Short Answer
Lots of big grocery chains have a self-serve refill machine near the front of the store. In our directory, Walmart has the most listings, Whole Foods is the one to try for alkaline or deionized water, and Natural Grocers has the lowest listed price of these chains. Bring a clean jug, fill it, and pay at checkout (or at the machine, depending on the store).
Our pick: Whole Foods for most people. It's in 41 states in our directory, most locations list three water types (reverse osmosis, alkaline and deionized), and reverse osmosis is listed at $0.59 a gallon at most locations. If you just want the lowest listed price, go to Natural Grocers ($0.45). In the Southeast, Publix is the most convenient.
Here's how the big names compare, using the listings in PureWaterFinder.
The quick comparison
| Chain | Listings in our directory | Water types listed | Listed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Publix | 1,418, in 8 states | Filtered (reverse osmosis) | $0.70 a gallon at most locations, $0.60 at a few |
| Whole Foods | 366, in 41 states | Reverse osmosis, plus alkaline and deionized at most locations | $0.59 a gallon at most locations (alkaline $1.29) |
| Walmart | 3,928, in every state and DC | Reverse osmosis | $0.50 a gallon |
| Sprouts | 400, in 25 states | Reverse osmosis | $0.50 a gallon at 212 locations |
| Natural Grocers | 175, in 22 states | Reverse osmosis | $0.45 a gallon |
Listed prices can vary by store and change over time, so check the machine. A 5-gallon jug at $0.59 a gallon works out to about $2.95.
Whole Foods
Most Whole Foods refill stations are run by FreshPure. What makes them stand out in our listings: most locations list three kinds of water, reverse osmosis, alkaline and deionized. At those, reverse osmosis and deionized are listed at $0.59 a gallon, and alkaline at $1.29. Three Whole Foods have a Primo machine instead, listed at $0.50 a gallon for reverse osmosis. If you're after alkaline water or deionized water without hunting down a water store, this is usually the easiest stop. Pay at the register.
Try it near you: Denver, Austin, Tampa.
Publix
If you live in the Southeast, Publix is everywhere, and so are its refill machines. Only Walmart has more listings in our directory. Every listing is filtered reverse osmosis water, and you pay at checkout. In Tampa, Publix has more refill listings in our directory than any other chain.
Walmart
Walmart machines show up in every state and DC in our directory, which makes them handy when you're traveling. Walmart listings in our directory are Primo machines, so see our Primo page too. Prefer a drive-up station? Compare Primo vs. Watermill Express. You usually pay at the register. The listed price is $0.50 a gallon.
Sprouts
Sprouts listings are filtered water, nearly all of them listed as reverse osmosis, paid at checkout. Some locations have a listed price: $0.50 a gallon at 212 Sprouts.
Natural Grocers
Most Natural Grocers listings are GoH2O kiosks, and at $0.45 a gallon it's the lowest listed price among the chains here. Every location is listed as reverse osmosis.
Before you go: 3 quick tips
- Bring a clean jug. Here's how to clean and store your jugs.
- Give the machine a 30-second look. Check the service sticker, the nozzle and the display. Our grocery store refill safety checklist shows you what to look for.
- Machine down? It happens. Open your city page and pick the next closest station.
Want to see the math against bottled water? Read refilling vs. bottled water cost.
FAQ
Can you refill water at Whole Foods?
Yes. We list 366 Whole Foods refill stations: 363 are FreshPure machines and 3 are Primo machines. Bring your own jug and pay at the register.
How much does Whole Foods charge for water refills?
At most Whole Foods stores in our directory, the listed price is $0.59 a gallon for reverse osmosis and deionized water, and $1.29 a gallon for alkaline. Prices can change, so check the machine.
Does Walmart have water refill stations?
Many do. We list 3,928 Walmart refill machines, in every state and DC. Search by ZIP code above to find one near you.
Which grocery store refill is cheapest?
Among the chains with listed prices, Natural Grocers ($0.45 a gallon) is the lowest, followed by Walmart ($0.50), Sprouts ($0.50 at some locations), Whole Foods ($0.59 at most locations) and Publix ($0.60 to $0.70).
Spotted a Change?
Spotted a machine that's moved, closed or changed prices? Leave a review or a photo on the station page so the next person knows.