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Buying guide · home water testing

Water test kits: which one for your worry

Strips give a quick first look. A mail-in lab test gives a measured number. Pick by what you want to know: lead, PFAS, a private well, or hard water. Every kit here says what it can’t tell you.

What a kit can sayWhat was in one sample from one tap on one day. No kit, strip or lab result can say on its own whether your water is fit for you to drink.
Step 1

Which kit for which worry

Each row lists the kits we track that test for it. Kit names jump to their card further down the page.

Lead

Lab test for a number; a strip for a first look

Lead mostly comes from the service line, pipes, faucets and solder at your home, so only a test at your own tap shows it. A strip flags lead within a range; a lab kit gives the measured level. In a home with a baby, young children or a pregnancy, a lab test is the better choice.

Filters certified for lead →

PFAS

Lab test only

PFAS are measured in parts per trillion with lab methods, so we treat PFAS testing as lab only. No mail-in PFAS kit we reviewed names an accredited lab whose accreditation we could open, so we list none. Ask a state-certified drinking water lab whether it tests drinking water for PFAS by EPA Method 533 or 537.1.

No kit we list tests for this.

PFAS and the federal limits →
Step 2

Test strips vs a mail-in lab test

Every kit we list carries one of two labels. A screening kit tells you whether something is worth a closer look; a lab result is the number you can act on.

Screening: quick check, not lab-grade

Strips and color tests

Can tell you: a rough range or a yes/no in minutes (bacteria tests take longer). Good for hardness, chlorine and pH, a first look at lead or bacteria, and checking that a filter or softener is working.

Can’t tell you: a measured number. None of the strip kits we list detects arsenic, and we never list a strip for PFAS, which is measured in parts per trillion by lab methods. For a sale, a loan or a legal question, use a lab your state certifies.

Lab-certified results

Mail-in lab tests

Can tell you: measured concentrations from a named lab, often for many substances at once, that you can compare with federal limits. EPA recommends a certified laboratory when testing for lead.

Can’t tell you: an instant answer: results take days, and each card gives the maker’s stated turnaround. A broad panel can report more results than the lab’s accreditation covers. None of the lab kits we list tests for PFAS.

Our bar for “lab-certified”: the kit names the lab that runs the test, the lab publishes its accreditation, we have opened that document, and its scope covers the key substances we list for the kit. If any of that is missing, a kit is labeled screening or not listed. Need a result for a sale or a loan? Ask your state’s laboratory certification program which labs it certifies.

PFAS

Testing for PFAS

PFAS are measured in parts per trillion with lab methods such as EPA Methods 533 and 537.1, so we treat PFAS testing as lab only. No mail-in PFAS kit we reviewed names an accredited drinking-water lab whose accreditation we could open, so we don’t list a PFAS kit. We will add one only when it passes that check.

For now: check your water system’s PFAS record on PurityMap, or ask a state-certified drinking water lab whether it tests drinking water for PFAS by EPA Method 533 or 537.1.

The federal limits

EPA's 2024 drinking-water rule set maximum contaminant levels of 4.0 ng/L for PFOA and for PFOS, and 10 ng/L for PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA (GenX). In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping the PFOA and PFOS limits, with the option of until 2031 to comply, and rescinding the other three. Until a final rule, all five limits apply.

PFAS checker · Filters certified for PFOA and PFOS

Private wells

Testing well water, and what it costs

The quality and safety of drinking water from private domestic wells are not regulated by the Federal Government under the Safe Drinking Water Act nor by most state governments and laws. Test your private well annually for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH levels.

What a well test costs

The price depends mostly on how much the test covers: a strip kit for a few things costs less than a lab panel for dozens. Prices change often, so the cards below link to the current price instead of quoting one.

Ask your local health department before you buy. EPA notes it can tell you what is common in your area’s groundwater and may offer private well testing for free.

Testing a well for arsenic

Arsenic can come from natural deposits in groundwater. CDC suggests asking your local health department whether to test for it where you live. The federal limit for public water systems is 0.010 mg/L (10 µg/L).

None of the strip kits we list detects arsenic, so use a lab test. Lab kits we list that include it: ETR Labs Basic Water Quality Test Kit, ETR Labs Premium Water Quality Test Kit.

County well water pages show the USGS model estimate for arsenic in local wells where one exists.

Step 3

How to read your results

Check the unit first, then compare each number with its reference in the same unit. “<”, ND and BDL mean not found above what the test can measure, not zero. For a strip, read the whole range the color falls in. A reading on the edge, or any positive for lead or bacteria, is a reason to confirm with a lab test.

Units, and how they convert

ppm (parts per million)same as mg/L
1 ppm = 1 mg/L = 1,000 µg/L
ppb (parts per billion)same as µg/L (also ug/L, mcg/L)
1 ppb = 1 µg/L = 0.001 mg/L
ppt (parts per trillion)same as ng/L
1 ppt = 1 ng/L = 0.001 µg/L
Free tool

Type or paste the numbers from your lab report or kit. The reader shows each one against its federal or EPA reference and the next step. Nothing is saved.

Read my test results

Sampling matters as much as the kit: see how to test your tap water at home. On city water, compare with your water system’s report; on a well, see the private well guide.

Every kit we list

Lab-certified kits first, then screening kits. The order never depends on price or commission. Prices change often: check the current price on each card.

As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

  • Lab-certified results

    ETR Labs Basic Water Quality Test Kit

    ETR Laboratories

    Manufacturer states: 50+ substances, including lead, copper, arsenic, nitrate, hardness and coliform bacteria

    What it can't tell you: It does not test PFAS, and not every result on the panel falls under the lab's accredited scope.

    Check price on Amazon

  • Lab-certified results

    ETR Labs Premium Water Quality Test Kit

    ETR Laboratories

    Manufacturer states: 110+ substances, including metals, nitrate, hardness, coliform bacteria and VOCs

    What it can't tell you: It does not test PFAS, and not every result on the panel falls under the lab's accredited scope.

    Check price on Amazon

  • Lab-certified results

    Schneider Labs Lead in Water Test Kit

    Schneider Laboratories Global

    Manufacturer states: Lead, analyzed by EPA Method 200.9

    • Analyzed by Schneider Laboratories Global, Inc., Richmond, VA · TNI-accredited environmental lab, Virginia VELAP certificate 14325 (drinking-water lead by EPA 200.9 in scope)
    • Manufacturer states: Turnaround: 5 business days after the lab receives it

    What it can't tell you: It tests lead only, from a single sample taken on one day.

    Check price on Amazon

  • Screening: quick check, not lab-grade

    Safe Home DIY Lead in Drinking Water Combo Test Kit

    Safe Home (EnviroTestKits)

    Manufacturer states: Lead, read as one of three ranges: 0–4, 5–15 or 15+ ppb

    • Manufacturer states: Turnaround: 5 minutes

    What it can't tell you: It shows a lead range, not an exact level, and tests nothing else unless you pay extra for the optional lab test.

    Check price on Amazon

  • Screening: quick check, not lab-grade

    Varify 17-in-1 Complete Water Test Kit

    Varify

    Manufacturer states: 17 strip readings, including lead, chlorine, fluoride, iron and hardness, plus 2 coliform bacteria tests

    • Manufacturer states: Turnaround: About 1 minute; the bacteria test takes 48 hours

    What it can't tell you: Strip colors give rough ranges, not lab numbers, and it cannot detect PFAS or arsenic.

    Check price on Amazon

  • Screening: quick check, not lab-grade

    Watersafe Drinking Water Test Kit

    Silver Lake Research

    Manufacturer states: Lead, bacteria, nitrate, copper, iron, chlorine, hardness and pH

    • Manufacturer states: Turnaround: Minutes; the bacteria test can take up to 48 hours

    What it can't tell you: Each test gives a yes/no or a rough range, not a lab number, and it cannot detect PFAS or arsenic.

    Check price on Amazon

  • Screening: quick check, not lab-grade

    WeAQUA DoubleCheck Water Hardness Test Strips (200)

    WeAQUA

    Manufacturer states: Total water hardness

    • Manufacturer states: Turnaround: About 1 minute

    What it can't tell you: It measures hardness only, so it tells you nothing about lead, PFAS or bacteria.

    Check price on Amazon
Questions

Frequently asked

PurityMap Editorial Team · Last reviewed 2026-10-28 · Report a mistake

Which water test kit should I buy?

Start from your worry. For lead, a lab-certified kit gives the measured level and a strip gives a first look. For a private well, a yearly lab test for bacteria, nitrate, total dissolved solids and pH is what EPA recommends. For hardness, a strip is usually enough. If you are on city water and not sure, read your water system’s record first, then test your tap for what it can’t show.

Can a test strip detect lead?

Some strips and color tests flag lead within a range, such as below or above a cutoff. They do not give a measured number. A reading near a cutoff, or any positive for lead, is a reason to confirm with a lab-certified test. EPA recommends a certified laboratory when testing for lead.

Is there a home test kit for PFAS?

PFAS are measured in parts per trillion with lab methods such as EPA Methods 533 and 537.1, so we treat PFAS testing as lab only. No mail-in PFAS kit we reviewed names an accredited lab whose accreditation we could open, so we list none. Ask a state-certified drinking water lab whether it tests drinking water for PFAS by EPA Method 533 or 537.1, and check your water system’s PFAS record on PurityMap.

How much does it cost to test well water?

It depends mostly on how much the test covers: a strip kit for a few things costs less than a lab panel for dozens. Prices change often, so we link to the current price instead of quoting one. Ask your local health department first: EPA notes it can tell you what is common in your area’s groundwater and may offer private well testing for free.

How do I test well water for arsenic?

Use a lab test. Arsenic can come from natural deposits in groundwater, and CDC suggests asking your local health department whether to test for it where you live. None of the strip kits we list detects arsenic. Lab kits we list that include arsenic: ETR Labs Basic Water Quality Test Kit, ETR Labs Premium Water Quality Test Kit.

How do I read my water test results?

Check the unit first: ppb is the same as µg/L, ppm the same as mg/L, and ppt the same as ng/L. Then compare each number with its reference in the same unit. “<”, ND or BDL mean not found above what the test can measure, not zero. Our free water test reader shows each line against its federal or EPA reference.

Sources

Where this guide comes from

General information from the public sources below, not medical advice. For health questions, especially about lead, infants or pregnancy, talk to a healthcare professional or your local health department. Read our health disclaimer.