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Refrigerator Water Filter Cost Calculator

What does filtered water actually cost per year?

Calculate the annual and 5-year cost of refrigerator water filters by type and replacement frequency, and compare against bottled water for the same household size.

⏱ ~15 secUSDA water guidanceEnergy & Cost
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6 mo
Standard interval
Replacement
200–300
Gallons rated
Per filter
64 oz
USDA daily
Per person
$40
OEM avg
Per filter
STEP 01

Filter type.
Cadence.

OEM filters cost more but never void warranty. Generic saves money — verify NSF certification.

months
6 months is standard. 3 months for heavy use.
people
Updates live as you type
Annual filter cost
$80/yr
vs $1,387/yr in bottled water — saves $1,307/yr.
5-year filter cost
$400
5-year savings
$6,535
Under the hood

USDA water. NSF-certified filters.

Daily intake reference (64 oz / 8 cups per person) comes from USDA dietary guidance. Filter retail prices reflect typical major-retailer ranges.

  1. 01

    Annual filter cost

    Filter price × (12 ÷ replacement-month interval). 6-month cadence = 2 replacements per year.

  2. 02

    Bottled-water comparison

    USDA's 64 oz/day per person × $0.95 (16.9 oz × $0.25 ÷ 3.8 bottles) × 365 days × household size.

  3. 03

    Savings projection

    Bottled total minus filter total = annual savings. Multiply by 5 for filter-lifecycle comparison.

Questions

Frequently asked

Every 6 months is the standard recommendation. Heavy-use households (5+ people, lots of dispenser use) should replace at 3 months. Filters are also typically rated for 200–300 gallons regardless of time.
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