Water filter cartridges: types, sizes and what they cost to run
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Stefani Twin stage under-sink filtration system, lead free
Standard 10 inch housings take generic cartridges from any brand.
$159 at Bunnings, checked 21 Oct 2026
Paid links: we may earn a commission. It doesn't change which product is here.
The cartridge is the real cost of any water filter. Standard 10-inch types, jug and inline cartridges, what each media does, when to replace, and where cheap ones are.
Our picks at a glance
| Product | Cheapest to runStefani Twin stage under-sink filtration system, lead free $159 at Bunnings | Easiest to buy forBrita Marella XL 3.5L jug $49.90 at Bunnings |
|---|---|---|
| Cartridge | — | Maxtra Pro, about 150 L or 4 weeks each |
| Install | Plumbed, licensed plumber recommended | Nothing to fit: a jug |
| Why it's here | Standard 10 inch housings take generic cartridges from any brand. | Maxtra Pro cartridges in every supermarket and Bunnings. |
| Watch out for | Filters grit and improves taste but doesn't disinfect: get untreated tank or bore water tested before you drink it | Slow to filter compared with a plumbed system |
| Buy | $159 at Bunnings$181 at Stefani | Today's price on Amazon (4 cartridges)$49.90 at Bunnings (3 cartridges) |
Standard 10 inch housings take generic cartridges from any brand.
Standard 10 inch housings take generic cartridges from any brand.
Watch out: Filters grit and improves taste but doesn't disinfect: get untreated tank or bore water…
- Install: Plumbed, licensed plumber recommended
$159 at Bunnings · checked 21 Oct 2026
Maxtra Pro cartridges in every supermarket and Bunnings.
Maxtra Pro cartridges in every supermarket and Bunnings.
Watch out: Slow to filter compared with a plumbed system
- Cartridge: Maxtra Pro, about 150 L or 4 weeks each
- Install: Nothing to fit: a jug
$49.90 at Bunnings, checked 23 Oct 2026 · Amazon's price is on its page
How we picked: We picked these 2 from the water filters sold in Australia, judged on cartridge, install and price, using maker specs, Australian retailer prices and owner reports. We haven't tested them hands-on yet, and maker claims are labelled as theirs. Commission never puts a worse product ahead of a better one, but between equal products or shops, one that pays us can go first. Full method.
Filters are sold on the price of the unit. They are paid for on the price of the cartridge. This guide is the part the packaging leaves out.
Standard versus proprietary
Standard 10 inch cartridges fit any 10 inch housing. They are made by dozens of brands, cost from about seven dollars for a sediment cartridge and twenty to thirty for a carbon block, and you can change brand any time. The Stefani under-sink and Geekpure whole-house systems use them.
Proprietary cartridges fit one brand’s unit: Brita Maxtra Pro, Philips on-tap, Puretec’s quick-twist, Frizzlife’s twist-in. Convenient, and the manufacturer sets the price. Brita and Philips cartridges are in every Bunnings; Puretec and Frizzlife are online. Compatible cartridges exist for the popular shapes.
What the media does
- Sediment (polyspun or pleated): grit, rust, sand. Rated in microns, 5 is typical. Goes first in any multi-stage system.
- Granular carbon: chlorine, taste, odour. Cheap; loose media.
- Carbon block: the same plus finer mechanical filtration, 0.5 to 1 micron, which is cyst-grade when certified.
- Catalytic carbon: carbon treated to break down chloramine. Essential in Brisbane and Adelaide.
- KDF: copper-zinc media for chlorine and some metals, works in hot water; used in shower filters.
- Ceramic: fine mechanical filtration you scrub rather than replace; gravity units.
- RO membrane: rejects dissolved solids and fluoride. Two to three years.
Yearly running cost, roughly
| System | Cartridges a year | Cost a year |
|---|---|---|
| Jug | 12 | $100 to $150 |
| On-tap | 3 | $40 to $60 |
| Under-sink inline | 1 to 2 | $40 to $120 |
| Under-sink 10 inch housings | 1 to 2 per stage | $20 to $60 |
| Reverse osmosis | pre-filters yearly, membrane every 2 to 3 years | $80 to $200 |
Set the reminder
Most filters fail because nobody changed the cartridge. Put the date in your calendar when you install it and buy the next cartridge with the unit.
Where to buy our picks
- Stefani Twin stage under-sink filtration system, lead free$159 at Bunnings
- Brita Marella XL 3.5L jugSee today's price on Amazon (4 cartridges)
Paid links: we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Prices change; the shop's page is the final word.
The picks in detail
Tap a pick for its full specs, pros and cons and every shop.
Cheapest to runStefani Twin stage under-sink filtration system, lead free
$159 at Bunnings · checked 21 Oct 2026Specs, pros and cons, all 2 shops
Standard 10 inch housings take generic cartridges from any brand.
- Stages: 2 (sediment then carbon)
- Housing: Standard 10 inch, lead-free
- Install: Plumbed, licensed plumber recommended
- Cartridge life: About 6 to 12 months
- Certification: No NSF/ANSI listing shown
- Yearly running cost: About $62: PP-0510 ($8.85) and 102 ($22) twice a year (Bunnings)
- WaterMark: Yes, licence 022200 (certified to WMTS-103)
Pros
- Sediment pre-filter protects the carbon stage and suits tank or bore water
- Generic 10 inch cartridges keep running costs low
Cons
- Filters grit and improves taste but doesn't disinfect: get untreated tank or bore water tested before you drink it
- Takes more cupboard space than an inline unit
- Needs a plumber
Paid links: we may earn a commission. Price checked 21 Oct 2026.
Easiest to buy forBrita Marella XL 3.5L jug
$49.90 at Bunnings · checked 23 Oct 2026Specs, pros and cons, all 2 shops
Maxtra Pro cartridges in every supermarket and Bunnings.
- Capacity: 3.5 L total, about 2 L filtered
- Cartridge: Maxtra Pro, about 150 L or 4 weeks each
- Reduces: Chlorine, limescale, lead and copper (Brita claim)
- Fridge door fit: Yes, Brita says: 25.8 cm tall, 14.8 cm deep
- In the box: 3 Maxtra Pro cartridges at Bunnings (blue), 4 at Amazon Australia (white)
- Yearly running cost: About $133: 13 Maxtra Pro a year at the Bunnings 6-pack price ($61.49, 23 Oct 2026)
- Certification: None shown on the Bunnings listing (Brita's own NSF/ANSI 53 PFAS test claim, no certificate shown)
- Install: Nothing to fit: a jug
Pros
- Cartridges sold everywhere in Australia
- Three cartridges in the box covers about three months
Cons
- Slow to filter compared with a plumbed system
- Does not remove fluoride
- Ongoing cartridge cost adds up
Paid links: we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Price checked 23 Oct 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is a standard 10 inch water filter cartridge?
The most common housing size worldwide: a cartridge 10 inches long and 2.5 inches across, used in the Stefani single, twin and triple systems and most whole-house housings. Because the size is standard, sediment, carbon and carbon-block cartridges from any brand fit, and they cost from about seven dollars.
How often should water filter cartridges be replaced?
Jug cartridges every four weeks; on-tap every three to four months; under-sink carbon six to twelve months; sediment pre-filters when flow drops or at six months; reverse osmosis membranes every two to three years. A saturated carbon cartridge stops working without any change in flow, so change by the calendar, not by feel.
Are generic or compatible cartridges as good as the brand ones?
For standard 10 inch sizes, yes: the format is generic and the media is comparable. For proprietary shapes, compatible cartridges vary; the filtration claims are the generic maker's, not the original brand's, so check for certification if it matters.