The Best Water Test Kits Tested in 2024

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about The Best Water Test Kits Tested in 2024 and hope the blog can help you.

Ensure your home’s water is clean and safe to use with the best water test kit.

Certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in water can wreak havoc on your health and home appliances if they aren’t detected and eliminated. That’s why we researched more than 30 home water test kits, narrowed our options down, and tested each one.

Choosing the best option depends on the water source and the contaminants that may be present, so our list includes products with a variety of features and best uses. Continue reading to find out how we chose and tested them, the test results, and which one might be the best water test kit for your situation.

1. BEST OVERALL: Safe Home Ultimate Drinking Water Test Kit
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: JNW Direct Drinking Water Test Kit
3. BEST FOR HOME: Tap Score Advanced Water Test Kit
4. BEST FOR DRINKING WATER: Varify Complete Drinking Water Test Kit
5. BEST FOR WELL WATER: Health Metric 8-in-1 Well Water Test Kit
6. BEST FOR POOL WATER: JNW Direct Pool and Spa Test Strips
7. BEST FOR SALTWATER POOLS: Taylor K-2005-SALT Complete Water Test Kit
8. BEST FOR WATER HARDNESS: JNW Direct Water Hardness Test Strips
9. ALSO CONSIDER: Health Metric Tap and Well Drinking Water Test Kit 

How We Tested the Best Water Test Kits 

Ensuring that tap, well, pool, and spa water is clean and uncontaminated is easy with the right testing kit. The best water testing kit choices depend on the testing type, water source compatibility, the number of tests included per kit, how many and which types of contaminants can be detected, and how quickly results are processed. The kits we tested included fast-acting DIY test strips and sampling kits for lab testing.

All of the kits in this guide delivered matching results, either numerical values within a 3 percent margin of error or a color code range corresponding to numerical lab test results. For the lab kits, we simply sealed our water samples in containers and shipped them out for professional analysis. The results were available within 3 weeks. We compared the results from those tests to one another and used them as benchmarks to gauge the accuracy of our DIY test kits.

Most of the water testing kits we tested use color-coded strips to detect contaminants. We dipped the strip into our water sample and waited a few seconds for the reaction to occur. Then we compared the color squares on the strip with the corresponding test keys to find out how much lead, fluoride, iron, copper, mercury, chlorine, nitrite, nitrate, pH, total alkalinity, hardness, aluminum, sulfate, zinc, manganese, or bacteria might be in the water.

Our Top Picks

If you’re searching for a reliable water test kit, we can help. We tested some of the best water test kits across a variety of categories. To help you make an informed choice, we’re sharing the testing parameters and best-use scenarios for each product and detailing our experience working with them.

Best Overall

Safe Home Ultimate Drinking Water Test Kit

Anyone in need of a detailed drinking water analysis with the broadest range of testing parameters will want to consider the Safe Home Ultimate drinking water test kit. You send in the samples, and professional lab technicians do the rest.

A lab certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tests Safe Home water samples for 200 water-quality parameters, including 12 physical properties, seven types of inorganics, 31 metals, 20 pesticides and herbicides, 78 volatile organics, five trihalomethanes (or TTHMs), and 47 volatile tentatively identified compounds (or TICs). The lab testing fee is included with purchase, and results are available within 7 to 10 business days. The company’s e-learning center covers over 200 pages worth of tips for keeping water clean and identifying any contaminants that may be polluting water.

This test kit was bulky and expensive but very easy to use and provided incredibly detailed information. We simply filled the enclosed vials with our samples, sealed the box, and shipped it to the lab. We accessed our digitally available results in just under 2 weeks and received a hard copy about a week later. The results themselves were highly detailed and included links to help us learn more about specific contaminants. There was a bit of technical language to navigate, but the links and customer support were helpful.

Read our full review: Safe Home Ultimate Drinking Water Test KitProduct Specs 

• Type: Vials/lab testing
• Parameters tested: 12 physical properties including alkalinity, hardness, pH, and 188 contaminants including inorganics, organics, metals, pesticides, herbicides, TTHMs, and TICs
• Compatible water type: All water sources

Pros

• Tested in an EPA-certified laboratory for accuracy; only takes 7 to 10 business days for results
• Comprehensive testing for more than 200 water-quality parameters
• Purchase gives users access to 200 pages of water management tips and contaminants to avoid

Cons

• Some users may find technical language in the results a little hard to follow
• Most expensive option on this list (though it was also the most detailed)

Get the Safe Home water test kit at Amazon or Safe Home. 

Best Bang For The Buck

JNW Direct Drinking Water Test Kit

For a basic water test kit that doesn’t break the bank, look no further than JNW Direct’s drinking water test kit. It comes with 100 test strips that check for 15 parameters: iron, copper, lead, fluoride, pH, cyanuric acid, total alkalinity, residual chlorine, total chlorine, bromine, ammonium chloride, total hardness, carbonate, nitrate, and nitrite. The ideal EPA standards for each parameter are marked directly on the bottle for quick and easy reference.

JNW Direct also offers a mobile app to track and monitor the results of water tests and includes an e-book that provides ideas about how to improve the quality of drinking water. The main drawback is this kit doesn’t directly test for bacteria; however, it does test for nitrates and nitrites, which are clues to a bacterial presence.

The JNW Direct test strips were inexpensive, easy to use, and gave us a quick, clear indication of the various contaminant levels. Although the color-coded strip offers less detail than a lab test, we found that it closely aligned with the lab test results. Like other chemical test strips, the colors are susceptible to running if handled improperly, so a little practice may be in order.

Product Specs 

• Type: Testing strips
• Parameters tested: Alkalinity, pH, hardness, bromine, residual chlorine, total chlorine, iron, copper, lead, ammonium chloride, fluoride, carbonate, cyanuric acid, nitrate, and nitrite
• Compatible water type: Municipal water and well water

Pros

• Tests for 15 contaminants and properties, including nitrate, nitrite, iron, copper, lead, fluoride, cyanuric acid, pH, and alkalinity
• Easy to use; testing instructions clearly labeled on the bottle
• Mobile app as well as an e-book included for added user-friendliness
• Results available within minutes of testing

Cons

• Bacteria test not included with this kit; must be purchased separately
• Test strips must be used carefully to avoid “color bleeding” or inaccurate readings

Get the JNW Direct drinking water test kit at Amazon or Walmart.

Best for Home

Tap Score Advanced Water Test Kit

The Tap Score Advanced water test kit is ideal for analyzing all kinds of drinking water, whether it’s from a municipal water utility or a private well. It’s especially useful near agricultural or industrial activity, where customers may be concerned about bacterial, pesticide, or heavy metal contaminants.

The kit includes three vials with easy instructions for sampling directly from the faucet and a prepaid shipping label to submit the samples for testing. Tap Score’s EPA-certified lab checks 114 water-quality parameters and posts the results to your account about 2 weeks after shipping, or 10 days after the lab receives the samples. The results come with a personal “tap score” calculated by the company’s algorithm based on your water’s aesthetics, its impact on your health, and its impact on your plumbing.

The Tap Score Advanced water test kit gave us thorough results at a discount compared to the Safe Home lab test and did a great job of explaining the contaminants. The testing regimen was less detailed than Safe Home’s, but the interpretation of the results was outstanding. We really liked the idea of a standardized water-quality score and the ability to drill down on specific contaminants and learn how they might affect our health or plumbing system.

Product Specs

• Type: Vials/lab test
• Parameters tested: Alkalinity, conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, pH, metals, bacteria, inorganics, nitrite, nitrate, THMs, VOCs, disinfection byproducts, and petrochemicals
• Compatible water type: Municipal water and well water

Pros

• Includes 3 vials, easy-to-follow sampling instructions, and a prepaid shipping label to submit samples
• Professional lab testing for 114 parameters that affect water aesthetics, human health, and plumbing
• Unique Tap Score algorithm generates a standardized water quality score that helps users better understand the test results
• Includes detailed information for listed contaminants to help you understand how they affect health and plumbing
• Includes recommendations to improve your home water quality

Cons

• Slower and more expensive than test strips; not ideal for frequent monitoring

Get the Tap Score water test kit at Amazon or Tap Score.

Best For Drinking Water

Varify Complete Drinking Water Test Kit

Varify’s drinking water test kit tests for 17 parameters, including lead, fluoride, iron, copper, mercury, chlorine, nitrite, nitrate, pH, total alkalinity, hardness, aluminum, sulfate, zinc, and manganese, in addition to bacteria.

The kit includes 100 test strips that each test for the first 16 water-quality parameters, plus two tests that check for the presence of bacteria. Both the test strips and the bacteria tests are created in compliance with EPA testing standards. The test strips are ready to analyze in 15 minutes, and the bacteria tests are ready to read in 48 hours.

Many test strips become messy with color runs that make them difficult to read or colors that continue to change after the allotted test time, which can corrupt the results. Those issues were significantly improved in the Varify Complete water test kit. Although the color results took longer to develop than others we tested, they remained stable and didn’t really run. In terms of handling and reliability, these were our favorite test strips to use.

Product Specs 

• Type: Testing strips
• Parameters tested: Alkalinity, pH, hardness, bacteria, free chlorine, total chlorine, copper, fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nitrite, nitrate, sodium chloride, sulfate, and zinc
• Compatible water type: All water sources

Pros

• Tests for major contaminants including lead, bacteria, and mercury, among others
• Comes with 100 testing strips for frequent testing and reliability
• Most test results available in minutes (except for bacteria, which takes around 48 hours)

Cons

• Bacteria results take 48 hours; may take too long for some users’ preferences

Get the Varify water test kit at Amazon, Varify, or Walmart.

Best for Well Water

Health Metric 8-in-1 Well Water Test Kit

This well-water test kit from Health Metric is specifically formulated for well water’s unique risks. Well water is not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. In addition to testing for the standard parameters of nitrate, nitrite, water hardness, pH, and total alkalinity, this kit tests for manganese, hydrogen sulfide, and coliform bacteria. The tests are developed in accordance with EPA standards, and the results for most of the parameters are available within minutes.

Well users need not worry about certain city water issues. We liked the simplified design of these test strips, eliminating the spots for chlorine, cyanuric acid, and other elements not found in wells. These well-water testing strips reacted in just a few minutes, and the colors held fairly stable. Fewer test squares made the strips easier to read quickly. Although there are no tests included for agricultural or industrial contaminants, this is a good kit for monitoring a healthy well.

Product Specs 

• Type: Testing strips
• Parameters tested: Coliform bacteria, nitrate, nitrite, manganese, hydrogen sulfide, water hardness, pH, and total alkalinity
• Compatible water type: Well water

Pros

• Tests 8 parameters of concern in well water including nitrate/nitrite, hydrogen sulfide, water hardness, and coliform bacteria
• Fast and easy well-water testing; results process in around 10 minutes
• Directions are included with purchase for added convenience and user-friendliness
• Follows EPA standards and guidelines for well-water testing

Cons

• Does not test for agricultural or industrial contaminants; additional testing may be necessary in some locations

Get the Health Metric 8-in-1 water test kit at Amazon or Health Metric.

Best for Pool Water

JNW Direct Pool and Spa Test Strips

Pools and spas have unique water-quality requirements that differ from drinking water, so specialized tests are necessary. These test strips from JNW Direct have seven-in-one testing capabilities that are great for anyone looking to keep their pool or hot tub water clean and safe. They test total chlorine, hardness, bromine, free chlorine, pH, cyanuric acid, and alkalinity.

Testing is really easy. All you need to do is dip a test strip into the water. Color-coded results are available in seconds and can be checked against the handy color-coded chart that’s included. For added convenience, one purchase comes with 100 strips and a convenient e-book with tips for keeping a hot tub and pool clean.

Although these strips are not equipped for use with saltwater pools, they worked well in our conventional chlorine pool. Testing only took 30 seconds, and the results were consistent with lab tests. New users may need a little practice to get the hang of it, as the color continues to develop after the testing window, making fast reading ability a priority. We snapped a photo with the test strip alongside the color chart to give ourselves a little extra time with precise colors and no runs.

Product Specs 

• Type: Testing strips
• Parameters tested: Hardness, total chlorine, bromine, free chlorine, pH, cyanuric acid, and alkalinity
• Compatible water type: Pool and hot tub water

Pros

• Checks for 7 different types of water conditions and contaminants, including hardness and alkalinity
• Easy to use with results available seconds after test strip is dipped in water
• Includes 100 test strips, a color-coded chart to interpret results, and an e-book

Cons

• Test strips exhibited some color runs that could confuse the results
• The color was less stable after a couple of minutes, so quick reading was required

Get the JNW Direct pool and spa water test kit at Amazon.

Best for Saltwater Pools

Taylor K-2005-SALT Complete Water Test Kit

Saltwater pools have special testing requirements for salt levels but share most water-quality standards with chlorine pools. Other saltwater pool test kits only provide reagents for measuring salt levels, ignoring the rest of the pool chemistry. This Taylor K-2005-SALT liquid test kit offers all of the testing materials needed to monitor the whole chemical balance of the pool water.

The kit includes reagents for analyzing salinity, pH, chlorine, bromine, acid demand, base demand, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, and cyanuric acid. It is neatly packed in a heavy-duty plastic case for secure storage. Also included is an easy-to-use water-balance calculator for quick chemical level reference.

Although working with the liquid reagents required a bit more care and precision than simply dipping a test strip, we really appreciated getting immediate, accurate results from the Taylor K-2005-SALT kit. The reagent bottles were color-coded for easy identification and held securely in the carry case along with the test vials and reference materials. We also liked that the kit provides guidance for what and how much must be added to balance the pool chemistry.

Product Specs

• Type: Color disc with liquid reagents
• Parameters tested: Salinity, free chlorine, total chlorine, bromine, pH, alkalinity, hardness, cyanuric acid
• Compatible water type: Designed for saltwater pools; also works in chlorine pools

Pros

• Complete test kit for monitoring and maintaining safe and healthy saltwater pools
• Helps you make informed decisions about pool maintenance chemicals
• Heavy-duty case for chemical reagents keeps bottles secure in individual compartments

Cons

• Slower overall than test strips because it requires individual testing for each parameter

Get the Taylor water test kit at Amazon, Discount Pool Mart, My Pool Yard, or Taylor Technologies.

Best for Water Hardness

JNW Direct Water Hardness Test Strips