How Much Does a Home Water Filtration System Cost in 2025?

Home Water Filtration System Cost Factors

When setting your budget for a new water filtration system in your home, you’ll need to think about a few key cost factors: The unit’s type and size, the filtration rating it offers, the brand you buy it from, and the number of filters in the system itself.

System Type

There are several different kinds of water filtration systems to choose from, each of which has its own advantages, drawbacks, and price points to consider. The main options that most people choose are reverse osmosis (RO) systems, carbon filters, ultraviolet light units, well-water filters, ionization systems, and water softeners.

Reverse Osmosis

One of the most popular types of filtration systems, reverse osmosis systems pre-filter any solid particles out of your water and then force it through a special membrane that removes smaller contaminants. Reverse osmosis systems are one of the most efficient ways to filter water and effectively protect you from lead, arsenic, bacteria, viruses, and other harmful pollutants. Reverse osmosis systems cost $1,000 to $4,000, on average.

Activated Carbon

A popular, low-cost filtration system, activated carbon filters absorb chlorine, pesticides, certain chemicals, heavy metals, and sediment from your water before it enters your in-home plumbing. However, they do not remove bacteria, viruses, or microorganisms from your water, so they may not be the right choice depending on your water supply. Whole-home carbon filters cost about $300 to $900.

Ultraviolet Light

These water filters shine a powerful ultraviolet light on your water as it enters your water supply, killing bacteria and microorganisms. However, it doesn’t remove chemicals, metals, or other non-living contaminants from your water. That’s why many people combine activated carbon and UV light filters. UV water filters cost about $500 to $1,500 to install.

Well-Water Filter

If you get your water from a well on your property, you’ll need to install a special system to purify it. Typically, these systems are actually made up of a series of other filter types, such as reverse osmosis, activated carbon, and/or ultraviolet light filters. Altogether, a well-water filtration system will cost somewhere between $1,000 and $5,000.

Ionization

Some people choose to install ionizers on their water supply to raise its pH and improve the taste. In reality, these units only purify water using an activated carbon filter. From here, the water is ionized into alkaline water, improving taste and odor. This filter doesn’t improve the safety or purity of the water like other options. Water ionizers cost $1,000 to $2,000 to install.

Water Softener

Water softeners improve the taste, odor, and mineral content of your water by removing excess minerals like calcium. They don’t purify your water of contaminants or bacteria, but they might be necessary in areas with very hard water. Water softeners usually cost $600 to $5,000 to install.

System Size

The size of your water filtration system will be a major factor in the final cost. Broadly speaking, water filtration systems are broken into two size categories: Whole-house or individual. Whole-house units supply the entire home with filtered water and are installed wherever water enters the home. These units are larger, more efficient, and more expensive. Whole-house water filters generally cost between $1,000 and $4,000, depending on your water supply needs.

Individual systems, also called point-of-use systems, are installed wherever the water comes out, such as under a sink, on a faucet, on a countertop, in a fridge door, or even as a standalone water pitcher. Point-of-use filters are less efficient but far less expensive, averaging between $150 and $1,200.

Filtration Rating

Most water filters are rated on their filtration abilities according to the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), which has a few different ratings to note. These ratings tell us what kind of filters are in a given system, indicating what impurities they protect from. Generally, filters with more comprehensive filtration (such as being certified to protect from bacteria and microorganisms) will cost more than a simpler filter that only removes chlorine.

Brand 

Certain brands of water filtration systems offer unique benefits, and each has its own price point to consider. Entry-level water filters cost anywhere from $750 to $3,000, while a higher-quality unit could cost $4,000 to $8,000. In addition to improved efficiency and durability, high-end filtration systems usually come with a more extensive warranty and better customer service. 

Number of Filters

In some cases, a single filter might not be enough to make your water completely safe to drink. This is often the case with pipes that are very old or in areas where the water source is particularly contaminated. In this case, you might need to buy a multi-stage filtration system (or several separate ones, such as combining a UV and carbon filter). Multi-stage filtration costs more than one-stage units. 

Other Home Water Filtration System Cost Factors

A few other factors will play into the final cost of installing a new home water filtration system, including the cost to hire a plumber, water testing fees, any additional plumbing you may need, and ongoing maintenance. 

Labor

Water filter installation labor is usually quite inexpensive compared to the cost of purchasing the unit itself. Still, you can expect to pay an additional $300 to $500 in labor costs when you hire a plumber to install your filtration system. This cost may increase if the installation area is hard to access or if you’re installing a larger, more complex filtration system. 

Water Testing

In order to make sure you install the right filter for your water supply, you’ll need to test the water to find out what contaminants are present. The cost of water testing depends on whether you use a DIY testing kit or hire a professional for more accurate, comprehensive testing. Water testing will cost anywhere from $30 to $500, depending on the extent of the tests.

Additional Plumbing

Sometimes, your existing pipes will need to be modified in order to fit a new water filtration system. If you need to hire a plumber for any extra work to your pipes, you can expect to pay them between $45 and $200 per hour. 

Ongoing Maintenance

To make sure your filtered water remains safe, you’ll have to keep up with ongoing maintenance. In some cases, you can negotiate a maintenance contract with the local water filtration contractor you hired in the first place. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay them on a per-visit basis. Maintenance costs for a water filtration system usually fall between $50 and $300 per year.

Does a Home Water Filtration System Increase Home Value?

Yes, home water filtration systems can definitely increase home value. Everyone values fresh, clean, safe drinking water, and a recently installed filter system gives buyers peace of mind that they’ll have it. Filtration systems can be a particularly good value booster if you live in an area with known water contamination or water hardness. 

Budgeting for a Home Water Filtration System

Depending on the type and size of system you choose, a new home water filtration system could be a significant expense. Here are a few ways to reduce the costs of this project:

• Consult with a professional to ensure you’re choosing the right type and size of filtration system for your needs.

• Invest in a comprehensive water test to ensure you’re protecting from all necessary contaminants (and not wasting money filtering contaminants that aren’t in the water).

• Invest in an energy-efficient filtration system to reduce ongoing costs.

• Look into rebates or other incentives in your municipality for filtering water or choosing energy-efficient units.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. We surveyed thousands of real customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.