Where to refill a 5-gallon water jug: Walmart, grocery stores and more

Where you can refill a 5-gallon jug

We list more than 21,000 filtered refill stations across the US, and that number keeps growing. Here's where they are.

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

Walmart: the easiest one to find

Yes, you can refill a 5-gallon jug at Walmart. Every Walmart listing in our directory is a Primo refill machine, and every one lists $0.50 a gallon, so a 5-gallon jug comes to about $2.50. With more than 3,900 of them in every state and DC, there's a good chance one is on your regular route, and they're handy on a road trip.

How it works: bring your clean, empty jug to the machine, fill it, cap it, and pay. At Primo machines inside stores like Walmart and Publix, you usually pay at the register. Primo refill stations take 1-, 3- and 5-gallon bottles, according to Primo.

Grocery stores

Most big grocery chains have a self-serve refill machine near the front of the store. In our directory:

• Publix has more than 1,400 listings in 8 Southeast states, at $0.70 a gallon at most stores.
• Safeway and Kroger together have more than 1,500 listings. Most are Primo machines at $0.50 a gallon.
• Whole Foods is in 41 states. It's the one to pick if you want alkaline or deionized water: reverse osmosis and deionized list $0.59 a gallon at most stores, and alkaline lists $1.29.
• Natural Grocers lists $0.45 a gallon at every store we have. That's the lowest chain-wide listed price of any national chain.
• Sprouts machines list $0.50 a gallon at some stores. For the rest, we don't have a listed price yet.

Live in the Midwest? Woodman's lists $0.39 a gallon and Hy-Vee $0.49. See our Midwest grocery refill guide. For the national chain-by-chain view, read our grocery store refill roundup.

CVS: the one people miss

Here's one most people don't think of: we list more than 750 CVS stores with a Primo refill machine, in 17 states, most of them in California, Texas, Florida and Arizona. They list $0.50 a gallon, the same as Walmart. Not every CVS has one, so search your ZIP code below before you go.

Drive-up kiosks and water stores

Watermill Express runs drive-up refill kiosks, and we list more than 1,300 of them in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. You fill from outside, without going into a store. We don't have a listed price for them yet, so check the price on the kiosk. Here's how they compare: Primo vs. Watermill Express.

Local water stores are the other option. We list more than 300 independent refill stations in 36 states, from small water stores to stand-alone machines. Many also sell empty bottles, dispensers and sometimes ice. See water store vs. refill machine vs. delivery for when each one fits.

Prefer spring water? We also list more than 1,200 natural springs. Read our natural springs guide before you fill a jug at one, since a spring is a different thing from a filtered refill machine.

Target, Costco and Home Depot

• Target: we list only 3 Target stores with a Primo refill machine so far, in Arizona and Connecticut, so don't count on one at yours. Try the nearest grocery store or Walmart instead.
• Costco: we don't list any Costco refill machines. Costco's 5-gallon offer for members is Primo bottled water delivery, not an in-store refill.
• Home Depot: Home Depot sells Primo 5-gallon bottles and exchange jugs, and some stores have a Primo self-serve refill machine inside. We list 40 of them so far, in 8 states. Not every Home Depot has one, so search your ZIP code below before you make the trip.

Refill or exchange?

Exchange racks swap your empty jug for a full, sealed one. It's quick, but you pay more for that convenience. Refilling your own jug at a machine is the cheaper way to go, and it's what everything in this post is about. For the full math, read how much it costs to refill a 5-gallon jug.

Before you go

1. 1Clean your jug. A clean machine can't make up for a dirty jug. Here's how to clean and store your jugs.
2. 2Bring the cap. A full 5-gallon jug holds more than 40 pounds of water (a gallon weighs about 8.34 pounds, per the USGS), so cap it before you lift it and carry it close to your body.
3. 3Give the machine a 30-second look. Check for a service sticker and a clean nozzle. Our refill station checklist shows what to look for.
4. 4Know your backup. Machines go out of order sometimes. Here's what to do when a refill machine is out of order, and every city page lists the next closest station.

FAQ

Can you refill a 5-gallon water jug at Walmart?

Yes. We list more than 3,900 Walmart stores with a Primo refill machine, in every state and DC. Bring your own clean jug, fill it at the machine and pay, usually at the register.

How much does Walmart charge to refill a 5-gallon jug?

Walmart machines in our directory list $0.50 a gallon, so a 5-gallon jug is about $2.50. Check the price on the machine, since prices can change.

Can I refill my 5-gallon water jug at Target?

Rarely. We list only 3 Target stores with a Primo refill machine so far, in Arizona and Connecticut. A grocery store, Walmart or a water store is a better bet.

Can I refill my 5-gallon water jug at Costco?

We don't list any Costco refill machines. Costco's 5-gallon option for members is Primo bottled water delivery, not a refill station.

Can I refill my 5-gallon water jug at Home Depot?

At some stores. Home Depot sells Primo 5-gallon bottles, and we list 40 Home Depot stores with a Primo self-serve refill machine so far, in 8 states. Search your ZIP code before you go.

Can 5-gallon water jugs be refilled?

Yes. Refilling your own jug at a self-serve machine is the cheapest way to get 5 gallons of filtered water. Clean the jug regularly and replace it when it's cracked or worn.

How much does it cost to refill a 5-gallon water jug?

At the listed prices in our directory, a 5-gallon refill runs about $2.25 at Natural Grocers, about $2.50 at Primo machines at Walmart, Kroger, Safeway and CVS, about $2.95 at Whole Foods and about $3.50 at most Publix stores.

Where is the cheapest place to refill a 5-gallon jug?

Among national chains, Natural Grocers, at a listed $0.45 a gallon. In Wisconsin and northern Illinois, Woodman's lists $0.39. Some independent water stores list less, so check your city page. Past that, the gaps are small, so the closest working machine usually wins.