Royal Berkey
The middle Berkey for a household that drinks and cooks with filtered water. A step up from the Big Berkey without needing much more space.
Amazon $408$408
The Royal Berkey and the Berkey Light are evenly matched, rated 2.9 and 2.8. The Royal Berkey leads on capacity. The Berkey Light costs $73 less ($335 vs $408).
Prices were last checked November 9, 2026. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon or the retailer's site at the time of purchase apply. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Berkey Light
A lightweight 2.75 gal Berkey for places where a stainless tank is too heavy to move. Pick it for portability, not price.
Amazon $335$335
Which should you buy?
- Choose the Royal Berkey for capacity (3.2 gal tank vs 2.8 gal tank).
Scores side by side
Each factor is scored 0-100 against the same fixed reference points for every 2.5 to 3.5 gal gravity water filter; a clear win is highlighted. How we rank explains each one.
| Factor weight | Royal Berkey | Berkey Light |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 2.9/5 | 2.8/5 |
| Value 25% | 43 $125.54 per gallon of capacity ($408, 3.2 gal) | 45 $121.82 per gallon of capacity ($335, 2.8 gal) |
| Running cost 15% | 34 $0.047 per gallon filtered ($140.94 per element, 3,000 gal each) | 34 $0.047 per gallon filtered ($140.94 per element, 3,000 gal each) |
| Capacity 15% | 39 3.2 gal tank | 28 2.8 gal tank |
| Certification 20% | 10 testing claims only, no certification | 10 testing claims only, no certification |
| Element life 15% | 100 3,000 gal rated per element | 100 3,000 gal rated per element |
| Warranty 10% | 11 1-year warranty | 11 1-year warranty |
Specifications
| Royal Berkey | Berkey Light | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and flow | ||
| Tank capacity | 3.2 gal | 2.8 gal |
| Price per gallon of capacity | $125.54 | $121.82 |
| Elements included | 2 | 2 |
| Maximum elements | 4 | 4 |
| Flow, fully loaded | 7 gal/hr | 7 gal/hr |
| Filtration | ||
| Element type | Black Berkey carbon-media element (BB9-2) | Black Berkey carbon-media element (BB9-2) |
| Certified | Tested only | Tested only |
| Certification detail | Berkey states Black Berkey Elements were tested by accredited third-party labs against ANSI/NSF protocols for 200+ contaminants. The elements are not NSF/ANSI certified. | Berkey states Black Berkey Elements were tested by accredited third-party labs against ANSI/NSF protocols for 200+ contaminants. The elements are not NSF/ANSI certified. |
| Fluoride | Add-on filter | Add-on filter |
| Running cost | ||
| Rated life per element | 3,000 gal each | 3,000 gal each |
| Replacement element | 140.9 $ | 140.9 $ |
| Cost per gallon filtered | $0.047 | $0.047 |
| Build | ||
| Material | 304 stainless steel | - |
| Height | 23 in | 21 in |
| Diameter | 9.5 in | 9 in |
| Weight | 8 lb | - |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |