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All of the water filter pitchers and dispensers below come recommended by either experts or NBC Select staffers who have tried them.
ZeroWater is “the most efficient” model for removing the largest number of TDS “to nearly zero,” according to Doug Anderson, senior director of global engineering and research and development at water systems treatment company Culligan International. It’s also certified by third party agencies to remove specialized materials like PFAS, which are chemicals used in oil, heat, and grease-resistant products. Plus, it “takes the guesswork out of filter replacement,” he says: When the TDS meter reads 006 or higher, it’s time to replace the filter. ZeroWater pitchers come in a variety of sizes, including 7- and 12-cup pitchers and larger dispenser models.
I have three roommates, so we go through a lot of water with limited fridge space — this Brita filter dispenser gets us through. The spout makes it easy to fill my water bottle from the Brita without taking it out of the fridge. Plus, thanks to the flat-top design, I can stack my leftover takeout boxes on it. It works just as well for even larger households according to NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin, who uses one in her own home. It holds up to 18 cups of water in the dispenser itself, with the water filter reservoir on top holding up to nine additional cups.
Marianne Metzger, executive director of the Eastern Water Quality Association, says that Brita is one of the best water filter brands, and this popular model is no exception. It’s easy to store and comes with one Brita Elite water filter, which lasts through 80 gallons, or four months — longer than the Standard filter, according to the brand. It can filter up to 30 contaminants, according to Brita, and the SmartLight filter indicator lets you know when it’s due for a replacement. This filter pitcher is also compatible with most Brita filters and dispensers.
Former NBC Select associate reporter Bianca Alvarez switched to this Pur water filter pitcher because her Brita was taking up a lot of space in her family fridge. It has a three-stage filtration process certified to reduce the presence of 15 contaminants, including chlorine, mercury and multiple pesticides, according to the brand. A built-in LED flashes while you’re using it, which comes in handy when grabbing a nighttime glass of water. Plus, “the spout makes it kid-friendly, so my brothers can use it without having to take out the pitcher and risk spilling everything,” says Alvarez.
Former NBC Select production coordinator Kelsey Fredricks replaced her broken Lifestraw 7-cup pitcher with this larger model. “It’s pricier than your average water filter pitcher, but if you can afford it, it feels worth it for how pure and refreshing the water tastes,” she says. The volume is also great for a multi-person household — Fredricks and her two roommates only have to refill it every few days. This pitcher filters over 30 contaminants and is made from BPA-free plastic.
After holding off on buying one of these pitchers for weeks, NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown finally picked one up on sale during Prime Day. “The 7-cup size is perfect for someone who lives alone,” she says. She also loves that the pitcher, which is made from hand-blown glass, helps to reduce her plastic use (“plus, glass just feels very chic and grown up,” she says). It’s designed to remove bacteria, parasites, and microplastics while retaining beneficial minerals like magnesium and potassium, according to the brand.
When shopping for a water filter pitcher, experts say to prioritize these factors:
According to Anderson, contaminants enter our water supply as what’s called “total dissolved solids” (or TDS — this will be important later). Some are naturally occurring chemicals, others come from things like agricultural run-off or outdated or damaged water treatment infrastructure. “Generally, municipalities remove most, but not necessarily all of these contaminants,” he says. A pitcher with a water filter can help get rid of leftover contaminants to boost the quality of your drinking water.
Water filter pitchers are designed to reduce or eliminate potential contaminants from your water using a replaceable filter, says Metzger. They’re “a good, low cost option for homeowners on city-supplied water,” says Metzger, as they’re designed to remove chlorine, lead and other contaminants that are typically formed in city water, she says. However, using water pitcher filters aren’t limited to those living in cities — they can be useful in treating water from any area.
According to the experts, these filters can improve the taste and smell of water by removing chlorine, sediment, and odd tastes and odors that may come from the water treatment process. However, Metzger warns that some filters can cause a fishy odor in the water, depending on the water quality and type of filter being used. You can avoid this by regularly cleaning your water filter pitcher and keeping up with filter replacements.
Most water filter pitchers are designed to reduce contaminants like basic metals, chlorine, taste and odor, says Anderson. Multi-level filters can also remove higher levels and wider varieties of TDS from tap water, including more harmful materials like lead, chromium, and mercury.
According to the CDC, PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” are perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of chemicals used in coatings and products that are designed to be resistant to heat, oil, grease and water, like nonstick cookware, pizza boxes, shampoos, nail polish and more. These chemicals can enter the environment and water supply in a number of ways, according to the experts. This can include being released through the product manufacturing process and leaking from landfills. A powerful filtration system can “dramatically reduce the presence of forever chemicals in your water,” says Anderson. He suggests using a multi-stage filter, since two-stage systems on conventional filters can’t filter out PFAS. You can also check with your municipality to find out current PFAS levels in your water by checking your local health department website. If you don’t have the information readily available, you may want to have your water tested to determine the presence of PFAS, he says.
“The pitchers themselves last for a couple of years, but the filters usually last for a month or two, depending on how much water is being put through the filter,” says Metzger. Filters are usually rated on how many gallons of water they can treat before needing to be replaced. “Any filter which has a certification, whether it’s NSF, WQA or IAPMO, has been tested to determine how many gallons can be treated by the filter and this will be directly on any packaging,” she says.
Your water filter’s lifespan also depends on how much water your household consumes and the amount of TDS in your tap water, according to Anderson. Since water chemistry varies by location and treatment type, “[a] water filter pitcher used in a city with higher TDS in its water will need to be replaced more often than one used in a city with lower TDS levels” he says.
There are other ways to filter your water, according to our experts. “Alternatives to pitchers are typically ‘point of use,’” says Anderson, which means they’re connected at the point of use, which is the fixture your water comes from — for example, the pipes under your kitchen sink. “There are a variety of under-sink filtration options including sediment, carbon, reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration or a combination of these technologies,” he says. According to Metzger, these filters can be specialized to remove particular contaminants: Water softeners, for example, remove iron and manganese, while reverse osmosis systems reduce metals and minerals.
However, both experts emphasize the importance of testing your water before making a decision. “The first step to determining what type of filtration system is right for you is to have your water tested by an EPA certified test lab to understand what contaminants are in it,” says Anderson. In some cases, you may need more complex treatment for filters to work, says Metzger.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I am an associate SEO reporter at NBC Select, who regularly covers self care, home and lifestyle. For this article, I interviewed water filtration experts to get the best advice and recommendations on water filter pitchers and dispensers, including what to look for when shopping for one of your own.
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