Iron in well water is one of the most common problems private well owners deal with. It stains sinks, ruins laundry, clogs water heaters, and leaves a metallic taste in drinking water. The fix isn’t complicated, but picking the wrong system wastes money.

Before you buy anything, test your water. Your iron concentration, iron type (ferrous vs. ferric), pH, and any co-contaminants like manganese or hydrogen sulfide all affect which system works for you. A test also tells you whether you actually have an iron problem or something else. See well water testing guide and best mail-in water tests if you haven’t tested yet.

These products are evaluated based on published manufacturer specifications, NSF and WQA certification data, independent lab testing results where available, and user feedback from verified purchasers. We haven’t run hands-on lab comparisons of each unit.

Before You Spend $400 to $2,000

Iron filters for whole-house use run from roughly $400 on the low end to over $2,000 for multi-stage systems with UV. That’s the right price range when you have a real iron problem.

If your iron level is under 0.5 mg/L (ppm) and your only issue is a faint metallic taste or very slight staining, a water softener adjustment or a basic carbon filter may be all you need. This review covers systems built for moderate to severe iron, typically 1 ppm and above.

Also worth knowing: if your water has a rotten egg smell alongside the iron, you have hydrogen sulfide. That changes the system you need. More on that below.

How Iron Filters Work

Most whole house iron filters use one of two approaches.

Air injection (also called air pocket or oxidizing) systems inject a pocket of air at the top of the tank. As water passes through, dissolved iron (ferrous) oxidizes and turns into particles (ferric). A filter media bed traps those particles. The system backwashes on a timer, flushing trapped iron down the drain. No chemicals needed.

Multi-stage systems layer different filter media, sediment, iron reduction, and carbon, to tackle multiple problems at once. They’re better for well owners dealing with iron plus bacteria, VOCs, or sediment. The tradeoff is higher upfront cost and more maintenance.

For a deeper look at iron in well water, see how to remove iron from well water and iron as a contaminant.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: SpringWell WS Whole House Iron Filter

The SpringWell WS is the best pick for most well owners with moderate to high iron. It uses air injection to oxidize iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide before filtration. No chemicals, no salt, no replacement media under normal conditions.

What it handles: Ferrous iron up to 7 ppm, manganese up to 1 ppm, hydrogen sulfide up to 8 ppm.

How it works: A pressurized air pocket at the top of the tank oxidizes dissolved iron as water enters. The oxidized particles are trapped by the filter bed, then flushed out during an automatic backwash cycle. The system regenerates the air pocket as part of the backwash.

Pros:

• No chemicals required. The air injection process does the oxidizing.
• Handles three common well water problems at once (iron, manganese, H2S)
• 12-20 GPM flow rate depending on the model size you choose
• Lifetime warranty on the tank. Six-month satisfaction guarantee.
• NSF certified components

Cons or considerations:

• Handles ferrous (dissolved) iron well. Ferric (particulate) iron may need a sediment pre-filter added.
• Max 7 ppm iron. If your well tests above that, you need a different approach or a pre-treatment stage.
• Backwash uses water. You’ll need a floor drain or utility sink nearby.

Best for: Homes with moderate to high dissolved iron, especially when manganese or hydrogen sulfide are also present.

Check current pricing at SpringWell (affiliate link, see our disclosure above)

Best for Well Owners With Multiple Concerns: Aquasana Rhino Well Water Filter System (With UV)

The Aquasana Rhino Well Water system is a multi-stage whole house filter built specifically for private well owners. The optional UV add-on makes it the right call if your well has bacteria concerns on top of iron and other contaminants.

What it handles: Iron, manganese, sediment, chloramines, VOCs, and bacteria when the UV stage is included.

How it works: Water passes through multiple stages: sediment pre-filter, main filtration tank, and optionally a UV purifier. Each stage targets a different class of contaminants. The UV stage exposes water to ultraviolet light, which kills bacteria and viruses without adding chemicals.

Pros:

• Purpose-built for well water, not adapted from a city-water design
• UV add-on eliminates bacteria without chlorine
• Addresses a broader set of contaminants than iron-only systems
• NSF certified (verify current certification status on Aquasana’s product page)

Cons or considerations:

• Higher upfront cost than single-purpose iron filters
• The UV bulb needs replacement annually
• If your only problem is iron, this system is more than you need. It pays off when you’re dealing with multiple water quality issues.

Best for: Well owners with iron plus bacteria risk, VOC concerns, or anyone who wants one system to address multiple problems.

Check current pricing at Aquasana (affiliate link)

Best for High Iron With Manganese: Pelican Iron and Manganese Filter

Pelican’s whole house iron filter uses air injection and is rated for higher iron concentrations than the SpringWell WS. If your iron test comes back above 7 ppm, this is where to look first.

What it handles: Iron up to 15 ppm, manganese up to 1 ppm. Chemical-free operation.

How it works: Same air injection principle as the SpringWell. Dissolved iron oxidizes in the air pocket, then gets filtered out and backwashed away. The higher iron rating makes it suitable for wells with more severe iron problems.

Pros:

• 15 ppm iron capacity, the highest rated capacity in this comparison
• Chemical-free. No potassium permanganate or chlorine injection needed.
• WQA certified
• Good track record in high-iron regions

Cons or considerations:

• Hydrogen sulfide handling is not the focus of this system. If H2S is also present, SpringWell WS may be a better fit.
• Pelican’s customer support reputation is more mixed than SpringWell’s.
• Verify flow rate for your model size matches your household’s peak demand.

Best for: Wells testing above 7 ppm iron, especially when manganese is also elevated.

Check current pricing at Pelican (affiliate link)

Best Budget Pick: iSpring WGB32BM Whole House Iron Filter

The iSpring WGB32BM is a three-stage filter with an iron and manganese reduction layer built in. It won’t match an air injection system’s performance at high iron concentrations, but it’s a solid entry-level option for well owners with mild-to-moderate iron.

What it handles: Sediment, iron and manganese (moderate concentrations), chlorine and other chemicals. Best suited for iron levels under 3 ppm.

How it works: Three filter stages in sequence: a sediment pre-filter (5 micron), an iron and manganese reduction filter, and a coconut shell carbon block. Each stage has its own replaceable cartridge.

Pros:

• Lower upfront cost than whole house oxidizing systems
• Three-stage filtration addresses sediment and chemical taste alongside iron
• NSF/ANSI 42 certified components
• Simpler installation. No backwash drain required.

Cons or considerations:

• Filter cartridges require regular replacement (cost adds up over time)
• Not suitable for iron above 3 ppm. The filter media will get overwhelmed and clog faster.
• No backwash function. You’re replacing cartridges, not regenerating media.

Best for: Budget-conscious buyers with iron under 3 ppm and no hydrogen sulfide issues.

Check current pricing on Amazon (affiliate link)

Side-by-Side Comparison

How to Choose

Start with your water test results. If you don’t have them, get them before reading further. Results in hand, here’s how the decision breaks down.

Iron only, no bacteria, no H2S. An air injection oxidizing filter is the right tool. The SpringWell WS is the best pick for iron under 7 ppm. For iron above 7 ppm, go Pelican.

Iron plus bacteria risk. Add UV. The Aquasana Rhino Well with UV is built exactly for this. A standard iron filter won’t address bacteria, and if your well has ever tested positive for coliform, that problem doesn’t fix itself.

Iron plus hydrogen sulfide plus manganese. The SpringWell WS handles all three. That combination is common in certain aquifer types, and a system rated for H2S is worth the extra money over one that isn’t.

Iron under 3 ppm, tight budget. The iSpring WGB32BM covers you. Plan for ongoing filter cartridge costs.

One more thing: test your water before buying. Your iron concentration, pH, and other co-contaminants determine which system actually works for your well. A system perfectly rated on paper can underperform if pH is outside the optimal range for oxidation or if sediment load is higher than expected. A good mail-in test gives you everything you need to match the right system to your water. See best mail-in water tests.