A Berkey water filter is a gravity-fed water filtration system: two stainless steel chambers, filter elements in between, and gravity doing all the work. No electricity, no plumbing hookup, nothing to install. You pour water into the top chamber, it filters down into the bottom chamber, and you pour it out from there.
The short version: Berkey is a brand of portable gravity water filter, made by New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. (NMCL), sold in six system sizes built around the same core filter technology. For exactly how the filtration itself works, mechanically, see How Does a Berkey Water Filter Work?
Where the Berkey Name Comes From
NMCL introduced the Berkey® and Big Berkey® filters in the US in 1999, with the name drawing on the older Berkefeld gravity-filter lineage out of England. In 2003, NMCL developed the Black Berkey® filter element, the filter technology that still anchors the product line today.
The Berkey Product Line
Every Berkey system uses the same filtration approach, sized differently for different households and use cases, from the single-person Go Berkey Kit up to the Crown Berkey, built for 12 or more people. Compare all six systems and current pricing → or take the 30-second quiz to find the right size for your household.
Black Berkey and Phoenix Filter Elements
The filter elements inside the chambers are what actually do the work. New Berkey systems ship with Black Berkey® elements, rated for up to 6,000 gallons per set of two. Because of an ongoing EPA regulatory matter, Black Berkey elements are temporarily unavailable to purchase as standalone replacements, so the Berkey Phoenix New Millennium Edition, made by the same manufacturer, is the current in-stock replacement element. Both accept the optional PF-2 filter for added fluoride and arsenic reduction. See the full Black Berkey vs. Phoenix comparison for the details.
See the Berkey Line Introduced
This video was filmed in 2010, back when Black Berkey elements were the only element option and the product lineup looked a little different than it does today. We're keeping it here because the core explanation, gravity filtration, the two-chamber design, the PF-2 fluoride add-on, still holds up. For current specs, certifications, and the full lineup, use the links throughout this page rather than the video alone.
Filmed 2010 · Big Berkey Water Filters
Find Your Berkey
Six sizes, one filtration technology, a lifetime warranty on stainless steel and hardware exclusive to this site.
Dan is the owner and operator of Big Berkey Water Filters. Prior to Berkey, Dan was an asset manager for a major telecommunications company. He graduated from Rutgers with an undergraduate degree in industrial engineering, followed by an MBA in finance from Rutgers as well. Dan enjoys biohacking, exercising, meditation, beach life, and spending time with family and friends.
By
Dan DeBaun
