The Best Delta Kitchen Faucets in 2024 Buyer’s Guide & Reviews
Delta Faucet, with many years of experience in making plumbing fixtures, is arguably one of the most popular kitchen faucet brands in the US. Its faucets are known for their sleek designs, durable constructions, and practical features.
Out of the many we’ve examined, Delta’s kitchen faucets, like the Delta Leland or the Delta Lenta Touch2O, stand out thanks to their beautiful appearance and excellent build quality. There’s also the Delta Essa Touch2O, a more affordable version that offers a simpler design while maintaining the same high-quality craftsmanship.
Offering features such as Touch2O, which allows for skin-contact activation, or TempSense, which visually signals water temperature, these faucets are dreams come true for busy kitchens. Although they are more expensive than many generic options available online, the added cost reflects the craftsmanship and quality control more than anything else.
Everything we recommend
For Delta Faucet loyal customers, the Leland 9178T-DTS is definitely a familiar name. The kitchen faucet has been given due credit for its quality, elegant design and incredibly reasonable price. Those traits are the reason why the piece has also appeared in several of our other kitchen faucet reviews.
Pull-out models are loved for their compact size and ability to reach far corners with the long hose, while looking adorable doing so. The Cassidy 4197-DST, with all the traits it brings to the kitchen, could be representative of the type you’d like it to be.
Delta doesn’t make many commercial style faucets since it’s not really their specialty. As a result, what they do make mostly are just mediocre. But if you still want one from Delta because you have had good experience with their products or you’re trying something new, then the Trinsic Pro 9659-DST is good choice.
Not all Delta Faucet products are expensive. However, the company does make an effort to make their exclusives available to the populace. The 9113-DST ( or 9113T-DST with the Touch2O), coming from the economically priced collection - Essa - is a good example.
Another affordable option for Delta Faucet enthusiasts is the classic two-handle kitchen faucet with a helpful side sprayer - the Windemere 21996LF. It is not by any means a fancy piece, but absolutely a decent and well-crafted one.
Compare Top Delta Faucets
Product | Our pick as | Best trait |
|---|---|---|
Leland 9178T-DST(Editor’s Choice) | Best Overall | Touch2O, MagnaTite, ShieldSpray |
Cassidy 4197-DST | Best Pull-out | Brilliance Finish |
Trinsic Pro 9659-DST | Best Commercial style | Responsive spring spout |
Essa 9113-DST | Best under $200 | MagnaTite, DiamonSeal |
Windemere 21996LF | Best Basic set | Sidesprayer, design |
Leland 9178T-DST Single-Handle
Best Overall
For Delta Faucet loyal customers, the Leland 9178T-DTS is definitely a familiar name. The kitchen faucet has been given due credit for its quality, elegant design and incredibly reasonable price. Those traits are the reason why the piece has also appeared in several of our other kitchen faucet reviews.
- Touch-technology
- Flexible wand > secure docking
- Compatible with 1 or 3-hole mounting
- Minimum leaks
- Available with spot resistant finishes
- Possible unintentional activation
The Leland 9178T-DTS is fully constructed with brass, which proposes a robust frame. With relatively proper care, the faucet can stand strong for years, even decades. Adding to that, the Spotshield Stainless finish helps enhance the faucet’s ability to withstand water spots and marks. Not only can it endure the test of time, but it does so while looking fabulous.
Talking about endurance, the cartridge and integrated supply lines are engineered with DIAMOND™ Seal technology - a result of exploiting diamonds to craft gaps-free connections. Leaking now becomes a much lesser problem than it used to be.
The faucet also offers a handful of other technologies that make the daily kitchen experience more interesting and enjoyable.
The signature Touch2O allows for flexibility while your hands are occupied or covered with gunk, keeping the faucet clean all the time. Control over your faucet is now only a matter of a light pat.
That convenience is further supported with the help of an LED light at the base. In time, the light will indicate the power level, changing from blue to red to signal that it’s time to change the batteries. Users can also refer to the colour of the light for the water temperature level. The TempSense™ will turn the LED among blue, magenta and red accordingly.
Moreover, the magnetic docking mechanism - MagnaTite, together with ShieldSpray, which acts as a splatter hindrance, and the rubber Touch-Clean® spray holes transform the typical experience of a pulldown sprayhead.
Regarding the design, you can see that it gives out a vibe of a traditional faucet. With all the concave and convex details promoting grace, the posture of the faucet will undoubtedly bring a sense of elegance to your kitchen space.
To conclude, the Leland 9178T-DTS is a beautiful, well-rounded kitchen fixture that is absolutely worth noting. Plus, the price is surprising low considering what it offers. You should check it out.
Delta Faucet covers the item with a Delta Lifetime Limited Warranty and t
he electronic parts (except the batteries) with a 5-year limited warranty.
Price at time of publish: $222.14
- Spout Height: 14.9 inches
- Spout Reach: 9.2 inches
- Control: Single Handle/Sensor
- Handle: Right-handed/Left-handed
- Material: Metal
- Finish: Bronze/Chrome/Matte Black/Stainless Steel
- Type: Pulldown Sprayer
- Sprayer: Triple Function
- Spout Swivel: 360°
- Flow Rate: 1.8 gpm @ 60 psi
Cassidy 4197-DST Kitchen Sink Faucet
Best Pull-out
Pull-out models are loved for their compact size and ability to reach far corners with the long hose, while looking adorable doing so. The Cassidy 4197-DST, with all the traits it brings to the kitchen, could be representative of the type you’d like it to be.
- Choice of multiple finishes
- Compact
- Compatible with 1 or 3-hole mounting
- Beautiful design
- Tarnishing, discoloration resistant available
- Low arc
- 120 degree swiveling
Before we go into its features, let’s talk about its design first because I just LOVE it. It is, in fact, one of the finest looking faucets I’ve ever set my eyes on. If the statement sounds biased, I offer my apologies. It’s just that I have a soft spot for spouts with a classic touch.
The faucet is not just aesthetically shaped, but practically as well. The spray-wand is long enough for a good grab. It’s a short piece of fixture like other pull-out faucets, but is crafted with all the refined curves, perfect for kitchens with minimal vertical space, and preferably an old-fashioned set of decor.
The one thing I don’t like about the design is its limited 120-degree swivel compared to the usual 360-degree from other pullouts. It can be a dealbreaker, depending on where you’re planning to install it. If there’s a back wall, the extra 140-degree is unnecessary. But if the faucet is to be put on a kitchen island, you might want the full 360-degree.
Additionally, the faucet is a fully brass-constructed piece of work. A strong frame and a finish technology - the Brilliance ® Finish - that can fight against corrosion and tarnishing are what make for a quality kitchen faucet (available with Champagne Bronze and Brushed Nickel)
Now, for the features. The most important feature to have on a pull-out/down faucet is a secure docking mechanism. And the Delta MagnaTite is among the best. Using an integrated magnet to hold the wand in place, the technology is not just effective, but it also makes sure that the wand won’t droop for years.
Together with the MagnaTite, the DIAMOND Seal Technology and the Touch Clean nozzle turn the maintenance of the unit into a total bliss. Cartridge and supply lines engineered with diamonds are promised to shun out leaks for a long period of time; build-ups in the rubber spray nozzle can be easily cleaned out with your fingers as well.
The Cassidy 4197-DST, though lacking fancy technologies, is a faucet equipped with only the essential tools that a pull-out kitchen faucet needs - tools that keep the faucet standing tall (so to speak) and unaffected for life. A high quality kitchen faucet that should be in your candidate list for pull-out faucets.
The item is covered with a Delta Lifetime Limited Warranty.
Price at time of publish: $421.90
- Spout Height: 10.7 inches
- Spout Reach: 10.1 inches
- Control: Single Handle
- Handle: Right-handed/Left-handed
- Material: Metal
- Finish: Bronze/Chrome/Nickel/Stainless Steel
- Type: Pullout Sprayer
- Sprayer: Aerated Stream/Spray
- Spout Swivel: 360°
- Flow Rate: 1.8 gpm @ 60 psi
Trinsic Pro 9659-DST Touch2O
Best Commercial Style
Delta doesn’t make many commercial style faucets since it’s not really their specialty. As a result, what they do make mostly are just mediocre. But if you still want one from Delta because you have had good experience with their products or you’re trying something new, then the Trinsic Pro 9659-DST is good choice.
- Flexible spout
- High arc
- Compatible with 1 or 3-hole mounting
- Minimum leaks
- Pricey
What people like most about this in particular is its size and simple-looking modern build. Unlike most commercial style faucets which are huge, the unit is only 19” high. The height provides just enough space and spout arc to complete normal tasks with ease.
Like any other quality fixtures from Delta, the faucet also has a full-metal brass frame. Not only that, people have shown great love towards the spring spout, praising its responsiveness and usability compared to other branded commercial style faucets.
The spout and spray head flexibility are further enhanced by the long hose and the secure MagnaTite docking mechanism. You can either maneuver the spring spout or rest it at the support arm then pull the head down, similar to pull-down faucets to reach every corner.
The 9659-DST also comes with DIAMOND Seal offering outstanding endurance in interior connections. Plus, the spray head consists of the Touch Clean spray holes, whose clean-up is just a few rubs away, making the maintenance of the whole unit a lot simpler than usual.
This commercial style faucet has another version - 9659T-DST - which is equipped with the Delta-exclusive Touch2O. It’s very unlikely for regular commercial style faucets to have a sensor on the neck because it’s a spring. The best it can be is to have a sensor near the base of the faucet, where there’s space to set one in.
Touch2O, on the other hand, functions by exploiting electrical capacitance, not motion sensors. Therefore, if there’s metal, Touch2O can apply, leading to the ability to activate the faucet by touching the spring. The experience will surely be much different.
Overall, the Trinsic Pro 9659-DST (or 9659T-DST) is a quality piece of kitchen fixture. If you enjoy Delta’s products, give this one a try. The only catch is it’s a little pricey. But what is a bit of cash compared to exclusive innovations, and if you can afford it.
Delta Faucet covers the models with a Delta Lifetime Limited Warranty and the electronic parts (except the batteries) with a 5-year limited warranty.
Price at time of publish: $637.61
- Spout Height: 19.5 inches
- Spout Reach: 9.5 inches
- Control: Single Handle/Touch Sensor
- Handle: Right-handed/Left-handed
- Material: Metal
- Finish: Chrome/Stainless Steel/Black Stainless Steel
- Type: Pulldown Sprayer/Spring Neck
- Sprayer: Aerated Stream/Spray
- Spout Swivel: 360°
- Flow Rate: 1.8 gpm @ 60 psi
Essa 9113-DST Pull Down Faucet
Best Under $200
Not all Delta Faucet products are expensive. However, the company does make an effort to make their exclusives available to the populace. The 9113-DST ( or 9113T-DST with the Touch2O), coming from the economically priced collection - Essa - is a good example.
- Flexible/ tightly secure head
- Compatible with 1 or 3-hole mounting
- Minimum leaks
- Affordable
- Common design
- Possible accidental activation
It’s a pull-down kitchen faucet with a long 62-inch hose, providing an extended 20-inch reach (post setup). The faucet features all the utility that one might need or want from a Delta pull-down.
Firstly, the MagnaTite Technology ensures a solid connection between the spout port and spray head. The durability of the docking mechanism will prove to be long-lasting, even after a million uses thanks to the integrated magnet.
Secondly, rubber Touch Clean holes in the sprayhead promise that hard-water build-ups are not going to be a pain in neck. With a few simple rubs, the nozzle will clear right up.
Thirdly, one of Delta best innovations - DIAMOND Seal - is also offered. Engineered with real diamonds, connections inside the faucet (i.e the cartridge and supply lines) will be much less prone, if not completely immune to leaks.
Finally, with a top-up, users can also experience the Delta Touch2O. The touch-tech will positively improve the experience with faucets in general. Still, automatic activation could potentially be an issue should you have pets around in your house.
To me, the single downside of this faucet is the design. The appearance of the faucet is pretty common and it just lacks a Delta-unique touch. However, it is still practical and fair considering the price tag.
In a few final words, Essa 9113-DST (or 9113T-DST) is a perfectly well-made pull-down kitchen faucet for the absence of aesthetic is compensated with its practicality and affordability. All in all, it’s a worth-considering kitchen fixture.
Delta Faucet covers the model with a Delta Lifetime Limited Warranty and the electronic parts (except the batteries) with a 5-year limited warranty.
Price at time of publish: $188.28
- Spout Height: 15.7 inches
- Spout Reach: 9.4 inches
- Control: Single Handle
- Handle: Right-handed/Left-handed
- Material: Metal
- Finish: Bronze/Chrome/Matte Black/Stainless Steel
- Type: Pulldown Sprayer
- Sprayer: Aerated Stream/Spray
- Spout Swivel: 360°
- Flow Rate: 1.8 gpm @ 60 psi
Windemere 21996LF 2-Handle
Best Basic 2-handle Faucet Set
Another affordable option for Delta Faucet enthusiasts is the classic two-handle kitchen faucet with a helpful side sprayer - the Windemere 21996LF. It is not by any means a fancy piece, but absolutely a decent and well-crafted one.
- Nice design
- Long pull out side sprayer
- Affordable
- Side sprayer included
- Prone to leaks after several years
The first thing I want to point out is the installation. It’s quite clear that the faucet requires 4 holes (3 if you exclude the sprayer). If you’re already familiar with faucets, such remark might seem redundant. But for the new faces in the game, you have to take the mounting holes on the sink/countertop into account before buying a new kitchen faucet.
Now, as you can well observe, the faucet is just a standard two handle faucet without any luxurious technologies. If you want a true Delta Faucet experience, I’m afraid this one will not suffice.
That said, it is still a fair and economical choice.
The two-handle faucet provides just enough. In addition to the ability to swivel 360 degrees, the spout with a high arc and long reach allows enough space to practise your kitchen routines with ease. Not to mention the fact that the side sprayer also has good range.
The set is mostly made of plastic (including the sprayer), with the exception of the stainless steel handle levers. Evidently, not many people are fans of plastic fixtures. However, plastic has its benefits Indeed, it is a common material in faucet manufacture not just for its low cost, but also its light-weight and its immunity to corrosion, unlike metals.
Regarding appearance, the faucet is quite well designed. And the design shines especially well with the oil-rubbed bronze finish. Not to say that the other options are bad-looking. In fact, not only are they as equally well-composed, the stainless model is also featured with the Delta Brilliance Finish, which is tarnishing and discoloration resistant.
Basically, you should take the Windemere 21996LF into consideration. It is a functional, basic Delta kitchen faucet around the $100 mark, with just enough the utility to meet your daily kitchen needs.
Delta Faucet covers the model with a Delta Lifetime Limited Warranty.
Price at time of publish: $73.30
- Spout Height: 11.6 inches
- Spout Reach: 8 inches
- Control: Two Handle
- Handle: Right-handed/Left-handed
- Material: Metal
- Color: Bronze/Chrome/Matte Black/Stainless Steel
- Type: Deck Mount
- Sprayer: Side Sprayer
- Spout Swivel: 360°
- Flow Rate: 1.8 gpm @ 60 psi
Why choose Delta Kitchen Faucets?
Basic information about Delta Faucet Company can be easily searched on Google, including its year of establishment (1954), its parent organization (Masco) and its headquarter location, which is in Indianapolis, Indiana. That doesn’t really say much on how and why Delta is in the position it is in today.
So I dug around a little bit. It didn’t take much time, but the details I’ve found are definitely interesting.
Inventor of the First
The marketing and production of Delta faucets was put into motion by one Alex Manoogian - a machinist, a businessman and founder of Masco. It was in 1952 when Manoogian took it upon himself to redesign the single-handle washerless faucet and later on, in two years’ time, released the very first successful ball joint valve faucet - the Delta faucet.
Delta was also the pioneer that exploited television advertisements and brought the faucet industry into a whole new light. Quickly after the marketing campaign, the faucet turned viral and its annual sale exceeded a million dollars in the next four years.
The Manoogians were people of generosity. Alex and his wife donated countless amounts of money to churches, educational institutions and charities. Adding to that, the city of Detroit was offered the Manoogian Mansion, which is currently the official residence of the Mayor of Detroit.
Awards over the years
Over half a century, Delta Faucet Company has won numerous awards thanks to their dedication and attitude towards betterment and innovation. Let’s talk about the highlights that most showcase these said virtues.
It has been the aim of the company for a long time to create products that enhance users’ experience and use water in the most efficient ways. And their efforts have been recognized and appreciated with the EPA’s WaterSense award.
For 3 years - 2011, 2013, 2014 - Delta Faucet was repeatedly given the EPA’s WaterSense Partner of the Year Awards for its remarkable work. In 2015, 2016 and 2017, the company also received the highest honor - the WaterSense Sustained Excellence Awards.
Technology-wise, Delta is no doubt one of the leading brands. Their inventions are widely recommended among customers and well recognized by the industry itself. The fact that in 2015, Delta won silver (for Temp2O ®) and bronze (for FlushIQ ®) in the Edison Awards is evident of this. Not to mention Delta was consecutively nominated in the earlier years too.
Certain models from Delta faucet collections have received the Parent Tested, Parent Approved (PTPA) Winner’s Seal of Approval as well. Specifically, in 2012, the Delta Addison™ bathroom faucet was honored, followed by the Delta Pillar® kitchen faucet in 2013.
Among numerous other distinguished accomplishments, those described are the ones that best emphasize Delta Faucet Company’s spirit in their journey throughout the course of more than 50 years.
That’s why Delta and their products are so loved by the populace, and also why we have Delta Faucet as one of the most trustworthy names.
Awards highlights:
- Nominated for the Edison Awards in consecutive years. Won silver and bronze in 2015 for temp2O and flushIQ respectively
- EPA’s 2011, 2013 and 2014 WaterSense® Partner of the Year. The Sustained Excellence Award Winner for 2015, 2016 and 2017
- The Delta Pilar® kitchen faucet with Touch2O® Technology has been awarded the Parent Tested, Parent Approved (PTPA) Winner’s Seal of Approval
Utility Technologies
Touch2O®
The signature technology that sets Delta Faucet apart from others is the award-winning Touch2O® - Delta’s exclusive touch-sensor tech. Competing with the all-so-familiar motion sensor, Delta headed out to develop their own technology, providing users the experience that one can only have with Delta Faucet products.
With Touch2O, our typical messy kitchen routine will become much less troublesome. The touch-on/off feature allows control over the kitchen faucet even when our hands are busy holding crockery or are wrist-deep in food.
All we have to do is touch the unit anywhere with our arms. Exploiting our innate body capacitance, Touch2O uses sensors to detect when the faucet is in contact with the human body and turn the water on/off.
Touch2O is also smart enough to tell the difference between a grab and a legitimate touch by measuring the duration of contact. That way, we can maneuver the spout without accidentally activating the faucet.
That said, there is a risk that our beloved pets might turn on the faucet by accident. But the fact that complaints on this matter is not flooding forums and review sections means it’s unlikely. So rest assured.
SpotShield®
A good kitchen faucet is not exactly good unless it has some kind of anti-spot finish. The kitchen, especially the area around the sink and the countertop, tends to get messy with all the food prepping and stuff. And kitchen appliances are very much prone to spots/stains/fingerprints.
That’s why the coating on a kitchen tool always has to be considered.
Though the regular stainless finish seems to work well enough, they must be cleaned often to maintain the spotless look. This is where a good spot-resist technology comes in to save the day. Products with the SpotShield® Finishes are not only resistant against unwanted marks, but also prevent microbial growth, thus preventing uninvited unpleasant odors from developing.
ShieldSpray
We all love eating. That’s a fact. But not all of us like to wash the dishes. That, is also a fact. So anything that can make the said task more enjoyable is extremely welcomed. You know, besides the greatest invention of all time that is the dishwasher.
Introducing ShieldSpray®, not the greatest but a fantastic innovation nonetheless. The biggest problems of rinsing plates, to my knowledge, are the splashing and the water consumption.
The normal water pressure is usually not strong enough to efficiently rinse off food remnants completely. Now, we could try to improve the pressure a bit, by taking out the aerator, for example. But the stream would be too aggressive, causing more splashing and water wastage.
With Delta’s ShieldSpray, all of the mentioned are taken care of. The single concentrated stream of water is immensely increased in pressure with the same amount of water, letting us force even the toughest foods off the dishes. And splatter won’t be a concern anymore with the water shield surrounding the targeted cleaning zone.
It just looks awesome, honestly. I mean we simply cannot imagine the amount of thought that was put into developing this particular technology. Here’s a video of how ShieldSpray works.
MagnaTite Docking
Is docking important? Technically speaking, if the wand/head can’t dock, it’s not completely useless. The faucet still has a counter weight. The head can still retract itself. But it just won’t dock. You’ll see a spout with a loose head that is just kind of… there. Everything else will still be functional.
Aesthetically and everything else speaking, it will drive you INSANE. First of all, it’ll look beyond stupid. The model in the pictures that you fell in love with is now gone. Second of all, it was PROMISED to be tugged in there nicely for a LONG time, not for the first few months and now it’s a damn speed bag. And we do NOT like to be cheated on.
You’ll have to forgive me. I’ve had some bad experiences.
But such bad experiences gave me the insights that I have today. If you’re like me, a secure docking mechanism matters. That’s why Delta’s MagnaTite Docking is just so appealing. The technology uses a powerful integrated magnet, making sure that every time you let go, the port has got you. I, myself, would really appreciate that.
