathroom Sink Faucet is truly stunning. It is also a brass metal faucet, so it too has the benefits of being corrosion-resistant and durable with antibacterial properties. This vintage-style faucet also has a brushed finish, meaning that you won’t be bothered by watermarks and fingerprints.

The Hanebath also has a classic three-hole installation design with easy-to-use lever handles (which can definitely be operated by your toes, making mid-soak top-ups easy!). 

Are Wall-Mounted Faucets More Expensive?

Comparing similar quality wall-, deck-, and floor-mounted faucets, you will probably pay more for your wall-mounted faucet than a deck-mounted faucet, but floor-mounted faucets will be the most expensive.

Because it’s more difficult to repair a wall-mounted faucet, it’s best to invest in a good quality model and get a professional to install it unless you know what you’re doing.

Factors that Contribute to Cost of a Faucet

There are many variables that contribute to the cost of a faucet. For example, the faucet material itself could be plastic but plated with a copper faucet finish. While the plastic is cheap and won’t last too long, you may be fooled by the copper finish. (Read my post on how to choose the best faucet finish.)

Similarly inside a faucet is a cartridge. A ceramic cartridge makes for a higher quality, longer-lasting faucet as compared to a faucet with a plastic cartridge inside.

So Are Wall-Mounted Faucets Better?

When it comes to bathroom faucets, some options are clearly better than others. For example, metal will always be a better choice for your faucet material than plastic. 

However, there are other circumstances under which the better choice is entirely subjective. Whether or not wall mount faucets are better is one of these situations, and you have to figure out which is better for you. 

So, let’s compare wall-mounted faucets to deck-mounted faucets and floor-mounted faucets.

Wall-Mounted Faucets vs. Deck-Mounted Faucets

Both types of faucets come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and designs and are readily available, so there is not much difference between the two in this regard. 

Deck-mounted faucets are likely to be slightly less expensive than wall-mounted faucets. Plus wall-mounted faucets will cost more to install.  

However, once installed, wall-mounted faucets are easier to clean and maintain than deck-mounted faucets. They usually will have a  longer lifespan due to the damage that is often caused to a deck-mounted faucet by dripping or pooling water.

Wall-Mounted Faucets vs. Floor-Mounted Faucets

Wall-mounted faucets are available in a much wider variety than floor-mounted faucets. They are usually cheaper to purchase than floor-mounted faucets.

However, because both types of faucets are difficult to install, installation is likely to cost about the same.

Wall-mounted faucets are easier to clean and maintain than floor-mounted faucets. They also have a longer lifespan due to the potential damage caused by pooling water.  

The Pros and Cons of Wall-Mounted Faucets

After thinking through the pros and cons of wall-mounted faucets, I hope you know if this is the installation for you. Just remember, wall-mounted faucets can be a bit pricier upfront, but they are likely to last longer than other faucet types.

Note: Want designer hacks that can literally help you save thousands of dollars? Get my Save Big $$$ Cheat Sheet, when you subscribe to my newsletter. Fill out the form below and I’ll send it right over.

Tags: advantages, advantages and disadvantages, best, best wall mounted faucets, best wall-mounted bathroom faucets, cons, cost, disadvantages, durability, installation, maintenance, problems, pros, pros and cons, repair, versatility, wall mounted faucet, wall-mount vs deck mount faucet, wall-mounted faucet vs deck-mounted faucet, wall-mounted faucet vs floor-mounted faucet, wall-mounted faucets