Filtered water does not have to cost a fortune: the right jug or cartridge set can deliver clean, great-tasting water for as little as £12.49, with no plumbing required. If you live in a hard-water area (roughly 60% of England), a filter that tackles limescale as well as chlorine will protect your kettle and improve every cup of tea you make.
What to look for
01Filter type: limescale vs. all-round purification
Not all filter cartridges do the same job. Standard activated-carbon filters (like the Brita MAXTRA PRO Pure Performance) reduce chlorine, PFAS, pesticides, and general impurities, making them a solid all-rounder for most UK tap water. Limescale-specialist cartridges (the MAXTRA PRO Limescale Expert range) use ion-exchange resin tuned specifically to soften hard water, which matters most if you live in the South East, East Anglia, or the Midlands, where water hardness regularly exceeds 300 mg/L. If your kettle builds up a white crust within weeks, choose a limescale-focused cartridge. If your water is already relatively soft (Scotland, Wales, much of the North West), a standard carbon filter is sufficient and often cheaper per litre filtered.
02Jug capacity and fridge fit
Most UK fridge doors have a shelf depth of around 100-120 mm, and standard filter jugs are designed to sit upright on a fridge shelf rather than in the door. The Brita Marella XL holds 3.5 L total (roughly 2.0 L filtered at a time), which suits a household of three or four people who get through two or three kettles a day. The Waterdrop Elfin at 2.5 L is more compact, fitting neatly on a 600 mm worktop without dominating the space. If you regularly fill a 1.7 L kettle twice before breakfast, a larger jug saves repeated refilling. Check the jug's overall height against your fridge shelf before buying.
03Cartridge lifespan and running cost
Most cartridges are rated for around four weeks or 100-150 L, whichever comes first. Buying in bulk cuts the per-cartridge cost significantly: the FilterLogic FL402H six-pack works out at roughly £2.08 per cartridge at £12.49, compared with individual Brita cartridges that can exceed £4.00 each. The Brita MAXTRA PRO Pure Performance 12-pack at £39.93 brings the per-cartridge cost to about £3.33, but covers a full year for a single-person household. NSF certification (as on the Waterdrop PT-05B) gives independent assurance that the filter performs as claimed, which is worth looking for if you have specific concerns about tap water quality.
04Compatibility: stick with your existing jug
If you already own a Brita jug, you do not need to replace the whole unit. The FilterLogic FL402H cartridges are explicitly compatible with Brita MAXTRA+ Plus jugs, and at £12.49 for six they are currently at their 90-day low price, making them the most cost-efficient refill option in this guide. Brita's own MAXTRA PRO cartridges fit all current Marella and similar MAXTRA-compatible jugs. Always check the cartridge format (MAXTRA vs. MAXTRA PRO vs. older MAXTRA) before ordering, as the shapes differ slightly and an incompatible cartridge will not seal correctly.
Our top picks
Best for budget-conscious Brita ownersFilterLogic FL402H | 6X Filter Cartridge
At £12.49 for six cartridges (their 90-day low price), the FilterLogic FL402H works out at roughly £2.08 per refill, undercutting Brita's own replacements by a meaningful margin. They are compatible with Brita MAXTRA+ Plus jugs, so you keep your existing hardware. A solid choice for anyone who filters two or three litres a day and wants to keep annual running costs as low as possible.
Best starter jug for a small householdBRITA Water Filter Jug MAXTRA Marella
The Brita Marella XL in blue holds 3.5 L and currently costs £19.99, down from a 90-day high of £19.99 but having touched £13.00 in the past three months. It ships with one MAXTRA PRO Pure Performance cartridge, reducing chlorine, PFAS, and limescale from day one. The jug's slim profile fits most standard 600 mm kitchen worktops without crowding your kettle.
Best for hard-water areas buying in bulkBRITA Water Filter Cartridge MAXTRA PRO
The Brita MAXTRA PRO Limescale Expert six-pack costs £23.40, down from a 90-day high of £25.99. Each cartridge is formulated specifically to combat the high mineral content common in South East England and the Midlands, where limescale can shorten kettle element life noticeably. Six cartridges covers roughly six months for a two-person household, making the per-cartridge cost around £3.90.
Best compact jug for worktop-tight kitchensWaterdrop PT-05B Elfin Water Filter Jug
The Waterdrop PT-05B Elfin holds 2.5 L and carries NSF certification, giving independent verification of its filtration claims. At £16.99 (with a 90-day low of £12.59), it is one of the more affordable complete-jug options here. Its smaller footprint suits a narrow 600 mm worktop or a compact fridge shelf, and the three-month cartridge lifespan means fewer replacement orders than monthly-change rivals.
Best annual cartridge supply for one personBRITA MAXTRA PRO Pure Performance Water
At £39.93 for 12 cartridges (roughly £3.33 each), the Brita MAXTRA PRO Pure Performance 12-pack covers a full year of filtering for a single-person household. Each cartridge reduces chlorine, PFAS, pesticides, and limescale, making it the most comprehensive all-round option in the Brita range. The price has held steady at its 90-day high, so watch for a dip before committing to the full pack.
Frequently asked
How often should I change my water filter cartridge in the UK?
Most cartridges, including the Brita MAXTRA PRO range, are rated for approximately four weeks or 100-150 L of filtered water. In a hard-water area, the ion-exchange resin saturates faster, so you may need to change closer to the four-week mark even if you have not reached the litre limit. A two-person household typically gets through one cartridge every four to five weeks. Buying a six- or 12-pack reduces the per-unit cost and means you always have a spare to hand.
Are third-party filter cartridges as good as Brita originals?
Third-party cartridges compatible with Brita MAXTRA+ Plus jugs, such as the FilterLogic FL402H, use similar activated carbon and ion-exchange media and are generally effective for everyday chlorine and taste improvement. Independent lab testing varies by brand, so look for NSF or equivalent certification if you have specific water-quality concerns. For PFAS or pesticide reduction, Brita's own MAXTRA PRO Pure Performance cartridges carry explicit claims for those contaminants that not all third-party options match.
Is a filter jug worth it if I already have a water softener?
A whole-house water softener removes limescale-causing calcium and magnesium, but it does not remove chlorine, PFAS, or pesticides. A filter jug with an activated-carbon cartridge (such as the Brita MAXTRA PRO Pure Performance) adds that second layer of purification for drinking and cooking water. If your softener already handles limescale, you can skip the Limescale Expert cartridges and choose a standard carbon filter, which is often slightly cheaper per pack.
What is the difference between MAXTRA and MAXTRA PRO cartridges?
MAXTRA PRO is Brita's current generation, replacing the older MAXTRA format. The PRO cartridges offer improved filtration for PFAS and pesticides compared with the original MAXTRA, and they come in two variants: Pure Performance (all-round) and Limescale Expert (targeted at hard-water areas). Both PRO formats fit the same MAXTRA-compatible jugs, including the Marella and Marella XL. If you have an older jug labelled MAXTRA (not MAXTRA+), check Brita's compatibility guide before ordering PRO cartridges.