What Water Brands Are Distilled? A 2025 Buying Guide

January 1, 2026 •

4 min read

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), bottled water labeled "purified" must have a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) level of no more than 10 ppm, a standard that distillation easily meets. This guide explores what water brands are distilled, the brands to consider, and the process that defines this pure form of hydration.

Quick Summary

This guide outlines which brands sell distilled water, explaining the distillation process that removes nearly all impurities and minerals. It details key brands, distinguishes between distilled, purified, and spring water, and discusses practical uses for this ultra-pure liquid.

Key Points

Distillation Process: Distilled water is produced by boiling water and collecting the steam, leaving all impurities and minerals behind.
Common Brands: Store brands like Great Value reliably offer distilled water, and some specialized product lines from companies like Nestlé and Evian do as well.
Not Distilled: Popular purified water brands like Aquafina and Dasani use reverse osmosis and often add minerals back in, so they are not true distilled water.
Best Uses: Distilled water is ideal for sensitive equipment like humidifiers, CPAP machines, and steam irons, as well as laboratory applications, to prevent mineral buildup.
How to Identify: Always read the label for the specific "distilled water" designation, as it is often located in the pharmacy or cleaning aisle rather than the standard beverage section.
Taste Difference: Due to the lack of minerals, distilled water has a flat or neutral taste, which is why most people prefer the flavor of mineral-enhanced purified or spring water.

Understanding the Distillation Process

Before identifying brands, it's crucial to understand what makes water distilled. Distillation is a water purification process that involves boiling water and then condensing the steam back into a clean liquid form. This process effectively leaves behind nearly all minerals, impurities, and contaminants, including heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, and many chemicals. The result is exceptionally pure H₂O with a flat, neutral taste due to the lack of dissolved solids.

How Distillation Differs from Other Purification Methods

Many popular bottled water brands use different purification techniques. For example, brands like Aquafina and Dasani often utilize reverse osmosis (RO) and other filtration methods, not necessarily distillation. The key difference lies in the end product. While RO also removes a high percentage of impurities, it doesn't always achieve the same level of total mineral removal as distillation. Many RO-purified waters are also 're-mineralized'—having minerals added back in for taste. In contrast, commercially sold distilled water is typically sold for applications where mineral-free water is essential, such as in appliances or medical equipment.

Brands That Sell Distilled Water

Finding true distilled water is often a matter of reading the label carefully and sometimes looking beyond the standard beverage aisle. Here are some options:

Store Brands: The most common and reliable source is a store's own brand. For instance, Walmart's Great Value brand offers a distilled water product. These are typically found in gallon jugs and are prominently labeled as "Distilled Water."
Specialty Water Brands: Some smaller, specialty water suppliers focus on high-purity water products. Brands catering to medical, laboratory, or appliance needs are a great place to look. Their products are often sold online or in specific retail sections (e.g., pharmacy aisles).
Nestlé Pure Life (Distilled Variant): While their standard purified water uses reverse osmosis, Nestlé has been noted to produce a specific distilled variant, often available in different markets or for specific applications, such as baby formula. It is important to check the product label for the specific "distilled" designation.
Evian (Distilled Variant): While primarily known for its natural mineral water, Evian also has offerings that include distillation in their multi-step filtration process, though these variants are less common than their standard product. Always check the specific bottle's description.

Popular Brands Often Confused with Distilled

Many consumers incorrectly assume that brands using advanced purification are distilled. It is important to clarify:

Aquafina: Uses a multi-step purification process, including reverse osmosis and ozone sterilization, but is not specifically a distilled product.
Dasani: Uses reverse osmosis to purify municipal water and then adds a blend of minerals back in for taste. It is not distilled.
Smartwater (Glaceau): Uses vapor distillation in its purification process but also adds electrolytes back for taste. The final product is not pure, mineral-free distilled water.

Distilled vs. Spring vs. Purified: A Comparison Table

To clarify the differences, here is a quick overview of common bottled water types.


Feature	Distilled Water	Spring Water	Purified Water (RO)
Source	Any water source (tap, well)	Naturally flowing underground source	Any municipal or ground source
Purification Process	Boiling, vaporization, condensation	Natural filtration through rock layers	Reverse osmosis, filtration, ozonation
Mineral Content	Virtually zero dissolved solids or minerals	Contains natural, varied mineral content	Low mineral content, but often re-mineralized
Taste	Neutral, flat, and tasteless	Crisp, refreshing, and flavored by minerals	Consistent taste, often with added minerals
Primary Use	Appliances, labs, CPAP machines	Everyday drinking preference	Everyday drinking preference

Why Choose Distilled Water? Practical Uses Beyond Drinking

While it is safe to drink, the lack of minerals gives it a flat taste that many find unappealing. Its true value lies in applications where mineral content is a liability:

Home Appliances: Using distilled water in steam irons, humidifiers, and vaporizers prevents the mineral buildup (scale) that can clog and damage the equipment.
Medical Equipment: CPAP machines require distilled water for their humidifiers to prevent mineral deposits from being inhaled or damaging the device.
Laboratories and Cleaning: For sensitive applications like lab work, cleaning optical components, or mixing chemical solutions, distilled water ensures no mineral interference.
Automotive: For older car batteries that require topping off, distilled water is used to prevent corrosion from minerals found in tap water.
Crafting and Cosmetics: Distilled water provides a pure, consistent base for beauty formulations, ensuring no impurities interfere with the final product.

How to Identify Distilled Water in Stores

To ensure you are buying genuine distilled water, follow these simple tips:

Read the Label: Look for the words "Distilled Water" on the front of the packaging. If the label says "Purified Water," it may not be distilled unless the label specifies. Also, check the ingredients list for added minerals.
Check the Location: Distilled water is often not in the main bottled water aisle. It is frequently sold in gallon jugs and located near cleaning supplies, pharmacy products, or baby items.
Use a TDS Meter: If you have concerns about the water's purity, you can purchase an inexpensive TDS meter. True distilled water should have a reading of 0 ppm.

Conclusion: Making an Informed Choice

Determining what water brands are distilled comes down to careful label reading and knowing where to look. Brands like Great Value and specific product lines from Nestlé or Evian sometimes offer distilled versions, but many popular purified water brands use a different process, often adding minerals back in for flavor. While drinking distilled water is safe as part of a balanced diet, its most practical applications are for home and medical equipment where mineral-free water is a necessity. By understanding the distinction between distilled, purified, and spring water, you can make the right choice for your specific needs, whether it's for hydration or household use. For more information on general drinking water quality, you can consult the EPA's drinking water regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary difference is the purification method and final mineral content. Distilled water is made by boiling and condensing steam, resulting in almost no minerals. Purified water, often made via reverse osmosis, also removes many impurities but may have minerals added back for taste.

Yes, it is safe to drink distilled water as part of a balanced diet. The minerals we need primarily come from food, not water, so the absence of minerals in distilled water is not a health concern for most people. However, some people find its flat taste unappealing.

Distilled water is recommended for CPAP humidifiers because it contains no minerals. This prevents mineral deposits from forming and clogging the machine's components, ensuring its longevity and proper function.

Yes, distilled water is the ideal choice for steam irons. The lack of minerals prevents the buildup of limescale inside the iron, which can lead to sputtering and damage.

You can typically find distilled water in gallon jugs in the cleaning supplies aisle, baby care section, or sometimes near the pharmacy. It is usually kept separate from the standard bottled drinking water.

No, while both Aquafina and Dasani are highly purified, they are not distilled. Both use a process that includes reverse osmosis, and Dasani adds minerals back in for taste.

This can refer to a process where water is distilled to remove impurities and then a small amount of minerals or electrolytes is added back into it. This is often done to improve the taste, which some people find flat when it is completely mineral-free.