Menu
 

Best Self-Cleaning Water Bottles

Updated June 2023
Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more 
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Larq Self-Cleaning Water Bottle
Larq
Self-Cleaning Water Bottle
Check Price
Easy to Use
Bottom Line

This bottle not only keeps your water and bottle clean, but it also keeps them at temperature, too.

Pros

It can self-clean at the touch of a button, in addition to its automatic cleaning that triggers every two hours. Its battery can last for up to a month on a full charge. It comes in 17- and 25-fluid-ounce sizes and in six colors, including dark blue and black.

Cons

It uses a micro-USB charger rather than the now standard USB-C, so you may not have spare chargers in your home.

Lavone Self-Cleaning Water Bottle
Lavone
Self-Cleaning Water Bottle
Check Price
Multi-Functional
Bottom Line

The UV light in the cap of this bottle can also sterilize other objects.

Pros

It takes only three minutes to sterilize the bottle or other objects, and it takes only 1.5 hours to fully charge from a dead battery. The cap is waterproof so there’s no need to worry about ruining it.

Cons

It only comes in one size and in one color. Holding the cap over objects for three minutes can get tiring.

CrazyCap Self-Cleaning Water Bottle
CrazyCap
Self-Cleaning Water Bottle
Check Price
Low-Cost Choice
Bottom Line

This bottle is among the more affordable options, though you lose some features in return.

Pros

It comes in stainless steel, or plastic if you want to save a few dollars. The stainless steel option can maintain temperature for hours. It comes in 17-, 23- and 25-fluid-ounce sizes and in seven colors, including yellow and black.

Cons

The charger uses a unique magnetic head, so if you lose it you’re in trouble.

Philips Water Self-Cleaning Water Bottle
Philips Water
Self-Cleaning Water Bottle
Check Price
Excellent Warranty
Bottom Line

This manufacturer offers a two-year replacement warranty if any issues arise, which is more than most.

Pros

The cap has a helpful handle that you can clip a carabiner to or loop a finger through. The bottle is dishwasher-safe. It comes in 12- and 20-fluid-ounce sizes and in four colors, including blue and green.

Cons

Unlike the bottle, the cap cannot be washed in the dishwasher.

UVBRITE Self-Cleaning Water Bottle
UVBRITE
Self-Cleaning Water Bottle
Check Price
Safety First
Bottom Line

This bottle has a safety lock on the lid to prevent any accidents.

Pros

It has two sterilization modes. The first triggers on one press of the button and is a standard cleaning. A second press triggers a more intense “blitz mode.” It comes in an 18.6-fluid-ounce size and in five colors, including red and wood.

Cons

Some consumers found it heavier than most bottles. Others had issues charging the cap.

HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

33
Models
Considered
69
Consumers
Consulted
22
Hours
Researched
Category cover

Buying guide for best self-cleaning water bottles

Many people carry a water bottle everywhere, understanding the importance of staying hydrated. Using a reusable water bottle is great for the environment, but you might have concerns about the quality and safety of the water you’re putting in your bottle. A self-cleaning water bottle can deliver peace of mind.

It would be more accurate to call these “purification water bottles,” because they don’t actually clean themselves. Instead, the bottles clean and purify the water inside. Self-cleaning bottles contain an ultraviolet light and a rechargeable battery in the cap. The UV-C light purifies the water in the bottle with a type of radiation that damages or kills the DNA of microorganisms, eliminating bacteria, viruses, and other dangerous microorganisms that can cause sickness, including gastrointestinal problems.

If you’re looking for a water bottle that delivers cleaner, better-tasting water, a good buying guide and recommendations can get your shopping started.

a man drinking from a water bottle
Manufacturers of these bottles typically claim to eliminate up to 99.99% of bacteria and viruses in the water.

How to buy the best self-cleaning water bottle

Materials

Nearly all self-cleaning water bottles are made of stainless steel. Double-walled stainless steel is a good insulator, and it is extremely durable, which is an important feature if you plan to use your water bottle when hiking or camping. Stainless steel bottles also have a smooth interior surface, ensuring that the UV-C light is able to reflect through and purify all the water inside.

Purification settings

Time: Most self-cleaning water bottles purify the water in 60 seconds. Some caps use different colors of light or a countdown timer to let you know when the purification process is running and when it has ended. During the purification cycle, you can’t remove the lid to take a drink.

Some more expensive bottles include a second mode that runs a longer purification cycle of a few minutes. This can be helpful if you have significant concerns about the safety of the water you’re drinking.

Automatic: Some self-cleaning water bottles enable you to set the purification cycle to run automatically every few hours. You can turn off the automatic mode so it doesn’t run when the bottle is empty.

Battery

You can expect two to four weeks of use from a single charge of the battery inside the cap. Some bottles have a flashing light near the USB port to alert you when the battery power is low.

LARQ presented its self-cleaning bottles on Shark Tank and received $1 million for a 4% stake in the company. The deal was one of the largest company valuations in the history of the show.

STAFF
BestReviews

Features to look for in self-cleaning water bottles

Color

Most of these bottles come in a rainbow of colors and fun patterns, giving you lots of choices. Black is the most common color, but you’ll also find everything from orange to blue to lavender. Selecting a unique color or pattern can help you distinguish your bottle from others at a glance. Even the least expensive bottles offer a few color and design choices.

Lid

All self-cleaning water bottles have a screw-on lid. There is no option to use a straw with these bottles because it would interfere with the purification process.

Some lids have a handle, so you can clip it to a backpack or belt. Some have a flexible loop that you can attach to a strap or belt.

Capacity

Self-cleaning water bottles typically hold 16 to 25 ounces. Most are tall and cylindrical, making it easy to fit the bottle in a cup holder in a vehicle. Selecting a large capacity bottle means you won’t have to refill it as often, but the larger bottles are more expensive. The capacity doesn’t affect the effectiveness of the UV-C light.

water bottle surrounded by food, soda bottle and an insulated bag
DID YOU KNOW?
By eliminating bacteria in water, especially the types of bacteria that cause odors, your water may taste better when using a self-purifying water bottle.
STAFF
BestReviews

Other specialized water bottle options

Maybe you don’t need a self-cleaning water bottle because you only use your bottle for tap or filtered water from home. If so, there are a few other specialized types of water bottles that may better fit your needs.

Infusion water bottle

You first fill an infusion water bottle with tap or filtered water. You then have the option of adding sliced fruit or vegetables, which fit inside a basket inside the bottle and infuse the water with flavor.

Filtered water bottle

For hiking or camping, a filtered water bottle removes contaminants like sediment, microplastics, chlorine, and other things that affect the taste or smell of water.

Collapsible water bottle

When traveling, it’s helpful to have a water bottle that folds down to a small size until you need it for drinking. Collapsible water bottles are available in many shapes and sizes.

How much do self-cleaning water bottles cost?

Inexpensive

The least expensive self-cleaning water bottles cost $25 to $40. These typically have a smaller capacity, often 18 ounces or less. Most of these bottles don’t have double-walled insulation. Some manufacturers sell replacement caps for $20 to $50.

Be careful about buying an inexpensive self-cleaning water bottle, because some come from less reputable manufacturers. Read customer reviews to be certain your inexpensive bottle will meet your water purification needs.

Mid-range

The average UV purification water bottle costs $40 to $70. Bottles in this price range hold between 15 and 20 ounces. Some are insulated to maintain the temperature of the water.

Expensive

The priciest self-cleaning water bottles cost $70 to $125 and hold 17 to 24 ounces, but some are even larger. Most are insulated, and many have a timer so you can run the purification cycle automatically every few hours. The most well-known manufacturer brand names, like LARQ, fall in this price range.

The short wavelength of UV-C light enables it to damage microorganisms more effectively than the longer UV-A and UV-B wavelengths.

STAFF
BestReviews

Tips

  • Fill your self-cleaning bottle only with water. Most of these bottles aren’t made to handle other types of drinks like soda or juice. If you do fill it with another liquid, hand-wash the bottle with warm, soapy water before using it again. Stains on the interior surface from other liquids can decrease the effectiveness of the UV purification process.
  • Read the cleaning instructions carefully. If you’re only using the bottle for water, you usually can go a few weeks before washing it. Use warm water and a little dish soap or a disinfecting wipe to clean the exterior. After every few uses, hand-wash the area where your mouth touches the bottle. Most of these bottles are safe to put in the dishwasher, but the lid with the UV-C light is not safe to wash in the dishwasher.
  • Take care of the USB port too. Most of these bottles have a USB port in the cap to charge the battery. Keep this port free of grime and dirt so it will continue to work effectively. After washing the bottle, wait until the cap is completely dry before charging the battery.
a woman drinking from a water bottle
One minute of UV light sterilization in this type of bottle kills as many microorganisms as boiling the water for about 20 minutes.

FAQ

Q. How do self-cleaning water bottles work?

A. Most of them generate UV-C light inside the bottle cap. When activated, the UV-C light damages any bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms in the water, killing them or rendering them harmless.

Q. Can I use any kind of tap water with the bottle?

A. Yes. Even in locations where drinking tap water might not be safe for travelers, the bottle’s ability to remove harmful microorganisms that could make you sick allows you to drink the tap water.

Q. Do self-cleaning water bottles keep water hot or cold?

A. If you want to maintain the temperature of your water, select a double-walled self-cleaning bottle. However, some manufacturers don’t recommend putting hot water in this type of bottle because it can reduce the effectiveness of the UV light. Cold water or the addition of ice cubes shouldn’t affect the bottle’s performance.

 

Our Top Picks