How to choose a basin mixer

A basin mixer gets used dozens of times a day, so a poor choice shows up every morning: water splashing over the rim, or a tap so low over a vessel basin you can't get your hands under it. Getting it right comes down to a few measurements and decisions made in the right order. The most important rule: choose the basin first, then the tap.

Step 1: Start with the basin

The style of basin decides which type of mixer will work.

• Inset, undermount and semi-recessed basins sit at or close to benchtop height. A standard-height basin mixer suits them.
• Above-counter (vessel) basins sit on top of the bench, so the rim is much higher. They need a high-rise mixer or a wall-mounted mixer.
• Wall-hung basins, and basins or vanity tops with no tap hole, need a wall-mounted mixer, unless the basin has a built-in tap landing.

Step 2: Choose the mixer type

Standard basin mixers

The most common choice. A single lever controls flow and temperature, and the mixer mounts through one hole in the basin or benchtop. Ranges such as Ruki and Linie come in several finishes, so you can match the rest of the bathroom. Browse all basin mixers.

High-rise basin mixers

A taller body lifts the spout outlet above the rim of a vessel basin. Look at the Linie High, Hali High or the Otus Slimline High with curved spout, or the full range of high-rise basin mixers.

Wall-mounted basin mixers

The mixer and spout come out of the wall, leaving the bench clear and easy to wipe down. They come in two parts:

1. An in-wall body (the "rough-in"), which your plumber installs in the wall frame before the walls are sheeted and tiled.
2. A trim kit (the lever, plate and spout you see), fitted after tiling.

On some of our wall ranges the body is sold separately from the trim kit, for example the Linie wall mixer and spout trim kit or the Otus Slimline wall basin mixer trim kit paired with a matching wall mixer body. Because the body goes in early, you must decide on a wall mixer before rough-in, not after the tiler has finished.

Basin tap sets

Separate hot and cold handles with a spout between them, usually with quarter-turn ceramic taps. They suit heritage, Hamptons and transitional bathrooms. Deck-mounted sets such as the Soko quarter-turn basin set need three holes. See basin tap sets.

Step 3: Match the spout reach and height to the basin

This is where most mistakes happen, and a spec sheet will tell you everything you need.

Reach (spout projection)

Projection is the distance from the tap body (or the wall, for wall spouts) to the centre of the outlet. You want the water to land near the waste, not on the back of the bowl and not near the front rim.

To check: measure from where the tap will sit to the centre of the basin waste, then compare that with the projection on the spec sheet. For wall spouts, measure from the finished wall face. Some of our wall spouts come in two lengths, for example the Linie curved spout at 180mm and 220mm projection, so you can pick the one that suits the basin depth.

Too short and your hands knock the back of the basin. Too long and water splashes over the front.

Height

For a vessel basin, compare the outlet height on the spec sheet (not the overall height of the tap) with the height of the basin rim above the bench. You need the outlet to clear the rim with room for your hands underneath.

Don't overdo it: water falling a long way into a shallow basin splashes more. For wall mixers, your plumber sets the outlet height at rough-in, so pick the basin before work starts.

Step 4: Understand the cartridge

The cartridge is the valve inside the mixer that controls flow and temperature. Our basin mixers use ceramic disc cartridges, which give a smooth action and wear well. Two cartridge sizes are common, 35mm and 40mm; a 35mm cartridge allows a slimmer body. The size mostly matters years later when you need a replacement, so keep the spec sheet with your house documents.

Also look for a solid brass or stainless steel body (Linie uses lead-free brass) and a solid warranty.

Step 5: Check tap holes and the benchtop

• Single-hole mixers need one hole; the hole size is on each spec sheet.
• Three-piece tap sets need three holes at the spacing shown on the spec sheet.
• Wall-mounted mixers need no hole at all, so order the basin or vanity top without one.

For stone tops, give the fabricator the exact tap position before they cut, and check the lever has room to swing near a splashback.

Step 6: Pick a finish that works with the rest of the room

Each finish looks and ages differently; see tapware finishes compared. Buy all visible tapware from the same range where you can, because finishes vary slightly between ranges and batches.

Step 7: Check WELS and WaterMark

• WELS (the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme) is a national scheme that requires tapware to be registered and labelled with a star rating and a flow rate in litres per minute. More stars means less water used..
• WaterMark is the certification scheme for plumbing products installed in Australia. Your plumber will want to see that the products are WaterMark certified, so check the listing or spec sheet before you buy.

All tapware must be installed by a licensed plumber.

FAQs

### What height basin mixer do I need for a vessel basin? A high-rise basin mixer, or a wall-mounted mixer. Measure how high the basin rim sits above the bench and compare it with the mixer's outlet height on the spec sheet. The outlet should clear the rim with enough room to fit your hands underneath, without such a long drop that water splashes.

### How far should a basin mixer spout reach? Far enough that the water lands near the basin waste. Measure from where the tap will sit (or from the finished wall, for a wall spout) to the centre of the waste and compare that with the spout projection on the spec sheet.

### Can I install a wall-mounted basin mixer after tiling? Not easily. The in-wall body has to go into the wall frame at rough-in, before the walls are sheeted and tiled. The trim kit is fitted after tiling. Adding one later usually means removing tiles.

### What size hole does a basin mixer need? Most single-hole basin mixers fit a standard tap hole, typically 32–35mm; confirm the exact size on the spec sheet. Always confirm the cut-out size on the product's spec sheet before the benchtop or basin is drilled.

### What does the WELS star rating mean on a basin mixer? It shows how water-efficient the tap is. Every tap sold in Australia must carry a WELS label with a star rating and a flow rate in litres per minute. More stars means less water used.

Ready to choose?

Browse basin mixers and high-rise basin mixers, or send us your plans and we'll put together a matched bathroom package quote.