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Berkey Water Filters

Which Berkey Water Filter Should You Buy?

For most homes of 1 to 4 people, the Big Berkey® (2.25 gallons, $367) is the right size. It holds 2.25 gallons at a time and takes up to 4 elements for faster flow.

Choose the Royal Berkey® (3.25 gallons) for 2 to 6 people, and the Imperial or Crown for households of 4 to 12. The Travel Berkey® suits 1 to 3 people, small kitchens and RVs. Our Berkey size guide walks through the choice in more detail.

Berkey Sizes Compared

Model Capacity Household Height (assembled) Max elements Price
Travel Berkey® 1.5 gal 1–3 people 18 in 2 $327
Big Berkey® 2.25 gal 1–4 people 19.25 in 4 $367
Royal Berkey® 3.25 gal 2–6 people 23 in 4 $408
Imperial Berkey® 4.5 gal 4–8 people 26 in 6 $451
Crown Berkey® 6 gal 6–12 people 30 in 8 $478

Every system ships with 2 Black Berkey® elements. Adding elements, up to the maximum, raises the flow rate. Prices are starting prices for the system with 2 elements.

What Is a Berkey Water Filter?

A Berkey is a gravity-fed countertop water filter made of two nesting stainless steel chambers. You fill the top chamber from the tap, gravity pulls the water through the elements, and filtered water collects in the bottom chamber until you pour it from the spigot.

  • No installation: it sits on the counter, with no plumbing, pressure or power.
  • Expandable: start with 2 elements and add more when you want faster flow.
  • Long-lasting elements: a pair of Black Berkey® elements is rated for about 6,000 gallons.
  • Built for tap water: Berkey® systems are intended for use with treated municipal tap water.

See how Berkey water filters work for a step-by-step look at the elements.

How Much Does a Berkey Cost to Run?

After the system itself, the only ongoing cost is replacement elements. A pair of Black Berkey® elements works out to under 3 cents per gallon of filtered water.

Elements (pair) Price Rated life Cost per gallon
Black Berkey® elements $166 About 6,000 gallons About 2.8¢
Phoenix Gravity elements $120 Up to 5,500 gallons About 2.2¢
PF-2™ fluoride elements (add-on) $103 1,000 gallons or 1 year About 10.3¢

Cost per gallon is the element price divided by its rated life. Adding Berkey® accessories to a Travel, Big or Royal Berkey order takes 5% off at checkout automatically. Read how long Berkey filters last to plan replacements.

What Do Black Berkey Elements Reduce?

Black Berkey® elements are specially formulated to address 200+ typical contaminants found in treated tap water, including chlorine, lead and other heavy metals, PFAS, pesticides and pharmaceutical residues. Optional PF-2™ elements add fluoride and arsenic reduction.

Why Buy Your Berkey From Wild Oak Trail?

We have been an authorized Berkey® dealer since 2017. Buying from an authorized dealer means genuine Black Berkey® elements and a warranty that is honored.

  • Lifetime system warranty on every Berkey® system.
  • Free shipping, with orders leaving in 1–5 business days.
  • 12-month low price guarantee, so there is no reason to wait for a sale.
  • Real people on the phone at 1-844-945-3625 for sizing, setup and priming help.
  • Rated 4.9 stars from 119 reviews of the Big Berkey®.
Shop the Big Berkey®Compare sizes

Want a long-term view first? Read our Royal Berkey 5-year family review.

Berkey Setup and Care Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Berkey water filter?

A Berkey water filter is a stainless steel countertop gravity filter. Tap water poured into the upper chamber passes through Black Berkey® elements into the lower chamber, with no plumbing or electricity. Systems range from the 1.5-gallon Travel to the 6-gallon Crown.

Which Berkey size should I buy?

Most households of 1 to 4 people should buy the Big Berkey (2.25 gallons). Choose the Travel for 1 to 3 people or small spaces, the Royal for 2 to 6, the Imperial for 4 to 8 and the Crown for 6 to 12.

How much does a Berkey water filter cost?

Berkey systems cost $327 for the Travel, $367 for the Big, $408 for the Royal, $451 for the Imperial and $478 for the Crown, each with 2 Black Berkey® elements. Replacement elements work out to about 3 cents per gallon.

How long do Berkey filters last?

A pair of Black Berkey® elements is rated for about 6,000 gallons, and each element for about 3,000 gallons. Phoenix Gravity elements are rated for up to 5,500 gallons per pair. PF-2™ fluoride elements should be replaced every 1,000 gallons or once a year.

Where can I buy a genuine Berkey water filter?

Buy from an authorized Berkey® dealer to get genuine elements and a valid warranty. Wild Oak Trail has been an authorized dealer since 2017 and ships every Berkey system free, with a lifetime system warranty.

Can Berkey water filters ship to California or Iowa?

No. Berkey® systems and elements cannot be shipped to California or Iowa because of state rules on water filter sales. Our article on why Berkey can't be sold in California explains the certification issue.

Does a Berkey need electricity or plumbing?

No. A Berkey filters by gravity alone, so it needs no electricity, water pressure or plumbing. You fill the upper chamber from the tap and draw filtered water from the spigot on the lower chamber.