Water filter · pitcher
Brita Elite Pitcher (10-Cup)
A pour-through pitcher whose Elite filter is certified to reduce lead, mercury, cadmium and more, with a long 120-gallon cartridge.
Bottom line
In our scoring the Brita Elite Pitcher (10-Cup) earns 8.4/10, a solid pick, and it stands out on certification independence (10.0/10). On the data, it holds WQA/NSF/IAPMO certification to reduce chlorine taste and odor, lead, mercury. It works out to about $0.167 per gallon, a middling cost per gallon. Its weakest area in our scoring is capacity & flow fit (5.0/10). Certification is not a substitute for a water test of your own supply.
Where to buy
Check the current price on AmazonAffiliate link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes a score - how we handle this.
Total cost of ownership
Checked 42 days ago- Cost / gallon
- $0.167
- ~Annual filters
- $184/yr
Certifications
- NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 (WQA master cert)chlorine, particulates, mercury, cadmium, asbestos, benzene, VOCs, microplastics, pharmaceuticals
- NSF/ANSI 53 (lead)lead
- NSF/ANSI 53 (PFOA/PFOS)PFOA, PFOS
Filters only protect you on their swap schedule. Get an email reminder when this one is due - one note around swap time, nothing else.
Overview
The Brita Elite Pitcher (10-Cup) is a pitcher water filter. It is third-party certified (WQA/NSF/IAPMO) to reduce chlorine taste and odor, lead, mercury, cadmium, asbestos, benzene, particulates, PFOA, PFOS, microplastics. Running cost works out to about $0.167 per gallon.
By the numbers
- Certified to reduce
- chlorine taste and odor, lead, mercury, cadmium, asbestos, benzene, particulates, PFOA, PFOS, microplastics
- Format
- pitcher
- Cartridge life
- 120 gallons
- Cost per gallon
- $0.167
- Annual filter cost (~1,100 gal)
- $184/yr
- Install
- pour-through pitcher
- Certifications
- WQA NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 (WQA master cert); NSF NSF/ANSI 53 (lead); IAPMO NSF/ANSI 53 (PFOA/PFOS)
Strengths
- + Verified Contaminant Reduction: 9.0/10
- + Total Cost of Ownership: 9.0/10
- + Certification Independence: 10.0/10
Watch-outs
- No significant weaknesses flagged.
Who it is for
- · Homes with lead service lines or older plumbing (certified for lead)
- · Anyone targeting PFAS (certified for PFOA/PFOS)
- · Renters and small households wanting a no-install option
What to know before buying
- · The Elite replacement filter is part OB06, rated for 120 gallons or about 6 months, far longer than Brita's older Standard filters.
- · The Elite filter is certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead and PFOA/PFOS (PFAS) reduction, with additional certification to NSF/ANSI 42 and 401 per its performance data sheet.
- · It is a carbon/ion-exchange pitcher filter, so it does not reduce TDS or remove dissolved minerals the way reverse osmosis does.
How it scored
Verified Contaminant Reduction
9.0/10 · 35%Held NSF/WQA/IAPMO certifications for the contaminants that matter. A claim is not a certification.
- +3NSF/ANSI 53 certified for lead ANSF/53 lead - Independently certified to reduce lead under NSF/ANSI 53.
- +3Certified for PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58) APFOA/PFOS certified - Independently certified to reduce PFOA/PFOS.
- +1NSF/ANSI 42 certified for chlorine ANSF/42 chlorine - Certified to reduce chlorine taste and odor.
- +2NSF/ANSI 401 emerging contaminants ANSF/401 - Certified for emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals.
Total Cost of Ownership
9.0/10 · 25%Computed cost per gallon vs the format-class median. The number nobody surfaces.
- +8Cost per gallon vs class median A$0.167/gal (bottom 20% of class (cheapest to run)) - Computed cost per gallon scored against the format-class median.
- +1No proprietary cartridge lock-in Bcross-compatible cartridges - Cartridges are sold separately with cross-compatible equivalents.
Certification Independence
10.0/10 · 15%Certified on the official database vs self-claimed 'tested to' marketing.
- +5Certifications verifiable on official database A3 listings - Certifications are listed on the official NSF/WQA/IAPMO database, not just a logo.
- +3Per-contaminant reduction disclosed Bperformance data sheet - Publishes percent reduction per contaminant at rated capacity.
- +2Marketing matches certified scope Aclaims within certified scope - Hero claims are within what the certifications actually cover.
Capacity & Flow Fit
5.0/10 · 15%Cartridge life and flow appropriate to the format.
- +3Cartridge life fits the format B120 gal (norm 40) - Rated cartridge life is appropriate for this filter format.
- +2Honestly rated filter life Bgallon rating matches typical use - Months claim matches the gallon rating at typical use.
Practical Fit
7.0/10 · 10%Install, footprint, and source-water readiness.
- +5Install type disclosed Cpour-through pitcher - Install method and difficulty are disclosed up front.
- +2Predictable replacement schedule Chonest life rating - Replacement schedule is predictable from the honest gallon rating.
FAQ
- Is the Brita Elite Pitcher (10-Cup) NSF certified, and does it remove lead or PFAS?
- Per the public NSF/WQA/IAPMO databases it holds WQA/NSF/IAPMO certification to reduce chlorine taste and odor, lead, mercury, cadmium, and more. It is certified for lead. It is certified for PFAS (PFOA/PFOS).
- Which Brita filter fits and how long does it last?
- The Brita Elite filter (model OB06) is rated for 120 gallons or roughly 6 months of typical household use.
- Is the Brita Elite certified for lead?
- Yes, it is certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduction, and the same OB06 sheet certifies PFOA/PFOS, with additional certification to standards 42 and 401.
Compared head-to-head
Related guides
This score is our opinion under our published rubric, not a statement of objective fact or a lab test of this product. We score what third-party certifications prove; absence of a certification means we found no verification, not that a product fails to perform. Last reviewed 2026-06-06. Scored under water-v1.0. Prices were last checked 42 days ago; the freshness chip above the cost panel shows the current state. See the methodology for how each rule fires.