Are you looking to increase your water intake with a supply of clean and fresh water? If so, then a water cooler could be the answer! These can dispense both hot and cold water without the need for multiple plastic bottles. Plus, they're convenient to have in rooms without a sink or water fountain.
To help you find a water cooler that will meet your needs, we curated a list of the best options available. We chose the 3-Stage Point of Use Water Cooler by Brio as our favorite as it is bottle-less, contactless, Energy Star-approved, and it's ideal for the office. We have chosen another nine water coolers and have a buying guide to help you make your choice.
To choose our 10 best water coolers, we kept the following criteria in mind:
Keep these in mind as you look through our choices and for further information, check out our buying guide.
Image | ![]() Brio | ![]() Brio | ![]() Avalon | ![]() Avalon | ![]() Avalon | ![]() Avalon | ![]() Primo | ![]() Avalon | ![]() Costway | ![]() Costway |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | 3-Stage Point of Use Water Cooler | Top Loading Countertop Water Cooler Dispenser | Self Cleaning Bottleless Water Cooler Dispenser | Touchless Bottom Loading Water Cooler Dispenser | Water Dispenser | Bottleless Countertop Water Dispenser | Countertop Ceramic Water Dispenser | Bottom Loading Water Dispenser | 5 Gallon Water Dispenser | Water Dispenser with a Built-In Ice Maker |
Features | Best Water Cooler for the Office | Best Water Cooler for the Home | Best Bottleless Option | Best Contactless Cooler | Best Contactless Countertop Cooler | Best Bottleless Countertop Unit | Best Option for Portability | Best for Quick and Safe Water | Best Water Cooler Option With Storage | Best Ice Making Unit |
Price | $358.12 | $185.44 | $275.00 | $237.33 | $210.36 | $349.99 | $39.99 | $199.99 | $125.99 | $355.01 |
Type | Freestanding, bottleless | Countertop | Bottleless | Freestanding | Countertop | Countertop | Countertop | Freestanding | Freestanding | Freestanding |
Water capacity | Unlimited | 3 or 5 gallons | Unlimited | 3 or 5 gallons | 3 or 5 gallons | Unlimited | 3 or 5 gallons | 3 or 5 gallons | 3 or 5 gallons | 3 or 5 gallons |
Dimensions | 44.75 x 17.5 x 14.25 in. | 20.5 x 12 x 15.5 in. | 41 x 13 x 12 in. | 41 x 12 x 13 in. | 19 x 12 x 12 in. | 21 x 11 x 16 in. | 14.5 x 11.5 x 11.5 in. | 41 x 12 x 13 in. | 31.5 x 11.8 x 11 in. | 40 x 14 x 12 in. |
Loading | - | Top | - | Bottom | Top | - | Top | Bottom | Top | Top |
Temperatures | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Cleaning features | UV cleaning | - | Ozone cleaning | - | - | UV cleaning | Dishwasher-safe body | - | - | Removable drip tray |
Extra features | Energy Star-approved, adjustable temperature, child safety lock, nightlight, LED display | Energy Star-approved, child safety lock, removable drip tray | Energy Star-approved, leak detector, child safety lock | Energy Star-approved, nightlight, filter indicator | Energy Star approved, child safety lock | Energy Star-approved, child safety lock, additional filters | No electricity needed | Anti-microbial coating, Energy Star-approved, child safety lock | Storage, option to turn off cold or heat, child safety lock | Ice maker, child safety lock, warning light |
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We’ve searched the Internet to find the best water coolers available. We made our choices based on the points listed in the buying guide below, as well as reviewer comments when available.
$185.44
Type | Countertop |
---|---|
Water capacity | 3 or 5 gallons |
Dimensions | 20.5 x 12 x 15.5 in. |
Loading | Top |
Temperatures | 3 |
Cleaning features | - |
Extra features | Energy Star-approved, child safety lock, removable drip tray |
$358.12
Type | Freestanding, bottleless |
---|---|
Water capacity | Unlimited |
Dimensions | 44.75 x 17.5 x 14.25 in. |
Loading | - |
Temperatures | 3 |
Cleaning features | UV cleaning |
Extra features | Energy Star-approved, adjustable temperature, child safety lock, nightlight, LED display |
A5BLK
$275.00
Type | Bottleless |
---|---|
Water capacity | Unlimited |
Dimensions | 41 x 13 x 12 in. |
Loading | - |
Temperatures | 3 |
Cleaning features | Ozone cleaning |
Extra features | Energy Star-approved, leak detector, child safety lock |
A6
$237.33
Type | Freestanding |
---|---|
Water capacity | 3 or 5 gallons |
Dimensions | 41 x 12 x 13 in. |
Loading | Bottom |
Temperatures | 2 |
Cleaning features | - |
Extra features | Energy Star-approved, nightlight, filter indicator |
A1CTWTRCLRBLK
$210.36
Type | Countertop |
---|---|
Water capacity | 3 or 5 gallons |
Dimensions | 19 x 12 x 12 in. |
Loading | Top |
Temperatures | 2 |
Cleaning features | - |
Extra features | Energy Star approved, child safety lock |
A9-C
$349.99
Type | Countertop |
---|---|
Water capacity | Unlimited |
Dimensions | 21 x 11 x 16 in. |
Loading | - |
Temperatures | 3 |
Cleaning features | UV cleaning |
Extra features | Energy Star-approved, child safety lock, additional filters |
$39.99
Type | Countertop |
---|---|
Water capacity | 3 or 5 gallons |
Dimensions | 14.5 x 11.5 x 11.5 in. |
Loading | Top |
Temperatures | 1 |
Cleaning features | Dishwasher-safe body |
Extra features | No electricity needed |
A4
$199.99
Type | Freestanding |
---|---|
Water capacity | 3 or 5 gallons |
Dimensions | 41 x 12 x 13 in. |
Loading | Bottom |
Temperatures | 3 |
Cleaning features | - |
Extra features | Anti-microbial coating, Energy Star-approved, child safety lock |
$125.99
Type | Freestanding |
---|---|
Water capacity | 3 or 5 gallons |
Dimensions | 31.5 x 11.8 x 11 in. |
Loading | Top |
Temperatures | 2 |
Cleaning features | - |
Extra features | Storage, option to turn off cold or heat, child safety lock |
$355.01
Type | Freestanding |
---|---|
Water capacity | 3 or 5 gallons |
Dimensions | 40 x 14 x 12 in. |
Loading | Top |
Temperatures | 3 |
Cleaning features | Removable drip tray |
Extra features | Ice maker, child safety lock, warning light |
Before buying a water cooler, consider where the water is loaded, the water temperatures, and any safety features. To help you with this, we’ve put together this buying guide!
The stereotypical image of a water cooler is a free-standing unit in the corner of a room, but this isn't the only option available.
You can find water coolers with bottles that sit on a counter, but freestanding versions are the most common. Both types allow you to place the water cooler wherever you have space, as they don't need to be connected to a water main. Some of the higher-end models might need an electrical supply for their features, however, so keep that in mind.
When the water bottle runs out, you simply replace it with a new one. This does come with a cost, both financial and environmental, as you will need to pay for the new bottles and also dispose of the empty plastic bottle.
One option is to buy a subscription to a bottle replacement service, and this may be included with some higher-end models. This ensures that you always have replacement bottles and the old ones are disposed of correctly.
If you're likely to need a steady stream of water or don't want to deal with the hassle of changing water bottles, then you can also opt for a bottleless cooler. Instead of using bottles to provide the water, these coolers use exiting water lines to deliver all the water you need.
Bottleless coolers need to be installed and hooked into a water line, so you will be more limited when it comes to placement. However, once installed, you won't need to worry about running out of water or replacing heavy bottles. As no subscription to a bottle service is required, in the long run, bottleless coolers are often more cost-effective.
This type of cooler typically has filters installed to ensure that the water is clean and pure for drinking, and these will need changing. An advantage of bottleless coolers is that they are a completely sealed system, unlike coolers with bottles. The water or inner workings of a cooler with bottles can get exposed to the air when the bottle is changed.
If you don't have open floor space, consider a countertop model. These can be bottleless, but it's more common for them to use bottles, and they're compatible with standard three- to five-gallon bottles. They will give you the most freedom when it comes to placement, as they can be placed on any stable table or counter.
Countertop water coolers have the advantage of being flexible in their height, unlike freestanding ones. They will be as low or high as the counter they’re placed on, so you can choose a counter that you can reach easily. They're generally lighter and easier to move than freestanding coolers, too.
When it comes to water coolers that use water bottles, they can be loaded from either the top or the bottom. Although countertop water coolers are only top-loading, freestanding ones can be either.
Top-loading water coolers make it easy to tell when a new water bottle is needed since you can easily see the water level. However, these water bottles can hold three to five gallons of water, making them quite heavy and awkward to change.
A bottom-loading water cooler will take away the stress and strain of changing the bottle since it doesn’t require any heavy lifting. Water coolers that load at the bottom usually have the bottle hidden away behind a cabinet door, but they normally have an indicator light to tell you when the water bottle needs changing.
However, top-loading water coolers often have additional storage. Instead of shutting away the bottle in the cabinet, you can use this empty space in the base of the unit to store disposable cups, teabags, or instant coffee packets.
Water coolers often come with the ability to dispense water at different temperatures. Typically, they have two temperatures in separate taps: hot and ice cold. With hot water on tap, you can instantly make coffee or tea whenever you want!
Some water coolers will also give you a third option of cool water. This is closer to room temperature and is better for your digestion than cold water. However, some water coolers will only dispense truly room temperature water if the cold water is switched off.
In fact, it’s wise to buy one that allows you to turn off the temperatures when needed. If you don’t need hot or ice-cold water all of the time, then try turning them off to save energy. Look for water coolers with independent switches that turn off the temperature options without turning off the entire cooler.
We recommend looking for ones that are Energy Star approved. This is a program run by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy to highlight appliances that are energy-efficient. A water cooler that conforms with Energy Star will cost you less to run and lessen the environmental impact.
Also, if the water cooler is placed in an area accessible to children, make sure the hot tap has a safety feature or child lock. This will protect small hands from getting burned by hot water.
Some higher-end water coolers have a self-cleaning function. This will keep the water cooler sanitized during use, making it more hygienic. Many use an ozone feature, which regularly cleans the dispenser throughout the day to remove bacteria or germs. The ozone is generated by the cooler itself and will do this process automatically.
Another process uses hot water to sanitize the system. It turns off the cold water for a period and instead heats the water to just below boiling to kill any bacteria in the system. You can also find coolers that use UV-light to clean; however, make sure that these clean both the tank and tubes, as some will only clean the tank.
Another feature to look for is a removable drip tray. Drops of water will inevitably leak or be spilled as the water cooler is used, but a tray stops water from dripping onto the floor. If the tray is removable, you can easily empty and clean it as needed.
There are several other features you can look for that will make using a water cooler easier. Some water coolers with bottles have a light or digital display that will advise you if the water level is getting low and the bottle will need changing. You can find coolers with lights in the dispenser so you can more easily see how much water you're putting into your bottle or glass.
For freestanding models, you might want to check how tall the cooler is and where the dispenser is positioned. Many have the dispensers positioned at waist-level or below, which can be awkward to use for some. The tallest units are just over 40 inches, and if this seems too short, you may want to choose a countertop version instead.
Many coolers have buttons or taps to press to dispense the water, but others have paddles that can be pressed with your glass, reducing the amount of physical contact.
Some higher-end models might have sensors to automatically dispense the water when a glass is present. If you want to keep the cooler as contact-free as possible, a sensor or paddle is a good choice.
We have some more recommendations for products that will help you increase your daily water intake, whether you like it hot, icy cool, or bubbly!
If you're still looking for that perfect water cooler, then why not check out Amazon's bestsellers for some more ideas?
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