Best Water Filter Pitcher For A Dorm Or Mini Fridge [Guide]

Your dorm’s tap water, although seemingly clean, may sometimes contain harmful contaminants that may leave lasting impacts on your health if you drink it regularly without necessary precautions. As a college student, you cannot always rely on water bottles either for obvious financial or environment related reasons. 

As such, using a water filter pitcher in your dorm might be a great idea to ensure you have regular access to safe, ready-to-drink water at prices that you can afford.

With so many different types of water filters available on the market, however, finding the perfect filter for your dorm that fits your lifestyle (and your mini-fridge) can be a daunting task.

In this post, we provide a comprehensive review of some of the most popular water filters on the market including their features, costs, pros and cons to help you find the best filter for your dorm. 

Why do you need a water filter in your dorm?

While many universities in the US regularly monitor the level of contaminants in the water supplied to their dorms, that is not always the case. 

In recent years, there have been several reports from universities around the US of students noticing that the water they got in their dorms was discolored, frankly red, or sometimes so thick that it would not even go down the drain!

Of course, the water doesn’t necessarily have to appear brown or slimy to indicate that it is unsuitable for drinking.

In fact, water contaminated with heavy metals and minerals like lead and mercury may appear just as clear as regular drinking water. Regular consumption of such water can cause a multitude of problems over time with irreversible effects on the brain, the kidneys, the skin, and the reproductive system. 

There are also universities that offer filtered-water fountains, but those often tend to be limited in number and may not be available to you beyond certain hours.

Investing in a good water filter can save you from all these problems by giving you drinking water that is safe, reliable and available around the clock. 

What is a pitcher filter?

A pitcher filter is a simple water-purifying device that is usually quite small, making it an excellent choice for dorms and mini-fridges where space tends to be limited. While not the best option for very heavily contaminated water, these do a great job of filtering out most common contaminants and minerals from tap water. 

These filters are also fairly easy to use and understand. Most pitcher filters consist of three parts. There is the top chamber for unfiltered water, the bottom chamber for filtered water, and some form of filter (usually activated carbon) in between. You simply need to add water to the top chamber, wait for the water to pass through the filter, and voila- you have safe and clean water in the bottom chamber ready to pour out and drink. 

As you will see below, most filter pitchers also tend to come at a relatively low price, meaning even students on a tight budget can afford one. 

What are the best pitcher filters for your dorm?

With this background information, we now talk about ten of the best pitcher filters for your dorm / mini-fridge. 

1. Clearly Filtered 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher

The Clearly Filtered water filter pitcher is our #1 pick as it removes up to 99.9% of more than 365 harmful and dangerous tap water contaminants and is far more advanced than anything else on our list.

People say it drastically improves the tase, quality and smell of water.

This water filter pitcher carries NSF-certifications 42, 53, 244, 401 & P473. This means it can effectively remove more than 99.5% of fluoride, 99.99% of viruses, as well as a huge number of heavy metals, pharmaceutical drugs and herbicides.

One of its impressive stand outs is that it’s the only filter pitcher that has been tested to remove 9 different PFAS – “forever contaminants” – by more than 95.0% (not just PFOA and PFOS like most other pitchers). These include:

• EPFB: >95.0 % removal
• GenX: >99.4 % removal
• NFBS: >95.0 % removal
• PFBS: >95.0 % removal
• PFBA: >95.0 % removal
• PFNA: >95.0 % removal
• PFOS: >99.5 % removal
• PFOA: >99.0 % removal
• PFHA: >95.0 % removal

Fluoride, lead, BPA, and glyphosate are also removed from your drinking water with this pitcher, but the natural minerals and nutrients are retained.

The 7+ proprietary filtration materials used in this pitcher make it stand out from its competition, enabling it to remove more than the 3 leading brand name pitchers combined.

It has a 100-gallon filter-life, which should last around 4 months. Dimensions are 10.25″ x 11.25″ x 5″ (H.W.D).

Available on Clearlyfiltered.com at a price of $90.00, which includes one filter.

2. Waterdrop 200-Gallon Long-Life Elfin 5-Cup Water Filter Pitcher

The Waterdrop 200-Gallon Long-Life Elfin 5-Cup Water Filter Pitcher is our runner up for students who are looking for excellent filtering capacity combined with a small size, an affordable price and a fantastic lifespan. 

The device is very small at 9.6*10*4.1 inches and weighs 2.35 pounds. It is made of BPA-free food-grade plastic and is available in several attractive colors including pink, blue, cyan and white that fit most dorms and office spaces very easily.

Like the Brita Pitcher filter on our list, the product has a relatively small capacity at 5 cups. However, this should be sufficient if you are living alone, and in fact can be an advantage considering how the small size makes it easy to carry it around. 

What is truly impressive about the Waterdrop filter is its filtering technology. It uses a 7-stage Japanese filter mechanism that includes coconut-derived activated carbon, resin, activated carbon fiber, and non-woven fabric, among others. This enables it to filter out a wide range of contaminants and is NSF 42 certified for chlorine, fluoride and arsenic.

It also has a NSF 372 certification for lead free material, making it one of the few filters on our list with certified lead-filtering capacity. It selectively retains certain chemicals like calcium and magnesium, which, the company claims, can retain the fresh, ‘spring-like’ taste of your water.

Despite the multi-stage filtering, however, the filter offers an amazing filtering rate of 0.5 gpm, meaning the 5-cup capacity pitcher can be filled in about 1 minute. This makes it a superior choice to PUR filters when it comes to speed, especially since both filter almost the same range of contaminants.

The filter also stands out in its lifespan: it can filter up to 200 gallons of water (lasting 3-6 months), which is higher than most filters on our list.

All of its colors/designs are available on WaterDropFilter.com at a price of just $23.99.

3. PUR Ultimate Small Water Filter Pitcher

PUR’s ultimate filtration water filter not only offers a sleek and compact design but is also WQA certified to reduce several physical and chemical contaminants from water including lead, making it a great choice for students particularly concerned about lead contamination.

The filter is made of light-weight BPA-free plastic and weighs 1.95 pounds. With a size of 11.3*4.8*10.9 inches, it has a total capacity of up to 7 cups, which is sufficient to fill more than 2 standard water bottles.

The device has an ergonomic handle that makes it easy to carry it around and also features an easy-fill, leak-proof lid. The design is definitely one of the slimmer ones on this list- meaning this can easily fit into most mini-fridge shelves with no issues. The device is also dishwasher safe. 

Where the PUR Ultimate Water Filter Pitcher truly stands out, however, is in its performance. The manufacturers claim that the device filters up to 3 times more contaminants than Brita’s leading pitcher filter, and the WQA has certified it to reduce up to 99% lead, 96% mercury and 92% chemical pesticides.

To achieve this fantastic filtration capacity, the device uses advanced ion-exchange filter technology in addition to activated carbon and an advanced pleated paper, which can even provide protection against certain microbial cysts. 

The filter itself lasts for up to 2 months (equivalent to about 40 gallons of water). The device comes with an in-built indicator light that lets you know well in advance when the filter needs to be replaced.

4. Brita Small 5 Cup 1 Count Metro Alkaline Water Pitcher

Compact, aesthetic, efficient and affordable – the Brita Metro filter ticks almost every box when it comes to a great pitcher filter designed for dorm living.

What sets the Brita Small Metro filter apart is its slim, compact design. The entire device is made of BPA-free food-grade plastic and weighs only 1.39 pounds, and with dimensions of 9.8*4.45*9.37 inches, it can fit most refrigerator shelves quite easily.

The filter also features an easy-fill locking-lid that makes it easy to fill in and pour water from the pitcher with no risk of leakage. There are three finishes: turquoise, red and white, meaning there is a good likelihood of the filter matching the aesthetics of your room as well.

Despite the small size, the filtering capacity of the pitcher is quite impressive. As the name implies, it can store up to 5 cups of water, enough to fill up to 2 standard water bottles.

The activated carbon component is capable of filtering out several common contaminants including chlorine, mercury, copper, zinc and cadmium. However, the pitcher does not work well if the water is contaminated with lead or pathogenic bacteria.

The device comes with two filter options:

• The ‘longlast’ filter which lasts about 6 months (filtering 120 gallons of water)
• The ‘Standard’ filter which lasts about 2 months (and fiters 40 gallons of water). 

The device includes an electronic indicator that reminds you when it is time to replace the filter. The different versions and finishes are priced differently, starting at $25.76.

5. LifeStraw Home Alkaline Water Pitcher

While most popular pitcher filters focus on reducing mineral contaminants from water, LifeStraw Home Alkaline Water Pitcher stands out because of its unparalleled capacity to filter out bacteria, parasites and microplastics in addition to a wide range of heavy metals and other chemical contaminants, making it our top recommendation for students concerned about microbial contamination in the water they drink.

At first glance, one can notice that the design of the filter is quite unique with a tall and sleek shape. With dimensions of 6.4*6.4*11.2 inches, it can hold up to 7 cups of water.

The design also stands out because LifeStraw offers a shatter-proof glass version in addition to several BPA-free plastic ones. The filter comes in numerous colors including cobalt, white, aqua and grey for both plastic and glass versions.

All versions come with their own easy-fill, leak-proof lid, but there is no indicator to inform you when it is time to change the filter.

What makes the filter truly special is its micropore filter which, along with the activated carbon layer and the ion-exchange features, enables it to filter out most bacteria and parasites in addition to heavy metals, harmful minerals and other chemical contaminants.

The filter does retain essential minerals, namely calcium and magnesium, and many users have commented on the superior taste of the water compared to PUR and Brita filters.

The membrane microfilter (responsible for filtering out bacteria) lasts up to 1 year (equivalent to 264 gallons), but the activated carbon filter needs changing every 2 months or after filtering 40 gallons of water.

The plastic pitchers start from $38.21, but the glass versions are more expensive, starting at $71.28.

6. Cool-gear Filtration Plus Infuser Pitcher

If you are a college student who struggles to drink enough water everyday, then the cool-gear Filtration Plus Infuser pitcher is perfect for you. It is a unique device that not only filters your water but can also add flavors from your favorite fruits into it, giving you a safe and tasty drink on demand.

The filter device comes in an attractive, ‘homely’ pitcher shape made of BPA-free plastic. It is 6.8*6.8*11.2 inches in dimensions and weighs 16 ounces with a total holding capacity of 2.44 litres, or about 10 cups.

The device is certainly on the larger side, but you shouldn’t have a problem fitting it into most mini-fridges. It comes in 3 colors- blue, pink and  lime-green, whereas the pitcher body itself is fully transparent.

The filter also has an in-built infuser where you can put in your favorite fruits and herbs and it will continually add their flavor into the water you drink.

The filtering process occurs in two stages and uses natural carbon from coconut shells. This enables it to filter out several physical and chemical contaminants including lead, fluoride and chloride, among others. The filter needs to be replaced after filtering about 100 gallons of water, which should last you 3-6 months.

The device is rather cheap: you can get the pitcher, the filter and the infusion tube all at $14.99. Some users have complained that the replacement filters also often cost as much as the original device, but compared to most other filters, this is still our top recommendation in the ‘budget’ category. 

7. Brita 8-cup Marina Mini Water Filter Pitcher

Brita’s 8-cup Marina mini-water filter is another small but elegant filter pitcher with a sleek design, a capacity of 8 cups and a lifespan of 2 months. However, the device is on the expensive side, and despite its popularity, seems to have certain flaws in its design making it vulnerable to damage. 

Of particular note for college students, this filter was designed with the mini-fridge in mind. With its compact size at 11*6.5*8.25 inches, the filter can quite easily fit into most mini-fridge shelves without any problem.

The material is BPA-free plastic, and it has a capacity of 16 fluid ounces, roughly translating to about 8 cups of water, making it particularly suitable if you have a roommate, you’re sharing the water with.

The elegant design starts as a circle at the base and tapers down where the filter sits. It also includes an ergonomic handle and a flip top lid making refills easy and spill-free. However, it comes in only two major colors- black and white, so those keen on aesthetics might have to compromise a bit.

The performance itself is pretty standard: it reduces zinc, chlorine, copper, mercury and cadmium, but is not effective against lead or microbial contaminants. 

It has a capacity of 40 gallons, which should last you about 2 months. The device is equipped with an electronic filter indicator that informs you when you need to get the filter replaced.

As great as this is in theory, many users have noted some flaws with the filter lately. First off, the cost of $44-$60 is not the most economic, considering how some of the cheaper filters on this list are providing more advanced features.

Additionally, several users have complained of cracks and leakage owing to which their filters did not last even a year. 

8. Soma Pitcher Plant-based Alkaline Water Filtration 2.0

The Soma pitcher filter is a unique entry in our list, made from 60% plant based and renewable materials, which means it leaves a lower carbon footprint and may be a great choice if you believe in living a sustainable, environment-friendly life. It also offers a compact, space saving design and excellent filtering capacity with easy maintenance and affordable costs.

The filter material is made from coconut shell carbon and uses a plant-based casing in line with the company’s environment-conscious business model.

It is available in both glass and BPA-free plastic versions and weighs 2.42 pounds.

With dimensions of 10.53 x 9.36 x 4.68 inches, it can hold up to 6 cups of water and can easily fit inside most mini fridges. 

The filter comes with a beautiful white oak handle which adds a natural feel in addition to good ergonomics, a feature missing in most other filters on our list. It also features an auto-open lid that opens up automatically when water is poured on it, making refills easy and hands-free. 

As far as the functioning is concerned, the Soma pitcher filter has been NSF/ANSI Standard 42 certified to remove chlorine, mercury and copper along with several other physical and chemical contaminants.

Practically, however, many users have complained that the chlorine taste of their tap water remained even after filtration, which is something you might want to keep in mind before making your purchase.

Like most other filters we have discussed, the Soma Pitcher Filter is capable of filtering 40 gallons of water lasting about 2 months before it needs to be replaced. Unlike others, however, it does not come with an indicator light to tell you when replacement is due.

9. Clear Genius Water Filtration System

The clear Genius Water Pitcher is another entry in our list that aims to reduce its environmental impact by providing a reusable cartridge. With a 6 cup capacity and a 40 gallon lifespan, this filter comes in a compact size and is much more affordable than corresponding Brita filters, making it a great choice for many college students.

The design, at first glance, is not exactly unique, but its size of 10*10.5*5 inches and 6 cup capacity make it suitable for those who prefer function over appearance. The material is BPA-free plastic and weighs only 1.8 pounds. 

What is most special about this filter however is its “Keep the Cartridge, replace the pod” motto. The device comes with a pitcher, a plastic cartridge and a separate filter pod.

You only need to replace the recyclable pod, so you are substantially reducing your plastic waste every year by using this filter system. 

Additionally, the pod also fits into PUR and Brita filter systems, meaning you can still use their pods without having to purchase another new filter set.

The filter pod consists of a non-woven shell, ion-exchange resin and activated carbon which allow it to reduce mercury, cadmium, chloride, zinc and copper with ease. Please note, however, that this filter isn’t certified to reduce lead or microbes.

The filter lasts two months (40 gallons), after which the pod needs to be replaced. There is no electronic indicator system to notify you of this, meaning you must keep track of how your filter has been performing yourself.

10. Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher

The aquagear water filter pitcher features an advanced filtration system that is capable of selectively removing lead and chloride while retaining essential salts. It offers a six month lifespan with a 120 gallon capacity, making it suitable for students who do not want to bother with continual maintenance of their water filters.

At first glance, the design is rather bulky at 11.1*11.1*5.6 inches, a weight of 3.02 pounds and a capacity of 10 cups.

This may therefore only be suitable if you have more than one room-mate and a relatively larger fridge space.

What it lacks in compactness, however, it compensates with strength of the material as Aquagear provides a lifetime warranty for your filter. If the filter pitcher ever breaks, you will be provided a replacement absolutely free of charge.

The filtering rate is decent, generating up one cup every 10 seconds.

The biggest utility of the Aquagear filter is in its capacity to filter out lead and other contaminants. The device has been ISO certified to remove 99.4% lead, 99.6% cadmium, 65% mercury and 99.9% microplastics.

It retains healthy minerals including calcium and magnesium in your water, meaning the water won’t taste sterile. 

Another impressive feature is the filter’s lifespan: Aquagear water filters can filter out 120 gallons of water, lasting around 6 months, which is significantly higher than most filters on our list. 

The entire filter costs around $70, whereas the replacement costs $40 if you have a six-month subscription.