What Are The Best Water Filters

The correct water filter bullpen will ameliorate the taste and quality of your drinking water. For bottled h2o drinkers, a proficient home filter system or pitcher tin can also save you hundreds of dollars per yr and keep untold amounts of plastic out of recycling and waste direction systems. Water filter pitchers couldn't exist simpler to employ either -- all that's needed is to fill the pitcher with tap water and requite it a little fleck of fourth dimension to filter into the main reservoir, which can take 30 seconds or a couple of minutes, depending on the model.

Brita is the best-known water filter pitcher brand, but that doesn't mean information technology'due south the best water filter, of course. We tested several top-rated water filter pitchers, with prices ranging from around $18 to over $100, in order to detect the top-performing filters in a category that's rich in options. The best h2o filter pitcher is the i that will quickly and efficiently eliminate the most impurities in regular tap water.

In our concluding round of water filter pitcher testing, 1 model left the residue of the pack in its grit. In this most recent round, that same pitcher made by ZeroWater kept grade, removing nearly all of the total dissolved solids, or TDS, and leaving a clean-tasting drinking glass of Water.

While this i pitcher may take had the best technical results in our testing and is our superlative recommendation for well-nigh people, there are others in the group worthy of consideration for other reasons.

These are the best water filter pitchers for 2022.

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Best overall h2o filter bullpen

ZeroWater

David Watsky/CNET

The ZeroWater was by far the best h2o filter pitcher of the bunch in both this and the previous rounds of testing. This water purifier pitcher is fairly affordable, sturdy and it comes in a few sizes all of which utilise the same filter. Those include a smaller 10-loving cup circular pitcher, 23-cup dispenser with spigot and even a massive 5 gallon water jug that can be fitted onto a h2o cooler.

In our testing, the ZeroWater filter removed nearly all of the TDS from the water nosotros ran through it, finishing with a 0 average reading, making information technology our top performer by far. ZeroWater is so confident in its filter products that each model comes with a TDS water quality tester to run across for yourself how well it works. We used our own tester in addition to the one included and the filter delivered a perfect TDS score on both.

ZeroWater pitchers are a bit more than expensive than Brita and Pur, simply past no ways a luxury purchase with some of the smaller dispensers starting at just $30. Each one uses the same five-stage filter and so you tin can bet that you'll get similarly clean water no matter which unit y'all make up one's mind on. A pitcher filter replacement two-pack costs $30 and each i is supposed to terminal for up to 40 gallons. For comparison, Brita and Pur, on the other hand, sell each of their filters for only $vii -- and claim to have the same forty-gallon filter life.

Best budget filter pitcher

Brita Standard Metro filter pitcher

David Watsky/CNET

Brita is probably the best known of the water filter pitcher brands and it performed well in our testing, second only to the ZeroWater in the overall removal of dissolved materials. The Brita removed about twoscore% of the TDS. Not a bad showing but even so significantly less than the winner.

This model happens to exist about $13 cheaper than the cheapest ZeroWater model and is i of the most budget-friendly water filter pitcher options out there. To brand things even more cost-efficient, the replacement filters can be had for about $3 if you buy them in a multipack. Each one is said to filter forty gallons of water, enough for roughly two months of steady utilize (the same lifespan as ZeroWater).

While I wasn't in love with the build of the Brita -- the plastic feels a bit cheap -- it is but 1.32 pounds which is less than half the weight of the ZeroWater. If you lot have small kids or folks in the dwelling who can't lift a heavy bullpen, this may exist a good selection.

Brita also makes a "Longlast" filter that's designed to terminal three times as long equally the standard filter. Nosotros tested a Longlast and found it performed significantly worse than the Legacy (standard) filter. Plus, it's more expensive so I'd suggest sticking with the Legacy if buying a Brita.

Best bullpen for calculation element of group i to your water

Seychelle pH20

Megan Wollerton/CNET

If the goal is to add alkaline to your water, then you'll want a completely different model. In a previous circular of filter testing, we ran pH readings (measurements of how acidic or basic your water is) range from 0 to 14; 7 is a neutral reading.

Despite alien research on the topic, some people attribute health benefits to more basic (or alkaline) water. As a result, select companies make water pitchers with filters that actually add together nutrients as your tap h2o passes through.

The $70 Seychelle pH20 bullpen took tap water from an already basic reading of viii.39 to x.1, the largest increase out of the 3 alkaline pitchers in my test group. This pitcher'due south water filtration organization uses 2 filters at a time, but they are supposed to last for up to 200 gallons. A replacement filter two-pack costs $50.

Pitcher talk

To get started, here's a list of the six pitchers we tested:

Brita Metro Standard
Brita Everyday
Brita Longlast Monterey
Larq UV self-cleaning
Pur Plus
ZeroWater

I key thing to consider from this nautical chart is the estimated life of each bullpen filter versus its cost. The Brita Metro Standard and Everyday models, the Pur Plus and the ZeroWater pitcher all accept a lower estimated filter life of up to 40 gallons. While the Brita filter and Pur filter models cost $vii each, the ZeroWater filters cost $15 each (just are sold in a $30 ii-pack).

pitcherfilters — Can y'all spot the ZeroWater filter? It'due south the one on the far right.
Megan Wollerton/CNET

As you can see in the flick above, the ZeroWater filter on the far right is massive compared to others. Of course, that doesn't necessarily equal better performance only in this instance, the ZeroWater did soundly outperform the others in removing contaminants. ZeroWater claims to have a five-stage filter that'due south improve at removing particles while preventing mold from growing with use. Based on our testing results, it seems the brand may exist onto something.

(Continue in mind that filter life will vary based on the quality of your tap water and how much your filter has to "work" to remove impurities.)

How we test

To exam these h2o filter pitchers, we washed each ane with mild soap and h2o, then followed the private manufacturer instructions for soaking, rinsing or otherwise prepping filters for apply. Then we filled a marked mason jar drinking glass with sixteen ounces of tap h2o and used an Orapxi h2o quality tester to mensurate and note the TDS nowadays.

While the results of my tap h2o varied slightly each fourth dimension I filled a fresh glass with 16 ounces the TDS of the water used ever read between 47 and fifty ppm, or parts per million. (Read more about TDS hither and here.)

Then we poured all 16 ounces into a water filter pitcher, waited for it to filter all the water, poured it into a new drinking glass and took the readings again. For a nonalkaline pitchers, you should expect to see a drib in the TDS readings, as impurities and other minerals are removed from the water. We repeated these steps a total of three times on each of the pitchers.

TDS meters are not sophisticated plenty to decipher which impurities, nutrients and other minerals each filter manages to remove (or add, in the case of the alkaline pitchers). For that reason, measuring TDS alone equally an indicator of water quality has some limitations. Just, in general, for a standard filtered h2o pitcher, nosotros want to see a decrease in the TDS reading. Examples of the most common TDS include "calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, sulfate, chloride, nitrate, and silica," according to the Usa Geological Survey.

In a previous round of testing, nosotros ran 3 element of group i h2o filter pitchers through a pH exam -- Conspicuously Filtered, Invigorated Water pH Vitality and Seychelle pH20. All saw an increase in both the pH and the TDS, since they're designed to add minerals to your h2o, just the Seychelle saw the biggest pH increase which is why we've listed information technology equally the best pitcher to purchase if you lot want to add alkaline to your tap water.

Here'due south a table of our almost recent TDS removal examination results. The data represents an average of three test runs for each filter bullpen.

Exam results

	TDS (% change)
Brita Metro Standard	-45.vi
Brita Everyday	-45.6
Brita Longlast	-3.i
Larq self-cleaning	-2.2
Pur Plus	-vi
ZeroWater	-100

The ZeroWater bullpen managed to reduce all of the full dissolved solids in my tap water, from an average initial TDS reading of 57 ppm down to null -- which may assist explain the name. Both Brita pitchers with the standard filter tied for second place, a reduction of TDS from 57 down to 31 (a 45.6% subtract).

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Water gustatory modality was a scrap trickier to measure out, but every pitcher did assistance reduce the slightly metal taste of my tap h2o. Unsurprisingly, the ZeroWater bullpen model tasted the best, with no discernible metallic taste or aroma.

Overall, the ZeroWater (ZP-010) fabricated our chore pretty easy in both rounds of testing. Information technology completely dominated in terms of removing TDS and likewise happened to have one of the sturdiest designs -- 2nd just to the expensive Larq self-cleaning pitcher. Just at that place are other expert options here too: The Brita Metro Standard is a great budget filter pitcher that weighs less than ZeroWater'south pitchers and has cheaper replacement filters. The Seychelle pH20 is a swell bullpen selection if you lot want to add alkaline metal to water.

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1 thing to note is that we're really testing the filters here and not the pitcher itself. Because virtually home filter pitchers made by a single brand will use the same filter, you lot tin bet that no affair which size or shape dispenser you lot cull, the filter should exercise the same job, for better or worse. ZeroWater, for instance, has a line of virtually half dozen pitchers, jugs and dispensers in various sizes -- all of which employ the same very effective five-stage filter. The ane caveat within the brands we've tested here is Brita which offers a LongLast filter that did not perform as well as the Legacy Brita filters.

Some other big takeaway is simply how widely filtered water pitchers can vary, both in terms of operation -- and fifty-fifty in terms of their central office, every bit in the case of the alkaline metal pitchers. Every bit long as y'all identify your needs before you purchase, yous're bound to notice the right filtered water pitcher for you.

Best water filter bullpen FAQs

Which water filter pitchers remove the nearly contaminants?

In our testing, it was adequately clear which water filter pitcher removed the virtually contaminants. The Zero H2o pitcher, while significantly bigger and more expensive than the other pitchers, removed all of the dissolved materials nosotros were testing for. The Brita filter pitchers came in 2d identify and also removed a substantial amount of contaminants.

While we haven't tested them still, in that location are more elaborate water filters that you can have built into your sink from brands including Aquasana, Hydroviv and Berkley. These water filters may net improve results but volition run you in the $200-$500 range and require some form of installation which could incur even more costs.

Do h2o filter pitchers remove bacteria?

No. Water filter pitchers will remove many harmful contaminants like atomic number 82, copper, chlorine and organic compounds that affect the taste but they will do cipher to impale bacteria. Your tap water should already be treated for bacteria simply if y'all're concerned near it, a standard water filter is not going to help.

In fact, if left unchanged for long periods of time a water filter itself could build up grime that could potentially cause leaner to grow and permeate your water. Because of that, be sure to change your filter regularly every bit prescribed by each make.

How do I make clean a water filter pitcher?

The most important thing y'all tin do to keep your water filter pitcher make clean is to modify the filter. Nigh filter pitcher brands including Brita and Zero Water recommend replacing the filter after about xl gallons but this number varies past model.

The bulk of the water pitchers that nosotros tested can and should be cleaned like whatever other slice of plastic kitchen gear every few weeks. You can remove the filter and rinse them by hand with hot h2o and soap, making sure to fully rinse the pitcher so as not to leave soap residue. Most water filter pitchers are dishwasher-safe likewise. Just don't forget to remove the filter which should never exist cleaned with soap.