The 9 Best Built In Soap Dispensers
Updated by · How we research
Hole size, bottle size and build compared across nine built-in soap dispensers for kitchens and baths. The Moen 3942SRS leads on warranty and capacity. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Before buying a sink-mounted soap pump, look for a spare hole. Sinks drilled for three or four fittings often have one free, sometimes under a cover plate; otherwise someone has to drill through granite or steel. Hole width and counter thickness then decide which pumps fit. They suit kitchens and bathroom vanities, for anyone tired of a sticky bottle by the faucet.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Moen 3942SRS takes the top spot. It's the pump here with the strongest backing: a limited lifetime warranty from a major faucet maker, a large bottle you fill from the top, and fit specs Moen publishes down to the countertop thickness. The Gagalife G16068 stays on as the budget answer, now shown in brushed nickel, and the Fonveth Square stays as the tube-fed choice.
A lot of the old list had gone stale. Delta discontinued the Cassidy, so the Delta RP50781SS takes its place. The Kraus Modern gave way to its brass sibling, the Kraus KSD-43SFS. The Kimi Cuisine now leads to a different model, and the Akicon, Krevare and Ultimate Kitchen pumps are no longer offered. The Gojo CXT is a foam system for public washrooms, so it's out too.
The deciding facts were hole widths and countertop limits from Moen's and Kraus's install specs, plus Pfister's notes on why pumps clog. Owner feedback pointed the same way: the pump wears out before the head does, so a warranty and thin soap matter most.
August 18, 2020:
After some consideration, we have removed the Ultimate Kitchen Extension Tube at this time. In theory, it's a helpful model that extends time between refills, but the installation can be tough to get right, so it's not for everyone. But we kept the Krevare Soaptainer, a tool also designed to make constant refills unnecessary. You can fill it with a wide variety of dish soaps, but you'll need to provide your own pump.
Turning to standard choices, the Kimi Cuisine Brushed Nickel and the Kraus Modern still represent a good value. There's no tricky installation, and the styling is plain yet attractive, so they should complement a variety of kitchen faucets. For a choice that's a little more eye-catching, we added the Akicon Copper, a brass model with a handsome copper-colored finish. Or, there's the Fonveth Contemporary. It has square, angular styling and is offered in several colors, including a brushed gold.
March 29, 2019:
Unfortunately, the Comllen Antique, the Commercial Cool Hand, and the Seafulee Solid all suffer from availability issues, so we removed them, despite their eye-catching designs. Not to worry, though, as we found several other attractive options for kitchens and bathrooms of varying decor schemes. For up-to-date sensibilities, we think the Kraus Modern and the Lazada Contemporary work well; neither is terribly pricey, and they're handsome but not gaudy. For options that would fit into more delicate styles, we selected the Delta Faucet Cassidy and the Avola Modern Oil Rubbed Bronze. Do note that although they both resemble metal, they're crafted from plastic. We also added a couple of options that are just a little different, including the Krevare Soaptainer and the Ultimate Kitchen Extension Tube. The latter comes with a pump while the former does not, but they're both designed to extend the time between refills. If you've got a large, bustling household, these are fine options to consider.
Special Honors
Kohler K-1995 Soap/Lotion Dispenser Kohler's K-1995 is a top-fill deck pump with a 16-ounce bottle, made to match Kohler kitchen faucets. Its spec sheet calls for a hole of about 1-1/16 inches. It's sold through plumbing suppliers and home centers in several finishes. kohler.com
Check The Hole And The Countertop First
Also check the space under the sink: the bottle and shank hang several inches below the deck and can hit a disposal or a drawer.
A built-in dispenser drops through a hole in the sink deck or countertop and is held by a nut underneath, with the bottle hanging below. The hole and the thickness of the counter decide what fits. Moen's 3942 needs a hole of about 1-1/8 inches and works through a countertop up to 2-1/4 inches thick (Moen). Kraus's install guide for its KSD-30 family calls for about 1-1/4 inches and a counter no thicker than 1-3/8 inches without a deck plate (Kraus install guide). Budget pumps such as the Gagalife fit holes from 1 to 1.5 inches and decks up to about 2.17 inches.
Many stainless sinks come drilled for three or four fittings, so a single-handle faucet often leaves a spare hole, sometimes hidden under a cover plate. If there's no spare hole, the counter has to be drilled. Stainless steel needs a sharp hole saw, and granite or quartz needs a diamond core bit, which is usually a job for a fabricator or plumber. Also check the space under the sink: the bottle and shank hang several inches below the deck and can hit a disposal or a drawer.
After installing, look in the base cabinet a few times during the first week. A loose nut or a cracked bottle leaks slowly and can go unnoticed for a long time.
Top-Fill Bottle Or A Tube To A Big Jug
Most dispensers use a bottle of 12 to 18 ounces under the deck. You lift the pump head out and pour soap in from the top, so you never have to open the cabinet. Moen's 3942 holds 18 ounces, Delta's Pilar 13 ounces and Grohe's Cosmopolitan 15 ounces. Delta still sells the Pilar while listing older series such as Cassidy as discontinued (Delta), which matters if you want to match a faucet.
Tube-fed pumps skip the bottle and run a long tube to a full-size soap jug in the cabinet. You change jugs instead of pouring, which suits busy kitchens. The trade-off is priming: the soap has to travel the whole tube before it reaches the spout. Pfister notes that thicker liquids can take 10 to 15 pumps to make their way up the tube, and gravity pulls them back down over time (Pfister).
If you already have a top-fill pump, an extension kit like the Never-MT turns it into a tube-fed one. It replaces the bottle with tubing, a check valve and caps that screw onto store-bought soap bottles.
Keep The Pump From Clogging
The pump is the part that fails, and dried soap is the usual cause. Pfister explains that overfilling lets soap spill into the pump mechanism, where it dries sticky and jams it. Its fix is simple: pull the pump and fill straw straight up, soak them in hot water for about 15 minutes, then pump hot water through until it runs clear (Pfister).
Thin liquid dish soap and hand soap work best. Thick gels, creamy lotions and soaps with beads strain the spring and clog faster. Don't put bleach or cleaners with bleach in the bottle, since the seals and plastic parts aren't made for it.
Material matters too. Brass and stainless steel heads, such as those on the Kraus KSD-43SFS, Grohe 40535000 and Gappo Y35001-1, hold up to daily pressing better than plastic heads with a metal-look coating. Plastic pumps cost less and are fine for light use, but when the coating wears, it can't be fixed. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission lists no recalls for any brand on this page.
How we researched this
We compared 20 built-in soap dispensers and refill kits, checked hole, countertop and reach specs on maker pages and install guides from Moen, Kraus and Delta, read Pfister's pump care guidance, looked for patterns in owner feedback, and checked every brand against U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls. No lab or magazine has published tests of these pumps, so the rankings rest on documents and owner reports.
Frequently asked questions
Are built-in soap dispensers worth it?
Yes, if your sink has a spare hole and you use soap every day. They clear the counter and stop drips around a bottle. If you'd have to drill stone to fit one, a countertop pump costs far less.
Can I install one if my sink has no extra hole?
Only by drilling. Stainless sinks take a hole saw, while granite and quartz need a diamond core bit, which is usually a job for a fabricator. Check the countertop thickness against the pump's limit first.
Can I use dish soap, hand soap or lotion?
Yes. Thin liquid soaps work best. Thick lotions and gels take more presses and clog faster, and bleach can damage the seals.
How do I refill it without going under the sink?
Most models refill from the top: lift the pump head out and pour soap into the bottle. A tube-fed pump or an extension kit draws from a big jug in the cabinet, so you only swap jugs.
Why did my sink soap pump stop working?
Usually dried soap. Pull the pump out, soak it in hot water for about 15 minutes, and pump hot water through it. If it still won't move, the pump needs replacing.
