Midwest grocery store water refills: Hy-Vee, Kroger, Meijer and Woodman's

The Midwest grocery refill lineup

We list more than 1,300 filtered refill stations across the 12 Midwest states, and that number keeps growing. Here's how the grocery chains compare.

Listed prices can change and can vary by store, so check the price on the machine before you fill.

Hy-Vee water refills

Hy-Vee is the chain to know if you live in Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota or Kansas. We list more than 230 Hy-Vee refill stations in 8 states, and more than 100 of them are in Iowa. Every Hy-Vee listing is reverse osmosis water, and every one lists $0.49 a gallon.

Hy-Vee makes up most of our listings around Des Moines and in eastern Iowa: see Des Moines, West Des Moines and Cedar Rapids. It's also a big part of the refill map in Omaha, Sioux Falls and Rochester, Minnesota.

Woodman's water refills

Woodman's has the lowest listed price of any chain in this post: $0.39 a gallon for reverse osmosis water at all 21 stores we list, 14 in Wisconsin and 7 in northern Illinois. There's a bonus for night owls: 20 of those 21 listings show store hours of 24 hours a day. A machine can still be out of order, so keep a backup in mind for a late trip.

In Madison, you can pick between Woodman's and Hy-Vee, which is a nice spot to be in.

Kroger water refills

Kroger has the most Midwest grocery refill listings in our directory: more than 300 across Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. Most of them are Primo machines, which list $0.50 a gallon. The rest don't have a listed price in our directory yet.

Kroger is the biggest chain in our listings for Indianapolis and Columbus. Kroger's sister stores count too: Dillons in Kansas (more than 60 listings) and Mariano's in Illinois (more than 20) have Primo machines at $0.50 a gallon at most locations.

Meijer water refills

Yes, you can refill water at Meijer. Every Meijer listing in our directory is a Primo reverse osmosis machine at $0.50 a gallon, so a 5-gallon jug comes to about $2.50 at that price. We list more than 110 Meijer machines in the Midwest, with Michigan at the top of the list. In Grand Rapids, most of the refill listings we have are at Meijer.

Walmart, Whole Foods, Natural Grocers and Fresh Thyme

• Walmart: more than 250 Primo machines in 11 Midwest states, listed at $0.50 a gallon. Handy on a road trip.
• Whole Foods: more than 50 Midwest stores. Whole Foods refill machines list reverse osmosis and deionized water at $0.59 a gallon and alkaline at $1.29.
• Natural Grocers: more than 30 Midwest stores, at $0.45 a gallon. See Natural Grocers.
• Fresh Thyme: more than 60 FreshPure machines in 8 states. We don't have a listed price yet. If you fill up at one, add the price on the station page so the next person knows.

For the national picture, including Publix and Sprouts, see our grocery store refill roundup.

County Market

We list 9 County Market refill machines so far, all in small-town Illinois: Byron, Dixon, Farmington, Gibson City, Lewistown, Monmouth, Pittsfield, Pontiac and Sterling. They're reverse osmosis machines. We don't have a price for them yet, so if you use one, please report the price on the station page.

Which Midwest grocery refill is cheapest?

By listed price per gallon:

1. 1Woodman's: $0.39 (about $1.95 for 5 gallons)
2. 2Natural Grocers: $0.45 (about $2.25)
3. 3Hy-Vee: $0.49 (about $2.45)
4. 4Kroger, Meijer, Walmart, Dillons and Mariano's Primo machines: $0.50 (about $2.50)
5. 5Whole Foods: $0.59 (about $2.95), or $1.29 for alkaline

The gaps are small. Hy-Vee and a $0.50 Primo machine differ by a penny a gallon. Woodman's saves more: about 55 cents on every 5-gallon jug compared with $0.50. Past that, the closest working machine usually wins. Want the full math against buying bottled water? Read refilling vs. bottled water cost.

Before you fill: a 30-second check

1. 1Look at the machine. The nozzle area should be clean, and there should be a service sticker or an operator name and phone number on it. Our grocery store refill checklist shows what to look for.
2. 2Bring a clean jug. A clean machine can't make up for a dirty jug. Here's how to clean and store your jugs.
3. 3Check the size. Primo refill stations take 1-, 3- and 5-gallon bottles, according to Primo. For other machines, check the label on the machine.

What if the machine is out of order?

It happens. Tell the store staff, then open your city page and pick the next closest station. In Indianapolis, Omaha and Madison, for example, we list more than one chain, so a backup is usually close by. For more tips, read what to do when a refill machine is out of order.

FAQ

Does Hy-Vee have water refill stations?

Yes. We list more than 230 Hy-Vee refill stations in 8 states: Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Illinois, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Kansas. All of them are reverse osmosis.

How much is a water refill at Hy-Vee?

Hy-Vee listings in our directory show $0.49 a gallon, so a 5-gallon jug is about $2.45. Check the price on the machine, since prices can change.

Can I refill water at Meijer, and how much does it cost?

Yes. Meijer machines in our directory are Primo reverse osmosis refill stations listed at $0.50 a gallon, about $2.50 for a 5-gallon jug.

Does Kroger have water refill stations?

Many do. We list more than 300 Kroger refill machines in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. The Primo machines list $0.50 a gallon. Search by ZIP code above to find one near you.

Does Woodman's have water refill?

Yes. We list 21 Woodman's stores with a reverse osmosis refill machine, in Wisconsin and Illinois, all at $0.39 a gallon. That's the lowest listed price of any chain in this post.

Which Midwest grocery store has the cheapest water refill?

Woodman's, at $0.39 a gallon. Next come Natural Grocers ($0.45) and Hy-Vee ($0.49). Kroger, Meijer and Walmart Primo machines list $0.50.

What if my store's refill price isn't listed?

Add it. Every station page has a "Suggest edit" option and lets you leave a review or a photo. That's how prices for chains like Fresh Thyme and County Market get filled in.