Performance Comparison
The 1.8 GPM Difference: VIGO Flow Rates vs. the Big Faucet Brands
Every faucet has a number on its spec sheet that decides how fast your stockpot fills: gallons per minute. VIGO's pull-down kitchen faucets are rated at 1.8 GPM — and several of the biggest names in the aisle publish 1.5 GPM on their comparable best-sellers. Here are the numbers, straight from the manufacturers' own spec sheets.
The Edison pull-down in matte brushed gold — rated at 1.8 gallons per minute, the top of its peer set.
In short: VIGO's pull-down kitchen faucets — Edison, Greenwich and Zurich — publish a 1.8 GPM maximum flow rate. On their own spec sheets, Moen's Arbor and Align pull-downs, KOHLER's Simplice and Bellera, and American Standard's Colony PRO publish 1.5 GPM. That is 20 percent more water per minute from the VIGO, within the same federal efficiency framework.
- Flow rate is published on every faucet's spec sheet as GPM (gallons per minute) at 60 psi — the honest way to compare is spec sheet to spec sheet.
- The US federal maximum for kitchen faucets is 2.2 GPM; 1.8 GPM designs balance fill speed with efficiency, and 1.5 GPM models prioritize conservation.
- At 1.8 vs 1.5 GPM, a 16-quart stockpot fills roughly 45 seconds faster — the difference you feel every pasta night.
- Some rivals match VIGO's 1.8 — Delta, KRAUS and Pfister publish it on comparable models. This piece is about the ones that publish less.
- Flow rate says nothing about splash or reach — spray-head design and arc height do that work; the GPM number is about time.
Edison VG02001: 1.8 GPM published flow, dual-mode spray head, spring-coil silhouette.
01 — The Numbers
Spec sheet vs. spec sheet
Flow rate comparisons only mean something when both numbers come from the manufacturer. So: VIGO publishes 1.8 GPM on the Edison, Greenwich and Zurich pull-downs. On their own published spec sheets, at the standard 60 psi test pressure: Moen's Arbor pull-down is rated 1.5 GPM, Moen's Align 1.5 GPM, KOHLER's Simplice 1.5 GPM, KOHLER's Bellera 1.5 GPM, and American Standard's Colony PRO — a faucet with 1.5 gpm printed in its product title — 1.5 GPM.
Fair footnotes, because spec sheets deserve them: KOHLER's Simplice and Bellera include a Boost button that momentarily raises flow about 30 percent while held, and all of these brands sell other models at other rates. The comparison above is best-seller to best-seller, published maximum to published maximum, as of August 2026.
- VIGO Edison, Greenwich, Zurich — 1.8 GPM
- Moen Arbor, Moen Align — 1.5 GPM
- KOHLER Simplice, Bellera — 1.5 GPM
- American Standard Colony PRO — 1.5 GPM
The Zurich pull-down: the same 1.8 GPM rating in a smooth-neck silhouette.
02 — What It Means at the Sink
Twenty percent is not an abstraction
Gallons per minute translates directly into seconds at the sink. Filling a 16-quart stockpot takes about 2 minutes 13 seconds at 1.8 GPM — and about 2 minutes 40 seconds at 1.5. Rinsing a sheet pan, topping a pasta pot, filling a watering can, priming a sous-vide bath: every one of those jobs runs about 20 percent longer at 1.5 GPM. Over a household's year of kitchen time, the slower aerator quietly costs hours.
The flip side deserves honesty too: a 1.5 GPM faucet uses less water per minute of running — that is the point of the rating. But for fill tasks, the water that goes in the pot is the same either way; the lower rate just meters it out more slowly. Efficiency savings accrue on rinse tasks, which is why VIGO pairs the 1.8 GPM rating with a dual-mode spray head — full aerated stream when you are filling, targeted spray when you are rinsing.
And in the shower: VIGO's Dilana 6-jet panel is rated at the federal maximum 2.5 GPM, where eco-focused lines like Moen's Eco-Performance heads publish 1.75 GPM or less. If you want the spa experience at full pressure, check that number before you buy.
Featured in this story
The 1.8 GPM lineup
Edison Pull-Down
VG02001 — 1.8 GPM, dual-mode spray, the signature spring coil.
From $184.90
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Dilana 6-Jet Shower Panel
VG08001 — rated at the 2.5 GPM federal maximum for the full spa experience.
From $509.90
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Explore the rangePull-Down Kitchen Faucets
The 1.8 GPM lineup, from the Edison spring coil to touchless models.
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Rain heads, body jets and handhelds — up to the 2.5 GPM federal maximum.
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Questions, answered
What is the flow rate of VIGO kitchen faucets?
VIGO's pull-down kitchen faucets — including the Edison, Greenwich and Zurich — publish a maximum flow rate of 1.8 GPM (gallons per minute), stated on each product page's specifications.
Is 1.8 GPM better than 1.5 GPM for a kitchen faucet?
For fill tasks, yes — 1.8 GPM delivers 20 percent more water per minute, so pots and pitchers fill noticeably faster. A 1.5 GPM faucet meters water more slowly, which saves on rinse tasks but does not reduce the water a pot actually needs. The US federal maximum for kitchen faucets is 2.2 GPM.
Which faucet brands publish 1.5 GPM on their pull-downs?
As of August 2026, published manufacturer spec sheets list 1.5 GPM maximum flow for Moen's Arbor and Align pull-downs, KOHLER's Simplice and Bellera (each with a momentary Boost feature), and American Standard's Colony PRO. Delta, KRAUS and Pfister publish 1.8 GPM on comparable models, matching VIGO.
What is the maximum flow rate for shower heads?
The US federal maximum is 2.5 GPM. VIGO's Dilana 6-jet shower panel is rated at 2.5 GPM, while eco-focused lines such as Moen Eco-Performance publish 1.75 GPM or less. Some states set lower limits, so check local requirements.
Further reading
Check the number before you buy the look
Two faucets can share a silhouette and live in different speed classes. The spec sheet tells you in one line — and VIGO's line reads 1.8 GPM across the pull-down family.
