With so many companies offering similar products, it’s hard to determine which company you want to spend your hard-earned money with. When it comes to Delta vs Kohler, they’re both big names in the faucet industry. So, which is better?
Delta offers the best products for the most affordable prices. Their faucets offer a range from budget-friendly to luxurious faucets, and they’ll work with you to get the right fixture for your kitchen or bathroom.
Are you curious about what sets Delta and Kohler apart? You probably want as much information as you can get about these two companies before you decide on which company you’re going to go through. Our detailed comparison guide will give you all the information you need to know about each company.
What’s the Difference Between Delta and Kohler Faucets?
Delta and Kohler are both iconic names in the faucet industry and they each have a loyal customer base that praises their products. Each company has products available for your kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room, so what sets them apart?
Kohler faucets focus on a more luxurious style and finish. Their products tend to be priced higher than Delta’s because they focus on high-end and premium styles and finishes.
Delta’s products are more budget-friendly. They provide products that their customers can afford comfortably and still be proud of. Delta also has a line of high-end products and finishes called Brizo.
In short, Kohler’s faucets are focused on providing the best premium designs while Delta, with its budget-friendly and luxurious Brizo line, has something available for everyone.
Delta Faucet Company
Want to know more about the Delta faucet company? Read on to get the details you’re eager to learn about this company.
The History of Delta Faucets
The Delta Faucet Company was started by Alex Manoogian, who immigrated to the United States from Armenia in 1921. He originally worked as a machinist and found great success with his company, The Masco Screw Company.
Manoogian changed course in 1958 when he bought the rights to the idea for a single-handle water faucet. He created a ball-valve faucet by tweaking the original design idea and called the new product Delta. This was a throwback to the ancient Greek triangle symbol that represents change.
The Delta Faucet Company continued to make innovative changes to faucet designs over the years and became the first faucet company to advertise in print in 1961. They upped their advertising game again in 1977 by putting advertisements on television where they focused on their new antique brass finish and a new Peerless brand for those who wanted to take the installation of their faucets into their own hands.
In 1985, Delta began producing faucets that came in a range of different colors and styles, including a kitchen pull-out faucet. They also shifted their marketing to include architects, builders, and remodelers.
The Delta Faucet Company continued to grow and formed partnerships with Lowes and The Home Depot. They opened more manufacturing plants in the US and Canada. Then, in 2004, Delta launched their new Brizo brand to focus on luxurious and premium style faucets.
The company continued to grow and introduce new products since then such as toilets, and shower and tub enclosures. In 2018, they began producing smart kitchen fixtures that would work through voice activation. This latest innovation came along with a wave of smart technology being implemented in homes all over developed countries.
What Products Does Delta Offer?
Delta offers a range of products to meet all their customers’ faucet needs. Here’s a quick brief of each category.
Bathroom Sink Faucets
Delta offers a wide range of faucets for your bathroom sink. They have an assortment of finishes and styles to help you find a faucet that matches any décor. Their finishes range from simple chrome to various bronzes and even matt black.
Here’s a quick list of the designs they have available for bathroom sink faucets:
- Widespread
- Wall Mount
- Vessel
- Touch/Hands-Free Activated
- Single Hole
- Pull-down
- Center set
Kitchen Faucets
Delta also has a variety of kitchen faucets available. They can be purchased with the same range of finishes as their bathroom sink faucets.
These are the designs that Delta currently has available for kitchen faucets:
- Pull Down
- Pull Down/Out
- Pull Out
- Single Handle
- Tall/High Arc
- Touch Activated
- Two Handle
- Wall-Mount
- With Soap Dispenser
- With Sprayer
Showerheads
The showerheads that Delta offers come with a variety of different settings and can be purchased in a range of finishes. They offer showerheads that come in circular, square, or larger rectangular shapes. They offer contemporary, traditional, and transitional styles.
Toilet Seats
Delta’s toilet seats can be purchased in a variety of finished and they offer several shapes to help suit their customers’ preferences. The designs for toilet seats they offer are:
- Elongated Bowl
- Round Bowl
- Slow-Close
- Standard Close
- Standard Close/Quick Release
What Brands are Part of the Delta Faucet Company?
Delta has a few brands under its main company, and each has its own unique purpose. Brizo, First Wave, and Peerless are all part of the Delta Faucet Company.
Brizo
Brizo is Delta’s premium brand. This brand covers all their most luxurious designs and finishes. People who have a strong sense of fashion and aesthetics will enjoy this brand’s high-end fixtures and finishes.
First Wave
First Wave is Delta’s brand of the future. This brand covers all the most innovative products that are designed to marry technology and functionality. First Wave provides all the voice-activated, touch-free faucets and fixtures.
Peerless
Peerless is Delta’s brand for everyone. This brand focuses on providing top-notch faucets and fixtures at prices that the average person can afford. They don’t compromise on aesthetics for the sake of affordability and provide reliable and affordable designs.
Does Delta Offer Good Customer Service?
Looking online, it’s easy to see that Delta has a varied reputation. Some customers rave about their products and the fact that they offer a lifetime warranty on any product purchased from 1995 onward.
However, there are many negative reviews about this company that leaves them sitting with 2 out of 5 stars on Yelp. Delta’s customer service phone number and email are prominently displayed on their website, showing that they are open to customers in need of assistance and eager to help.
Kohler Co.
Eager to learn more about Kohler Company and the faucets that they offer? Read on to learn about this company and the range of products they have available.
The History of Kohler
Kohler Co. was founded by John Michael Kohler in 1873. He first began with a single warehouse in Wisconsin where the company manufactured plows and other farming equipment. Their first plumbing product was an enameled cast-iron trough/hog scalder turned bathtub manufactured in 1883.
They introduced the industry’s first bathtub with an integrated apron in 1911 and continued to produce innovative products as the years went by. They began manufacturing faucets and other brass accessories in 1926.
During the same year, the Kohler Company introduced an electric sink which was a forerunner to the modern dishwasher. However, the product was later discontinued during the Great Depression.
One year later, Kohler Co. began manufacturing cast-iron and virtuous china plumbing products in various pastel colors. Several years later, Kohler Co. changed its production to focus on helping war efforts during WW2.
Once the war ended, Kohler Co. returned to producing plumbing products for the general market. They were one of the first companies that marketed to homeowners and smaller businesses, rather than wholesalers.
In the 1960s, Kohler Co. began producing products in different colors and styles that changed the way people used their sinks. As the decades passed, Kohler Co. continued implementing new designs and features for their products.
The company continued to expand and acquire other companies, such as the Sterling Faucet Company. They opened hotels and spas while continuing work on innovative new faucet, bath, and sink designs.
In 2013, Kohler Co. introduced a showerhead with a wireless speaker and set itself at the forefront of innovative technology paired with shower fixtures. They hope to reach a goal of a net-zero environmental footprint by 2035.
What Products Does Kohler Offer?
Kohler offers a range of products to suit their customers’ needs and unique styles. Here’s a quick brief of each.
Bathroom Sinks and Faucets
Kohler Co. has a variety of bathroom sinks and faucets to choose from. They all have sophisticated designs that can fit in with almost any décor. Here’s a quick list of each.
Bathroom Sinks
- Undermount
- Vessel
- Drop-In
- Wall Mounted
- Pedestal
- Consoles
Bathroom Faucets
- Single Hole
- Widespread
- Center set
- Mini-Widespread
- Vessel
- Wall Mounted
- Waterfall Faucets
- Basin Taps
Toilets, Toilet Seats, and Bidets
Kohler Co. has a unique line of toilets, toilet seats, and bidets. They offer the highest-quality products for their customers, and here’s a brief list of each.
Toilets
- One Piece
- Two Piece
- Elongated Toilets
- Round Toilets
- Wall Hung Toilets
- Toilets With Bidet Seats
- Chair Height
- Dual Flush
- 10 Inch Rough In
- 12 Inch Rough In
- 14 Inch Rough In
Toilet Seats
- Elongated
- Round
- Soft Close
- Seats With Night Light
- Seats With Warm Air Dryer
Bidets
- Heated Seats
- Night Light
- Quiet/Soft Close
- Quick Release
- Grip Tight Bumpers
- Warm Air Dryer
Related: 10 Best Bidets with Warm Water and Dryer in 2022
Bathtubs and Showers
Kohler Co. makes a variety of showers, bathtubs, and features.
Showers
- Hand Showers
- Shower Faucets
- Shower Systems
- Shower Doors
- Digital Showers
- Shower Enclosures
- Outdoor Shower Faucets
Bathtubs
- Soaking Tubs
- Whirlpool Tubs
- Air Tubs
- Combination Tubs
- Alcove Tubs
- Freestanding Tubs
- Corner Tubs
- Walk-In Tubs
- Clawfoot Tubs
- Jetted Tubs
Kitchen Sinks and Faucets
Here’s a quick list of all the kitchen sinks and faucets that Kohler Co. offers.
Kitchen Faucets
- Pullout Spray
- Pre-rinse
- Magnetic Docking
- Bridge Faucet
- Sidespray
- Touch/Touchless
- Soap Dispenser Included
Kitchen Sinks
- Undermount
- Farmhouse
- Drop-In
- Single Bowl
- Double Bowl
- Stainless
- Cast-Iron
- Composite
- Fireclay
- Workstation
Lighting
Kohler Co. also offers a selection of lighting for inside and outside your home. Here’s a quick list.
- Bathroom lighting
- Chandeliers
- Pendant Lighting
- Flush and Semi-Flush Mounts
- Wall Sconces
- Outdoor Lighting
Does Kohler Offer Good Customer Service?
Kohler has a slightly better rating than Delta on Yelp with 3 out of 5 stars. They seem to offer good customer service and have a loyal customer base. Their customer service phone number and email are displayed prominently on their website. They also offer a limited lifetime warranty on their products.
Faucet Comparisons
The best way to determine which company offers the best products is by comparing some of their similar faucets. Here’s a quick comparison so you can determine which company has the products you need.
3 Delta Faucet Examples
1. Delta Faucet Essa 
The Delta Faucet Essa is a simple design with a pull-out sprayer and is finished in a nice chrome. It’s made with DIAMOND seal technology to help prevent leaks and has touch-clean spray holes that make it easy to wipe away mineral build-up with the swipe of a finger.
2. Delta Faucet Modern Matte Black 
This faucet has a sleek design with a modern matte black finish. It comes with a lifetime warranty upon installation and is also easy to clean. It also uses 20% less water which is environmentally friendly and will save you money.
3. Delta Faucet Keele 
The Delta Faucet Keele has a simple design and is finished with nickel. It has magnetic docking, a pull-out sprayer, and a high-arc design that swivels 360 degrees. The dual-function sprayer can shift between a stream and spray for convenient use.
3 Kohler Faucet Examples
1. Bathroom Faucet by KOHLER 
This sleek bathroom faucet by KOHLER has a simple design with a chrome finish. It’s made with ceramic disk valves to increase the product’s longevity, and the chrome finish is resistant to corrosion and tarnish.
2. KOHLER Purist Single-Handle semi-Professional Kitchen Sink Faucet 
This faucet has a unique design and a modern matte black finish. This faucet has a pull-down sprayer with a 3-function spray head. It uses magnetic docking and has an easy-to-clean spray surface that can withstand mineral build-up.
3. KOHLER Simplice 
The KOHLER Simplice faucet features a high arc design with a shiny stainless steel finish. It has a pull-down sprayer with a 3-function spray head for convenient use and also features a mineral build-up resistant spray surface.
Comparison Questions
Which Offers a Larger Variety of Faucet Models?
Both companies offer a wide variety of faucet models, and each has their own unique collections that cater to specific styles. Delta has a total of 79 collections, which are split into three categories; traditional, transitional, and contemporary.
Kohler has over 200 collections, each with several of its own products, and 15 collections just for their bathroom faucets. Kohler beats out Delta with the variety of products that they offer.
Which is Known to Produce More Modern Designs?
Kohler is known to produce more modern designs than Delta. Delta produces a wider range of designs, including designs that some would consider more ‘old-fashioned’. Kohler focuses on producing more modern and high-end products.
Do Both Offer Touchless Faucets? (Sensor Faucets)
Yes, both companies offer touchless faucets. Here’s a quick look at a touchless faucet from each company.
KOHLER Geometric Single-Hole Touch Less AC-Powered Bathroom Sink Faucet 
KOHLER’s touchless faucet comes in a sleek polished chrome and uses adaptive infrared technology. It has a waterproof shroud to protect its electronics.
Delta Faucet Single Hole Bathroom Faucet Touchless
Delta’s touchless faucet is battery-operated and comes in a shiny chrome finish. It also uses infrared technology to activate a stream of water.
Which Company Has Been Around Longer?
Kohler Company has been around longer than Delta. The Kohler company was founded in 1883, while Delta wasn’t founded until 1921. Delta made the switch to selling plumbing products in 1956, while Kohler began producing faucets in 1926.
Are Delta or Kohler Faucets More Affordable?
Delta faucets are more affordable than Kohler. They focus more on providing affordable faucets and fixtures that don’t compromise on quality. Kohler’s focus is more on providing the highest quality and premium products.
Have Both Companies Worked With HGTV?
Yes, Delta Faucets has sponsored HGTV’s Dream Home for many years. Kohler has worked with HGTV on their Smart Homes project.
Do Plumbers Prefer Delta or Kohler Products?
Many plumbers approve of both products for their ease of installation and overall quality. However, it seems that many plumbers prefer working with Delta’s products because their general upkeep is easier and less complicated than Kohler’s products.
The Verdict- Which Faucet Company is Better?
Delta and Kohler are both excellent companies in their own right. They offer a wide range of products and strive to offer their customers the best service possible. However, there can only be one winner here, and that winner is Delta.
While Delta hasn’t been in business as long as Kohler, they have made strides to make their products more affordable and accessible than Kohler. Their products have a wide range of styles to meet their customers’ needs, and they have an active online presence that keeps them connected to their customer base.
Jamie is the Founder of My Home Dwelling. He is a homeowner and enjoys sharing his homeowner tips with others. He has real estate experience working as a new home construction Realtor. Jamie has worked on numerous residential construction sites helping with interior and exterior renovations. He loves refinishing furniture, DIY home projects, and sharing his knowledge online.