How Much Does a Whole-House Water Filtration System Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $1,129 - $3,537
The average cost of installing a whole-house water filtration system is $2,270, but prices often range from $1,129 to $3,537, depending on the type of system.
A whole-house water filtration system costs between $1,129 and $3,537, for an average cost of $2,270. The price you pay for a whole-house water filter—also known as a point-of-entry (POE) filter—will depend on several factors, including the type of system you choose, labor rates in your area, and whether or not you need any additional plumbing or electrical work.
- Average
- $2,270
- Low end
- $200
- high end
- $6,000
Whole-House Water Filtration System Cost Factors
Whole-house water filters vary in price depending on the filtration method, labor costs, permit requirements, and other factors. Here’s how those variables influence the total cost of this project.
Type of Water Filtration System
The type of system you choose is the main factor in determining how much you’ll pay for whole-house water filtration. Chemical injector systems are some of the most budget-friendly options, with prices starting at $600. However, the cost of a whole-house reverse osmosis water filtration system is often higher, ranging from $1,000 to $4,800.
Here’s how much each type of whole-house water filter costs (including materials and professional installation).
| System | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Ultraviolet (UV) | $500–$1,500 |
| Chemical injector | $600–$1,500 |
| Carbon filter | $800–$1,500 |
| Ionization | $1,000–$2,000 |
| Well water filter | $1,000–$4,000 |
| Water distiller | $1,000–$4,500 |
| Reverse osmosis | $1,000–$4,800 |
Water Testing
Before installing a water filtration system, you might need to conduct a water test to check your water’s quality and identify contaminants. Based on the results, you can determine which type of system is best for your home.
Many water treatment companies will test your water as part of your filtration system installation package. Otherwise, you can purchase a DIY kit for $30 to $100 or ask your city or county if it offers free water testing.
Number of Filtration Stages
Reverse osmosis water filtration systems have multiple stages, each of which filters out certain contaminants. More stages often mean a higher price tag—at least when looking at products from the same brand.
However, more stages doesn’t automatically mean better filtration because the purpose and effectiveness of each stage varies by brand. As a result, you might find that a three-stage filtration system from a particular company costs more than a five-stage system from a rival brand.
Permits
By adding a whole-house water filtration system, you’re altering your home’s internal plumbing—which means you’ll need a permit. These costs depend on where you live, but on average, you can expect to spend between $50 and $500 for plumbing permits.
Additional Plumbing or Electrical Work
Depending on the layout of your plumbing system, you may need additional plumbing work to install a whole-house water filtration system. If so, you’ll need to factor in the cost of hiring a plumber, which ranges from $45 to $200 per hour.
If you choose a filtration system that runs on electricity, you might also need to pay for new wiring. Hiring an electrician costs between $50 and $100 per hour.
Labor
Labor costs on this project range from $300 to $500. However, you may pay more if you live in an area with a high cost of living or if you’re installing a complex filtration system that requires modifying your home’s plumbing.
Whole-House Water Filtration System Ongoing Costs
On top of the upfront cost of installing a water filtration system, there are ongoing operational and maintenance expenses to consider as well.
Maintenance
It's common to spend $50 to $300 per year on whole-house water filtration system maintenance. However, maintenance requirements—and expenses—depend on the type of home water purifier or filter you have.
For example, if you have a UV system, you’ll need to change the lamp annually and replace the quartz sleeve every few years. However, some whole-house water filters should be changed every few months, annually, or every few years, depending on the type.
Repairs
When issues arise, you may need to call in a plumber. If so, you’ll need to pay their hourly rate ($45 to $200 per hour) plus the cost of repairs. On average, repairs on a whole-house water filtration system range from $50 to $800. Here are some of the most common repairs and their costs.
| Type of Repair | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Hose replacement | $5–$50 |
| Filter replacement | $50–$300 |
| UV lamp replacement | $25–$100 |
| Leak fix | $150–$300 |
Operating Costs
Unsurprisingly, you need water to run a whole-house water filtration system. How much extra you’ll spend on your monthly water bill will depend on a few factors, including your water usage habits and the type of filtration system you have (some systems produce more wastewater than others). You may also pay extra on your power bill since some water filtration systems run on electricity.
DIY Water Filtration Installation vs. Hiring a Pro
It’s best to hire a licensed plumber or water filtration professional to install your water filtration system. That’s because this project requires a reasonable amount of plumbing experience since it involves steps like:
Turning off your main water supply
Draining the water system
Cutting and fitting pipes
Installing the filter on your home’s main water supply line
Plus, if your system isn’t set up correctly, it could leak or not work at all. To avoid these issues and make sure your system runs efficiently, contact a local water softener installation company to handle the installation.
Cost of Common Water Filtration System Add-Ons
While you have a plumber at your house to install a new water filtration system, you might also have them handle other plumbing upgrades you’ve been considering. For example:
Cost to install a water softener: $200–$6,000
Cost to install a kitchen faucet: $160–$360
Cost to replace a bathroom faucet: $170–$360
Cost to install a shower: $4,150–$12,000
Cost to replace a bathtub: $2,000–$9,200
Cost to install a bidet: $40–$1,500
Cost to add a tankless water heater: $1,400–$3,900
How to Save Money When Installing a Whole-House Water Filtration System
“A home filtration system and water softener can greatly improve the quality and safety of your water at a relatively low cost. Compared with purchasing bottled water for drinking and cooking, replacing expensive appliances, and time spent cleaning showers and bathrooms, water filtration and softening equipment can be very cost-effective.”
— Kenton Jones, Certified Water Specialist & Vice President of Operations at Multipure, Las Vegas, NV
Installing a whole-house water filtration system comes with many benefits, but it often requires a significant upfront investment. If you’re concerned about cost, here are a few ways to save money on this project:
Buy your water filtration system directly: If you know what kind of filtration system you need, you could save money by purchasing it directly from a home improvement store (rather than through your installer).
Opt for a lower-priced system: As you shop around, you’ll come across high-end systems with multi-stage filtration and other advanced features. But there are also plenty of lower-cost models that work just fine—and don’t require such a steep upfront investment.
Compare rates: Request quotes from at least three plumbers, then compare their bids to find the best price. Just beware of quotes that are significantly lower than the others because they’re probably too good to be true.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed thousands of real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your water supply contains high levels of contaminants or you use well water, then it’s worth investing in a whole-house filtration system. After installing one, you’ll get clean water out of every fixture in your home—including your shower, dishwasher, and washing machine.
However, if you only want filtered water for drinking or cooking, then a whole-house filter might not be the best choice. In that case, you could consider installing a point-of-use (POU) filter on a single faucet.
It depends on the type of system, but with proper care and regular maintenance, many whole-house water filtration systems will last between 10 and 20 years. For example, a reverse osmosis system has a life span of 10 to 15 years, while a water distiller can run for 20 years (or more).
If your whole-home water filter gets dirty quickly, your water quality might be to blame. Contaminated water that’s filled with sediment or other particles will clog a filter faster than cleaner water. Similarly, the more water you consume, the faster your filter will fill up because it works to remove debris and contaminants from your water supply.