Whether you're renovating your bathroom or building a new one, selecting the right faucet is more important than you might think. Most people believe that choosing between a Bib Cock (short body) and long body faucet is only about looks—but it’s far more practical than that.
In this article, we’ll break down the functional differences, use cases, advantages, and pricing factors behind short body and long body taps, using our years of experience supplying to homes, commercial spaces, and plumbing professionals across Jhansi and nearby districts.
When you're building or renovating a bathroom, it’s easy to focus on big items like tiles, commodes, or bathtubs. But small fittings like faucets are just as important—and choosing the right one can impact daily convenience.
One of the most commonly asked questions we receive at Bath Fitting Solutions, Jhansi is:
“What’s the difference between a short body and a long body tap?”
And more importantly:
"Which one should I install in my toilet or bathroom?"
While all taps ultimately do the same job—dispensing water—the way they do it, and the place they do it from, changes everything.
This article aims to answer those questions with real-world insights, product knowledge, and expert tips we’ve gathered through years of helping customers, plumbers, and project developers choose the right bathroom faucet.
What Is a Short Body Tap?
A short body tap, commonly referred to as a Bib Cock, is a compact wall-mounted faucet used to dispense water. It is typically installed close to the toilet or basin and is designed with safety, space-saving, and ease of use in mind.
🔧 Key Features:
Shorter neck/spout
Delivers water closer to the wall
Designed for small or congested spaces
Usually installed closer to the base/ground.
Commonly installed near toilet pans or low basins
These are usually installed in bathrooms where the water outlet is very close to the basin or pan. Thanks to their design, they reduce the risk of accidental bumps in tight spaces. In India, the short body tap is most commonly seen next to the toilet pan, used for:
Filling a mug or small bucket
Quick rinse functions without splashing
What Is a Long Body Tap?
A long body tap is a faucet with a longer, horizontally extended body. The spout reaches further out from the wall, allowing water to flow directly into a bucket, washbasin, or even onto a bathing person.
🔧 Key Features:
Extended neck to increase water reach
Designed to deliver water further from wall
Suitable for higher wall points
Often used for bucket filling or overhead bathing
Less commonly installed near toilet pans
This type of faucet is often used when:
The bucket is placed away from the wall
The Bucket you use is taller than a toddler
The faucet needs to reach into a counter-top basin
Real Use Cases from the Field
After years of selling taps and bathroom accessories, we’ve seen where each type of faucet truly belongs:
🧻 Short Body Tap (Bib Cock) – The Lavatory Champion
Primarily used next to toilet basins and pans, regardless of space size
Not limited to Indian-style toilets—used with western commodes as well
Useful in lavatories with limited space
Ensures user safety by avoiding accidental bumps with the tap
Excellent choice for low-height water outlets
Often used near health faucets, jet sprays, mugs or bidet sprayers
The compact size makes it ideal for areas where safety and space are a concern. Many customers prefer these even in spacious toilets, simply because they don’t want the faucet projecting too far and hurting someone accidentally. As plumbers often say, "Short body where the point is low, always!" It’s a practical choice—not just a visual one.
🚿 Long Body Tap – Built for Buckets & Baths
Best suited for bathing areas to fill bucket or for taking a bath directly under the tap
Preferred when the outlet point is higher on the wall prevents the wall from getting splashed.
Long reach allows the water stream to comfortably reach buckets, tubs, or people standing
Can be used in toilets, but that’s rare and usually avoided
Compatible with larger washbasins where more reach is required
In fact, without a long body tap, users may have to rely on extension nipples to increase reach—which is just more plumbing work and extra fittings and more places for a possible leak.
So, while both faucets dispense water, their reach and functionality make them suitable for different points.
Plumber Preferences: The Unsung Authority
We supply hundreds of taps every month for projects and direct installations. When we speak to plumbers (who play the biggest role), there’s an industry-wide consensus:
“Use short body faucets wherever the water point is close to the toilet seat.”
They almost always recommend short body taps next to toilet bowls
For bathing and washing zones, long body faucets are the default
Their decision is based on years of hands-on experience with different bathrooms layouts
They consider:
Water pressure
Mounting height
Distance between outlet and user
Usage patterns (bathing, washing, toilet use)
That’s why most project orders, whether for homes or commercial sites, are specified with the right combination of bib cocks and long body taps from the start. Even in premium projects across Jhansi and nearby districts, plumbers explicitly request short body taps for toilet points.
Why Does Long Body Cost More?
If you’ve ever compared taps from the same brand and series—say from Lipka Homes, Supreme Luxury Bathing, Qera Bath Assets, or Gami Bath Collection—you’ll notice that long body taps cost slightly more. Why?
The answer is simple: they use more raw material.
More brass or plastic, longer casting, extra plating area for chrome, zinc and nickel for polishing—it all adds up. And the plumbing and sanitary-ware industry has followed this pricing logic for decades.
Which Faucet Should You Choose?
Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:
✅ Choose a Short Body Tap if:
The water outlet is close to the toilet or basin
You have a low installation point
You prefer a more compact and safe setup
✅ Choose a Long Body Tap if:
You plan to fill buckets or bathe under the faucet
The wall point is 30 inches ~ 36 inches in height or more.
You want the water to reach further into a sink or tub
You want to avoid using extension fittings
Installation Tips
For long body taps, ensure the spout is positioned centrally in the bathing area
Long Body Taps are usually mounted at a height of 30 inches from the ground/base
Ensure the thread size and inlet size matches
Pair the taps with wall flanges for cleaner finish
Avoid mounting a long body faucet too low—it defeats the purpose
For short body taps near toilets, check clearance with the seat or pan
Clean aerators monthly for proper water flow
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Can I use a short body tap for bathing?
Technically yes, but you may need to attach an extension nipple, which adds cost, points for a possible leak and can look odd.
Q2. Can I install a long body tap near a toilet?
You can, but it may be bulky or uncomfortable in small toilet areas.
Q3. Which is more durable – short or long body?
Both are equally durable if made from quality materials like brass or PTMT.
Q4. Which brands offer both types?
All brands, like Lipka Homes, Ruhe, Qera, Supreme, Jaquar, Cera, Parryware, and Gami Bath Collections offer both short and long body faucets in various finishes.
Q5. Do these faucets need angle valves?
No, ask the plumber to mount a different ball valve for each bathroom for ease of maintenance and flow control.
Popular Models Available at Bath Fitting Solutions
We stock a wide range of short and long body faucets from trusted brands:
LIPKA HOMES
SUPREME LUXURY BATHING
GAMI BATH COLLECTION
QERA BATH ASSETS
and more.
While brands like Lipka and Supreme focus on brass and chrome polished faucets, brands like Gami bath collection make taps primarily made from P.T.M.T. and Qera Bath Assets primarily focus on taps made from ABS material. All of these brands offer both long body and bib cock taps, and other range of faucets in all of their multiple series and give years of warranty on leakage and different types of services for customer satisfaction.
Most of the taps we offer come equipped with a foam flow aerator. This clever feature:
Reduces water splashes
Aerates the stream to give a soft, foam-like feel
Filters out sediment, rust, and other impurities from the water
It’s a great combination of comfort, cleanliness, and efficiency.
However, if you prefer low-maintenance options or do not wish to clean the aerator regularly, we also offer taps without aerators to suit your preference.
Whether you're building a 2BHK or setting up fittings for a hotel project in Jhansi or surrounding districts, we can help you select luxury @ wholesale.
Final Thoughts
Both short body and long body faucets play distinct roles in your bathroom or kitchen layout. While their purpose is to dispense water, the context and placement determine which one fits best.
🔹 Short body = safety, compactness, and near-ground utility
🔹 Long body = water reach, bathing convenience, and elevated use
Whether you're a homeowner choosing for one bathroom or a contractor buying in bulk, it's crucial to pick the right tap for each water point, ask your plumber or fitter to make a detailed list.
At Bath Fitting Solutions, we guide customers daily in selecting the right faucet based on actual bathroom layouts and practical usage—whether for homes, hotels, or contractors in Jhansi and beyond.
👉 Still confused?
📞 Call us, visit our showroom, or send us photos of your bathroom—we’ll help you choose the perfect faucet every time.
Luxury @ Wholesale. Expert Guidance. Delivered with Care.
