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Touchless kitchen faucets allow users to wash their hands without leaving germs, flour, or grease on the faucet handles. We tested today’s popular models by installing them on our kitchen sinks, and we found a favorite. The Moen Arbor MotionSense Wave One-Handle Kitchen Faucet took our top spot thanks to its build quality, high performance, and straightforward installation.
These smart kitchen gadgets offer convenience while keeping faucet handles germ—and grime-free. If you’re on the hunt for one, check out our picks below. All excelled in our hands-on testing and have our stamp of approval as some of the best touchless kitchen faucets across a range of brands.
- BEST OVERALL: Moen Arbor Motionsense Wave One-Handle Kitchen Faucet
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Glacier Bay Touchless LED Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet
↓ Jump to Review - UPGRADE PICK: Kohler Simplice Pull-Down Kitchen Sink Faucet
↓ Jump to Review - BEST INSTALLATION: Moen Brantford MotionSense Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet
↓ Jump to Review - BEST VOICE-ACTIVATED: Delta Trinsic VoiceIQ Pulldown Touch2O Kitchen Faucet
↓ Jump to Review - BEST PULL-OUT SPRAY: Bio Bidet Flow Motion-Activated Kitchen Faucet
↓ Jump to Review - BEST MODERN: Vigo Edison Kitchen Faucet With Touchless Sensor
↓ Jump to Review - BEST WITH SOAP DISPENSER: American Standard Fairbury 2S Touchless Kitchen Faucet
↓ Jump to Review - STRONGEST FLOW: Kohler Crue Touchless Kitchen Faucet
↓ Jump to Review
| Testing Stats | |
| Products tested | 9 |
| Time spent testing | 1 week for each faucet |
| Tests performed | 5 to 6 |
| Price range | $170 to $724 |
Our Top Picks
We tested top-rated touchless kitchen faucet brands to select the ones that meet the needs of shoppers’ budgets, design preferences, and finish options. We’ve also selected the best overall for performance and convenience.
Best Overall
Moen Arbor Motionsense Wave One-Handle Kitchen Faucet
Our Ratings: Installation 5/5; Functionality 5/5; Motion Detection 5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Finish: Spot-resist stainless, oil-rubbed bronze, matte black, or chrome
- Flow rate: 1.5 gallons per minute (GPM)
- Power supply: 6 AA batteries or alternating current (AC) power adapter (sold separately)
What We Like
- Simple installation, even for beginner DIYers
- Available in 4 popular finishes
- Handy pause button on the sprayer
- Hands-free operation
What We Don’t Like
- Batteries required (AC adapter sold separately)
Moen is known for its beautiful, high-caliber kitchen fixtures, and this sensor faucet is no exception–installing it took just one hour. The model we tested came with a spot-resist stainless finish, and despite our best attempts to smudge it up with grubby fingers, we never needed to wipe it down at all. Impressive!
This faucet features a single sensor on the left of its base that’s activated by any movement detected near it. With a simple hand wave, the faucet turns on or off. The sensor is battery-operated, and six AA batteries are included. It can also be powered with an adapter, sold separately.
The sprayer has two simple settings that work well, but we were a little bummed that there was no booster button for the occasional extra power. That said, there is a pause button, which could come in handy every now and then.
We spent two weeks testing this faucet and found that it’s best not to store any items (like soap, sponges, etc.) on the left side of the faucet to avoid accidentally triggering the motion sensor. A slight annoyance but with a simple solution that makes this our favorite touchless faucet in our lineup.
Get the Moen Arbor touchless kitchen faucet at Amazon, Lowe’s, or Wayfair.
Best Bang for the Buck
Glacier Bay Touchless LED Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet
Our Ratings: Installation 5/5; Functionality 5/5; Motion Detection 4/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Finish: Polished chrome, stainless steel, bronze
- Flow rate: 1.8 GPM
- Power supply: Battery
What We Like
- Battery-powered; no electrical outlet
- Relatively simple installation
- Modern finish fits with most kitchen styles
- LED light turns on and off with the faucet
What We Don’t Like
- Faucet finish is not smudge-free
Buying a touchless faucet doesn’t have to break the bank. The Glacier Bay battery-powered model was one of our favorite sensor kitchen faucets for its sleek looks, powerful spray stream, and attractive price point. It comes in three finishes and looks sleek in modern and traditionally styled kitchens.
We didn’t think we’d need a light on a faucet, but the LED light really illuminates the sink when filling a glass or pot and makes us less likely to use the other kitchen lights at night. Installation was a breeze, even for average DIYers like us. We appreciate the quick-connect functionality that made hooking up the under-sink parts straightforward and simple. Unlike other models we tested, the Glacier Bay faucet comes with a couple of extra perks–a built-in soap dispenser, deck plate, and batteries, making this under-$200 faucet an excellent value for a budget-minded homeowner.
Get the Glacier Bay touchless kitchen faucet at The Home Depot or Amazon.
Upgrade Pick
Kohler Simplice Pull-Down Kitchen Sink Faucet
Our Ratings: Installation 5/5; Functionality 5/5; Motion Detection 5/5; Value 4/5
Product Specs
- Finish: Polished chrome, stainless, brushed “moderne” brass, or matte black
- Flow rate: 1.5 GPM
- Power supply: Electrical outlet
What We Like
- Advanced water-saving capabilities
- Three spray settings
- Several finish options
What We Don’t Like
- Water-saving feature reduces water pressure
This Kohler Simplice is a well-constructed luxury faucet with a classic design and many features. Unlike several touchless faucets, the motion sensor is positioned under the spout to provide a more strategic way to turn the faucet on and off without accidentally activating it and soaking your arm when placing dishes into the sink.
With an ergonomic gooseneck design, the Simplice features a pull-down spray head with three functions: stream, boost, and sweep spray. For stuck-on dirt, boost technology increases the flow rate by 30 percent with the press of a button. We loved the boost button and often used it for tougher cleaning jobs. The handle rotates 90 degrees forward to prevent contact with a backsplash.
Installation was straightforward and required an electrical outlet. The faucet has an LED light indicator to let users know when it is operational, and it comes with temperature memory that automatically selects the user’s desired water temperature. With a flow rate of 1.5 GPM, this faucet is efficient, and at approximately $500, we feel it’s a good investment when upgrading a kitchen.
Get the Kohler touchless kitchen faucet at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Wayfair, or Kohler.
Best Installation
Moen Brantford MotionSense Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet
Our Ratings: Installation 5/5; Functionality 4.8/5; Motion detection 4.8/5; Value 4.8/5
Product Specs
- Finish: Spot-resist stainless, oil-rubbed bronze, or chrome
- Flow rate: 1.5 GPM
- Power supply: 6 AA batteries or AC adapter (sold separately)
What We Like
- Simple DIY installation—no plumber needed
- Power-stream feature for cleaning stuck-on foods
- High spout for good maneuverability
What We Don’t Like
- Wiping down the sink can trigger motion sensor
This hands-free kitchen faucet couldn’t be more straightforward to install. It features the Duralock push-type installation system and comes with clear instructions. The hardest part of the installation process for us was removing the old (rusted) faucet, but once it was off, it was smooth sailing.
The touchless sensor is powered by six AA batteries or an optional AC adapter (sold separately) with a power splitter. We went with the batteries.
The Brantford is a low-flow kitchen faucet rated to deliver just 1.5 GPM with an aerated stream for everyday cleaning. You’d never know it’s a low-flow faucet by its spray stream, powerful enough to clean even stuck-on foods.
We found only one requirement for using this faucet: If we turned it on by waving a hand in front of the motion sensor, we had to turn it off the same way. If we turned it off via the handle, we had to turn it off with the handle.
Like most touchless faucets, the Brantford can’t tell the difference between an intentional wave or the movement of a hand wiping down the sink–so we experienced an occasional soaked arm. Still, its touchless technology was appreciated when our hands were dirty and we didn’t want to transfer grime or germs to the faucet handle.
Get the Moen Brantford touchless kitchen faucet at Amazon, The Home Depot, Wayfair, and Walmart.
Best Voice Activated
Delta Trinsic VoiceIQ Pull-Down Touch2O Kitchen Faucet
Our Ratings: Installation 4/5; Functionality 5/5; Motion Detection 4/5; Value 4/5
Product Specs
- Finish: Arctic stainless, matte black, black stainless, champagne bronze, or chrome
- Flow rate: 1.8 GPM
- Power supply: 6 AA batteries or AC adapter (AC required for voice feature)
What We Like
- Quality and elegant design
- Reactive LED color for water temperature
- Spray head magnet snaps back into place
What We Don’t Like
- Deck plate for 3-hole installation sold separately
- Voice setup can be pretty lengthy
- Steep price tag
If your home already has voice-control technology, the Delta Trinsic will fit right in. Featuring Delta’s proprietary innovation, the Trinsic uses Delta VoiceIQ Technology to sync the faucet with existing devices enabled by Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant. When synced, the faucet can be controlled via voice prompts.
It took us around 1 hour and 30 minutes to install this faucet. The instructions were clear and easy to follow. We hooked the faucet up to Amazon Alexa to test the voice features, but that process took a little longer than we would have liked (around 45 minutes). We suspect the problem may have been related to our Alexa system.
The default voice commands (at least for Alexa) felt a little cumbersome actually to speak out loud. A long command had to be spoken verbatim without deviation for the faucet to respond. We suggest buyers invest a little extra setup time with an IFTTT program to create a custom voice command to simplify the experience. “Alexa, pour me 5 cups of water” rolls off the tongue much more naturally than “Alexa, tell Delta to dispense 5 cups of water from the kitchen faucet,” which becomes a pretty tiring mouthful after a while.
We couldn’t fault Delta Trinsic VoiceIQ outside of this minor complaint. It operates with a simple touch anywhere on the spout or handle using a wrist or forearm. We loved that we could check the water temperature from across the room with the TempSense LED indicator light that changes color to reflect water temperature. Six AA batteries power it for the essential touch functions, while the AC wall adapter is necessary for the voice technology. The biggest downside for the Trinsic is the price, which is quite expensive. However, it may be a worthwhile investment for a smart-tech home.
Get the Delta touchless kitchen faucet at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Build With Ferguson.
Best Pull-out Spray
Bio Bidet Flow Motion-Activated Kitchen Faucet
Our Ratings: Installation 5/5; Functionality 5/5; Motion Detection 4.5/5; Value 4.5/5
Product Specs
- Finish: Brushed nickel, champagne, chrome, matte black, oil-rubbed bronze
- Flow rate: 1.8 GPM
- Power supply: 4 AA batteries
What We Like
- No electrical outlet required
- Smart latch turns faucet on and off by pulling sprayer head
- Pause button lets you temporarily stop the spray
What We Don’t Like
- Requires replacement batteries periodically
Installing the Bio Bidet automatic faucet was straightforward. It comes with comprehensive instructions and a website full of helpful videos. Its standout feature? The pull-down sprayer.
It uses a motion sensor to turn on the faucet with a hand wave and also features smart latch technology. This means that the faucet will automatically turn on when you pull down on the faucet head and will turn back off when it returns to its housing. We loved this feature and didn’t realize how practical and second nature it would be. The faucet head has a pause button to stop the flow quickly when moving the head around areas you’d prefer not to spray with water.
The Bio Bidet has metallic waterways, ceramic valves, and a 180-degree swivel spout, as well as all the parts needed for either a single—or three-hole installation. It’s available in five finishes: brushed nickel, chrome, oil-rubbed bronze, matte black, and champagne. We tested the stainless steel version and have nothing negative to say about it. It blended with our existing kitchen finishes and was easily cleaned with a quick wipe.
Get the Bio Bidet touchless kitchen faucet at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Bio Bidet.
Best Modern
Vigo Edison Kitchen Faucet With Touchless Sensor
Our Ratings: Installation 3/5; Functionality 4.8/5; Motion Detection 4/5; Value 4/5
Product Specs
- Finish: Chrome, stainless steel, matte brushed gold, matte black
- Flow rate: 1.8 GPM
- Power supply: Battery
What We Like
- 360-degree faucet swivel
- Battery-powered operation
- Multiple finishes available
What We Don’t Like
- Fittings are not quick-connect
- Pull-out hose doesn’t swivel
This motion-sensor faucet is a beauty. The coils give it the look of a professional-grade kitchen faucet, but the price and features are designed for home use. When testing, our favorite feature was the 360-degree base swivel—it really helped us to reach those awkward nooks of the sink and water our plants on the kitchen shelf. The pull-down hose smoothly released from the faucet neck without leaking, and the water flow in both spray and standard mode was more substantial than we expected.
The key feature, the touchless sensor, worked perfectly to turn the faucet on and off with the wave of a hand. We found the installation a little tricky because we have an under-sink water filter. It takes some plumbing knowledge to hook up the faucet from below, as there aren’t quick-connect supply lines (wrenches will do the job). The pull-out hose doesn’t swivel, so we had to adjust from below the sink. We wish batteries and a deck plate were included like they were on some other models we tested, but it wasn’t a deal-breaker. Overall, it’s a great touchless faucet that comes in several stylish finishes.
Get the Vigo touchless kitchen faucet at Amazon, The Home Depot, Wayfair, or Walmart.
Best With Soap Dispenser
American Standard Fairbury 2S Touchless Kitchen Faucet
Our Ratings: Installation 5/5; Functionality 5/5; Motion Detection 5/5; Value 4.7/5
Product Specs
- Finish: Polished chrome, stainless steel, matte black
- Flow rate: 1.8 GPM
- Power supply: Battery
What We Like
- Auto shutoff after 4 minutes
- Strong water flow on both settings
- Sensor can be calibrated
- Includes batteries, deck plate, and matching soap dispenser
What We Don’t Like
- Limited finishes to choose from
When testing the American Standard Fairbury 2S, it was hard to find anything we didn’t like. The installation was as simple, and the instructions were straightforward. The touchless function is powered by a battery pack that uses 4 AA batteries and easily plugs into the faucet from below. After hooking up the battery, we followed the instructions to calibrate the sensor.
When the handle is turned on, a hand wave turns the water on and off as advertised. You can disable the sensor the old-fashioned way: turning the handle to the “off” position when you’re finished using the sink. For added security, the sensor also has an automatic shutoff that stops the water flow after 4 minutes to avoid water waste.
Next, we tested the sprayer. The neck pulled out smoothly, and the water pressure was strong. With the press of a toggle, we could switch the flow setting from spray to standard stream. There is a third button on the neck that instantly stops the flow, kind of like a pause button. To top it off, the Fairbury 2S comes with a matching built-in soap dispenser and deck plate.
Get the American Standard touchless kitchen faucet at The Home Depot or American Standard.
Strongest Flow
Kohler Crue Touchless Kitchen Faucet
Our Ratings: Installation 4/5; Functionality 5/5; Motion Detection 5/5; Value 4.7/5
Product Specs
- Finish: Polished chrome, vibrant stainless steel, vibrant brushed moderne brass, matte black
- Flow rate: 1.5 GPM
- Power supply: Electrical outlet
What We Like
- Boost spray increases water flow by 30 percent
- DockNetik docking system
- Attractive modern design
- Motion sensor located in the faucet arch
- Deck plate included
What We Don’t Like
- Requires under-sink electrical outlet
We’ve been using the Kohler Crue for weeks and still love it as much as day one. It’s beautiful and works perfectly. One stand-out feature is the Spray Boost, which increases the water flow by 30 percent at the push of a button. The other two spray modes are also strong—we could clean day-old pasta sauce in seconds. The touchless sensor is located on the top of the arch, which we preferred to other models we tested. The location feels more natural, and there is a lower chance of accidentally activating the water.
The DockNetik system ensures that the hose docks—and stays docked—in the correct position without awkward twisting and pulling. Installation wasn’t overly complicated, but it did help to have someone with electrical and plumbing knowledge on hand to ensure the unit was correctly configured. It can become a larger project if you don’t already have an electrical outlet under your sink, but we think the result is worth the effort. It has a matching deck plate that made our 10-year-old sink look sleek. We can’t recommend the Crue enough.
Get the Kohler Crue touchless kitchen faucet at Amazon, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot.
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Tested the Best Touchless Kitchen Faucets
We installed each faucet paying close attention to fitting and fixture quality, and overall ease of installation. We then used each faucet for several days in our daily kitchen routines—washing dishes, cleaning the sink, filling stock pots, etc. We noted the water pressure when using the faucets’ spray settings and evaluated how easy the faucets were to maneuver.
Most importantly, we assessed the faucets’ motion detection sensitivity to determine any pain points with specific models. We let a few dirty dishes pile up in the sink overnight to see how the sprayers tackled tough, dried-on foods. Each faucet was awarded points for installation, functionality, motion detection, and overall value. We used the points to determine our top pick and to assign appropriate categories for each model.
What to Consider When Selecting a Touchless Kitchen Faucet
Like traditional faucets, touchless models come in various styles and sizes. They also vary in features like finish, water-flow rate, sensor style, and power source. Here are some considerations when choosing a touchless kitchen faucet to replace your old one.
Activation Feature
Touchless kitchen faucets use motion-detecting sensors to start and stop the flow of water. Both of these aspects can be affected by the number of sensors and how accurate those sensors are. Some faucets have multiple sensors, which increases accuracy.
The sensor should trigger water flow immediately with the swipe of a hand or dish—users should not have to wave their hands around waiting for the sensor to activate. Users also won’t want the sensors so sensitive they’re triggered by any slight motion in the room, leading to wasted water. Compare the number of sensors of the different models of touchless faucets to find the best option.
Power Supply
The sensors need a power supply to function. There are two options for the power supply: battery power or plugging into an electrical outlet. Battery-operated models are handy, but shoppers will spend money replacing batteries. Choosing an energy-efficient faucet will help reduce battery consumption costs.
If shoppers have an existing under-sink electrical outlet, they can choose a model that plugs in, and they won’t have to swap out batteries. However, if there isn’t an electrical connection under the sink, shoppers will have to go with the battery option or pay an electrical to have an outlet wired under the sink.
Finish
Like other types of faucets, touchless versions are available in multiple finishes and styles, including chrome, stainless steel, brushed nickel, zinc alloy, and other materials. Choose a model with a design and finish that complements your decor.
A faucet with a spot-free finish is less prone to fingerprints and other smudges. If you’ve always loved the look of high-shine metal but hated dealing with the smudges, look for a spot-free or spot-resistant finish.
Water Flow Rate
The flow rate of a faucet indicates how much water the fixture uses. The standard of measurement for water flow in plumbing fixtures is GPM. Knowing the flow rate will help determine the efficiency of the faucet before purchase.
The lower the GPM, the more water-saving the faucet, but extra-low-flow faucets can deliver disappointingly weak spray streams. In the United States, the maximum flow rate for kitchen faucets is 2.2 GPM, which is more than sufficient for regular kitchen use.
Additional Features
As with other fixtures, some touchless faucets come with a few bells and whistles. The most noticeable additional feature is voice activation that syncs with smart-home systems. These faucets can be paired with a connected device (Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant) to enable voice-activated commands.
Some models let users create custom presets. Once they “teach” or program the preset, they can set shortcut commands for activation. However, these added features do come with some downsides. They are significantly more expensive and have to be plugged into an electrical outlet since they require more electrical power than most batteries supply.
The Advantages of Using a Touchless Kitchen Faucet
A touchless kitchen faucet uses motion-sensor technology to activate the water flow. With a wave of a hand or a pan near the sensor, the water will turn on and off. This technology is commonly used in public restrooms to eliminate the need to touch handles.
Hands-free faucets are trending due to their convenience and adaptability. They look just like conventional faucets, and DIY-capable owners can install most without the help of a plumber. Additionally, touchless options are water-efficient. A traditional faucet allowed to run continuously can use up to 2 gallons of water per minute, whereas a touchless version will only emit water if triggered. Here are some other benefits:
- Hands-free activation prevents the transfer of germs and grime.
- The sink and faucet are more hygienic.
- Touchless faucets are convenient.
FAQs
Touchless faucets are typically more expensive than their traditional counterparts. Knowing how they work before investing will save time and frustration.
Touchless faucets consist of four main parts: a spout, sensor window, solenoid valve (a type of electromagnet), and power source. The sensor is activated when you place your hand or object near the sensor windows, and a signal is sent to the solenoid valve to open and allow water to flow through the spout.
Touchless faucets require a power source to control the sensors and solenoid valves. The power is typically in the form of batteries or requires an electrical outlet.
Most touchless faucets have a manual sensor-override mode, which allows the faucet to function as a regular faucet even if the power is lost.
As with any product, its lifespan depends on the brand, materials, and how often you use it. However, a good-quality model can reasonably last 5-10 years.
The top kitchen faucet brands are Moen, Kohler, and Delta, which excel in quality, customer service, and durability.
Meet the Testers
Glenda Taylor is a product tester and writer specializing in the construction, remodeling, and real estate industries.
Stephanie Cronk is the Executive Editor of Commerce/Product Reviews for BobVila.com and has spent years researching and testing DIY, home improvement, home appliances, and outdoor living products.
Kara Illig is passionate about online shopping, lifestyle hacks, product research, and sharing the best of everything in BobVila.com’s handy shoppable guides. When she’s not editing and researching buyer’s guides, she’s finding clever ways to stay organized (read: sane) in her own home, which is an ongoing project.
Paul Rankin is a Scotland native now living in New York City. He started writing for BobVila.com in 2021, focusing on buyer’s guides for the full range of tools, furniture, DIY supplies, and home and garden products that the Bob Vila team reviews.
Additional research was provided by Debbie Wolfe.