When it comes to drinking water, safety is always a top priority. Many homeowners turn to Brita filters as a way to ensure that their family’s water is clean and safe. But are all Brita filters created equal? The answer might surprise you.
All Brita filters are essentially the same in the underlying technology they use to purify drinking water. However, they come in several different sizes and configurations including pitcher, dispenser, faucet, and bottle filters. Brita offers 4 different disposable filter elements with models that remove just taste and odors to filters that remove lead, arsenic, PFAS, and a host of other contaminants.
Brita filters offer a simple, affordable solution to water quality issues. They have proven to give you clean, good-tasting water. The magic is with Brita’s proprietary filters.
In this blog post, we will take a look at the different types of Brita filters available on the market and discuss the pros and cons of each one. We will also provide tips on how to choose the right filter for your needs.
Check out my article on What Contaminants Brita filters remove.
Table of Contents
What Are the Different Types of Brita Filters?
Brita filters come in a variety of shapes and types. The shape and size of a Brita filter depends on its intended use, whether it be for a pitcher, shower, or water dispenser. Brita filters also have types, such as Standard and Elite. These types may have similar shapes but different performances.
The following table summarizes the different types of Brita filters:
| Filter Variation | Examples |
| Dispensers |
|
| Types |
|
When you take a look at the different filters available on Brita’s website, you can see all of the different types and variations that they offer. You may generally separate them into two major categories: filter housing and filter type.
1 – By Filter Housing
Depending on which type of device you use, Brita filters come in different shapes and sizes. For example, if you have a pitcher filter, you will use one of the filter elements that are designed to fit inside the pitcher If you have a faucet filter housing, you will need a filter element that is compatible with that type of housing.
You may see specific shapes of Brita filters for their range of products, such as:
- Pitcher filters
- Dispenser filters
- Water bottles
- Faucet filters
Each type of housing has its own set of dimensions, so you will need to make sure that you buy the correct size for your filter. More importantly, each type of housing has a different method of attachment, so it is important that you match the filter element with the type of filter housing.
2 – By Filter Type
There are also different types of filters, such as Standard and Elite. Standard Brita filters are designed to remove taste and odor from your water, while Elite Brita filters are designed to remove a wider range of contaminants, including lead, arsenic, PFAS, and more.
The replacement filter elements offered by Brita are:
- Elite
- Standard Pitcher and Dispenser
- Stream
- Water Bottle
- Water Faucet
For certain filter shapes, you may see that there are types of filters available. For example, for Brita’s pitchers, you can choose between their Standard or Elite filter elements. Technically they both fit into pitchers, but the Elite filters last longer.
A stream filter is also made specifically for Brita’s Stream filters that fit on your faucet. For example, when you’re shopping on Amazon, you’ll find other types of filters available like Longlast+ and Maxtra+. However, these filters are not offered on Brita’s website.
Are all Brita Filters the Same?
Although all Brita filters share common technological features, they each have unique qualities. However, the shapes and types of Brita filters may vary depending on the product. Brita also needs to accommodate differing performance requirements.
In general, Brita filters operate in the same way, utilizing similar technology. Brita’s filters use technology such as Ion-Exchange, Activated Carbon, and Micro Mesh to filter and purify your water.
Not only is the water healthier for you, but it tastes better too.
However, these filters come in different sizes and types. Some filters may be large and bulky, while others might be smaller. Some are also small and long.
This is because Brita makes many types of filters and water containers. You can purchase Brita pitchers, water dispensers, water bottles, and faucet filters. Consequently, filters have to be able to fit these products.
As such, if you check out the filters on Brita’s website, you will notice that the filters for their water bottles are thin and long to fit into a water bottle. Filters for faucets may be larger and chunkier since they may likely be filtering a lot more water volume.
On top of that, these filter shapes may also come in different types. These different filter types are likely Brita’s attempt to cater to different performance requirements. For example, Brita’s pitcher filters come in standard or Elite filters. They have the same shape and size and fit into Brita’s pitchers.
However, Standard filters are white in color, while Elite filters are blue in color. Standard filters may last about 2 months or 40 gallons of water, whichever comes first. Elite filters can last much longer, being able to work for 6 months or 120 gallons of water, whichever comes first.
Read my related article – are all PUR filters identical.
How Long Should You Replace Brita Filters?
You should replace your Brita filters as recommended in the user guide. For Standard filters, change them every two months or 40 gallons of water, whichever comes first. With Elite filters, replace them every half a year or 120 gallons, and faucet filters last 120 days or 100 gallons of water, whichever comes first.
| Filters | Replacement Recommendations |
| Standard Filter for Pitchers and Dispensers | Every 2 months or 40 gallons of water, whichever comes first. |
| Elite Filter for Pitchers and Dispensers | Every 6 months or 120 gallons of water, whichever comes first. |
| Faucet Filters | Every 4 months or 100 gallons of water, whichever comes first. |
| Stream Pitcher Filters | Every 2 months or 40 gallons of water, whichever comes first. |
| Water Bottles | Every 2 months or 40 gallons of water, whichever comes first. |
The best way to know when to replace your Brita filters is to refer to the instructions. Each filter has a specific service life or volume of water that it can treat. Once you reach these limits, it’s time to replace the filter element.
However, generally, Brita recommends the following for filter replacements:
Standard Pitcher and Dispenser Filters
For Standard filters, Brita advises that you change the filters every 2 months or 40 gallons of water, depending on which comes first.
This means even if you rarely use the pitcher or dispenser and use less than 40 gallons, you still replace the filter after 2 months. Doing this will maintain the quality of the filtered water.
Elite Pitcher and Dispenser Filters
For Elite filters, the official recommendation is to change the filters every 6 months. They also note in the fine print of their technical manual that the Elite filter can purify up to 120 gallons of water. These filters last three times as long as their standard filters.
Faucet Filters
Faucet filters are larger, which means they last longer and can treat more water than the Standard filters. Brita recommends you replace your faucet filters every 4 months or 100 gallons of water, whichever comes first. You will probably have to replace your faucet filters more frequently because they filter a larger volume of water.
Stream Pitcher Filters
Stream filters are made for Brita’s Stream pitchers. The official Brita recommendation for this type of filter is the same as Standard filters, which is to change the filters every 2 months or 40 gallons of water, depending on which comes first.
Water Bottle Filters
Water bottle filters are also similar to Standard filters. This means you change the filters every 2 months or 40 gallons of water, depending on which comes first.
How Do I Know if My Brita Filters Are Bad?
Most Brita products have an indicator to let you when you need to replace your filter. These indicators are fairly accurate at predicting the service life remaining in your filter. If your Brita product does not have a replacement indicator, then simply change it out based on the official recommendations from Brita.
One of the biggest worries about using filtered water systems is the hassle of keeping track of when to replace them. If this is something you worry about, Brita takes care of this for you with their various indicators.
Many Brita products come with an electronic indicator that lets you know it is time to replace your filter. This type of filter monitor is very easy to use and quite accurate.
For example, on a Brita pitcher, you may see statuses such as ‘regular filter’ and ‘replace’. If you see the light indicator has moved to ‘replace,’ it is time to whip out your replacement filter.
A good strategy is to always have some filters in your pantry so that you can replace them when you need to. Brita makes filter replacement simple with their multi-unit packages. You can buy replacement filters in packs of 2, 4, and 6.
If your Brita products do not have a replacement indicator, or if the indicator has broken down, follow the standard replacement recommendations from Brita.
Depending on which filter housing and filter element you have, your filter’s life may range from two to six months or 20 to 100 gallons. Refer to Brita’s website for their recommendations.
FAQs
Can I let my Brita filter dry out?
Brita filters can be safely dried out if you aren’t going to use it for longer than a few days. Simply remove the filter from the housing, place it on a clean towel, and leave it out for 2 to 3 hours to dry. Once it is completely dry, place it in the refrigerator for safe keeping. When you’re ready to begin using it again, reinstall the filter and you’re good to go. Read my article on whether you can dry out your Brita filter.
Final Take
Brita filters are not all the same, but they all work to remove contaminants from your drinking water. Brita makes a line of pitcher filters, dispenser filters, faucet filters, and bottle filters. They all use the same filtration technology: ion exchange, activated carbon, and particle filtration.
The main difference between the filters is their size, and therefore, their service life. The smallest filters last for 2 months or 40 gallons while the largest elements last for 6 months or 120 gallons.