5 of the Best Water Distillers for Home Use in 2023

There are over 50 different water distiller models available for online purchase today.

While a good number of them are constructed decently enough to get the job done, many of them are overpriced and might not last you through the summer.

But you won't need to sort through them all because we've already narrowed it down to the top 5 distillers that are well worth the investment—one of them standing head and shoulders above them all.

And we’ve come to that conclusion by ordering the most popular models available and running them through a strict testing procedure that measures distillation rate, durability, and overall design.

That’s right, we’re water fanatics and have been for over 8 years. And this review of the best water distillers for home use is a testament to our expertise and passion.

So, without further ado, here are the 5 best water distillers available and the one that we recommend above all.

The Pure Water Mini-Classic Counter Top Distiller stands at the top of our list due to one compelling factor: it's designed by distillation specialists. Pure Water is an American company that has over 50 years of experience in designing high-quality water distillers for residential and commercial use.

All of their distiller machines are designed and manufactured entirely in the USA by a team of trained technicians.

The Mini Classic is a more compact version of the larger Midi and Mega Classic water distillers. This stainless steel distiller features an aluminum cooling fan, automatic shutoff, and a BPA-free and lead-free glass collection container. With an 800 Watt heating element, it can distill water at 0.8 gallons every 3.5 hours, making it one of the most efficient distillers on this list.

With a 15 year warranty on the stainless steel parts and 2 years on electrical parts, Pure Water features a no-risk investment for a highly trusted and well-manufactured machine.

The square, stainless steel housing is unique to the majority of water distillers on the market.

No water line is required for usage and it can run overnight.

The Pure Water distiller stands at just under 16" tall and is about 14" wide

THE BOILING CHAMBER IS KEPT BEHIND A STEEL DOOR FOR A SECOND LAYER OF PROTECTION

  What we like most about the Pure Water distiller

With an 800 Watt heating element, the Pure Water distiller is about to distill at a rate of 0.8 gallons every 3.5 hours – making it the most efficient distiller on this list. But its efficiency isn't necessarily what makes it our favorite distiller. The confidence in its build quality and design is what makes realize that the Mini Classic will outlast many other cheaply-made distillers.

And not to mention a 15-year warranty on the stainless steel and 2 years on electrical, this American-made distiller offers one of the best guarantees for any distiller on the market.

  What we don't like

The Pure Water distillers are certainly more pricey than most other distillers. But with a reputation as rock-solid as theirs and a premium product to back it up, it's well worth the price tag.

  Is it for you?

If you need an efficient, reliable distiller that will distill water quickly, none distills more efficiently than the American-made Pure Water brand, and none will outlast it either.

The Countertop Water Distiller by Megahome is the only distiller on the market with a UL approval. UL (Underwrites Laboratory) is a trusted independent global technology safety company that rigorously tests products to determine if they comply with strict safety standards.

This well-constructed water distiller is made from 304-grade stainless steel, making it resistant to water corrosion. It distills water at a moderate speed – 1 Gallon per 5.5 hours. With an efficient cooling system and activated carbon filter, this distiller will provide clean, drinkable water in a 4L glass carafe. It features an automatic shut-off as a safety feature for overnight distilling. With a one-year warranty, this distiller offers much in terms of quality and security.

The Megahome Countertop Water Distiller has been on the market for 22 years and remains the most widely distributed countertop distiller in the world. It is a trusted icon in-home countertop distillation and trusted among many users.

The spout contains replaceable carbon filters that improve the taste of the water

The components consist of a distiller unit, glass carafe, carbon filtration spout, and power cord

  What we like most about the Megahome Water Distiller

The UL approval rating is reflective in the entire design and build quality of the Megahome distiller. From the automatic shut-off feature to the easily replaceable carbon filtration cartridge, the entire unit is designed to distill water efficiently, safely, and reliably.

  What we don't like

While the automatic shut-off feature is certainly essential, it would have been nice to have a manual shut-off feature for the rare chance you'd need to stop the distillation process mid-way through. Otherwise, unplugging the machine is the only way to cut off all power.

  Is it for you?

If you need a reliable, efficient distiller for yourself or for a small family, the Megahome has all the features you need to safely distill water at an adequate rate.

H20 Labs' Water Distiller is a very popular and highly rated countertop distiller for home use. It's been rigorously tested and evaluated for ease of operation and maintenance, dependability, design, functionality, warranty, technical and customer support, and customer satisfaction.

Made from 304 stainless steel, this durable distiller has a 565 Watt heating element to boil the water. While other distillers boast of higher wattage for faster distillation, H20 Labs states that larger heating elements can boil water too quickly –causing it to mix with VOCs and other contaminates which reduce the purity of the water.

Featuring an easy-lift BPA-free glass carafe and a porcelain nozzle, this distiller distills water at a steady rate of 4 Gallons per day. Activated carbon filters further treat the water for impurities and taste. H20 Labs offers a 1 Year Warranty for their distiller.

  What we like most about H20 Labs

Similar to the Megahome design, the H20 Labs distiller offers a reliable, efficient distiller that can provide clean water safely. The plastic handle is securely wrapped around the glass carafe, ensuring a temperature-safe way of handling a pot of freshly-distilled water.

  What we don't like

Like the Megahome design, a manual shut-off feature would have been a nice addition.

  Is it for you?

If you need a reliable distiller for personal or family use, H20 labs provides just that.

The ROVSUN Countertop Distiller is approved and listed by the FDA as safe and efficient home water distiller. Rigorously tested and well-manufactured, this highly efficient distiller produces clean water at a rate of 1.58 gallons every 4 hours on a 900 Watt heating element. Crafted from 304-grade stainless steel, the sleek design compliments any home or office setting.

The ROVSUN has a 6 Liter, shockproof glass container to collect the distilled water. It features activated charcoal filtering, an aluminum cooling fan, and an automatic shutoff safety feature. ROVSUN offers a 1 Year Warranty for their distiller.

  What we like most about the Rovsun distiller

With a distillation rate of 1.5 gallon every 4 hours, it stands as the second-most efficient distiller next to the Pure Water model. The plastic contain is a much safer option than many of the heavier glass containers.

  What we don't like

For as powerful as it is and with as much energy as it uses (900 W), a warranty longer than a year might have been better.

  Is it for you?

If you need a powerful distiller that will provide a large amount of water fast, few are more powerful than Rovsun's 900 Watt distiller.

The Waterwise 3200 Water Distiller boasts a clean white exterior with a stainless steel boiling chamber. With an 800 Watt heating element, this distiller can produce pure water at 1 gallon every 4 hours. Featuring automatic shutoff every 1 gallon cycle, this distiller can distill water safely overnight.

No assembly or installation required. The 3200 combines steam distillation with carbon filtration, producing clean, filtered water.

  What we like most about the Waterwise distiller

A distillation rate of 1 gallon ever 4 hours make this one of the more efficient units on this list.

  What we don't like

The handle on the carafe might be a bit small for larger hands

  Is it for you?

If you need an efficient, quick distiller, the Waterwise is an excellent unit.

Distilled water is a type of purified water obtained through the process of distillation. Distillation removes impurities including minerals and chemicals, and microorganisms from water, so distilled water is free from impurities and dissolved solids.

Distillation relies on evaporation to purify water; it happens naturally as part of the earth's hydrologic cycle and can also be simulated within an enclosed system.

Because distilled water is absolutely free of minerals and contaminants, it serves a multitude of purposes. Humans use distilled water domestically for drinking, watering plants, filling humidifiers, steam irons, and fish tanks, to name a few.

Distilled water is also used commercially in automobile cooling systems, model steam engine boilers, modern engines, and to increase the density of air for airplane jet takeoff.

The pH of distilled water immediately after distillation is neutral at 7 as it is pure. However, it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and becomes slightly acidic with a pH value of 5.8. If considering distilled water for drinking, use a water distiller with a carbon filter as this will reduce acidity.

How does distillation compare to other purification methods?

While filtration is effective at blocking parasites and bacteria, water filter pores often aren't small enough to block viruses.

While chlorination will kill both bacteria and viruses, some parasites have a protective shell making them resistant to chlorine.

While boiling will kill any living microorganism in the water, it won't remove any small particles or sediment.

Distillation will absolutely kill any living microorganism in the water and leave behind any debris, sediment, and heavy metals – leaving you with pure water.

Distillation is one of the oldest ways to filter water and is still used today.  It effectively removes contaminants from water including bacteria, inorganic, and many organic compounds. Distillation separates a liquid from other substances with variations in boiling points. Distilling water involves boiling the water then condensing the steam to form pure distilled water.

Distillation is actually the earth's natural way of purifying water on the earth's surface. Through the hydrologic cycle, water is evaporated from oceans and lakes by the heat from the sun. As the steam rises, water is condensed in the clouds, when enough condensation has collected, water descends in the form of rain. Rain is, in fact, distilled water.

Water distillers emulate the earth's distillation process but on a much smaller scale.

Evaporation

In order to start the evaporation process, water needs to be heated. As the liquid water molecules absorb heat, they begin to move more quickly, giving them the energy to break the bonds connecting them together. When the molecules gain sufficient energy, they escape the surface of the liquid in the form of water vapor. Because the impurities, such as inorganic compounds and large non-volatile organic molecules, have higher boiling points than water, they do not evaporate with the water molecules. As water evaporates into steam, these impurities are left behind unchanged.

Condensation

Condensation occurs when the evaporated water molecules – in the form of gas – begin to cool down and assume liquid form again. As the gas molecules lose heat, they lose energy and slow down, moving closer to the other gas molecules. The gas molecules eventually collect together to form liquid once again, minus the impurities. This "distilled" water is collected in a separate container, leaving the contaminants in its original container.

Distillation replicates the earth's hydrologic cycle. It begins with the evaporation of water from surfaces, such as surfaces of the ocean, rivers, lakes. The evaporated water forms water vapor which rises then condenses in the atmosphere to form clouds. The process of precipitation occurs after condensation which returns the purified water to the Earth’s surface in the form of rain and snow. So rain is essentially distilled water.

Distilled Water Vs Filtered Water

Filtered water is water that has gone through carbon filtration or some other type of filtration to physically block or chemically remove contaminants. Water filters block impurities with a barrier and depending on the micron size of the barrier, some small impurities, such as viruses, may still go through. Filtered water is highly efficient at blocking larger contaminants such as sediment, bacteria, and parasites, but inefficient at blocking smaller ones such as viruses and dissolved chemicals. Distilled water, on the other hand, leaves all contaminants behind. Read our article on portable water filters for survival and outdoors.

Distilled Water Vs Purified Water

Purified water can be any water that contains less than 10 PPM contaminants. It is usually the result of a multi-stage purification process, like reverse osmosis, UV purification, or chlorination. These highly effective filtration processes can remove up to 99.99% of the contaminant in the water, resulting in purified water. As distilled water typically contains about 1 PPM of contaminants, it is in fact a type of purified water. However, the general difference between distilled water and water referred to as ‘purified’ is the mineral content. While they both have low levels of contaminants, purified water contains more minerals than distilled water.

Distilled Water Vs Spring Water

Spring water refers to water collected directly from an uncontaminated underground spring where it rises to the surface. It is rich in minerals and considered to be great for hydration, and it provides other health benefits. Spring water is usually processed and filtered to remove debris and kill bacteria, but most of the mineral content such as calcium and magnesium is left in the water while distilled water has negligible mineral content. Consequently, spring water has a fresher taste in comparison to distilled water.

Microbes are removed from filtered water, but not minerals. Spring water passes through a variety of natural filters including rocks, and it contains high amounts of minerals. Harmful microbes, as well as harmless and beneficial minerals such as calcium and magnesium, are removed from distilled water. As a result, filtered water and spring water tastes better than distilled water, which has a flat and flavorless taste.

• It is Purified Naturally - As distillation replicates the hydrological cycle, it is a natural method of water purification. No chemicals are added to the water, so it is safe and reliable. There is no risk of affecting our body’s chemical balance.

• No Nitrates or Nitrites - Nitrates and Nitrites may be found in tap water and groundwater. Nitrogen fertilizers used to enrich soils may lead to traces of nitrates in groundwater. Human and animal wastes can also contaminate groundwater with nitrate. Nitrates and Nitrites are dangerous to humans, especially the children and elderly with weaker immune systems. Ingesting large quantities can lead to lethal accidents as well.

• No Chlorine - Chlorine is a disinfectant added to drinking water to remove microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses and is used in most public water systems. However, too much chlorine in the water supply can lead to health complications and should be avoided if possible.

• No Microorganisms - Although some microorganisms are harmless to humans, there are several microorganisms that can cause disease and infections in humans. Distilled water is free of all microorganisms.

• No Barium - Industrial waste often leads to the contamination of groundwater with Barium, which may eventually make its way to our tap water. According to a study that discovered a link between Barium and high blood pressure in lab animals, Barium can cause heart problems.

• Will Distilled Water Leach Minerals From My Body? - The truth is that distilled water does attach to minerals as it comes into contact with them. That is exactly how spring water enriches itself with minerals as rain flows downstream. So yes, distilled water can leech a small amount of minerals from your body along with other impurities in your digestive tract. But the amount of minerals that do get leeched isn't enough to be of concern if you're consuming regular nutrients. We receive more than enough nutrients from a balanced meal than should be of concern. As humans, we receive our minerals and nutrients primarily from food, not from water. So if you're eating regular meals, drinking distilled water won't harm you. However, if fasting, take a break from distilled water during the fast and resume once the fast is done.

• Cooking with distilled water removes minerals from the meal? - Whether you cook with normal water or with distilled water, your meal’s nutritional value will be the same.

• Drinking distilled water will weaken your teeth? - Regardless of the amount of distilled water you drink, it will not drain the fluoride in your teeth. Yes, it will remove fluoride from the water, but toothpaste generally contains enough fluoride to keep your teeth healthy.

• Distillation is an expensive process? - Distilled water is cheaper than buying bottled water. Although distillation requires electricity, the amount of electricity used to distill water is insignificant – a gallon of water will only need 30 – 40 pennies worth of electricity.

Household Water Distillers

These are usually the most basic types of water distillers. A common type is a single-effect distiller that you can easily set up on your kitchen counter. They are relatively easier to use and maintain. To use, you have to pour a measured quantity of water into the system, then the water is automatically distilled, collected, and filtered into the reservoir ready for use. There are two types of household water distillers – manual and automatic distillers.

Plumbing Distillers

These water distiller units can be installed into your home plumbing system. In contrast to household water distillers, plumbing distillers distill water as you need it making it a cost-effective way to get distilled water. They require maintenance, which includes draining off the sediments that get accumulated at the bottom of the boiling chamber.

Commercial Distillers

Commercial distillers are much larger and complex. They have the capacity to produce from 75 to millions of gallons of distilled water per day. To accommodate the large capacity, they contain multiple boiling chambers, allowing more water to be distilled at a time.

Material

The type of material used to make the distiller is an important factor to consider. Although the distillation process results in water free from impurities and contaminants, the material used to make the distiller could leach chemicals in to the water during heat, rendering the distillation process useless.

Stainless steel or glass are typically preferred as they do not leach chemicals into the water under heat during the distillation process. You will have to make sure that they are labeled as food-grade materials, which ensures that they are up to the cleanliness standards after the manufacturing process. Stainless steel and glass ae also easy to clean.

Although plastic is cheaper, it is less preferred. If you opt for plastic, make sure to look for BPA-free plastic distillers as plastics made with BPA will leach the same chemicals you were trying to remove from your water into the distilled water. It is recommended though to steer clear of plastic distillers. Distillation involves extreme temperatures, so contact of water with plastic materials can compromise on quality and taste as well.

Flow Rate

Another important factor to consider is the flow rate. The flow rate describes how many hours it takes to produce a gallon. Distillation is a relatively slow process. An average water distiller produces 4 to 6 gallons per day, an average flow rate of 1 gallon per 5 hours.

Physicians recommend drinking about one gallon per day. So, for a family of 4 members, a distiller with a flow rate of at least 1 gallon per 6 hours will be preferred.

Warranty

As with many other products, warranty is also an important factor to consider. Water distillers may have different warranties for the machine and electrical components or one warranty for the entire unit. The standard warranty offer is 1 year for the entire unit, but it may differ accordingly.

Total Holding Capacity

The flow rate of water distillers is coupled with the capacity. The capacity and flow rate of often used interchangeably. However, the total holding capacity is different. The total holding capacity is the amount of water that can be stored after distillation. Manual water distillers usually use a plastic or glass jar with a total holding capacity of 1 gallon, whereas automatic water distillers can usually store around 3 to 25 gallons of water in a stainless-steel reservoir.

Post-filtration

Some water distillers consist of activated carbon post filters to filter the water after the distillation process. Carbon post-filters reduce any residual tastes or odors that might have been pushed over during the distillation process. They are most effective when placed after the distillation process before the water enters the reservoir. Carbon post-filters also remove any volatile organic compounds that can be evaporated along with water, ensuring highly purified water as some impurities may have lower boiling points than water.

Having the means to effectively distill water at home will guarantee access to pure, clean water whenever you need it. As a reminder, distilled water is free of all minerals and should be remineralized if intended to drink for long term. Water distillers should be cleaned regularly for maximum performance.