Compare Shower Water Filters

Shower water filters are a smart and important choice for reducing the amount of chlorine and vaporized chemical contamination your body and lungs are exposed to from the water you bathe in and the air you breathe. On this page, you will find a product by product comparison and tips to help you choose the best shower filter for your home.

There are two main performance factors to consider when choosing a shower water filter. The first is to understand how much chlorine the water filter is capable of reducing or neutralizing. The second is the impact the shower filter will have on your shower water pressure. There are a number of options in the market to choose from including KDF copper-zinc alloy filters, Vitamin C filters* and carbon filters. The product comparisons provided below do not include Vitamin C filters as there is not enough credible scientific data to determine their performance at this point in time.

Reducing Chlorine

The amount of chlorine that is
reduced or neutralized by a shower
water filter is extremely important. A person can absorb more chlorine in one shower than they would typically drink all day. This harsh chemical dries skin and hair and can irritate the eyes and breathing. When evaluating shower water filters, make sure the filter removes 90% or more of the chlorine in water. Look for independent testing data to determine the level of chlorine reduction. NSF International and Pace Labs are good sources of information.

In addition to chlorine removal, look for a filter that uses more than one type of media for filtration. You will find that many filters include KDF copper-zinc alloy media because of its high effectiveness for chlorine removal. Activated carbon is the other media you should look for in a shower water filter. Activated carbon media reduces organics like THM’s (trihalomethanes), which is a byproduct of the chlorine water disinfection process that can form nasty breathable contaminants such as chloroform.

Impact on Water Pressure

When evaluating the impact a shower water filter will have on water pressure, there are two things to review. The first step is to determine the flow rate. The EPA prescribes the maximum allowable flow rate for shower heads to be 2.5 gallons per minute. Look for a filter that operates at that flow rate or lower. The second factor to consider is upflow design. A water filter with an upflow design will reduce channeling and clogging by forcing water up through the media as opposed to down through the media where media can collect or clog the bottom of the filter. The other advantage of an upflow design is you will not be sacrificing shower height. Upflow designs are engineered to maintain the original shower height.

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Shower Filters


Grade A+

Aquasana - AQ-4100 AQ-4105

Good chlorine reduction. Includes both KDF and coconut shell carbon to reduce chlorine as well as other synthetic chemicals and contaminants. Upflow design maintains water pressure and showerhead height.

Cost Performance
Gallon
< 1¢
Capacity
10000
Replacement
$52.50
System
$84.99
Flow Rate
2.5 GPM
Chlorine % ReductionShower Filter Features
91 Upflow Design Carbon KDF
Other Benefits: 90-day satisfaction guarantee, 1-year warranty

Grade B-

Berkey - KDF Shower Filter

Good chlorine reduction. Long filter life, but KDF filter only; no carbon included. Down flow design is less optimal for water pressure and shower height. Backflushing recommended to prevent clogging.

Cost Performance
Gallon
1¢
Capacity
25000
Replacement
$46.95
System
$58.95
Flow Rate
2.5 GPM
Chlorine % ReductionShower Filter Features
95 Upflow Design Carbon KDF
Other Benefits: 30-days satisfaction guarantee, 6-months warranty

Grade B-

Culligan - In-line Shower Filter

Good chlorine reduction. Carbon filter only; no KDF included. Inline design is less optimal for water pressure. No shower head included. Flow rate not listed.

Cost Performance
Gallon
< 1¢
Capacity
10000
Replacement
$17.99
System
$34.99
Flow Rate
Not listed GPM
Chlorine % ReductionShower Filter Features
97 Upflow Design Carbon KDF
Other Benefits: 30-day satisfaction guarantee, 1-year warranty

Grade B-

Rainshowr - Dechlorinating Shower Filter

Good chlorine reduction. Long lasting, but KDF filter only; does not include carbon. Down flow design less optimal for water pressure and shower height. Flow rate not listed.

Cost Performance
Gallon
< 1¢
Capacity
20000
Replacement
$22.75
System
$62.60
Flow Rate
? GPM
Chlorine % ReductionShower Filter Features
90 Upflow Design Carbon KDF
Other Benefits: 30-day satisfaction guarantee, 90-days warranty

Grade C+

Crystal Quest - Luxury Shower Power

Unknown chlorine reduction. Down flow design is less optimal for water pressure and shower height. Long filter life, but backflushing recommended to prevent clogging. Unknown gallon capacity.

Cost Performance
Gallon
< 1¢
Capacity
1 year (gallons unknown)
Replacement
$24.50
System
$69.95
Flow Rate
2.5 GPM
Chlorine % ReductionShower Filter Features
? Upflow Design Carbon KDF
Other Benefits: 30-day satisfaction guarantee, 1-year warranty

Grade C-

New Wave Enviro - Enviro Premium Shower Filter

Unknown chlorine reduction. Long filter life, but KDF filter only; no carbon included. Down flow design is less optimal for water pressure and shower height. Flow rate not listed.

Cost Performance
Gallon
1¢
Capacity
1 year (gallons unknown)
Replacement
$28.99
System
$44.99
Flow Rate
Not listed GPM
Chlorine % ReductionShower Filter Features
? Upflow Design Carbon KDF
Other Benefits: 1-year warranty

Grade D+

GE - GE Universal Shower Filter

Passable chlorine reduction. Media type not listed. Down flow design is less optimal for water pressure and shower height. No shower head included. Reports of shower heads popping off filter.

Cost Performance
Gallon
< 1¢
Capacity
10000
Replacement
$10.99
System
$22.99
Flow Rate
2.5 GPM
Chlorine % ReductionShower Filter Features
76 Upflow Design Carbon KDF
Other Benefits: 90-day satisfaction guarantee, 1-year warranty

All performance claims and pricing were taken from publicly available information. If you find information that is inaccurate, please send the correct info with supporting documentation to info@waterfiltercomparisons.com, and we will address any errors.
Pricing is subject to change and is accurate as of the date this chart was last updated. Cost per gallon is calculated as replacement filter price/capacity. Grading is based on the following criteria: System Price, Chlorine Reduction (%), Upflow Design v. Downflow Design, Capacity, Carbon Included, KDF Included.
Manufacturer data last updated November 27, 2013