How to fit a kitchen tap — plus the reason hot and cold are on the left and right sides

Chrome mixer tap being fitted into single hole sink
(Image credit: Getty Images)

If you want to say goodbye to old leaking taps or upgrade your sink with a new look, fitting a kitchen tap is the practical solution. It might be one of your kitchen remodel ideas or a simple replacement to keep things working as they should. And it's a skill that isn’t too difficult to master.

But you will definitely need the right tools to help make sure that you can remove the old tap and replace with the new. No-one wants to be stuck under a sink with a difficult to reach tap nut with the wrong tool we can promise you. Here we reveal what you’ll need and how to fit your new tap.

The tools you'll need for fitting a kitchen tap

Matthew Powell Owner of WarmZilla
Matthew Powell

Matthew Powell created WarmZilla in 2018, having forged a successful career as a heating engineer over many years. WarmZilla is redefining the boiler purchasing and installation process and also specialise in repairs, home cover and all aspects of domestic heating.

Jess Thomas MD of Drainage Central
Jess Thomas

Thomas is a well-recognised expert in the drainage and plumbing industry. Jess continually provides valuable insights on a wide range of industry topics, and is dedicated to helping homeowners find effective solutions to their problems.

Andy Simms - Construction consultant at MyBuilder.com
Andy Simms

With almost a decade of experience on the front line in construction as a multi-trader, Andy is uniquely placed in the construction industry to help bridge the gap between tradespeople and product managers with his role at MyBuilder.com.

Steve Jenkins

Steve Jenkins is a freelance content creator with over two decades of experience working in digital and print and was previously the DIY content editor for Homebuilding & Renovating. 

He is a keen DIYer with over 20 years of experience in transforming and renovating the many homes he has lived in. He specialises in painting and decorating, but has a wide range of skills gleaned from working in the building trade for around 10 years and spending time at night school learning how to plaster and plumb.

He has fitted kitchens, tiled bathrooms and kitchens, laid many floors, built partition walls, plastered walls, plumbed in bathrooms, worked on loft conversions and much more. And when he's not sure how to tackle a DIY project he has a wide network of friends – including plumbers, gas engineers, tilers, carpenters, painters and decorators, electricians and builders – in the trade to call upon.