8 Best Kitchen Faucets of 2024 (2024)

This beauty from Brizo features all the best qualities of contemporary faucet design at a great value.This single-handle model makes it easy to adjust temperatures, and the gooseneck spout swivels 360º for maximum control. The discreet pull-down sprayer with magnetic docking extends nearly 10 inches.

“It makes it easy to get at hard-to-reach spots and then snaps back into place every time,” says Good Housekeeping’s Digital Director Lauren Matthews, who has been testing and writing about home products for over 15 years. She opted for the matte black finish in keeping with current kitchen trends and says the faucet needs a regular wipe-down to keep it clean, but simple soap and water do the trick nicely.

Just keep in mind, that with a spout height of just under 9 inches, it offers less clearance underneath than other models.

Kitchen faucets under $100 can start to look a little "builder's special-y," which is why our experts were eager to get our hands on with this $50-ish faucet from Forious. The single-handle faucet resembles some models costing five or six times as much, while boasting many of the same features, including a pull-down sprayer and smudge-proof PVD finish.

We installed the faucet at a sink in one of our Labs at the Good Housekeeping Institute in NYC, and found the process to be simple and straightforward, though our experts noted how lightweight the faucet was (several pounds less than other tested faucets), which could say something about its long-term durability. So far, though, the faucet has done the job, delivering solid water pressure and toggling easily between its two spray settings.

Another possible drawback is the relatively low spout height, which could be an issues when washing pasta pots and other oversize items. While there's no magnetic retainer on the pull-down sprayer, it returned to its dock cleanly through its first 100 or so uses. One note: The matte black finish of our test faucet shows a bit of water marks after cleaning, but that's a small price to pay for such a value-driven fixture.

The best kitchen faucets are fuss-free without looking too ho-hum. That’s what our experts like about this elegant, high-arched faucet from Hansgrohe. “For starters, I love the slim profile and sleek design of this faucet,” says Good Housekeeping Institute General Manager Laurie Jennings, who specified the faucet for her recent kitchen renovation.

Installation was foolproof, she says, and the optic steel finish that she chose “never shows any dirt, fingerprints or smudges, so it looks like it was just cleaned, whether it was wiped down a day ago or two weeks ago.” Like other positive consumer reviews, Jennings also praises the magnetic element of the pull-down hose, which helps it snap back into place every time. Jennings' only minor regret is the faucet's lack of technology, for example, an integrated light to rinse down the sink without lighting up the entire kitchen.

Our experts know Moen as a kitchen and bath brand that makes quality products at value-driven prices. The Arbor single-handle faucet is a prime example. It has a clean, simple design that's neutral enough for any kitchen — this is not a showpiece faucet like some of our other picks.

That said, it's feature-rich, including a pull-down sprayer with an extra-long 68-inch hose and multi-spray functionality, including power boost for cleaning. Its 1.5 gallon-per-minute flow rate is good enough for the EPA's WaterSense label. "For its price, the Arbor is surprisingly well-made, including brass construction, ceramic disc valves and a durable finish," says Rachel Rothman, chief technologist at the Good Housekeeping Institute.

The latest innovation in kitchen faucet design is touchless control, whereby a simple wave of the hand past a built-in sensor turns the water on and off.

The technology can be a little finicky (just like in airport restrooms), but we found the motion sensor on the Kohler Crue to be highly responsive. Plus, there’s still the lever handle for those who want to turn the water on and off the old-fashioned way. The pull-down sprayer with magnetic docking switches easily between three modes: aerated stream, ring spray and power wash. The faucet is solidly built and Kohler has a stellar reputation for performance and reliability with our experts.

Looking for high-tech features in a more traditional looking faucet? Kohler's Artifacts Touchless Faucet took home a 2023 Good Housekeeping Home Renovation Award, delivering the same flawless performance as its brand mate, but with a more vintage design. As one tester said, after praising the fixture's lighting-fast response time, “this faucet is definitely a jewel piece in the kitchen, bringing a timeless, classic look.” One thing to note is that it does require access to a power outlet.

The old-world elegance and exceptional performance of this Perrin & Rowe faucet make it splurge-worthy according to our experts. “It’s more than I planned to spend, but it’s such a solid design that I feel like it will look great in the kitchen for decades,” notes one tester, who opted for a polished nickel finish.

While the faucet takes up more space on the sink deck, the bridge design's ample spout height provides plenty of clearance for oversized pots, and the faucet has all the hallmarks of quality design that our pros look for including solid brass construction, ceramic disc valves to prevent dripping and a relatively long 47-inch water supply hose on the side sprayer to ensure reach to every corner of the sink. The two-handle design allows for precise temperature control.

Sleek design meets smart controls in this single-handle faucet from Delta. It’s a huge hit with Good Housekeeping’s Home Design Director Monique Valeris, who admits she “never thought she’d describe a kitchen faucet as beautiful” before coming across the Pivotal with its clean lines and sharp finish.

Besides the fetching design, the faucet features unique technology that lets you turn the water and off with a simple tap of the wrist or forearm anywhere on the spout or handle, nice if your fingers are covered in raw chicken. An LED light at the base of the battery-powered faucet glows blue or red depending on the water temperature to prevent any surprises. The pull-down sprayer has an extra-long 58-inch hose, handy if you need to water nearby houseplants.

A big, well-appointed chef's kitchen with a beefy gas range and built-in fridge needs an equally outstanding faucet — like this professional-grade version from Kohler. With its high-arching coiled spout, it wouldn’t be out of place at the dishwashing station in a restaurant kitchen.

Its industrial-sized performance is counterbalanced by an elegant design, with a sleek handle and rounded base. Caroline Danielson, director of showrooms at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, likes the touch-control pull-down sprayer with three modes, among them a patented sweep spray, which is basically a power-boosted blade of water that’s great for blasting stuck-on food from plates, cutting boards or the bottom of the sink.

Our market editors scour showroom floors and pound the carpet at trade shows like the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show to see the latest models and innovations in faucet design. To assemble this round-up, we focused on brands that have earned a reputation for reliability and performance through decades of kitchen product testing at the Good Housekeeping Institute. We reviewed more than 30 models in all.

Though we didn’t perform in-Lab testing for every faucet in this report, most of our picks have been through months of evaluation at the homes of our experts, enabling us to assess performance and usability in real-world conditions. We aim to see how easy the faucet is to operate — turning it on and off, adjusting the temperature and switching between spray and stream modes, when applicable.

We also measure how resistant the faucet finish is to stains and scratches. Finally, our experts assess the overall quality of construction, checking for loose or easily breakable plastic parts, persistent dripping or other signs that a faucet is unlikely to perform well over the long haul.

If you’re remodeling the kitchen, you can choose any type of faucet you like. But if you’re replacing an existing faucet, it’s important to find a model that matches the number of holes in your countertop — one or two, typically, though there may be a third hole if your current faucet set-up includes a side sprayer. Here are the corresponding faucet types:

✔️ Single-handle kitchen faucets: With this design, hot and cold water lines are integrated through a single hole, with one handle turning the water on and off and adjusting the temperature. These faucets are the easiest to install and use, plus they’re more space efficient. The downside is they don’t provide as precise temperature control as two-handle faucets. It’s important to check that the new handle on the faucet has enough clearance that it won’t interfere with your backsplash as you adjust the temperature.

✔️ Two-handle faucets: These faucets have separate controls for the cold and hot water and require two holes for the water lines. You can get a more precise temperature with two handles, but they take up more space and are harder to install. Our experts discourage going from a single-handled to a two-handled faucet since it’s not a good idea to drill additional holes in an installed countertop.

Once you figure out the type of faucet that's best for your kitchen, here's how to zero in on the perfect model.

✔️ Shape: Though it’s largely about style, the shape of the spout also impacts usability. The least expensive faucets have straight spouts that don’t leave a lot of room for large pots. Arced faucets have greater clearance, though you need to weigh that against a possible increase in splashing. The size and configuration of your sink can be a helpful guide; the faucet should be proportional and able to reach most of the sink, especially if it doesn’t have a sprayer.

✔️ Spray: Faucets with a pull-out or pull-down sprayer have become a popular alternative to independent side sprayers since it saves space, and many users find it more convenient to spray down dishes or clean the sink. An extra-long spray hose, say 50 inches or more, is helpful for spraying down large sinks. Our experts also like faucets with finger-friendly buttons that make it easy to switch from spray to stream. They say to look for a pull-out sprayer with a magnetic lock that will pull the nozzle back into its dock and hold it there securely.

✔️ Flow rate: Measured in gallons per minute (GPM), this tells you how water-efficient a faucet is. The maximum flow rate allowed by law is 2.2 GPM. To earn the EPA's WaterSense label, the flow rate must be under 1.5 GPM. That 30% increase in efficiency works out to thousands of gallons over the course of a year. Construction quality impacts efficiency also since a dripping faucet can waste up to 3,000 gallons per year, according to the EPA.

You can spend $50 or less on a kitchen faucet or well over $1,000. As you move up in price point, the overall quality of construction tends to improve, thanks to features like solid brass construction and durable PVD (short for “physical vapor deposition”) coatings.

Design options are more expansive, too, for example, high-arched industrial faucets with powerful pull-down sprays or elegant bridge faucets with sophisticated finishes. Paying more for a faucet also give you the option of smart enhancements, like hands-free operation and automated temperature control.

Don't forget to weigh installation costs. While experienced DIYers should be able to install a standard kitchen faucet, others may need to hire a professional, at a going rate of around $250.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab provides expert reviews and advice on all things home-related, including kitchen and bath fixtures. In his role as director, Dan DiClerico brings more than 20 years of experience to the Institute, having reviewed thousands of products for Good Housekeeping, as well as brands like Consumer Reports and This Old House. He also helps oversee the testing of numerous kitchen and bath products.

For this report, Dan worked closely with the Institute's Chief Technologist & Director of Engineering Rachel Rothman. For more than 15 years, Rachel has put her training in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics to work by researching, testing and writing about products across the home improvement space. She also has plenty of real-world remodeling experience, both with her own projects and those she advises on at the homes of consumer testers.