Shopping for a kitchen faucet on a budget can be incredibly frustrating.
Sometimes you’ll see the perfect faucet. It has just the right finish and features and matches your decor perfectly. And then you see the price tag. Who knew you could even get faucets that expensive?
Or sometimes that seemingly perfect faucet does fall into your budget and you’re ready to celebrate! But before you select “add to cart” your eyes fall on the reviews. Turns out the faucet has a tendency to leak and will break quickly, so you’ll find yourself back in this same position in six months anyway.
Or maybe you just want a simple, basic faucet and everything you see seems to have all kinds of extra features to drive the price up that you just don’t need.
It’s a nightmare!
But it doesn’t have to be.
I’ve been where you are and I’ve used that experience to create this guide to the best kitchen faucets for less than $200. Read on to find out not only the top budget kitchen faucets but also the types of faucets that are available in this price range and how to choose the best affordable kitchen faucet for you.
Our Best Kitchen Faucets Under $200
- Delta Faucet Leland Single Handle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet 9178-AR-DST (Our Top Pick)
- Cobbe Touchless Motion Sensor Pull-Down Kitchen Sink Faucet With Sprayer (Best Budget)
- Kraus KPF-1650SS Nola Commercial Kitchen Faucet (Best High End)
- Moen Medina Spot Resistant Stainless One-Handle Pullout Kitchen Faucet
- Kohler Simplice Kitchen Sink Faucet
What Are The Different Types Of Kitchen Faucets Under $200?
There are a few ways that kitchen faucets can be categorized, regardless of cost.
Sprayer Type
First is the sprayer. The most common sprayer type is the pull down sprayer.
This sprayer is located at the end of a high arch spout and, you guessed it, you pull it down from the spout for use. All but one of the faucets on this list have pull down sprayers.
Another similar style is the pull out sprayer. These faucets don’t have a high arch and the spout juts out over the sink at a much shallower angle, so the sprayer pulls out from the spout rather than down.
I’ve put one faucet with a pull out sprayer on this list.
There are also faucets with side sprayers. They’re just as effective as pull down or pull out sprayers, but they’ve gone out of vogue in the past couple of decades because the sprayer is just one more thing that takes up space on your countertops.
I don’t know about your kitchen, but the last thing mine needs is more stuff on the counters taking up space.
Control And Installation Types
Faucets can also be categorized by how they’re controlled.
Most faucets these days are single handle faucets. They use just one lever to control both the water flow and temperature. All the faucets on this list are single handle faucets.
Two handle faucets are more traditional. They have separate controls, either levers or knobs, to control the amount of hot and cold water independently from one another.
This gives you more exact control over the water temperature and flow, but makes it harder to operate the sink with one hand occupied.
The control type is also related to how the faucet needs to be installed.
Single handle faucets basically always require a single hole in the counter, unless they come with a side sprayer, which requires an additional hole. They frequently come with a deck plate to cover any additional holes that are already present, so you can still go this route if you’re replacing a faucet that required additional holes.
Two handle faucets tend to require three holes for installation though, again, you’ll need one more if the faucet has a side sprayer.
What Do You Look For In The Best Kitchen Faucet Under $200?
Having a limited budget doesn’t mean you can’t still get a high-quality kitchen faucet. You just have to know what to look for.
Durability is the most important thing. Yes, when buying a kitchen faucet on a budget, you may have to make sacrifices, but durability is not the place to do that.
Otherwise, you’ll just end up having to buy a faucet again sooner and that doesn’t really help you save money, does it?
Look for a heavy-duty faucet with features like ceramic cartridges, solid brass or other metal construction, and corrosion-resistant materials and finish.
Of course, you don’t want to sacrifice too much functionality either. At a minimum, you want a swivel spout, sprayer, and decent water pressure.
Choosing a sprayer with a low flow rate can also be a good idea to help cut down your water bill.
Finally, if you’re on a budget, you probably want to DIY the installation of your faucet rather than having to spend even more money for a plumber to come out and do it. For that reason, you’ll want a faucet that’s easy to install.
Best Kitchen Faucets Under $200 Reviewed
Now let’s talk about the faucets themselves.
1. Delta Faucet Leland Single Handle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet 9178-AR-DST (Our Top Pick)
Our top pick, the Delta Faucet Leland Single Handle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet slides in a little bit under the $200 mark.
For your money, you get a solid brass high arc spout with a retractable dual-function spray head that allows you to choose between aerated stream and spray modes. The 360-degree swivel spout has a 1.8 GPM water flow rate.
The Diamond Seal Technology and ceramic disc valves prevent leaks, while the limited lifetime warranty covers you if a problem does occur.
This faucet comes in Arctic Stainless, Venetian Bronze, SpotShield Stainless, and Chrome finishes.
Pros
- Comes with flexible water lines as well as an optional deck plate for use with three hole sinks
- Can be purchased with or without a soap dispenser
- ADA compliant
Cons
- At the higher end of the price range
- May be a bit wobbly
Buy The Delta Faucet Leland Single Handle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet 9178-AR-DST On Amazon
2. Cobbe Touchless Motion Sensor Pull-Down Kitchen Sink Faucet With Sprayer (Best Budget)
I know, when I saw this faucet I was skeptical too. A faucet with touchless activation for less than $200? No way. But buyers love the Cobbe Touchless Pull-down Kitchen Sink Faucet.
You can activate the sink using the lever control, motion sensor, or by pulling the sprayer down from the high arc spout. The three function sprayer has modes perfect for rinsing, filling, and washing.
The faucet has a 1.8 gpm maximum water flow rate.
This faucet is available in Chrome, Oil Rubbed Bronze, and Brushed Nickel finishes, and all resist water spots.
Pros
- Fast, easy installation
- Lead-free
- Allows for one hole or three hole installation with an optional deck plate included for three hole
Cons
- Some buyers wish the faucet had more solid construction
Buy The Cobbe Touchless Motion Sensor Pull-Down Kitchen Sink Faucet With Sprayer On Amazon
3. Kraus KPF-1650SS Nola Commercial Kitchen Faucet (Best High End)
For an affordable commercial style kitchen faucet, it’s hard to beat the Kraus Nola. It actually comes in just a touch over $200, but just by a few dollars and it’s definitely worth setting aside a bit of extra dough for if you can.
This single lever faucet is made from solid brass with a stainless steel finish. The pull-down spray head has a neoperl aerator and rubber nozzles around the spray holes that make it easy to remove build-up from hard water. It has a 1.75 gpm maximum water flow rate.
Pros
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Allows for one hole or three hole installation with optional deck plate included for three hole
- ADA compliant
Cons
- A little above budget
- Height can be overwhelming in some kitchens
- Some users report excessive splashing
Buy The Kraus KPF-1650SS Nola Commercial Kitchen Faucet On Amazon
4. Moen Medina Spot Resistant Stainless One-Handle Pullout Kitchen Faucet
If you prefer a pull-out faucet, the Moen Medina Pullout Kitchen Faucet is the way to go.
The pull out sprayer has aerated stream, rinse, and pause functions and a 1.5 gpm maximum water flow rate. It uses Moen’s Power Clean technology to deliver a 50 percent more powerful spray than most Moen pull-out and pull-down faucets despite the eco-friendly low water flow rate.
The faucet has a Spot Resistant Stainless finish that prevents fingerprints and water spots, but it’s also available in a Chrome finish.
Pros
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Easy installation
- ADA compliant
Cons
- Spout reach is a little short
- Some users have experience leaking at the base
Buy The Moen Medina Spot Resistant Stainless One-Handle Pullout Kitchen Faucet On Amazon
5. Kohler Simplice Kitchen Sink Faucet
Last but not least is the Kohler Simplice Kitchen Sink Faucet.
This high arc kitchen faucet features a pull-down sprayer with Kohler’s DockNetik magnetic docking system and a 3 function spray head. The stream function is your normal aerated stream, the Boost function provides a 30 percent increase in flow, and the Sweep Spray forms a powerful blade of water that’s perfect for cleaning.
It’s available in Polished Chrome, Vibrant Stainless, and Matte Black finishes, each of which resists corrosion and tarnishing. It only needs one hole for installation, but comes with a matching escutcheon for three hole sinks.
Supply lines are also included.
Pros
- Limited lifetime warranty
- ADA compliant
- 1.5 gpm maximum water flow rate
Cons
- Sprayer hose may not retract easily
- Boost button may have a tendency to get stuck
Buy The Kohler Simplice Kitchen Sink Faucet On Amazon
Final Thoughts On Kitchen Faucets Under $200
That’s a wrap on the best kitchen faucets for under $200. Shopping on a budget can be frustrating, but hopefully this guide has saved you some stress.
As you can see, a limited budget doesn’t mean you can’t still get a high-quality sink and the five sinks I’ve listed here are proof of that.
Just think about your needs and wants and choose the sink that matches them best.