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Gravity water filters: what they cost and what to check
Filtered water without plumbing or a power socket. Compare British Berkefeld and Phoenix gravity systems on purchase price, capacity and replacement filters. You fill them by hand, so leave room on the worktop and allow time for each batch.
Photo: Doulton
Compare gravity filters
Affiliate disclosure. We may earn a commission if you buy through the link marked Affiliate link. This does not change the price you pay, and it does not decide which products are included or how they are described. The other links go straight to the maker.
The British Berkefeld uses ceramic elements; the Phoenix package below includes SmartCarbon filters. This comparison uses manufacturer specifications. We have not tested these products.
Photo: Doulton
Doulton British Berkefeld stainless steel gravity system, 6 litre
Stainless steel gravity system · W9361136-01 with two UltraSterasyl filters
The gravity collection lists systems from £124.95, which is the starting price for the range, not the price of this size. A stand is listed separately at £25.95.
A two-chamber stainless steel unit that you fill by hand with cold tap water. It needs no electricity and no plumbing, and the water drips through ceramic filters into the lower chamber.
See the 6 litre at Doulton Affiliate link
In the box: A standard spigot, blanking seals and two UltraSterasyl filters[1].
- Sizes
- 1, 6, 8.5 and 12 litre models. The filtered-water capacity of the body is 1, 5.6, 7.8 and 11.5 litres: the 6, 8.5 and 12 are nominal.[1]
- Height and diameter
- 1 L 275 × 113 mm; 6 L 473 × 194 mm; 8.5 L 500 × 224 mm; 12 L 603 × 246 mm.[1]
- The 1 litre
- Takes one 8674 filter and is poured, not tapped: it has no spigot.[3][4]
- Water to use
- Cold water at 5 to 30 °C. Doulton’s instructions say not to use untreated raw sources. Although the range is marketed for camping, we make no claim for streams, ponds or emergencies.[5][4]
- Filters
- UltraSterasyl 8674 from £23.95 each, rated 1,500 litres per element; replace every six months. Do not add the ratings together for a system figure. Never mix UltraSterasyl and UltraFluoride elements.[5][6][7]
- Cleaning
- The instructions allow soap for the housing, but not for the ceramic elements.[5]
- Flow
- You fill it in batches, and the flow rate varies. It is not instant mains-pressure water.[1]
Think twice if you want water on demand rather than in batches, or are short of worktop height: the 6 litre unit is 473 mm tall, or want to fill it from an untreated source: the instructions do not allow it.
Photo: Phoenix
Phoenix gravity water filter, 6 litre
Gravity system with steel spigot · 6 litre with two SmartCarbon filters
£199.00[8]
This is the one-time price for the 6 litre with two SmartCarbon filters and a steel spigot, with no stand. The £159.20 shown on the page is an upfront price that requires a £69 a year replacement subscription, so it is not comparable.
A gravity filter with a steel spigot, in 6, 8 and 12 litre sizes. It needs no electricity or plumbing, and it is a plain alternative to compare with the Doulton.
In the box: Two SmartCarbon filters and a steel spigot; no stand[8].
- Sizes
- 6, 8 and 12 litres.[8]
- Filter interval
- The maker says to change the filters every 12 months.[8]
- Availability
- The page shows a sale label and a sold-out label beside an add-to-cart button, so check stock with Phoenix before you order.[8]
Think twice if you want a stand included, or want an independent certification that names the exact model, or are tempted by the subscription price without wanting the subscription.
Side by side
| Product | Price | In the box | Sizes | Filters | Care and limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doulton British Berkefeld stainless steel gravity system, 6 litre | £166.95 (6 litre); range from £124.95[1][2] | Spigot, blanking seals, two UltraSterasyl filters; stand extra[1][2] | 1, 6, 8.5 and 12 litre; 5.6 litres of filtered water in the 6 litre[1] | UltraSterasyl 8674 from £23.95; 1,500 litres per element; replace every six months[5][6][7] | Cold water 5 to 30 °C, not untreated sources; soap on the housing only[5] |
| Phoenix gravity water filter, 6 litre | £199.00 one-time (6 litre)[8] | Two SmartCarbon filters and a steel spigot; no stand[8] | 6, 8 and 12 litre[8] | SmartCarbon; maker says change every 12 months[8] | No independent certification checked[8] |
Prices are the sellers’ displayed UK prices on 16 October 2026, before delivery, and change. Choose using the exact model’s instructions and test evidence, especially if you need a filter for a particular contaminant.
How a gravity filter works
You pour cold tap water into the upper chamber. It passes through the filter elements under its own weight and collects in the lower chamber, ready to dispense through a spigot or pour, depending on the model. That makes it a good fit if you rent, cannot plumb in a filter, or want something you can move. It also means you refill in batches.
The upper chamber is filled by hand with cold tap water. The water passes through the filter elements under its own weight, collects in the lower chamber, and is dispensed through a spigot, or poured from the 1 litre model. No electricity or plumbing is used, and the flow is slower than a mains tap.
- No plumbing, power or drillingA gravity system suits. Check the height under your wall units.
- Water on demandA gravity filter works in batches, so compare an under-sink system or a tap-fed countertop filter.
- Filling from a stream, pond or other untreated sourceDoulton’s instructions say not to. We make no outdoor or emergency claim for any product here.
Sizes and fit
The numbers on the box are nominal. Doulton’s 6 litre holds 5.6 litres of filtered water in the lower chamber, so size the unit by the filtered capacity, not the label. The 1 litre model is poured rather than tapped and takes a single filter.
| Size (nominal) | Filtered-water capacity of the body | Height × diameter |
|---|---|---|
| 1 litre[3] | 1 litre[1] | 275 × 113 mm[1] |
| 6 litre[1] | 5.6 litres[1] | 473 × 194 mm[1] |
| 8.5 litre[1] | 7.8 litres[1] | 500 × 224 mm[1] |
| 12 litre[1] | 11.5 litres[1] | 603 × 246 mm[1] |
How to choose
- Work out how much you use in a day. Compare it with the filtered capacity, remembering that you refill in batches and that the flow varies.
- Measure the height. The 6 litre Doulton is 473 mm tall and the 12 litre is 603 mm, before any stand. Stands are sold separately, and the Phoenix price here has no stand either.
- Count the elements. Doulton rates each UltraSterasyl element at 1,500 litres and recommends replacement every six months. At £23.95 each, two replacements for the 6 litre system cost £47.90 before delivery. Do not add the two capacity ratings into a guaranteed system lifespan; follow the time limit even if you use less water.
- Keep the element types apart. Never mix UltraSterasyl and UltraFluoride elements in one unit. The fluoride version of the system is listed from £205.95.
- Read the price basis. The Phoenix page shows £159.20 upfront, but that deal needs a £69 a year replacement subscription, so we use the one-time £199.00.
Common questions
Does a gravity water filter need plumbing or electricity?
No. You fill the upper chamber by hand and the water filters through under its own weight. The flow is slower than a tap, so plan to refill in batches.
Can I use a gravity filter when camping?
Doulton’s instructions say to use the British Berkefeld with cold water at 5 to 30 °C and not with untreated raw sources, even though the range is sold with camping in mind. We make no claim for streams, ponds or emergency use.
Can I clean the filter elements with soap?
Doulton’s instructions allow soap for the housing but not for the ceramic elements. Follow the manual for your model.
How long do the elements last?
Doulton rates each UltraSterasyl element at 1,500 litres and recommends replacement every six months. Phoenix says its filters should be changed every 12 months. The rated life depends on use and on your water; see how time and volume limits work.
Related guides
- Countertop water filters for tap-fed and plug-in units.
- Countertop water filters: types, space and upkeep for how the kinds differ.
- Replacing and caring for filter cartridges and the cartridge page.
- Running-cost calculator for the purchase and element costs over one, three and five years.
Sources
- Doulton: British Berkefeld stainless steel gravity system with UltraSterasyl read 16 October 2026
- Doulton: gravity systems collection read 16 October 2026
- Doulton: British Berkefeld 1 litre gravity system read 16 October 2026
- Doulton: 1 litre gravity system instructions (PDF) read 16 October 2026
- Doulton: British Berkefeld gravity filter instructions, April 2025 (PDF) read 16 October 2026
- Doulton: replacement filters collection read 16 October 2026
- Doulton: Ultra Sterasyl 8674 price and six-month replacement interval read 16 October 2026
- Phoenix: gravity water filter read 16 October 2026
Read on 16 October 2026 from the makers’ own pages and instructions. How we check.