Moen, Kohler, and Delta are three of the industry’s leading faucet brands. These three names are well known in households across America for a good reason. While some people automatically assume that there are few differences between these three brands, several contrasting factors differentiate one from another.
If you’re drowning in various webpage browsers in an attempt to determine the best faucet brand for your home, you’ve come to the right place. This article will delve deeper into those differences to help you decide which option is best for your home.
Brand Overview
Before we get ahead of ourselves in this article, let’s start by examining each individual brand. We’ll take a look at each brand’s history to better understand its origins.
Moen
Moen’s origins date back to a typical evening in 1937, where Alfred Moen was cleaning up after work. When the young inventor went to wash his hands, he nearly burned his hands from the sudden flush of hot water from the old-fashioned two-handle faucet.
This occurrence was his inspiration to invent the single-handle faucet, which was the peak of innovation at the time. Since its early beginnings, it has continued on the path of innovation set by its founder.
Since the 1970s, the company has developed high-end products, thus creating its formidable name in the industry. Today, Moen offers a comprehensive range of exclusive products to refine the looks of kitchens, bathrooms, and shower rooms.
Kohler
Kohler has come a long way since its early beginnings in 1873. The company started in an entirely different industry, initially specializing in manufacturing plows and various additional types of farm machinery.
The company has branched out into multiple ventures throughout the years, including plumbing fixtures. In 1911, Kohler introduced the first single-piece built-in bath, complete with an integral apron.
Fast forward to today, where the company now produces high-quality plumbing products, including various kitchen and bathroom appliances, showers, tubs, sinks, and faucets.
Delta
Delta, like Moen and Kohler, isn’t new to the scene. The company was initially founded in 1954 by Alex Manoogian. Delta introduced the first ball valve single-handle faucet, which laid the foundation for future designs and innovative technologies to follow.
Delta offers various designs to beautifully complete kitchens, bathrooms, and shower rooms. The company prides itself on its innovative faucets, specifically designed to accommodate customer needs.
Delta has received numerous awards for its innovation in recent years, including the Environmental Protection Agency’s Sustained Excellence Award and the Parent Tested, Parent Approved (PTPA) Winner’s Seal of Approval.
Leading Faucet Brands: Head to Head
While it is true that Moen, Kohler, and Delta offer several similar faucet models, multiple differences set these three companies apart. In the following sections, we’ll compare the three brands.
Technology and Features
All three of these companies pride themselves on their innovative technology. Plumbing fixtures and various technological advancements have meshed to create a convenient fixture that meets and exceeds expectations.
Whether this means people can activate the faucet with their voice or simply control the water flow with a single tap, the combination of technology and faucets has never been more convenient.
Moen
Let’s start with Moen, a company that has continued to pave the way in faucet innovation since its inception. Moen faucets come in various shapes, sizes, and designs, equipped with a number of bells and whistles. The U By Moen Smart Faucet feature allows customers to control water flow in four separate ways: voice control, remotely via an app, hands-free, or the old-fashioned manual way.
This technology is compatible with smart devices, such as Amazon Alexa, which allows you to perform all kinds of intelligent commands, like using your voice to regulate the temperature of the water or the duration the water is on. The matched app, compatible with both iOS and Andriod, provides information surrounding your water usage.
While this technology is fancy and convenient, it comes with a pretty price tag. So, if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly alternative, the MotionSense faucet is another smart choice.
MotionSense faucets utilize touchless technology that allows you to control the tap easily. Still, you don’t get the same features as the U Smart Faucet, like voice control or app integration. However, this means that the price tag is much more approachable.
Like the U Smart Faucet, you can use MotionSense faucets manually if you choose; all you need to do is disable the sensors, which Moen makes very easy.
Kohler
Next up, we have Kohler faucets. These fixtures also boast an impressive range of innovative technologies. Some faucets come equipped with a response touchless technology, which essentially allows you to regulate water flow simply by waving your hand or a dish in front of the sensor.
Kohler also offers a variety of smart kitchen faucets compatible with the Kohler Konnect smartphone app. If you download the app on your phone, you can pair a voice command device, like Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit, with the faucet for additional control.
Other faucets come decked out with different features, such as the varying spay options that fluctuate in intensity. For example, the Sweep Spray setting creates a blade of water that’s excellent for cleaning the sink, pots, pans, and the like. Or, the Berrysoft Spray setting creates a relaxed, gentle flow of water that is perfect for washing tender fruits.
Delta
Delta keeps up with its leading comrades regarding technology and innovative designs. For example, Delta’s Touch2O Technology allows users to control the water flow with a single tap to the faucet body or handle.
Delta also integrates a TempSense LED light that tells you what temperature the water is by fluctuating in color. Additionally, the LED light on the faucet can help troubleshoot any issues that may arise with the battery pack, water flow, etcetera.
Finishes
When it comes to finish options, all three brands offer abundant choices to fit the aesthetic tastes of many people.
Moen faucets come in several different finish options, including:
- Wrought Iron
- Spot Resistant Stainless Steel
- Polished Nickel
- Chrome
- Classic Stainless Steel
- Glacier
- Black Stainless Steel
- Matte Black
- Matte Black/Chrome
- Brushed Gold
- Mediterranean Bronze
- Oil Rubbed Bronze
Kohler has a somewhat limited selection of finishes, but their options encompass numerous aesthetic tastes. Faucet finishes include:
- Polished Chrome
- Vibrant Polished Nickel
- Vibrant Stainless Steel
- Vibrant Brushed Nickel
- Oil Rubbed Bronze
- Matte Black
Lastly, Delta’s faucet finish options include an expansive array of options, including:
- Lumicoat Chrome
- Chrome
- Lumicoat Polished Nickel
- Polished Nickel
- Lumicoat Arctic Stainless Steel
- Arctic Stainless Steel
- Lumicoat Champagne Bronze
- Champagne Bronze
- Venetian Bronze
- Stainless Steel
- SpotShield Stainless Steel
- Matte Black
Design
Moen, Kohler, and Delta pride themselves as much on their design as they do on their innovative capabilities. All three brands offer several different designs to suit any taste, from traditional looks to the classy looks of modern-day faucets.
Consumers can choose from pull-down faucets, single-handle faucets, double-handle faucets, and so on. The designs integrate various finishes, features, and technological additions to create beautiful fixtures for your home. All of these brands design faucets to fit universal dimensions, such as single-hole sinks, three-hole sinks, and so on.
All three brands offer pull-down faucets, which is a popular choice for kitchens, as it makes rinsing out the sink much more manageable. Delta’s design features MagnaTite technology, which boasts a powerful magnet built into the end of the spout. It holds the spray head in place while not in use yet releases with a gentle pull.
Moen’s design utilizes what the company calls the Reflex system. Its flexible hose and easily controllable spray head make for easy one-hand use. The design integrates a smooth withdrawal system that retracts the hose and returns the spray head to its original position.
Kohler’s faucets primarily use a technology known as the DockNetik system, which integrates a magnetic docking system. It works similarly to Delta’s design: the magnets fix the wand in place when not in use, stopping it from drooping or pulling away from the faucet body.
Pricing
In terms of pricing, Kohler tends to be the most expensive brand of the trio. Moen usually falls mid-range, effortlessly combining price and quality. Delta tends to be the most affordable manufacturer of the three, though the difference between Moen and Delta products is minimal.
Delta offers its products across three different brands: Delta, Brizo, and Peerless. While the Delta brand is the well-known face of the three, Brizo consists of the luxury faucet lineup, and Peerless provides affordable faucets to consumers and trade professionals alike.
Installation
Countless homeowners choose to install their home’s faucets themselves. While it’s not a tricky task, consumers count on the manufacturer to do their part. This means creating easy-to-follow instructions and an entire box of materials to complete the installation kit.
Kohler does an excellent job of this: they usually provide their customers with a complete installation kit equipped with everything you’ll need for installation. Delta matches Kohler in this sense, as it offers all necessary plates, valves, and hoses. Moen falls behind in this aspect, as they typically provide fewer items in the kit.
However, with that said, Moen products designed for bathroom and kitchen sinks are usually straightforward to install. Kohler is the easiest to install, given the instructions manual and decked-out supply kit. Delta products may give installers some grief, especially if they lack plumbing experience, but usually, hiccups in the installation are minor.
Warranty
When it comes to warranties, all three brands offer good coverage. Moen’s guarantee ensures that all products will be leak and drip-free during regular use. All components and finishes will be free of material and manufacturing workmanship defects. Additionally, Moen faucets are covered under the original purchaser for as long as they own the home.
Delta guarantees that its products will be free of defects in material and workmanship for as long as the original purchaser owns the home. The company recommends that homeowners have a professional plumber handle installation and repair for best results. This warranty protects all of Delta’s non-electronic faucets and their finish.
Kohler also ensures that its faucets will be free of defects in material and workmanship under regular residential use. The warranty states that all faucets manufactured after January 1, 1997, will be leak and drip-free during everyday residential use.
All three brands explicitly state that the limited lifetime warranty covers faucets in residential scenarios only. Warranties are different for taps used in industrial or commercial settings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are faucet valves interchangeable between leading brands?
Usually, faucet valves are not interchangeable. You should never mix manufacturers on trim and valves as a general rule of thumb. This is because most manufacturers use several types of valves, and trims aren’t interchangeable.
Is Kohler worth the money?
Though Kohler tends to be the most expensive of these three brands, the other two aren’t far behind. If you’re looking for a high-quality faucet that comes with all of the parts you’ll need, is easy to install, and lends an elegant look to your bathroom or kitchen, Kohler is an excellent choice.
Are touch or touchless faucets worth the money?
Delta, Moen, and Kohler offer variations of touch or touchless faucets. The answer to this question is dependent on your preferences. If you think your household would benefit from a touchless faucet, then they are absolutely worth it.
They’re great for situations where your hands are full, and you can’t grab the handle to turn the water on, or if you have kids and you don’t want their grubby hands all over your freshly-cleaned faucet.
However, some people may find that touchless or touch faucets’ extra bells, and whistles are unnecessary. In that case, there is no point in spending the extra money on a feature you plan to disable.
Where are Kohler, Moen, and Delta faucets made?
Kohler’s faucet parts and components are manufactured primarily in facilities in India and China, but many of the faucets are still assembled in the U.S. Most of Moen’s faucets are made in or assembled in the United States. Lastly, Delta assembles faucets in various locations across the U.S.
Which Faucet Brand Is The Best: Moen or Kohler or Delta?
Selecting the winner out of these three industry-leading brands is tricky, considering each has its ups and downs in its faucet lineup. They all offer excellent, high-quality products that will serve as the perfect centerpiece for your kitchen or bathroom.
However, while they are leading brands in the industry and offer similar lineups, you may find that you prefer the style and finish provided by one particular brand. The best faucet brand for you comes down to your budget, aesthetic tastes, and technological preferences.
For example, if you’d like to control your kitchen faucet via voice control or an app, then you may appreciate the U By Moen Smart Faucet. Or, if you’re looking for a good, old-fashioned manual faucet, all three brands offer excellent choices.
So, whether you’re looking for a bathroom faucet, shower faucet, or kitchen faucet, Kohler, Moen, and Delta are all outstanding choices.