Brita water filters are pitcher-based, faucet-mounted, dispenser, and countertop filtration systems that use activated carbon and ion-exchange resin to reduce chlorine, lead, mercury, cadmium, and other contaminants from tap water. Brita is a German brand founded in 1966, distributed across 69 countries, and sold in the US by The Clorox Company. Brita products are available at Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Amazon, and Ace Hardware.
What Are Brita Water Filters?
Brita water filters are point-of-use tap water filtration systems that reduce contaminants through activated carbon and ion-exchange resin technology. According to Brita’s performance data, all Brita filters reduce chlorine taste and odor. The Brita Elite Filter additionally reduces 99% of lead, asbestos, benzene, cadmium, mercury, and Class I particulates (0.5–1.0 micron range).
Brita was founded in 1966 by Heinz Hankammer in Germany — originally named AquaDeMat before being renamed after his daughter. Brita secured the first domestic water filter patent in the 1970s. The Clorox Company acquired sole US and Americas distribution rights in 2000.
One Brita Standard filter replaces up to 300 standard 16.9-ounce single-use plastic water bottles. Switching from bottled water to Brita reduces plastic waste by up to 80%, according to Brita.
What Types of Brita Water Filters Are Available?
There are 5 types of Brita water filter systems:
- Brita Pitchers — Gravity-fed filter pitchers in 6-cup, 10-cup, and large-capacity models
- Brita Dispensers — Large-capacity units holding 18–27 cups; use Standard or Elite filters
- Brita Faucet Mount Systems — Attach directly to the faucet; filter water on demand
- Brita Hub — Countertop electric filtration unit with filter life indicator
- Brita Water Bottles — Built-in filter bottles for on-the-go filtration
All Brita filters, pitchers, dispensers, bottles, and faucet systems are made without BPA.
What Are the Different Brita Filter Types?
Brita produces 4 replacement filter types for its products:
| Filter | Capacity | Lifespan | NSF Certifications |
| Brita Standard (white) | 40 gallons | ~2 months | NSF/ANSI 42 |
| Brita Elite (light blue) | 120 gallons | ~6 months | NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 |
| Brita Stream | Pour-through | ~2 months | NSF/ANSI 42 |
| Brita Faucet Filter | 100 gallons | ~4 months | NSF/ANSI 42, 53 |
Brita Elite (formerly called LongLast+) is the only Brita filter with NSF/ANSI 53 certification for health-related contaminant removal, including lead. The Brita Standard filter holds only NSF/ANSI 42 — covering chlorine taste and odor — and does not remove lead.
What Does the Brita Standard Filter Remove?
The Brita Standard filter removes 5 contaminant categories:
- Chlorine (taste and odor) — NSF/ANSI 42 certified
- Mercury — reduced via activated carbon
- Cadmium — reduced via ion-exchange resin
- Copper — reduced via ion-exchange resin
- Zinc — reduced via ion-exchange resin
The Standard filter uses a mesh screen, activated carbon granules, and ion-exchange resin in a single chamber. It has a 40-gallon / 2-month lifespan. It does not remove lead, PFAS, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, or asbestos.
According to Tap Score (April 2026), the Standard Brita filter is not certified for lead reduction and is not effective at filtering lead even without certification.
What Does the Brita Elite Filter Remove?
The Brita Elite filter removes 30+ contaminants, including:
- 99% of lead — NSF/ANSI 53 certified
- Chlorine (taste and odor) — NSF/ANSI 42 certified
- Mercury, cadmium, asbestos, benzene — NSF/ANSI 53 certified
- Class I particulates (0.5–1.0 micron) — NSF/ANSI 53 certified
- Microplastics (99.6% reduction) — NSF/ANSI 401 certified
- PFOA and PFOS (select PFAS compounds) — NSF/ANSI 53 certified
- Pharmaceuticals and pesticides — NSF/ANSI 401 certified
The Elite filter uses Brita’s proprietary active filtering agents, activated carbon, and a pleated fiber media in a BPA-free housing. In independent lab testing by Water Filter Guru (2025), Brita Elite reduced 100% of barium and 97% of copper. It reduced uranium by only 26% and did not reduce fluoride.
Important: The Brita Elite addresses only PFOA and PFOS from the PFAS family. It does not hold NSF/ANSI P473 certification, which is the standard specifically designed to verify broad PFAS reduction. Thousands of PFAS compounds exist beyond PFOA and PFOS.
Brita Elite vs Brita Standard: Which Filter Is Better?
The Brita Elite is the better choice for most households. It removes 30+ contaminants vs. the Standard’s 5, lasts 3x longer per filter, and costs approximately 20% less per gallon of filtered water.
The 5 key differences between Brita Elite and Brita Standard are:
- Contaminant removal: Elite — 30+ contaminants (NSF 42, 53, 401) vs. Standard — 5 contaminants (NSF 42 only)
- Lead removal: Elite — 99% lead reduction (NSF 53 certified) vs. Standard — no lead reduction
- Filter lifespan: Elite — 120 gallons / 6 months vs. Standard — 40 gallons / 2 months
- Filter changes per year: Elite — 2x per year vs. Standard — 6x per year
- Appearance: Elite — light blue housing vs. Standard — white housing
A 2-pack of Elite filters costs approximately $30, covering 12 months of use at 13 cents per gallon. A standard filter 3-pack at the same usage covers only 6 months at approximately 16 cents per gallon.
What Do Brita Filters NOT Remove?
Brita filters do not remove 6 common contaminants of concern:
- Fluoride — Neither the Standard nor Elite filter reduces fluoride. Brita retains fluoride intentionally, noting it promotes strong teeth.
- Nitrates — Not removed by either filter type. Requires reverse osmosis (RO) for effective reduction.
- Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) — Brita is not certified for TDS reduction.
- Bacteria and viruses — Brita pitcher filters do not remove microbial pathogens.
- Broad-spectrum PFAS — Brita Elite reduces PFOA and PFOS only. It does not hold NSF P473 certification for comprehensive PFAS removal.
- Arsenic — Not removed. Requires reverse osmosis for effective reduction.
What Are the Best Brita Pitchers?
There are 6 Brita pitcher models available in 2026:
- Brita Tahoe (10-cup) — Most popular model; $28.49; 4.2/5 rating from 1,200+ reviews at Walmart, Target, Home Depot
- Brita Soho (6-cup) — Compact design for small refrigerators; $19.88; 4.3/5 from 1,200+ reviews
- Brita Denali (6-cup) — Slim profile; $19.88; 4.6/5 from 993 reviews
- Brita Everyday / Vintage (10-cup) — Same as Tahoe; sold under different names by retailer
- Brita UltraMax Dispenser (27-cup) — Large-capacity; $50; fits Elite filter
- Brita Stream Pitcher — Filters water as poured; uses Stream filter; removes chlorine only
CNN Underscored (April 2026) rated the Brita 10-cup with Elite Filter as the best value water filter pitcher tested — citing its contaminant removal level at the lowest cost per gallon among all certified options tested.
What Is the Brita Faucet Filter System?
The Brita faucet mount system attaches directly to the faucet and filters water on demand without gravity-fed waiting. It holds NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 certifications for chlorine and lead reduction. The Brita faucet filter replaces the filter every 100 gallons or approximately 4 months.
There are 2 Brita faucet system models:
- Brita Basic Faucet Mount — $20–$24; 3.8/5 from 1,900+ reviews; standard filtration
- Brita On Tap Faucet Filter — $17.88–$19.12; 4.3–4.4/5 from 227+ reviews; includes switchable filtered/unfiltered mode
What Is the Brita Hub?
The Brita Hub is a countertop electric water filtration system that dispenses room-temperature filtered water directly without manual filling. It measures 14.4 inches tall × 7.5 inches wide × 11.4 inches deep and weighs 7.9 lbs. The Hub requires electricity and is not suitable for homes with frequent power outages.
The Brita Hub includes a filter life indicator that glows green (fresh), yellow (change soon), or red (replace now). It uses proprietary Brita Hub filter cartridges compatible with NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 standards.
How Often Should Brita Filters Be Replaced?
Brita filter replacement frequency varies by filter type and household water quality. The 4 replacement schedules are:
- Standard filter — Every 40 gallons or 2 months
- Elite filter — Every 120 gallons or 6 months
- Stream filter — Every 40 gallons or 2 months
- Faucet filter — Every 100 gallons or 4 months
Brita has partnered with TerraCycle for free recycling of used filter cartridges, pitchers, dispensers, bottles, and packaging. The recycling program requires completing a form on the Brita website to receive a free prepaid shipping label.
How Do Brita Filters Compare to PUR and ZeroWater?
| Feature | Brita Elite | PUR Plus | ZeroWater |
| NSF Certifications | 42, 53, 401 | 42, 53 | 42, 53, 401 |
| Lead removal | 99% | Certified | 100% |
| PFAS removal | PFOA/PFOS only | Partial | Yes (some compounds) |
| Filter lifespan | 120 gallons | ~40 gallons | 20–40 gallons (hard water) |
| Cost per gallon | ~13 cents | ~28 cents | Higher in hard water |
| TDS removal | No | No | Yes (full TDS removal) |
According to CNN Underscored testing (2026), Brita’s 10-cup pitcher with Elite Filter filtered more contaminants for less money than PUR’s comparable pitcher option.
Is Brita Filtered Water Safe for CPAP Machines?
Brita filtered water is not recommended for CPAP machines by most medical equipment manufacturers. CPAP humidifier chambers require distilled water to prevent mineral buildup and microbial contamination. Brita filters do not remove all minerals (they retain calcium, magnesium, and fluoride by design) and do not remove bacteria or viruses. Distilled water removes minerals, most bacteria, and many chemicals, making it the standard recommendation for CPAP use.
Does Brita Filtered Water Taste Better Than Tap Water?
Brita filtered water improves taste by reducing chlorine, which is the primary contributor to tap water’s chemical smell and taste. In CNN Underscored testing (April 2026), the taste improvement from Brita Elite was measurable but less pronounced than premium filters like Epic Water or Clearly Filtered. The activated carbon in both the Standard and Elite filters reduces chlorine to levels below the NSF/ANSI 42 threshold for taste and odor.
Where to Buy Brita Water Filters
Brita water filters are available at 6 major US retailers:
- Walmart — Standard filters from $7.68; Elite filters from $12.99; same-day pickup at most locations
- Target — Advanced replacement filters $20.99 (4-count); free delivery over $35
- Home Depot — Tahoe 10-cup pitcher $28.49; free delivery available
- Amazon — Full product range; 2-pack Elite filters typically $30; subscribe-and-save discounts available
- Ace Hardware — Available at 10,000+ US locations
- Sam’s Club — Bulk packs available; 6-count bottle replacement filters at $17.58
Brita offers a 1-year warranty and a 30-day unconditional money-back guarantee on all products. Customer service is available online 5 days per week at brita.com.
