A Guide to the Best Kitchen Sink Faucets
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Best Kitchen Sink Faucets
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A quality faucet should be durable and easy to clean in addition to being beautiful and functional. It may be a small accessory, but the right sink faucet is a vital part of your kitchen flow. Recent innovations have made them both more functional and water-efficient.
UPDATED: May 16, 2022.
To help you select which one is best for you, I have outlined the various features below along with a list of the best kitchen sink faucets currently available.
MY TOP PICK:
If you are looking for the best overall, I recommend the Moen 7594EC Arbor Motionsense because it features both top and base motion sensors for hands-free activation and an automatically retracting pull down wand with two spray options.
What’s the Difference? How to Determine the Right Faucet for You
A kitchen faucet is a kitchen faucet, right? Not quite. Modern faucets have a range of features that may be helpful to you, including touchless sensors, auto-shutoff, power rinsing settings, temperature indicators, and buttons that allow you to pause the water without fully stopping it.
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Here are some of the different faucet styles and features you will encounter.
Material Finishes
Kitchen faucets come in an array of elegant finishes so you can find the right one for your particular interior design style. Each model is typically available in several finish options, from stainless steel to bronze to chrome. In general, matte finishes tend to hide fingerprints and water spots a little better than glossy or polished, which helps to minimize the need for constant wiping down.
The style you choose will subtly tie together a room, complimenting your design scheme. For example, you may wish to match your existing cabinet hardware or go with a contrasting finish to add an interesting design element.
Touchless Faucets
Also called motionsense faucets, these faucets are controlled by motion technology. Instead of turning your faucet on manually, you can simply wave your hands to turn the water on and off. This is great for germ control, obviously, but it also works well if you tend to have your hands full in the kitchen (for example, when you’re rinsing large quantities of produce).
One concern that many people have is how they will control the temperature and flow of the water when using touchless faucets. Most touchless faucets come with a control that you can set to determine the temperature of the sensor-activated water. Usually, it’s not possible to control the flow of the water when using sensors. But you can simply adjust the flow by using the manual handle.
If you like to cook and find yourself frequently turning it on and off, a touchless faucet will make your life a lot easier. If you prefer to order takeout and go out on the weekend, you may want something straightforward and easy to clean, without all the bells and whistles.
Arc Height
A key feature that distinguishes kitchen faucets from other faucets is the height of the fixture. This high-arc design offers the ability to fit a large pot underneath, enabling it to be filled and cleaned. If you have a specific high pot that you use regularly, measure the height of it in the sink to make sure that your new fixture will work. If you go with a pull-out faucet, it will allow you to fill a pot sitting next to the sink so the height is less of a problem.
Pull-Down or Pull-Out Faucets
Traditionally, sprayers were built off to the side of the sink. But pull-down and pull-out faucets feature sprayers that are built into the faucet nozzle.
As the name suggests, the sprayer in a pull-down faucet will pull straight down. Usually, pull-down faucets are built with a high-arc faucet. Pull-out faucets are very similar, but they will pull straight out to the front instead of down.
In short, pull-out faucets work well for smaller, compact spaces where there’s not enough room for the tall neck of a pull-down spout. Pull-down faucets are ideal for larger sinks and for filling up pots and pans.
Water Usage
Another feature to note is the Gallons Per Minute (GPM). The U.S. Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct 1992) set maximum water use for all water fixtures manufactured in the United States. However, some states have enacted their own restrictions.
Therefore, if you live in one of those states you may not be able to buy a specific fixture or have it shipped to your house if it exceeds the limits. For example, all kitchen faucets sold in California cannot use more than 1.8 Gallons Per Minute with an optional temporary flow of 2.2 GPM.
To see if your area has its own restrictions, see the chart here: NCSL’s Water-Efficient Plumbing Fixtures.
If you are replacing an older unit these high-efficiency faucets can reduce your water bill over time.
Tips for Installing Your Kitchen Sink Faucet
In general, kitchen sink faucet installations are not too complex. If you’re handy, you should have no problem doing it yourself. For beginner DIY-ers, I suggest looking for a model that is easy to install, such as the Moen Arbor High-Arc Pulldown. This model can be installed without any tools, so doing it yourself is a breeze.
Pro Tip: While you’re in the process of updating your kitchen, think about purchasing a tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters can provide hot water in an instant. Install it on your faucet or purchase a unit for the entire house to reduce energy costs.
Now, on to the individual products. I’ve compiled a list of the top models available from well-known manufacturers including Moen, Delta, and more. Each faucet has been assigned a key feature that makes it particularly noteworthy. Every unit has been broken down according to its essential functions to help you make an informed selection.
Best Overall: The Moen 7594EC Arbor MotionSense
One of the premier faucet brands in North America, Moen is well-known for its meaningful, innovative designs. So it’s no surprise that the Moen Arbor Motionsense made the top of this list. Made with the latest technology, the product brings together all of the best features in faucet manufacturing to deliver hands-free convenience.
Thanks to two high-tech sensors located at the top and base of the faucet, one simple hand movement will trigger the flow of water. The touchless operation keeps the faucet clear of fingerprints, dirt, and debris — meaning that you won’t have to clean your faucet so often. The high neck and pulldown spout are highly functional, not to mention that they look modern and sleek. The product also comes with Moen’s limited lifetime warranty.
One thing you should be aware of is that it is slightly more complex to install this faucet compared to other sensorless models. There are a few extra hoses to connect. You’ll also need to install a control box under the sink. This box controls the temperature of the water that comes out of the faucet when you turn it on with the sensors.
Runner-Up: The Delta Faucet 9178 in Arctic Stainless
Headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, Delta Faucet has been around since 1954. Their faucets are high-quality, ergonomic, and built to serve the everyday homeowner. The Delta Faucet 9178 features a manual handle alongside touch technology, an LED battery indicator, and a powerful spray for rinsing off dishes.
The pull-down faucet is equipped with magnets that lock the hose into place so that it won’t sag or droop down. The leak-proof Duramount mounting system will keep your faucet in top condition longer than comparable models. Also, the nozzle of this faucet features soft rubber holes where the spray comes out. The rubber holes are easy to wipe clean, so you don’t have to worry about dirt and grime clogging the nozzle after frequent use.
You can order this product in 4 finish types: arctic stainless, chrome, SpotShield stainless, or Venetian Bronze. It’s also available with or without a soap dispenser. Installation is a breeze: all the necessary components ship with the faucet, and it’s built to fit a single- or 3-hole faucet housing.
Best Spot-Resistant: The Moen Arbor High Arc Pulldown
Another incredible design by Moen, this high-arc pull-down faucet is great for people who do a lot of cooking or want to speed things up in the kitchen. The ergonomic faucet spout can rotate 360 degrees for more versatility. But perhaps the best part is the Power Boost setting. With one push of a button, you can adjust the flow of water to fill up your coffee pot or water pot much faster than normal.
Have you ever struggled to pull the hose out of your sink to get it to reach a certain angle to clean your dish or sink? Those days are over. Thanks to Reflex technology, the pull-down hose is flexible, easy to maneuver, and retracts (and docks!) itself.
I recommend getting this faucet in stainless steel because the finish is spot-resistant. However, it also comes in chrome, oil-rubbed bronze, and matte-black, so you can choose the style that matches the rest of your kitchen.
A Duralock quick-connect installation system will allow you to install right out of the box, no tools required. The product comes with accessories for 1 or 3-hole installations. You can mount it directly on the sink or countertop, and you can also connect the water lines in one swift step. As if this wasn’t enough peace of mind, the faucet is also backed by a limited lifetime warranty through Moen.
Best Pull-Down: The Delta 9113-AR-DST Essa Kitchen Sink Faucet
If you’re looking for a faucet with an ergonomic design, this model by Delta is the way to go. The high-arc faucet is able to swivel 360-degrees, so you can easily swivel it out of the way when filling up pots and pans, or use the 20-inch hose to clean at any angle.
The Essa Kitchen Sink Faucet features Delta’s patented Diamond Seal Technology to fully seal your faucet and keep it from leaking. The hose docks with a sag-resistant magnet. And, with the push of a button, you can switch between spray and stream modes. A bonus: the sink will stay on the mode you put it on. This is a small feature but it really makes a difference when you use your sink frequently.
This is another model that I recommend for beginner DIY-ers. The installation process is simple, and Delta ships its faucet with a deck plate to cover extra mounting holes. It’s also backed by Delta Faucet’s Lifetime Limited Warranty.
Best Hands-Free: The Moen Brantford Motionsense
If you’re overwhelmed by all the faucet options out there, I recommend keeping it simple with the Moen Brantford Motionsense. This faucet is just easy from start to finish: easy to install, easy to use, and easy to clean.
To start with, the Duralock quick connect system allows you to set up the faucet without using any additional tools. When the system is properly set up, it will alert you audibly, visually, and tactically.
Once it’s set up, dual sensors at the top and bottom of the faucet will pick up your hand movements, so you can easily trigger the water flow. The faucet is fully ADA compliant and has been certified through CSA and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO). It also comes with a Limited Lifetime Warranty through Moen.
Best Magnetic Docking: The Delta Faucet Kate 16970-SSSD-DST
Another ergonomic, high-quality model by Delta, this single-handle faucet will work wonderfully over large sinks or for any homeowner who spends a lot of time in the kitchen. The pull-down nozzle is equipped with powerful magnets that pull the hose back up when you’re done using it, so the wand will never sag with use.
Just like other Delta Faucet models, the Kate Pull-Down Faucet features a diamond-embedded ceramic disc. This component completely seals the faucet, eliminating leaks and keeping it safe from wear. The end of the nozzle comes with soft rubber spray holes that can be wiped down easily to keep residue from building up.
With the touch of a button, you can switch between spray and stream. The model comes in a chrome or brilliance stainless finish, and it’s backed with Delta Faucet’s Lifetime Limited Warranty.
Easiest to Clean: The Kraus KPF-1640SS Nola in Stainless Steel
Kraus is a manufacturing company founded in 2007. Headquartered in New York, they provide innovative, affordable products to everyday, modern homeowners. You can count on Kraus products being engineered to the highest quality and sold at an affordable price.
This commercial-style Nola Faucet comes with a 360-degree swivel faucet, a pull-down spray head, and a magnetic docking mechanism that locks the nozzle in place. The water flow is easy to control, as the metal handle is highly sensitive to changes. You can press a button on the nozzle to switch between stream and spray mode.
One thing to note about this faucet is that the water flow tends to be lighter than other models. This is ideal if you have a smaller sink and are concerned about splashing. The model comes in chrome and stainless steel, both of which are easy to wipe clean. It’s also backed by Kraus’ Limited Lifetime Warranty for additional peace of mind.
Best Dual Faucet: The Aimadi Contemporary Pull-Down
With its contemporary metal finish and exposed spring mechanism, this Aimadi dual-nozzle faucet will look beautiful in industrial or farmhouse-style kitchens. It’s also highly functional. The pull-down nozzle releases a high-pressure spray for rinsing off tough spots or cleaning your sink. The second fixed nozzle produces a steady stream of water to fill your coffee pot or a pot of water.
This is a great product for homeowners on a budget. The faucet is made from high-quality brass and comes with a brushed, scratch-resistant finish. Be aware that you will have to hold down the lever on the pull-down nozzle the whole time you are using the spray.
Best 3-Way: The WEWE Single-Handle High Arc Pull-Out Kitchen Faucet
This tulip-style kitchen faucet by WEWE features three different spray settings: stream, spray, and pause. Set the faucet to spray when you want to wash dishes or clean the sink. Switch to stream when you are rinsing bowls or filling up pots of water. And pause the stream when you need to step away for a moment.
This faucet is easy to install and perfect for DIY beginners. From start to finish, the faucet can be installed in less than 30 minutes. Once it’s set up, the rust-resistant brushed finish will stay in great condition for years. This faucet also comes with a 5-year warranty through WEWE. Multifunctional, efficient, and affordable — this is the perfect faucet for families, homeowners, or landlords.
Best Budget: The Keonjinn Stainless Steel with Pull-Down Sprayer
With a 20-inch pull-down hose, this faucet by Keonjinn will reach into all the nooks and crannies of your sink. Like the WEWE faucet, it has a button on the nozzle that allows you to switch between stream, spray, and pause modes. The high-arc neck can swivel 360-degrees, allowing you to move it completely out of the way when dealing with large pots and pans.
The product comes with all the components you need to install it: the only tool you will need is a wrench. The included 10” deck plate makes it simple to cover up unused mounting holes. Choose between brushed nickel or a matte-black finish for the perfect complement to your modern kitchen.
I hope this list of the best kitchen sink faucets was helpful.
If you think I left out one that is important or have a suggestion for a future article, let me know in the comments below.
Brandon Hubbard, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
