Brita Elite vs Standard Filter: Only the Elite Is Certified for Lead
Buy the Elite filter (OB06) if you want lead out of your water: WQA, IAPMO R&T and NSF list it for lead. The white Standard filter (OB03) and the newer Brita Plus (OB08) are not certified for lead, and none of the three is certified for PFAS. The Standard costs a little less per gallon (10.7¢ vs 14.2¢ today), but you change it 3 times as often.
Certified for lead by WQA (NSF/ANSI 53, in about 25 Brita pitchers), IAPMO R&T W-13905 (12 pitchers) and NSF (2 pitchers). Rated for 120 gallons, about 6 months.
Check price on AmazonOnly want better taste? Brita Standard, 6-pack ($25.64) →Amazon prices as of November 12, 2026 at 12:18 PM ET. Prices can change; the price on Amazon is the one that counts.
Elite vs Standard vs Brita Plus, side by side
"Certified for" comes from the certifier's listing for that filter code, not the box. Per gallon = the Amazon price per filter ÷ the gallons it is rated for.
| Filter | Lead | PFAS | Also certified for | Rated for | Per filter | Per gallon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brita Elite Code OB06 · WQA (NSF/ANSI 53, in about 25 Brita pitchers), IAPMO R&T W-13905 (12 pitchers) and NSF (2 pitchers) | Certified | No | lead, mercury, cadmium, asbestos, benzene and other chemicals; chlorine, taste and odor; microplastics in most pitchers | 120 gal | $17.07 (1 filter) | 14.2¢ | Amazon → |
| Brita Standard (white) Code OB03 · WQA (NSF/ANSI 42 and 53) | No | No | cadmium, copper and mercury; chlorine, taste, odor and zinc | 40 gal | $4.27 (from a 6-pack) | 10.7¢ | Amazon → |
| Brita Plus (white) Code OB08 · WQA (NSF/ANSI 42 and 53) | No | No | mercury, cadmium, copper, benzene and other chemicals; chlorine | 40 gal | $6.08 (from a 6-pack) | 15.2¢ | Amazon → |
| Amazon Basics Brita-fit filter Code 1038346 · WQA (in Amazon Basics pitchers) | No | No | chlorine, mercury, cadmium and benzene | — | $2.97 (from a 6-pack) | — | Amazon → |
| AQUA CREST Brita-fit filter Code AQK-CF06A · NSF/ANSI 42 (in AQUA CREST pitchers) | No | No | chlorine, taste and odor | 60 gal | $2.75 (from a 8-pack) | 4.6¢ | Amazon → |
The last two rows are cheaper copies made to fit Brita pitchers. Their listings are for use in their own brands' pitchers.
Check the code on the Amazon listing
The Elite's code is OB06. One popular "Brita Elite" 2-pack on Amazon lists "Lasts 2 Months" and copper in its title, which are Standard-filter claims, and its model field does not say OB06. We link the listing whose model field reads OB06. Before you buy, look for OB06 in the product details.
A copy sold as "Elite Water Filter Replacements for Brita" (JAOAJO) says it is NSF certified for lead. We found no listing for it at NSF, IAPMO R&T or WQA.
Lead certification is listed pitcher by pitcher
WQA lists the Elite filter for lead in about 25 Brita pitchers, IAPMO R&T in 12 and NSF in 2. The full list of chemicals also changes a little by pitcher. To be sure about yours, find its model on WQA's Brita listing.
Want lead and PFAS in one pitcher filter? Brita vs PUR vs ZeroWater compares the three brands, and PFAS pitchers lists every one certified for it.
Questions people ask
Is the Brita Elite filter worth it?
If you want lead out, yes: it is the only Brita pitcher filter certified for lead. If your water is safe and you only want better taste, the white Standard filter costs a little less per gallon, but you change it every 2 months instead of about every 6.
Does the Brita Elite filter remove PFAS?
Not as far as the listings show. WQA, IAPMO R&T and NSF list the Elite for lead and other chemicals, but not for PFOA, PFOS or PFAS. A 2023 Brita data sheet said IAPMO certified it for PFOA and PFOS; IAPMO's current certificate (W-13905) lists lead only. For PFAS in a pitcher, see the PUR PLUS filter.
How long does a Brita Elite filter last?
Brita says every 120 gallons, or about every 6 months for most homes. The Standard and Brita Plus filters are rated for 40 gallons, about 2 months.
Does the Elite filter remove lead in every Brita pitcher?
The lead claim is listed pitcher by pitcher. WQA lists the Elite for lead in about 25 Brita pitchers, IAPMO R&T in 12 and NSF in 2. Check your pitcher’s model on the WQA listing.
Does any Brita filter remove fluoride?
No. WQA notes that the Elite was tested for fluoride non-removal, which means it does not take fluoride out.
Are the Amazon Basics or AQUA CREST copies certified for lead?
No. WQA lists the Amazon Basics filter for chlorine, mercury, cadmium and benzene, in Amazon Basics pitchers. NSF lists the AQUA CREST AQK-CF06A for chlorine, taste and odor only. Neither is listed for lead.
Sources
- WQA Gold Seal listing for Brita LP: find.wqa.org, read October 23, 2026.
- IAPMO R&T certificate W-13905 (Brita LP, NSF/ANSI 53, lead), read October 23, 2026: myplc.iapmo.org.
- NSF listings for The Brita Products Company: listings.nsf.org, read October 23, 2026.
- Amazon listings and prices: read through Amazon's product API; we show a price only if we read it in the last 24 hours.
- We did not test any filter.
Related: best water filter pitcher · does Brita remove lead? · does Brita remove PFAS? · cheapest filter per gallon