These are the best kitchen faucets to buy right now, broken down by category. No matter what it is you’re looking for in this bit of home hardware, the right choice for you is in here. What We Don’t Love: Instructions are less detailed than others This single-handle faucet from Wewe straddles a classical style while offering plenty of function. The nose of the faucet can pull down to reach into the corners of the sink that many faucets can’t get to. It offers an easy installation that may not require a plumber, depending on your level of expertise. Though this faucet is a single-hole deck mount, it can be installed if you have three holes. This faucet, which has a spout reach of 8.5 inches, delivers a lot for the money at a moderate price point. The aesthetics are similar to more expensive models, and interior parts are made from metal (brass, stainless steel, and zinc alloy). With its flexible style, high quality, and useful pull-down function, this faucet is optimal for nearly any kind of kitchen. Five finishes are available: polished chrome, brushed nickel, chrome and black, oil-rubbed bronze, and matte black. Price at time of publish: $66 Faucet Height: 15.7 inches | Spout Height: 8.5 inches | Hole Fit: 1 What We Don’t Love: Needs a stronger magnet to hold the sprayer spout Replacing your faucet is one of the easiest things to update in your kitchen without having it impact your budget. If you’re looking for a modern faucet that’s even more affordable than our overall pick, take a look at Glacier Bay’s Sadira Kitchen Faucet. This single-handle faucet has everything you need including a pull-down sprayer that comes with an extra-strong turbo spraying feature. The 15.75-inch high faucet has a flow rate of 1.8 gallons per minute, and the spout stands 8.9 inches above your sink. Its tall arc allows for a wide washing space so you’ll be able to clean all your dishes, even if it’s a baked-on-cheese after your favorite lasagna. Best of all, installation is easy. It comes with everything you need, even a guide with pictures, and is backed by a limited lifetime warranty. If you’re looking for something just as great, but need a lower spout, the Glacier Bay Fairhurst Single-Handle Pull-Down Sprayer Kitchen Faucet is another excellent choice. Price at time of publish: $64 Faucet Height: 15.75 inches | Spout Height: 8.9 inches | Hole Fit: 1, 3 What We Don’t Love: Pricey This pull-down faucet, in stainless steel, has a three-function spray head. The head’s pressure can stream, boost, and sweep—three separate water pressures for separate jobs. The boost function increases water flow by 30 percent, while the sweep function offers an angled spray for removing food and debris from pots, pans, and dishes. The faucet can be used with either 1- or 3-hole configurations and the spout reach is 9 inches. A magnetic docking system keeps the spray head in place. Ceramic disc valves are made to last, and the finishes are both corrosion- and tarnish-resistant. Kohler also offers a limited lifetime warranty with this model. Finishes of vibrant stainless, matte black, and polished chrome are available. Price at time of publish: $286 Faucet Height: 16.75 inches | Spout Height: 9.75 inches | Hole Fit: 1, 3 What We Don’t Love: Sink might not work in a blackout This spot-resistant faucet resists fingerprints and water spots. With its MotionSense Wave technology, you can turn the faucet on and off simply by waving your hand. A dedicated spray technology, called Power Clean, offers 50 percent more spray power than the regular Moen pull-down faucets, which is especially helpful for tasks like getting grease off of your cast iron cookware. The pull-down faucet, which has a spout reach of 7.9 inches, is retractable, and the design can accommodate either 1- or 3-hole sinks. The touch sensor does need to be activated with batteries or an A/C power adapter, which is sold separately. This is backed by Moen’s limited lifetime warranty and a 5-year warranty on electronic parts. Price at time of publish: $335 Faucet Height: 15.5 inches | Spout Height: 8.25 inches | Hole Fit: 1, 3 What We Don’t Love: Pricey This single-handle faucet has plenty of upgrades, including its patented diamond seal technology, which reduces leaking and lasts twice as long as the industry standard. Its “ShieldSpray” can remove stuck-on food from pans and plates, with 90 percent less splatter than a standard sprayer. It also boasts a strong magnetic docking system, allowing the sprayer to stay in place, regardless of the faucet’s age. This faucet, which has a flow rate of 1.8 gallons, is also easy to clean. Dedicated spray holes make wiping away calcium and lime build-up simple. The faucet can fit 8-inch widespread configurations and can be installed without the help of a plumber. It can be ordered in fingerprint-resistant SpotShield stainless, Venetian bronze, chrome, or arctic stainless. This does also have a touch-to-active version if that’s more your style. Price at time of publish: $194 Faucet Height: 14.9 inches | Spout Height: 7.25 inches | Hole Fit: 1, 3 What We Don’t Love: Might not work in a blackout If you’re going all-in on a high-end faucet, you should make it a smart faucet. The Delta Essa VoiceIQ faucet pairs with Alexa and Google Assistant to allow you to activate it with only your voice. This means you can tell it how much water you need and at what temperature. It does also turn on and off with a simple touch, whether that’s your hand or your forearm. Other features include a timed hand-wash function so you can suds up without having to use the handle, an LED light in the base helps you quickly decipher the water temperature, and a powerful magnet that holds the spout in place when you don’t need to spray down the sink. That spout has touch-clean spray holes so you can easily wipe away mineral buildup. Delta includes everything you need for installation, including the A/C wall adapter you need to turn the faucet on (make sure you have an under sink outlet). In addition to the limited lifetime warranty, they also offer a 5-year warranty on electronic parts. Price at time of publish: $398 Faucet Height: 16 inches | Spout Height: 9.7 inches | Hole Fit: 1, 3
What to Look for in a Kitchen Faucet
Size
Size comes first with the kitchen faucet. Check your configuration to make sure that the faucet you want can be used in your sink (1-, 3-, and 4-hole configurations are all typical). You should also make sure that the faucet is neither too large nor too small for your sink, and that it won’t interfere with cabinet doors, windows, or anything else that requires regular access.
Style
Your kitchen’s decor should help guide your choices when it comes to hardware—and, yes, kitchen faucets. Match modern with modern, rustic with rustic, and transitional with transitional. Make sure, too, to select a finish that coincides with the current hardware used in your kitchen.
Features
Not all faucets are built the same. Some offer smart technology, some have dual handles, and some have pull-down features. What you want in a faucet depends on how you use your kitchen and, to some extent, the size of your sink. For instance, if you have a large sink, you might want to consider a faucet with a pull-down feature, or side spray, so that you can clean the basin.
How should you clean a kitchen faucet?
It’s pretty straightforward: “A simple and safe way to clean faucets is a 1 to 1 ratio of vinegar and water,” says Cortney Black, owner of Holliston Handy in Holliston, Massachusetts. “Use a non-abrasive cloth to not scratch the fixtures,” she says. “If you notice hard water stains at the base of fixtures, use a soft toothbrush with the same vinegar and water solution.”
Can you replace a kitchen faucet on your own or should a plumber do it?
Not only is it not safe to replace it yourself, but it also might not even be legal to. “Most states require a licensed plumber to replace any faucets,” Holliston says. “It is highly recommended to hire a plumber for kitchen faucet replacements if you do not have some plumbing knowledge.”
Why Trust Simply Recipes?
Hannah Selinger has written about food and drinks for local and national publications since 2015. A former sommelier, Hannah has worked for some of New York’s top restaurant groups, including Laurent Tourondel’s BLT group and David Chang’s Momofuku group. Her work has appeared in Eater, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Wine Enthusiast, and more. Hannah is also a graduate of the International Culinary Center. Read Next: The Best Coolers
