Are you looking to add some wow factor as well as functionality to your kitchen? Or are you tired of having a short reach with a standard faucet?
Pull-down kitchen faucets are real crowd-pleasers due to their modern look and functionality. They can increase your reach by up to 20 inches, sometimes more, depending on the model.
But there are a few important things to look for when you’re shopping — we’re going to share some pointers. We’ve also done in-depth reviews of the five best pull-down kitchen faucets currently on the market.
What Is a Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet?
Pull-down faucets work as the name suggests. They consist of a high arch spout with a nozzle or sprayer head, that you can pull-down.
They have been around for decades, but in the past they were normally only seen in professional kitchens. In recent years they’ve been making a transition from the commercial kitchen into our homes.
Today, they’re considered some of the best kitchen faucets on the market. They look beautiful and are functional as well.
Perhaps you noticed by your first Google search — there’s a huge selection of pull-down faucets in different shapes, finishes, and features. Fortunately, you can’t go too wrong with a pull-down.
They include some of the best spray heads on the market as well as magnetic docking and different settings. Most also include a 360-degree swivel, allowing you to turn the spout as needed.
Pull-Down vs Pull-Out
On your quest for the best pull-down, you probably came across another type called pull-out. It’s all too easy to confuse them with their close cousin — they look very similar.
However, they have different pros and cons and work in different ways. It’s disappointing to buy a pull-down only to find that it actually was a pull-out, and now you’re missing some amazing features.
Pull-out faucets aren’t as popular. Although they’re still great, they’re not as functional as pull-downs. Some users suggest that pull-outs are more awkward to use, however, they’re meant for use in smaller spaces.
The chief difference between the two types is the motion that you use when extending the sprayer. With a pull-out, you’ll pull towards you to extend it, where a pull-down requires a downwards motion.
The best way to spot the difference is the shape of the spout. Pull-downs have a high arch whereas pull-outs have a straight spout without a significant arch.
For smaller kitchens
Pros and Cons of Pull-Down Faucets
As much as we love pull-down kitchen faucets, they aren’t perfect. They do have their pros and cons to remember before spending any money.
Pros
- Ergonomically designed: Everything about the pull-down motion is smooth and easy. It’s natural and requires only a fluid motion which means less maneuvering of hoses and sprayers.
- Provides height clearance for the sink: Because pull-downs are designed with a high arch, it provides more space in the sink. Even for shallow sinks, there’s still room under the spout.
- Ideal for tall pots: Again, an advantage of the high arch. It allows you to place taller pots in the sink without having to maneuver around a low spout.
- Ideal for high-demand use: Most pull-downs are durable and made for hard work. They come with added features that prevent leaks and extend the service life.
- Excellent for deep sinks: Pull-down faucets were made for use in deep sinks.
- Plenty of features available: This, of course, depends on the manufacturer. But most pull-downs include features such as magnetic locks, motion detection or touch control.
Cons
- Require a higher water pressure: Pull-down faucets aren’t recommended for use in kitchens with a low inlet water pressure.
- Cheaper models aren’t as sturdy: Unfortunately, you can’t be cheap with a pull-down faucet. One feature, in particular, is the magnetic dock which is usually only included in pricier models.
- Shorter hose: One common issue is that the sprayer hoses aren’t as long as with other types. Pull-down sprayer hoses generally reach 20 inches.
Choosing the Best Pull-Down Faucets
Even though a kitchen faucet, no matter the type, is a simple fixture, there are some things to consider before buying. This is especially true when it comes to pull-down faucets. Here are a few things to look into:
1. Cabinet Space
Pull-down faucets require some free space within the cabinet below the sink. They have a long hose that should ideally hang freely when retracted and not in use. Trust me — you don’t want an errant hose continually knocking things over down below.
Here’s what to look for:
- Vertical room: Ensure there’s room under the sink in the base cabinet for the hose.
- No obstructions: Clear out everything that could potentially hinder the hose from hanging freely. If it has to bend excessively, it could tangle and become impossible to use.
2. Spout Height
Pull-down kitchen faucets aren’t exactly the smallest on the market. They have an elegant high arch and long necks that make them considerably taller than other types.
Their high arch requires some space around the sink (1). If you have a free-standing sink with plenty of overhead space, feel free to skip this point.
If not, it’s essential that you measure how much room you have between the wall-mounted cabinet and the sink. Make sure you measure and compare that to the size of the neck on the faucet.
3. Retraction System
If the pull-down faucet doesn’t have a retraction system or another locking device for the sprayer head, don’t bother buying it. A drooping sprayer isn’t very handy, not to mention it’s an eyesore.
Of course, this system isn’t necessary from a functional point of view. You can still use the faucet. The water will continue to run when you open the tap and you can still pull the hose down.
However, it won’t dock, which means that it will forever sit loosely. Pricier models or manufacturers such as Moen and Delta Faucet always include a docking device. But, if you’re looking at smaller brands or inexpensive alternatives, make sure there’s a locking device included.
4. Sprayer Modes
Another great advantage of a pull-down faucet is the different sprayer modes. They usually let you choose between two settings — an aerated stream or a powerful sprayer — so you get the perfect pressure for each task (2).
Big brands such as Moen and Delta Faucet have created their own sprayer technologies. From Moen, we have the Power Clean where Delta Faucet offers a ShieldSpray which prevents splashing.
Don’t just settle with a pull-down — look for sprayer settings. There are plenty of options that will pay off in the kitchen.
The Best Pull Down Kitchen Faucet Reviews of 2020
Hold on to your wrenches and hoses, ‘cause you’re in for a ride! We did a deep search and went through the top 15 pull-down kitchen faucets. Then we looked at user reviews and expert recommendations and narrowed it all down to our top five.
1. WEWE Single Handle High Arc Pull-Down
WeWe’s pull-down faucet is top-notch. The design is sleek and elegant, and will bring some freshness into any kitchen. It’s made from a mix of brass, stainless steel, and zinc alloy — brass being the main material. On the outside, its coated with smooth brushed nickel.
It’s fitted with a multifunctional outlet water dispenser, allowing you to choose between two sprayer modes and a pause button. The control is very easy to use. It sits on the nozzle and all you do is flick the switch and it will change sprayer mode.
The sprayer hose is attached to a mechanical retraction system that draws it in smoothly and secures it in place.
Why We Love It
Beautiful Design
The faucet is stylish in design. It’s coated with brushed nickel that’s both durable and easy to clean, so keeping it fresh is a breeze. A simple wipe will keep fingerprints and smudges at bay while the finish means it stays resistant toward corrosion and rust.
Durable Construction
The faucet is made from several trustworthy materials. The main material is brass — an old favorite for kitchen faucets as it keeps corrosion at bay. The other materials are stainless steel on the spout and zinc alloy on the handle.
The valves are ceramic and the aerator sitting inside the nozzle is ABS plastic. ABS plastic is an excellent aerator material as it’s easy to keep clean because minerals don’t get stuck as easily.
Multifunctional Sprayer
If you’re looking for something that’s multifunctional, then this is it. The sprayer lets you choose between three modes — a soft stream, powerful spray, or a pause.
A small switch and a button located on the nozzle make for easy operation. The switch changes between the spray modes whereas the button will pause the stream to prevent excessive water waste.
They sit very conveniently, right at the front, so you won’t have to guess which one you’re pressing.
Mechanical Retraction System
This is a key point for a pull-down faucet, and fortunately, this WeWe has got it. The retraction system will pull the hose back once it feels your grip loosen. The hose is then retracted effortlessly in one smooth motion.
Keep In Mind
Factory Connections Require Retightening
Some helpful users mentioned that the factory connections are too loose and require tightening, so check this before installing the faucet. It becomes nearly impossible to do it fully once everything’s connected.
Then, after you’ve installed the faucet, just gently tighten them again. If you fail to do this, it will likely result in leaking.
Additional Specs
| Finish | Brushed Nickel |
| Material | Brass, stainless steel, ABS plastic |
| Flow rate | N/A |
| Warranty | Five-year warranty |
| Arch height | 15.7 inches |
2. Kraus KPF-1610SS Bolden Pull-Down Faucet
If you’re looking for something that can give your kitchen a commercial feel, look no further. This pull-down faucet from Kraus is the perfect addition to the modern kitchen.
Kraus took their commercial faucet and optimized it for use in residential kitchens. It has a high arch of 18 inches at its tallest, but still compact enough to fit under most cabinets.
The hose can extend 20 inches, and with a flick of a switch, you can choose between two sprayer modes. It’s also fitted with a retraction system that smoothly returns the hose under the sink.
But what we love the most about this faucet are the eco-friendly materials used. It’s definitely built to last with its heavy-duty, lead-free brass construction, plus a ceramic cartridge to prevent leaking.
What’s more, the faucet comes with ready-to-use, already attached, 22-inch water lines. So all that’s left for you to do is mount it to the sink and connect the water lines to your plumbing.
Why We Love It
Commercialized Look
The commercialized look is an old favorite in the kitchen. It’s clean and functional without too many distractions. And this faucet fits right in.
Kraus specifically redesigned their commercial faucet to fit the average kitchen. Its high arch has been improved and shortened a bit. Now it’s 18 inches at the top, which should fit under most kitchen cabinets.
What’s more, the spout sports a beautiful industrial-inspired open coil design. Did someone request a bit of wow factor?
Dual-Functioning Sprayer
We can’t forget about the pull-down sprayer. The hose is 20 inches long and very flexible, allowing for easy smooth movements around the sink. It comes with a retraction system that keeps the hose in place when not extended.
The sprayer has two modes — a soft stream or a powerful rinse — for different tasks. The switch is located at the front and is very easy to use.
Heavy-Duty Construction
One of the reasons why we love Kraus is their focus on construction. They’re known for their minimalistic, modern designs using high-end, durable materials. They’re less known, however, for including fancy technology as it seems they simply choose to focus on production quality.
And that’s completely fine with us, seeing that their product’s construction makes up for lack of tech. This faucet is no exception to their production standards. It’s made from eco-friendly brass with a spot free stainless steel finish.
Comes Ready to Use
Upon arrival, the faucet is completely ready to use. The water lines are already attached as well as the mounting hardware. All you do is place it on your sink and connect to your plumbing.
Keep In Mind
The Holding Arm Can’t Move
Between the spout and the neck sits a holding arm — it’s there to keep the faucet stable. However, some mentioned that it can’t rotate to the side and is kind of in the way when you’re using the sprayer.
Additional Specs
| Finish | Spot free stainless steel |
| Material | Brass |
| Flow rate | 1.8 gallons per minute |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime warranty |
| Arch height | 18 inches |
3. Moen 7594ESRS Arbor Motionsense Pull-Down Faucet
For our choice in this category, we chose the Arbor faucet from Moen. This fixture comes with a few handy features.
Let’s start with its main attraction, the motion detection technology. This high-tech feature allows for a hands-free experience. The faucet actually has two sensors — one at the top of the spout and the other below it.
The faucet looks amazing as well. It has that classic Moen design with its flared handle and curved spout, but with a modern touch. It’s coated with spot free stainless steel — making it fingerprint and watermark repellent.
Lastly, it comes with a retraction system and dock lock. The sprayer won’t drop down over time and it will continue to look nice and neat.
Why We Love It
Motion Detection Technology
The faucet is fitted with Moen’s MotionSense technology that activates the flow when it senses movement. Moen included two sensors in this faucet — one below the spout, which activates the water when you hold an object near it. The second sits on the top where you can hover your hand close to open the tap.
What’s so convenient about these two sensors is that you can use anything to activate them. For example, if you need to wash a carrot, simply hover that close under the spout and the water will start.
If you don’t want to use the motion detection, there’s also a handle, which has that signature Moen flair. With this, you can adjust the stream and temperature manually.
Extra Long Hose
The spray hose has an impressive length of 68 inches. This length allows for almost unlimited maneuverability for your daily tasks.
To pull the long hose in after you’ve finished using it, Moen included their Reflex System. It will automatically return the hose to its docking position without much hassle. Here it will stay secured until the next use.
Straightforward Installation
Didn’t we mention that this faucet is full of handy features? This also includes Moen’s unique Duralock Quick-Connect Installation System. One of the things that makes Moen so popular with DIY homeowners is how easy their faucets are to install.
The Duralock makes the installation a simple snap-in process that can get done in minutes. Moen claims that you won’t need any tools.
ADA Compliant
Another amazing fact about Moen is that their products meet with the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Keep In Mind
The Filters Get Clogged Easily
A few reviewers said that the filters get clogged easily. They require frequent cleaning which can be tedious. When they get clogged, the flow rate becomes very inconsistent.
Faucet Requires a Power Source
For the faucet to work, it requires either an adapter or batteries. Even the manual handle requires a power source to work. So if the batteries run out or you have a power cut, the faucet simply won’t work.
Additional Specs
| Finish | Spot free stainless steel |
| Material | Metal |
| Flow rate | 1.5 gallons per minute |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime warranty |
| Arch height | 15.5 inches |
4. Moen 7185C Brantford One-Handle Pull-Down
A touch of bronze can give nearly any kitchen a bit of a rustic feel. Add in Moen’s high-tech faucets and you’ve got a winner.
This Brantford Moen pull-down faucet is a beautiful addition. It’s coated with an oil-rubbed bronze finish which gives a dark, rich brown color.
The beautiful color aside, this faucet also includes a load of features. It’s fitted with Moen’s MotionSense technology which consists of a single sensor located in the spout. It gives you the option to activate the water without ever touching the faucet.
It’s also equipped with a reflex system that makes the faucet smooth and easy to retract. When not pulled out, the faucet stays securely seated in its place, preventing any accidental sprays.
The sprayer is great in many ways. It features the standard dual modes — stream and strong spray. But, this one is also fitted with Moen’s Power Clean spray technology which adds 50 percent more power to the spray.
Why We Love It
Best Oil-Rubbed Bronze
An oil-rubbed bronze finish isn’t a particularly new thing among kitchen faucets. This one from Moen, however, is one of our favorites, because of its distinctly rich, dark color and smooth texture.
MotionSense Technology
Moen’s MotionSense technology is one of the greatest. Although this model only has one sensor included, as opposed to the one above, it’s still useful. The sensor sits on the spout and all it takes is some movement nearby and the water will activate.
Moen’s Power Clean
It’s super convenient to wash away the stubborn residue on a plate with just a flick of a switch — especially for any overworked dish-scrubber like myself! Moen’s Power Clean technology allegedly adds 50 percent more power to the spray mode than their other pull-downs.
Retraction System
Moen is known for their extended hoses, and the Brantford pull-down is no exception. This hose is a staggering 68 inches long, giving you a wide range. But, what’s all that hose good for if you don’t have a retraction system to keep it in place?
Fortunately, Moen thought of that too and included their Reflex System. It will retract the hose once you’re finished and keep it in place, preventing any drooping.
Flexible Installation
This faucet is also equipped with Moen’s Duralock system. All you need to do is snap the lines together and you’re good to go. Additionally, the faucet is designed to fit one or three-hole sinks — and a deck plate is included.
Keep In Mind
Doesn’t Work Well with Hard Water
This, unfortunately, seems to be a common problem for Moen. Their faucets don’t do well with hard water. The mineral deposits get stuck in the filters where they eventually cause leaks.
Fortunately, Moen seems to be happy to send a replacement.
Additional Specs
| Finish | Oil-rubbed bronze |
| Material | Metal |
| Flow rate | 1.5 gallons per minute |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime warranty |
| Arch height | 15.5 inches |
5. Delta Faucet Trinsic Single-Handle Pull-Down
Ok, so this is a bit of a wild card, but hear us out. What if you could control your faucet using Alexa and your voice? Crazy? We thought so too — until we saw the positive reviews.
This faucet from Delta links to two technologies — Delta’s Touch2O and Alexa. Using vocal demands, Alexa can get your faucet to fill up a pot halfway or fully without you touching anything!
Aside from voice control, the faucet features Delta’s signature TempSense and TouchClean. The TempSense will indicate the temperature using different colored LED lights.
For the tech-geek in the kitchen, this faucet really has it all!
Why We Love It
Integrated Alexa Voice Control
This is probably the coolest feature we’ve seen in a while. A voice-activated faucet — who knew, right?
You can use simple commands such as asking Alexa to turn the faucet on. Or you can be more specific and ask for it to pour one cup or warm the water. It’s pretty amazing.
But if you want some quiet, the faucet also features touch control.
TempSense LED Lights
TempSense LED lights is another unique feature. Down toward the base of the spout are LED lights which light up in colors ranging from blue to red — indicating the temperature. The lights will even tell you once its batteries are low and need to be replaced.
Easy to Clean
Thanks to Delta’s TouchClean feature, the nozzle is super easy to keep clean. It’s made from soft rubber that’s resistant to mineral buildup. And it’s good to go with a gentle wipe.
Keep In Mind
Requires AC Power Outlet
With this faucet, an AC power outlet is a must. If you don’t have one near your sink, it won’t work, unfortunately.
Additional Specs
| Finish | Chrome |
| Material | Zinc |
| Flow rate | 1.8 gallons per minute |
| Warranty | Limited one-year warranty |
| Arch height | 15.7 inches |
Detailed Comparison
| Product | Award | Finish | Material | Flow rate | Warranty | Arch height |
| WEWE Single Handle | Overall Value | Brushed Nickel | Brass, stainless steel, ABS plastic | N/A | 5-years | 15.7″ |
| Kraus Bolden | Commercial Style | Spot free stainless steel | Brass | 1.8 gal/min | Limited lifetime | 18″ |
| Moen Arbor | High-Tech | Spot free stainless steel | Metal | 1.5 gal/min | Limited lifetime | 15.5″ |
| Moen Brantford | Oil-Rubbed Bronze | Oil-rubbed bronze | Metal | 1.5 gal/min | Limited lifetime | 15.5″ |
| Delta Faucet | Voice Activated | Chrome | Zinc | 1.8 gal/min | Limited 1-year | 15.7″ |
That’s That!
Pull-down kitchen faucets have become very popular, and for good reason. They’re functional and good-looking — a perfect fit for any kitchen. However, they do require some overhead and under the sink space.
Which was your favorite from our selection of pull-down kitchen faucet reviews? Let us know below, or share any comments or advice.
