This Old House Reviews Team

Kitchen faucets come in a variety of styles, from smart, touch-to-start faucets to basic single-handle models. To help you determine which kitchen faucet is best for a replacement or upgrade, the This Old House Reviews team searched Amazon for the best kitchen faucets. Here are our top five picks.

Buyer’s Guide

Before buying a kitchen faucet for your home, it’s important to understand the factors that impact its user experience and look. Here are three factors to consider before purchasing a faucet.

1. Type

Kitchen faucets come in unique styles that each offer their own set of benefits. Popular sink styles include single-handle, double-handle, hands-free, and pull-down. Single-handle faucets are some of the most basic models, consisting of a temperature-adjusting handle, a spout, and 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, a double-handle model features a hot handle and a cold handle that allows users to adjust the water temperature. Like single-handle faucets, double-handle models don’t contain a sprayer but usually include a separate side sprayer.

A hands-free kitchen faucet uses touch technology and a traditional handle to deliver water. Hands-free kitchen faucets are convenient because of their touch technology, but they’re more expensive than their traditional single- or double-handled counterparts.

Pull-down faucets can be single-, double-, or hands-free faucets and are equipped with a spray nozzle located in the spout that can be pulled down for simple spraying.

2. Finish

While a kitchen faucet’s finish doesn’t affect its use or performance, it’s important to consider this factor if you want to purchase a faucet that matches other appliances in your kitchen. Some of the most common faucet finishes are chrome, stainless steel, and brushed nickel, though some faucets are available in matte black and bronze.

3. Flow rate

Flow rate describes how much water a faucet pours in a set period, usually measured in gallons per minute (GPM). 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 flow rate is under two gallons per minute.

 

FAQs

• Are kitchen faucets universal?

Not all kitchen faucets are constructed or installed in the same way. Typically, a kitchen faucet will have between one and four mounting holes, with each hole corresponding with 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 a leaky faucet or its water efficiency is outdated, consider a replacement.

• Do I need a plumber to replace a faucet?

This depends on your comfort level. If you have experience replacing plumbing fixtures, replacing a kitchen faucet is a simple procedure that requires a few tools, like 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.

 

 

The This Old House Reviews team provides overviews of select products that are top-selling on Amazon and/or popular in consumer searches. Our team evaluates the products based on industry research, consumer reviews, pricing data, hands-on testing in select cases, and other objective criteria unique to a given product line. Unless otherwise noted, these product reviews are intended to help inform buying decisions for DIY or other non-pro users only. Editor’s picks are made by members of the This Old House Reviews team.