While buying jugs of distilled water from the store may seem convenient at first, the cost of distilled water quickly adds up, and not just in your wallet. If you’re considering switching to distilled water for drinking, cooking, or other household uses, cost is likely one of your top concerns. Here’s a breakdown of the real cost of distilled water and why more people are choosing to distill at home.
The Cost of Buying Distilled Water from the Grocery Store
In the U.S., a gallon of distilled water typically costs between $1.00 and $1.50 at the grocery store. For a household that uses several gallons a week—for drinking, cooking, baby formula, humidifiers, CPAP machines, or cleaning—that can mean spending $20 to $50 a month, or $240 to $600 a year just on distilled water.
But the costs go beyond money. Buying distilled water means regular trips to the store, lifting and carrying heavy jugs, and finding storage space in your home. It’s not particularly convenient, especially for families or individuals who use a lot of distilled water each week.
Then there’s the issue of plastic waste. Each gallon typically comes in a single-use plastic jug, and while these are technically recyclable, the reality is bleak: less than 10% of plastic waste in the U.S. is actually recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, oceans, or incinerators. Over the course of a year, even a moderate user of distilled water might throw away over 200 plastic jugs. That’s a significant environmental burden for a product as essential as clean water.
The Cost of Distilling Water at Home with a Pure Water Distiller
For those seeking a more sustainable and cost-effective solution, distilling water at home is a viable option. Let’s look at the numbers.
A Pure Water countertop water distiller costs about $795. It operates on a standard 120-volt outlet and takes approximately 3.5 hours to produce 0.8 gallons of distilled water per cycle. Most models use about 3.2 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per cycle.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the national average cost of electricity as of 2024 is about $0.17 per kWh. That means each cycle costs approximately $0.54 in electricity (3.2 kWh x $0.17). For simplicity, let’s round up and say you’re paying $0.68 per gallon when distilling at home—that includes a small margin for wear and maintenance over time.
Now compare that to the $1.00–$1.50 cost per gallon at the store. If you use one gallon per day, that’s about $248.20 a year in home distillation costs versus $365 to $547.50 from the store. Within about 2 to 3 years, a home distiller pays for itself in savings, and from then on, it continues to save you money every year while dramatically cutting plastic waste.
Water stored in plastic jugs can potentially contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), especially if the plastic is made with or contaminated by these “forever chemicals” during manufacturing. PFAS can leach into water over time, particularly if the jugs are exposed to heat or stored for long periods.
This is one of the hidden downsides of buying distilled water in plastic jugs. Even though the water starts out pure, storing it in plastic can introduce new contaminants. Combined with the environmental cost of single-use plastics and the fact that most of them don’t get recycled, relying on bottled distilled water becomes both a health and sustainability concern.
Other Benefits of Distilling Water at Home
The convenience factor of home distillation is hard to ignore. You don’t need to run to the store every few days or worry about stock shortages (a common problem during emergencies or supply chain issues). You simply run a cycle when needed, always having clean water on hand.
Distilled Water Uses Include:
- Drinking Water
- Making crystal clear ice
- Reconstituting Baby Formula
- Cooking and Baking
- Cleaning stainless steel appliances and glass
- Filling CPAP machines
- Irons
- Humidifiers
- Watering sensitive houseplants
- Pet drinking water
By having a distiller at home, you’re covered for all of these uses without thinking twice. It becomes part of your routine, much like having a coffee maker or dishwasher. And when you’re filling your stainless steel to-go cup in the morning with pure, contaminant-free water, you’ll appreciate the simplicity and reliability it provides.
What Sizes of Water Distillers Are Available?
Pure Water manufactures a range of distillers to suit different household needs. The countertop models are perfect for individuals or couples who plan to use 1 to 2 gallons of distilled water per day. These compact units sit on your counter and plug into any standard wall outlet.
For larger families or those who want maximum convenience, automatic water distillers are the gold standard. These units are typically installed in a utility room or basement and are plumbed directly into your home’s water supply. They automatically produce distilled water throughout the day and store it in a dedicated tank, so clean water is always available at your kitchen sink, refrigerator dispenser, or ice maker.
As a rule of thumb, plan for 1 gallon of distilled water per person per day. Automatic units can be sized to match your household’s specific demand. These systems are ideal for families who want to eliminate bottled water altogether and enjoy high-quality water throughout their entire home. Use it to fill up stainless steel water bottles and take it with you to work, school, or the gym—without relying on disposable plastic bottles ever again.
Benefits of Drinking Distilled Water
The main reason people choose distilled water is for peace of mind. Distillation removes contaminants, including heavy metals, fluoride, nitrates, bacteria, viruses, and pharmaceuticals. Unlike filters, which can degrade over time or fail to capture certain toxins, distillation is a reliable and repeatable process that consistently produces high-purity water.
While tap water in the U.S. is generally considered safe, it’s not perfect. Water quality varies from city to city and can be affected by aging infrastructure, industrial runoff, agricultural chemicals, and even weather events. In recent years, we’ve seen major contamination events in cities such as Flint, Michigan, and Jackson, Mississippi, as well as more recent instances of PFAS contamination in communities across the country.
The EPA has even stated that over 200 million Americans may be drinking water contaminated with PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” that don’t break down in the environment and have been linked to serious health concerns. Distillation is one of the few water purification methods that can effectively remove these stubborn pollutants.
With a home water distiller, you don’t have to wonder what’s in your tap water or rely on periodic reports from your municipality. You get consistent, contaminant-free water every time.
The Gold Standard in Water Purification
The cost of distilled water depends on how you get it. Buying it from the store costs more than you might think—not just in money, but in time, hassle, and environmental impact. At $1.00 to $1.50 per gallon, the expenses add up quickly, and you’re left with piles of plastic waste that mostly won’t be recycled.
In contrast, home water distillation offers a cost-effective, convenient, and eco-friendly alternative. With a countertop unit like the Pure Water distiller, you can produce your own clean water for as little as $0.68 per gallon, saving hundreds of dollars a year. Automatic units offer even more convenience and are ideal for families who use large quantities of pure water daily.
Beyond cost, distilled water provides unmatched purity, which is increasingly important in a world where pollution, chemicals, and aging water systems threaten our water supplies. Whether you’re using it to drink, cook, clean, or hydrate on the go, having distilled water available at home gives you control over your water quality—and that peace of mind is priceless.
Interested in learning more? Browse our selection of Pure Water distillers and discover which model is right for your household needs.
[Learn more about distilled water for baby formula…]
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