10 Best Water Filter Pitchers of 2023

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We checked that these water filters actually work to remove contaminants and improve taste.

We revised this guide with current information and updated picks in May 2023.

Great-tasting water can help you meet your daily water intake, and having a good water filter pitcher can help improve the taste of your water and remove various water contaminants. While many standards for contaminants and their levels are regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you may prefer to filter your water to remove specific contaminants. There are a few ways to filter your water — including an under-the-sink water filter, which saves space in the refrigerator or on the countertop — but a water filter pitcher is a convenient option with no installation required.

Here in the Good Housekeeping Institute Labs, we have reviewed thousands of products, including water filters and water testing kits, not only for performance and ease of use but also for safety and sustainability. The experts in our Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab teamed up with our Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab scientists to evaluate water filter pitchers. We assessed the ease of setting up the pitcher and whether it was dishwasher safe. We also tested how quickly it filtered water. Finally, we spent 37 hours reviewing over 200 pages of third-party test data for these water filter pitchers to make sure each matched the brand's claims of what it can remove.

You can read more about how we evaluate water filter pitchers in our Labs — plus everything you need to know to shop for the best water filter pitcher — at the end of this guide. Looking to take your water with you? Check out our guides to the best water bottles and the best smart water bottles.

Brita is one of the most well-known water filter brands, so it's no surprise the brand's Elite water filter did a stellar job in our testing and filtered over 30 contaminants.

We found that it removes chlorine to improve the taste as well as other chemicals such as heavy metals, carcinogens, pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors and more according to our review of third-party lab test data. Not only did it impress as our best overall pick, but it also doubles as our best value pick thanks to both its low upfront and low yearly filter replacement costs.

It was one of the fastest filters in our tests, coming in at 38 seconds per cup of water and, according to Brita, the filter lasts about six months before you need to change it. Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman has this water filter pitcher at home and says, "With five thirsty mouths in our house, I like that the filter lasts longer so I’m not constantly changing it, and I enjoy the taste of the water."

The pitcher can hold 10 cups of water, and the Elite filters have been upgraded from the standard filters. Not only do these filters last longer, but they also filter out lead and don't leave behind any black carbon particle specks in the water, a common complaint with the standard Brita filters. Take note: If you tip the pitcher too much, we found the filter comes out, so you’ll have to take care when pouring. You can also upgrade to the Tahoe pitcher, which uses the same filter — but it stays in place when you pour — and comes with a smart light indicator that's easy to see when it's time to change the pitcher.

Zero Water's innovative two-in-one pitcher allows you to pour out of the spout or to dispense water while sits on on the counter with the push-button spigot at the bottom of the pitcher. The Zero Water 5-Stage system comes with a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) meter, which indicates the level of dissolved salts and minerals in the water such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfate and more. In our Lab tests, the meter read instantaneously. Plus, it filters out five chemical contaminants, including chlorine, heavy metals and endocrine distruptors such as PFOA and PFOS, according to our verified review of third-party test data.

It also makes it easy to gauge when to change your filter: Just stick the meter in the filtered water and read it. Zero advises changing the filter when the TDS meter reads 006, though this is a personal preference since TDS affects the water's taste. Some may prefer more TDS in their water while others prefer less. It comes in a 10-cup or 12-cup option. One downside, however, is that it offers a higher yearly cost to replace the filters.

The AquaTru water filter dispenser removes over 80 contaminants, one of the highest among the water filters we tested, which earned it one of the top spots in our tests. We verified that it removes contaminants such as chlorine, heavy metals like lead, VOCs, pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors and more. In addition, it removes over 90% of fluoride, which some may prefer removed while others may not.

The AquaTru comes with three different filters: pre/carbon, reverse osmosis and VOC filter. The pre/carbon filter removes particles, like sediment and rust, as well as chlorine, which improves taste. The reverse osmosis takes out impurities down to 1/10,000 of a micron, reducing arsenic, lead, parasitic cysts, copper and more. All of these contaminant removal claims were verified with our review of independent lab test data.

The carbon VOC filter is designed to enhance the taste of the water. If you’re particular about the taste of your water, there's also an option to buy a Ph+ mineral boost alkaline carbon VOC filter, which is supposed to mimic the mineral-rich taste of Evian or Arrowhead, whereas the regular VOC filter tastes more like Smartwater or Aquafina, according to AquaTru.

Our pros appreciated that the AquaTru App tells you when the filter needs changing as well as other stats like how many gallons of water you've filtered or the amount of total dissolved solids in the tap and filtered water. The tap water reservoir holds 16 cups of water, so you won't have to refill as often, and the carrying handle makes it easy to go to and from the sink.

The downside: This dispenser has a pricey upfront cost of nearly $485, but the filters last longer than most, making the yearly cost of replacing filters comparable to some pitchers that filter fewer contaminants.

Water filter pitchers can be an eyesore with their clunky exterior, but this sleek pitcher with a wooden handle is beautiful and easy to use. GH's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab Director, Nicole Papantaniou, loves the wooden handle and how easy it is to grasp and pour. It's nearly ready to go out of the box, though you do need to soak the filter before using (the filter's packaging doubles as a bag for soaking!).

We found it's also easy to fill with the drop-down lid: Simply place the pitcher under the faucet, and the top flap drops down under the pressure of the water. Even though it wasn't the fastest filter, it still had a decent water filter rate of 74 seconds per cup. While it doesn't filter out as many contaminants as some of the other water filter pitchers we tested, we verified through our review of third-party lab test data that it removes chlorine to improve the taste of the water, plus four heavy metals.

Most water filter pitchers remove chlorine to improve the taste of the water, which could also lead to a rise in bacteria in the filtered water. Larq solves this by using UV light to inhibit E. coli and Salmonella from building up in the water due to chlorine removal. It filters over 45 contaminants such as microplastics, heavy metals, VOCs, endocrine disruptors PFOA and PFOS, pharmaceuticals and more, which we verified through a review of third-party test data. It has a rechargeable removable wand that powers the UV light, which is visible as the water filters through.

During our Lab testing, the Larq app was easy to install, and it helps keeps track of when you need to change the filter. One thing to note, we found the app at times disconnected or uninstalled itself, so the tracking may not be entirely accurate.

We love the modern look and the easy-pour spout that doesn't splash water everywhere. Our pros thought that it was intuitive to set up and is one of the few pitchers in our tests that's dishwasher safe. The wand needs to be hand washed, but we found this easy due to its compact size. The downside: The yearly cost to replace the filters is more than others we tested.

This small but mighty water filter pitcher improves the taste and clarity of water, plus takes out over 30 contaminants, including chlorine, microplastics, sediment, heavy metals, VOCs, endocrine disruptors, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and E.coli bacteria and cysts, which we verified by reviewing the brand's third-party lab test data. Most brands offer only plastic pitchers, but LifeStraw has a glass and a plastic option.

In our tests, we liked that it was light and easy to hold and pour, weighing in at a mere 6 lbs when filled. The trade-off is that you need to refill it more often since it does not hold a large volume of water (it only holds 2.5 cups of tap water). LifeStraw states that it takes a few refills of the pitcher to get the water flowing, but we noted that even after a few refills it was still filtering slowly. Take note: We found the filters easy to accidentally wash, which leads to soap in the filter, so be sure to read the instructions and remove them from the plastic housing before washing.

What sets Aarke apart from the rest is the unique stainless steel water filter. Instead of throwing away a plastic cartridge like most water filter pitchers, the Aarke filter pitcher allows you to simply change the granules inside the stainless steel filter. It helps remove chlorine, copper, lead and limescale.

The water pitcher holds 10 cups of water, and we found it easy to fill with the removable lid. The pitcher looks sleek and is made with glass and stainless steel to give it a more modern look than plastic pitchers. Unfortunately, it also comes with a higher price tag than most 10-cup plastic pitchers. The silicone bumper helps keep the pitcher from sliding or falling, which is removable in case you don't need it.

Many water filter pitchers are not dishwasher-safe, so you need to wash them by hand, which is one of the reasons our experts liked this Pur water filter pitcher. All the parts can go in the dishwasher, so no hand washing is required. When we tested this at home, we found it was easy to fill and pour from, thanks to a flip top that stays in place when pouring water. The standard filter helps remove chlorine and some heavy metals, which we verified through third-party lab test data review.

We also appreciate the slim design of this 7-cup pitcher, which saves space in our fridge, but the trade-off is that you may have to refill it somewhat frequently. An added bonus for this slim pitcher: It comes in fun colors including lime (shown), blush and blue. They also have an 11-cup capacity pitcher to save some trips to the sink.

Berkey's filters came out on top for removing more contaminants than other water filters we tested: more than 200 contaminants, including common chemical contaminants most pitchers remove like chlorine, cadmium and lead, and we verified that it also removes viruses, parasitic pathogens, bacteria, VOCs, some pharmaceutical drugs and petroleum contaminants such as gasoline and crude oil. If you prefer to have fluoride removed from your water, it's one of the few that can remove it, but you need to buy the fluoride filters separately.

In our Lab tests, we noticed that this countertop dispenser required more work to set up than others, and the instructions were not as clear as we would like. But once it's set up, it's fairly easy to use, though we didn't love that you can't set down the tank (the screws get in the way, so you either have to hold it while filling or go back and forth with pitchers of water to pour into the tank). On the other hand, it has a large capacity tank, so you don't have to take as many trips to fill it up.

We also saw in our Lab tests that it filters slowly. However, our home testers did not have this problem. The Berkey comes in multiple sizes with the smallest one starting at $345, but according to Berkey, the filters can be cleaned up to 100 times with a 3M Scotch-Brite pad. Over time, this may save money compared to pitchers that need to have their filters changed every few months.

The Hydros Glass Slim Pitcher will improve the taste and clarity of your water by removing chlorine and sediment. It's great for someone who wants a basic pitcher, plus it will save some space in your fridge with its small 4-in. diameter footprint. Our experts found it's lightweight when filled, weighing a little under 4 lbs. We loved that the filter didn't require any pre-soaking and was ready to use with only a 15-second flush under running water.

Our pros were pleasantly surprised it filtered water nearly instantaneously. The downside: The opening is small, so water tends to spill over the lid while filling. The water pours out smoothly, though it feels bottom-heavy when you grab it by the pitcher's neck to pour. It's also available in a plastic version.

Yes, water filter pitchers work to remove contaminants such as heavy metals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and more. Some chemicals like chlorine are added to city water to disinfect it, but many people prefer filtering it out as it negatively affects taste.

Keep in mind that not all water filters remove the same contaminants. Most basic designs remove only contaminants like chlorine and its derivatives generated when they combine with organic matter while others remove many more.

"The performance of the water filter also depends on the quality of the water source and whether or not the filters are replaced regularly," says Birnur Aral, Ph.D., executive director of the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab. "Also, these pitchers are not intended to work with well water, which will cause them to clog much faster." People with well water systems should consult with professional water filtration services, like Culligan.

Our Good Housekeeping Institute experts scoured the market for the best water filter pitchers, then narrowed down testing to the most promising products based on our categorical expertise. Our Lab experts spent three months researching and testing these water filter pitchers and continue to test them year-round. We dedicated over 37 hours to combing through over 200 pages of data to ensure these water filter pitchers removed what they claimed, such as getting rid of a specific chemical or physical contaminant or killing bacteria.

In addition, we assessed how easy it was to set up the pitcher, how heavy it was once filled and how easy it was to pour from. We also looked at the clarity of the instruction manual and whether the pitchers were dishwasher safe. We tested performance factors like how quickly it filtered a cup of water and measured how much tap water the reservoir can hold. We reviewed how long each filter lasts and factored the price of the replacement filters into a yearly calculation of what it costs when replacing filters at the recommended time frame.

To assess claims, we requested third-party data from each water filter pitcher brand. Our Executive Director of the GH Health, Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab thoroughly reviewed the data to verify differing contaminant-removal and purification claims, such as water clarity, health effects, emerging contaminants and more.

✔️ Filtering ability: Not all water filter pitchers remove the same contaminants; if you have specific filtration needs, be sure to check what each product claims to remove. Many water filter brands are starting to share their contaminant removal data on their websites, so if you’re looking for a specific contaminant, check the brand's website or try reaching out to the company.

✔️ Style and size: When choosing a style, keep in mind size versus weight. If you need to save space, opt for a smaller pitcher, which will require more refills. Large-capacity pitchers allow you to refill less, but they can also be cumbersome to carry and pour. If you have the counter space and like to have a large capacity water dispenser, consider a countertop model as these often hold larger amounts of water.

✔️ Price: Generally speaking, the more contaminants a filter removes, the higher the cost — and if your water doesn't need certain contaminants removed, you may be wasting money choosing a pitcher with an extensive list. When deciding which pitcher to purchase, consider both the price of the pitcher and the price to replace filters: Some have a higher upfront cost but filters cost less and vice versa.

✔️ Special features: If you have a hard time remembering when to change your water filter, choose a model that makes it easy to keep track or tells you when you need to change the filter. Some water filter pitchers now come with apps to remind you.

✔️ Filtering needs: Not all tap water has the same contaminants, so your contaminant removal needs may differ based on where you live (i.e. according to your water supply and the age of your plumbing) as well as your personal preference for the taste of your water. We recommend using the EWG Tap Water Database to see what's in your tap water, but if you're unsure what your water contains, it may be best to have a filter that covers the removal of a broad range of contaminants. The EPA doesn't regulate all contaminants, but at the minimum, our pros suggest a filter that at least removes heavy metals.

✔️ NSF and ANSI tests: You’ll see many water pitchers stating they’ve been tested to NSF/ANSI standards, which test the removal of various water contaminants, but keep in mind that NSF/ANSI standards are not the same across the board. Some standards test only for water clarity while others test for the removal of certain chemicals and physical contaminants. The NSF website offers a detailed explanation of its standards and what it tests for.

This guide to the best water filter pitchers was written and tested by several Good Housekeeping Institute experts, including Jamie Kim, a freelance writer with a consumer products background; she specializes in product testing and reviews. She tested over 20 water filters and continues to road-test water filter pitchers.

Birnur Aral, Ph.D, is the executive director of the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab, and she has over a decade of R&D experience. Birnur played a lead role in GH's investigative story Is Your Tap Water Safe? and recently assessed the SafeHome brand DIY water testing kits for the Good Housekeeping Seal. She also helped the brand fine-tune its marketing claims and instruction inserts for its kits, including those for Lead, City Water and Well Water.

Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation lab, where she oversees all content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear. She continually tests water filter pitchers year-round. She's been testing kitchen appliances professionally since 2013 and is trained in classic culinary arts.

Jamie Kim is a consumer products expert with over 17 years of experience in areas of product development and manufacturing. She has held leading roles at both mid-size consumer goods companies and one of the most notable and largest apparel brands in the world. Jamie has contributed to several of the GH Institute Labs, including Kitchen Appliances, Media and Tech, Textiles and Home Appliances. In her free time she enjoys cooking, traveling, and working out.

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