Spigot vs Tap vs Faucet: What's Their Differences?
By Smart Water Tech Allen Huang 2025-03-21
Spigots, taps, and faucets are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences and functions. Understanding these differences is essential when purchasing plumbing fixtures or customs clearance.
1. Definitions & Regional Preferences
Faucet: Primarily used in North America to describe indoor fixtures (kitchen sinks, bathrooms). Focuses on design and functionality (e.g., pull-down sprayers, touchless tech).
Example: "Delta Lahara faucet with magnetic docking for commercial kitchens."
Tap: Common in British English. Refers to both indoor and outdoor fixtures. Often used for simple designs (e.g., outdoor garden taps, pub beer taps).
Example: "Brass bib tap for industrial water barrels (BS 1010 standard)."
Spigot: Typically denotes a valve controlling liquid flow. Used for outdoor/utility purposes (e.g., hose spigots, rain barrel outlets).
Example: "Galvanized spigot for RV water tanks or agricultural irrigation."
2. Design & Functional Differences
| Feature | Faucet | Tap | Spigot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usage | Indoor (kitchen, bathroom) | Indoor/outdoor (simple use) | Outdoor/utility (hoses, tanks) |
| Complexity | High (multiple handles, spray modes) | Medium (single-lever) | Low (basic on/off valve) |
| Materials | 304 stainless steel, brass | Brass, chrome-plated zinc | PVC, galvanized steel |
| Certifications | NSF/ANSI, CE, WaterSense | WRAS (UK), CE | FDA, RoHS (for plastics) |
3. Why Terminology Matters for B2B Buyers
Regional Compliance:
EU/UK buyers search for "mixer taps" (BS 5412 standard), while North Americans use "kitchen faucets" (NSF/ANSI 61).
Mislabeling can lead to rejected shipments (e.g., calling a spigot a "faucet" in EU tenders).
Commercial Applications:
Faucets: High-end hospitality (hotels, restaurants) need touchless models (e.g., Moen MotionSense) for hygiene.
Taps: UK pub suppliers prioritize "beer taps" with flow control valves (e.g., Perlick 650SS).
Spigots: Bulk buyers in agriculture seek "food-grade polyethylene spigots" (FDA-compliant) for chemical tanks.
4. Key Considerations for Global Procurement
Material Durability
304 stainless steel: For faucets in high-corrosion environments (e.g., coastal hotels).
Lead-free brass: Mandatory for NSF/ANSI-certified faucets (e.g., California's Proposition 65).
Certifications
CE Mark: Required for EU sales (faucets/taps with electrical components).
WRAS Approval: UK water regulations for taps connected to public mains.
Bulk Customization
Offer OEM spigots with custom threading (e.g., NPT vs BSP threads for US vs EU markets).
Provide dual-voltage faucets (110V/220V) for smart models with LED indicators.
5. Case Study: Avoiding Costly Terminology Mistakes
A German hotel chain rejected a shipment of "commercial faucets" from a Chinese supplier because the products were labeled as "taps" in documentation, conflicting with EU tender requirements. The supplier rebranded the line as "CE-certified mixer faucets" and regained the contract by aligning terminology with regional norms.