How Much Does a Whole-House Water Filtration System Cost? [2025 Data]
The average cost of installing a whole-house water filtration system is $2,273, but prices often range from $1,129 to $3,540, depending on the type of system on the cost of pro labor in your area.
A whole-house water filtration system costs between $1,129 and $3,540, for an average cost of $2,273. 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.
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. You’ll also want to know whether your home has hard water or soft water. 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.
The main difference between soft water and hard water is the mineral content. Hard water has higher levels of calcium and magnesium, whereas soft water has undergone a process to remove these minerals.
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.
| Number of Filtration Stages | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | $300–$1,000 |
| 2 | $400–$1,200 |
| 3 | $500–$1,200 |
| 4 | $800–$1,200 |
| 5 | $300–$2,300 |
System Capacity
The amount of water your household uses, and that passes through the filtration system, will affect its cost. It's no surprise that the larger the capacity of water the system can handle, the greater the cost. The size of your household is a good estimator of how much capacity is necessary. The average person uses between 80 and 90 gallons of water per day. However, the more critical number is the gallons per minute your filtration system can handle.
| Persons in Household | Necessary GPM (2-Bathroom Home) | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 8 | $600–$1,000 |
| 3 | 10 | $800–$2,200 |
| 4 | 12 | $1,300–$4,000 |
| 6 | 14 | $2,000–$4,800 |
Location
Location can affect the cost of your whole-house water filtration system in two ways. First, where in the house you install the system and the location of your home.
The best installation practice is to install the system near your main water line where it enters your home. If the location is in a particularly tight spot or access is otherwise problematic, expect to spend more on installation labor to cover the additional time necessary to complete the job.
Where you live is the second factor. Your location will have minimal effects on the cost of the actual system. However, installation labor costs will reflect the cost of living in your area. Expect to spend more on labor where the cost of living is high compared to locations that have a lower cost of living.
Permits
By adding a whole-house water filtration system, you’re altering your home’s internal plumbing—which means you’ll need to pay for a plumbing permit. These costs depend on where you live, but on average, you can expect to spend between $50 and $500 for plumbing permits.
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
In addition to the upfront cost of installing a water filtration system, there are ongoing operational and maintenance expenses to consider.
Depending on the type of home water purifier or filter you have, you can expect to spend between $50 and $300 per year on maintaining your system. Maintenance can include annual lamp changes in a UV system and replacing the quartz sleeve every few years. Or, for mechanical filter units, you'll need to change water filters every few months or years, depending on the type.
Because your whole-water filter is a mechanical device, it will need repairs from time to time. Plan for occasional repair bills of between $50 and $800 when necessary, which include a plumbing labor rate of between $45 and $200 per hour.
Also, if your filtration system uses electricity to operate, expect to spend a small extra amount on your energy bill each month. However, most systems use less than 120 watts per hour when in operation, so the cost is minimal.
| Type of Repair | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Hose replacement | $5–$50 |
| Filter replacement | $50–$300 |
| UV lamp replacement | $25–$100 |
| Leak fix | $150–$300 |
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
A whole-house water filtration system can be a worthwhile purchase under the right conditions. If your municipal or well water contains contaminants and you wish to use filtered water for all of your household needs, installing a whole-house system is the way to go. Doing so can also add value to your home by improving the water quality and helping to protect the plumbing system. However, if you only require filtered water for cooking or drinking, you can opt for a point-of-use filter instead.
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.
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