Updated November 13, 2026
Whole-house water filter cost
A whole-house carbon filter typically costs $850 to $1,400 installed, plus about $150 to $250 a year in replacement media. It improves taste and removes chlorine, but it is not a softener.
| System | Installed cost | Yearly cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole-house carbon / sediment | $850 – $1,400 | $150 – $250 | Chlorine taste, sediment |
| Catalytic carbon | Higher than standard carbon | Varies | Chloramine (used by Omaha MUD and Lincoln) |
| Under-sink reverse osmosis | $300 – $950 | $20 – $100 | Drinking water: nitrate, many dissolved solids |
| Whole-house reverse osmosis | $4,800 – $8,000 | Varies | Rarely needed for city water |
Do you need a filter, a softener, or both?
- Scale, spots, dry skin: softener.
- Chlorine or chloramine taste and smell: carbon (catalytic carbon for chloramine).
- Nitrate or worries about specific contaminants: reverse osmosis at the kitchen tap. Look for NSF/ANSI 58 certification.
Many homes pair a softener with an under-sink RO system for drinking water.
Sources: HomeGuide; This Old House.
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