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Kitchen faucets come in a variety of styles from smart touch-to-start faucets to basic single-handle models, but finding the best model for your home will depend on your style preferences, kitchen set up, and preferred features. To help you determine which type of faucet will work best with your kitchen sink, our team evaluated the a litany of the best kitchen faucets on today’s market.
Here are our top five picks.
Top 5 Kitchen Faucets
*Links open to product retail page.
- Best Pull-Down: Delta Faucet Essa Single-Handle Kitchen Faucet
- Best Commercial-Grade: Kraus 18-Inch Commercial Kitchen Faucet
- Best Touch Control: Delta Faucet Leland Single-Handle Touch Kitchen Sink Faucet
- Best for Small Spaces: Peerless Single-Handle Kitchen Sink Faucet
- Best Value: HOTIS HOME Two-Handle Kitchen Faucet
Compare Top Kitchen Faucets
| Product | Spout Type | Handles | Number of Finishes | Other Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Faucet Essa Single-Handle Kitchen Faucet | 360-degree swiveling | One | Four | Pull-down sprayer, spray or steam functions, deck plate for single- or triple-hole installation |
| Kraus 18-Inch Commercial Kitchen Faucet | 180-degree swiveling | One | 12 | Pull-down sprayer, spray or steam functions, single-hole installation |
| Delta Faucet Leland Single-Handle Touch Kitchen Sink Faucet | Touch control | One | Four | Pull-down sprayer, spray or steam functions, deck plate for single- or triple-hole installation |
| Peerless Single-Handle Kitchen Sink Faucet | 360-degree swiveling | One | Two | Deck plate for single- or triple-hole installation |
| HOTIS HOME Two-Handle Kitchen Faucet | Swivel | Two | One | Sprayer, deck plate for triple-hole installation |
| Product | Spout Type | Handles | Number of Finishes | Other Features |
Best Pull-Down Faucet
Delta Faucet Essa Single-Handle Kitchen Faucet
- $178.42
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Has a simple modern look
✔ Features an easy-to-install Duramount mounting system
✔ Has a high-arc spout that swivels 360 degrees
✘ May spray water outside of the sink and onto surrounding countertops and floors
✘ Customers noted that it wasn’t as durable as other options on the market
What Customers Are Saying
We found that positive reviews noted this pull-down kitchen faucet’s sleek look and strong magnetic mount. Many customers said that the spray head reached far enough to clean every part of their sink with ease. Negative reviews said that the angle of its spout made it easy to spray water onto the surrounding floors and counters.
Best Commercial-Grade Faucet
Kraus 18-Inch Commercial Kitchen Faucet
- $173
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Comes in the widest variety of finish options
✔ Has an easy-clean spray nozzle
✔ Comes with a lifetime limited warranty
✘ Has a thin coating of finish
✘ Doesn’t come with a deck plate for the option of three-hole installation
What Customers Are Saying
Many customers loved the industrial style and excellent water temperature control of this pull-down kitchen faucet. Positive reviews also praised this model for its high quality, spray features, and water pressure. Comparatively, we did find some negative reviews that noted this pull-down faucet had manufacturer defects and felt cheap.
Best Touch-Control Faucet
Delta Faucet Leland Single-Handle Touch Kitchen Sink Faucet
- $229
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Has a magnetic docking head
✔ Uses ShieldSpray technology to keep water from spraying outside of the sink
✔ Comes with batteries to run the touchless motion sensors
✘ Most expensive kitchen faucet option
✘ The touchless sensors sometimes malfunction
What Customers Are Saying
Positive reviews we found highlighted this kitchen faucet’s sleek look and high-quality material. Other customers pointed out that the sprayer was easy to use and that the faucet was easy to clean. Negative reviews said that its level of performance and durability didn’t match its high price tag.
Best for Small Spaces
Peerless Single-Handle Kitchen Sink Faucet
- $44.66
Prices taken at time of publishing.
This affordable faucet from Peerless features an easy-to-use, one-handle design that seamlessly fits into your existing kitchen design. We like that its straight spout also takes up less space than arched models, making it best for small kitchens and sinks.
Pros and Cons
✔ Has a basic design that will match any kitchen
✔ The water changes temperatures when you push the handle up or down
✔ Comes with a deck plate for three-hole installation
✘ The supply lines have to be purchased separately
✘ Customers noted that the spray hoses tended to leak
What Customers Are Saying
Positive reviews said that the faucet was high-quality, considering its low price tag. However, our team also noted that some unsatisfied customers said that the faucet leaked water and that the copper leads needed to be a bit longer to be effective.
Best Value
HOTIS HOME Two-Handle Kitchen Faucet
- $36.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Has separate handles for hot and cold water
✔ Has a corrosion- and scratch-resistant finish
✔ Comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee
✘ Only available in one finish
✘ Has a shorter warranty than the other options at 10 years
What Customers Are Saying
Many reviews our team found praised the HOTIS HOME two-handle kitchen faucet for its easy installation, smaller size, and neutral look. Negative reviews criticized this product for being too flimsy and wobbly.
Kitchen Faucet Buying Guide
Before buying a kitchen faucet for your home, it’s important to understand the factors that impact its user experience and look. Read our buying guide below for three factors we feel are important to consider before purchasing a faucet.
Type
Kitchen faucets come in several styles, including single-handle, double-handle, hands-free, and pull-down. Single-handle faucets are the most basic models, consisting of a temperature-adjusting handle, a spout, and maybe a separate side sprayer.
Double-handle kitchen faucets are similar to single-handle faucets in design. However, instead of a single handle to control hot and cold water, this style faucet features a hot handle and a cold handle for temperature adjustments. Like single-handle faucets, double-handle models don’t have a built-in sprayer, but they may include a separate side sprayer.
A hands-free kitchen faucet uses touch technology or a backup traditional handle to deliver you water. Hands-free kitchen faucets are convenient, but they’re more expensive than their traditional single- or double-handle counterparts.
Pull-down kitchen faucets are single-handle, double-handle, or hands-free faucets that are equipped with a spray nozzle in their spout. This nozzle can be pulled down for simple spraying.
Finish
Purchase a faucet that matches the other appliances in your kitchen. Some of the most common faucet finishes are chrome finishes, stainless steel finishes, and brushed nickel finishes, though some faucets are available in matte colors as well which fit well in modern kitchens.
Flow Rate
Flow rate describes how much water a faucet pours in a set period of time. While a faucet with a higher flow rate will typically have higher water pressure, it will use more water and cost you more money. A typical faucet water flow rate is under two gallons per minute.
How To Remove and Install a Kitchen Faucet
While hiring a professional is the easiest way to get your old removed and a new faucet installed when remodeling your kitchen, DIY-focused individuals can also remove and install it themselves. To remove your old faucet, perform the following steps:
- Spray the pipes with penetrating oil
- Turn off the water
- Remove the water supply lines
- Disconnect the sprayer
- Remove the kitchen faucet mounting nuts
- Pull the faucet and sprayer up and out
- Remove the kitchen faucet residue
For more details about each step as well as what tools are needed, check out this guide on how to remove a kitchen faucet from This Old House’s Tom Scalisi.
In terms of installing a new industrial faucet, check out the video below from This Old House’s Richard Trethaway for step-by-step instructions.
For installing a touchless kitchen faucet, check out Trethaway’s instructions in this video:
Kitchen Faucet FAQs
Are kitchen faucets universal?
Not all kitchen faucets are constructed or installed in the same way or have the same number of holes. Typically, a kitchen faucet will have between one and four mounting holes, with each hole corresponding to a part of the faucet. For example, kitchen faucets that have two mounting holes typically have a single-handle spout and a side sprayer accessory.
How long does a kitchen faucet last?
Kitchen faucets can last over 10 years, though there are warning signs that signal when it’s time to replace your faucet. If you’re constantly repairing its leaks or its water efficiency is outdated, consider a replacement.
Do I need a plumber to replace a kitchen faucet?
This depends on your comfort level. If you have experience replacing plumbing fixtures, replacing a kitchen faucet is a simple procedure that only requires a few tools, such as an adjustable wrench and pliers. However, if you don’t want to worry about installation, a professional can install your new faucet in less than an hour.
Our Methodology
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIYers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content. Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, including power tools, outdoor equipment, major appliances, kitchen gadgets, electronics, and more that focus on product quality and helpfulness to our readers.
To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of products with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we compared each model’s feature set to create a final shortlist, selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.
Questions or Comments?
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
