In this guide

Water Delivery Cost per Gallon

For water delivery, expect to pay around $1.20 to $5 per gallon of water. You pay a lower price for larger deliveries, but the water type also influences the cost. One of the main factors affecting your delivery cost is how much water you have delivered. Typically, water delivery services offer 3-gallon and 5-gallon bottles. Subscribers to these services choose the bottle size and how many bottles they want per delivery.

Bottled Water Delivery Cost by Type of Water

Bottled water delivery costs range from $5 to $15 for a 3-gallon bottle and $6 to $20 for a 5-gallon bottle. One of the benefits of having water delivered is that you choose which kind of water you want. Several options are available. Beyond that, it is largely a matter of preference and taste. Large families may need five or more 5-gallon jugs delivered per month, while a single person likely needs less. Most companies sell water in both 3-gallon and 5-gallon quantities. Most dispensers are designed to hold either.

Distilled Water Cost

Bottles of distilled water cost between $5 and $15. Distilled water is the most affordable option. It is made by boiling water into a vapor to remove impurities and contaminants and condensing it back into a separate container. The impurities remain in the first container, while the purified, distilled water enters the second. Several minerals can also be removed in this process, so distilled water does not have the same mineral content as mineral or spring water.

Mineral Water Cost

Bottles of mineral water range from $5 to $20 each, depending on the size and brand. Mineral water is sourced from a spring or well, and it contains constant amounts of minerals from the source, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron. The official regulations for mineral water state that it must contain at least 250 parts per million (ppm) of trace minerals. These minerals give mineral water brands unique tastes and health advantages.

Spring Water Cost

Bottled spring water costs between $5 and $20 delivered. Like mineral water, this water is sourced from a natural spring. It is bottled directly at the source, but there are no minimum mineral requirements for spring water, so the exact mineral content of spring water varies. Many consumers enjoy the pure and natural qualities of spring water.

Artesian Water Cost

Bottles of artesian water can be delivered to your door for $5 to $20 each. Artesian water is sourced from wells that tap into natural underground aquifers where the water level is above the aquifer’s top. While regular wells use a pump to draw the water up, artesian well water flows naturally up to the surface. This water is naturally filtered and, like spring water, contains different amounts of minerals and has different tastes.

Cost of Water Dispenser

On average, dispensers cost $3 to $39 to rent per month and $9 to $400 to buy, with prices changing based on advanced features such as hot water, child locks, and coffee makers. If you opt for a 3-gallon or 5-gallon jug of water, you need a way to dispense it. You can purchase your own dispenser or use one from the company. Some companies provide the dispenser free of charge once you establish a regular water schedule. Others charge a monthly fee. Dispensers primarily keep the water cold, but others come with many additions and enhancements like instant hot water, bottom-loading designs, child locks, and even built-in coffee makers.

Electric Water Dispenser Price

An electric water dispenser is not available for rental, but you can purchase it for between $9 and $16. This small device fits on top of your 3- to 5-gallon water bottle and pumps the water out. It is like a bottom-loading water dispenser, only it is much smaller and takes up less space. This small electric pump allows the water bottle to be portable, which is ideal if you will be away from home camping or traveling and don’t want to purchase individual water bottles or if you would like to save space in your home.

Cold Water Dispenser Price

Renting a cold water-only dispenser costs between $3 and $9 per month. The cost to buy it ranges between $25 and $100. These dispensers are great for the home or office. They keep you hydrated while dispensing only the amount of water you need, reducing the unnecessary use of the tap. These dispensers come in top and bottom load styles.

Hot and Cold Water Dispenser Price

Expect to pay between $10 and $15 for renting a hot and cold water dispenser and between $50 and $250 to purchase one. Hot and cold water dispensers are available as top load, bottom load, and bottleless dispensers. Such systems are great for keeping hydrated and preparing your favorite hot drinks such as tea and cocoa and even some foods such as soup or other instant meals. Some models only allow one heating temperature, while others allow you to adjust the heat up or down.

Childproof Water Dispenser

If you are interested in getting a childproof dispenser, you can expect to pay between $10 to $15 for a rental and $150 to $400 to purchase. Childproof water dispensers prevent children from being harmed by slipping on spilled water and minimizes burns caused by hot water coming from the spout. Some dispensers are built with buttons out of reach for small children. Others provide dispenser guards to prevent small children from using them.

Bottom-Loading Water Dispenser

If you want this type of water dispenser, rentals usually start between $10 and $18 a month. You can purchase one for $150 to $400. Some companies offer this choice of water dispenser because it is much easier to load. You won’t have to lift and flip heavy gallons of water. Instead, you can slide the jug into the bottom. Also, since the water jug is stored at the bottom in a cabinet, the water dispenser design looks cleaner and less bulky.

Water Dispenser and Coffee Maker

If you want to enjoy refreshing water along with the option of brewing coffee, renting such a machine will cost between $29 and $39, while the cost to purchase is between $150 and $400. With this machine, you can get a cup of cold or hot water or make a cup of coffee from a K-cup pod. It typically has a bottom loading feature to minimize lifting. In addition, the streamlined design allows you to enjoy many beverages in one, including tea.

Water Delivery Cost

Assuming a standard cooler rental, monthly costs are approximately $45, assuming an $18 rental fee, $6 delivery fee, and $7 per jug for spring water. A single person with a dispenser who uses three 5-gallon jugs of water may pay $21. These costs vary tremendously depending on the quantity, whether you rent a dispenser, frequency, company, and distance. It is common to have water delivered monthly. A family of four may go through five 5-gallon jugs during this time.

Water Delivery Cost by Brand

The cost of water delivery by brand can range from $5 to $15 for a 3-gallon bottle and $7 to $20 for a 5-gallon bottle. There are many water brands. These different brands offer different drinking experiences: some specialize in flavorful mineral water, others offer simple spring water, and some offer a full range of water types. Costs also vary from brand to brand, and some are much cheaper than others. The table below shows some popular water brands and average prices for their bottled water deliveries.

Sparkletts Water Delivery Cost

Sparkletts bottled water usually costs between $5 and $10. Sparkletts is a leading water provider in the Southwest, offering purified and spring water in a range of bottle sizes. This brand is known for its mineral content, containing magnesium sulfate, potassium bicarbonate, and potassium chloride. Spartletts delivers purified water, spring water, fluoridated water, distilled water, and artesian water.

Culligan Water Delivery Cost

Culligan bottled water ranges from $5 to $10 delivered per bottle, depending on the bottle size. This company is based in Rosemont, Illinois and sells its water around the globe. Culligan water is filtered through reverse osmosis to remove organic compounds, chemicals, and minerals. They deliver bottled water dispensers and bottle-free water dispensers. They are also known for their great customer service.

Cost of Poland Spring Water Delivery

Expect to pay between $5 and $10 per bottle for Poland Spring bottled water delivered to your home. This is one of the most popular water brands in America, based in Poland, Maine and a part of Nestlé. This brand specializes in 100% natural spring water sourced from springs around the state of Maine. They provide customers with the option of top- and bottom-loading dispensers. They also provide bottle-free hydration stations.

Alhambra Water Delivery Cost

Alhambra bottled water usually costs between $6 and $10 per bottle. This company is known for its variety, offering a wide range of water types, including purified, spring, artesian, and distilled. Based in Northern California, Alhambra provides water services throughout the United States. They provide home and office delivery of bottled and bottle-free water dispensers.

Primo Water Delivery Cost

Primo bottled water prices range from $6 to $10 delivered to your home, depending on the bottle size. They specialize in purified water filtered through reverse osmosis and enriched with minerals for more taste and health benefits. Primo prides itself on high-level water quality with little to no levels of lead, cyanide, mercury, arsenic, ethylbenzene, or fluoride. They offer traditional bottled water dispensers and bottom-loading dispensers.

Costco Water Delivery Cost

Costco water delivery costs between $6 and $12 per bottle. Costco does not produce its own water. Instead, it works with partner water delivery services around the U.S. to offer a range of water deliveries, including different brands like Poland Spring and Kirkland. The prices vary, with Costco members getting exclusive discounts.

Absopure Water Delivery Cost

Absopure bottled water ranges in price from $7 to $12 and is available in 3-gallon and 5-gallon bottles. This Midwest-based company has been around since 1908 and offers many water types, including distilled, purified, spring, and electrolyte. They deliver water coolers and dispensers to homes in the Midwest. They have been in business for over 100 years and offer customers natural spring water, purified drinking water, steam distilled drinking water, and Absopure plus electrolyte water.

Menehune Water Delivery Cost

Menehune bottled water costs between $7 and $12 per bottle. This company is based in Hawaii and was founded in 1985. They use pure Hawaiian water naturally filtered through the lava rock ground before being distilled and purified. Menehune provides bottled water coolers to homes and businesses in Hawaii. They offer traditional bottled water dispensers, hot and cold dispensers, and hand pump dispensers.

Arrowhead Water Delivery Cost

Arrowhead Water ranges from $7 to $12 per bottle. This brand is based in California and primarily sourced from the San Bernardino Mountains, along with other natural springs in locations like Colorado and Canada. Arrowhead spring water is known for its crisp taste and varied mineral content. They provide bottled water dispensers, both top and bottom load, to customers using ReadyFresh delivery service.

Mountain Valley Spring Water Delivery Cost

Mountain Valley bottled water costs between $10 and $20 per bottle on average. This is one of the more high-end spring water brands in the U.S., based in Hot Springs, Arkansas and founded in 1871. Mountain Spring Valley Water is distributed all over the U.S. in glass bottles and has won awards for its taste and health benefits. They deliver 2.5- and 5-gallon glass bottles of spring, sparkling, and sparkling essence water to homes using a distributor network.

Is Water Delivery Worth It?

Like any purchase, bottled water delivery services have pros and cons. Having bottled water delivered to your home is convenient. You can choose the amount of water and the method of serving to best fit your family’s needs. If your tap water is contaminated, undrinkable, or tastes bad, bottled water delivery services provide fresh water for cooking and drinking. This water meets rigorous testing standards. You also have many more options for where your water comes from and how it has been treated.

Bottled water delivery services are more costly than filtering at home. They also use more plastics, particularly the single-serving delivery service. If you use a dispenser that keeps the water cold or hot, you need to pay for the energy it uses. If you opt for a dispenser that only gives you water, it will be room temperature unless you heat or cool it. Water delivery services can sometimes be interrupted by things like inclement weather. If you use more water than anticipated, you may need to pay a premium to deliver extra water.

Many homeowners who want to save money or opt for more eco-friendly alternatives may consider having a water purification system installed. A water purification system costs between $500 and $2,500 on average, but it can last for many years and helps purify and clean the water flowing through your home. These systems remove bacteria, sediment, excess minerals, and organic compounds, and unlike bottled water, you do not need to worry about running out.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Bottleless Water Dispenser

Bottleless water dispensers, also known as bottleless water coolers, start at around $300. If you want purified water in your home but do not want to deal with plastic or jugs, you can purchase bottleless dispensers that filter water with no jugs. These are much more environmentally friendly choices because these dispensers don’t need plastic bottles to operate. You also don’t have to worry about water delivery interruptions, nor do you have to worry about where to store large water jugs.