How Much Does a Home Water Filtration System Cost?

Common Range: $900 – $3,100, Installed

National Average: $2,075, Installed

Updated: November 17, 2023. Written by: Steve Hansen

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Whole House Water Filtration System Cost Range

Most homeowners pay between $900 – $3,100 for water filtration system installed by a pro. The cost ranges from about $360 for a basic DIY system to more than $3,500 for a professionally installed system with advanced filtration features.

Average Cost

The average cost to have a water filtration professionally installed for your whole house is about $2,075. This cost includes an initial water test by a local contractor, the cost of the water filter system, installation labor and all supplies needed to complete the project.

Average Do It Yourself Cost
$690
Average Contractor Installed Cost
$2,075
Typical Cost Range
$900 – $3,100, Installed

whole house water filtered water in glass

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Overview of Whole House Water Filtering Systems

Impurities in drinking water range from iron that stains fixtures and are little more than a nuisance to PFAS and PFOS that cause serious health issues. Increased awareness of unhealthy drinking water has made adding a whole house filtration system one of the more popular interior home improvement projects.

This whole house water filter system cost estimate includes cost factors, retail costs, installation charges and pricing estimates from other reliable cost sites. There’s a brief section explaining your options for the types of whole-house water filtration systems available.

Homeowner-submitted costs are included – and you’re invited to return to share your project cost too.

Whole House Water Filter Cost Factors

Your whole house water filter system price will depend on the type you choose and other factors.

  • System Type – Sediment filters are the least expensive, but they’re not designed to remove tiny particles or serious contaminants like PFAS or arsenic. Reverse osmosis systems are typically recommended if serious contaminants have been found when water is tested for impurities. Activated carbon filters in combination with other filter types are best sellers and have the widest range of pricing based on their capacity and features. They remove a broad range pollutants. Systems with a salt-free water softening component cost most and provide the most treatment of the water.
  • How Effectively it Filters – Sediment (silt, dirt, rust, minerals) are rated the size of the particles in microns they remove. Chemical filters are rated in parts per million, ppm, they remove. The better the filtration, the higher the cost.
  • The Use of a Pre-filter – Many systems use paper filters that are often considered pre-filters when used in tandem with a carbon or reverse osmosis (RO) system.
  • System Capacity – Capacity is rated by the number of gallons that can be filtered before the filter needs changing, typically in the 50,000 to 150,000 range. They are also rated for the gallons per minute (GPM) that can be filtered. Residential water filter systems filter 8-15 GPM.
  • Number of Filters – Those with 3 filters are common. For example, many have a polypropylene filter to remove large sediment, an activated carbon filter for chlorine and other unwanted chemicals and a filter designed to remove heavy metals from the water. These systems, especially when filtration is high, cost the most.
  • Who Installs the System – Most homeowners leave this to a pro, but some can be DIY for those with basic plumbing skills. See our DIY or Not section below for details, or browse other plumbing repair project costs.
  • Where you Live – Installation labor costs are higher in large metro areas, especially on the Coasts, than they are in small towns and rural areas.
  • Whether Water Testing is Included – Testing ranges from $15 DIY kits to $200+ testing by a professional. Obviously, the more contaminants you test for, the higher the cost. But you’ll also get more information to use to choose the right filter for the pollutants in your water. Some local water departments offer free or reduced-cost testing. Many sellers of water filtration systems, such as Culligan and Kinetico, offer free testing. But expect the test results to come with a strong sales pitch for their pricey water filter system.

Note on Free Water Testing: Home Depot and other home improvement stores sometimes offer “Free” water test kits. You fill a small vile with your home’s water and send it to the lab, postage paid. These tests are usually only for hardness, not any contaminants – though the packaging may not state that. A few weeks after sending in the water sample, you’ll get a call from a local water filtration company seeking to sell you a system. If you want your water thoroughly tested, we suggest you skip this step and go straight to your water department or the local seller of your choice, not Home Depot’s choice.

Here’s a useful article on How to Decide What Water Tests to Order.

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Water Filtration System and Installation Supplies Cost

Listed below are whole house water filter retail costs. The cost of supplies and installation are covered below.

  • $50 – $115 | Paper or Polypropylene Filter (pre-filter) and Housing.
  • $350 – $2,500 | Single Carbon Filters or Combination Filters with a carbon main filter.
  • $400 – $850 | Carbon and Sediment Filters designed for metals including iron and manganese.
  • $800 – $1,200 | Reverse Osmosis Systems.
  • $20 – $100 | Replacement Filters or Filter Cartridges made from paper ($), polypropylene ($-$$) or carbon ($$)

Pro Tip: It’s wise to consider the cost of replacement filters when estimating the cost of a whole house water filter system. How often you change filters depends on the filter’s volume rating, how much water you use and contaminant levels in the water. It’s common to replace filters every month to once a year.

About Water Filter Systems

You have quite a few options. Most whole house water filtration systems have multiple filters.

Here are the most common types used in single-filter and combination systems:

  • Paper and Polypropylene Pre-filters are used to remove large sediment, so that the sediment won’t block and shorten the life of more expensive filters. These filters can be installed separately and are also combined into multiple-filter systems.
  • Sediment Filters remove silt and small sediment.
  • Carbon Filters use activated carbon granules and/or carbon block to remove chlorine common in municipal water supplies plus sediment, silt and contaminants such as VOCs and herbicides that cause odor and bad taste.
  • Ultra-violet Lights kill bacteria and disinfect water.
  • Filtration plus Water Softening systems are ideal for hard water – water high in minerals. These are combination systems.
  • Reverse Osmosis systems remove common contaminants like nitrate, iron and arsenic. These systems typically do not use multiple filters.

In most cases, homeowners have their water tested first and then choose a filtration system designed to remove the contaminants and levels found in their water.

Top Whole House Water Filter Brands

There are water filtration system manufacturers and then there are companies like Culligan and Kinetico that sell you the whole package with installation.

This list is of manufacturers. You buy the system and then DIY or call a pro for the install.

  • Apec Top Tier filtration systems are combination systems. The most advanced include a reverse osmosis membrane plus poly or paper pre-filters and carbon filters.
  • Aquasana has systems for city water and for well water. It’s filters can be combined. For example, if you start with a basic carbon filter, you can upgrade the system with a UV light or a salt-free softener.
  • Express Water competes in the combination filter market. Many of its filter systems include a KDF – kinetic degradation fluxion – filter made from copper/zinc alloys to remove heavy metal, microorganisms and scale.
  • iSpring sells combination filter systems usually consisting of a polypropylene 5-micron sediment filter and carbon block or granular carbon filters.
  • Pelican makes affordable combination systems and high-end, high-capacity residential water filtration systems designed for homes with severely polluted water.
  • Pentek is a leader in affordable, single paper and poly filters in plastic housings. They’re ideal for filtering minerals, but aren’t suitable for removing very small particles, chemicals and VOCs.
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Permits, Inspection, Related Costs and Installation Time

Permits and Inspection Cost

  • $0 | A permit is not needed to install a whole house water filtration system.

Related Costs and Installation Time

  • 1.5 – 3 Hours | Whole House Water Filtration System Installation

Are You a Water Purifier Installer?

If so, head over to our Costimates Pro’s page, and help us make this page better and more accurate for both our visitors and your future customers.

DIY or Hire a Pro?

These filtration systems are designed to be easily installed by a professional in a few hours.

The biggest hurdle to DIY is soldering the fittings for a secure connection, as shown in a This Old House video.

Watch the video, and if you have the skills demonstrated or really want to pick them up, give it a shot. Otherwise, pro installation is an affordable option, and that’s our recommendation.

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Get Home Water Filtration System Cost Quotes

Reviewed and edited by Steve Hansen of Costimates

steve hansen of costimates-sm Steve Hansen, that's me, the Senior Editor of Costimates. (Learn more about myself and our team) I'm an avid home improvement professional with more than 37 years experience working on all types of residential new home building, upfits, repairs and remodeling.

"Like most homeowners, I was frustrated with the lack of quality information available on specific home improvement repairs and renovations. In 2015, Costimates was formed to help homeowners learn as much as possible about various projects and their costs so they could make better financial decisions."