Which water filters remove lead?

39 of the 96 water filters we track are certified to reduce lead (NSF/ANSI 53 and NSF/ANSI 58 listings). The lowest-priced is the Brita Elite faucet filter (faucet-mount, $32; about $54 a year in filters for 2 people). Counting a year of replacement filters, the cheapest to own is the Brita Denali 6-cup pitcher (Elite filter) ($76 the first year). 25 more claim it from brand-run lab tests only, which is not certification.

The EPA action level for lead in public drinking water is 0.015 mg/L.

Source note

Treatment technique; action level 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb); MCLG zero. Under the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements the action level becomes 0.010 mg/L beginning Nov 1, 2027 (per EPA NPDWR table footnote, page updated Aug 31, 2026). Action level triggers system actions when >10% of tap samples exceed it; it is not a per-tap legal limit. epa.gov

Lowest-priced certified filter, by type

Pitcher

Brita Denali 6-cup pitcher (Elite filter)

$36 to buy · $40/yr for 2 · NSF/ANSI 53

Check price at Brita →

Dispenser

ZeroWater 32-cup Ready-Read dispenser

$45 to buy · $272/yr for 2 · NSF/ANSI 53

Check price on Amazon →

Faucet-mount

Brita Elite faucet filter

$32 to buy · $54/yr for 2 · NSF/ANSI 53

Check price on Amazon →

Countertop filter

Brita Hub countertop filter

$195 to buy · $60/yr for 2 · NSF/ANSI 53

Check price at Brita →

Countertop reverse osmosis

Bluevua ROPOT-Lite

$349 to buy · $115/yr for 2 · NSF/ANSI 58

Check price on Amazon →

Under-sink filter

Frizzlife MK99

$70 to buy · $40/yr for 2 · NSF/ANSI 53

Check price on Amazon →

Under-sink reverse osmosis

Brondell Circle RC100

$450 to buy · $214/yr for 2 · NSF/ANSI 58

Check price at Brondell →

Whole-house

SpringWell Lead & Cyst Removal System

$3,220 to buy · $458/yr for 2 · NSF/ANSI 53

Check price at SpringWell →

Certified to reduce lead (39)

Each row is a certifier listing for this exact product with lead in its reduction claims; the listing is linked. Yearly cost is replacement filters (plus drain water for RO) for 2 people, from each brand's filter prices and ratings.

Filter	Type	Listing	Price	Filters a year
Brita Elite faucet filter	Faucet-mount	WQA, NSF/ANSI 53	$32	$54	Check price on Amazon
Brita Denali 6-cup pitcher (Elite filter)	Pitcher	WQA, NSF/ANSI 53	$36	$40	Check price at Brita
ZeroWater 10-cup pitcher	Pitcher	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 53	$38	$272	Check price on Amazon
Brita Tahoe pitcher (Elite filter)	Pitcher	WQA, NSF/ANSI 53	$42	$40	Check price at Brita
ZeroWater 32-cup Ready-Read dispenser	Dispenser	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 53	$45	$272	Check price on Amazon
Brita UltraMax dispenser (Elite filter)	Dispenser	WQA, NSF/ANSI 53	$50	$40	Check price on Amazon
LifeStraw Home 7-cup pitcher	Pitcher	WQA, NSF/ANSI 53	$65	$127	Check price on Amazon
ZeroWater 52-cup Ready-Read dispenser (2 filters)	Dispenser	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 53	$65	$272	Check price on Amazon
Frizzlife MK99	Under-sink filter	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 53	$70	$40	Check price on Amazon
Frizzlife SK99	Under-sink filter	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 53	$126	$105	Check price on Amazon
A. O. Smith AO-US-200 2-Stage Under Sink	Under-sink filter	WQA, NSF/ANSI 53	$140	$168	Check price on Amazon
Brita Hub countertop filter	Countertop filter	WQA, NSF/ANSI 53	$195	$60	Check price at Brita
Culligan Scout gravity system (2.25 gal)	Countertop filter	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 53	$230	$323	Check price on Amazon
Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage	Under-sink filter	WQA, NSF/ANSI 53	$250	$148	Check price on Amazon
Aquasana Claryum Direct Connect	Under-sink filter	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 53	$250	$184	Check price on Amazon
Ninja HydraSense	Countertop filter	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 53	$250	$80	Check price on Amazon
Culligan Venture gravity system (3 gal)	Countertop filter	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 53	$275	$323	Check price on Amazon
Bluevua ROPOT-Lite	Countertop reverse osmosis	WQA, NSF/ANSI 58	$349	$115	Check price on Amazon
Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage	Under-sink filter	WQA, NSF/ANSI 53	$350	$168	Check price on Amazon
AquaTru Carafe	Countertop reverse osmosis	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 58	$375	—	Check price at AquaTru
Aquasana Clean Water Machine	Countertop filter	WQA, NSF/ANSI 53	$400	$147	Check price on Amazon
Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow	Under-sink filter	WQA, NSF/ANSI 53	$450	$184	Check price on Amazon
Brondell Circle RC100	Under-sink reverse osmosis	WQA, NSF/ANSI 58	$450	$214	Check price at Brondell
AquaTru Classic	Countertop reverse osmosis	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 58	$475	—	Check price on Amazon
Aquasana SmartFlow RO	Under-sink reverse osmosis	WQA, NSF/ANSI 53	$480	$321	Check price on Amazon
Waterdrop G3P600	Under-sink reverse osmosis	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 58	$539	$147	Check price on Amazon
Multipure Aquaversa	Under-sink filter	NSF, NSF/ANSI 53	$620	$95	Check price at Multipure
Multipure Aquaperform	Under-sink filter	NSF, NSF/ANSI 53	$765	$51	Check price at Multipure
Multipure Aquapremier	Under-sink filter	NSF, NSF/ANSI 53	$965	$108	Check price at Multipure
Waterdrop G3P800	Under-sink reverse osmosis	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 58	$999	$161	Check price on Amazon
Multipure Aqualuxe	Under-sink filter	NSF, NSF/ANSI 53	$1,325	$74	Check price at Multipure
SpringWell Lead & Cyst Removal System	Whole-house	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 53	$3,220	$458	Check price at SpringWell
A. O. Smith RO with Microbial Boost AO-US-RO-MB-4000	Under-sink reverse osmosis	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 58	—	$270	Check price at A. O. Smith
Pentair Everpure H-1200	Under-sink filter	NSF, NSF/ANSI 53	—	—	Check price on Amazon
Pentair Everpure H-300-NXT	Under-sink filter	NSF, NSF/ANSI 53	—	—	Check price on Amazon
PUR Faucet filter (basic, horizontal)	Faucet-mount	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 53	—	—	Check price at PUR
PUR PLUS 11-cup pitcher	Pitcher	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 53	—	—	Check price at PUR
PUR PLUS 30-cup dispenser	Dispenser	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 53	—	—	Check price on Amazon
PUR PLUS faucet filter	Faucet-mount	IAPMO R&T, NSF/ANSI 53	—	—	Check price at PUR

Brand tests only, not certified (25)

These brands cite a lab report for lead, but no certifier lists the claim for the product. A lab report can be real; it is not an independent, ongoing certification with factory audits.

Alexapure Pro gravity filter (Gen 2) (Countertop filter) · BCS Laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025, NELAP) and IAPMO R&T testing, per brand report SRT 0826 (Aug 21, 2026)
APEC RO-PERM (Under-sink reverse osmosis) · APEC (brand claim, no tester named)
APEC ROES-UV75-SS (Under-sink reverse osmosis) · APEC (brand claim, no tester named)
APEC ROTL-A1000 (Under-sink reverse osmosis) · APEC (brand: 'tested by official 3rd party laboratory', not named)
Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under the Sink (Under-sink filter) · independent lab (brand claim)
Clearly Filtered pitcher (Pitcher) · QFT / IAPMO New Jersey (lab report via brand)
Epic Water Filters Pure XP dispenser (Dispenser) · Two unnamed independent accredited labs (brand PDS, lab testing dated 2026-07-27)
Epic Water Filters Pure XP pitcher (Pitcher) · Two unnamed independent accredited labs (brand PDS, lab testing dated 2026-07-27)
Express Water RO5DX (Under-sink reverse osmosis) · Express Water (brand claim, no tester named)
Express Water WH300SCKS 3-stage heavy-metal whole-house (Whole-house) · Brand claim (no lab named)
Frizzlife PD600-TAM3 (Under-sink reverse osmosis) · SGS (per Frizzlife leaflet; tested to NSF/ANSI 42/53/58 methods)
Frizzlife PD800-TAM4 (Under-sink reverse osmosis) · SGS (per Frizzlife leaflet; tested to NSF/ANSI 42/53/58 methods)
iSpring RCC7AK (Under-sink reverse osmosis) · iSpring (claims NSF/ANSI 58 certification)
iSpring RCC7P-AK (Under-sink reverse osmosis) · iSpring (brand claim; says products tested annually)
iSpring RCD100 (Countertop reverse osmosis) · SGS (test report XMF23-008713-01, per iSpring)
iSpring RO500AK-BN (Under-sink reverse osmosis) · iSpring (brand claim, no tester named)
LARQ Pitcher 2 (Pitcher) · Unnamed independent lab (brand performance report)
LARQ Pitcher PureVis (Pitcher) · Unnamed independent lab (brand performance report)
SimPure T1-400 (Under-sink reverse osmosis) · SGS-CSTC Ningbo (report NBF23-0005815-01, 2023, client Membrane Solutions)
SimPure Y7P-BW (Countertop reverse osmosis) · SGS-CSTC Ningbo (report NBF22-010777-02, 2022, client Membrane Solutions)
Waterdrop Countertop faucet filter CTF-01 (Countertop filter) · Waterdrop (no lab or report named)
Waterdrop D6 (Under-sink reverse osmosis) · Waterdrop (brand claim, no tester named)
Waterdrop G2P600 (Under-sink reverse osmosis) · Waterdrop (brand claim, no tester named)
Waterdrop K19-H (Countertop reverse osmosis) · Unnamed third-party laboratory (per brand)
Waterdrop X16 (Under-sink reverse osmosis) · SGS (per brand FAQ)

No lead claim (32 filters)

Best water filters for lead, ranked by first-year cost →

Common questions

Which water filters remove lead?

Is there a legal limit for lead in tap water?

The EPA action level for lead in public drinking water is 0.015 mg/L. Lead usually enters from service lines and plumbing, not the source water (EPA WaterSense guide). Pitcher/faucet/fridge filters can be certified for lead under NSF/ANSI 53.

How do I know a filter really removes lead?

Look it up in the certifier's public database (NSF, WQA, IAPMO or CSA) under the exact model, and check that lead is in its list of reduction claims (usually under NSF/ANSI 42 or 53 or 58). "Tested to NSF standards" in an ad is not the same as a listing.