This is our review of the best Water Distillers of 2023.
We reviewed several water distillers and found out that the Megahome Countertop Water Distiller is the best one overall.
There are several factors to look for when buying a water distiller, and to make your life easier we spent long hours reading & researching to find out the best distilled water machine so that you don’t have to waste your precious time. And because there isn’t a one size fits all because each household and family has their unique situation, we also identified the best option for different situations.
You will find out the best water distillers available today, their pros and cons, an explanation of why they are better for specific situations, and a complete buying guide with all the relevant information that you need to know to choose the best water distiller system for you.
Let’s get started!
Our Top Picks for Best Water Distillers
- Megahome Countertop Water Distiller (Best Overall Water Distiller)
- Waterwise 4000 Water Distiller (Runner-up Water Distiller)
- H2o Labs Best-In-Class Stainless Steel Water Distiller (Good Choice Water Distiller)
- Mophorn Pure Water Distillation Purifier (Best Budget Water Distiller)
- Pure Water Mini-Classic CT Water Distiller (Best Stainless Steel Water Distiller)
- CO-Z Water Distiller (Best Value Water Distiller)
6 Best Water Distillers Reviewed
After investing our time researching and reviewing several water distillers, we identified the 6 best options.
We’ve invested the time so you don’t have to:
- Best for: Overall
- Dimension: 9 x 9 x 13 inches
- Weight: 11 pounds
- Distillation Speed: 1 gallon in 5.5 hours
- Material: Plastic, Glass, and Stainless Steel
We consider the Megahome Countertop Water Distiller the best overall water distiller because it is a high-quality device with an affordable price, it is tested and approved by the UL which ensures its safety, has some nice safety features like auto shut-off, and comes with a 1-year warranty.
The Megahome Countertop Water Distiller removes most of the contaminants and impurities of the water through the water distillation process, and it comes with an optional activated carbon filter that you can use to deal with VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can remain in the water as they can turn into vapor. This additional filter comes in the form of 6 sachets, which should last for around 6 months.
One of our favorite things about this water distiller is the fact that it is tested and approved by an independent institution like the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) which is the trusted independent global safety science company for US products ensuring the safety of this product. And some insurers will require UL approved products to cover your home.
The filtration speed of the Megahome Countertop Water Distiller is not its strong point, as it takes around 5.5 hours to distill 1 gallon of water. While this is not bad for a water distiller, some competitors can distill the same amount of water in 4 hours. One good thing about this device is that it comes with an auto shut-off capability, so it will automatically turn off when the filtration process is completed.
This device has a nice design and high-quality materials, with the interior of the boiling chamber made of high-grade stainless steel to avoid the water touching plastic. And even the exterior plastic is made of durable BPA-free materials, to give the maximum quality to the product.
But if you prefer a full stainless steel product, Megahome has a stainless steel version of this water distiller that is slightly expensive.
And this trusted brand gives you a 1-year warranty on the Megahome Countertop Water Distiller to give you peace of mind on this purchase.
Pros:
- UL (Underwriters Laboratory) tested and approved
- Affordable
- Includes activated charcoal filter
- Auto shut-off feature
- 1-year warranty
Cons:
- Distillation speed
- Some customers complained about the fan noise
- Best for: Runner-up
- Dimension: 9 x 9 x 15 inches
- Weight: 8.36 pounds
- Distillation Speed: 1 gallon in 4 hours
- Material: Plastic, Glass, and Stainless Steel
The Waterwise 4000 Water Distiller is a great option if you are looking for a water distiller, as it removes virtually any contaminants from the water through a combination of the distillation process and an activated carbon filter, filter 1 gallon of water in 4 hours, it is portable and comes with a 1-year warranty.
The Waterwise 4000 Water Distiller removes most of the water impurities using the water distillation process and then removes the remaining VOCs with an activated carbon filter that will need to be changed every 8 gallons of water.
This device is one of the faster water distillers we have seen, as it is capable of filtering 1 gallon of water in 4 hours, and the process will automatically shut off to avoid incidents through its security features.
The Waterwise 4000 Water Distiller has a sleek and compact design to facilitate its storage and portability, and its interior is made of stainless steel to avoid any potential water contamination from plastic components.
And it comes with a 1-year warranty to give you trust when buying this product.
Pros:
- Filtration speed
- Includes activated carbon filter
- Auto shut-off feature
- 1-year warranty
- Portable
Cons:
- Some customers complained about the handle
- Best for: Good Choice
- Dimension: 16.5 x 12.01 x 11.26 inches
- Weight: 13.15 pounds
- Distillation Speed: 1 gallon in 5.5 hours
- Material: Stainless Steel and Glass
The H2o Labs Best-In-Class Stainless Steel Water Distiller is a good choice for a water distiller, as it is extremely effective at removing contaminants delivering clean distilled water in a high-quality stainless steel device, and comes with an activated carbon filter that lasts twice as long as other options.
The H2o Labs Best-In-Class Stainless Steel Water Distiller heats the water with a 565-watt heating element to evaporate the water slower than usual, ensuring that fewer VOCs will also turn into vapor. And to ensure fully clear water it includes exclusive activated carbon pods that remove any remaining VOCs from the distilled water.
Because the distillation process is slower than usual, this device takes a bit longer than other devices to filter 1 gallon of water, taking between 5 to 6 hours to complete the process.
The H2o Labs Best-In-Class Stainless Steel Water Distiller is made with high-quality grade 304 stainless steel and comes also with a porcelain nozzle insert to avoid any potential contamination, ensuring the delivery of completely pure distilled water.
Pros:
- Slower heating process to optimal contaminants removal
- Long-lasting activated carbon filters
- High-quality stainless steel material
- Includes cleaning crystals to remove limescale
- Portable
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Distillation speed
- Best for: Budget
- Dimension: 8.1 x 8.1 x 15 inches
- Weight: 9.35 Pounds
- Distillation Speed: 1 gallon in 4 hours
- Material: BPA-free plastic
The Mophorn Pure Water Distillation Purifier is the best budget choice for a water distiller. This device comes at an extremely affordable price, and can deliver great quality distilled water, and can filter 1 gallon of water in 4 hours.
This distilled water machine can filter 1 gallon of water in 4 hours or 6 gallons of water per day, which is one of the best filtration speeds we have seen in this type of machine.
The Mophorn Pure Water Distillation Purifier has some nice design features such as:
- Automatic shutdown when the temperature exceeds 239 ºF, to avoid overheating and potential incidents
- Aluminum fan to improve heat dissipation and accelerate the distillation process
- Ergonomic handle to make it easier to carry from a place to another, making it a portable option
The plastic materials of this device are BPA-free and made of food-grade materials, and the interior of the boiling chamber of and water outlet and inlet are made of stainless steel, to ensure that all elements that contact the water meet CE & FDA standards.
Pros:
- Price
- Filtration speed
- Auto shut-off security features
- Activated charcoal filter included
Cons:
- Plastic materials
- Some customers complained about the quality of the device
- Best for: Stainless steel
- Dimension: 13.5 x 9.88 x 15.75 inches
- Weight: 24 pounds
- Distillation Speed: 0.8 gallons in 3.5 hours
- Material: Stainless Steel and Glass
If you are looking for a stainless steel water distiller the Pure Water Mini-Classic CT Water Distiller is the right choice for you. Its unique design makes sure that the water never contacts with plastic to avoid any potential cross-contamination.
The Pure Water Mini-Classic CT Water Distiller has patented dual purity vents that make the VOCs leave the water and also has an activated carbon post filter to remove any VOCs that remain after the distillation process, ensuring the remotion of 99.99% of the contaminants from the water (tested by a 3rd party laboratory).
This machine can purify 0.8 gallons (3 liters) of water in 3.5 hours, which is one of the distillation speeds for water distillers, and is ideal if you have a small to medium family because you will have enough water in a short period.
The Pure Water Mini-Classic CT Water Distiller has a unique stylish stainless steel design with a built-in section for the water container. Other nice design features are a removable boiling chamber to facilitate its filling and cleaning, and an auto shut-off feature for extra safety.
Another nice feature of this machine is that it comes with a 15-year warranty on the stainless steel components and a 2-year warranty for electrical components, showing the trust that the manufacturer has in the product.
Pros:
- Unique stainless steel design
- Removes 99.99% of contaminants
- Distillation speed
- Includes activated carbon filter
- 15-year warranty for stainless steel components and a 2-year warranty for electrical components
Cons:
- Price
- Some customers complained about issues with the heating component
- Best for: Value
- Dimension: 18.89 x 11.22 x 13.58 inches
- Weight: 12.8 pounds
- Distillation Speed: 1 gallon in 4 hours
- Material: Stainless Steel and Glass
The CO-Z Water Distiller is one of the best value water distillers because it offers top features at an affordable price. This high-quality stainless steel device can remove almost all contaminants from the water filtering 1 gallon of water in 4 hours.
The CO-Z Water Distiller can produce some of the purest distilled water because the water distillation process removes the dissolved solids and the remaining VOCs are removed by an activated carbon filter.
It can produce 6 gallons of distilled water per day, or 1 gallon of water every 4 hours, being one of the most efficient water distillers we reviewed.
The well-designed CO-Z Water Distiller is made of grade 304 stainless steel steel, including the boiling chamber, dome, and condensing coil, and all the parts are food grade and BPA-free to ensure that it is completely safe and doesn’t contaminate the water.
This water distiller is packed with nice features, such as: single button to start the process, automatic shut-off for overheating protection, a fan condenser to avoid overheating and extend its lifespan, a no-slip base to ensure it stays secure in its place, and includes a customized detergent to make the device cleaning easier.
The CO-Z Water Distiller comes with a 1-year warranty which should give you some peace of mind in your purchase.
Pros:
- Price
- Distillation speed
- Stainless steel materials
- Auto shut-off capability
- Includes customized detergent to help the cleaning process
- 1-year warranty
- No-slip base
Cons:
- Heavier and larger than some similar competitors
- Some customers complained about the taste in the first uses
Buying Guide for Water Distiller
With so many different options available in the market, buying the best water distiller for you is not an easy task.
You need to check the different features of each option against your family’s needs to decide which ones make sense for you and your budget.
That is why we present a curated selection of the best distilled water machines for different situations, and we also created a comprehensive buying guide for water distillers so that you can understand the most important factors and be able to make the best purchase decision.
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Water Distiller
When researching for a Water Distiller to buy, these are the key features that you should consider:
Contaminants to Remove
The main purpose of using a water filter is to remove the harmful contaminants in the water, and distilled water machines are highly effective at this because the distillation process can remove most of the water contaminants.
But there are still some contaminants that might stay in the water after the distillation process, like VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and typically the best water distillers have an additional activated carbon filter to deal with this type of contaminants, significantly improving the taste of the water.
Some water distillers also have additional remineralization filters to add back some beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium to the water and also improve its taste, because some people find the taste of distilled water to be a bit flat.
Cost
You can find water distillers at different prices, from $50 to more than $500, so it is important to define how much you are willing to spend to then look for an option that fits your budget.
The price is not a direct indicator of quality, but the more features a water distiller has, the higher the price will be. So you should know first which features and factors are relevant for you and your family, to then buy the best value option.
Capacity
It is important to understand first how much water your family will need per day to select a water distiller that fits your needs.
You don’t want to buy a larger, bigger, and more expensive model if you don’t need the extra capacity, but you also don’t want to buy a model that doesn’t distill enough water for your needs.
Water Distillation Speed
The distillation process is not quick, but some models can distill water faster than old models.
The best water distiller can distill 1 gallon of water in 4 hours, so depending on the size of your family, you might need to run the distillation process more than once a day.
It’s a good idea to let the water distiller distill the water during the night so that you have clean water in the morning.
Certifications
The best water filters are typically certified by independent institutions that test and verify that the devices can remove certain contaminants from the water.
Both NSF or WQA are independent third-party accredited institutions that certify water filters, which gives the consumer the trust that those products can remove certain harmful contaminants.
For water distillers, the most important certification to consider is the NSF 62, which defines the minimum materials, design and construction, and performance requirements for point-of-use (POU) and point-of-entry (POE) water distiller systems and their materials.
Distillation Chamber Size
A water distiller and its distillation chamber can be available in different sizes, so it is important to know the different options available and decide on one that makes sense for you.
You should check first if it will fit well in your countertop, and that you can plug it without any issues.
The size is also important if you plan to move it with you from one place to another, so in this case, you might consider a more compact and portable option.
Materials
Typically a water distiller will be made of plastic or stainless steel, and each option has its pros and cons.
The stainless steel version, which we prefer, usually looks better, is more durable, and easy to clean and maintain, but it’s also expensive and heavier.
If you decide to go for a plastic version make sure you choose a BPA-free model because water
What is a Water Distiller?
A water distiller is a device or machine that purifies water through a water distillation process. It heats the water until it boils and turns into water vapor, and then cools it down condensing it back into water, letting the harmful contaminants behind that cannot turn into gas.
This is one of the most effective methods to filter and purify water because it removes almost all the impurities and contaminants, but it also removes some beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium.
A water distiller is typically composed of the following components: a boiling or distillation chamber, a condenser, a water container, and a heating component.
It looks similar to a coffee pot in aspect and size and needs electricity to work, so make sure you place it near a power supply.
What is Distilled Water Used For?
Distilled water is used to drink, but due to its purity it has many other uses, such as:
- Ironing: To avoid limescale buildup and prevent corrosion of steam irons, it is a good idea to use distilled water instead of tap water.
- Watering plants: Regular water may contain substances that hurt your plants, like chemicals and other contaminants, so it’s a good idea to use distilled water instead.
- Cooking and baking: Using distilled water to cook and bake can prevent changing of flavours caused by regular tap water.
- Baby formula: Babies’ immune system is still developing, so we should avoid exposing them to water contaminants like heavy metals and bacteria which are harmful to their health.
- Adding to humidifier: It is recommended to use distilled water in this type of device to avoid the growth of bacteria inside of it, which can be caused by using regular tap water.
- Aquariums: It is recommended to use distilled water in aquariums instead of tap water to avoid some harmful contaminants to the fish like chlorine, bacteria, and some minerals.
- Car maintenance: Because distilled water doesn’t have minerals it is an ideal choice to use in a car’s battery because it will avoid corrosion and extend its lifespan.
- Medical sterilization: Distilled water is typically used in hospitals and clinics to clean medical instruments because it doesn’t have any impurities and minerals, ensuring proper sterilization.
- Cosmetic products: Typically cosmetic products use distilled water due to its extreme purity, ensuring that there is no contamination and the products are free of bacteria.
How Does a Water Distiller Work?
A water distiller uses the distillation process to purify the water, and it can be broken down into a few steps:
#1: Water is heated up in the boiling chamber:
This is the starting point of the process, in which you fill the boiling chamber with water and then the water is heated up until its boiling point of 100 °C (212 °F).
#2: Steam goes through the condenser:
When the water reaches its boiling point it turns into vapor, which goes through the condenser, leaving the boiling chamber and the contaminants that weren’t converted into gas behind.
#3: Steam is converted into a liquid:
Then, the steam is converted back into its liquid form, pure water. This step is achieved through a process in which a fan cools down the water vapor that starts converting into water droplets.
#4: Activated carbon filtration to remove remaining contaminants:
The water then goes through an activated filter to remove any remaining contaminants that might have converted into gas and traveled with the water vapor. This process ensures that any existing impurities are removed from the water.
#5: Water goes through a remineralization filter (optional)
Some water distillers have a remineralization filter to add back some beneficial minerals into the water that are removed during the distillation process. So, this process is in place to add back some healthy minerals like calcium and magnesium to your water, which also improves its taste.
#6: Water droplets are collected in the holding tank
Finally, the water droplets are collected in the holding tank, and this final product, free of contaminants and impurities, is ready to be used by you.
This is not a quick process as it can take between 4 to 6 hours to filter one gallon of water, so you need to start the process well before you need distilled water to ensure you will have it when needed.
Water Distiller Benefits
A water distiller has several advantages, such as:
Removes Contaminants & Impurities from Your Water
One of the main benefits of having a water distiller is the fact that it removes almost all contaminants from the water, delivering fresh and clean water for you and your family.
You won’t need to worry about bacteria, viruses, chemicals, heavy metals, and other contaminants, because all of these contaminants are removed from your water during the distillation process.
Environment-friendly
If you start drinking distilled water instead of bottled water, you will dramatically reduce the amount of plastic waste you create, contributing positively to the environment.
Another associated benefit is that you will also save some money, as bottled water ends up much more expensive than filtered water, in the long run.
Affordable
If you are looking to get filtered and pure water for you and your family, a water distiller is a great option and it is cheaper than other good alternatives such as whole house filters or Reverse Osmosis systems.
Easy to Use
Water distillers are easy to use, as you only need to fill them with water and press the start button to initiate the distillation process.
They also do not require filter replacement like other water filtration systems, which simplifies its use.
Size
Water distillers are relatively small, around the size of a coffee machine, so you can fit them in a countertop without taking too much space.
This is ideal for apartments, rented places, or small houses because it won’t take much space and won’t require installation.
Also due to their small size, water distillers are portable and can be moved from place to place.
Water Distiller Disadvantages
But water distillers also have a few disadvantages, as you can check below:
Filtration Speed
Water distillers take a long time to filter water compared with other water filter types, as they can take from 4 to 6 hours to filter just one gallon of water.
If you and your family need more water, try to choose a water distiller with a good filtration speed, or consider buying more than one device.
Energy Consumption
Water distillers require energy to run the water distillation process, and this daily energy consumption will add up to your energy bill.
Is a Water Distiller Right For Me?
A water distiller can produce distilled water which is one of the purest forms of water, so if you need to drink water without contaminants this can be the right option for you.
But other options might suit you better if you are only looking for filtered water and not specifically distilled water. But let’s look at how distilled water compares with other options to help you in your choice:
Distilled Water vs Bottled Water
If you currently drink bottled water, distilled water might be a better choice because it has fewer contaminants, is more environmentally friendly because you won’t generate plastic waste from the bottles, and will save you money.
On the negative side, if you like the taste of minerals of the bottled water, distilled water won’t have it unless you choose one water distiller with a remineralization filter.
Distilled Water vs Filtered Water
In this comparison, we are excluding filtered water from Reverse Osmosis systems and focus on filtered water from other systems, like undersink water filters, countertop water filters, or faucet water filters.
All of these types of water filters can remove most of the harmful contaminants and generate clean and fresh water, but won’t be as pure and free of all contaminants and impurities as distilled water.
But if you just need to remove certain contaminants, these might be better options because they will be able to filter more water and in a shorter period.
Distilled Water vs Reverse Osmosis Water
We specifically separated Reverse Osmosis from other filtration solutions because the best systems can reduce the TDS (total dissolved solids) to virtually zero, generating water as pure as distilled water.
So, if you need water with almost zero contaminants, any of these options could be good for you, and you can check the best Reverse Osmosis systems available.
Reverse Osmosis is typically more difficult to install and generate waste water, but is much faster to filter water, has a higher water output, and won’t need to be connected to an electrical plug.
Water Distiller Installation
Installing a distilled water machine is quite a simple and straightforward process, nothing compared with the installation of other types of water filters which are much more complex.
You can install a water distiller in 6 easy steps:
- Step #1: Remove all components from the box, and check that nothing is missing
- Step #2: Flush the carbon filter according to the manufacturer instructions
- Step #3: Place the filter in the filter housing
- Step #4: Plug and turn on the water distiller
- Step #5: Fill it with water and run the distillation process once, and throw the water away
- Step #6: Clean the water distiller, and it’s ready to use!
Water Distiller Maintenance
During the distillation process, the contaminants and impurities are left out in the boiling chamber of the water distiller, so to avoid limescale buildup and to remove all the impurities it is important to clean the distiller regularly.
This will ensure that your water distiller will continue to function properly and will extend its lifespan.
Water distiller cleaning
You should check how the manufacturer of your device recommends cleaning the water distiller, but a good practice is to use vinegar or a descaler proper for cleaning water distillers.
Then, you should follow these steps:
- Unplug the water distiller from the electricity
- Fill the boiling chamber with warm water
- Add the cleaning descaler or vinegar to the water
- Leave it for a few hours to disinfect and clean (4 to 8 hours should be enough)
- Remove the water from the boiling chamber
- Scrub the boiling chamber, and rinse it out
Do not use chemicals or bleach because some residues may remain and will evaporate and condense with the water, contaminating your distilled water in the process.
Water distiller filter change
Your water distiller should have an activated carbon filter and may also have a remineralization filter. These filters will have a defined capacity and lifespan, so you will need to change them periodically according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
You should be able to change the filters quickly, as you only need to open the filter housing, remove the old filter and replace it with the new filter. Then, just flush out the filter, and then it will be good to use.
FAQ About Water Distillers
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about water distillers.
Can I drink distilled water?
Yes! Distilled water doesn’t have contaminants, impurities, and inorganic minerals, so it is a healthy choice for you.
Some people find its flavor a bit more flat than tap water, but that is because some minerals have been removed.
Is distilled water safe for babies?
Yes. In fact, some recognized organizations [1,2] recommend preparing the baby formula with distilled water because it doesn’t have contaminants and fluoride, which can cause fluorosis.
What is the cost of a water distiller?
There are many water distiller options available, and you can find that the cost range can vary from less than $100 to more than $1.000, as different factors influence the price.
But you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on a water distiller, if you check our top list you will find great options from the $100 to $500 range.
Is distilled water the same as bottled water?
Not really.
Typically bottled water can be spring or mineral water which will contain minerals, something that you won’t find in distilled water unless you use a water distiller with a remineralization filter.
What they have in common is that both are types of filtered water, but distilled water has almost no contaminants and impurities, something that bottled water cannot claim.
Is boiled water the same as distilled water?
No.
Distilled water is free of contaminants because during the process it turns into vapor leaving the contaminants behind, and then it’s condensed back into the liquid form.
Boiled water does not leave the contaminants behind, so it’s not the same and it’s not as pure as distilled water. Anyway, boiling water has some positive effects as it can kill bacteria, viruses, microorganisms, and other contaminants.
Is it expensive to run a water distiller?
Not really. On average a water distiller consumes around 3kWh to filter one gallon of water, which corresponds to around $0.30 per gallon of clean water.
How can I store my distilled water?
Our recommendation is to use a container or bottle that is BPA-free or made of glass if you need to store distilled water.
Because distilled water is pure water, it can easily absorb contaminants from its containers, so if you use a plastic container it can leach chemicals into the water, or if you use a metal container it also can leach heavy metals into the water.
For how long can I store distilled water?
It depends on how you pretend to use the distilled water. If you have stored some water that you distilled and want to use for ironing, for example, as long as it is stored in a container that does not leak contaminants, it can last long.
If you want to drink the distilled water, you probably should not store the water for more than one week. But check its smell first, to understand if it is still good to drink.
Do I really need an activated carbon filter on my water distiller?
We recommend choosing a water distiller with an activated carbon filter because this type of filter is especially effective at removing VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from the water.
And during the distillation process, some VOCs can evaporate with the water steam, and condense back with it, so this filter ensures that the only potentially remaining contaminants are removed.
Do I really need a remineralization filter on my water distiller?
Not really, it is more a matter of personal preference.
Distilled water won’t have any minerals, and some people find its taste a bit bland and prefer to drink water with some minerals because they find it improves its taste.
Also, the minerals that are added back by a remineralization filter are beneficial for our health, like calcium and magnesium, but if you follow a regular diet you will consume you required dosage of these minerals with your food.
How long does a water distiller take to produce purified water?
It will depend on the model, but this process is not fast.
The faster water distillers can take around 3 hours to produce one gallon of purified water, but some models can take up to 6 hours to do it.
Our Verdict
Distilled water has several advantages as you may be aware by now, and if you believe it is a good option for you, buying a water distiller is the right move.
Spend some time reading our guide to understand the key factors to choose the best water distillers and decide the ones that are most important to you, and then look at our reviews to decide the best option for you and your family.
For us, the best overall choice is the Megahome Countertop Water Distiller, but all the water distillers we have in our top are great options, so you can’t go wrong with any of them!
