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        Following product upgrades and certification changes, we no longer recommend Pur filters. We are sticking with other options.
        If you’re looking for the easiest way to get filtered drinking water at home, we recommend the Brita Elite Filter paired with the Brita Standard 10-cup pitcher or (if your home uses a lot of water) the Brita 27-cup pitcher. Water dispenser Ultramax. But before you choose any of them, know that after nearly a decade of research into home water filtration, we believe that under-sink or under-faucet filters are the best choice. They last longer, deliver clean water faster, reduce contaminants, are less likely to clog, and only take minutes to install.
        This model has more than 30 ANSI/NSF certifications—more than any filter in its class—and is designed to last six months between replacements. But, like all filters, it can become clogged.
       The signature Brita kettle largely defines the filter kettle category and is easier to use and keep clean than many other Brita models.
       The Brita water dispenser holds enough water for a day for a large family, and its leak-proof tap is easy enough for kids to use.
       LifeStraw dispensers have been proven to remove dozens of contaminants, including lead, and their filters are more resistant to clogging than any other filter we’ve tested.
        This model has over 30 ANSI/NSF certifications (more than any filter in its class) and is designed to last six months between replacements. But, like all filters, it can become clogged.
        Brita Elite filters are Brita’s most efficient filters and are ANSI/NSF certified to filter more contaminants than any other gravity-fed filter we’ve tested, including lead, mercury, cadmium, PFOA and PFAS and more. Impurities” that are increasingly found in tap water. It has a lifespan of 120 gallons, or six months, which is three times the rated life of most other filters. In the long run, this may make the Elite cheaper to use than a more common filter. two-month filter. However, before six months have passed, sediment in the water may clog it. If you know your tap water is clean, but just to improve its taste, especially chlorine-flavored water, use a standard Brita pitcher. The filter dispenser is cheaper and less likely to clog, but it is not certified to contain lead or any industrial chemicals. connections.
       The signature Brita kettle largely defines the filter kettle category and is easier to use and keep clean than many other Brita models.
        Among the many Brita water bottles, our favorite is the Brita Standard Everyday Water Bottle 10 Cup. The nooks and crannies design makes cleaning easier than other Brita pitchers, and the one-handed lid makes refilling even easier. Its curved C-shaped handle is also more comfortable than the angular D-shaped handle found on most Brita bottles.
       The Brita water dispenser holds enough water for a day for a large family, and its leak-proof tap is easy enough for kids to use.
        The Brita Ultramax water dispenser holds approximately 27 cups of water (18 cups in the filter reservoir and another 9 or 10 cups in the top reservoir). Its slim design saves space in the refrigerator, and the tap automatically closes after pouring to prevent overflow. This is a convenient way to always have enough filtered cold water.
       LifeStraw dispensers have been proven to remove dozens of contaminants, including lead, and their filters are more resistant to clogging than any other filter we’ve tested.
        We ran 2.5 gallons of heavily rust-contaminated water through a LifeStraw home water dispenser, and although the water slowed down a bit towards the end, the filtration never stopped. This is our clear choice for anyone who’s experienced clogs in other water filters (including our top pick Brita Elite) or is looking for a solution to tap water that’s known to be rusty or contain sediment. LifeStraw also has four ANSI/NSF certifications (chlorine, taste and odor, lead and mercury) and has been independently tested by certified laboratories to meet many additional ANSI/NSF decontamination standards.
        I’ve been testing Wirecutter water filters since 2016. In my report, I spoke at length with NSF and the Water Quality Institute, the two major filter certification organizations in the United States, to understand how their testing is conducted. I have interviewed representatives from many water filter manufacturers to dispute their claims. I’ve used several filters and pitchers over the years because overall durability, ease and cost of maintenance, and user friendliness are all very important for something you use multiple times a day.
       Former NOAA scientist John Holecek researched and wrote an earlier version of this guide, conducted his own testing, and commissioned further independent testing.
       This guide is for those who want a pitcher-style water filter that fills their tap water and keeps it in their refrigerator.
        The advantage of a pitcher filter is that it is easy to use. All you have to do is fill them from the tap and wait for the filter to work. They also tend to be cheap to buy, with replacement filters (usually needed every two months) typically costing less than $15.
        They have several disadvantages. They can effectively remove a much smaller range of contaminants than most under-sink or under-faucet filters because they rely on gravity rather than water pressure, requiring a less dense filter.
        Their reliance on gravity also means that pitcher filters are slow: a single fill of water from the top reservoir can take 5 to 15 minutes to pass through the filter, and often requires several top-ups to get a full pitcher of clean water. .
       Pitcher filters often become clogged due to sediment in tap water or even tiny air bubbles from faucet aerators.
       For these reasons, we recommend installing a filter under the sink or on the faucet if circumstances require it.
        In the United States, public water supplies are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and water leaving public water treatment plants must meet strict quality standards. However, not all potential pollutants are regulated.
        In addition, contaminants can enter after water leaves the treatment plant through leaky pipes or (in the case of lead) through leaching in the pipes themselves. Water treatment done or ignored at the plant can even worsen leaching in downstream pipelines, as happened in Flint, Michigan.
        To find out exactly what’s in your supplier’s water, you can usually search online for your local supplier’s EPA-approved Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). Otherwise, all public water suppliers are required to provide you with their CCRs upon request.
        But because of potential contamination downstream, the only way to determine what’s in your home’s water is to test it. Your local water quality laboratory can do this, or you can use a home testing kit. We looked at 11 of them in our guide and were impressed with SimpleLab’s Tap Score, which is easy to use and provides a detailed, clearly written report of what, if any, contaminants are in your tap water.
       The advanced SimpleLab Tap Score municipal water test provides a comprehensive analysis of your drinking water and provides easy-to-read results.
        To ensure we only recommend filters you can trust, we have long insisted that our selections meet the gold standard: ANSI/NSF certification. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) are private, nonprofit organizations that work with the Environmental Protection Agency, manufacturers and other experts to develop rigorous quality standards and test thousands of products, including water protocols. filter.
       It was only after using “test” samples that were much more contaminated than most tap water that the filters were able to meet standards that far exceeded their expected lifespan.
        The two main water filter certification laboratories are NSF itself and the Water Quality Association (WQA). Both are fully accredited by ANSI and the Canadian Standards Council in North America and can perform ANSI/NSF certification testing.
        But after years of internal debate, we now also accept the looser language of “tested to ANSI/NSF standards” rather than formally certified, subject to a few strict conditions: First, the testing is performed by an independent laboratory, not by an independent laboratory. Filter manufacturer; Second, the laboratory itself is accredited by ANSI or other national or non-governmental equivalent agencies to conduct rigorous testing to specified standards; Third, the testing laboratory, its results and methods are disclosed by the manufacturer; Fourthly, the Manufacturer has extensive experience in creating filters that have proven their safety, reliability and are honestly described.
        We further narrowed it down to filters that are certified or equivalent to at least two of the major ANSI/NSF standards (Standard 42 and Standard 53) (covering chlorine and other “aesthetic” contaminants and heavy metals such as lead, respectively), as well as pesticides. and other organic compounds). The relatively new 401 standard covers “emerging contaminants,” such as pharmaceuticals, that are increasingly found in water in the United States, which is why we’re focusing on filters.
        We started searching for popular 10 to 11 cup capacity kettles and larger capacity water dispensers, which are especially useful for households with high water consumption. (Most companies also offer smaller pitchers for those who don’t need a full-size model.)
        We then compared design details (including handle style and comfort), ease of filter installation and replacement, the space the pitcher and dispenser take up in the refrigerator, and the volume ratio of the top refill reservoir to the bottom “filter” reservoir. (The higher the ratio, the better, since you’ll get more filtered water every time you use the tap.)
        We conducted several tests on several filters in 2016, comparing our results to ANSI/NSF certifications and manufacturer claims. In his laboratory, John Holecek measured the rate at which each filter removed chlorine. For our first two options, we contracted for independent lead removal testing using significantly more lead contamination solutions than NSF requires in its certification agreement.
        Our main takeaway from our testing is that ANSI/NSF certification or equivalent certification is a reliable indicator of filter performance. This is not surprising given the strict nature of certification standards. Since then, we have relied on ANSI/NSF certification or equivalent certification to determine the functionality of a given filter.
       Our subsequent testing focuses on real-world usability, as well as practical features and shortcomings that only become apparent once you start using the products over time.
        This model has more than 30 ANSI/NSF certifications—more than any filter in its class—and is designed to last six months between replacements. But, like all filters, it can become clogged.
        Brita Elite (formerly Longlast+) filters are ANSI/NSF certified to detect more than 30 contaminants (PDF), including lead, mercury, microplastics, asbestos, and two common PFAS: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorinated octane sulfonic acid (PFOS). This makes it the most certified pitcher filter we’ve tested, and one we recommend for those who want maximum peace of mind.
        It is proven to remove many other common stains. These include chlorine (which is added to water to reduce bacteria and other pathogens and is the main cause of “bad taste” in tap water); carbon tetrachloride, a volatile organic compound that damages the liver; it can increasingly be found in tap water. “New compounds” were discovered, including bisphenol A (BPA), DEET (a common insect repellent) and estrone (a synthetic form of estrogen).
        While most pitcher filters have a replacement cycle every 40 gallons or two months, the Elite has a replacement cycle of 120 gallons or six months. In theory, this means you only need to use two Elite filters per year instead of six, creating less waste and reducing refill costs by about 50%.
        For a pitcher filter, it works quickly. In our tests, the new Elite filter took just five to seven minutes to fill. Similar-sized filters we tested took longer—usually 10 minutes or more.
        But there is a caveat. Like almost all pitcher filters, the Elite gets clogged easily, which can slow down the filtration rate or even stop filtration altogether, meaning you’ll have to replace it more often. Many, many owners have complained about this issue, and during our testing, the Elite began to slow down before reaching its 120-gallon capacity. If you have a known problem with sediment in your tap water (often a symptom of rusty pipes), your experience will likely be the same.
        And you may not need all the protection of the elite. If you know your tap water is of good quality (this can be determined using a home tester), we recommend using the Brita Standard water dispenser base pitcher and filter. It has only five ANSI/NSF certifications (PDF), including chlorine (but not lead, organics, or new contaminants), which has far fewer certifications than the Elite. But it’s a less expensive, less clogging filter that can improve the taste of your water.
        It’s easy to make mistakes when installing a Brita filter. Initially the filter is in place and appears solid. But it actually takes a little more effort to secure it completely in place. If you don’t press hard enough, unfiltered water may leak out the sides of the filter when you fill the top reservoir, meaning your “filtered” water isn’t actually leaking. Some of the filters we purchased for the 2023 test also needed to be positioned so that the long slot on one side of the filter would slide over the corresponding tab in some Brita pitchers. (Other pitchers, including our favorite Standard 10-Cup Everyday Pitcher, come unlabeled and allow you to orient the filter to your choice.)
       The signature Brita kettle largely defines the filter kettle category and is easier to use and keep clean than many other Brita models.
        The standard everyday Brita 10-cup water bottle (specifically the version with SmartLight Replacement Indicator and Elite Filter) is so common that it’s probably what most of us think of when we think of filtered water bottles. It’s also our favorite of the many Brita pitchers, mainly because it’s the easiest to take apart for cleaning and there are no nooks and crannies where dirt can accumulate. A twist of the thumb frees up the other hand to operate the faucet when adding water. Its SmartLight directly measures water flow and lets you know when it’s time to change the filter. And the simple C-shaped handle is Brita’s most comfortable design.
        Standard Everyday is an Amazon exclusive; Brita sells similar Tahoe water bottles at Walmart, Target and other retailers. The main difference between the two is the Tahoe’s D-shaped handle, which we found a little harder to grip.
        Although the Everyday kettle is advertised as a 10-cup model, it holds approximately 11.5 cups, which is enough to meet the daily needs of a small family. When full, it weighs just over 7 pounds, which puts some pressure on your wrists; The smaller Brita Space Saver 6-cup pitcher weighs about 4.5 pounds when full, but it comes with the standard Brita pitcher and dispenser filter, so you’ll need to purchase the Elite Filter separately.