Water · Best-of

Best Water Filter Pitcher

Pitchers are the cheapest entry point, but certification varies wildly: some are certified only for chlorine taste, others for lead and PFAS. The catch is cost per gallon, since pitcher cartridges are small. We rank on both.

How we score: We rank pitcher-class filters by composite score, which weights certified reduction and the (often high) cost per gallon of small cartridges.

1. 17.3

   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
2. 25.6

   Brita Standard Pitcher

   The Brita Standard Pitcher is a pitcher water filter. It is third-party certified (WQA) to reduce chlorine taste and odor, zinc, copper, cadmium, mercury. Running cost works out to about $0.200 per gallon.

   • Certified to reduce: chlorine taste and odor, zinc, copper, cadmium, mercury
   • Cartridge life: 40 gallons
   • Cost per gallon: $0.200
3. 34.9

   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
4. 44.9

   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
5. 53.2

   Epic Pure Pitcher

   The Epic Pure Pitcher is a pitcher water filter. It carries no accredited NSF, WQA, or IAPMO certification - its contaminant claims are "tested to" lab results, not certifications. It is also marketed for fluoride, lead, PFOA, PFOS, chromium-6, chlorine taste and odor, benzene, microplastics, 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 $0.353 per gallon.

   • Certified to reduce: nothing certified (claims are 'tested to' only)
   • Cartridge life: 150 gallons
   • Cost per gallon: $0.353
6. 62.7

   LifeStraw Home Pitcher

   The LifeStraw Home Pitcher is a pitcher water filter. It carries no accredited NSF, WQA, or IAPMO certification - its contaminant claims are "tested to" lab results, not certifications. It is also marketed for lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium, copper, chlorine taste and odor, PFOA, PFOS, microplastics, bacteria, parasites, 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 $0.288 per gallon.

   • Certified to reduce: nothing certified (claims are 'tested to' only)
   • Cartridge life: 264 gallons
   • Cost per gallon: $0.288
7. 72.5

   Clearly Filtered Pitcher

   The Clearly Filtered Pitcher is a pitcher water filter. It is third-party certified (NSF) to reduce chlorine taste and odor. It is also marketed for lead, fluoride, PFOA, PFOS, PFAS, arsenic, microplastics, chromium-6, 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 $0.495 per gallon.

   • Certified to reduce: chlorine taste and odor
   • Cartridge life: 100 gallons
   • Cost per gallon: $0.495
8. 81.5

   Great Value Water Filter Pitcher (HS528N)

   The Great Value Water Filter Pitcher (HS528N) is a pitcher water filter. It carries no accredited NSF, WQA, or IAPMO certification - its contaminant claims are "tested to" lab results, not certifications. It is also marketed for chlorine taste and odor, 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). Replacement-cartridge pricing is not publicly available, so cost per gallon cannot be computed.

   • Certified to reduce: nothing certified (claims are 'tested to' only)
   • Cartridge life: 40 gallons