Your kitchen’s faucet has started leaking, and you need to replace it ASAP. But then the myriads of faucet types available in the market has you confused on the one to pick, and you need help deciding the best one that suits your kitchen style and budget.

No worries. Because with this guide, you would be armed with knowledge on the various kinds of kitchen faucets there are, and the factors to consider when choosing the right kitchen faucet for your home.

Let’s get to it.

Types of Kitchen Faucet

Single-Handle Kitchen Faucet

The single-handle faucets are a minimalistic kind of faucet, best suited for small kitchen spaces, and individuals who love simple and straightforward tools. They have single handle control, which are used to turn on the water, and switch from one temperature to another.

Single-handle kitchen faucets come in different height sizes, such as 3-8 inches above the sink plane. And some other single handle faucets can be as high as 8-10 inches above the sink plate.

Pros
● They are easy to use and simple to operate.
● Installation is easy.
● They are best fits for individuals with limited mobility.
● Single handle kitchen faucets are also great for small sinks.

Cons
● They can be difficult when trying to switch in between water temperatures.
● With a single-handle faucet, getting the precise desired water temperature can be difficult.

Double-Handle Kitchen Faucet

The double handle kitchen faucets are the opposite of the single handle faucets, as seen in the names.

They typically have two handle controls which are used to turn on hot and cold water. Thus, you can get the accurate temperature of water by using the handle controlling it. And this is done without any hassle, as it is with the single handle faucet.

Double handle faucets are usually longer than single handle faucets. The typical height of a double handle kitchen faucet ranges from 9-13/16 inches in spout height.

Pros
● Getting the precise water temperature is easy, since there are 2 control handles dedicated to each water temperature.
● It is easy to switch between hot and cold water temperature.

Cons
● Installing the double handle faucet takes more drilling, time and energy, because it has more holes to be drilled for installation.
● They are more suited for large kitchen spaces.

Pot Filler Kitchen Faucet

The pot filler faucets are uniquely styled faucets, different from other kinds of faucets. They are usually mounted on walls, instead of a sink. And they are versatile in that they can be pulled out to fill containers, and pulled back in, when no longer in use.

With a pot filler kitchen faucet, you get a dynamic upgrade to your kitchen design and convenience of use.

Pros:
● They bring a dynamic look to your kitchen with their unique styles.
● They are convenient to use, as you don’t need to take pots and other containers back and forth from the sink when you need water.

Cons
● They need to be frequently cleaned due to the position they occupy above the stove area, where food being cooked can easily splatter on them.
● They are expensive to purchase and install, when compared with other faucet types.
● They can be difficult to repair when faulty, since they are mounted on walls.

Straight Spout Kitchen Faucet

Straight spout kitchen faucets are simple styled kitchen faucets with straight spouts. They are best suited for any size of kitchen, as they are available in various sizes.

Straight spout faucets stretch out in a 45 degrees angle from the sink, and have no trendy outlook that makes them standout. However, they are easy to use.

Pros:
● They suit individuals who love minimalistic designs
● They are simple to operate.

Cons:
● They have basic features, which makes them not stand out.
● They are best suited for kitchen sinks that are tucked under cabinets.

Bridge Kitchen Faucet

Bridge faucets come with two handles which are connected horizontally with a pipe, making them look like a bridge, thus, the name. They come as a whole piece, and not in bits needed to be assembled together.

Now, the two handles are used for controlling the hot and cold water temperature. Also, they can either be wall mounted or deck mounted, and typically come with three faucet holes.

Pros:
● They are pretty easy to install, since they come in one piece.
● They give your kitchen a distinct look with their unique style.
● Bridge faucets come in a variety of handles and models. Thus, you can choose any that suits your personal style and kitchen design.

Cons:
● They take up more space in the kitchen due to their size.
● They are expensive to purchase.
● They can be quite difficult to clean.

Gooseneck Kitchen Faucet

Gooseneck faucets have very high-arc spouts which are about 8 inches or more in height. With their necks similar to that of a goose, they are vertical to the sink, extend up and then curve down into the sink.

Gooseneck faucets work well for large kitchens and sink areas, due to their high arc neck, and they are easy to use and control.

Pros:
● They have a unique look which adds to the style of your kitchen.
● They are convenient to use.

Cons:
● They can lead to splashing of water in the kitchen area.
● They are not suitable for small kitchen spaces and sinks.

Motion Sensor Kitchen Faucet

Motion sensor faucets are also known as touchless faucets. And they are stylish faucets that can be turned on and off, simply by hovering your hand around its sensor, without touching the faucet.

Here, the sensor can be placed near the base of the faucet, or at any other position. And all you need to do is move your hand over it, and its senses get activated to aid water flow.

Now, some motion sensor faucets come with an adjustable temperature control, which you have to use when switching from one water temperature to the other. And some already have a pre-set temperature control that doesn’t need to be controlled manually.

And since they are powered by electricity through the use of batteries, motion sensor faucets mostly come in copper, brass and zinc materials, since these materials can conduct electricity. They can either be infrared or ultrasonic.

Pros:
● They are easy and convenient to use.
● They give your kitchen a stylish and upgraded look, due to their modern style.
● They prevent water wastage, as they cannot be accidentally left running.

Cons:
● They are expensive to purchase and install.
● The sensor needs to be cleaned regularly, to ensure its sensitivity.
● They make use of batteries, which need to be charged to function.
● Getting precise water flow and temperature can be a hassle.

Touch-Activated Kitchen Faucet

Touch-activated faucets are slightly different from the motion sensor faucet. They have small sensors installed underneath the faucet which you have to slightly touch for water to flow, and touch again to stop water flow.

However, some of them have an automatic shut-off feature. Whereby at the first touch, the water comes on fully, then it reduces gradually before finally stopping.

Touch activated kitchen faucets usually have small handles on the side, which are used to switch from one water temperature to the other.

Pros:
● Touch-activated faucets are easy and convenient to use.
● They are well-suited for individuals with limited mobility, such as elders and children.
● They don’t require as much cleaning as traditional faucets

Cons:
● They are difficult to install.
● They make use of batteries that need to be charged to function.

Pull-Out Spout Faucet

Pull-out spout faucets are trendy and modern types of faucets that can be stationed in a position or pulled out and moved about for use. They give a stylish and trendy upgrade to your kitchen look, and they are best made for large sinks.

Also, they often have an inbuilt spray and hose feature which enables them to be pulled out and moved to where water is needed.

Pros:
● Their flexible and extendable spout feature ensures ease of use, and thorough cleanliness of the sink and any item being washed in it.
● They give your kitchen a modern and stylish look, due to their unique designs.

Cons
● They are expensive and difficult to install.
● They are not suitable for small sized sinks.

Pull-Down Spout Faucet

Pull down spout faucets, unlike pull-out faucets, extend downward the sink. And they are used in both commercial and residential kitchen spaces, due to their great features and versatility of use.

With a pull-down faucet, you don’t need to worry about splashes of water in the kitchen. This is because their goose-neck spout enables them to direct the water supply downwards into the sink. And they are best used for deep sink basins, and aid thorough cleaning.

Pull-down faucets come with a lever, which aids the adjustment of water flow from one temperature to the other.

Pros:
● Pull-down faucets are great for deep sinks and aid thorough cleaning.
● They prevent splashes of water in the kitchen area, due to their downward styled spouts.

Cons:
● They are not suitable for small sinks
● They are static, and cannot be pulled to other directions, unlike the pull-out spout faucet.

Factors to Consider when Choosing a Kitchen Faucet for your Home
Your faucet is literally one of the most used tools in your kitchen. So, thought must be put into its purchase.

And here are some factors to be considered to aid the purchasing of a kitchen faucet that would be a great fit for your style and kitchen needs.

Style and Design
One of the factors to consider when buying a kitchen faucet is to choose one that fits your personal style and kitchen design. And there are varieties of faucets, ranging from contemporary, traditional, classic, etc. that you can choose from.

For minimalistic individuals, who love to keep things simple, they can go for single handle faucets which are simple and functional. However, if you love trendy things and want to make a statement, you can go for faucets with unique looks and designs like the bridge faucet, pot filler faucet, etc.

Type of Handle
Various kitchen faucet types come with different handles. There are faucets with single handles, double handles, and even free hand faucets. Now, for single handle faucets, the water temperature is controlled from one source, and shutting down the tap is easy.

On the other hand, double handle faucets aid convenience when switching from one water temperature to another. Because two handles control the different water temperatures. Thus, helping you get the precise temperature needed.

And free hand kitchen faucets do not require you touching anything to control water flow. The motion sensor faucet is a great example of this. Thus, examine this factor, and decide which is best for you, depending on your budget and kitchen needs.

Size
The size of your kitchen and sink must also be considered when choosing a kitchen faucet. With a small kitchen space, some kinds of faucet are not ideal for you.

Also, you should examine the size of your sink, the number of holes it has, etc. to determine if the faucet to be purchased would fit it. This is especially in situations when you already have your sink, and the faucet is the only item being replaced.

Faucet Height
The height of your faucet is another important factor to consider when choosing the right faucet for your kitchen. For example, if you have a shallow sink, you would need a high arc faucet which would make for space between the sink and faucet, making it easy to wash items in the sink.

Also, the individuals who would be using the faucet should be considered when choosing the faucet with the right height. A short faucet would pose difficulty for tall individuals, etc.

Mounting
There are basically two kinds of mounting , which are wall-mounting and deck mounting. And this should also be taken into consideration when choosing a suitable kitchen faucet.

Wall-mounted faucets are just as the name implies. They are mounted directly on the wall, by opening the wall and installing them. Thus, they can practically be mounted anywhere for ease and convenience. However, when an issue occurs with the plumbing system, repair would be difficult and take time.

On the other hand, deck-mounted kitchen faucets, which are more common, are easy to install and fix when damaged. With a deck-mounted faucet, the drainage system is placed underneath the sink, as opposed to inside in the wall, making installation and repair seamless.

Finishing
There are various faucets finishes, such as stainless steel, chrome, nickel, copper, brass, etc. And choosing a specific one depends on factors like the overall look and finishing of your kitchen space.

For example, if all the items in your kitchen have a chrome finishing, installing a faucet with a brass finishing would look out of place, and destroy the uniformity of other items.

Also, the durability of each type of finish, ease of cleaning, etc, should be considered when choosing the faucet.

Choosing the Best Kitchen Faucet
Choosing the best kitchen faucet for your home would depend on a number of factors as have been stated above, And as much as you may want to pick aesthetically appealing faucets, you should also take vital factors like height, finishes, sink size, etc. into consideration.

Your budget is another determining factor which would streamline your options to faucets that you can afford. However, you should not go for cheap options, in a bid to save money. That would be shooting yourself in the leg, in a situation when it gets faulty in no time.