How to Distill Water at Home: The Easiest Methods Explained

Distilled water is the purest form of water you can produce at home — free from chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, bacteria, and dissolved minerals. There are a few ways to make it, ranging from a simple stovetop method to a dedicated home distiller. Here’s how each one works and which is worth your time.

For more on distilled water and home distillers, see our Water Distillers Guide or browse our water distiller range.

Method 1: Home Water Distiller (Easiest and Most Practical)

A benchtop home distiller is by far the easiest and most consistent way to produce distilled water. You fill the boiling chamber with tap water, press start, and collect pure distilled water in a glass jug 4–5 hours later. No monitoring required.

Our home distillers include a carbon post-filter that removes any volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that carry over with the steam — producing water that’s as close to pure H₂O as you can get at home.

Cost to run: approximately $0.05–0.10 per litre in electricity — far cheaper than buying bottled distilled water.

Best for: daily drinking water, CPAP machines, baby formula, steam irons, aquariums, and any application requiring consistently pure water.

Method 2: Stovetop Method (No Equipment Needed)

This works in an emergency or if you just want to try distillation without buying anything.

You’ll need: a large stainless steel pot with a rounded lid, a heat-safe bowl that floats inside the pot, and some ice cubes.

1. Half-fill the large pot with tap water.
2. Place the bowl inside so it floats on the water surface — this is your collection vessel.
3. Place the lid on the pot upside down (so the dome faces down into the pot).
4. Heat the water to a gentle boil.
5. Place ice cubes on top of the inverted lid. The cold lid causes steam to condense into droplets that run down and drip into the collection bowl.
6. Carefully remove the lid and collect the distilled water from the bowl. Store in a clean glass container.

Limitations: slow, produces small quantities, and requires constant attention. Not practical for daily use.

Method 3: Collecting Rainwater

Rainwater is naturally distilled — it’s water that has evaporated from the earth’s surface and condensed in clouds. However, collected rainwater picks up airborne pollutants, dust, bird droppings, and contaminants from your roof and gutters on the way down.

Rainwater collected directly in a clean open container away from rooflines is relatively pure, but it’s not reliably safe for drinking without further treatment. For tank water, a benchtop filter or distiller is recommended before drinking.

What Does Distilled Water Taste Like?

Distilled water tastes flat or neutral because it lacks the dissolved minerals that give tap and spring water their flavour. Most people adjust within a few days. If you find the taste too plain, adding magnesium prill beads or a pinch of sea salt improves the flavour and adds beneficial minerals.

Frequently Asked Questions