At-home water test kits are screening tools, not lab replacements. But for a quick read on your water’s basics — hardness, lead presence at higher levels, chlorine, pH — they’re fast and cheap. We compared 11 kits to find the ones worth your money.
One thing to settle upfront: no at-home kit tests for PFAS. If PFAS is your concern, skip this page and go to Best Mail-In Water Tests.
What We Looked For
We evaluated kits on:
- Number of parameters tested
- Detection limits compared to EPA action levels
- Ease of reading results
- Included instructions and color matching guides
- Price per test
We didn’t pay for placement. These are the kits we’d actually use.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Safe Home Premium (200-Parameter Kit)
What it tests: 10 chemical parameters including lead, nitrate, iron, copper, hardness, pH, chlorine, and bacteria
Detection limit for lead: 15 ppb (matches EPA action level)
Price: ~$30 for 100 tests across 10 parameters
How it works: Colorimetric strips with a color-matching chart. Results in 5 minutes.
What we like: Broad parameter coverage at a fair price. Instructions are clear. The color chart is large enough to read without squinting.
What we don’t like: Lead detection is binary at 15 ppb. You can’t tell the difference between 2 ppb and 14 ppb — both show as “not detected.”
Best for: City water households who want a quick general check.
Check price on Amazon (affiliate link — see our disclosure above)
Best for Well Water: Varify Complete 17-in-1
What it tests: 17 parameters including bacteria (total coliform), nitrate, nitrite, lead, iron, hardness, pH, chlorine, copper, hydrogen sulfide
Detection limit for lead: 15 ppb
Price: ~$25 for 16 tests
How it works: Individual strips for each parameter. Coliform test uses a liquid reagent with 48-hour incubation.
What we like: Includes the coliform test that well water owners actually need. Iron and hydrogen sulfide panels catch the most common well water aesthetic problems. Clear documentation.
What we don’t like: 48-hour wait for bacteria results. Coliform test won’t distinguish between total coliform and E. coli — a positive result needs a follow-up lab test for E. coli confirmation.
Best for: Well water owners who want a broad initial screen before spending on a lab test.
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Best Budget Option: JNW Direct 7-in-1
What it tests: pH, chlorine, hardness, nitrate, nitrite, lead, copper
Detection limit for lead: 15 ppb
Price: ~$12 for 100 strips
How it works: Single multi-parameter strip. Dip, wait 60 seconds, compare.
What we like: Cheap enough to test frequently. Good for monitoring treated water (checking RO output, softener performance).
What we don’t like: Fewer parameters than other kits. No bacteria test. Lead detection only at the action level.
Best for: Ongoing monitoring of already-tested water, or anyone on a budget who just wants basic parameters.
Check price on Amazon (affiliate link)
Best for Lead Specifically: First Alert WT1 Lead Test
What it tests: Lead only
Detection limit for lead: 15 ppb
Price: ~$10 for 2 tests
How it works: Wipe test on surfaces (faucets, pipes). Separate water test strip.
What we like: Simple, dedicated lead focus. The surface swab test is useful for testing paint and faucet surfaces directly, not just water.
What we don’t like: Only tests lead. Priced per test rather than per kit. Still can’t detect below 15 ppb.
Best for: Renters or buyers who want a quick lead screen on a specific faucet before committing to a lab test.
Check price on Amazon (affiliate link)
What At-Home Kits Can’t Tell You
At-home kits work for: hardness, chlorine, pH, high-concentration lead, iron, nitrates, and basic bacteria presence.
They don’t work for: PFAS (any level), arsenic (at health-relevant concentrations), VOCs, disinfection byproducts, or lead below 15 ppb.
If your at-home test comes back clean but you still have concerns, or if your water source is a private well, a mail-in lab test is the next step. See: Best Mail-In Water Tests