Easy to Install All Metal Kitchen Faucets With Base Plate

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Photo: Mark Wolfe

When it comes to kitchen renovation, cabinetry and new appliances usually take up most of the budget. However, smaller design choices, such as fixtures, can make a significant impact on the aesthetic of your cooking space.

The faucet is the kitchen's workhorse and can serve as a vital piece of hardware that helps you wash hands and rinse fruits and vegetables with ease while also keeping the space around you clean. Shoppers should think twice before purchasing the first faucet they see—there's a lot more to consider than brand and price. With hundreds of styles to choose from, not to mention the finishes and other features, picking the best kitchen faucet for your space can seem like a daunting task.

If you're on the hunt for the perfect faucet, check out this list of our top picks. After carefully shopping among the most popular offerings on the market, we chose this group for our in-home comparison tests. See the results for each one later in the individual reviews. One of these highly rated products could add the finishing touch to your kitchen.

1. BEST OVERALL: Delta Faucet Leland Touch
2. RUNNER-UP: Moen Arbor One-Handle Pulldown
3. BEST BUDGET: WEWE Single Handle High Arc Brushed Nickel
4. BEST TOUCHLESS: KOHLER Simplice Response Touchless
5. BEST PULL-OUT: Moen Arbor One-Handle Pullout
6. BEST SEMI-PRO: hansgrohe Joleena Kitchen Faucet
7. UPGRADE PICK: Delta Faucet Trinsic Touch
8. BEST COMPACT: Peerless Single-Handle Kitchen Faucet

Photo: Mark Wolfe

It is important to keep in mind a few features to ensure you pick the perfect faucet for your kitchen. Whether you are replacing an old faucet or just want to upgrade, be sure to consider the handle, the reach, and the mounting style.

Handles

There are three options when it comes to handles for a kitchen faucet: single, double, and touchless.

• Single faucets are easier to install and use and also take up less space than their two-handle counterparts. However, they aren't as precise as double faucets when it comes to temperature adjustments.
• Double faucets have separate hot and cold water valves to the left and right of the faucet. The handles can be part of the baseplate or separately mounted. Two-handled faucets are more challenging to install, and you need both hands to adjust the water temperature.
• Touchless models are a relatively new technology that's now available for home use. The most significant advantage of these models is convenience and cleanliness. A movement sensor activates the water, so if your hands are full or dirty, you don't have to touch the fixture. They cost more than single and double faucets.

Reach

Kitchen faucet spouts come with stationary, pull-down, or pull-out options.

• Faucets with stationary spouts typically come with a separate sprayer mounted on the side. Side sprayers are falling out of fashion nowadays but are still available in basic models. These units are mounted away from the spout faucet, and they require a hole in the sink or countertop, which makes it more complicated to install due to the extra plumbing lines needed.
• Pull-down and pull-out spouts feature a built-in sprayer that functions as a stationary spout when not in use. The spout pulls out or down from the single-handle faucet head on a hose. There's a counterweight in the neck of the faucet that helps the hose and spout to retract. These types of spouts come in handy when rinsing vegetables or cleaning the sink.

Although pull-out and pull-down faucets have many similarities, the major difference between the two is the amount of clearance it needs. A pull-down faucet generally has a taller gooseneck spout, and the actual spray hose is usually shorter than pull-out models. Pull-downs are excellent choices for deep, single-basin sinks.

Pull-out faucets have shorter spouts, and the hose is longer than those of pull-downs. They can quickly fill pots and pans on your countertop rather than in the sink. These faucets are suitable for shallow, double-basin sinks.

Mounting Style

Many sinks come with mounting holes predrilled for faucets and accessories such as soap dispensers. If you are shopping for a new sink to match your faucet, you can select anything that you like as long as the faucet mounts match the number of holes in the sink, or you can select an undermount or drop-in sink that doesn't have holes, knowing that you'll have to match up countertop holes with whatever your faucet requires. If you are replacing a faucet on an existing sink, you need to match the mounting mechanism exactly. If the faucet comes with a base or deck plate, it can cover extra holes that are not in use. In general, do not purchase a faucet with more sinkholes than your sink has—drilling holes into your sink is not easy and not recommended as a DIY task.

There are also faucets designed to mount to a wall versus the sink. These faucets are typically found near a stove and are primarily used for filling pots. Most people do not use this mounting style.

Gallons Per Minute

The amount of water that flows through a faucet is measured in gallons per minute, or GPM. In older fixtures, rates of 2 GPM or higher were commonplace. Most building codes now call for faucet flow rates of 1.8 GPM or less in order to conserve water. In some areas, low-flow faucets with a maximum rate of 1.5 GPM are required.

Beyond the building codes, the benefit of choosing a low-flow faucet is that it can help you save money on your water bill. The downside is that it takes longer to fill up pots, pans, and pitchers. To counter the reduced flow, some low-flow faucets offer a stream boost button that temporarily increases the flow on demand. As soon as the button is released, low flow resumes.

Design

Faucet designs are either straight or have a gooseneck curve.

• Straight spout faucets are compact and less expensive but leave little room in your sink for filling up large pots.
• Gooseneck models have higher clearances but take up more space and typically cost more. Whatever design you pick for your kitchen, make sure it gives you plenty of reach, and keep it proportional to your sink's size.

Finish

Faucets are available in many types of finishes. Standard options include chrome, stainless steel, nickel, platinum, pewter, and matte black. The kind of finish affects the faucet's appearance, cleanability, resistance to spotting and rusting, and price. The shinier the finish, the more fingerprints and water spots will show. Many finishes are also available in a brushed option. This type of finish is perfect for hiding fingerprints and other smudges. It all comes down to whether the finish of your selected faucet suits your existing kitchen and decor.

Photo: Mark Wolfe

Our Top Picks

We've looked at the best kitchen faucets and selected those that meet the needs of shoppers' budgets, design preferences, and finishes. We tested the following models in our home trial and noted the overall specs, pros, and cons of each one in terms of installation, appearance, and functionality.

Photo: amazon.com

Delta is one of the world's leading manufacturers of home improvement and building products and one of the first to revolutionize faucet manufacturing. This top pick is an excellent combination of traditional style and modern features. This faucet has more than just looks. It combines everything shoppers love about a modern kitchen faucet: a pull-down spout, gooseneck style, smudge-proof brushed finish option, single-handle function for water control, and touch-on activation for minimal contact operation.

The faucet features Touch2O technology for turning the water on and off and utilizes magnets for proper docking of the spray head. There's an LED light that signals water temperature and three different spray modes. If a brushed stainless finish isn't your cup of tea, don't worry; there are three other finishes to choose from, including chrome, arctic stainless, and Venetian bronze.

In our installation, the touch feature added a few steps to the process, installing the solenoid and battery pack, but the process was not difficult. However, Delta's plastic water supply lines are stiffer than the braided type that other manufacturers use, which made the process slightly more complicated. Water pressure was good, no drips, and the shield spray feature eliminated 80 percent of overspray.

Product Specs

• Style: Gooseneck
• Operation: Touch
• Flow rate: 1.8 GPM

Pros

• Shield spray pattern reduces mess
• Touch-activated on/off
• High arc for easy sink access
• Strong zinc alloy components

Cons

• Plastic supply lines
• Battery operated
• Somewhat complicated assembly

Get the Delta Faucet Leland Touch faucet on Amazon, at Lowe's, or at The Home Depot.

Photo: amazon.com

Moen is known for designing beautiful products that last a lifetime. The feature that sets the Moen Arbor faucet apart from its competitors is the Duralock Quick Connect Installation System, which makes this faucet easy to install. It also features a long hose—68 inches long and built with Reflex technology to flex, pivot, and stretch in all directions without getting tangled or damaged.

The Arbor also controls the flow of water with its boost-stream function that offers a faster clean and faster fill with the push of a button. There are four finishes to choose from: chrome, stainless steel, matte black, and oil-rubbed bronze. The Arbor is similar in price to the Delta Leland, but it lacks the touchless option.

We liked this Moen faucet's combination of quality and simplicity at a moderate price point. The parts felt substantial, and the pull-down hose is extra long. It was easy to install in our test sink. The 1.5-GPM flow feels somewhat weak, but the boost-stream button increases flow as needed. The one we installed operated manually, but the same style is available with touch or touchless capabilities.

Product Specs

• Style: Gooseneck
• Operation: Manual
• Flow rate: 1.5 GPM

Pros

• Alloy steel construction
• Spot-resistant stainless finish
• Boost-stream button for faster flow rate
• Easy to install

Cons

• Styling seems a bit overstated given the low flow rate
• Handle placement feels somewhat awkward
• Drips once or twice after the water is turned off

Get the Moen Arbor One-Handle Pull-Down faucet on Amazon, at The Home Depot, or at Wayfair.

Photo: amazon.com

WEWE is a small home improvement company that specializes in affordable kitchen and bathroom faucets, bath, and shower products. The WEWE single-handle high-arc faucet features a sleek tulip-like design that will easily match most sinks. It gives users a three-way spray setting—stream for filling water, spray for rinsing, and pause to avoid splashing in multitasking mode. The pull-down hose and water line hose come preinstalled in the kitchen faucet for easy installation. It features a corrosion- and rust-resistant finish that hides smudges and prevents dirt from sticking to the surface.

The WEWE High Arc faucet was extremely easy to install, partially due to the lack of electronic features. The lightweight metal construction feels less substantial than the others we tested, but at a quarter the price of the others, we felt like that was to be expected. The generous 1.8-GPM flow rate provides plenty of water for convenient cleaning and filling, and we experienced no drips or leaks.

Product Specs

• Style: Gooseneck
• Operation: Manual
• Flow rate: 1.8 GPM

Pros

• Three sprayer settings: stream, spray, pause
• Stronger water flow
• Budget-friendly price

Cons

• Lightweight construction
• Spray head feels a little flimsy
• Nonmagnetic docking

Get the WEWE Single Handle High Arc faucet on Amazon or at Walmart.

Photo: amazon.com

KOHLER is another powerhouse in the home improvement industry, best known for its plumbing products. The Simplice touchless faucet allows users to enjoy a cleaner, more hygienic kitchen environment. It features Intuitive Response technology that is in tune with users' every move. With a simple wave of a hand or the movement of an object such as a pan, the smart faucet turns on or off. Don't worry; not every movement will activate the water. The sensor is precision designed to prevent false activations.

The Simplice also has the bells and whistles of many high-end faucets like a gooseneck style, pull-down spout, magnetic docking system located within the spout, and optional power boost for cleaning and filling pots. It's available in four finishes.

We found the Kohler Simplice to be a well-constructed luxury faucet with classic styling and robust functionality. The motion sensor is strategically positioned under the spout where it turns on/off at the right time, without risking an unnecessary arm soaking when you place dishes in the sink. It was easy to install but does require an AC outlet, which could add to the cost of installation if you need to have one wired.

Product Specs

• Style: Gooseneck
• Operation: Touchless
• Flow rate: 1.5 GPM

Pros

• Highly responsive motion sensors
• LED indicator light
• Magnetic docking
• Quality components

Cons

• Expensive
• Lower flow rate
• Requires AC outlet

Get the Kohler Simplice Response Touchless faucet on Amazon and The Home Depot.

Photo: amazon.com

The Moen Arbor pull-out faucet is a scaled-down version of the pull-down Arbor. It's made of the same material, finished with the same coatings, and has the same curved and seamless style but with a shorter neck. Pull-out faucets are perfect for small kitchens because they take up less space and work well on smaller sinks. The Arbor's pull-out wand features an ergonomic shape and has two spray options.

The faucet's design effortlessly blends in with most decor styles and comes in four finishes: chrome, spot-resist stainless, matte black, and oil-rubbed bronze. The Arbor pull-out is a practical and beautiful plumbing fixture but costs more than the typical pull-out kitchen faucet.

We liked that the Moen Arbor pull-out faucet has a lower profile than regular gooseneck-style faucets but still offers a high clearance for working with a sink full of pots and pans. As a manual faucet, it is easy to install, but a helper may need to hold it in place from above while the installer tightens it from below. In our tests, the docking was slightly awkward as the sprayer must be lined up precisely to fit securely into the dock. But overall functionality was quite good, even with the lower flow rating.

Product Specs

• Style: Low-arc gooseneck
• Operation: Manual
• Flow rate: 1.5 GPM

Pros

• Good performance even with lower flow
• Simple manual operation
• Lower profile but still plenty of clearance

Cons

• Slightly more difficult for one person to install
• Docking is a little awkward
• Spray nozzle feels lightweight

Get the Moen Arbor One-Handle Pull-Out faucet on Amazon or at Walmart.

Photo: amazon.com

Those going for a professional appearance will appreciate both the form and function of the hansgrohe Joleena semi-professional faucet. The chrome finish, high-arc gooseneck design, and coil spring hose support lend a pro-kitchen style, while the 360-degree spout and 18-inch hose provide total access to the kitchen sink area. An aerated spray head limits countertop overspray. In the retracted position, a magnetic dock holds the spray head securely in place.

While hansgrohe recommends installation by a licensed plumber, we did a DIY-style installation without problems. Brass construction combined with the chrome finish really made this faucet stand out among the test group in terms of substantial weight and appearance. The spray pattern was clean and drip-free, and the spring hose support offered the greatest range of motion of all the faucets we tested.

Product Specs

• Style: Gooseneck
• Operation: Manual
• Flow rate: 1.75 GPM

Pros

• Heavy-duty brass construction
• Generous water flow rate
• Professional kitchen design
• Easy installation

Cons

• The spring hose support may trap dirt or debris over time
• Horizontal hose support is less elegant than a conventional faucet
• A helper may be necessary for installation

Get the hansgrohe Joleena Kitchen Faucet on Amazon, at Lowe's, or at The Home Depot.

Photo: amazon.com

Delta continues to revolutionize faucet manufacturing. Our upgrade pick features high-quality brass construction, a sleek goes-with-everything design, and loads of convenience features, from the pull-down spout with secure magnetic docking, Touch2O activation, LED indicator lights, and a generous 1.8 GPM flow rate.

Touch2O technology lets you turn the water on or off with just a light bump of your hand or forearm. A flexible pull-down hose and strong magnets in the docking base make for smooth and precise spray head action. There's an LED light that signals water temperature and three different spray modes. And, in addition to the "Arctic Stainless" we tested, this model is also available in Chrome, SpotShield Stainless, or Venetian Bronze.

In our test kitchen, Delta's stiff plastic water supply lines made installation a bit more complicated. Installing the solenoid and battery pack added a couple of steps to the process, but it was not difficult. Water pressure was good, there were no drips, and the shield spray feature eliminated most overspray. The heavy-duty brass components add to the cost but should last a lifetime.

Product Specs

• Style: Gooseneck
• Operation: Touch activated
• Flow rate: 1.8 GPM

Pros

• Heavy-duty brass construction
• Smooth swivel and strong magnetic sprayer docking
• Clean shield spray pattern
• High arc for easy access

Cons

• Expensive
• Requires batteries for touch activation
• Stiff plastic supply lines

Get the Delta Trinsic Touch on Amazon, at The Home Depot, or at Lowe's.

Photo: amazon.com

Not every kitchen is built for a high-arc gooseneck faucet. Where space is limited, a straight faucet probably makes the most practical sense. This Peerless single-handle faucet is a pared-down option for those who need basic functionality.

We easily installed the Peerless single-handle kitchen faucet in about 15 minutes. It operated well with no drips or leaks. The 1.8 GPM flow rate combined with the scaled-down proportions left the somewhat ironic impression of a more luxurious flow than most of the larger, more stylish faucets. The basic design will not stand out in the kitchen, and the low rise means less room in the sink for big pots and pans, but where space is limited, this could be a good choice.

Product Specs

• Style: Straight
• Operation: Manual
• Flow rate: 1.8 GPM

Pros

• Low profile
• Inexpensive
• Good value

Cons

• Sprayer is not included
• Basic appearance and functionality
• Requires 3-hole configuration

Get the Peerless Single-Handle Kitchen Faucet on Amazon, at The Home Depot, or at Walmart.

Our Verdict

When shopping for a new kitchen faucet, the sheer range of choices can be overwhelming. In our search, we prioritized durable construction, functionality, and competitive pricing. Our top pick, the Delta Faucet Leland Touch, offers the functionality that many shoppers want with classic styling and durability at a midrange value price point. Those on a budget may have to give up some of the bells and whistles but can still find attractive styling and good quality in the WEWE High Arc Pull Out Faucet.

How We Tested the Best Kitchen Faucets

To find the best kitchen faucets, we started by considering styling and functionality, just like shoppers in the midst of a remodel. Brands are important at this stage because appearances are very often deceiving, particularly when it comes to online purchases. Our picks had to come from trusted suppliers with a strong reputation in the industry. We chose a range of products that would be suitable for DIYers to install.

We installed each of the picks in our home kitchen and used them for a day to get a realistic feel for their construction, ease of installation, and quality of operation. We then rated them in 10 objective categories and 10 subjective categories to determine the category winners. In order to make the cut, a faucet had to score an average of 7 or higher on our 10-point scale.

FAQs

If you're still reading, you may have a few lingering questions about buying or installing a new faucet. Read on to learn more.

Q. Is a pull-out or pull-down kitchen faucet better?

Pull-out faucets require less headroom and make a good choice where cabinetry is installed above the sink. Pull-down faucets are often constructed in a high-arc or gooseneck pattern to provide more in-sink clearance for pots and pans and other large items.

Q. What type of faucet do plumbers recommend?

Plumbers recommend choosing a faucet from a quality brand, made of quality components. Some of the top brands include Delta, Moen, Kohler, and hansgrohe. Look for construction of brass, zinc alloy, or alloy steel for best results

Q. How long should a kitchen faucet last?

Kitchen faucets last 15 to 20 years on average, but quality of construction can increase or decrease the lifespan. Paying more for quality fixtures will save time, money, and materials compared with cheaply made products.

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Source: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-kitchen-faucet/

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