Which IIT is better, IIT Delhi or IIT Kanpur?

Both IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur are well-respected institutions in the field of engineering and technology. They are both ranked among the top engineering colleges in India, and they have a reputation for producing successful graduates. However, while choosing between the two you can consider the following aspects 

1. Ranking: According to NIRF rankings, IIT Delhi stands in the second position while IIT Kanpur is in fourth. So IIT Delhi enjoys a better reputation and preference rate than IIT Kanpur mainly because of its location.
2. Course: IIT Kanpur offers an abundance of courses to choose from. It has 8 B.Tech programs; 13 M.Tech programs; several dual degrees; B.Sc and M.Sc; Ph.D. programs and M.Des. (Master of Design). The courses are well-structured with a better grading system than IIT Delhi and thus in this aspect, IIT Kanpur is surely the winner.
3. Placements: The placement scenario at both the IITs are somewhat similar with IIT Delhi at a slight advantage owing to its location. The table below gives the statistical differences between placements of the 2 institutes 

       4. Alumni network: Both IIT Delhi and Kanpur have equally good alumni like N. R. Narayana Murthy and Manindra Agrawal from IIT Kanpur and Sanjay, Binny Bansal, and Chetan Bhagat from IIT Delhi.

       5. IoE: One interesting aspect that sets IIT Delhi apart from IIT Kanpur is its Institute of Eminence (IoE) Status, under which the Institute can make its own decisions regarding course structure, infrastructure, fees, etc. This is unique and only IIT Bombay and Delhi are the IITs that enjoy this status as of now.

Both the IITs are unique in their way with their strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, the ‘better institute’ is more of a personal choice and depends on many factors. If I were in your place, I would have certainly taken IIT Delhi mainly because of its prime location.