Ask a contractor in Ohio and one in Munich and you get different answers. "Most" depends on the market.
In North America, yes. The standard residential vanity sink is drilled with three holes: two for handles, one for the spout. Eight-inch widespread and four-inch centreset patterns dominate, and the third opening often takes a soap dispenser.
In Europe and much of Asia, no. The single-hole monobloc mixer has been the default for decades. One lever, one hole, temperature set by a cartridge rather than two valves. Simpler to install, simpler to clean, and it frees deck space.
The middle case is the one-hole basin with a deck plate. Many three-hole faucets ship with an escutcheon that covers the unused openings, letting one SKU fit both configurations.
For buyers sourcing brass basin faucets, hole count is not cosmetic. It decides which SKU sells into which market, whether you stock deck plates, and how likely a return becomes. A three-hole widespread set will not fit a one-hole basin without a plate, and ceramic cannot be re-drilled on site.
Yuhuan Bangqi Metal Products produces brass basin faucets in both single-hole and three-hole configurations, including pull-out and standard spouts, with finishes from polished chrome to antique brass, and CE/ISO certification on request.
The short answer: three holes is the American norm, not the global one. Specify the market before you specify the faucet.
