Kitchen Faucet Buying Guide

Whether it’s weeknight meals, filling that post-workout water bottle, or bathing a baby, nothing embodies the balance of form and function quite like the kitchen faucet. Because we depend on faucets day in and day out, it’s important to know what to look for when choosing the right fit for your kitchen. 

With so many functions and features to consider -- style, technologies, finish options -- the choice can feel overwhelming. But with a little insight and inspiration from our kitchen faucet buying guide, you’re sure to find the perfect faucet to enhance both your kitchen and daily life.

Mounting Matters

Browse even a small selection and you’ll quickly get the feeling that there are as many kitchen faucet mounting types as there are types of kitchen faucets. 

Once you remove an old faucet , your sink and counter can become a blank canvas. See the holes it left behind? They are your starting guides. Knowing whether you have three holes or just one will help narrow down your options without limiting your range of styles. 

The next thing to consider is ease-of-installation. For those of us without plumbing experience or handy family and friends, there are options like EZ Anchor^® Mounting to help you secure your new faucet to the counter without spending the day under the sink. 

Get a Handle on It

When looking at types of faucet handles, consider your day-to-day activities and ask yourself: How often will I use this faucet? What tasks will it be used for? With answers in hand, you have two options: single-handle or two-handle. 

For more precise control of water temperature and flow, a two-handle faucet may be just what you’re looking for. Single-handle kitchen faucets bring a streamlined and modern design into your space, and special options like Delta’s Touch₂O^® Technology help keep your faucet clean, even when your hands aren’t. A simple touch anywhere on the spout or handle with your wrist or forearm activates the flow of water at the temperature where your handle is set.

Standout Spouts

Faucet spouts vary in style and functionality so it’s important to pick one that works best for you. While the classic spout with side sprayer is always a good option, the latest faucets feature space-saving pull-out or pull-down spouts with large ranges of motion that allow flexibility in washing, rinsing and other kitchen tasks. They make cleaning those dirty dishes, dare we say, enjoyable?
Worried that a pull-out or pull-down spout will lose its tension? Technology features like Delta’s MagnaTite^® Docking use magnets to keep pull-down wands in place and ensure that your new helping hand will last. Dishes on the to-do list? Reach next-level convenience with Delta’s ShieldSpray^® Technology, which uses a powerful spray within a protective sphere of water to clear away mess with an average of 90% less splatter than a standard spray.

Dial In Your Style

Kitchen faucet styles come in all shapes, sizes, and finishes, with designs that can range from classical to contemporary, farmhouse to futuristic, and simple to showy.

Style is personal. This is important to keep in mind, because the faucet style you select will have an effect that extends beyond the sink and into the rest of the kitchen. People typically approach style in one of two ways: either they choose a faucet style that suits their existing fixtures and appliances, or they use their faucet as their inspiration to introduce a brand new style into the kitchen. Wouldn’t that be fun…

The Finishing Touch

The kitchen faucet finish you choose will set the tone for the rest of your aesthetic. There are many different types of finishes to choose from, and you may be surprised to learn that your faucet doesn’t have to match other fixture finishes in your kitchen. Today, mixing metals is a bold and fun way to bring style and personality into your kitchen. Matte Black, Chrome and Champagne Bronze^® are just a few of the finish options available for the faucet of your dreams.

For a vibrant low-maintenance option, Lumicoat^™ Finishes help keep your kitchen looking cleaner, longer with an ultra-sleek surface guaranteed to resist mineral buildup and hard water stains. Plus, they wipe clean without the need for cleaners or chemicals, providing a simply beautiful style that lasts.  
Now that you’ve crossed the finish line, it’s time to stop daydreaming about that home renovation and get back to making that dream a reality.