How much does a reverse osmosis system cost?
How much does a reverse osmosis system cost?
$300 – $950 under-sink RO system cost installed
$4,800 – $8,000 whole-house RO system cost installed
Reverse osmosis system cost
An under-sink reverse osmosis system costs $300 to $950 installed. A whole-house reverse osmosis system installation costs $4,800 to $8,000. Reverse osmosis system prices are $150 to $600 per unit on average. A Culligan RO system costs $1,050 to $1,700 installed. New RO filters cost $20 to $100.
| System type | Average cost installed |
|---|---|
| Portable / countertop RO system | $200 – $450 |
| Whole-house RO system | $4,800 – $8,000 |
| Under sink (with tank) | $300 – $700 |
| Under sink (tankless) | $450 – $950 |
| Large or commercial RO system | $1,800 – $9,500 |
*Cost data is from research and project costs reported by HomeGuide members.
Whole-house reverse osmosis system cost
A whole-house reverse osmosis system costs $4,800 to $8,000 installed, depending on the size. Whole-home reverse osmosis systems typically have a 150- to 500-gallon storage tank, plus a pump and the RO-filtration device. A whole-house system is a point-of-entry filter attaching to the water main.
| Unit size (gallons per day) | Average unit price | Total installed cost |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | $4,500 – $6,500 | $4,800 – $7,000 |
| 1,000 | $5,000 – $7,000 | $5,300 – $7,500 |
| 1,500 | $5,500 – $7,500 | $5,800 – $8,000 |
Under-sink reverse osmosis system cost
An under-sink reverse osmosis system costs $300 to $950 installed, depending on the type and size. This point-of-use model is the most popular RO type that connects to the kitchen faucet below the sink. Tankless models have higher capacities better suited for homes of 4+ people.
| System | Average unit price | Total installed cost |
|---|---|---|
| Tank (50 – 400 gallons per day) | $150 – $350 | $300 – $700 |
| Tankless (400 – 1,200 gallons per day) | $300 – $600 | $450 – $950 |
Large or commercial reverse osmosis system cost
A commercial reverse osmosis system costs $1,800 to $9,500 installed. These systems alone cost $1,500 to $8,000 for filtering up to 8,000 gallons per day. Industrial reverse-osmosis installation prices increase according to the number of pipes, faucets, and filtration stages needed.
RO system prices by brand
Reverse osmosis system prices are $150 to $600 per unit on average, depending on the brand. These prices include the system parts and connections only. Installation fees vary according to the system type and whether they drill through countertops.
| Brand | Material price only* |
|---|---|
| Culligan | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| GE Pro Elite | $150 – $230 |
| ISpring | $200 – $600 |
| EcoPure | $150 – $250 |
| Home Master | $200 – $600 |
| Express Water | $150 – $300 |
| Aquasana | $200 – $250 |
| Brondell | $250 – $450 |
| Whirlpool | $150 – $200 |
| Ero 375 | $700 – $900 |
*For residential countertop and under-sink RO models.
Culligan reverse osmosis system cost
A Culligan reverse osmosis system costs $1,050 to $1,700 installed for under-the-sink models. Renting a Culligan RO system costs $10 to $30 per month, including maintenance. Countertop tankless systems are available at lower prices. Only official Culligan dealers sell these systems.
Reverse osmosis system installation cost
Reverse osmosis system installation costs $150 to $500 for labor, depending on the system type, size, and installation complexity.
| Factor | Whole-house system cost | Under-sink system cost |
|---|---|---|
| RO system & materials | $4,500 – $7,500 | $150 – $600 |
| Labor cost to install | $300 – $500 | $150 – $350 |
| Total cost | $4,800 – $8,000 | $300 – $950 |
Cost factors for RO system installation include:
Labor rates – A plumber charges $45 to $150 per hour depending on the location and scope of work.
Water testing – DIY water-testing kits cost $10 to $30, while laboratory water testing costs $100 to $300.
Size & type – Large RO units are difficult to move and take longer to install than connecting a countertop system with no assembly required.
Drainage – A new drainpipe costs $300 to $800 installed. All RO system types must have a drain connection to pump out wastewater.
Electrical access – The cost to install a new electrical outlet is $150 to $350 for powering whole-house or commercial-sized RO filtration systems.
Brand – Certain manufacturers offer expensive systems with different water-flow rates, filter options, and higher-quality materials.
Construction work – Cutting countertops or building new faucet mounts raises installation costs.
Replacement costs – Removing an existing RO system costs $45 to $200 with disposal, depending on the unit size and location.
Pretreatment – A water softener costs $800 to $2,500 installed for pretreating very hard water before RO filtration.
Filtration stages – The number of filtration stages adds to the RO unit cost.
Remineralization – Attaching an extra remineralization filter adds essential nutrients back to RO water.
UV filter – Adding ultraviolet disinfection kills more bacteria and viruses.
Certifications – High-quality RO systems have National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certification.
Storage tank – Pressurized storage tanks increase material costs and ensure RO water is available on-demand for larger households.
Booster pump – Locations with low water pressure may need a booster pump.
Reverse osmosis filters cost
Reverse osmosis filters cost $20 to $100 for a point-of-use system under a sink. Reverse osmosis water filters for a whole-house system cost $150 to $250 each.
Install new filter replacement cartridges every 6 months to 1 year.
Reverse osmosis membranes need replacing every 2 to 5 years.
The frequency of filter changes depends on tap-water quality.
Systems with more than 3 stages need more filters.
Reverse osmosis water cost per gallon
Reverse osmosis water costs $0.03 to $0.10 per gallon from point-of-use systems, depending on local tap water rates. Most systems waste 4 to 5 gallons of water to produce 1 filtered gallon. Whole-house reverse osmosis systems waste up to 5 times less water.
Pros and cons of reverse osmosis
The following table shows the advantages and disadvantages of reverse osmosis:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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Reverse Osmosis FAQs
How much does a reverse osmosis system cost to maintain and operate?
Maintaining a reverse osmosis system costs $50 to $250 per year on average depending on the filter types. RO water filtration can increase water bills over time due to the water waste, unless that wastewater is reusable for other home applications.
Is reverse osmosis worth the cost?
Reverse osmosis is worth the cost because the system removes up to 99% of water contaminants and costs less than bottled water. People with private well water often use reverse osmosis systems because their water doesn’t go through a treatment facility.
What does a reverse osmosis system remove?
A reverse osmosis system removes metals, chemicals, bacteria, viruses, and excess minerals from tap water. Reverse osmosis alone eliminates most of the following substances:
| Chemicals | Heavy metals | Bacteria< | Minerals |
|---|---|---|---|
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Getting estimates and hiring RO installers
Before hiring a water treatment company near you:
Get detailed quotes from companies with 5+ years of experience.
Verify that they have licenses, bonds, and insurance.
Ask if they are WQA-certified professionals or have RO-specialist certifications.
Look at their online reviews from Google and HomeGuide.
Request a references list.
Collect copies of the written estimate, contract, and warranty before work begins.
Don’t automatically accept low quotes that may signal low-quality work.
Make your final payment only when the project is complete.
Questions to ask
How long have you been installing reverse osmosis systems?
Do you give free onsite estimates?
What are my installation options, and how much are they?
Does this system come with a manufacturer’s warranty?
Do you offer a labor warranty on your installation?
Will you test my water first to check if I need a pretreatment filter?
Which water-filtration system is best for my water supply?
Do you recommend UV treatment?
How many filters will my RO system have?
Can you install a reverse osmosis system I bought elsewhere?
Should I get a booster pump due to low water pressure?
How long will this installation take?
Will you have to add a new faucet to my countertop?
How much does it cost to maintain?
Do you offer a maintenance package?
How often should I change my filters and RO membrane?
Do you offer NSF-certified RO systems?