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Best refrigerator filters

Best refrigerator water filters

Fridge filters are the most convenient option, but also among the most expensive per gallon. We rank by what each is actually certified to reduce — not by the marketing on the box.

1,316 certified refrigerator models in our database · ranked by independent certification and cost per gallon · no paid placement.

Top certified pick
EDR3RXD1B

EveryDrop by Whirlpool EDR3RXD1B

NSF certified

Certified to reduce 13 contaminants, including lead and PFAS. About 23.1¢ per gallon.

Best for lead
EveryDrop by Whirlpool EDR3RXD1B
13 contaminants · certified to reduce lead
$46.12 Buy →
Best value
Samsung Samsung
9 contaminants · lowest cost per gallon
$38.11 Buy →

How the top refrigerator filters compare

FilterCertified for Contaminants Price¢/gal
EveryDrop by Whirlpool
EDR3RXD1B
Asbestos, Atrazine, Chlorine / chloramine +10 13 $46.12 23.1 Buy
EveryDrop by Whirlpool
EDR3RXD1R
Asbestos, Atrazine, Chlorine / chloramine +10 13 $46.12 23.1 Buy
EveryDrop by Whirlpool
P1WB2
Asbestos, Atrazine, Chlorine / chloramine +10 13 $46.12 23.1 Buy
ramco
P1WB2L
Asbestos, Atrazine, Chlorine / chloramine +10 13 $27.79 13.9 Buy
EveryDrop
EDR1RXD1R
Asbestos, Atrazine, Chlorine / chloramine +7 10 $50.8 25.4 Buy
EveryDrop by Whirlpool
EDR2RXD1R
Asbestos, Atrazine, Chlorine / chloramine +7 10 $53.99 27.0 Buy
EveryDrop by Whirlpool
P9WB2L
Asbestos, Atrazine, Chlorine / chloramine +7 10 $53.99 27.0 Buy
EveryDrop by Whirlpool
W11569861
Asbestos, Atrazine, Chlorine / chloramine +7 10 $53.99 54.0 Buy
EveryDrop by Whirlpool
W11569863
Asbestos, Atrazine, Chlorine / chloramine +7 10 $53.99 27.0 Buy
Samsung
Samsung
Asbestos, Atrazine, Chlorine / chloramine +6 9 $34.99 11.7 Buy
Samsung
Samsung
Asbestos, Atrazine, Chlorine / chloramine +6 9 $38.11 12.7 Buy
Samsung
Samsung
Asbestos, Atrazine, Chlorine / chloramine +6 9 $38.11 12.1 Buy

See all 1,333 refrigerator filters →

How to choose a refrigerator filter

Match it to your water. The best filter is the one certified for what's actually in your water. ZIP to see your contaminants, then confirm the filter's certified claim list covers them.

Certification tiers to know. NSF/ANSI 42 = aesthetic (taste, chlorine); NSF/ANSI 53 = health (lead, VOCs, cysts); NSF/ANSI 401 = emerging contaminants (pharmaceuticals). A filter is only credited for the exact claims it lists.

Installation & upkeep. Snaps into your refrigerator. No tools. Expect to replace the element about 2×/year; the running cost of refills usually matters more than the sticker price.

Frequently asked

What's the most important thing when buying a refrigerator water filter?

Certification for the specific contaminant you care about. "NSF certified" is not one thing — a filter certified for lead (NSF 53) may do nothing for PFAS or fluoride, and NSF 42 only covers taste and chlorine. Check the exact certified claim, which we list for every filter.

Are these filters actually certified, or just "tested to" a standard?

Every filter here is listed in the public certification database of NSF, WQA, or IAPMO — meaning an independent body verified its claims. We never count "tested to" marketing claims that aren't backed by a listing.

How do you rank them — does anyone pay for placement?

No. We rank by independent certification coverage and true cost per gallon, computed before any buy link is attached. See our methodology.

Rankings use NSF/WQA/IAPMO public certification data and computed cost per gallon. We only attach a buy link when we can verify the retail listing is the certified model. Some links are affiliate links — see our disclosure.