Best Water Filter Pitcher for 2024

Here is a list of the other water filter pitchers we've tested:

• AmazonBasics
• Brita Metro Standard
• Brita Everyday
• Brita Longlast Monterey
• Hydros Fast Flo
• Larq UV self-cleaning
• LifeStraw
• Pur Plus
• Soma 
  

Brita is a name everybody is familiar with for a reason, and their filters will serve you well if that's the direction you choose to go. It's not as effective as the ZeroWater, but they are affordable, effective and have a respectable service life before requiring replacement. 

An important item to consider when making your choice is the frequency and cost of replacement of the filter itself in your pitcher. The ZeroWater filters are priced at $35 for a two-pack and last for approximately 40 gallons. Brita filters are priced at around $19 in a three-pack and last for the same amount of water. Waterdrop filters last five times as long, at 200 gallons, and are priced at $43 for a two-pack.

Assuming you'll be diligent at replacing the filters on time, these costs can add up over the duration of your use. Be sure to keep in mind that the overall quality of your tap water will affect the life of your filter; better quality water will ease the stress on the filter.

As you can see in the picture above, the ZeroWater filter on the far right is massive compared to others. That doesn't necessarily equal better performance, but in this case, the ZeroWater did soundly outperform the others in removing contaminants. ZeroWater says its five-stage filter is better at removing particles while preventing mold from growing with use. Based on our testing results, it seems the brand may be onto something. 

(Keep 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.)

As mentioned earlier in this article, there are quite a variety of contaminants worth removing from your tap water. The team here at our lab settled on three primary tests to benchmark the efficacy of these filters: TDS, pH and chlorine. Before we began the actual testing process, each pitcher was removed from the packaging, cleaned and then prepared per the manufacturer's instructions. This is very important, as most of these filters utilize activated carbon filtration, which will deposit sediment into the first batches of water that you filter if not cleaned properly in advance.

Testing for TDS

TDS stands for total dissolved solids and encompasses many different impurities present in water. Examples of the most common TDS include "calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, sulfate, chloride, nitrate and silica," according to the US Geological Survey. In practice, calcium and magnesium deposits in your tap water result in so-called "hard water" that tastes bad and can be actively detrimental to your health at higher concentrations. (Read more about TDS from the EPA and USGS.) 

We began TDS testing by mixing an 8-gallon bucket of tap water, measured at 220 ppm TDS, with table salt until we reached a TDS measurement of 300. Generally speaking, 50-150 TDS is considered an ideal range for drinking water. We used an Orapxi water quality tester to take these measurements and since the ZeroWater filter includes a TDS tester as well, all TDS readings were verified on both devices. Once we had established our control source, we measured 1 liter of the 300 TDS water into each of the water filter pitchers and allowed the full quantity to pass through the filter.

Once finished, we measured the TDS again and noted the percentage change. This process was repeated for higher and lower TDS concentrations, and our findings indicate that each of the units we tested is very consistent at removing the same percentage of overall TDS from any water passing through it.

Testing for chlorine

Chlorine in your drinking water may sound strange, but it is actually a very common practice for water treatment facilities to add chlorine to the water supply as a disinfectant. This is extremely effective at getting rid of other, nastier contaminants in the water, but the World Health Organization estimates that a concentration of ~0.2-4 ppm is standard for tap water, indicating that at least some is left over after disinfection.

For our testing, we decided to ramp things up a notch and test water prepared at a concentration similar to that of a swimming pool -- 10 ppm chlorine. This gave us a clear indication of the changes after filtration. Once again, each filter was tested with 1 liter of solution and compared to results from the water prefiltration and once again, filters such as the ZeroWater substantially outperformed the others.

Testing pH changes

Finally, during TDS testing, we also measured the change in pH. pH stands for "potential of hydrogen" and is used to quantify the acidity of a substance. A pH of zero is extremely acidic, seven is considered neither acidic nor basic, and 14 represents an extremely basic substance. Since the minerals that comprise the TDS in tap water increase the alkalinity, we expected the filtration process to decrease the pH of the water. Indeed this did turn out to be the case, and you can see a table of the pH changes below. 

Here's a table of our most recent TDS removal test results. The data represents an average of three test runs for each filter pitcher. 

The ZeroWater pitcher managed to reduce all of the total dissolved solids in my tap water, from an average initial TDS reading of 57 ppm down to zero. Both Brita pitchers with the standard filter tied for second place, with a reduction of TDS from 57 down to 31 (a 45.6% decrease). The stylish (and expensive) Aarke also did well, removing nearly 40% of the TDS from tap water. 

Water taste is a bit trickier to measure, but every pitcher did help reduce the slightly metallic taste of my tap water. Unsurprisingly, the ZeroWater pitcher model tasted the best, with no discernible metallic taste or scent. 

Overall, the ZeroWater (ZP-010) made our job pretty easy. It completely dominated in terms of removing TDS and also happened to have one of the sturdiest designs. Other good options are here too: The Brita Metro Standard is a great budget filter pitcher that weighs less than ZeroWater's pitchers and has cheaper replacement filters. The Seychelle pH20 is a great pitcher pick if you want to add alkaline to water. Aarke's water purifier is my pick for the most stylish water pitcher with a sturdy build, stainless steel frame and glass pitcher. It costs much more than the others but offers a bit of elegance that few others do.

Best Air Purifiers for 2024 See at Cnet

One thing to note is that we're really testing the filters here and not the pitcher itself. Because most home filter pitchers made by a single brand will use the same filter, you can bet that no matter which size or shape dispenser you choose, the filter should do the same job, for better or worse. ZeroWater, for instance, has a line of about six pitchers, jugs and dispensers in various sizes, all of which use the same very effective five-stage filter. The one 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.

Another big takeaway is just how widely filtered water pitchers can vary, both in terms of performance and even in terms of their key function, as in the case of alkaline pitchers. As long as you identify your needs before you buy, you're bound to find the right filtered water pitcher for you.

Type of filter

Most standard consumer filter pitchers reduce impurities that affect the taste and purity of water such as chlorine, lead, copper and other heavy metals. Other more expensive filter systems such as reverse osmosis and ion exchange can remove bacteria and viruses from water. For this list, we focused on basic, mechanical filters which comprise the majority of home filter pitcher types. Mechanical water filters, while limited in their function, are some of the most affordable and don't require costly installation. 

Size

Before you choose a model, consider how many water drinkers your filter pitcher will be used by. If it's just you or you and one other person, a small or medium pitcher will likely suffice. If your space is occupied by three or four water drinkers, consider a large pitcher or dispenser jug instead.

Materials

The majority of water filter pitchers are made out of plastic. If you prefer a sturdier build there are options for water filter pitchers made from glass and metal to add a refined touch to your H20 experience.

Cost

Consider what you'd like to spend on your filter pitcher. There are options ranging from $20 up to $105 or more. If you opt for an integrated water filter system that filters water before it even reaches your tap, you can expect to pay well into the hundreds.

Consider the cost of the replacement filters, too. Most need to be replaced every three or so months and those costs can add up over the course of a year.