I hate to break it to you, but the tap water you’re soaking in when you take a bath is likely not filtered whatsoever.It’s totally safe, but it may have impurities in it that can irritate skin (especially for babies and kids) and dry out hair, like chlorine, chloramine and hard water minerals.
That’s where a bath filter comes in.Like filtered showerheads, bath filters remove impurities as water comes out of the spout, so by the time it makes its way into your tub, it’s more purified.I’ve been testing bath filters for over a month, have done extensive research about them and talked to experts about how (and if) they really work.
Find out everything you need to know — including which models I recommend — below.Selected.Our top picksBest for familiesCanopy Bath Tub Filter$undefined$89.00AmazonLearn moreBest to use as neededTru Bath Water Filter$27.99$29.99TRU Water FiltersLearn moreRelatedselectedselectedThe best filtered showerheads of 2026, tested and reviewedWant more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.What are bath filters?Bath filters are exactly what they sound like: filters for bath water.They’re point of use filters, which means they treat water directly at the fixture, says Deon Marecheau, a Thumbtack pro and the owner of Antillean Restoration.
As water comes out of the tub spout, it passes through the materials inside the filter (a.k.a.filter media), which traps impurities like sediments, minerals, chlorine and odors.
Then, by the time the water gets to you, it’s in its most purified state.In my experience, bath filters are much easier to install compared to shower filters — there’s absolutely no plumbing or home improvement experience necessary.In fact, you don’t even need to replace your tub spout to use bath filters.
You simply slide them over or hang them from your spout so they’re positioned right underneath water as it comes out.The best bath filters of 2026I tested all of the ba...