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Every kitchen faucet sold in the United States for drinking-water use has been legally required to meet a federal "lead-free" definition since 2014, but that requirement is easy to misread. It doesn't mean zero lead anywhere in the fixture. It means the parts that actually touch water (the wetted surfaces) average no more than 0.25% lead by weight. The standard that verifies a specific faucet actually meets that number is NSF/ANSI/CAN 372, and it's a distinct line item from the NSF/ANSI 53 filtration certification we cover in our water filter guides. A faucet can be certified for one, both, or neither, and the only way to know is to check the manufacturer's own documentation rather than assume a "lead-free" label on the box tells the whole story. We checked five widely sold kitchen faucets directly against their manufacturers' published certification records to confirm which ones carry it.
What NSF/ANSI 372 Certification Actually Verifies
NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 is the American National Standard that sets a maximum weighted-average lead content of 0.25% for the wetted surfaces of plumbing products intended for human consumption: faucets, valves, pipes, and fittings. This is the standard behind the federal "lead-free" definition set by the 2014 Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act, which lowered the previous allowable limit from 8% lead content. It is a manufacturing and materials standard, not a filtration standard: it tests what the faucet itself is made of, not what contaminants pass through it.
NSF/ANSI 372 is a separate certification from NSF/ANSI 53, which covers contaminant reduction performance in filters, and from NSF/ANSI 61, a broader health-effects and material-safety standard that (since a 2017 revision) generally requires 372 compliance as a component but is still tracked and certified as its own line item. A faucet's spec sheet listing "NSF 61/9 & 372" is citing both: 61 for overall material safety, and the "9" and "372" notations specifically for the lead-content requirement. For the standards that govern what a filter actually removes from your water, see our guide to PFAS and lead water filters and our NSF-certified shower filter guide, both of which cover NSF/ANSI 53 and 58.
NSF/ANSI 372 certification can be granted by more than one accredited certification body, not only NSF International itself. Several manufacturers below are certified by IAPMO R&T (the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials' testing arm), which is an ANSI-accredited certifier for the identical NSF/ANSI 372 standard. A faucet stamped with an IAPMO mark referencing "NSF/ANSI 372" carries the same certification as one stamped directly by NSF. It's a different certifying body testing against the same published standard, not a lesser or unrelated one.
5 Verified NSF/ANSI 372 Certified Kitchen Faucets at a Glance
| Faucet | Certifying Body | Style | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRAUS Sellette Pull-Down Faucet (KPF-1680SFS) | IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 61 & 372 | Traditional, spot-free stainless | $214.95 |
| Moen Sleek Pulldown Faucet, Chrome (7864) | IAPMO Green, NSF 61/9 & 372 | Modern high-arc, single-handle | $236.95 |
| Moen Align Pulldown Faucet, Chrome (5923) | IAPMO Green, NSF 61/9 & 372 | Pre-rinse spring, pro-style | $309.99 |
| Moen Align Pulldown Faucet, Spot Resist Stainless (5923SRS) | IAPMO Green, NSF 61/9 & 372 | Pre-rinse spring, pro-style | $410.65 |
| Moen Sleek Pulldown Faucet, Brushed Gold (7864BG) | IAPMO Green, NSF 61/9 & 372 | Modern high-arc, single-handle | $438.55 |
Traditional Style: KRAUS Sellette Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet (KPF-1680SFS)
The KRAUS Sellette (KPF-1680SFS) states its certifications on the product page (NSF/ANSI 61 and 372 certified by IAPMO), alongside a brand-wide statement that all KRAUS faucets comply with lead-free legislation. It has a more traditional design with a beveled base and spot-free stainless finish. It includes a deck plate for 1, 2, or 3-hole sink installations and a dual-function sprayhead.
Certified for: NSF/ANSI 372 lead content, NSF/ANSI 61 material safety (both via IAPMO R&T), cUPC (ASME A112.18.1/CSA B125.1).
Finish: Spot-Free Stainless Steel
Price: $214.95
KRAUS Sellette Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet (KPF-1680SFS) , Buy on Amazon ($214.95) ↗
Everyday Pick: Moen Sleek Pulldown Kitchen Faucet, Chrome (7864)
Moen's own product-specifications sheet for the Sleek 7864 series states its STANDARDS section verbatim: "Third party certified to IAPMO Green, ASME A112.18.1/CSA B125.1 and all applicable requirements therein including NSF 61/9 & 372." It's a single-handle, high-arc pulldown with PowerBoost spray technology and a 68-inch braided pulldown hose, rated for 1.5 gpm at 60 psi.
Certified for: NSF 61/9 and 372 lead content (via IAPMO Green certification), ASME A112.18.1/CSA B125.1.
Finish: Chrome
Price: $236.95
Moen Sleek Pulldown Kitchen Faucet, Chrome (7864) , Buy on Amazon ($236.95) ↗
Pro-Style Pick: Moen Align Pulldown Kitchen Faucet, Chrome (5923)
The Moen Align (5923 series) spec sheet carries the identical certification language as the Sleek above: "IAPMO Green, ASME A112.18.1/CSA B125.1 ... including NSF 61/9 & 372", in a restaurant-style design with an exposed coil spring and pre-rinse pulldown spray. It's built for a higher-reach, higher-clearance workflow around a large sink.
Certified for: NSF 61/9 and 372 lead content (via IAPMO Green certification), ASME A112.18.1/CSA B125.1.
Finish: Chrome
Price: $309.99
Moen Align Pulldown Kitchen Faucet, Chrome (5923) , Buy on Amazon ($309.99) ↗
Pro-Style Pick, Stainless: Moen Align Pulldown Kitchen Faucet, Spot Resist Stainless (5923SRS)
Same certified Align model as above in Moen's Spot Resist Stainless finish, which resists fingerprints and water spots. Certification documentation is identical across finishes of the same 5923 series: the finish suffix doesn't change the certified internal components.
Certified for: NSF 61/9 and 372 lead content (via IAPMO Green certification), ASME A112.18.1/CSA B125.1.
Finish: Spot Resist Stainless
Price: $410.65
Moen Align Pulldown Kitchen Faucet, Spot Resist Stainless (5923SRS) , Buy on Amazon ($410.65) ↗
Premium Finish: Moen Sleek Pulldown Kitchen Faucet, Brushed Gold (7864BG)
The same certified Sleek 7864 series in a Brushed Gold finish, the highest-priced pick in this lineup. Certification is identical to the Chrome 7864 above (IAPMO Green, NSF 61/9 & 372) per Moen's own spec sheet for the series.
Certified for: NSF 61/9 and 372 lead content (via IAPMO Green certification), ASME A112.18.1/CSA B125.1.
Finish: Brushed Gold
Price: $438.55
Moen Sleek Pulldown Kitchen Faucet, Brushed Gold (7864BG) , Buy on Amazon ($438.55) ↗
Why Delta, Pfister, and American Standard Aren't on This List
We checked Delta's and Pfister's own certification pages directly before finalizing this lineup. Delta's "No Lead Compliant" page states that its faucets are "tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 61," and Pfister's certifications page states its kitchen faucets are certified to "NSF/ANSI/CAN 61: Q≤1 Lead-Requirements, meaning no more than 0.25% lead in all wetted surfaces." Both describe the same 0.25% lead-content threshold that NSF/ANSI 372 sets, but neither manufacturer's own page states the "372" standard number verbatim the way Moen's and Kraus's documentation does. That may simply be a difference in how each brand labels the identical underlying compliance rather than a real gap in coverage, but we won't print a "certified to NSF/ANSI 372" claim we can't point to in the manufacturer's own words. We could not locate a comparable American Standard faucet certification page stating either standard number directly. If that changes on a future check, we'll update this guide rather than assume the claim.
How to Verify Any Faucet's Lead-Free Certification Yourself
- Check the manufacturer's own product spec sheet or certifications page for the exact phrase "NSF/ANSI 372" or "NSF/ANSI/CAN 372," not just a general "lead-free" marketing label.
- Note which certifying body performed the testing (NSF International, IAPMO R&T, WQA, and others are all valid ANSI-accredited certifiers for this standard): a different certifier's name on the mark doesn't mean a lesser certification.
- Remember that NSF/ANSI 372 covers the faucet's own materials, not what a filter does to your water. If you're also filtering for contaminants like PFAS or lead already in your supply, that's a separate certification covered in our PFAS and lead water filter guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does "lead-free" mean a faucet contains zero lead?
No. The federal "lead-free" definition under NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 allows a weighted average of up to 0.25% lead content in the wetted surfaces of a plumbing product. It's a strict legal threshold, not a claim of zero lead content.
Q: What's the difference between NSF/ANSI 372 and NSF/ANSI 53 on a faucet or filter?
NSF/ANSI 372 certifies the lead content of the fixture's own materials. NSF/ANSI 53 certifies that a filter reduces specific contaminants already present in the water passing through it. A kitchen faucet can be NSF/ANSI 372 certified with no filtration certification at all, and a separate filter attached to it can carry its own NSF/ANSI 53 certification for a different set of claims.
Q: Does the Environmental Working Group rate or certify kitchen faucets?
No. The Environmental Working Group does not rate or certify kitchen faucets or other plumbing fixtures. For this category, the relevant certification is NSF/ANSI/CAN 372, granted by ANSI-accredited certifying bodies such as NSF International and IAPMO R&T.
Q: Is an IAPMO-certified faucet the same as an NSF-certified one?
For the NSF/ANSI 372 standard specifically, yes. IAPMO R&T is an ANSI-accredited certifier authorized to test and certify products against the same published NSF/ANSI 372 standard that NSF International itself certifies against. The certifying body's name differs; the standard and the 0.25% lead-content threshold do not.
Q: My faucet is old. Should I assume it's not lead-free certified?
The federal lead-free requirement took effect in 2014. A faucet manufactured or sold before that date was not required to meet the current 0.25% threshold, and older fixtures may use materials with higher lead content by today's standard. Check your specific model's original documentation, or consider a current NSF/ANSI 372 certified replacement if you're renovating.
This article contains affiliate links. NonToxicFinder (Solved Labs LLC) may earn commissions on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with the Environmental Working Group.
