REASONS TO BUY
Accepts multiple filter brands
Budget friendly
Spout cover
REASONS TO AVOID
No flip top
No PFAS or heavy metal certification
Not NSF certified for many serious contaminants
Leached some aluminum to our water
Amazon Basics 10-Cup Pitcher Review
A budget-friendly pitcher that delivers solid everyday filtration and great value, but falls short on serious contaminant removal
Credit: Matt Lighthart
By Sam Hill ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ December 5, 2025
Our Verdict
The Amazon Basics 10-Cup Pitcher is our Best Buy winner for Best Pitcher Over Time thanks to its low operating cost and solid contaminant removal. It's perfect for anyone who wants an affordable way to improve tap water taste without investing in a complex system. The pitcher accepts multiple filter brands, features a spout cover for hygiene, and is simple to fill and maintain. While it does a good job removing lead, uranium, and PFNA, it isn't NSF certified for many serious contaminants, and it leached small amounts of aluminum in testing. It may not be the strongest pitcher-style filter on the market but it's the best deal if you're looking for a cost-effective everyday filter.
Our Analysis and Test Results
What sets the Amazon Basics 10-Cup Pitcher apart from the pack is its combination of high capacity and budget-friendly design. At 10 cups, it reduces the need for constant refills, making it ideal for households that go through water quickly. Its compatibility with multiple filter brands adds flexibility when you're shopping for filter replacements, and the spout cover helps keep the water safe from absorbing any odd fridge odors. Lightweight and easy to handle, it's a practical option for kitchens that don't have space for under-sink systems.
It's not the perfect filter, but it does a serviceable job filtering common contaminants, especially for its price.
The Amazon Basics 10-Cup Pitcher is a practical and affordable option for those who want to improve the taste and quality of their water without a huge cost or maintenance commitment.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Critical Contaminant Removal
The pitcher performs well for the contaminants most users worry about, especially lead (97.2% removed), uranium (100% removed), and PFNA (84.88% removed). This makes it a solid choice for city water with low-to-moderate contamination levels.
It does have some limitations: it adds trace amounts of arsenic and aluminum in testing, and it's not NSF certified for many serious contaminants like fluoride or nitrates. We're not entirely sure how it added arsenic to our test samples, with our testing writing “It's just out of reach what I would consider the labs margin of error.” It was well below safe levels, but obviously a big red flag if you're looking for a filter that specifically deals with arsenic.
Overall, this pitcher provides peace of mind, but it's not a replacement for a full under-sink or RO system if you're targeting extreme water concerns.
The entire top comes off the pitcher when it's time to fill it up. This makes the process easier than options that have a small fill flap opening.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Heavy Metal and Trace Element Removal
This filter performed much better when it came to secondary contaminants and covers the most common heavy metals effectively. It removed barium, copper, vanadium, nickel, strontium, iron, and chromium at rates that should be sufficient for standard tap water.
There was some leaching of aluminum and very small amounts of silver, but none for other trace elements like cadmium, thallium, antimony, and cobalt. This makes it a reliable option for basic heavy metal removal without adding new contaminants, unless you're concerned about aluminum.
In our tap water samples, this filter added 2.3 times the amount of aluminum and our tester wrote, “If aluminum is a concern, stay away.”
Overall, this was one of the best pitcher-style filters we tested at handling secondary contaminants.
We checked contaminant levels before and after filtering the water. The Amazon Basics did an acceptable job, although some other filters produced higher-quality water.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Taste
We didn't do any internal taste test for this filter, but online research revealed that the filtered water is consistently reported as clean, crisp, and free from chlorine taste. Out of 229 taste-related reviews on Amazon, 196 were positive. Users consistently note that water tastes fresher and more refreshing compared to tap water, with some mentioning that chemical or metallic tastes were removed. While taste improvements aren't dramatic compared to high-end systems, this pitcher reliably delivers better-tasting water at a very low price.
Maintenance and Setup
Setup and maintenance are both very simple. The pitcher has a spout cover for hygiene and accepts multiple filter brands, making replacement convenient and flexible. Filters need to be swapped roughly every two months or after 40 gallons, which is typical for pitchers of this size. While it requires frequent filter changes, the process is straightforward: just wash the pitcher periodically and replace the cartridge. Overall, this pitcher is low-maintenance and approachable for anyone new to water filtration.
The drop-in filters are super easy to change and don't cost too much to replace, especially when you have the option to shop around.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Operating Cost
This is where the Amazon Basics 10-Cup Pitcher really shines. Replacement filters are inexpensive —roughly $13 for a 3-pack or $22 for a 6-pack — and annual costs are minimal compared to other pitchers or under-sink systems. Plus, you can shop around for the best deals because it accepts other filter brands. Our tester estimates that filters for the first year might cost you around $44.Over time, the cost savings add up, making it ideal for everyday use.
The filter on the Amazon Basics Pitcher doesn't produce the most pristine water, but it does help upgrade what comes out of your tap.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Should You Buy the Amazon Basics 10-Cup Pitcher?
If you want a simple, low-cost way to improve the taste and safety of your tap water, this pitcher is a solid choice. It's perfect for anyone who wants a budget-friendly option that's easy to fill and maintain, and it handles everyday contaminants like lead and PFNA well. However, it's not the best choice if you need serious filtration for health reasons.
If you just need a simple filter and want the best bang for your buck, this is the filter that will perform well while keeping money in your pocket.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
What Other Water Filters Should You Consider?
If you're looking for a pitcher-style filter and your budget isn't as tight, take a look at our Editor's Choice pick for Best Overall Pitcher: the Pur Plus 11-Cup Pitcher. Its performance dealing with critical contaminants blows the Amazon pitcher out of the water, and its dip in managing secondary contaminants is small. The cost is going to be a bit more in the longer term, but not a big enough jump to scare you away if you need more serious filtration. You may also want to give the Pur Plus Vertical Faucet a try if you aren't married to the pitcher-style filter. This filter is an easy add-on to your faucet and can deliver filtered water with the flip of a switch. This model got a higher Critical Contaminant Removal score than the Amazon Basics 10-Cup Pitcher — and it does away with the hassle of refilling your pitcher all the time. Some users report that the filter adds a bit too much bulk to their faucet, but our testers didn't mind too much.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Amazon Basics 10-Cup Pitcher versus top competing products:
—Sam Hill
You Might Also Like
