Pfister vs. Moen Faucets – What Are the Differences?

If you fit out your kitchen or bathroom with new faucets, then you’ll want to ensure you choose an option that is going to be high-quality, stylish and offers good value for money. 

Both Pfister and Moen are well-respected manufacturers of faucets, and it might be difficult to figure out which brand of faucet will represent the best choice for you. 

Here we investigate the differences between the two bathroom and kitchen faucet companies and compare them to each other based on important factors, such as price, design, and innovation.

Company Background

Pfister

Website: https://www.pfisterfaucets.com/

Pfister is a manufacturer of luxury faucets, bathroom and kitchen accessories, and plumbing fixtures. It was founded in Los Angeles in 1910 by Emil Price and William Pfister and was known as ‘Price ‘Pfister’ up until 2010, when the name was simplified to just ‘Pfister.’

After starting out with a garden faucet, the company expanded its line to include other types of faucets and nozzles over the following decade.

Today they are known for offering reasonably priced, high-quality faucets and plumbing fixtures to hotels and residential properties. They are now owned by the parent company Spectrum Brands Holdings Incorporated Hardware and Home Improvement Group.

Moen

Website: https://www.moen.com/

Moen is a manufacturer of luxury faucets and bathroom and kitchen fixtures, including shower systems and garbage disposals. It was founded in 1956 with a line of faucets invented by Alfred M. Moen.

Today it is headquartered in Ohio and owned by Fortune Brands Home & Security. Moen has a reputation for supplying high-end faucets and other plumbing fixtures.

Range Comparison

Single or Double Handed Faucets

Single-handed faucets are those that only have one handle and, therefore, only require one hand to operate. This individual handle operates both the hot and cold water, as well as the water pressure. It is easier and more convenient to use than a double-handed faucet because you can use it even if your other hand is busy doing something else,, such as holding a baby or scrubbing dishes.

The double-handed faucet has two handles; one to control hot water and one to control cold water. This design of the faucet is the least desirable as it is less convenient to use and doesn’t look as sleek as a single-handed faucet.

Most luxury faucets have extensive ranges of single-handed faucets, while double-handed faucets tend to be budget buys. Most of Moen’s range of faucets is centered around single-handed options. They do offer a few double-handed faucets, but your choice of these will be limited. Equally, Pfister also offers both single and double-handed faucets.

Pull Down Faucets

Pull-down faucets, also known as extendable faucets, can have the nozzle pulled out and down to reach all corners of the basin. These have grown enormously in popularity over the last decade as they allow people greater control of their water flow.

This helps them to clean more easily and get up close to stains. It also makes filling up large or deep pots and pans much easier. Both Moen and Pfister have a good selection of pull-down faucets in their range.

Hands-Free Faucets

Hands-free faucets are most commonly found in public bathrooms, such as those in airports and shopping malls; however, they have now come to the consumer market for installation in residential properties.

The key benefit of these types of faucets is that you don’t have to actually touch the faucet to turn the water on and off, which greatly reduces the spread of germs. Instead, you can wave in front of the faucet sensor to activate the water flow, or some hands-free faucets are voice-operated.

Moen has a range of hands-free faucets available, with the most impressive of these being the ‘U by Moen Smart Faucet.’ This faucet can be controlled in several ways; by waving at it, by voice activation, by using an app, or manually in the event of a power outage. Not only can you turn the water on using voice control, but you can also alter the temperature and water flow.

Pfister also offers hands-free faucets using the motion sensor technology they call ‘React.’ These faucets are controlled by waving a hand a few inches in front of the sensor to turn them on and off. If someone forgets to turn the faucet off, these are programmed to automatically turn off after a few minutes in order to save water and energy.

Price Comparison

When it comes to price, Pfister offers more budget-friendly options than Moen. You can find Pfister faucets priced at around the $50 mark if you are trying to keep costs down, while Moen faucets typically start at around $100 for their basic models,, such as double-handed faucets.

Most of Pfister’s faucets are priced between $100 to $300, while Moen’s faucets sit more comfortably between the price bracket of $200 to $600.

Moen has some luxury faucet models that can cost as much as $3000, so this is the brand you need if you’re looking to impress. If a lower, more reasonable cost is important to you, then Pfister will be most suitable.

Innovation Comparison

Some of the features offered by both Moen and Pfister are very innovative and will suit different customers, depending on their preferences.

One feature offered by both Moen and Pfister is a technology that prevents staining on the surface of the faucets. Moen calls this ‘Spot Resist,’ while for Pfister, it is ‘Spot Defence.’

This technology uses a special finish on the faucets that prevents sticky fingerprints from showing, as well as calcium buildup from mineral deposits. This will be great for anyone who gets frustrated with having to constantly clean their faucets.

Moen also offers ‘Power Boost’ technology on some of their faucets, which allows the user to press a button and cause the water flow to double. Moen promises that this will enable the faucet to fill up a large pot in half the time of a standard faucet, making it ideal for people who get impatient waiting for their basin to fill up with water.

If filtered water is important to you, then Pfister has developed the ‘Xtract Water Filter.’ This is a fully recyclable filter that is fitted beneath the faucet and lasts for around six months before it will need replacing.

It removes contaminants from the water as it flows to the faucet, providing the user with clean drinking water. You can switch between filtered and non-filtered water easily so as not to run down the filter unnecessarily. For example, when you need water for washing dishes.

Quality Comparison

Both Moen and Pfister manufacture top-quality faucets, so you can’t really go wrong when choosing between the two. Some people believe that Moen faucets will last for longer than Pfister faucets, and this may be the case in some instances, but it will also come down to the type of faucet you choose and how well you look after it.

Pfister happily backs the quality of their products with a ‘Pforever warranty,’ which covers the finish and function of a faucet for as long as the buyer resides at that property. Moen offers a similar lifetime warranty on its faucets, with the parts covered under the warranty for 12 months after the purchase date.

Style Comparison

Both Moen and Pfister offer very stylish designs of faucets. Moen’s faucets typically have a more traditional look and come in a wide range of finishes, including brass and wrought iron.

Pfister faucets tend to have a more modern look, which would better suit a minimalist interior style compared with Moen’s more classic look. Both faucet manufacturers have various color and finish options, including gold, copper, as well as brushed and matte stainless steel.

In Conclusion

Whether you choose Pfister or Moen to supply your faucets, you are likely making a great choice. Both of these manufacturers have a long history of great products and excellent customer service. They are experts in their fields and offer high-quality faucets that are covered with excellent warranties for added peace of mind.

The best option for you will come down to your priorities and what you want most out of your new faucet. If budget is your main consideration, you will find Pfister faucets slightly more affordable than Moen faucets.

For superior innovation with regards to hands-free faucets, then Moen will be a solid choice as they offer an impressive range of sensor faucets with different technological developments.

In terms of style, both faucet manufacturers have a wide range of very nice-looking faucets that would add a luxury feel to any kitchen or bathroom. If you are more drawn toward modern and contemporary designs, Pfister offers a good selection of faucets to suit this style. If you would prefer a more classic-looking faucet that won’t go out of style, then Moen is perfect for this.