The 5 Best Touchless Kitchen Faucets of 2024, According to Testing (2024)

Adding a touchless kitchen faucet to your sink might seem like a luxury, but once you’re privy to its convenient perks, you’ll wonder how you lived so long without one. Hands covered in dirt from cleaning or gardening? Enveloped in flour from baking up a fresh batch of bread? Simply put your hands under the faucet and clean them with ease.

“There are several benefits to having a touchless kitchen faucet, but the most important is hygiene,” says Tyler Del Vento, the founder and principal designer of TDV Design. “You’ll no longer be spreading bacteria, and greasy fingerprints, from handling raw meat as you turn your faucet on.”

The Bottom Line

Our top recommendation for the best touchless kitchen faucet is the Moen 87233EWC Adler Single-Handle High Arc Pulldown Kitchen Faucet. The option has a sleek and minimal design, strong water pressure, and technology to detect incoming hands and immediately turn the water on. Its sprayer is effortless to pull out and put back in, and it’s reasonably priced, with a good limited lifetime warranty.

Our Testing Process

To come up with our list, we tested 14 of the most popular and best-selling faucets on the market in our homes over the period of a few weeks. We followed the manufacturer’s instructions when installing the faucets, noting how difficult or easy it was to do so. In some instances, we had to hire a professional for installation.

To evaluate each touchless kitchen faucet’s performance, we conducted several tests, including washing kitchenware, the sink basin, and produce, filling a large pot with water and noting how much clearance the kitchen sink provided, and testing how far we could move the spraying head. We also checked the ease of switching between the streaming water and sprayer and back, and of rotating the faucet, noting whether it ever squeaked or got stuck.

We noted factors such as how easy it was to turn on and activate the faucet and change the water temperature noting all temperature ranges from hot to cold, the sensitivity of the temperature changes, and all water intensity levels. Finally, we checked whether the faucet ever dripped when fully turned off, whether it leaked, how much water buildup we noticed on the spout, if the faucet’s finish was fingerprint resistant, if it got scratched with regular use, and its general durability.

What To Know About Touchless Kitchen Faucets Before Shopping

Finish

Many touchless kitchen faucets are offered in several finishes, so you can choose which suits your kitchen best. “Chrome, nickel, a gradient scale of brass shades, polished, brushed, black, white, glossy, matte… there is no shortage of fabulous options that will enhance your current kitchen design or be the style star of your renovation,” Del Vento says.

If a faucet also has a handle, you may want to consider that some finishes, like stainless steel, show fingerprints more than other options. Those who have small children at home, or entertain often, may find themselves having to clean certain picks more than others.

Flow Rate

A kitchen faucet’s flow rate is measured in gallons per minute (GPM) and is typically around 1.5 to 2.2 GPM. The water pressure in your house will be dependent on what the water supply is like in your area. If it’s low, a good faucet can help increase this somewhat.

“The federal government sets [faucet flow rate] regulations to conserve water and protect the environment,” Del Vento says. “The law states that kitchen and bath faucets have a maximum flow rate of 2.2 GPM. Most faucets are made with an aerator that restricts the flow of water and makes the pressure more like 1.8 GPM.”

Spout Height

The spouts of touchless kitchen faucets, just like regular faucets, are varied but typically range between 8 and 15 inches. “When considering spout height, it’s important to think about your cabinetry placement for clearance and if you prefer a flexible, retractable hose which should have a solid locking mechanism so it stays docked,” Del Vento advises.

Power Supply

Touchless kitchen faucets are typically either powered by electricity from a nearby GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) outlet or a battery. When choosing a touchless kitchen faucet, it’s imperative to know the specifications and installation requirements.

“Some models use an AC adaptor that plugs into a standard GFCI outlet, but if you don’t currently have an outlet near the faucet location, you’ll either need to work with an electrician to install one, or purchase a battery-operated model,” Del Vento says.

The downside of this option is that during a power outage, the touchless capability will not work, but you can still use the manual option. “Plan ahead on what power source will work best for your lifestyle and if any electrical work, such as a new GFCI outlet, needs to be installed prior to the plumber installing your new touchless faucet,” Del Vento adds.

Assembly

When it comes to assembling and installing a touchless kitchen faucet, most of the same rules apply as with regular kitchen faucets. The main difference is that the power source needs to be catered to, as well as syncing any smart faucets with the relevant apps. If your touchless faucet is battery-operated, you might need to sort out a special rack under the sink to house the battery pack, or you can get this mounted to save space.

“Assembly and installation are slightly more complicated than manual faucets, but as more people are moving towards touchless faucets, any seasoned plumber with install directions will be able to get the job done,” Del Vento says.

Kitchen faucets can require any number of mounting holes, usually between one and four. If you’re replacing an older faucet, consider purchasing a touchless faucet that requires the same amount of holes as your old one or less. Any old holes can easily be covered with an escutcheon plate (or cover plate) in the same finish as the faucet for a more streamlined look.

Warranty and Certifications

The best touchless kitchen faucets are backed by the manufacturer’s warranty—with many offering limited lifetime warranties—but these vary depending on the company and model.

“Customary certifications include, but are not limited to, WaterSense, NSF/ANSI, ADA, and UPC,” Del Vento says. These certificates ensure the faucets are leak-proof, do not exceed flow rate limit regulations, can withstand stress over time, and do not leach harmful contaminants into your home’s drinking water.

Your Questions, Answered

What are the benefits of having a touchless kitchen faucet?

In addition to increased hygiene and the fact that you won’t have to spread bacteria and greasy fingerprints around, a touchless kitchen faucet also makes for a more enjoyable time in the kitchen, notes Del Vento.

“Your kitchen tasks will be more pleasant due to the convenience and customizations,” she says. These include being able to set the water to your desired temperature, having flow styles, i.e., rain, and setting your ideal soft or high water pressure.

Some models can be connected to smart devices, allowing the homeowner to turn it on or off via voice command, and ask for a specific measurement such as two cups of water or a change in temperature. Other models are even equipped with LED lights for a more ambient experience and convenience to see in low lighting settings.

How long do touchless kitchen faucets last?

The lifespan of a touchless kitchen faucet depends on several factors, such as the quality of the faucet, usage, maintenance, and water quality. “Touchless faucets have more mechanical parts, so there is a likelihood for more problems, such as the performance of the sensors diminishing over time as they become affected by mineral buildup or processors malfunctioning,” Del Vento says.

While having to change your faucet’s battery is adding yet another thing to the never-ending to-do list, thankfully these are quite easy to change. “Depending on the frequency of use and the type of faucet, a battery can last anywhere from three months to two years," Del Vento adds.

Do touchless kitchen faucets work when the power is out?

Touchless kitchen faucets using an AC adaptor that plugs into a standard GFCI outlet will only allow you to function the faucet manually during a power outage, but battery-powered models will work during a power outage.

How much do touchless kitchen faucets cost?

The cost of touchless kitchen faucets typically ranges between $100 to $1,000, and Del Vento says that some of the high-end options retail for $1,200 or more. “The overall cost depends on several factors, such as brand, style, and finish,” she notes.

Taking into account both parts and installation, a touchless kitchen faucet could set you back, according to Del Vento, approximately $500+ more than what you would pay to purchase and install a regular manual kitchen faucet.

“While the initial cost for both material and labor is more expensive than their manual counterparts, touchless faucets can save the homeowner money over time by conserving water,” Del Vento notes.

What’s the difference between touch and touchless kitchen faucets?

Del Vento cautions against getting ‘touch’ and ‘touchless’ faucets mixed up. “As the name implies, touchless faucets don’t require physical contact,” she says. “There’s a sensor that is activated by motion or sound, and processors that translate and process the information to activate the faucet.”

Touch faucets, on the other hand, require you to tap the faucet one or two times to turn it on and off. Both options, however, offer standard manual operation, which can be helpful if the connection is delayed from your voice command device to the faucet, or if you have guests who prefer a traditional method.

Who We Are

This article was written by Kat de Naoum, who has over ten years of commerce writing experience. Kat is also the commerce editor-at-large at Thomas-Xometry, the leading U.S. online platform for supplier discovery and product sourcing. For this article, we reviewed and tested multiple touchless kitchen faucets, evaluating factors such as each item's finish, flow rate, spout height, power supply, ease of assembly, warranty and certifications, cost, and overall value for money. Kat also spoke to Tyler Del Vento, the Founder and Principal Designer of TDV Design.

What Is BHG Recommends?

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.