Kegerator Tower Bolt Pattern: What to Measure

What a tower bolt pattern is

A tap tower on a kegerator is the column that rises from the cabinet top and holds the faucets. The tower bolts to the cabinet through a set of mounting holes, and the arrangement of those holes is the bolt pattern. The bolt pattern decides whether a replacement tower can use the same holes without new holes being made in the cabinet.

The bolt pattern has three parts you can describe without a diagram: the number of holes, the center-to-center spacing between them, and the overall shape of the pattern, usually a square or a rectangle. Together these three details tell you whether one tower's base matches another tower's base. This matters most when you want to swap a single tap tower for a dual tap tower, or replace a damaged tower with the same style.

A listing for a kegerator usually shows the whole unit with the tower already fitted, so the bolt pattern is hidden under the base. That is why most listings do not state the bolt pattern as a separate dimension. You will more often see the tower described by its tap count, height, and material, as covered in the guides on tower height and tap count.

Why the bolt pattern matters for replacement and upgrade

The most common reason a buyer looks up a bolt pattern is a plan to swap the tower. A replacement tower must match the existing holes in the cabinet top. If the spacing differs, the new tower would need a different mounting base or a modification to the cabinet, and that is an installation task this article does not cover. The pattern is the specification to check before you order.

Upgrading from one tap to two taps is a separate decision from the bolt pattern. A dual tap tower has a wider base and different tap spacing, so even if the bolt pattern fits, the faucets may sit closer together or farther apart than you expect. Read the tower listing's stated width and tap spacing, then compare those to your cabinet top.

A buyer who is comparing complete kegerator listings rather than a replacement tower has less to worry about. The factory tower and cabinet are matched by the maker, so the bolt pattern is an internal detail. What you compare across complete kegerators is the tap count, cabinet width, and undercounter or freestanding type.

How to measure the bolt pattern

Measuring a tower bolt pattern is a simple task you can do before you buy a replacement. The goal is to record your current tower's mounting holes so you can compare them to a prospective tower's stated base dimensions.

Start from underneath the tower or from the inside of the cabinet top. With the tower in place you can usually see the bolt heads or the mounting plate. Count the bolts first. Most tower bases use either two or four bolts, as discussed in the article on tower hole count.

Next, measure from the center of one bolt to the center of the next bolt. Take that measurement across both directions, because a rectangular pattern has a shorter side and a longer side. Write the two distances down along with the number of bolts. That gives you the pattern shape and the spacing in one note.

Finally, note the orientation of the pattern relative to the cabinet: which direction is front to back and which is side to side. A pattern that fits a single tap tower may have the same spacing but a different orientation on a wider cabinet. Keep the note with your kegerator's manual so you have it when you shop.

What listings say about bolt patterns

Most tower listings describe the tower by its height, tap count, faucet type, and material, but not by its bolt pattern. That is because the tower base has to fit many cabinet tops, and the maker often includes an adapter plate or a set of hole options. Read the bullet list for the base width and the number of holes the base accepts.

When a listing says the bolt pattern is not stated by the seller, treat that as a question to ask, not as a reason to guess. Ask the seller for the center-to-center spacing and the number of mounting holes. A seller who can answer those two questions gives you the same information you measured on your own tower.

If you are buying a tower for a known cabinet, compare the stated base width to your measured pattern. The base width on the listing is the outside dimension of the mounting plate, while the bolt spacing is the inside dimension between holes. Both need to fit the same cabinet top, and the dimension planning article explains how to set up that comparison.

Matching a tower to your cabinet

The bolt pattern is one of several dimensions that have to agree when you match a new tower to an existing cabinet. The others are the tower height, the tap spacing, and the line routing inside the tower. A tower can have the right bolt pattern and the wrong height for your space, so read all the stated dimensions before you order.

Tap count is the first filter. A single tap tower has a narrow base, a dual tap tower has a wider base, and a triple tap tower is wider still. The wider the tower base, the more likely the bolt pattern is rectangular rather than square. That is why the bolt pattern matters most when you move from one tap count to another.

For a complete kegerator, the bolt pattern is already matched. What you check instead is the cabinet width and the tower height so the unit fits the space you planned. The tower compatibility article covers tower swaps in more detail, including what to read before you remove an old tower.

What to ask before you buy a replacement tower

Keep your measured note next to you while you read tower listings. A tower that matches on tap count but not on bolt pattern is a mismatch you can avoid before you pay for shipping. When in doubt, ask the seller directly and keep the answer as a written record.

• What is the center-to-center spacing between the mounting holes, in both directions?
• How many mounting holes does the base accept?
• Is the pattern square or rectangular, and how is it oriented front to back?
• Does the listing include the mounting plate, gasket, and bolts, or are they sold separately?
• What is the tower height and tap spacing compared to your measured notes?
• Does the seller accept returns if the pattern does not match?

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Do kegerator listings state the tower bolt pattern?

Rarely. Listings describe tap count, height, and material; the bolt pattern is usually not stated by the seller. Ask for the center-to-center spacing and the hole count before you order.

Can a dual tap tower use the same bolts as a single tap tower?

Only if the bolt patterns match. A dual tap tower has a wider base, so the mounting holes are usually spaced farther apart. Measure your existing pattern and compare it to the new tower's stated base dimensions.

How many holes does a tower base usually have?

Most bases use two or four bolts. Confirm the exact count with the seller for the specific tower you want, and read the tower hole count article for how the count appears in listings.

What if the bolt pattern does not match?

A mismatch means the tower base will not line up with the cabinet holes. This article does not cover modifying the cabinet top; keep looking for a tower with a matching pattern instead.

Do I need the bolt pattern if I am buying a complete kegerator?

No. The maker fits the tower to the cabinet, so the pattern is matched. Compare the complete unit on tap count, cabinet width, and type instead.