We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. The 10 Best Water Coolers to Stay Hydrated at Home Our list includes picks with touchless dispensers, built-in filtration systems, and even pet bowl attachments. By Maddy Sweitzer-Lammé Maddy Sweitzer-Lammé Maddy Sweitzer-Lammé is a passionate and voraciously hungry home cook and eater. She's been writing about food in all its forms since 2014 and is a big believer that anyone can and should love to cook. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 19, 2026 In This Article View All In This Article Top Picks Reviews Factors to Consider FAQ Our Expertise Credit: Food & Wine If you thought water coolers were only meant for the office, think again. A water cooler dispenses fresh drinking water, and some options can filter tap water to fill your insulated water bottles and drinking glasses. The best water coolers can heat and cool water, saving time when brewing coffee in a coffee maker or heating it in an electric kettle. If your home setup doesn’t have space for a bulky standalone water dispenser, fret not. We’ve found a few compact countertop models and portable jugs ideal for camping trips or lounging by the pool. We even found a genius water cooler that keeps your pet's water bowl fresh and full. During our research, we evaluated these water coolers for capacity, ease of loading, temperature settings, filtration systems, and customizable and special features, such as child-safety locks, LED lights, and more. Top Picks Best Overall Water Cooler: SALE Avalon Water Cooler Dispenser at Amazon $200 $160 Jump to Review Best Splurge Water Cooler: Brio Moderna Self-Cleaning Touchless Water Cooler Dispenser at Amazon $411 Jump to Review Best Water Cooler for Pets: Primo Water Dispenser + Pet Station at Lowe's $179 Jump to Review Best Value Water Cooler: Igloo Top Load Water Dispenser at Amazon $140 Jump to Review Best Water Cooler for Single Servings: Avalon A1 Top Loading Water Cooler Dispenser at Amazon $150 Jump to Review Best Water Cooler for Camping: YETI Silo 6-Gallon Water Cooler at Amazon $300 Jump to Review Best Countertop Water Cooler: SALE Brio Top Loading Countertop Water Cooler Dispenser at Amazon $184 $150 Jump to Review Best Self-Cleaning Water Cooler: Brio Self Cleaning Bottom Loading Water Cooler at Amazon $290 Jump to Review Best Space-Saving Water Cooler: SALE Igloo Bottom-Loading Water Cooler at Amazon $200 $170 Jump to Review Best Bottleless Water Cooler: SALE Avalon Electric Bottleless Water Cooler at Amazon $400 $300 Jump to Review Our Favorite Water Cooler With cold, hot, and room-temperature dispensing options, the Avalon Bottom-Loading Water Cooler Dispenser is our top pick. Thanks to its bottom-loading design and self-cleaning cycle, using this water cooler dispenser is practical and convenient. Best Overall Water Cooler Avalon Water Cooler Dispenser Credit: Amazon $200 $160 at Amazon $160 at Target $254 at Office Depot Pros With three temperatures to choose from and a convenient bottom-loading design, this water cooler is practical. Cons The hot water setting takes about twenty minutes to heat up. For offices or families, the Avalon Bottom Loading Water Cooler is a well-designed water dispenser with plenty of features to make loading and dispensing water effortless. The three temperature settings dispense cold, hot, and room-temperature water, and the hot-water spigot features a child-safety lock to protect children from spills and accidental burns. The bottom-loading design makes refilling the cooler easy, eliminating the need to pick up and flip a heavy water jug. Switches on the back of the cooler let you activate the hot and cold water settings as needed, and a self-cleaning cycle prevents build-up and bacteria from contaminating your water. Dimensions: 12 x 13 x 41 inches | Capacity: 3-5 gallons | Number of Temperature Settings: 3 Best Splurge Water Cooler Brio Moderna Self-Cleaning Touchless Water Cooler Dispenser Credit: Amazon $411 at Amazon $412 at Home Depot $480 at Walmart Pros This bottle-less water dispenser connects directly to a water source for uninterrupted use. It's also touchless. Cons The setup for this unit is more involved than some of our other picks. If you never want to deal with another heavy plastic water jug again, the Brio Moderna Water Dispenser might be the solution. This unit connects directly to under-sink pipes for an uninterrupted water flow. The dispenser features a three-part filter that cleans and filters sediment for great-tasting water. The hot and cold settings on the dispenser are customizable to your temperature preferences, and the LED buttons on the front are easy to use and highly responsive. This unit also has a self-cleaning setting to prevent any build-up. The installation kit is slightly more complicated than a typical water bottle-style dispenser, but the instructions are clear and easy to follow. Dimensions: 15.6 x 12.2 x 41.4 inches | Capacity: Connects directly to a water source | Number of Temperature Settings: 3 Best Water Cooler for Pets Primo Water Dispenser + Pet Station Credit: Lowe's $179 at Lowe's Pros Keep your pets’ water fresh and clean with the built-in pet bowl at the base of this unit. Cons There’s no self-cleaning feature on this water cooler. With its built-in pet bowl, the Primo Top-Loading Cold and Hot Water Cooler is the best option for homes and offices with pets. A button at the top of the unit sends fresh, filtered water into the pet bowl at the base, which can be attached at the front or either side of the cooler. The cooling system on this dispenser can reach as low as 35°F, while the heating unit can heat to 188°F. The child-safety lock, LED night light, and drip tray make this unit easy to use and safe for all environments. Dimensions: 11.8 x 11.8 x 41.1 inches | Capacity: 3-5 gallons | Number of Temperature Settings: 2 The 6 Best Filtered Water Bottles, According to Our Tests Best Value Water Cooler Igloo Top Load Water Dispenser Credit: Amazon $140 at Amazon $110 at Wayfair View on Walmart Pros The small footprint and affordable price point of this water dispenser make it a great option for a variety of settings. Cons Top-loading water coolers like this one can be cumbersome to refill. At $120, the Igloo Top-Loading Hot and Cold Water Cooler is a more affordable option for small spaces and budgets. The top-loading design makes for a smaller footprint, allowing this cooler to fit easily into tight kitchen or office spaces. This dispenser offers two temperature settings, hot and cold, and the hot water spigot features a child-safe button. As an additional safety and energy-saving feature, the switches on the back of the cooler control temperature settings on and off. Plus, a handy removable drip tray prevents messes or puddles. Dimensions: 12.5 x 13 x 38.75 inches | Capacity: 3-5 gallons | Number of Temperature Settings: 2 Best Water Cooler for Single Servings Avalon A1 Top Loading Water Cooler Dispenser Credit: Amazon $150 $130 at Amazon $130 at Target $228 at Lowe's Pros The water spigots on this dispenser are paddle-style, which allows users to fill bottles and cups with just one hand. Cons The filling area on this dispenser is small, which limits ease of use for larger bottles and cups. Another top-loading option, the Avalon A1 Top-Loading Water Cooler has a small footprint and offers straightforward heating and cooling. This unit does not feature a filtration system, but the dispensing system, which utilizes paddles instead of spigots, allows you to press and fill your glasses and water bottles easily. This handy feature is good for families, especially those with young children. The power light alerts you when water is being heated or cooled, and this unit is known for its quiet, unobtrusive operation. Switches on the back of the unit allow you to control the hot and cold settings. Dimensions: 14.3 x 14.5 x 46.5 inches | Capacity: 5 gallons | Number of Temperature Settings: 2 Best Water Cooler for Camping YETI Silo 6-Gallon Water Cooler Credit: Amazon $300 at Amazon $300 at Yeti $300 at Acmetools.com Pros This highly insulated water dispensing cooler is perfect for outdoor settings away from a power source. Cons Once filled, this cooler is a bit heavy and is better suited for car camping or glamping setups. For camping, poolside hangs where you don't have a floating cooler, and other outdoor settings where a plug-in water dispenser won’t work, the Yeti Silo keeps water cold and dispenses it easily from a spigot at the bottom of the cooler. At sixteen pounds before it’s filled with water, this cooler is heavy, which makes it better for car camping trips, where it won’t be moved around constantly. The spigot on this unit is durable and pours quickly, but can also be blocked off while in transit or if you want to use the Silo as a regular cooler. Dimensions: 15.5 x 16 x 18 inches | Capacity: 6 gallons | Number of Temperatures Settings: 1 The Best Yeti Products, According to Our Tests Best Countertop Water Cooler Brio Top Loading Countertop Water Cooler Dispenser Credit: Amazon $184 $150 at Amazon $167 at Wayfair $184 $150 at Walmart Pros This countertop unit has all the features of larger floor dispensers without a larger footprint. Cons It is not compatible with 5-gallon coolers. If your home or office lacks space for a standalone water cooler, this countertop unit fits into tight corners and atop tables. It’s designed to accommodate a 3-gallon water jug, making it a great choice for individuals and couples who don’t use as much water as a large family. It offers hot, cold, and room-temperature water options for all kinds of beverages, along with child-safety locks. Although it lacks the heating and cooling capabilities of some of our wider choices, the stainless steel body looks sleek on your countertop. Plus, the drip tray keeps things tidy. Dimensions: 15 x 17.5 x 20.5 inches | Capacity: 3 gallons | Number of Temperature Settings: 3.6 Best Self-Cleaning Water Cooler Brio Self Cleaning Bottom Loading Water Cooler Credit: Amazon $290 at Amazon Pros This option is packed with features, from a convenient bottom load to a nightlight, and it keeps itself clean. Cons The cleaning cycle is loud. This water cooler offers a lot of nifty features, including bottom-loading that makes it easy to insert a new water jug, a 5-gallon capacity, and three temperature settings: room temperature, hot, and cold. Plus, with the child safety lock, there's no worry about little ones dispensing water on their own. It's available in both stainless steel and black stainless steel for a sleek, modern look. The self-cleaning feature is activated with the touch of a button, but some caution that this cycle can be loud, so you might want to set it for a time that works for you and your family. Dimensions: 15.6 x 12.2 x 41.4 inches | Capacity: 5 gallons | Number of Temperature Settings: 3 Best Space-Saving Water Cooler Igloo Bottom-Loading Water Cooler Credit: Amazon $200 $170 at Amazon Pros This compact water cooler can accommodate 3 to 5-gallon jugs and is easy to set up. Cons Unfortunately it doesn't have a self-cleaning function. Whether in the kitchen or a home office, this water cooler is easy to set up and features a sleek, compact design. This bottom-loading water cooler can accommodate both three- and five-gallon water jugs. It has an indicator light that turns on when the water jug is empty and needs to be replaced, though it would be nice if it had a self-cleaning function. Like other models, this one features three temperature settings so you can enjoy cold or room temperature water to drink, or dispense hot water for tea, hot chocolate, or soup. Dimensions: 12 x 15.16 x 41.73 inches | Capacity: 5 gallons | Number of Temperature Settings: 3 Best Bottleless Water Cooler Avalon Electric Bottleless Water Cooler Credit: Amazon $400 $300 at Amazon Pros There are no water jugs to lift or move with this water cooler. Cons It needs to be installed. Two dual-stage filters are located where a water jug would sit in this Avalon water cooler. The fact that it doesn't require you to tote a heavy water jug into position is a nice feature, though you'll need to install the included installation kit to get it up and running. With an all-black stainless-steel exterior and buttons to dispense water at your desired temperature, this water cooler looks modern and is easy to use. There's a lot to love about this water cooler, from the self-cleaning feature and night light to the digital clock and a replacement filter indicator. Dimensions: 13.5 x 12 x 41 inches | Capacity: 1500 gallons | Number of Temperature Settings: 3 Factors to Consider Capacity The ideal capacity for a water cooler depends on how many people will use it and how frequently it will be used. For a one or two-person home, a 3-gallon jug can be enough for a week or two of water. For offices, larger families, or other settings where the cooler will need to serve more water, a cooler compatible with a 5-gallon jug or one that attaches to a direct water source may be better. Top-Loading vs. Bottom-Loading Top-loading water coolers are generally the most common option because they rely on gravity to force water into the pouring mechanism. They’re harder to reload, however, because large water jugs are heavy and can be difficult to move around. Bottom-loading coolers are easier to load but generally a bit more expensive. Temperature Settings Some people use water coolers to access filtered water, while others want chilled or heated water for drinking and making tea and coffee. If you plan to use the hot water dispenser regularly and for a specific purpose, note the highest temperature available on the unit you choose, as different water dispensers can vary significantly in their maximum temperature. Generally, tea is best enjoyed at a temperature of at least 160°F. Be sure to check the available temperatures on your water cooler. Filtration Much like pitchers with water filters, some water coolers have a water filter cartridge inside the machine to remove undesirable contaminants, odors, and tastes, while others do not. If this is important to you, our Best Splurge option has a three-part filter, or you can opt for filtered pitchers or filtered water bottles to achieve the same result. Special Features While all water coolers have the same basic capabilities, some have special features such as a safety lock to prevent children from spilling hot water on themselves, LED lights for easy use in the middle of the night, built-in pet stations, and customizable heating and cooling settings. If you simply wish to up your water intake, consider which add-on features you'd like to spend more on. Frequently Asked Questions How do you clean a water cooler? Some water coolers have pre-programmed self-cleaning settings, which should be used according to the manufacturer's instructions. Water coolers without self-cleaning mechanisms should be regularly flushed with a mixture of hot water and vinegar to prevent build-up. How long should water sit in a water cooler? In general, it’s best to consume the water in your cooler within 30 days of installing a new bottle. If you’re not going through that much water, you'll want to consider a smaller-sized water jug. Do water coolers filter water? Water coolers that feed from a jug generally do not filter the water, as water jugs come prefiltered. Coolers that attach to an external water system typically filter that water. What is the difference between a water cooler and a water dispenser? All water coolers with spigots are water dispensers, but not all water dispensers are water coolers. Water coolers refrigerate and dispense cold water, sometimes in addition to hot and room-temperature water, usually from a filtered water jug.Water dispensers, on the other hand, are commonly filled with tap water and kept at the edge of a refrigerator drawer or countertop. The dispensers also tend to include a filtration system. Our Expertise Maddy Sweitzer-Lammé is an experienced professional home cook. She has worked in restaurant kitchens, professional test kitchens, and also on farms and at farmers' markets. She's an expert at translating techniques, recipes, equipment, and ingredient information for all skill levels. She's dedicated to making the home-cooking experience more enjoyable and is always looking for the next great tip or trick to pass along to readers. Explore more: What to Buy Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit