Top 15 Best Water Test Kits
When you buy through our links, The Breslin may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Where are the old days when drinking water immediately out of the tap was possible without even worrying about getting sick? Truth is, it doesn’t matter how you are using the water.
So, regardless if you are doing laundry, swimming, having a nice bath at the weekend, or drinking it, you will always be exposed to the risk of infection due to harmful bacteria.
Luckily, there are easy ways to prevent yourself from getting sick, as you can have a professional water test kit at home. With this equipment, you can check anytime if the tap water you are using is good or not.
Therefore, you can find different types of professional water testing, from the digital well water tester to the classic ones. To help you narrow all these models down, I have selected for today the best well water test kits on the market.
Furthermore, I have also compiled a buyer’s guide for you to learn more about each product and how it works. As such, if you want to start knowing what you drink and the quality of your water, bear with me a little longer and read on.
Types of Home Water Test Kits
When talking about the home water testing kits for drinking water, there are actually three types of analysis kits available. Let’s group them and set up as follow:
Color Disk Kits
You can use it for testing the best drinking water for a wide selection of chemicals. In case you want to test the water, you just need to add some drops of water with the special powder into the plastic tube you receive.
Make sure you put the tube into a plastic viewing box with color gradients on it. In order to find which is the correct part that matches the color of the sample, you will need to rotate the color disk. As such, the patch will show which chemicals are present in the water.
There is still one downside here, as these kits can be very complicated to use and need a long waiting time. However, they are maybe some of the most accurate water test kits.
Hand-Held Digital Instruments
If you are looking for the real accurate water test reading, you should consider this one without a doubt. This drinking water quality testing method is portable and, as such, more expensive than others.
Now, if I don’t have a certified water testing lab near you, you can take this digital tool with batteries and then require calibration.
Test Strips
Price can be a problem when buying a water test kit. The most affordable ones are the test strips, although they are not the most accurate ones. If you want to check the impurities and chemicals, you need to place this strip into the water sample, then swish it around.
You can also hold the strip in your hand, then dip it into the water supply. Once you buy this kit, you will get a few different strips in the packet, while each one is designed to test very specific contaminants that are present into the water.
What is The Best Water Tests Kit?
Here is a short overview of the most important products from the list.
- Best Overall: Test Assured Water Test Kit
“Very fast and accurate results that will ensure you that the water you drink is safe for you and your family.” - Best Budget: Hach Company Water Test Kit
“This is maybe the most affordable water test kit on the market. Anyone can afford it and it offers great results.” - Best Portable Model: Hot Spring Portable Spas Water Test Kit
“Easy to read and carry around, these portable water test kits will make life easier for people who need to test the water sources from multiple locations.” - Best for pH Testing: Varify Water Test Kit
“The pH of the water is a very important factor that is often disregarded. This model has all EPA standards for ph testing and offers accurate results.” - Best Quality: Drinking Water Specialists LLC Water Test Kit
“Professional grade results come only from the best sources and this model guarantees laboratory results quality with no need for a specialist to come to you.” - Best for Tap Water: Health Metric Water Test Kit
“Drinking tap water is not always safe. With this kit not only you know what you are drinking but you also reduce the plastic waste from the bought bottles.” - Best for Wells: Watersafe Water Test Kit
“The water from the well is a great source if you can have one. For safe use, this kit will tell you everything there is to know about your well.” - Best Digital Model: HoneForest Water Test Kit
“For people who prefer modern technology, this water kit will show you the results on a digital screen. The results are fast and accurate.”
Water Tests Kits Comparison Chart
Have a look at this chart, as it is a great opportunity for comparing the items I have selected today.
Top 15 Best Water Tests Kits Reviews
Now that you have read an introduction on what are the water test kits, let’s start the comprehensive reviews on each of the products selected for today. Here you will find the pros, cons, as well as my personal experience with these items.
1. Test Assured Water Test Kit
(Best Overall)
This Test Assured Complete Water Analysis allows anyone to accurately and quickly test the drinking water from their home. The best part?
This water test kit works on any type of water, from the city or municipal water, to tap, residential drinking water, well water, as well as sources that come directly from springs.
Moreover, the results are quick. This means that it takes a few minutes to know if your water is good for drinking or not.
Key Features
- No lab testing needed
- Quick results
- EPA standard
Pros
- 10 tests in one, for different types of contaminants
- Made in the USA, best quality assured
- Calibrated to the EPA standard
Cons
- Need to purchase additional kits to re-run the tests
Product Specifications
| Product Dimensions | 8.1 x 1.7 x 5 inches |
| Weight | 1.6 oz |
| Time needed | 10 minutes |
| Brand | Test Assured |
Personal Experience
One of the great parts of this water test is that the results come very fast. Moreover, you spend a little money, instead of sending the water to an expensive laboratory.
As such, the water test kit from Test Assured can easily be used at home, at school, maybe in the classroom, wherever you need to test the water for your own health safety.
2. Hach Company Water Test Kit
(Best Price)
Some of you might think they cannot afford a water test kit for home, but luckily, some producers have made really affordable kits. The Hach Company offers the best price for its water test kit, which can easily detect the water hardness.
Moreover, you can see the level of trivalent metals, and the concentration of many other contaminants in your water.
Key Features
- Tests strips
- Fast
Pros
- Contains 50 strips
- Detects the hardness of water
- Great for detecting the trivalent metals
- A perfect range of accuracy
Cons
- Might be hard to read the results
Product Specifications
| Weight | 0.64 oz |
| Type | Strips |
| Time needed | Few minutes |
| Brand | Hach Company |
Personal Experience
Don’t worry about the expiry date of these water tests, as they can work perfectly for approximately 3 years from the date of manufacturing.
It is true, the testing material might oxidize with time, and lose accuracy, this is why it is indicated to use them as soon as possible.
3. Hot Spring Portable Spas Water Test Kit
(Best Portable Model)
One of the top models in our list, this Hot Spring Portable Spas Water Test Kit will help you maintain your data about the tap water. It is great for portable missions, such as the odor-free spa water.
You can test TBr, or Total Bromine, Chlorine Alk, Alkalinity pH Hard, as well as the hardness of the water. Now, all you need to do is to immerse the strip, swirl it 3 times, then remove it with pads face up. Then you can start comparing against the chart you received on the bottle.
Key Features
- Very fast
- Easy to use
Pros
- Great accuracy
- Great value for money
- Easy to read
Cons
- More expensive than other tests
Product Specifications
| Product Dimensions | 4.7 x 1.5 x 0.6 inches |
| Weight | 2.08 oz |
| Time needed | Less than a minute |
| Type | Strips |
| Brand | Hot Spring Portable Spas |
Personal Experience
If you want some strips to use directly in the water, then choose these ones. After just seconds, you need to pull the strip out of the water, tap everything just once, then read the results immediately.
The strips will be easy to compare to the color grid on the bottle you get. Moreover, the reading for pH accords nicely with the bottled-liquid tests.
Here is how this test works in a short video:
4. Varify Water Test Kit
(Best for pH Testing)
The EPA approved water testing kits are a must, as they are really quality products, designed for testing low-quality water. Moreover, they will give you accurate results regarding the drinking water you are using daily.
All these tests are EPA approved, therefore, you can be sure they are all safe.
Key Features
- Simple
- Accurate
Pros
- You get the complete test, for the widest array of parameters on the market
- Supports charity, 5% of all sales
- You get live customer support
- 17 parameter kit covers all the main contaminants
Cons
- The results are not as reliable as from other tests
Product Specifications
| Product Dimensions | 5.1 x 5.9 x 2.4 inches |
| Weight | 6.4 oz |
| Time needed | 2 minutes |
| EPA Standard | Yes |
| Brand | Varify |
Personal Experience
What I mostly like about this test kit is its capacity of testing the pH from the water. People usually look into tests for bacteria and forget how important pH really is. So, if you care about your skin, then this is definitely a model you should look into.
5. Drinking Water Specialists LLC Water Test Kit
(Best Quality)
If you have never tested the water you are drinking, then you should do it. The Drinking Water Specialist LLC Water Test Kit can lab more than 170 contaminants, including essential elements, heavy metals, or any other inorganic chemicals.
Also, you can make a self-test for 8 pathogenic bacteria, including here E-coli and Total Coliform.
Key Features
- Professional results
- Easy to use
Pros
- Water testing performed by professional Lab Technicians
- 81 essential elements, inorganic chemicals, and heavy metals
- Test for over 170 contaminants, including 85 volatile organic compounds
- Shipping is included
Cons
- One of the most expensive ones
Product Specifications
| Product Dimensions | 6 x 4 x 4 inches |
| Weight | 8 oz |
| Time needed | 6-10 days |
| EPA Standards | Yes |
| Brand | Drinking Water Specialists LLC |
Personal Experience
If you want to go for professional water testing, this one is one of the most accurate ones. The producer has been testing water for almost 30 years, so you can be sure that you will purchase the best quality test.
Now, you simply need to fill the bottles with the tap water, then return them to the lab, using the same box you received.
6. Health Metric Water Test Kit
(Best for Tap Water)
The Health Metric Water Test Kit is a professional grade water test kit for home. You don’t need a science degree or a lab for owning a water testing kit for fluoride. This product comes with included tests for water that are simple enough for anyone to use at their home.
Moreover, the results will be ready within a few minutes, which means fast and reliable results. After this, you just have to compare the obtained results to the color-coded card.
Key Features
- Simple to use
- Accurate
Pros
- A simple, accurate and low-cost way of testing the water
- Made in the USA in line with EPA limits
- Simple to use for anyone
- Simple to read
Cons
- Does not test salinity, H Pylori or benzine presence.
Product Specifications
| Product Dimensions | 2.5 x 5.8 x 4.3 inches |
| Size | 3.2 oz |
| Time needed | 2 minutes |
| EPA Standards | Yes |
| Brand | Health Metric |
Personal Experience
If you are interested in the official EPA recommended levels, consider this water testing kit. This easy to use the product will make the results reliable, very easy to compare and act upon.
The test is ideal for screening all your drinking water, whatever is the source of it. The best part? You will pay just a fraction of the cost of a lab.
Test the quality of the drinking water like in the video:
7. Watersafe Water Test Kit
(Best for Wells)
You will notice when looking at this product that there is a whole team of water quality experts behind this product. They did the best so everyone can know everything about the water they are drinking.
Key Features
- Easy to use
- Very sensitive
Pros
- Easy to use the kit
- You get everything you need for testing the water
- EPA-certified laboratory to detect lead in drinking water
- 25-years trusted brand
- Made in the USA
- Detects chemicals that are odorless and colorless
Cons
- You need to ask the seller for a warranty
Product Specifications
| Product Dimensions | 7.9 x 4.3 x 1.6 inches |
| Size | 2.4 oz |
| Time needed | 10 minutes |
| Brand | Watersafe |
Personal Experience
The EPA standards recommend testing the drinking water at least once a year, so water emergencies should concern everyone. Named the World’s Most Sensitive Lead Test, this rapid kit will detect any minuscule contaminants into the drinking water.
Made respecting the EPA standards, this kit is also very comforting to use. You will test the 10 most common contaminants, such as chlorine, pesticides or lead.
8. HoneForest Water Test Kit
(Best Digital Model)
This drinking water test kit is an amazing one. Very accurate, easy to use and reliable, the Honeforest Water Quality Tester will easily detect the most popular contaminants in the water.
The technology combines TDS Meter, EC Meter, and last but not least, Temperature meter in just one ergonomically designed pen. It works all digital, so you get the result in a few seconds.
Key Features
- Accurate
- LCD screen
Pros
- Reliable
- Easy and instantly results
- Multifunctional and upgraded
- Multipurpose TDS tester
- 3 years warranty
- A handy tool for every household
- Great for testing filtered water, tap water, bottled water and so on
Cons
- Does not test pH
Product Specifications
| Product Dimensions | 6.7 x 1.6 x 1.2 inches |
| Weight | 2.4 oz |
| Type | Digital |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Brand | HoneForest |
Personal Experience
This is one of the most advanced digital water test kits for homes. If you are looking for using the easiest tool for testing the tap water, you should look for this digital pen.
One of the many features that need to be mentioned are the automatic temperature compensation, backlit LCD for easy reading, auto-lock function, hold function, no need for calibration by the user, colorful TDS and protective carrying case, easy to carry.
9. Baldwin Meadows Water Test Kit
(Best for Home)
If you haven’t known so far, Baldwin Meadows has produced one of the best ways to do water tests. Very easy to use, this is a kit that can be used at home, with 10-in-1 water testing strips to help you determine the quality of your water.
Key Features
- 10 parameters
- Improved sensibility
- Instant
Pros
- 10 parameters in 1 strip
- Easy and instant results
- Easy to read color chart
- EPA maximum contaminant levels
- Perfect for classroom and school science projects
- Accurate
- No lab testing required
Cons
- It does not test for E Coli
Product Specifications
| Product Dimensions | 5.7 x 2.1 x 2.1 inches |
| Weight | 3.2 oz |
| Time needed | 1 minute |
| Type | Strips |
| Brand | Baldwin Meadows |
Personal Experience
Those who are looking for the best water test kit for an aquarium and many other applications, they should give a try to Baldwin Meadows.
Due to the fact that water contains very harmful contaminants, it’s always good to have a test kit in your home.
10. API Water Test Kit
(Best for Koi Pond)
Water treatments are very important, as you wouldn’t want your beloved fish to get ill. Therefore, you must invest in the best water test kit for an aquarium. As you might know, water flows out of a natural pond, taking the fish and many other toxins with it.
For these reasons, you might need to make lots of water treatments, in order to keep the safest water conditions. How would you know if the aquarium water is contaminated? Using the API Water Test Kit.
Key Features
- Easy to use
Pros
- Complete test
- Perfect for testing tap water and pond water
- Test for pH, ammonia, and nitrite phosphorous
- 4 test tubes
- Color cards
- Holding tray for testing bottles
- Complete kit for testing tap water
Cons
- The package is not storage-friendly
Product Specifications
| Product Dimensions | 5.2 x 3.7 x 6.9 inches |
| Size | 4 oz |
| Time needed | 5 minutes |
| Brand | API |
Personal Experience
As long as you will constantly test the water from the aquarium or pond, and follow the specific steps for clearing it, you will enjoy the water fauna much more. This complete kit will help you out.
11. SJ WAVE Water Test Kit
(Best for Pool)
If you have a pool, you must know that water can get contaminated very easily, as it dissolves many minerals, chemicals, and foreign substances. These bacteria can easily be detected with a good water test kit.
This SJ Wave Water Test Kit is easy to use and the results are immediate.
Key Features
- Separate package
- Fast
Pros
- Complete kit
- Reliable and fast results
- Multiple-use
- Detects even low levels of impurities
Cons
- Harder to read the results
Product Specifications
| Product Dimensions | 7.3 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches |
| Weight | 5.4 oz |
| Type | Strips |
| Time needed | 2 minutes |
| Brand | SJ WAVE |
Personal Experience
Carry bacteria in the pool water can cause lots of harm, therefore, if you want to stay safe and healthy, make sure you check it constantly. Use the SJ Wave Kit to have the best results.
12. Poolmaster Water Test Kit
(Best for Spa)
Are you sure that the water in your spa pool is all clear? If you want your kids to be safe while playing in the pool, then make sure you test the water often. The accurate scales from Poolmaster Water Test Kits are easy to use and they offer the results immediately.
Key Features
- Sealable bags
- Testing tube
Pros
- Five testing options
- Drop-testing easy to make
- Tests for Chlorine, Bromine, pH, Acid Demand and Total Alkalinity
Cons
- Not printed on the block
Product Specifications
| Product Dimensions | 7.4 x 4.9 x 4.4 inches |
| Weight | 15.4 oz |
| Type | Strips |
| Time needed | 2 minutes |
| FDA approved | Yes |
| Brand | Poolmaster |
Personal Experience
If you want to maintain the proper water chemistry, look for this easy to make water test kit. The drop-testing is easy, as all the instructions are included, just step by step. You will also have a quick-reference guide, so you can read the results in seconds.
13. Safe Home Water Test Kit
(Best for Bacteria)
Looking for a premium version for the water test? The Safe Home contains a comprehensive test to allow you to realize what you are actually drinking. Great for more than 50 contaminants, this test is safe and easy to use.
Key Features
- Lab quality results
- Easy to use
Pros
- EPA certified laboratory testing
- No additional cost for shipping the results to the laboratory
- Good housekeeping seal
- On-time results
Cons
- Need to send it to the laboratory
Product Specifications
| Product Dimensions | 8 x 2 x 6 inches |
| Size | 3.2 oz |
| Time needed | Few minutes |
| Brand | Safe Home |
Personal Experience
Despite all the products presented until now, this water kit test needs you to send the results to their laboratory. Regardless of this little minus, you will have accurate results, and know if the water you are daily drinking can be harmful.
14. Taylor Technologies Inc. Water Test Kit
(Best for Hot Tub)
The Taylor Technologies Water test kit offers high range results. It is great for testing tap water, as well as pool and spa water, which are really important responsibilities for you. These precise results will be essential for you.
Key Features
- Reagent bottles
Pros
- Comprehensive routine testing
- Printed color standards
- Accurate color match
- Six different standards for chlorine
- Complete kit of nine tests for thorough testing
Cons
- Might look too complicated for some
Product Specifications
| Product Dimensions | 9 x 5.5 x 4 inches |
| Size | 1.98 oz |
| Time needed | Few minutes |
| Brand | Taylor Technologies Inc. |
Personal Experience
Precise results are very important when it comes to the water you drink. Detecting bacteria is very important, so this water test kit will be enough comprehensive for you to understand the quality of your water.
15. API Freshwater Test Kit
(Best for Salt)
In order to be safe to drink, water needs to be as natural as in the original environment. Poor water quality can truly damage your health, this is why it is very important to test it regularly. The API Freshwater Test Kit will detect Nitrite, Nitrates, Ammonia, as well as pH.
Key Features
- Testing bottles
- Glass tubes
Pros
- Great for testing a variety of water mediums
- 7 bottles of testing solutions
- Helps monitor 5 most vital water parameters
- Accurate results
- Designed for use in a freshwater aquarium
- Great for weekly monitoring
Cons
- Read the instructions before carefully
Product Specifications
| Product Dimensions | 9.1 x 3.5 x 4.6 inches |
| Size | 1.2 oz |
| Time needed | 10 minutes |
| Brand | API |
Personal Experience
The test strips were very easy to use, and detecting the color is possible for anyone. The wide range of API testing options will help you find the most popular bacterias in the tap water.
Buying Guides
Before purchasing a water test kit, it is important to understand that these products may vary widely in terms of their features and what they offer.
As such, there are different kits created for testing the many types of water. Surely, some are more accurate than others, and you can see this in the product reviews we have made.
So, here are the key points you need to look for when it comes for a complete water analysis.
The Water Source
The water testing kits are specially created for testing different water sources. This is why you need to check all the specifications of the testing kit. As such, make sure that the test kit is specifically designed for the type of water you want to test.
In case you have well water, you are likely to choose a type of kit that has been designed for well water. However, there are some kits that come with different types of test tubes in the package, so you can test several types of water right at the same time.
Testing Procedures
Testing at home is way easier than sending the tests to a laboratory. Therefore, you might prefer a kit that you don’t need to be sent away. However, keep in mind that the laboratory results might be more accurate.
The Contaminants
There are test kits designed for a great number of contaminants, while others will be limited to only a few bacterias. Consider these criteria, and take your time to work out which of the contaminants you want to always test. Search for a kit that has as many detectable types of bacteria as it can.
Accuracy of Results
Make sure the results that you get are especially accurate. Now, of course, all the water test kits claim they do this and provide accurate results. One of the best ways to make sure you get a great product is by reading customer reviews.
Ease of Use
As long as you are testing the water all by yourself, you have to make sure that the water test is easy to use. This is particularly very important if you never used any water test kit before. Also, you should have a clear set of instructions that are easy to follow.
Benefits of Using a Water Test Kit
If you are still not sure about purchasing a water test kit, here are some benefits you should be aware of:
- Comfortable to use at home, and you do not need to spend lots of money by sending the water to a laboratory
- You can use the water test kit to detect lots of contaminants to prevent you, as well as the rest of the family from getting any illness
- Once you know the water is contaminated, you can start preventing from using it at cooking or any other habits that might harm you
- Great help on fixing plumbing and many other fixtures in the home. Once detecting the many other impurities that are present in the water, buy a water purification system. It will clean the water, and make the appliances last longer.
This way, you will save a lot of the cost on the breaking devices.
FAQs
Usually people have tons of questions about water tests kits. I have gathered the most popular ones and answered them. However, if you need some extra information, don’t forget there is a comment section below.
Final Thoughts and Personal Experience
Hopefully, the top I have made and the water kit reviews from today have helped you in finding the most suitable one to check your tap water for the many contaminants.
Of course, it all depends on the budget you have, as well as the needs of your family. Once you determine which of these items works best for you and want to purify the water, make sure you look at these 15 best water tests.
I recommend each and every one of them, but my top recommendation remains Test Assured Water Test Kit. If you feel differently or have any questions, please feel free to use the comment section below.
Lastly, when you discover any contaminants, consider buying some hard water softener systems, such as filtered bottles or refrigerator filter bottles.
