Written by: Alexandra Uta // Last Updated:
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Water filter pitchers are very easy to use and maintain, which is why they’re the most popular type of home water filter right now.
But not only that, water filter pitchers can also be extremely effective, removing dozens of harmful contaminants, first and foremost lead which, as a neurotoxin, has been linked to causing brain damage among other health effects.
As such, a filter pitcher can give you easy access to clean, healthy, and great-tasting drinking water.
But how do you find the best water filter pitcher for lead removal? This is exactly what this guide is for: It’ll make sure you invest your money in the best product out there.
On This Page You Will…
Product | Details | |
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![]() Overall Best Water Filter Pitcher for Lead Removal: Clearly Filtered | Overall Rating: 5.0/5.0 ⓘRatings based on lead reduction %, filtering capacity, purchase and maintenance cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, warranties, our testing, user opinions, and other factors. Get 15% Off! Use Code: |
Price: $$$ Lead Reduction: >99.3% NSF: 42, 53, 244, 401, P473 Size: 10 Cups Filter Life: 100 Gallons Read Review: Click Alexa’s Video Review: Click |
![]() Highest Lead Reduction: Epic Pure | Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRatings based on lead reduction %, filtering capacity, purchase and maintenance cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, warranties, our testing, user opinions, and other factors. Get 20% Off! Use Code: |
Price: $$$ Lead Reduction: 99.94% NSF: 42, 53, 401, P473 Size: 14 Cups Filter Life: 150 Gallons Read Review: Click Alexa’s Video Review: Click |
![]() For Lead + PFAS: Aquagear | Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRatings based on lead reduction %, filtering capacity, purchase and maintenance cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, warranties, our testing, user opinions, and other factors. |
Price: $$$ Lead Reduction: 99.35-99.41% NSF: 42, 53, 401, P473 Size: 10 Cups Filter Life: 120 Gallons Read Review: Click |
Best Budget Pick: Brita Everyday | Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘRatings based on lead reduction %, filtering capacity, purchase and maintenance cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, warranties, our testing, user opinions, and other factors. |
Price: $ Lead Reduction: 99.5-99.6% NSF: 42, 53 Size: 10 Cups Filter Life: 120 Gallons Read Review: Click |
Review Order
In our opinion, the best water filter pitcher for lead removal in 2023 is the Clearly Filtered. Its minimum lead reduction rate is 99.3 percent.
The reason why we ranked the CF as #1 is because, aside from lead, it can eliminate hundreds of different contaminants that might be lurking in your water supply – more than any other water filter pitcher on the market right now: Chemicals, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, waterborne pathogens…
![]() Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher | |
Price: | $$$ |
Ability to Remove Lead: | >99.3% |
NSF/ANSI: | 42, 53, 244, 401, P473 |
Cups: | 10 |
Filtration Capacity: | 100 gal |
Overall Rating: 5.0/5.0 ⓘRatings based on lead reduction %, filtering capacity, purchase and maintenance cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, warranties, our testing, user opinions, and other factors.
Get 15% Off! Use Code: |
Other Specs
Key Features & Pros
Cons
Our Rating
Recommended for
The Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher is ideal for people who seek highly effective removal of lead and any other contaminants from their water supply.
→ Read the Entire Clearly Filtered Pitcher Review
If you care most about the highest lead removal rate possible, we definitely recommend the Epic Pure lead water filter pitcher as our runner-up. It achieves 99.94% reduction according to official lab testing. (If you are on well water, go with the Epic Nano for up to 99.4% reduced lead content.)
![]() Epic Pure Water Filter Pitcher | |
Price: | $$$ |
Ability to Remove Lead: | 99.94% |
NSF/ANSI: | 42, 53, 401, P473 |
Cups: | 14 |
Filtration Capacity: | 150 gal |
Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRatings based on lead reduction %, filtering capacity, purchase and maintenance cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, warranties, our testing, user opinions, and other factors.
Get 20% Off! Use Code: |
Other Specs
Key Features & Pros
Cons
Our Rating
Recommended for
The Pure by Epic Water Filters is ideal for people who want a water filter pitcher with the highest lead removal possible.
If you’re on tap water and, aside from lead, have perfluorinated chemicals in your water supply, the Aquagear water filter pitcher might be ideal for you. It combines activated carbon filter media with ion exchange resin to target over 70 contaminants.
![]() Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher | |
Price: | $$$ |
Ability to Remove Lead: | 99.35-99.41% |
NSF/ANSI: | 42, 53, 401, P473 |
Cups: | 10 |
Filtration Capacity: | 120 gal |
Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRatings based on lead reduction %, filtering capacity, purchase and maintenance cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, warranties, our testing, user opinions, and other factors.
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The Aquagear is ideal for people facing lead and perfluorinated chemicals in their water supply.
What’s special about the ZeroWater pitcher is that it tries to reduce TDS (total dissolved solids) to zero. Its lead reduction rate is 95.9-99.7% – pretty solid.
ZeroWater ZP-010 5-Stage Water Filter Pitcher | |
Price: | $ |
Ability to Remove Lead: | 95.9-99.7% |
NSF/ANSI: | 42, 53 |
Cups: | 10 |
Filtration Capacity: | 20 gal |
Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRatings based on lead reduction %, filtering capacity, purchase and maintenance cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, warranties, our testing, user opinions, and other factors.
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The ZeroWater ZP-010 is ideal for people who want their drinking water to be zero TDS.
The Brita Everyday pitcher combined with the Longlast filter cartridge is about as affordable as it gets when it comes to lead water filter pitchers.
Just don’t expect the most thorough filtration process. Brita is all about affordable prices and basic water filtration.
Brita Everyday Water Filter Pitcher | |
Price: | $ |
Ability to Remove Lead: | 99.5-99.6% |
NSF/ANSI: | 42, 53 |
Cups: | 10 |
Filtration Capacity: | 120 gal |
Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘRatings based on lead reduction %, filtering capacity, purchase and maintenance cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, warranties, our testing, user opinions, and other factors.
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The Brita Everyday water filter pitcher is ideal for people who are on a tight budget.
The PUR PLUS 11 Cup filter pitcher is great if you insist on NSF-certified lead filtration. Rate: 98.5 to 99.3 percent depending on water pH.
However, there have reportedly been issues with clogged filters (and there’s more).
So is it a good buy? Let’s find out!
PUR PLUS 11 Cup Water Filter Pitcher | |
Price: | $$ |
Ability to Remove Lead: | 98.5-99.3% |
NSF/ANSI: | 42, 53, 401 |
Cups: | 11 |
Filtration Capacity: | 40 gal |
Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘRatings based on lead reduction %, filtering capacity, purchase and maintenance cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, warranties, our testing, user opinions, and other factors.
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Recommended for
The PUR PLUS 11 Cup filter pitcher is ideal for people who want effective lead removal certified against NSF 53.
→ Go to Detailed PUR Filter Pitchers Review
If you prefer alkaline drinking water we recommend the Seychelle Gen 2 Dual pH2O pitcher.
It’s not only NSF/ANSI-tested for 93.51 to 95.97 percent lead removal, it also increases tap water pH to up to 9.5.
Any downsides? Let’s check!
Seychelle Gen 2 Dual pH2O Pure Water Pitcher | |
Price: | $$$ |
Ability to Remove Lead: | 93.51-95.97% |
NSF/ANSI: | 42, 53 |
Cups: | 8 |
Filtration Capacity: | 150 gal |
Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRatings based on lead reduction %, filtering capacity, purchase and maintenance cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, warranties, our testing, user opinions, and other factors.
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Key Features & Pros
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Recommended for
The Seychelle alkaline filter pitcher is ideal for people who want lead-free drinking water with elevated pH levels.
→ Check Full Seychelle Pitcher Review
How do the best lead water filter pitchers perform when directly compared?
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Model | Price | Annual Cost | Ability to Remove Lead | Filter Media | NSF/ANSI | Cups | Filtration Capacity | WxHxD | Weight | Warranty | Additional Info |
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Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher | $$$ | ~$150 | >99.3% | Carbon + Composite Shell | 42, 53, 244, 401, P473 | 10 | 100 gal | 11.25″x10.25″x5″ | 2.3 lb | Lifetime | |
Epic Pure Water Filter Pitcher | $$$ | ~$90 | 99.94% | Carbon Block | 42, 53, 401, P473 | 14 | 150 gal | 10″x10″x6″ | 2.0 lb | Lifetime | |
Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher | $$$ | ~$100-120 | 99.35-99.41% | Carbon + Ion Exchange | 42, 53, 401, P473 | 10 | 120 gal | 11″x11″x6″ | 2.34 lb | Lifetime | |
ZeroWater ZP-010 5-Stage Water Filter Pitcher | $ | ~$200-300 | 95.9-99.7% | Carbon + KDF + Ion Exchange | 42, 53 | 10 | 20 gal | 11.63″x11″x5.93″ | 3.75 lb | 90 Days | |
Brita Everyday Water Filter Pitcher | $ | ~$50 | 99.5-99.6% | Proprietary Blend | 42, 53 | 10 | 120 gal | 11.94″x16.75″x7.38″ | 2.29 lb | 90 Days | |
PUR PLUS 11 Cup Water Filter Pitcher | $$ | ~$100-200 | 98.5-99.3% | Activated Carbon + Ion Exchange | 42, 53, 401 | 11 | 40 gal | 11.4″x10.4″x4.9″ | 2.68 lb | 90 Days | |
Seychelle Gen 2 Dual pH2O Pure Water Pitcher | $$$ | ~$110 | 93.51-95.97% | GAC + Proprietary Sorbent Media | 42, 53 | 8 | 150 gal | 11.0″x10.5″x5.5″ | 2.01 lb | 90 Days |
The following are things worth considering before you go out and buy the best water filter pitcher to remove lead for your home. These are also the very same criteria we focused on when picking our top products for this guide.
NSF standard 53 is a certification for the removal of health-affecting contaminants. It doesn’t concern lead exclusively, but a number of additional water pollutants that could have adverse effects on human health, for example chromium.
It’s good to look for pitchers that have this specific certification. However, it does not necessarily mean that a filter is good at removing lead, meaning you need to check for lead reduction specifically. Also, an NSF certification for lead doesn’t tell you exactly how effective that filter is – just that it’s passed a certain level of decontamination.
Most lead water filter pitchers also remove a variety of additional contaminants. This is a common feature in many modern models, to the point that some buyers expect some general purification capabilities by default. If you care about decontaminating your water as thoroughly as possible, you should specifically look for a model with advanced filtration capabilities.
If you want to achieve the same level of filtration quality as with a regular, non-lead filter, you may have to spend a bit more.
Another important factor to pay attention to is how much water a lead pitcher can filter before it needs its filter element replaced. This varies a lot across the board. With some filters, you need to replace the cartridge every month, or perhaps every two months. Other models can last for up to half a year before requiring a replacement.
Together with the price of the filters themselves, this will be an important factor in determining how expensive your water filter pitcher will be over a longer period of time. Buyers looking for a cheap solution often go for a model with a low upfront price. That’s often a mistake though, as many of the cheapest models on the market use filters that don’t last for a very long time.
A larger jug means having to refill the pitcher less frequently. This can be convenient for large households and users who drink a lot of water on a daily basis. However, increasing the jug size can also make the pitcher more difficult to lift and pour from. Keep this in mind if you have small children or elderly people in your family, as it might be inconvenient for them to use a pitcher that’s too large.
In addition, using a larger jug will often result in water sitting in the pitcher for longer during the day. This can lead to a slight stale taste, especially in pitchers with a plastic container.
It’s common for water filter pitchers to take a while to process all the water they contain. It’s the same with lead filter pitchers. You will usually need to wait at least a couple of minutes until you have a glass of water ready to drink. Some pitchers utilize filters that allow them to process water faster without compromising the filtration strength. Those tend to cost more.
If your lead filter pitcher is made of plastic, you should ensure that it doesn’t contain any BPA. The use of the material has been largely phased out in consumer products in recent years, and for good reason. BPA is commonly affected with some adverse health effects, though its exact impact on human health is still being studied.
Bottom line: You should do your best to avoid any models that utilize BPA in their design.
As we mentioned above, the price of new filter cartridges can significantly affect the long-term cost of using your pitcher. Warranty is another factor that plays into this.
If you’re buying a pitcher that you intend to use for a long time, you should pay attention to its running maintenance costs and its warranty. It’s a good idea to spend a bit more on a model with a longer warranty from a more reputable manufacturer.
When you need something more specialized, like a water filter pitcher for lead removal, you have to be more thorough in your research. Sometimes the best products don’t have the highest price tags, and it’s important to cover all corners of the market if you want to ensure that you don’t miss anything.
That’s exactly how our team of reviewers works. For all products, we tried to identify as many different sources of information as possible, aiming to make our reviews objective and thorough.
What’s more, we even talked to some of the manufacturers ourselves to ensure that they know what they’re doing. That’s why we’re so confident in recommending these specific brands.
Whenever we had a chance, we also ordered and used the products being reviewed to put them to the ultimate test – our personal experience.
More on Lead Water Filter Pitchers
A water filter pitcher for lead works just like a regular water filter pitcher, with one major addition: it treats water for lead in addition to other contaminants. These filters are useful for households in areas with minor to severe lead issues in the water supply.
If you know for a fact that your water doesn’t contain any significant amounts of lead, it might be a waste of money to spend extra on a filter that specifically targets it.
Removing lead from water requires certain filtration methods. Some of those, such as activated carbon, can often be found in regular models that don’t target lead specifically.
Lead filter pitchers still utilize some specific solutions to guarantee the removal of as much lead from the water supply as possible. That’s why they tend to cost more than traditional filters, as you’re paying extra for the advanced filtration.
The easiest way to test a water filter pitcher’s lead reduction capabilities is to take two water samples – one before filtering, and one after – and run them through tests to verify their lead content.
Keep in mind that testing water for lead is something that should be done at a proper laboratory for the most reliable results. More on that below.
If you’re wondering whether a lead water filter pitcher is right for you, here are some points to consider.
Unfortunately, lead is quite prevalent in our environment today. It’s associated with a wide range of health problems, including some severe ones. If you’re lucky enough to live in an area without any lead contamination in the water supply, then this is probably irrelevant to you. But if not, investing in a lead water filter is a great way to improve your long-term health prospects.
In addition to lead, most water filter pitchers on the market also remove various other contaminants. This can allow you to get all your filtration needs fulfilled by one device, instead of having to use two or more separate ones.
Depending on the severity of the contamination in your water supply, it might not be possible to thoroughly remove every type of contaminant that’s relevant to you. In those cases, more advanced filtration systems may be required.
Removing stuff like chemicals from water can improve its taste. It will also help get rid of some unpleasant odors, especially in more heavily contaminated water supplies.
Keep in mind that some odors are caused by contaminants which might not be specifically targeted by the filter you’re using. If removing a nasty taste or odor is your primary concern, you should first figure out what causes it, and then focus your search on a filter that targets this specific contaminant.
Lead water filter pitchers are easier to use than other lead filtration methods. They don’t require you to hook up anything to your home’s plumbing and don’t come with complex installation procedures.
You just need to replace the filter on a regular basis and that’s pretty much all the maintenance you need to do.
You can bring your lead filter pitcher with you wherever you go. This is another great benefit over stationary systems tied to a single faucet in your home.
A lead filter pitcher is also great for traveling.
The portable designs of some models make them perfect for larger families too. Every family member can take their pitcher with them when they need to drink water through the day, instead of having to go to a common point in the house to fill a glass of water.
Affordability is another factor most buyers would find important.
You should remember that a model with a lower upfront cost might end up more expensive over time due to the cost of its filter replacements. This isn’t always the case. But taking the time to research the running costs of each filter you’re considering can save you a lot of money in the long term.
If you’re wondering whether a lead water filter pitcher is right for you, you should start by testing your water for lead contamination. This can be done in several ways.
Sending a sample of your drinking water to a specialized laboratory is the most reliable way to find out if you have any amount of lead contamination in your supply, and how high the level of contamination is exactly. This is often expensive and can take some time, depending on how busy the lab is. If you have several faucets in your home, it’s a good idea to take a sample from each one.
Depending on where you live – city vs rural area – you might be able to easily access reports about your local water quality. These reports are called Consumer Confidence Reports. Every single public water utility in the US has to provide one on an annual basis for free.
Some companies sell DIY kits that allow you to perform a simple test at home. The reliability of some of those kits is questionable, so you should do appropriate research to figure out which ones are worth using.
Keep in mind that they might also not tell you the whole story. Some kits merely indicate whether there’s any amount of lead in the water or not, while others may give you more detailed information about the severity of the problem.
Lead pipes are prohibited for plumbing use in many parts of the world, the US among them, and have been for a few decades. But replacing the entire plumbing infrastructure of a certain region is not an easy task, and therefore many areas still use lead pipes in some capacity. This can cause lead to deposit in the water, especially if the water supply has a higher level of acidity.
Even if the pipes themselves are not made of lead, the material may still be used in some specific parts of the plumbing, like solders between pipe sections.
The amounts that leach into the water supply may seem negligible, but they can add up over time. Especially if you also use that water for cooking.
Lead has been linked to a wide range of health problems.
I hope this list of the best lead water filter pitchers was helpful. Questions? Ask away!
And keep in mind: We’ll add a new water filter pitcher for lead review occasionally. So come back for more!