Best Countertop Water Dispensers
The best countertop water dispensers include the Avalon A12 Countertop Bottleless Cooler for no jug lifting with three temperatures, the Avalon B8BLK Countertop Bottleless Cooler for a two-temperature bottleless unit, and the Euhomy Top-Loading Hot and Cold Cooler for room-temperature water from a back switch.
On this page (9 sections)
- The 6 best countertop water dispensers in detail
- Compare the 6 countertop units side by side
- How we picked these countertop water dispensers
- What are the two kinds of countertop water dispensers?
- How much counter space do these units need?
- How hot and cold do these units get?
- Which countertop unit fits a small kitchen or apartment?
- How much upkeep do these units need?
- Which one to pick
The best countertop water dispenser for a small kitchen is the Avalon A12, as long as you can run a water line to it. It gives you hot, cool and cold water with no jug to lift, and it stands only 19 inches tall.
Countertop covers two kinds of unit, and the difference decides your install. A top-loader takes a 3 or 5 gallon jug that you lift onto the top, while a bottleless unit connects to a water line and filters the water inside.
Top-loaders need no water line, which makes them the simpler buy for a kitchen without one. Most of the decision comes down to whether you can add a water line under the sink.
We ranked six units for small kitchens, looking at counter space, jug lifting, filter upkeep and cleaning. Four are top-loaders and two are bottleless.
Bottom-loaders are a third option, with the jug kept in a cabinet. Our bottom-loading water dispensers guide covers that type, and our top-loading vs bottom-loading comparison explains the lift in more detail.
Our picks at a glance
-
1
Best for no jug lifting with three temperaturesAvalon A12 Countertop Bottleless Cooler
8.5/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
2
Best for a two-temperature bottleless unitAvalon B8BLK Countertop Bottleless Cooler
8.1/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
3
Best for room-temperature water from a back switchEuhomy Top-Loading Hot and Cold Cooler
8.0/10 our score
See it on Amazon
- 4
Check itIgloo Top-Loading Hot and Cold Cooler
Best for turning off hot or cold separately - 5
Check itBrio 130 Series Top-Load Cooler
Best for quick fills and a spill-proof collar - 6
Check itFrigidaire EFWC498 Slim Top-Loader
Best for a slim, two-temperature top-loader
The 6 best countertop water dispensers in detail
The Avalon A12 leads for a small kitchen with a water line, and the Euhomy top-loader leads if you'd rather skip the install. The other four each trade temperatures against footprint.
Avalon A12 Countertop Bottleless Cooler
- Three temperatures: hot, cool and cold
- Ozone self-clean by a switch, per Avalon
- NSF-certified carbon filter, per Avalon
- Built-in leak detector
The countertop bottleless pick with three temperatures and no jug to lift. It needs a water line, and Avalon says its carbon filter is NSF certified.
Pros
- No jug to lift
- Three temperatures and a child lock
- Ozone self-clean by switch, per Avalon
Cons
- Needs a water line and an under-sink install
- Filters need changing about every 6 months or 1,500 gallons
The Avalon A12 is a countertop bottleless cooler with three temperatures: hot, cool and cold. There's no jug to lift, because the unit draws from a water line and filters the water inside.
Avalon says the carbon filter is NSF certified, and the sediment and carbon filters last 6 months or 1,500 gallons. An ozone function cleans the water tank when you press a switch, and a built-in leak detector watches the water flow.
It measures 14.75 inches deep, 12 inches wide and 19 inches tall, so it takes counter space, not floor space. Avalon says there are 9 inches of space below the spouts, enough for most large cups and bottles.
The limit is the install. It needs a water line and a connection under the sink, so follow Avalon's install guide and plan for that work before you buy.
Avalon backs it with a 1-year warranty. The Avalon A12 review has the full breakdown.
Avalon B8BLK Countertop Bottleless Cooler
- Hot and cold water
- Sediment and carbon block filters
- NSF certified and UL approved, per Avalon
- Installation kit with 20 feet of tubing
A two-temperature bottleless cooler that connects under the sink. Avalon calls it NSF certified and UL approved, and at 12 inches deep it is shallower than the A12.
Pros
- 12 inches deep, shallower than the A12
- NSF certified and UL approved, per Avalon
- Filters last 6 months or 1,500 gallons, per Avalon
Cons
- Only hot and cold, with no room setting
- Needs a water line and an under-sink install
The Avalon B8BLK is a bottleless cooler with hot and cold water and no room setting. It is the simpler of the two Avalon bottleless units, with fewer temperatures to choose between.
It is 12 inches deep, 13 inches wide and 19 inches tall, so it is shallower than the A12. Avalon says it has two filters, a sediment filter and a carbon block filter, that last 6 months or 1,500 gallons.
The package includes an installation kit with 20 feet of tubing and an under-sink adapter with a shutoff valve. Avalon calls the unit NSF certified and UL approved, and the hot spout has a child safety lock.
The limits are the missing room setting and the install, since it needs a water line. The body is black plastic rather than stainless steel, so it looks different from the A12.
Avalon gives it a 1-year warranty. It suits a buyer with a water line who wants the shallowest bottleless unit and only needs hot and cold.
Euhomy Top-Loading Hot and Cold Cooler
- Hot, cold and room water from a back switch
- Two-step child lock on hot
- Removable lid and catch tray
- Fits 3 or 5 gallon bottles
A top-loader with a back switch for room-temperature water. It fits 3 or 5 gallon bottles, and Euhomy offers a 1-year warranty.
Pros
- Room-temperature water from a back switch
- Removable lid and catch tray
- 1-year warranty from Euhomy
Cons
- You lift a full jug onto the top
- The room setting sits on the back, not the front
The Euhomy top-loader is a freestanding cooler with hot and cold spouts and a switch on the back. The switch selects cold, hot or ambient water, which gives you a third option that the other top-loaders here don't have.
It is 11 inches deep, 11.4 inches wide and 36.5 inches tall, a small footprint for a tall unit. It fits 3 or 5 gallon bottles, and the top lid and catch tray both come off for cleaning.
The hot spout has a two-step child safety lock: you slide the lock, then press the spout. Euhomy offers a 1-year warranty.
The limit is the lift. You raise a full jug onto the top, and that is the step bottleless units avoid.
It suits a buyer who wants room-temperature water and is fine with the lift. A room setting lets you fill a bottle for a recipe without waiting on the hot or cold side.
Igloo Top-Loading Hot and Cold Cooler
- Separate hot and cold spigots
- Separate energy-saving switches
- Removable drip tray
- Child safety lock on hot
A top-loader with separate switches, so you can turn off hot or cold when you don't need it. Igloo says the switches help save electricity, and the unit fits 3 or 5 gallon jugs.
Pros
- Separate switches for hot and cold
- Removable drip tray
- About 11 inches square
Cons
- You lift a full jug onto the top
- The body is plastic, not stainless steel
The Igloo top-loader is a compact black cooler with separate hot and cold spigots. Its footprint is about 11 inches square, which suits a small kitchen.
Igloo says energy-saving switches let you control each temperature on its own, so you can turn off hot or cold when you don't need it. A child safety lock sits on the hot spout, and a removable drip tray catches spills.
The unit stands 36.5 inches tall and fits 3 or 5 gallon jugs. Igloo describes it as suited to both countertop and freestanding use.
The limits are the jug lift and the materials. You raise a full jug onto the top, and the body is plastic rather than stainless steel.
Igloo gives it a 1-year limited warranty. It suits a kitchen where you use hot water only now and then, since you can switch that side off.
Brio 130 Series Top-Load Cooler
- Hot and cold water
- 1.5 L per minute flow rate
- Spill-proof collar on the top
- Child safety lock on hot
A two-temperature top-loader with a fast fill and a spill-proof collar. Brio says it needs no tools or plumbing, and it fits 3 or 5 gallon bottles.
Pros
- Fast 1.5 L per minute flow
- Spill-proof collar on the top
- No tools or plumbing needed, per Brio
Cons
- Only hot and cold, with no room setting
- Brio publishes no size for it
The Brio 130 Series top-loader is a black unit that dispenses hot and cold water at 1.5 liters per minute. The fast flow helps when you fill sports bottles or make soup.
Brio says the top has a spill-proof collar, and LED lights show when hot and cold are ready to dispense. The child safety lock on the hot spout uses a two-step process and relocks after each pour.
Brio says the unit needs no tools or plumbing and works anywhere, with no water line. It takes 3 and 5 gallon bottles, and you can see how much water is left from the top.
Brio publishes no size for this model, which is the one gap in the comparison. If space is tight, the Euhomy or the Igloo gives you known dimensions.
The limits are the two temperatures and the jug lift. It suits a buyer who wants a quick fill and a collar on the top, and who is happy to lift each refill.
Frigidaire EFWC498 Slim Top-Loader
- Hot and cold, from two push buttons
- Child safety lock on hot
- Removable drip tray
- Slim build, about 11 inches across
A slim, two-temperature top-loader with a removable drip tray. Frigidaire says its cold side runs on a compressor, not a thermo-electric cooler.
Pros
- Slim footprint, about 11 inches across
- Removable drip tray
- Child safety lock on the hot spout
Cons
- Only two temperatures
- You lift a jug onto the top for every refill
The Frigidaire EFWC498 is a slim top-loader with two push buttons, one for hot and one for cold, and two separate spigots.
It is 11 inches deep, 11.5 inches wide and 36 inches tall, so it has a narrow build that doesn't project far from the wall.
Frigidaire says the cold side runs on a compressor, not a thermo-electric cooler, and the tank is stainless steel. The removable drip tray makes spills quicker to clean, and an indicator shows cooling, heating and power activity.
The hot spout has a child safety lock, and Frigidaire gives the unit a 1-year warranty. It lists 100 watts of cooling power and 420 watts of heating power.
The limits are the same as the other top-loaders: you raise a full jug onto the top for every refill, and there is no room-temperature setting. It suits a buyer who wants a slim two-temperature unit and doesn't need room water.
Compare the 6 countertop units side by side
Start with the water source, since it decides the install. Then compare the temperature settings, since only the Avalon A12 and the Euhomy add a third setting between hot and cold.
The bottleless units show no bottle size, because they don't use one. All four top-loaders take 3 or 5 gallon bottles, so bottle size doesn't separate them.
| Product | Best for | Water source | Temperatures | Bottle size | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon A12 Countertop Bottleless Cooler | no jug lifting with three temperatures | Water line | 3 (hot, cool, cold) | None needed | 8.5 |
| Avalon B8BLK Countertop Bottleless Cooler | a two-temperature bottleless unit | Water line | 2 (hot, cold) | None needed | 8.1 |
| Euhomy Top-Loading Hot and Cold Cooler | room-temperature water from a back switch | Jug on top | 3 (hot, cold, room) | 3 or 5 gal | 8.0 |
| Igloo Top-Loading Hot and Cold Cooler | turning off hot or cold separately | Jug on top | 2 (hot, cold) | 3 or 5 gal | 7.7 |
| Brio 130 Series Top-Load Cooler | quick fills and a spill-proof collar | Jug on top | 2 (hot, cold) | 3 or 5 gal | 7.5 |
| Frigidaire EFWC498 Slim Top-Loader | a slim, two-temperature top-loader | Jug on top | 2 (hot, cold) | 3 or 5 gal | 7.3 |
How we picked these countertop water dispensers
We ranked each unit for a small kitchen first, then looked at counter space, jug lifting, filters and cleaning. Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for.
The water source ranks highest, because a water line decides whether a bottleless unit fits your kitchen at all. Temperatures come next, since a third setting adds a useful option for many drinks.
The top-loaders are scored on what they add in a small kitchen, such as the room setting on the Euhomy and the separate switches on the Igloo. Footprint and jug lifting come after that, and the top-loaders trail the bottleless units on both.
The Avalon A12 ranks first because it combines three temperatures, no jug lifting and a self-clean. The Frigidaire ranks last because it has only two temperatures and a jug to lift.
Fit can outweigh a missing feature. The Frigidaire has only two temperatures, but its slim build keeps it in the running for narrow spaces.
Our scoring treats a water line as a real cost, not a footnote. A unit that needs an install scores on what it adds, such as filtered water and no jug lift, against the work it asks of you.
Our water dispenser buying guide explains how to size a unit for your home, and it applies to countertop models too.
What are the two kinds of countertop water dispensers?
A top-loader is a jug cooler where you lift the jug onto the top. A bottleless unit connects to a water line and filters the water inside, so there is no jug.
Both can sit in a kitchen, but they differ in install, height and lift. Pick by your setup, not by the word countertop alone, since that word covers both.
Top-loading countertop water dispensers: the lift and the height
Top-loaders are the simpler buy if you can't run a water line. Each refill means raising a 3 or 5 gallon jug onto the top, and that lift is the main downside.
The three top-loaders with a published size stand 36 to 37 inches tall before the jug goes on, so they work better on the floor than on a counter. On a counter, you need open space above for the unit and the jug.
If you want to put a top-loader on a stand, our guide to water dispenser stands for 5-gallon jugs explains how to choose one.
A top-loader does let you see how much water is left in the jug. Euhomy, Frigidaire, Brio and Igloo all point that out.
Bottleless countertop water dispensers: the water line and filters
Bottleless units need a water line under the sink, and that install is the main trade-off. The Avalon A12 and the B8BLK each include an installation kit with 20 feet of tubing and an under-sink adapter with a shutoff valve.
Avalon says its sediment and carbon filters last 6 months or 1,500 gallons, so the filter schedule is the upkeep you plan around. You also skip storing and reordering jugs.
The Avalon kit lists 1/4-inch tubing, a three-way push connect adapter, a 3/8-inch under-sink adapter with a shutoff valve, a filter flushing adapter and illustrated instructions. The filters are Avalon models A5FILTER (sediment) and A4FILTER (carbon block).
For the wider comparison, read bottleless vs bottled water coolers for home.
On water quality, follow the maker's guidance and ask your local water utility about your tap water. The EPA's ground water and drinking water pages are a starting point for questions about tap water.
How much counter space do these units need?
A bottleless unit needs about 12 to 15 inches of depth and 19 inches of height, while a top-loader needs about 11 inches square and 36 to 37 inches of height. These are the sizes, given as deep by wide by tall:
- Avalon A12: 14.75 x 12 x 19 inches
- Avalon B8BLK: 12 x 13 x 19 inches
- Euhomy top-loader: 11 x 11.4 x 36.5 inches
- Igloo top-loader: 11.42 x 11.02 x 36.54 inches
- Frigidaire EFWC498: 11 x 11.5 x 36 inches
- Brio 130 Series: no size published
Height is the real difference. The two bottleless units are 19 inches tall, which is why they suit a counter, and a top-loader needs room for the unit and the jug above it.
Jug lifting is the other big gap. Top-loaders need you to raise a full jug, and the bottleless units don't.
For a small kitchen, that lift often matters more than a few inches of width.
How hot and cold do these units get?
Where the makers publish temperatures, hot water runs from about 185 to 210 °F and cold water sits near 47 °F. Hot water at those temperatures can burn.
Here is what each maker publishes:
- Avalon A12: hot at about 185 °F and cold at about 47 °F, with tanks that hold 1 liter of hot water and 3.1 liters of cold water
- Avalon B8BLK: cold at about 47 °F
- Euhomy top-loader: 5 liters per hour of hot water and 2.5 liters per hour of cold water
- Igloo top-loader: a top temperature of 210 °F and 580 watts
- Frigidaire EFWC498: a top temperature of 200 °F, with 420 watts of heating power and 100 watts of cooling power
- Brio 130 Series: a flow rate of 1.5 liters per minute
A small hot tank, like the A12's 1 liter, means back-to-back hot drinks may need a short wait to reheat. If you draw a lot of hot water, tank size and heater speed matter more than a third setting.
Which countertop unit fits a small kitchen or apartment?
For a small kitchen with a water line, the Avalon A12 or the B8BLK fits best. Without a water line, the Euhomy or Igloo top-loader is the simpler option.
Some apartment kitchens have little counter room, and a bottleless install needs a water line under the sink. If you rent, check your lease before you connect one.
A top-loader avoids that question and moves with you when you leave. For an office or break room you own, a top-loader is the easier place to start because it needs no line.
If the kitchen has a line, the A12 gives you three temperatures and no lift. If it doesn't, the Euhomy top-loader adds room-temperature water from its back switch, and the Igloo lets you turn off hot or cold with separate switches.
The Frigidaire is a slim top-loader with only two temperatures. Choose it if a slim footprint matters more than room water.
How much upkeep do these units need?
Top-loaders need regular cleaning of the tank, spouts and drip tray, and bottleless units add filter changes on the maker's schedule. Neither type skips the manual's steps.
Removable parts make routine rinsing easier, such as the Euhomy's lid and catch tray and the drip trays on the Igloo and the Frigidaire. The Avalon filters add a change every 6 months or 1,500 gallons.
Unplug the unit and check your manual before you start. Clean as the manual says, rinse well and let everything dry.
Some manuals allow a mild vinegar solution, but use only what your manual names. For the full steps, read how to clean a water dispenser.
The Avalon A12 is the only unit here with a self-clean feature, and the manual's cleaning steps still apply. If self-cleaning is your main need, our best self-cleaning water dispensers list covers the options.
Which one to pick
The water line question decides the type, so the bullets below start there. Each write-up names its limit, so read the one for the pick you're considering.
- Pick the Avalon A12 if you have a water line and want three temperatures with no jug to lift.
- Pick the Avalon B8BLK if you want a shallower bottleless unit with hot and cold only.
- Pick the Euhomy top-loader if you need room-temperature water from a back switch.
- Pick the Igloo top-loader if you want separate hot and cold switches and a small footprint.
- Pick the Brio 130 Series if fast fills and a spill-proof collar matter more than a room setting.
- Pick the Frigidaire if you want a slim, two-temperature top-loader with a drip tray.
If you want a bigger hot and cold lineup for the home, see our best hot and cold water dispensers for home.
The best countertop water dispenser is the one that matches your water source and your counter height. If you're still undecided between a jug on top and a jug in a cabinet, read the top-loading vs bottom-loading comparison next.
Our top 3 picks at a glance
-
1
Best for no jug lifting with three temperatures
Avalon A12 Countertop Bottleless Cooler
8.5/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
2
Best for a two-temperature bottleless unit
Avalon B8BLK Countertop Bottleless Cooler
8.1/10 our score
See it on Amazon -
3
Best for room-temperature water from a back switch
Euhomy Top-Loading Hot and Cold Cooler
8.0/10 our score
See it on Amazon
Frequently asked questions
What is the best countertop water dispenser for a small kitchen?
The Avalon A12 is the best pick here if you can run a water line to it, with three temperatures, no jug to lift and an ozone self-clean. Without a water line, the Euhomy top-loader is the best choice, since its back switch adds room-temperature water.
What is the difference between a top-loader and a bottleless countertop unit?
A top-loader takes a 3 or 5 gallon jug that you lift onto the top, while a bottleless unit connects to a water line and filters the water inside, so there is no jug. Bottleless units need an under-sink install, and top-loaders don't.
Do countertop water dispensers need a water line?
Only the bottleless units do, and the Avalon A12 and B8BLK each come with an installation kit that includes 20 feet of tubing. Top-loaders run from a jug and need no line, so they are the simpler choice for a kitchen without one.
How often do the filters on a bottleless unit need changing?
Avalon says its sediment and carbon block filters last 6 months or 1,500 gallons, so plan changes on that schedule and note the install date. Heavy use wears through a set faster than light use, so follow the filter steps in your manual.
Can a countertop dispenser fit under a kitchen cabinet?
The two bottleless units stand 19 inches tall, which may fit under some wall cabinets, so measure the gap first. The top-loaders stand 36 to 37 inches tall before a jug goes on top, so they work better on the floor than on a counter.
