Kidneys donated after circulatory death (DCD) perform similarly to kidneys donated after brain death (DBD). However, the respective incidences of delayed graft function (DGF) differ. This questions the donor type-specific impact of early graft function on long-term outcome. Using competing risk and cox regression analysis, we compared death-censored graft loss between types of early graft function: DGF (temporary dialysis dependency started within seven days after transplantation), slow graft function (SGF, three-day plasma creatinine decline less than 10% per day), and immediate graft function (IGF). In 1061 DBD and 1605 DCD graft recipients (January 2014 until January 2023), graft survival was similar. DGF was associated with death-censored graft loss in DBD and DCD (adjusted hazard ratios [aHR]: DGF in DBD: 1.79 [1.04- 2.91], p = 0.027, DGF in DCD: 1.84 [1.18 - 2.87], p = 0.008; Reference: no DGF). SGF was associated with death-censored graft loss in DBD, but not significantly in DCD (aHR DBD: 2.82 (1.34 - 5.93), p = 0.007, and DCD: 1.54 (0.72 - 3.35), p = 0.262; Reference: IGF). Early graft dysfunction has a differential impact on graft outcome in DBD and DCD. The differences between DBD and DCD should be accounted for in research and the clinic.