A new faucet is a small kitchen update that can make a big difference in your sink setup.
We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Sink Spout
While range hoods, cabinets, and countertops are the first to get updated in a kitchen makeover, the kitchen sink — and its faucet — are worth paying attention to. From filling stockpots to rinsing produce, a good faucet is an integral part of a kitchen. Today’s faucets offer options like pull-down sprayers, temperature indicators, motion and touch sensors, and even voice activation.
“Choosing a new kitchen faucet may sound like a mundane job, but it's one purchase that can make all the difference,” says interior designer Julia Dempster, whose clients include international hotel and hospitality brands. “The modern era's spouts are designed to make life easier and look good while doing it." And yes, our favorites combine form and function.
To compile this list, we chose over a dozen faucets to install in our home kitchens. After some initial tests, we used the faucets as we normally would and, eventually, reported back. Here's our head-to-head comparison.
This faucet features sturdy, leak-free construction and a very reasonable price tag.
Fingerprints and water marks show up quickly on the shiny chrome finish.
This stylish faucet by Moen Adler has it all. Available in four sleek finishes, its contemporary style fits in with a myriad of decor schemes and can easily coordinate with most existing hardware. It offers two functions: an aerated stream for general cleaning, and a more powerful rinse for heavy-duty rinsing. The 16-inch hose reach gives you plenty of versatility and it retracts automatically back in place.
We found it very easy to install thanks to clear, step-by-step instructions. Once installed, we liked the sleek appearance and function of the lever that controls the flow and temperature of the water. If your hands are dirty, you can easily maneuver the lever with your wrist to avoid having to grab it. All in all, this faucet combines style and function at a reasonable price, earning it the top spot on our list.
Price at time of publish: $190
The touch activation function is very useful, especially if hands are dirty or full.
The sprayer’s water pressure may be too intense in some applications.
For kitchens with designs that hover between traditional and contemporary, this touch-activated faucet by Delta is a great upgrade from a manual model. The sensor runs on six AA batteries (included), which should last for years of use. It’s also equipped with an LED light at the base that indicates temperature, so you’re never taken by surprise by an already-hot tap. It also boasts a 20-inch hose reach and a strong magnet for docking the faucet head.
We love how effortless it is to use. We could tap anywhere on the handle or neck to start the flow of water, which came in handy when hands were dirty or full. We found the sprayer head very useful, though a bit intense for some purposes, so be cautious when it is in spray mode. The height of this faucet allowed for plenty of clearance for filling a stockpot for pasta, and it swiveled easily to the right or left when we wanted to move it out of the way.
Price at time of publish: $329
It’s especially durable and comes in a variety of finishes.
The docking magnet doesn’t snap the faucet head back into place as we had hoped.
If you’re ready to invest in a higher-end version with many of the same attributes as the Delta Leland faucet, this model is a great choice. With a very sleek and modern aesthetic, you can seamlessly integrate this faucet into a kitchen remodel. It’s equipped with touch-sensor activation (powered by six included AA batteries) and has a pull-down faucet head and hose with a 20-inch reach. Its spout swivels a full 360 degrees for complete access to the sink for extra convenience. This faucet also has an LED indicator at its base to inform you of the water’s temperature so you don’t accidentally scald yourself with a hot tap.
We had this faucet professionally installed, which took less than an hour from start to finish. A quick tap anywhere on the faucet or handle turned the tap on or off, though we found it doesn’t work if you’re wearing rubber gloves. We found it easy to toggle between stream and spray, using the button on the faucet head. While we didn’t find the docking magnet as strong as we would have expected, it still held the head firmly in place after a gentle push. Backed by a lifetime warranty, we expect this faucet to hold up well for many years to come.
Price at time of publish: $645
It’s available in seven finishes, making it easy to match with most existing kitchens.
The design is very simple, so if you want more features, this may not be for you.
Changing out an older faucet for a newer one doesn’t always have to be expensive. This affordable option comes in two styles, one modern and one more traditional, and in several finishes, so you can find a match for your existing kitchen decor. The faucet head has both a stream and spray mode, a pause feature, and a hose that extends to 24 inches, giving you exceptional range.
The height of the fixture left plenty of room to place a pot underneath, but it swivels to move out of the way if needed. The sprayer proved itself strong enough to rinse off dishes and even remove debris from smaller food storage containers with water pressure alone. While its features are basic, this model performed as well as expensive alternatives, and installation was easy.
Price at time of publish: $66
This faucet is loaded with features, including voice commands and automatic water dispensing.
Voice commands are only compatible with Amazon Alexa or Google Home, so you’ll need one to access those features.
Fit for tech lovers, this futuristic faucet by Moen will change how you see sinks with its many features. There are four ways to operate the faucet: motion sensor, voice command (through Amazon Alexa or Google Home), via its app, and manually. It’s also got a feature for precise water dispensing at your preferred temperature, for amounts from one tablespoon up to 15 gallons, plus the option for customizable presets. Similar to other models by this brand, it also features an LED light that indicates the tap’s temperature.
The touchless and voice-command functions came in handy; it's no surprise that we’d rely on them after tasks spatchcocking a chicken or peeling shrimp. The spray function offered excellent water pressure for rinsing dishes and hosing down the sink basin. We noticed a minor delay between turning the water on and it coming out, but nothing that would sway us away from this faucet. Installation was pretty simple, thanks to the very detailed instructions. Overall, we think the quality of this faucet plus all the added features justifies the higher-than-average price.
Price at time of publish: $426
Our testing began with our editors installing 14 new faucets in their homes, whether themselves or hiring professionals. We wrote down our first impressions of the faucets, including how easy or difficult they were to set up and start using. While we used the faucets as part of our everyday routines, we also tested them more formally and rated their performance. We considered factors like water pressure, the time it took the faucets to change temperature, and the sensitivity of motion sensors (when applicable). We also took note of quality, such as whether the faucet dripped, whether the faucet neck got stuck as we adjusted it, and whether fingerprints or scratches appeared. Finally, we evaluated the overall value of the faucets based on their price and performance.
Bio Bidet Flow Motion Activated Single-Handle Kitchen Faucet ($149 at Amazon) We really liked the touchless operation on this faucet, as well as the overall performance. It is simple to install and comes in five stylish finishes. We especially liked the accessible, mid-range price point for a faucet with the motion sensor feature.
Kohler Sous Pro-Style Single Handle Pull Down Sprayer Kitchen Faucet ($299 at Home Depot) This smooth-operating faucet was easy to install and looked great in the kitchen. Equipped with a detachable spring and spray head, it offered lots of reach when going to rinse dishes, the sink, or fill a pot. It’s an excellent quality fixture that should last for a very long time.
Forious Kitchen Faucet with Pull Down Sprayer Modern Grifos De Cocina ($50 at Amazon) Available in nine finishes, this sleek faucet looks more expensive than it is. It delivers above its modest price point, too. Easy to install, it’s equipped with an LED temperature indicator and a retractable sprayer head with plenty of reach.
Kingston Brass Heritage Bridge Kitchen Faucet ($165 at Amazon) For those who prefer dual handles, this Victorian-inspired design is for you. It features a side sprayer instead of a pull-down head, and it delivers plenty of water pressure for rinsing dishes or the sink basin. The high neck of this faucet also allows plenty of room for filling larger pots and pans.
Moen Arbor MotionSense Wave One ($464 at Moen) This faucet has a touchless feature that lets you easily operate your sink with dirty or full hands. We found that managing the water temperature took a little getting used to with this model, but it’s still a great quality faucet option for a kitchen upgrade. The sprayer is powerful.
Pfister Stellen Touchless Kitchen Faucet with Pull Down Sprayer ($311 at Amazon) Another excellent faucet with a touchless feature, this model is a sleek and modern fixture that stands over 16 inches tall. The pull-down sprayer clicks back into place when retracted, and has a SmartStop feature that shuts water off after three minutes of non-activity.
Overall, we were really happy with the faucets we tested. Still, we’d recommend some over others. The Grohe Eurosmart Dual Spray Pull-Out Kitchen Faucet ($188 at Amazon) faucet looks great and performs well in most applications, but we didn’t love the water pressure from this model in “stream” mode. The Ufaucet Modern Best Commercial Cen Grifo De Cocina ($50 at Amazon) generally worked well, too, but we had a few quality issues with some minor parts that made us question its durability in the long run.
Kitchen faucets come in the same finishes as other hardware, including stainless steel, chrome, bronze, and matte black, meaning you'll have no trouble finding one that matches your kitchen setup. “Select corrosion and tarnish-resistant materials that ensure this feature looks brand-new for years to come," says Dempster.
“First you need to count the number of holes in the existing counter and identify the cupboards or shelves above the faucet that may restrict the height of your selection,” says Dempster. From there, you’ll want to look through the manufacturer’s installation instructions to see if it’s a task you can handle, or if it’s better left to a professional. “Changing the faucet should be a relatively easy job for an experienced DIY-er if you have all the materials on hand and ensure you turn the water off,” she says.
“Ensure the faucet is relative in scale to the size of the sink,” says Dempster. A faucet that is too low will be difficult to work in certain situations, like when you want to fill a large pot with water. Faucets with pull-down heads are very common nowadays, allowing you to maneuver the sprayer to rinse down the basin or wash dishes by hand. “Some faucets come with pull-down sprayers that extend down from the end of the faucet, while others come with pull-out sprayers that pull out from a separate position, typically located to the side of the main faucet,” she says. “Weigh your preferences and consider the space and sink configuration you currently have before deciding.”
Faucets can come with a single handle or dual handles (more common with traditional designs). You’ll want to think about how you prefer to turn the faucet on and off. The option for a touch or motion sensor is a newer convenience that has also become very popular.
The easy answer is to hire a professional for both removal of the old faucet and installation of the new one. But if you’re confident in your DIY skills, you can opt to replace it yourself. The general flow is to shut off water, disconnect water supply lines, remove the old faucet and connections, an follow the manufacturer’s instruction to install the new faucet. Once installed, you’ll also want to reconnect all the supply lines and flush them.
“The normal pressure for a kitchen faucet depends on the flow rate,” says Demspter. “The suggested optimum flow rate for a kitchen faucet is between 1.0 and 2.0 gallons per minute.” The maximum flow rate allowed can vary by state or municipality.
Bernadette Machard de Gramont is an LA-based freelance writer specializing in food, wine, cookware, and other kitchen products. After a two-year stint at Williams Sonoma headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and interviews field experts for their insight. For this piece, she interviewed British interior designer Julia Dempster, whose clients include international hotel and hospitality groups.
High Flow Kitchen Faucet By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.