Best boiling water taps of 2024 in the UK - a definitive guide to top-rated hot water taps from Quooker, Qettle and more, written by a kitchen expert

If you're considering investing in one of the best boiling water taps for your kitchen, then you've made an excellent decision.

While they're not cheap, hot water taps and boiling water taps are totally game-changing. Those of us on the Ideal Home team who have them all agree that we'd rather live without a dishwasher than give up our boiling water taps!

Most of the boiling water taps in this guide are designed to simply replace your existing kitchen tap and make the best kettle obsolete, without the need to drill a new hole into your worktop. They offer regular cold and hot water, plus filtered boiling water from the same spout. Some can also be upgraded to include filtered ambient, chilled and sparkling water.

In order to compile this list, I've either had hands-on experience testing these taps, or know someone trustworthy who has one, so I'm in a good place to give recommendations. I've also channelled my own extensive expertise in the kitchen industry (24 years and counting), to present you this shortlist. Essentially, I've done all the groundwork, so you don't have to.

The quick list

Tight for time? This quick list is an overview of the very best boiling and hot water taps. You'll find more information on each tap and why I recommend each one if you keep on scrolling.

Best boiling water tap overall

The Dutch-designed Quooker was the first ever 100°C boiling water tap and, in my opinion, yet to be beaten! This best-selling 3-in-1 Fusion model comes in a curved or square spout. You can also get a Classic version with more traditional detailing. Ditch bottled water and add a CUBE tank, which delivers chilled still and sparkling water that’s ultra-purified and tastes amazing.

I’ve tried the Quooker Fusion on several occasions, at friends’ homes and kitchen showrooms. Plus, our Editor-in-Chief Heather Young has owned a Fusion Square in patinated brass for a year and is totally smitten. ‘It always delivers boiling water whenever we need it – we have the three-litre tank and have never experienced it running out of hot water, or not being hot enough,’ she says. ‘I use it both for hot drinks and to fill pans when I need boiling water for pasta or cooking eggs, for example.’ Heather is completely in love with the brass finish and says it needs little-to-no cleaning and actually looks better with age.

One downside Heather has highlighted, and I have also noticed, is how much steam the Quooker Fusion produces. Like many true boiling water taps, it can be a little spitty too, which is scary at first, but you soon learn how to stay away from the spray. Top tip: hold the tap spout right down into your mug, jug or pan so the sides of the vessel protect you from spitting water.

‘The on mechanism also takes a little bit of getting used to – once you know the action it's fine, but visitors often have trouble operating the tap themselves,’ adds Heather.

To access boiling water, you push the textured metal ring down twice to release the safety lock, then twist to turn it on and off. I’d agree it’s quite fiddly and not great for those with reduced grip. I do like the LED light ring that glows red to show you’re in boiling water mode though.

Best boiling water tap for energy efficiency

Grohe Red Duo taps are rated A for energy efficiency thanks to a corrosion proof titanium boiler with excellent insulation, making them one of the cheapest hot water taps to run. The high L-shape spout swivels 150° too, meaning that it gets our vote when it comes to doubling as a pot filler.

I tried the Grohe Red Duo at a trade show and was particularly impressed by its high-tech design and child safety mechanism, which is tested and certified by renowned German Safety Testing body TÜV. To activate hot water you press the lock icon until the LED ring on the handle flashes, and then the beaker icon below will dispense.

‘The child lock means that little fingers can’t get anywhere near the hot water, which is a huge bonus for families,’ confirms interiors influencer and stylist Lisa Dawson, who has one in her own kitchen and quickly discovered it made a huge difference to family life. ‘Steaming or boiling vegetables is so much easier when you can fill a pan within moments without having to wait for it to boil. Not only is this beneficial timings-wise, reducing your prep time by at least five minutes, but it also means that you are using less gas and thus is overall a more sustainable option,’ she adds.

You do need to keep your finger on the beaker icon to keep the near-boiling water flowing, which is fine for a cup of tea or two but could leave you with finger fatigue if you attempt more. The solution is a teapot, and the handy pan filling function (press the lock icon twice to activate – the LEDs flash green) that delivers up to three litres in 60 seconds, without the need to stand there holding the button down.

The hot water tank comes in two neatly compact sizes. The 3L capacity tank is 37cm high, and 5.5L tank is 49cm high. But as they are both only 21cm in diameter, they will only take up a third of a standard 60cm-wide kitchen cabinet, leaving plenty of space for mugs and teabags etc. Water is filtered before it enters the boiler and Grohe’s cartridges not only filter out impurities but add in essential minerals such as magnesium and zinc.

Do bear in mind that water is dispensed at 99°C, which is better than some hot water taps but not quite boiling. However, the 1° temperature drop does contribute to a smooth, spit-free flow. ‘The only time I notice it’s not boiling is when I add milk to tea. It's still hot, but it's not PIPING hot. But that's it, it's perfect otherwise,’ says Lisa. ‘I've had my Grohe Red Duo for around six years now and it's still going strong, I’ve never any issues with it.’

Best boiling water tap for filling pans

Franke’s excellent Minerva and Omni boiling water taps are being phased out, a change that was due to have occurred by 1st March 2024, to make way for this all-new Maris Water Hub. Existing models will continue to be warrantied and supported by the Franke Customer Service Team and Field Service Engineers, so don’t worry if you’ve got one installed.

It’s too box-fresh to get user feedback but I can totally vouch for Franke, a leading Swiss manufacturer and big cheese in the world of sinks and taps since 1911 and my go-to for stainless-steel sinks. This tap’s highlight is its electronic touch controls, which are super user-friendly and include pre-set 30 and 60 second programmes. (There’s also a mechanical version without the pre-sets for £240 less.)

To operate, press the control once, and twist backwards to release the safety function. Then hold the control in continuously to make a cuppa, it will deactivate once released. For pan filling, press twice for a 30 second hands’ free dispense (around 1L), or three times for 60 seconds (around 2L). This allows you to leave it to fill a pan while you get on with other tasks.

The boiling water controls feature a discreet LED ring that glows red to indicate boiling water is available, then rotates when boiling water is flowing. An orange LED ring is your reminder to replace the filter. It also has an ECO-cartridge fitted on the hot/cold controls, which reduces the flow rate by 50% for general use, like washing hands or vegetables, but can be overruled to full flow for quickly filling a sink. You can also limit the max temperature on the hot tap to help cut your energy bill.

Upgrade to 4-in-1 functionality with filtered drinking water by adding the Filtration Kit, £265, to your shopping basket. The boiler tank comes in 4L or 7L, both with the same space-saving 22.9cm diameter. I predict sell-out success.

Most affordable boiling water tap

Part of Greg Rowe Limited (previously of Perrin & Rowe fame), QETTLE was launched with the sole aim of offering high-quality true boiling water taps with value-for-money price tags. The brand’s Original model starts from just £545, and it’s worth noting the replacement filters are way cheaper than its rivals at around £30.

This is the boiling water tap I bought for our kitchen, after endless research. Besides the brand’s stellar reputation in the brassware industry, my main motivation for choosing the Signature Modern above all others was its extra safety feature.

Alongside the usual two-stage push-and-turn anti-scald mechanism, it comes with a plastic safety clip that you slot over the boiling water control to physically stop tots in their tracks. Admittedly it’s not pretty, but I really appreciated that extra peace-of-mind when my girls were too young to really understand the dangers.

There are three tank size options, two, four or seven litres. We went for four, which delivers eight cups of boiling water at a time. This is enough to fill a large pan of potatoes but, we discovered last winter, not quite enough to fill four hot water bottles. It only takes five minutes to boil a fresh tank so, on balance, I think we got it right for our family of four.

We chose the solid stainless-steel finish as I know from experience that it’s the easiest to clean, but I was also tempted by the gunmetal (shown), which is a bit different and not as harsh as black. There’s a small LED light at the base that will flash (impatiently) when it’s time to change the filter. There’s also a classic design for more traditional kitchens and a cute mini version if you want boiling water as an Add-on, without regular hot and cold. It comes with ambient filtered drinking water – add chilled for £375.

My QETTLE Signature Modern is an older model, which has a lever handle for the boiling water, but the new design comes with a round handle, with safety button, as standard. However, Qettle are happy to fit a lever handle by special request – usually from older folk who are a little less dextrous.

Best boiling water tap for tea

InSinkErator boiling water taps are endorsed by multi-award winning interior designer Kelly Hoppen CBE as a 'no brainer… perfect for anyone with a busy kitchen and lifestyle'. The Italian-made taps look great but the fact that they don’t dispense at 100°C may put some buyers off - though that will probably suit tea-lovers, whose main use for a hot tap is filling their teapot, just fine.

The boiler features a digital, adjustable thermostat that lets you set the water temperature from 88°C to 99°C. The boiler is compact at 2.5 litres; it’s a shame you can’t pick a larger one.

The easy-to-grip hot water handle has a push-lever safety locking mechanism. This ensures the flow of water stops immediately as soon as the lever is released.

Touch controls mean you can do clever stuff like tap the InSinkErator for 30 seconds of filtered water at ambient temperature, perfect for filling a water bottle. There’s also an optional add-on for filtered, chilled water at 3-10°C. Get it if you don't have a chilled water dispenser on your fridge.

Our favourite design touch is the fact that it’s so discreet: it looks like a normal, two-lever kitchen tap but there’s a subtle button on the front.

Best looking boiling water tap

Caple has an excellent reputation within the kitchen industry and is the preferred brand of many top kitchen specialists nationwide. The brand was relatively new when I first started working in the kitchen industry, more than 20 years ago, and I’ve witnessed it go from strength-to-strength, securing a solid name for producing innovative, long-lasting appliances, sinks and taps, that won’t break the bank. They’re not a budget manufacturer, but you won’t be paying eye-watering designer prices either.

What I love about the Joya 3-in-1 is its sleek, minimalist design. The three-hole installation is unusual for a hot water tap, and flexible – you can install the two control knobs up to 3cm from the spout, allowing a choice of configurations. The knurled finish of the controls is a nice detail, too, and also practical grip-wise when your hands are wet. I know this because I have bathroom taps with knurled handles!

There is one sequential control knob, which you turn from cold to mixed to hot water, and the second knob is dedicated to the near-boiling water delivery. The safety mechanism on this tap involves pushing a button at the rear of the handle and then twisting to access the near-boiling water. A spring mechanism will shut off the water if you release the handle, so you need to hold it down for the duration of the pour, which is standard practice and prevents hot water billowing out unattended.

Supplied with a decent capacity 3.5L tank capable of delivering 120 cups per hour, it should be perfect for larger families and keen chefs. The boiler tank is fairly compact (H34.7cm x W23.2cm x D24.8cm) and has a neat digital display that’s easy to use.

Suitable for use with water pressure as low as 0.5bar, it's a good choice for homes with low pressure systems. One downside is the replacement filters. Priced at £164.77, you won’t look forward to that expense every six months.

How we tested and ranked these boiling water taps

In line with how we test products that we recommend at Ideal Home, I've indicated in the write-ups above which of these products I've had hands-on experience with, which are owned by members of the Ideal Home team, and those that we haven't tested but I have consulted an expert about.

When I have tried a tap hands-on, I've made sure to test or enquire as to the exact temperature of the water it dispenses, to judge how easy it is to use and to get hands-on in order to evaluate how easy the tap is to use. It's not just a rating of how tactile each tap is, I also look at how a less able person might be able to use a tap, and how stringent the childproof features are too.

Energy efficiency has factored importantly in this list too, and was high on my agenda to ask other experts when I asked them about their hot taps. When it wasn't possible for me to test a tap in person, I made sure to extensively talk to someone who owned one of those taps or have had dealings with that particular brand.

The result is this shortlist, which is filled with information on each tap and why it might suit you. Below you can see the hot taps that members of the Ideal Home team have and use.

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FAQs

Are boiling water taps expensive to run?

How much it costs to run a boiling water tap takes some serious maths, so we've done that for you. But if you're in a rush, the long and short of it is that boiling water taps are cheaper to run than kettles, which are on average 2.5p per boil, compared to 10p to fully refill a 3 litre boiling water tank.

Is it a boiling water tap or hot water tap?

One of the biggest factors when buying is whether to get a tap that delivers true boiling water at 100°C or one that’s a fraction cooler, also known as an ‘instant hot water tap’. Check what you're getting in advance to avoid disappointment.

For some, such as herbal tea fans who argue that boiling water scorches delicate leaves, a tap delivering water that’s nearly but not quite boiling is preferable, or perhaps even a boiling water dispenser might suffice, something we discuss on our feature on boiling water taps vs hot water dispensers. These instant hot taps are often a little cheaper, and generally less spitty/steamy when they pour, too.

A couple of degrees makes little difference if you’re filling a saucepan to cook pasta or making up a hot water bottle, but true 100°C water is better for everything from making hot drinks straight from the tap, to sanitising dishcloths. The melting power of a true boiling water tap is also excellent for de-greasing roasting pans before they go in the dishwasher, and dissolving stock pots, jelly cubes, and softening instant noodles.

Nearly boiling water isn’t suitable for sterilising baby bottles or mixing formula either, so you should ensure you get one capable of 100°C if that’s one of your incentives for buying.

Throughout this buyer’s guide, we’ve outlined the water temperatures each tap delivers and called the water from the ones that are lower than 100°C ‘near-boiling’. You could also call it ‘kettle hot’.

Are boiling water taps safe?

If you're considering investing in the best boiling water tap and have young children or vulnerable people in your home (or even just visiting), you'll want to know if it's safe.

'Unlike kettles that can be spilt or are boiling to the touch, boiling water taps cannot be tipped, have cool-touch spouts and no trailing cables. They are all round sound investments for a safe, efficient and stylish kitchen,' says Quooker’s MD Stephen Johnson.

By law, boiling water taps must feature special safety mechanisms that make it difficult for little ones to access the boiling supply. These are usually push-lever safety locks, that require a two-step process to turn the boiling water on. Most shut off instantly the minute the lever is released, preventing you accidentally walking away from a tap that's pouring out steaming water.

It's also worth noting that the boiling water comes out of a separate hose to the regular hot and cold tap so your child won't get accidentally scalded by lingering boiling water in the spout when turning on the tap to wash their hands.

How do boiling water taps work?

It's a great question - so much so that we've written an entire feature on how boiling water taps work, including a run down of the basic features and boiling times generally.

If you want the short answer then boiling water taps vary in how they work, but most are connected to the hot and cold supply under your sink, with an extra connection to a mini boiler tank that also lives in the cupboard under the sink. You'll need a 13amp socket to power the boiler. Most can be fitted and maintained by a qualified plumber, which we delve into in our feature on whether boiling water taps are easy to install.

A boiling water tank will pass regular cold water through a filter before heating it to the desired temperature and storing it, ready to go. This creates a constant supply of boiling or near-boiling water, on-tap.

You probably won't empty the tank completely during daily use but if you do, it usually takes around three-eight minutes for the tank to be ready for use again (depending on tank size).

If you're undecided between tank sizes, and have the cupboard space, we'd recommend sizing up, not down. A tank with a capacity of around 2.4-3L should be sufficient for a family of four.