The Best Non-Toxic Refrigerator Filters of 2026

We scored 15 refrigerator filters for PFAS forever chemicals and other hazards, then ranked them best-graded first. The top pick is Whirlpool Waterdrop Refrigerator Water Filter for Whirlpool 3-Pack at 95/100. Every score below links to the full breakdown of what earned it.

How to read these scores. PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Each grade is a model-based assessment built from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, brand disclosures, recalls and third-party lab results where they exist. Read the full rubric to see exactly what adds and removes points.
0% of the 15 refrigerator filters we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
PFAS Authority, September 2026. Free to cite with a link. See the full dataset.

The best-scoring refrigerator filters for PFAS risk

  1. 1
    Waterdrop Refrigerator Water Filter for Whirlpool 3-Pack

    Whirlpool

    Waterdrop Refrigerator Water Filter for Whirlpool 3-Pack

    Activated carbon and polypropylene (typical refrigerator filter media)

    PFAS Grade95Excellent
    Overall Grade83Excellent
    ⚠️

    Bacterial growth in filter media (biofilm accumulation)

    Limited concern

    70
    🫧

    Carbon dust or particle release into water

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Filter housing seal or valve failure

    Limited concern

    70

    Lower PFAS concern for typical carbon-based filters; no red flags, but no transparency.

    ⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS

    Why this gradeBuy
  2. 2
    Aqua Fresh Replacement Refrigerator Water Filter WF425

    Aqua Fresh

    Replacement Refrigerator Water Filter WF425

    activated carbon, polypropylene housing

    PFAS Grade95Excellent
    Overall Grade83Excellent
    ⚠️

    Bacterial biofilm growth (unmaintained filter)

    Limited concern

    70
    🫧

    Activated carbon dust or particles in water

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Contaminant pass-through due to certification gaps

    Limited concern

    70

    Lower-concern replacement filter; no PFAS red flags, but brand offers no transparency.

    ⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS

    Why this gradeBuy
  3. 3
    Aqua Fresh Wf537 Refrigerator Water Filter Replacement

    Aqua Fresh

    Wf537 Refrigerator Water Filter Replacement

    activated carbon and/or ion-exchange resin filtration media

    PFAS Grade95Excellent
    Overall Grade83Excellent
    ⚠️

    Bacterial growth in filter media or housing

    Limited concern

    70
    🫧

    Carbon dust or resin particle release into water

    Limited concern

    70
    ⏳

    Degradation and bypass of contaminants over time

    Limited concern

    70

    Lower-concern filter type, but zero transparency from brand on PFAS.

    ⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS

    Why this gradeBuy
  4. 4
    Whirlpool everydrop Refrigerator Water Filter 2 edr2rxd1

    EveryDrop

    Whirlpool everydrop Refrigerator Water Filter 2 edr2rxd1

    Activated carbon and fibrous filter media

    PFAS Grade95Excellent
    Overall Grade83Excellent
    ⚠️

    Bacterial growth on saturated filter media

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Activated carbon dust or fines

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Inadequate contaminant reduction if misused

    Limited concern

    70

    Lower concern; standard carbon filter with no known PFAS-prone materials, but brand offers no transparency.

    ⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS

    Why this gradeBuy
  5. 5
    Whirlpool Everydrop Refrigerator Water Filter EDRARXD1

    EveryDrop

    Whirlpool Everydrop Refrigerator Water Filter EDRARXD1

    Activated carbon filter cartridge with cellulose/resin media

    PFAS Grade95Excellent
    Overall Grade73Good
    ⚠️

    Bacterial biofilm growth in unmaintained filters

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Carbon dust and particulate bypass at installation

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Cross-contamination from incompatible appliances

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Clogging and reduced contaminant contact time

    Moderate concern

    45

    Lower concern for typical use; standard carbon filter without known PFAS-prone materials, but no brand transparency.

    ⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS

    Why this gradeBuy
  6. 6
    Select LG Refrigerator Water Filter

    LG

    Select LG Refrigerator Water Filter

    Activated carbon and/or ion-exchange resin filter media

    PFAS Grade95Excellent
    Overall Grade77Excellent
    ⚠️

    Bacterial growth in filter housing

    Limited concern

    70
    🫧

    Carbon fine particles in water

    Moderate concern

    45
    ⚠️

    Cartridge bypass due to improper installation

    Limited concern

    70

    Lower-concern water filter; no known PFAS risk, but LG offers no public transparency on materials.

    ⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS

    Why this gradeBuy
  7. 7
    LG Refrigerator Water Filter LT700P

    LG

    Refrigerator Water Filter LT700P

    Activated carbon, polypropylene filter media

    PFAS Grade95Excellent
    Overall Grade87Excellent
    ⚠️

    Bacterial growth in carbon media

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Carbon dust or fines in dispensed water

    Limited concern

    70

    Lower-concern water filter; standard carbon media unlikely to contain PFAS, but LG offers no transparency.

    ⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS

    Why this gradeBuy
  8. 8
    LG Replacement Refrigerator Water Filter-LT700P

    LG

    Replacement Refrigerator Water Filter-LT700P

    Activated carbon filter media, plastic housing

    PFAS Grade95Excellent
    Overall Grade87Excellent
    ⚠️

    Bacterial growth in filter housing

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Filter bypass or incomplete sealing

    Limited concern

    70

    Lower concern for a water filter.

    ⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS

    Why this gradeBuy

What the evidence says about PFAS in refrigerator filters

The US EPA set its first enforceable drinking water limits for PFAS in 2024, including 4.0 parts per trillion each for PFOA and PFOS, and in May 2026 proposed giving water systems until 2031 to meet those two while rescinding the limits for four other PFAS. For home filters, EPA tells shoppers to look for NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certification for PFAS reduction, while cautioning that those certifications did not yet match its new limits. In one 2020 study, under-sink reverse osmosis and two-stage filters removed nearly all of the PFAS tested for, while carbon filters in pitchers and similar styles performed inconsistently.

  • Regulatory filingIn 2024 the US EPA set legally enforceable drinking water limits for six PFAS, with individual limits for PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA and a combined Hazard Index limit for mixtures of PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA and PFBS. US EPA ↗
  • Regulatory filingEPA’s 2024 limits for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water are 4.0 parts per trillion each, and EPA says its proposal to extend the compliance deadline does not change them. US EPA ↗
  • Regulatory filingOn May 18, 2026 EPA proposed letting drinking water systems request two more years, to 2031, to meet the PFOA and PFOS limits, and separately proposed rescinding the limits for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA and the Hazard Index mixture that also covers PFBS. US EPA ↗
  • Regulatory filingEPA tells shoppers to look on product labels for certification under NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 for PFAS reduction. US EPA ↗
  • Regulatory filingEPA cautions that, as of April 2024, PFAS filter certifications did not yet show a filter will remove PFAS down to its new drinking water limits, and says it is working with standard-setting bodies to update them. US EPA ↗
  • Independent testIn a 2020 study, Duke University and NC State researchers found that under-sink reverse osmosis and two-stage filters removed nearly all of the PFAS they tested for, while activated carbon filters in pitcher, countertop, refrigerator and faucet styles were inconsistent and unpredictable. Duke University via EurekAlert! ↗
  • Independent testConsumer Reports says three of the pitchers in its tests, the Brita Denali with Elite filter, the Culligan Zero Water ZD-012-RP and the ZeroWater Ready-Pour ZD-010RP, are certified to NSF standards to reduce lead, chlorine and PFAS. Consumer Reports ↗

Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.

Questions people ask about refrigerator filters

Every refrigerator filters that passes, side by side

Sorted by score. A higher score means lower PFAS risk.

#Refrigerator FiltersScoreRatingMade of
1Whirlpool Waterdrop Refrigerator Water Filter for Whirlpool 3-Pack95ExcellentActivated carbon and polypropylene (typical refrigerator filter media)
2Aqua Fresh Replacement Refrigerator Water Filter WF42595Excellentactivated carbon, polypropylene housing
3Aqua Fresh Wf537 Refrigerator Water Filter Replacement95Excellentactivated carbon and/or ion-exchange resin filtration media
4EveryDrop Whirlpool everydrop Refrigerator Water Filter 2 edr2rxd195ExcellentActivated carbon and fibrous filter media
5EveryDrop Whirlpool Everydrop Refrigerator Water Filter EDRARXD195ExcellentActivated carbon filter cartridge with cellulose/resin media
6LG Select LG Refrigerator Water Filter95ExcellentActivated carbon and/or ion-exchange resin filter media
7LG Refrigerator Water Filter LT700P95ExcellentActivated carbon, polypropylene filter media
8LG Replacement Refrigerator Water Filter-LT700P95ExcellentActivated carbon filter media, plastic housing

The refrigerator filters we would skip

Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.

Waterdrop Refrigerator Water Filter for Whirlpool 3-Pack

Whirlpool

Waterdrop Refrigerator Water Filter for Whirlpool 3-Pack

Activated carbon and polypropylene (typical refrigerator filter media)

PFAS Grade95Excellent
Overall Grade83Excellent
⚠️

Bacterial growth in filter media (biofilm accumulation)

Limited concern

70
🫧

Carbon dust or particle release into water

Limited concern

70
⚠️

Filter housing seal or valve failure

Limited concern

70

Lower PFAS concern for typical carbon-based filters; no red flags, but no transparency.

⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS

Why this gradeBuy
Aqua Fresh Replacement Refrigerator Water Filter WF425

Aqua Fresh

Replacement Refrigerator Water Filter WF425

activated carbon, polypropylene housing

PFAS Grade95Excellent
Overall Grade83Excellent
⚠️

Bacterial biofilm growth (unmaintained filter)

Limited concern

70
🫧

Activated carbon dust or particles in water

Limited concern

70
⚠️

Contaminant pass-through due to certification gaps

Limited concern

70

Lower-concern replacement filter; no PFAS red flags, but brand offers no transparency.

⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS

Why this gradeBuy
Aqua Fresh Wf537 Refrigerator Water Filter Replacement

Aqua Fresh

Wf537 Refrigerator Water Filter Replacement

activated carbon and/or ion-exchange resin filtration media

PFAS Grade95Excellent
Overall Grade83Excellent
⚠️

Bacterial growth in filter media or housing

Limited concern

70
🫧

Carbon dust or resin particle release into water

Limited concern

70
⏳

Degradation and bypass of contaminants over time

Limited concern

70

Lower-concern filter type, but zero transparency from brand on PFAS.

⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS

Why this gradeBuy

What we check on refrigerator filters

  • Confirmed PFAS, PTFE or fluoropolymer content, which is the heaviest penalty we apply.
  • Stain, water or grease resistant treatments, which usually mean fluorinated chemistry.
  • Whether the brand discloses what is in the product, or stays silent behind a “clean” claim.
  • Independent lab results and certifications where they exist.

Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.

The refrigerator filters brands that will not say

5 of the brands here publish nothing about PFAS at all. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is why none of them score well on disclosure.

Aqua Fresh, EveryDrop, LG, Waterdrop, Whirlpool.

Common questions about PFAS in refrigerator filters

Is refrigerator filters PFAS free?

Mostly not. Of the 15 refrigerator filters we have scored, 0% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 15 that pass. The highest scoring is Whirlpool Waterdrop Refrigerator Water Filter for Whirlpool 3-Pack at 95 out of 100. The lowest is Whirlpool Waterdrop Refrigerator Water Filter for Whirlpool 3-Pack at 95.

Which refrigerator filters grades best for PFAS?

Whirlpool Waterdrop Refrigerator Water Filter for Whirlpool 3-Pack, at 95 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is activated carbon and polypropylene (typical refrigerator filter media). The runner up is Aqua Fresh Replacement Refrigerator Water Filter WF425 at 95.

Which refrigerator filters should I avoid?

The three lowest scoring we hold are Whirlpool Waterdrop Refrigerator Water Filter for Whirlpool 3-Pack at 95, Aqua Fresh Replacement Refrigerator Water Filter WF425 at 95, Aqua Fresh Wf537 Refrigerator Water Filter Replacement at 95. The problem with the first is that the main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.

Which refrigerator filters brands will not say whether they use PFAS?

5 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including Aqua Fresh, EveryDrop, LG, Waterdrop, Whirlpool. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.

Do you lab test refrigerator filters?

No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.

More food and water categories we have graded

Same rubric, same scale. These are the categories closest to refrigerator filters.

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