I paid a plumber $180 to replace a bathroom faucet once. He was done in 25 minutes. I stood there watching him, realizing most of that 25 minutes was him unpacking and repacking his tools. The actual work took maybe 15.

I have done three faucet replacements myself since then. If you can operate a wrench and lie on your back under a sink for five minutes, you can do this.

Buy the Right Faucet First

Measure before you shop. Most bathroom sinks have 4-inch centerset or 8-inch widespread hole spacing. Centerset means the handles and spout are in one unit with three holes 4 inches apart. Widespread means separate handles and spout with 8-inch spacing.

Take a photo of your sink from underneath with your phone. It will save you a trip back to the store when you need to show someone what the connections look like.

The One Tool You Cannot Skip

A basin wrench costs $12-20 and it is the difference between a 15-minute job and a 2-hour swear-fest. The nuts holding faucets to the sink are recessed up behind the basin where a regular wrench cannot reach. A basin wrench has a long handle and a spring-loaded jaw that grabs those nuts at an angle.

Everything else — adjustable wrench, channel-lock pliers, screwdriver — you probably already own.

The Steps

1. Turn off the water. Valves are under the sink. Turn them clockwise until they stop. Turn on the faucet to confirm no water and release pressure.
2. Disconnect the supply lines from the old faucet — have a small bowl ready for drips.
3. Use the basin wrench to remove the nuts holding the old faucet. They are usually plastic and hand-tight plus a quarter turn.
4. Lift the old faucet out and clean the sink surface — old plumber’s putty and mineral buildup will prevent the new faucet from sealing correctly.
5. Follow the new faucet’s instructions. Most come with a rubber gasket that eliminates the need for putty.
6. Tighten everything, reconnect supply lines, turn water back on slowly, check for leaks.

The gasket that comes with the new faucet is enough. I used plumber’s putty on my first install because a YouTube video told me to and it squeezed out around the base. The rubber gasket alone works fine.

When to Call a Plumber

If the shutoff valves under your sink are corroded or will not turn, stop. Forcing a stuck valve can snap the pipe inside the wall. That is when a $180 faucet job turns into a $500 wall repair. A plumber can replace the valves at the same time.