Water · Best-of

Best Water Filter for Lead

Lead removal is the one claim you should never take on marketing alone. We only rank filters NSF/ANSI 53 certified specifically for lead and listed on an official database. A filter 'tested to NSF standards' but not certified does not appear here.

How we score: We require an NSF/ANSI 53 lead certification verifiable on the NSF, WQA, or IAPMO database, then rank by composite score.

1. 17.5

   Culligan US-EZ-4 Under-Sink

   The Culligan US-EZ-4 Under-Sink is a under sink water filter. It is third-party certified (IAPMO) to reduce chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, lead, mercury, cysts, VOCs, MTBE, turbidity, PFOA, PFOS. It is also marketed for pharmaceuticals, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.091 per gallon.

   • Certified to reduce: chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, lead, mercury, cysts, VOCs, MTBE, turbidity, PFOA, PFOS
   • Cartridge life: 500 gallons
   • Cost per gallon: $0.091
2. 27.3

   Brita Elite Pitcher (10-Cup)

   The Brita Elite Pitcher (10-Cup) is a pitcher water filter. It is third-party certified (IAPMO) to reduce chlorine taste and odor, lead, mercury, cadmium, asbestos, benzene, particulates. Running cost works out to about $0.167 per gallon.

   • Certified to reduce: chlorine taste and odor, lead, mercury, cadmium, asbestos, benzene, particulates
   • Cartridge life: 120 gallons
   • Cost per gallon: $0.167
3. 37.2

   Aquasana AQ-5200 Under-Sink

   The Aquasana AQ-5200 Under-Sink is a under sink water filter. It is third-party certified (WQA) to reduce lead, chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, PFOA, PFOS, VOCs. Running cost works out to about $0.148 per gallon.

   • Certified to reduce: lead, chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, PFOA, PFOS, VOCs
   • Cartridge life: 500 gallons
   • Cost per gallon: $0.148
4. 47.2

   AquaTru Classic Countertop RO

   The AquaTru Classic Countertop RO is a ro water filter. It is third-party certified (IAPMO) to reduce lead, PFOA, PFOS, fluoride, arsenic, chromium-6, nitrate, chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, VOCs. It is also marketed for microplastics, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.287 per gallon.

   • Certified to reduce: lead, PFOA, PFOS, fluoride, arsenic, chromium-6, nitrate, chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, VOCs
   • Cartridge life: 600 gallons
   • Cost per gallon: $0.287
5. 56.8

   Frizzlife SK99 Under-Sink Filter

   The Frizzlife SK99 Under-Sink Filter is a under sink water filter. It is third-party certified (IAPMO) to reduce chlorine taste and odor, lead. It is also marketed for chloramine, mercury, cadmium, fluoride, VOCs, PFOA, PFOS, sediment, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.031 per gallon.

   • Certified to reduce: chlorine taste and odor, lead
   • Cartridge life: 1,600 gallons
   • Cost per gallon: $0.031
6. 66.0

   Brita Faucet Mount (Elite)

   The Brita Faucet Mount (Elite) is a faucet water filter. It is third-party certified (WQA) to reduce lead, chlorine taste and odor. It is also marketed for benzene, asbestos, microplastics, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.180 per gallon.

   • Certified to reduce: lead, chlorine taste and odor
   • Cartridge life: 100 gallons
   • Cost per gallon: $0.180
7. 75.4

   PUR Plus Faucet Mount (PFM400H)

   The PUR Plus Faucet Mount (PFM400H) is a faucet water filter. It is third-party certified (NSF) to reduce lead, chlorine taste and odor, mercury. It is also marketed for microplastics, benzene, asbestos, pesticides, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.250 per gallon.

   • Certified to reduce: lead, chlorine taste and odor, mercury
   • Cartridge life: 100 gallons
   • Cost per gallon: $0.250
8. 84.9

   ZeroWater 5-Stage Pitcher (7-Cup)

   The ZeroWater 5-Stage Pitcher (7-Cup) is a pitcher water filter. It is third-party certified (IAPMO) to reduce chlorine taste and odor, lead, chromium-6, mercury, PFOA, PFOS. It is also marketed for total dissolved solids (TDS), for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $1.167 per gallon.

   • Certified to reduce: chlorine taste and odor, lead, chromium-6, mercury, PFOA, PFOS
   • Cartridge life: 15 gallons
   • Cost per gallon: $1.167
9. 94.9

   PUR Plus Pitcher (7-Cup)

   The PUR Plus Pitcher (7-Cup) is a pitcher water filter. It is third-party certified (NSF/WQA) to reduce chlorine taste and odor, lead, mercury. It is also marketed for microplastics, copper, zinc, cadmium, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.374 per gallon.

   • Certified to reduce: chlorine taste and odor, lead, mercury
   • Cartridge life: 40 gallons
   • Cost per gallon: $0.374
10. 104.9

    Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO

    The Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO is a ro water filter. It is third-party certified (IAPMO) to reduce chlorine taste and odor, total dissolved solids (TDS), lead, fluoride, cadmium, chromium-6, selenium. It is also marketed for PFOA, PFOS, arsenic, nitrate, mercury, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.123 per gallon.

    • Certified to reduce: chlorine taste and odor, total dissolved solids (TDS), lead, fluoride, cadmium, chromium-6, selenium
    • Cartridge life: 2,200 gallons
    • Cost per gallon: $0.123
11. 114.1

    Epic Smart Shield Under-Sink

    The Epic Smart Shield Under-Sink is a under sink water filter. It is third-party certified (IAPMO) to reduce chlorine taste and odor, lead, VOCs, chloramine, mercury, cysts, pharmaceuticals. It is also marketed for PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, microplastics, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.177 per gallon.

    • Certified to reduce: chlorine taste and odor, lead, VOCs, chloramine, mercury, cysts, pharmaceuticals
    • Cartridge life: 651 gallons
    • Cost per gallon: $0.177