Crown Berkey
The largest Berkey, for a large family, a church kitchen or a workplace. Cheapest per gallon of capacity among the Berkeys.
Amazon $478$478
The Crown Berkey is the better gravity water filter overall, rated 3.5 to 3.2. The Crown Berkey leads on capacity and value. The Imperial Berkey costs $27 less ($451 vs $478).
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.
Imperial Berkey
For a big household or a shared office. It costs about $100 per gallon of capacity, a better rate than the smaller Berkeys.
Amazon $451$451
Which should you buy?
- Choose the Crown Berkey for capacity (6 gal tank vs 4.5 gal tank) and value ($79.67 per gallon of capacity ($478, 6 gal) vs $100.22 per gallon of capacity ($451, 4.5 gal)).
Scores side by side
Each factor is scored 0-100 against the same fixed reference points for every 4.5 gal and up gravity water filter; a clear win is highlighted. How we rank explains each one.
| Factor weight | Crown Berkey | Imperial Berkey |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3.5/5 | 3.2/5 |
| Value 25% | 71 $79.67 per gallon of capacity ($478, 6 gal) | 57 $100.22 per gallon of capacity ($451, 4.5 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% | 100 6 gal tank | 67 4.5 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
| Crown Berkey | Imperial Berkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and flow | ||
| Tank capacity | 6 gal | 4.5 gal |
| Price per gallon of capacity | $79.67 | $100.22 |
| Elements included | 2 | 2 |
| Maximum elements | 8 | 6 |
| Flow, fully loaded | 26 gal/hr | 16.5 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 | 304 stainless steel |
| Height | 30 in | 26 in |
| Diameter | 11 in | 10 in |
| Weight | - | 10 lb |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |