22 garden taps from €18.90 to €67.90
The selection brings together 22 garden taps for watering, cleaning the terrace or a water point at the far end of the plot. The cheapest is the 304 stainless steel double-outlet garden tap with lever at €18.90, the most expensive the Chiselled antique brass garden tap, 17 cm at €67.90. Ten of the 22 models start between €29.90 and €34.90.
You choose them first by number of outlets: one outlet for a hose, two outlets to connect two hoses or a hose and an automatic watering system. Next come the finish and, for cold regions, frost protection.
Double-outlet garden taps
- 304 stainless steel double-outlet garden tap with lever, €18.90: polished finish, wall mounting.
- Brass double-outlet garden tap with quarter-turn lever, €21.90, gold finish.
- Brass double-outlet garden tap, 1/2 and 3/4 inch, €25.90, gold finish: ball valve and wall mounting according to its product page.
- 304 stainless steel garden tap with quarter-turn lever, €29.90, brushed finish, double outlet according to its product page.
- Black double-outlet garden tap with lever handle, €35.90.
- Black double-outlet garden tap, PTFE tape included, €39.90: the PTFE tape for sealing the thread is in the box.
- Carved dragon double-outlet garden tap, €48.90, gold finish.
- Antique brass double-outlet garden tap with cross handles, €64.90: two cross handles, one per outlet.
Single-outlet wall-mounted garden taps
- Garden tap, €24.90, chrome.
- Black wall-mounted garden tap and 3/4 garden tap (red), €29.90 each.
- Brass outside tap, €29.90, in red.
- Wall-mounted outdoor garden tap, in chrome or black: €29.90 in the small size, €34.90 in the large.
- Contemporary garden tap, gold finish, €29.90 or €34.90 depending on the version.
- Gold wall-mounted garden tap and Outdoor garden wall tap (black or gold), €34.90.
Decorative and traditional-inspired garden taps
For a decorative outdoor tap, four models rely on decoration: the Carved brass garden tap with dragon design (from €29.90 in copper bronze or gold to €34.90 in aged brass, €32.90 in brushed stainless steel), the dragon model with double outlet (€48.90), the Antique brass garden tap with cross handle, long or short spout (€39.90) and the chiselled 17 cm model (€67.90). These are the pieces to show off on a stone wall or near a fountain.
Frost-proof garden taps
Three models in the selection are presented on their product pages as designed against frost: the Freestanding frost-proof outdoor tap (€19.90, chrome), the only freestanding one, for a water point away from the wall; the Designer frost-proof outdoor tap (€24.90 or €29.90, blue or red); and the Brass frost-proof outdoor tap (€29.90, grey). All our frost-proof models are grouped on the page frost-proof outdoor tap.
Which garden tap should you choose?
- To connect two hoses: a double-outlet model, from €18.90 in stainless steel or €21.90 with a quarter-turn lever.
- For a water point in the middle of the plot: the freestanding frost-proof tap.
- For a cold winter: one of the three frost-proof models, and the hose disconnected after each use.
- For a visible front wall: a decorative model or a gold or black finish.
- For a small budget: the models from €18.90 to €24.90.
Also check the diameter of your water supply, most often 1/2 or 3/4 inch: it decides the connector. And several product pages state that the tap is not intended for drinking water: to fill a water bottle or a pet bowl, use a water point designed for that purpose.
Ball, disc or compression valve
The valve is the part that opens and closes the water. The product pages cite three:
- Ball valve (also called a spherical plug valve): a quarter turn is enough to go from closed to open. This is the one on the Brass Double-Outlet Garden Tap 1/2 and 3/4 inch, the 304 stainless steel quarter-turn lever model, the black model with PTFE tape supplied and the two aged brass cross-handle models.
- Disc valve: a lever control, on the 304 stainless steel double-outlet garden tap with lever and on the black model with a lever handle.
- Compression valve: the classic screw closure, on the sculpted brass dragon-motif garden tap.
The quarter turn is quick to operate while watering; the screw closure sets the water flow more finely. In every case, plan an isolation valve on the house side, to cut the garden tap's water in winter or for plumbing work, and check that the inlet connection matches your water supply.
The material of a garden tap
A garden tap lives outdoors: it needs a metal that resists corrosion, sun and temperature swings. Brass and stainless steel are the most common, and the product pages of several models state one or the other. Be wary of the name alone: on two "brass" models in the selection (dragon motif, chiselled 17 cm), the product page states a zinc alloy. Models whose product page states a brass body, with one or two outlets, are grouped on the page brass tap, along with those for the kitchen and the bathroom. For outdoor use only, see our brass outdoor taps, from the quarter-turn lever to aged brass with cross handles.
Fitting and maintaining a garden tap
1. Turn off the water before any work. 2. Wrap the thread in PTFE tape in the direction of screwing, then screw the tap on by hand before the final tightening. 3. For a wall-mounted tap, keep the outlet pointing downwards, with no strain on the hose. 4. Turn the water back on gently and check the seal of the connection.
For upkeep, clean the outlet and the quick connector to stop soil or limescale hindering the flow. Before winter, disconnect the hose and, if the tap is not frost-proof, shut off and drain the pipe. Our article on protecting a garden tap from frost gives the steps in order.
Frequently asked questions about the garden tap
What is the best garden tap?
In our opinion, the one that suits your use: a double outlet for two hoses, a frost-proof model if your region freezes, a metal suited to outdoors. Double-outlet models from €18.90 to €21.90 cover everyday use.
Can you put any tap outdoors?
No. An indoor tap is not made for rain, frost and UV. Our article can any tap be used outdoors? explains what changes.
What is the difference between a garden tap and a bib tap?
The bib tap is the threaded-spout tap onto which you screw a hose connector: it is the form of most garden taps. The term describes the function, drawing water, more than a model.
What connector size for a garden tap?
Most often 1/2 or 3/4 inch: measure the thread of your water supply before choosing. Two models state it in their name, the Brass Double-Outlet Garden Tap 1/2 and 3/4 inch and the Garden Tap 3/4. Our article on the 1/2 or 3/4 connector of a garden tap explains how to check it before replacing the tap.
Other outdoor taps
For the front of the house, our selection of wall-mounted outdoor tap brings together the models to fix to the wall, from chrome to gold. And to see everything, from watering to the washing machine in the utility room, find every outdoor tap from the shop.
