Best Kitchen Faucets Reviewed

Kitchen Faucet Comparison Table

Kitchen Faucet Types

Pull Down Vs. Pull Out

Touchless Vs. Touch

Both touchless and touch faucets were developed to eliminate the transfer of germs and bacteria from your hands to the faucet handles. A motion sensor usually operates touchless kitchen faucets. They are becoming increasingly popular in public restrooms. Place your hands in front of the sensor, and the water will begin.

This feature can also be a considerable water saver if you're the type of person who likes to pre-wash your dishes while loading the dishwasher. Touch faucets, then, are those that begin working with a simple touch. If you have messy hands, a nudge with your elbow will gently start the water.

Single Vs. Dual Handle

Traditionally, most sinks were created with dual handles, meaning separate handles to operate the hot and cold water functions. Some sinks are still made this way, but more recently single handle faucets have become more popular.

Single handle faucets work by having both the hot and cold water lines run into the same valve, and the water temperature that outputs will be based on the position of the handle, which works like a lever to adjust the temperature accordingly.

Commercial or Industrial Style

Benefits of a High-Quality Kitchen Faucet

Aesthetically Pleasing & Return on Investment

A high-quality kitchen faucet will not only be pleasing to the eye but will also go a long way if you are planning to resell your home. Today’s buyers are looking for chef’s kitchens, with high-quality appliances and user-friendly kitchen faucets.

Ease of Use

Today's kitchen faucets are made with the home chef in mind. Their built-in features are not only pleasing to the eye but are practical as well. Many of the faucets we reviewed are made to be economically effcient, as well as provide functions such as a long sprayer hose. 

Germ & Bacteria Control

Many high-quality kitchen faucets have built-in sensors to start your water with a simple touch or just the wave of a hand. These faucets will help block the transfer of germs and bacteria, while also saving you time during clean-up. 

Long Lasting

Unique Designs

Twenty years ago, the kitchen faucet in most American homes was virtually the same; a two-handled basic faucet (maybe with a sprayer, if you were posh). Now kitchen faucets come in as many varieties as there are flavors, and adding a new high-quality kitchen faucet can help you customize your kitchen's overall look. From elegant to vintage styled, to smart – there’s a high-quality kitchen faucet for your tastes.

Choosing the Right Kitchen Faucet

Operation/Function

Perhaps the most essential feature of your kitchen faucet will be the intended operation or function you would like it to have. There are so many options to choose from in this aspect: single handle vs. dual handles, hands-free/touchless, different spray-mode abilities, sprayer head docking, etc.

Flow Rate

Most faucets are listed with a GPM, or gallons per minute flow rate. A standard kitchen faucet will have a GPM of about 2.2, however many faucets on the market today are manufactured with a WaterSense label.

These faucets use a maximum of 1.5 gallons per minute and will save you money on your water bill while also being environmentally friendly.

Material & Finish

It's essential to choose a durable material and finish for your faucet if you want to see it last. Fortunately, with kitchen faucets having both durability and a highly aesthetic design is very achievable. Many of the kitchen faucets we review in this article come in these standard four finishes: chrome, stainless, oil-rubbed bronze, and matte black.

Plumbing Hook-up

Thermostatic Mixing Valve

Thermostatic mixing valves are the valves that control a setpoint temperature. They blend the hot and cold water to provide a consistent, safe water temperature while you are using the faucet.

The reason that you want to purchase a product with a thermostatic mixing valve is that the valve works to sense a temperature that is safe for contact with human skin. Even when run on the hottest setting, you will not have to worry about reaching a scalding temperature.

This feature is especially crucial if you are using touchless sinks around young children.

Installation & Convenience

If you plan on installing your kitchen faucet yourself, you'll want to make sure that you have a solid understanding of how it functions and that you have the right tools.

And even if you have the faucet professionally installed, you'll want to make sure that the plumber leaves any instructional material with you, and goes over how you can clean and maintain your new appliance. For instance, many faucets are installed with faucet cartridges.

These cartridges are made to last 20 to 30 years easily, but if you're finding that your faucet is leaking, it could be as smooth of a fix as cleaning the cartridge.  

Hose Length

Most faucet sprayers will come with a hose that is at least 2.5 feet long so that you can easily use the sprayer to target areas within your sink. Some faucets come with much longer hoses (up to 6 feet!)

These are a great option if you want to be able to fill up pots that are on the stove, or if you have houseplants around your kitchen that need to be watered.

Spray Head Features

The two main functions of a sprayer head are whether it pulls-down or pulls-out. The tasks are very similar. Some sprayer heads have only one spraying function while others have several different pressure settings.

Some Delta faucets come with a patented Shield Spray technology that is designed to target an area with high pressure while creating a soft water “shield” around the spray to avoid splashing.

Spout Arc Height & Spout Reach

The height of a kitchen faucet arc is how far it sits above counter height, and this is mostly based on personal preference and style. Some faucet spouts are very tall and dramatic while others are modest and reasonably low. Spout reach refers to the distance from the installed faucet into the sink.

The standard for spout reach is about 8 inches. 

Warranty

It is relatively standard for kitchen faucets to come with some assurance, and I would be cautious of purchasing any faucet that did not. Make sure to read all the warranty information upon purchase. Some warranties cover a product entirely, whereas others will over cover parts or labor.

Also, make sure that you do everything you can to make sure you don't void your warranty and keep a paper trail of your transactions with professionals. Installing a faucet with parts from another faucet is an example of something that could void your warranty.

1. Moen 7594ESRS

When it comes to the best touchless kitchen faucet, the Moen Arbor Motionsense Two-Sensor Touchless is the best on the market. There is so much to love about this faucet, beginning with just how versatile it is. The Moen Arbor can be installed in any sink that has 1 or 3 holes and comes in four gorgeous finishes that will look great in any kitchen. 

I highly recommend touchless faucets for homes with children – it just makes life easier! They don't have to turn on the water with grubby little hands, and you don't have to worry about them leaving the water running while they brush their teeth or walk away.

In my own home anyway, the time saved cleaning up makes this purchase it worth it in itself. Another benefit is that you can set the temperature on the control box to ensure that it’s never “too hot” for little hands. The Moen Arbor Motionsense has two sensors – one at the base of the faucet and one on top of the spout.

This makes it great for instances when you’re cooking with messy hands and need to wash up without making more of a mess. Moen also offers the same faucet with one-sensor, but trust us – it’s worth the upgrade to get two sensors.

The sensors themselves run flawlessly on 6 AA batteries and come with a 5-year warranty so you will be enjoying your touchless kitchen faucet for a long time to come. 

Our full guide to Moen faucets can be found here.

2. Delta 9178-AR-DST Leland

The Delta Faucet company was founded in 1954 and has been one of the leaders of the industry worldwide since that time. They are continuously on the top of their game with the latest innovations, and consumers can purchase their products, knowing that Delta is a trustworthy brand.

The Delta Faucet Leland Single Handle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet is no exception. This sleek faucet design is very understated and will fit well in any kitchen. The faucet itself doesn't look particularly special, but I promise that you will love its unique features.

The pull-down handle on this faucet has a magnetic attachment that makes it incredibly easy to put back into place. One of the significant complaints of competitor models is that over time, the pull-down handle loses its "grip" and ends up dropping down an inch or two. This magnetic attachment will make sure you have a perfect fit every single time.

Another great feature is the Shield Spray Technology. Delta states that “A concentrated jet within a protective sphere of water powers away stubborn messes with an average of 90% less splatter than a standard spray, so you can spend less time soaking, scrubbing and shirt swapping.” 

3. Delta Windemere 21996LF-OB

4. Delta 9178T-AR-DST Leland 

The Delta Leland Kitchen Faucet is another excellent option from Delta. This kitchen faucet has a pull-down sprayer that has magnetic docking to keep the spout in place when not in use. It can be used either manually using the single handle, or with the Touch2O sensors.

These sensors allow you to touch the spout anywhere with the back of your hand, arm or elbow to start water flow so that you'll never have to turn on the faucet with messy hands again.

Another great feature of the Delta Leland faucet is that it has an automatic shut-off when the water has been running for four minutes. This is a feature meant to both conserve water (perhaps teach us how long we're letting the water run) and as a safety feature, should you accidentally walk away from running water.

While we do recommend the Touch2O model of this Delta Leland faucet, if this feature isn’t something that you’re into, the faucet does come in a standard style (our number 2 pick above) for around $100 less that will still give you all the benefits of having a high-quality pull-down faucet.

5. WEWE High Arc

If you require a good kitchen faucet and you're on a tight budget, the WEWE Single Handle High Arc Faucet is a great place to start. With its modern design and stainless-steel finish, nobody will know that this faucet comes in at just under $80 on average. 

As a bonus, if you're on a budget, you probably don't want to spend the money on a plumber for installation. WEWE promises an easy DIY installation in under 30 minutes. The faucet works well on sinks with one hole or 3 holes and comes with an option baseplate.

6. Moen 7185ORB Brantford 

7. Kohler K-99259-VS Artifacts 

Hard water is an issue for many homeowners, but having a kitchen faucet that is made for use with hard water doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style in the least. The Kohler Artifacts Faucet is a gorgeous, turn-of-the-century style kitchen faucet that comes in four brilliant finishes, and it is the best kitchen faucet for hard water.

What is hard water? The term sounds a little harsh, but basically what it means is that your water has more mineral deposits than regular water.

If you don't use a faucet that is compliant with hard water, you might find stains and residue on your sink and dishes, and over time it can also clog up the valve itself. Kohler's MasterClean technology is made to stand up to hard water and withstand mineral build-up.

For a premium product like Kohler’s Artifacts, faucet comes a premium price, and this faucet is a couple of hundred dollars than most of the taps that we've reviewed. That being said, we have found that most customers love the faucet so much that cost is not even a factor in their choosing. 

8. Kraus KPF-1673SFS Nolen

9. Kraus KPF-1650SS Nola 

Another great faucet option from the Kraus company is their Nola Kitchen Faucet. This beautiful industrial designed faucet has a high arc of over 26" and is suitable for home use – make sure that you have a large enough sink to accommodate it.

It is slightly smaller than the type of pre-rinse faucet that you would find in a large restaurant kitchen, but the style and function are all there. For a better picture of what the Kraus Nola looks like in a home, check out this video review on YouTube by user JJCoolStuff.

The one issue that has bothered many folks with this faucet is the water pressure. The Kraus Nola was designed with water conservation in mind, and that being said, it is built to have an output of 1.8 gallons per minute. There is a large group of people online who have found a way around this, by removing the built-in water restrictor.

If you've already purchased the faucet and the water pressure is too low for you, this is an option, but be forewarned that doing so will likely void your warranty. We stand behind the Kraus design and find that this faucet is excellent just the way it is.

10. Pfister Marielle 

The Pfister Marielle Single-Handle Kitchen Faucet is described on the Home Depot website as “vintage French country design.” In the last decade or so, the farmhouse-style sink has become wildly popular, and we couldn’t find a better match for these sinks than the Pfister Marielle.

Unlike many of the other faucets that we've looked at, the Marielle has a rather low clearance at only 8", and might even appear as more of a bathroom vanity sink. But its power comes in its excellent pull-out sprayer.

The design on the Marielle model is so seamless, that if you weren't looking for the sprayer, you wouldn't even know it's there. So, what it lacks in height is undoubtedly made up for in style and spraying power. We love that the Pfister company has taken the traditional pull-out sprayer to a whole new level in this handy spout attachment.

The Pfister brand was the first to be certified by EPA WaterSense, and their products come with a Lifetime Limited Warranty. But if you ever do have an issue with your faucet, you can rest assured that their customer service staff will remedy it for you. 

Pull Down vs. Pull Out Explained

Both the pull-down faucets and pull-out faucets provide sprayers to help you fill pots, clean your sink, and rinse your dishes. Pull-down kitchen faucets have sprayer nozzles that pull-down directly from the faucet spout.

These faucets are generally considered to be ergonomically friendly, and they look great on the high arched faucets that are so popular in today's market. , you will see these pull-down faucets described as "Pre-Rinse Faucets."

This is the type of faucet usually used in commercial places (restaurants, etc.), and they are known for their pull-down sprayers with their high-powered rinse to wash away any food residue.

Pull-out faucets are usually separate sprayers that are installed next to the faucet. As their name suggests, they pull-out for you to use this way. Some people consider pull-out faucets a little more challenging to use.

Both pull-down and pull-out functions usually come with sprayers that offer several different pressure functions for filling pots, washing fruit, or rinsing away food residue.

Touchless vs. Touch-Activated Explained

Motion Technology (Hands-Free)

Kitchen Faucet Valves

Water Filters & Faucets

Flow Rate Measurement

Installation Guide for Kitchen Faucets

As long as your water hook-ups are in place and all of your water valves are correctly functioning, it is possible to hook-up your new kitchen faucet without the help of a plumber as long as you're capable of following directions. One of the main reasons that plumbers are called to fix newer faucets is because they were improperly installed in the first place.

One of the core complaints in all the reviews we've read on kitchen faucets is that the faucet itself did not come with the tools needed for installation. This should never be assumed, and you can see everything that is included with your new faucet on the packaging or product page.

To install a new faucet, you will need a basin wrench, adjustable wrenches, and a small bowl or bucket to catch any drips.

This video from Lowe’s shows how to change out of installing a kitchen faucet easily. The most crucial step is to turn off all water and electricity to the area that you're working in.

It would also be useful to have an extra set of hands so that one person can hold the faucet in place while the other person tightens the valve into place from underneath. Should any questions arise, we recommend consulting the customer service department for your brand's faucet.

They are often able to walk you through the process before you have to phone a plumber!

If you do not wish to do this job yourself then we recommend getting a local plumber to do the job. You can find free quotes from your area by filling in the form below.

Foolproof Method of Cleaning Faucets

Cleaning and maintaining your kitchen faucet will help increase the life of your product. The number one thing to remember is not to use abrasive products on your faucet. Products like steel wool, which are famous for cleaning pots and pans, can severely scratch your faucet and leave permanent marks. We recommend using soft sponges and brushes and your choice of gentle cleanser.

This method can also be used to clean your sprayer head. Over time, you may see a white scaly looking residue on your sprayer head, and this is due to mineral build-up (especially pertinent if you have hard water). An easy way to remove this residue without any scrubbing is to fill a plastic baggie with distilled white vinegar and use a hair elastic to hold the baggie over your sprayer. Leave it for an hour or so and your sprayer will be as good as new!

How to Deal with Leaky Kitchen Faucets

Fear not! If your kitchen faucet is leaking or drips even when it’s shut-off, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the entire faucet is broken, or that it's going to cost you an arm and a leg to fix it. If you have a compression faucet (dual handled faucet), the problem could be an O-ring seal that needs replacing.

For single handled faucets, the problem often lies within the faucet cartridges as we mentioned above. When your faucet leaks, a good place to start is this article with diagrams by This Old House, and this step-by-step how-to from Home Depot.

Popular Kitchen Faucet Brands

People Also Ask (FAQs)

What is a ceramic disc, and is it worth the additional costs?

Kitchen faucets with ceramic disc valves are known for being nearly maintenance free and for lasting a long time. It is a control valve that uses two fire-hardened ceramic discs to move back and forth to create an airtight seal and prevent leaks. We believe that they are worth the additional cost. To learn more about how ceramic discs work, visit the American Standard website.

What is a faucet escutcheon?

A faucet escutcheon is the base plate that goes around the pipe and covers the hole in your sink or wall. It’s a necessary part of a kitchen sink and will help make sure that the faucet doesn’t move around too much or leak.

How many holes will I need in my counter to mount a kitchen faucet?

Each faucet comes with a specified number of holes required for installation. Many faucets need either 1 or 3 holes, and some need up to 4. If you're building a new home, you can likely choose any style faucet, and the sink can be made to fit the design properly. If you're replacing a kitchen faucet, you will probably want to choose a faucet that matches the number of holes your sink already has.

What is a faucet cartridge?

A faucet cartridge is a special valve that mixes both hot and cold water and makes sure that your water is completely turned off. If your sink is starting to drip and become leaky, it could be because you need to replace your faucet cartridge. This YouTube video shares what a faucet cartridge looks like, and how you can easily replace one at home in around 15 minutes.

What is a faucet aerator?

A faucet aerator is a piece directly on the tip of a faucet spout. The aerator is there to help control water flow, as well as to "shape" the water or spray that comes out. 

How long can I expect my kitchen faucet to last?

High-quality kitchen faucets should last around 15-20 years.

Who makes the best kitchen faucets?

Our favorite brands for high-quality kitchen faucets are Moen and Delta.

Conclusion

Purchasing a kitchen faucet can be an intimidating task, especially if you're paring it with a house build or renovation in which it is only one of the many significant decisions that you need to make.

Our research has hopefully taken out some of the guess-work with choosing the right faucet for your home and needs, in a manner in which you won’t have to sacrifice either quality or design. Our overall favorite kitchen faucet from our list above is the Moen Arbor MotionSense Faucet.

It provides the best of faucets as we know them and the technology that will be standard shortly in the future.