When it comes to home appliances, water softeners aren’t always fun to pick out. After all, they’re usually tucked into a utility closet or basem*nt and aren’t going to be on display. But depending on your water quality and hardness, a water softener may be a necessity for your home.
These devices soften water through an ion exchange system, which effectively removes calcium and magnesium—the causes of limescale buildup on your plumbing fixtures—from the water.
Logan Cox, assistant general manager of John The Plumber Kingston. encourages homeowners to talk with a plumber about buying a water softener, adding, “They can also provide information about maintenance requirements, warranty, and ongoing costs associated with the system.”
What We Researched
- Capacity: A water softener's capacity determines how much water it can treat before regenerating. Multiple factors affect how much capacity you'll need, including home size, water usage, and water hardness.
- Price: Water softeners are significant investments. We considered options from multiple price points ranging from under $300 to over $1,200.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Best High Capacity:
Best for Well Water:
Aquasure Harmony Water Softener with Fine Mesh Resin for Iron Removal at Amazon ($550)
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Why You Should Get It
This salt-based softener lets you customize how soft your water is, and it cuts back on your salt usage.
Keep in Mind
This won’t be the best option for larger households.
There are a few reasons we chose this GE softener as the best water softener overall. First, it allows you to choose how soft you want your water. It also has built-in technology that analyzes your typical water usage habits, which then provides you with a customized level of readily available soft water.
This is a salt-based model that can hold up to 230 pounds of salt and takes about two hours to run through a regeneration cycle. The brand notes this model has salt-saving capabilities that actually reduce how much salt you use by up to 34%. And its electronic controls are easy to use, letting you see at a glance what the salt level is and when you should refill it.
Depending on the hardness level of your water, this softener is great for households with up to four people. While this won’t be the best option for larger families, it’s a solid pick for households with a smaller number of people.
Product Details: Type: Salt-based | Size: 14.44 x 47.63 x 22.44 inches | Capacity: 40,000 grain | Regeneration Cycle: 123 minutes
Key Terms to Know
- Regeneration Cycle: A period when the water softener system flushes out the accumulated minerals. The duration and frequency vary from system to system.
- Grain: Refers to the amount of minerals a softener can take out of the water before regenerating. You may also see your water hardness measured in GPG (grain per gallon) or mg/L (milligrams per liter).
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Why You Should Get It
It helps you cut back on the amount of water you use over time—saving you money in the long run.
Keep in Mind
At two hours, its regeneration cycle is on the longer side.
Rheem makes it possible to get a decent-sized water softener for less than $400, so it’s our pick for budget shoppers. Though it comes with a smaller price tag, it’s a 32,000-grain softener that can service households with up to four people.
The brand includes technology that can adapt to your water usage, ultimately helping you cut back on the amount of water you use. The angled top makes pouring salt into the softener a bit easier and the unit has a flashing light to let you know when it’s time to refill the salt.
The tank includes a 10-year warranty while the electronics have a three-year warranty and the parts and labor include a one-year warranty. Overall, its features are comparable to less budget-friendly picks on the market.
Product Details: Type: Salt-based | Size: 15.25 x 43.5 x 20.5 inches | Capacity: 32,000 grain | Regeneration Cycle: Two hours
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Why You Should Get It
It's worth the splurge if you’re concerned about filtering out chlorine and heavy metals but want an efficient softener that uses more sustainable materials.
Keep in Mind
There’s no indicator light to tell you when salt levels are running low.
If you’re willing to splurge a bit, we recommend this pick from Tier1. The softener uses KDF-55 and carbon media to filter out unwanted minerals like heavy metals, scale, and even chlorine. The recyclable KDF-55 used in the softener contains both zinc and copper which also cuts back on levels of chromium, lead, mercury, and nickel that may otherwise be found in your water. According to the brand, KDF-55 may prolong the water softener lifespan by about six years. Plus, the carbon media used is derived from coconut shells, making it a renewable option.
It’s designed to be efficient while using less salt, water, and power, so it can potentially save you some money on utility and salt bills. Keep in mind that this is a two-tank system, so you’ll need space for both the brine tank and the mineral tank. Another small drawback is that you’ll have to remember to keep an eye on the salt levels, since this softener doesn’t have a handy refill indicator light.
Product Details: Type: Salt-based | Size: 10 x 61.5 inches (mineral tank with control valve), 15 x 34 inches (brine tank) | Capacity: 48,000 grain | Regeneration Cycle: Two hours
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Why You Should Get It
The softener regenerates based on your personal water usage, which can save on water as well as salt.
Keep in Mind
The model is on the higher end of the price spectrum.
With 40,000 grains, the Whirlpool WHES40E can handle households ranging from one person up to as many as six people, making it a versatile pick.
Though its regeneration cycle time isn’t specified, this is a demand-based softener. The model takes into account how hard your water is and the amount of water that your household uses to determine when to regenerate. That can add up to savings in water use since it isn’t running on a timed regeneration cycle—it only regenerates when it’s needed. You’ll also save money on salt, since the softener actually determines what amount is needed for regeneration.
You’ll know right away when salt is low thanks to the indicating light on the unit. It’s also certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), meaning it’s gone through rigorous testing to be sure it works just like the manufacturer claims it will. This model is on the higher end of the cost spectrum, but it does have the ability to handle larger households and may save on utility bills.
Product Details: Type: Salt-based | Size: 18 x 47.88 x 19 inches | Capacity: 40,000 grain | Regeneration Cycle: Unspecified
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Best Portable
On The Go On The Go Portable Water Softener
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Why You Should Get It
You’ll get up to 40 days of softened water with this portable unit, and there’s minimal installation required.
Keep in Mind
At 35 pounds, the softener may be a little too heavy for some users to easily transport.
If you want soft water on the go, this is one of the best portable water softeners available. It’s a compact size that you can hook up to your RV or even to a boat, and you don’t need tools or electrical power—simply hook it up using a typical hose connection.
It’s a salt-based softener, though you’ll actually use regular table salt instead of special softener salt pellets. It takes about 30 minutes to run a regeneration cycle, so you won’t need to wait too long if you run out of soft water while washing up some dishes during your next camping trip.
The softener itself weighs about 35 pounds, which could be a little heavy for some users to easily carry. The company notes that you’ll get about 1,600 gallons of softened water from the tank. Depending on how hard the water is and how much you use, that could mean you’ll have as many as 40 days worth of soft water.
Product Details: Type: Salt-based | Size: 10 x 24 x 10 inches | Capacity: 16,000 grain | Regeneration Cycle: 30 minutes
Best High Capacity
Waterboss 36,400 Grain Water Softener
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Why You Should Get It
It’s a compact tank compared to its high capacity.
Keep in Mind
Not all the required installation parts are included.
The Waterboss Model 900 is the best high-capacity softener, especially if you value a quick regeneration cycle. This softener is designed to be efficient for households with high levels of water usage, even though it has a compact, space-saving design.
It includes a water filter that’s built right into the system to filter out any dirt or other sediment. Plus, you won’t need to clean the filter because it cleans itself. It regenerates quickly, taking less than 25 minutes to complete a regeneration cycle—so no waiting around for hours for soft water free of metals or minerals that can cause stains.
The electronic display lets you quickly update softener settings or start a regeneration cycle. It comes with a five-year warranty on parts and a 10-year warranty on the tank. Keep in mind, some of the parts required for installation, like an overflow tube, are not included.
Product Details: Type: Salt-based | Size: 14.75 x 30.75 x 18.75 inches | Capacity: 36,400 grain | Regeneration Cycle: 24 minutes
Best for Well Water
Aquasure Harmony Water Softener with Fine Mesh Resin for Iron Removal
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Why You Should Get It
This is the best softener for well water since it’s designed to capture iron, which is commonly found in wells.
Keep in Mind
As a two-tank system, it takes up more space.
Dealing with rust stains or other evidence of hard water on your clothes, tubs, toilets, and appliances is not pleasant. And well water tends to have more minerals in it, especially iron, that can lead to buildup and those unsightly orange-brown stains in the shower or toilet bowl.
You can program a regeneration cycle to run at a specified time, or you can simply push a button to run the cycle to get soft water. Keep in mind that a regeneration cycle will take over an hour and a half, which is a little longer than some of the other softeners on the list.
The manufacturer states that it's best for households with a maximum of four people, so it’s on the smaller side of capacity. But it’s an excellent pick for well water if you’re experiencing iron buildup or staining.
Product Details: Type: Salt-based | Size: 10 x 62 x 10 inches (resin tank with control head), 15 x 36 x 15 inches (brine tank) | Capacity: 48,000
The Bottom Line
After concluding our research, our overall pick for the best water softener is the GE 40,000 Grain Water Softener since it lets you customize your water’s softness and also reduces your salt usage.
What to Know About Water Softeners Before Shopping
Type
Salt-based softeners are the most common and effective water softeners. These devices use an ion exchange system to soften hard water. The hard water gets trapped by resin beads in the softener, where the calcium, magnesium, and other minerals found in hard water are exchanged for the sodium or potassium found in salt. These devices require specific softener salts, and it's best to refer to your softener's manual to see what the manufacturer recommends.
When shopping for a water softener, you may run across salt-free or magnetic descalers that claim to work as softener alternatives. Instead of removing hardness-causing particles, they neturalize the minerals to prevent them from scaling. These devices do not soften water, and while they may effectively descale, they typically take longer to see results. In addition, they also won't prevent scaling in sitting water, such as in a water heater.
Regeneration Cycle
It’s important to look at regeneration cycles when shopping for a softener as well. “Regeneration cycles are the periods when the system cleans and recharges itself by flushing out the accumulated minerals," Cox explains. "The regeneration frequency and duration can vary depending on the system and water usage.”
Each water softener will have different cycle lengths as well, ranging from under an hour to two or more hours. If you go through plenty of water and don’t want to wait for a long cycle, you may want to consider softeners with shorter cycle times.
Capacity
If you choose too small of a capacity, you may end up having to wait for your softener to regenerate before showering or doing other household chores that require soft water. According to Cox, “Capacity refers to the amount of water a softener can treat before needing to regenerate or recharge.” You’ll want to take into account how much water you use, how hard your water is, and how many people are in your house when shopping for a softener.
To help you choose the correct capacity, take a look at the “grain” number on a water softener. The grain number in part refers to the amount of hard-water-causing minerals (like calcium or magnesium) that a softener can take out of the water before it needs to regenerate, and it plays a role in how much salt you’ll use.
The level of water hardness will vary based on your water supply. Some areas, such as rural areas with well water, may require a higher level of hardness removal. Hardness is typically measured in grains per gallon (GPG) or milligrams per liter (mg/L).
“Considering the hardness removal capability of a water softener is crucial,” Cox says. “Different softeners have varying efficiency in removing hardness minerals. Look for softeners with a high hardness removal rating to ensure effective water softening.”
Your Questions, Answered
What does a water softener do?
Just like the name implies, water softeners actually “soften” water. Cox explains, “A water softener is a device that removes minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium, from the water supply, making it ‘soft’ by reducing the hardness."
If you’re not sure whether you have hard water, there are some things you can do to check it. Cox advises, “You may notice soap scum residue on bathroom fixtures, spots on dishes and glassware after washing, dry skin and hair, or a decrease in the efficiency and lifespan of water-using appliances.” If these signs sound familiar, you may have hard water due to the buildup of minerals.
“A professional water test can provide accurate information about the hardness level,” Cox adds.
What size water softener do I need?
You’ll want to take a few factors into account when deciding what size water softener to buy. Cox advises that you’ll need to know how hard your water is, how many people live in your house, and how much water you typically use. Ultimately, he says, “The size of the water softener is determined based on the water hardness and the gallons of water used per day.”
Do water softeners require regular maintenance?
Water softeners last 10 to 15 years, and regularly maintaining the appliance will help extend its lifespan. Salt levels in salt-based water softeners will generally need to be checked once a month to make sure enough salt is in the tank (typically at least half-full). Magnetic water softeners require less maintenance and last longer but are generally less effective than salt-based options.
Who We Are
Brittany VanDerBill is a freelance writer who has been working with Better Homes & Gardens since 2021. In addition to water softeners, she has researched and written about other home appliances and fixtures including whole-house humidifiers, range hoods, and kitchen faucets.
To find the best water softeners, she researched a variety of options, keeping in mind type, capacity, household size, and more. She also consulted Logan Cox, assistant general manager of John The Plumber Kingston, for additional insights.
