Water refill guide
How much does it cost to refill a 5-gallon water jug?
Short answer: listed prices at stations on PureWaterFinder mostly run $0.45 to $0.70 a gallon, about $2.25 to $3.50 to fill a 5-gallon jug. Listed prices are set chain-wide and can change, so check the machine.
Interactive estimate
What would your refill routine cost?
All values are your inputs, not national averages. Change them to match your prices and use. Optional travel cost belongs only if a refill trip is separate from your normal errands.
Bottled price per gallon
$4.00
Based on 1.50 gal per package
Estimated weekly refill cost
$2.29
Includes container cost spread over your selected weeks
Estimated weekly bottled cost
$20.00
At your entered volume and package price
With these assumptions, refilling is lower by $17.71 per week. The container cost is recovered in about 0.8 weeks if the same recurring savings hold.
Listed prices by type of station
| Where | Listed price per gallon | To fill a 5-gallon jug |
|---|---|---|
| Publix grocery refill machines | $0.60 to $0.70 | $3.00 to $3.50 |
| Whole Foods Market | $0.59 | $2.95 |
| Natural Grocers (mostly GoH2O kiosks) | $0.45 | $2.25 |
Listed prices are set chain-wide and can change, so check the machine.
Primo (including Glacier machines) and other self-service machines are priced per gallon or per 5-gallon jug, and you pay at checkout or at the machine. Prices vary by store, so check the price shown on the machine or ask at the register.
Listed prices by water type: reverse osmosis usually $0.50 a gallon (we see $0.20 to $1.00), deionized $0.59, and alkaline $1.29 to $1.75 (most alkaline listings are Whole Foods at $1.29).
Refill vs. exchange
Filling your own jug isn't the same as swapping an empty for a sealed, pre-filled one. With exchange programs like Primo's, your first pre-filled bottle costs more because you're buying the bottle too. After that, you get a discount when you bring back an empty. You pay for the convenience of a sealed jug you don't have to clean. Prices vary by store, so check the shelf price.
Our pick: refill your own jug. It's the cheaper habit over time, because you aren't paying for the convenience of a pre-filled bottle. It also cuts single-use plastic: see what researchers found in bottled water. Exchange makes sense only if you don't want to clean jugs. If you refill, here's how to clean them.
Why prices differ
- Who runs the machine. Grocery chains tend to set one price for every store. Independent water stores set their own.
- What's in the water. Alkaline costs more. At Whole Foods, reverse osmosis and deionized are listed at $0.59 a gallon and alkaline at $1.29. Most reverse osmosis listings are $0.50 a gallon, and we see $0.20 to $1.00.
- Refill vs. exchange. You pay for convenience and a sealed jug with exchange.
How paying works
It depends on the machine. At Primo pay-at-kiosk machines, you pay right at the kiosk. At Primo (including Glacier machines) inside stores like Publix and Walmart, and at FreshPure machines inside Whole Foods and most Sprouts stores, you pay at the store checkout. Other outdoor machines often take cash, coins or cards right at the machine. If you can't see a price, ask at the front counter before you fill.
Ways to spend less
- Compare nearby stations. Listed prices for the same 5-gallon jug differ between chains. Your city page lists the stations near you.
- Bring your own clean jug. Refilling your own container avoids paying for a new jug or an exchange bottle. Clean it first: see how to clean and store your containers.
- Check the machine works before you fill. Machines do go out of order sometimes, so read recent reviews on the station's page first and know your next closest station.
- Pick the water you actually need. For plain filtered drinking water, reverse osmosis is the easiest to find, and most listings price it at $0.50 a gallon. Alkaline costs about twice as much at the same machine ($1.29 vs. $0.59 at Whole Foods), so pick it only if you really prefer the taste.
- Thinking about a home RO system instead? It can cost less than refilling if your household drinks about a gallon a day or more and you keep up with the filters. See is reverse osmosis worth it? for the break-even.
Would delivery be easier?
If carrying 40-pound jugs isn't for you, see water delivery options in your state, for example Colorado, Texas, Florida or California. Delivery prices depend on your ZIP code and provider, so check the quote before you sign up. Not sure which fits? Compare water stores, refill machines and delivery.
Find refill stations near you
- Denver, CO · Colorado Springs
- Austin, TX · Tampa, FL · Los Angeles, CA · Albuquerque, NM
- All cities · Primo Water machines
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