Best Water Coolers for Home Use in Australia: How to Choose

The best water cooler for your home depends on your household size, available space, and whether you want filtered water on demand. Here’s a practical comparison of the main types available in Australia.

Browse our full water cooler range or see our Water Coolers Guide.

Types of Water Coolers

Benchtop Water Coolers

Compact units that sit on a kitchen bench or counter. Our Awesome Benchtop Water Coolers use a BPA-free bottle with a built-in 8-stage KDF filter — fill from the tap, and the filter does the rest. No plumbing required. Ideal for smaller households, renters, and anyone who wants filtered hot and cold water without installation.

Best for: 1–3 person households, renters, small kitchens.

Freestanding Water Coolers

Floor-standing units with a larger capacity. Same filtered bottle system as benchtop models but with a larger footprint and higher water capacity. Suits families and offices where water consumption is higher.

Best for: families of 3–5, home offices, shared spaces.

Bottleless (Mains-Connected) Water Coolers

Plumbed directly into your water supply with an inline filter. No bottles to manage — unlimited filtered water on demand. Higher upfront cost but lower ongoing cost (no bottle deliveries). Browse our bottleless water cooler.

Best for: offices, high-use households, anyone who wants zero bottle management.

Bottom-Loading Water Coolers

The water bottle sits in a closed compartment at the base — no lifting a heavy bottle overhead. Easier to change bottles than top-loading models. Suits households where lifting is a concern.

Best for: households where lifting is difficult, families with children.

Key Buying Considerations

• Filtration: our Awesome Water Coolers include built-in 8-stage KDF filtration — no separate filter system needed
• Hot & cold: most models offer both; check the hot water temperature (aim for 90°C+ for tea and coffee)
• Child safety lock: essential if you have young children — prevents accidental burns from the hot tap
• Space: benchtop models suit smaller kitchens; freestanding models need floor space of approximately 30cm x 30cm
• Capacity: a family of 4 will typically use a 15L bottle in 3–4 days
• Maintenance: sanitise every 3–6 months; replace filter cartridge every 6–12 months

Frequently Asked Questions