Machine, cylinder, bottles, tap water: what a litre from the soda maker costs, compared with crates and six-packs, and when a soda maker really pays for itself.
In short
- A litre from the soda maker costs 12 to 20 cents, depending on cylinder price and fizz strength.
- Discount-store sparkling water in PET costs 19 to 30 cents, branded water in glass 50 to 90 cents.
- A soda maker costing 70 euros is paid off after 8 to 12 months at two litres a day.
- The biggest item is the cylinder, so comparing prices when you swap is worthwhile.
The building blocks
- Machine: 50 to 150 euros, lasts many years. Over 10 years at two litres a day that is about 1 cent per litre.
- Cylinder: 7 to 10 euros per swap for about 60 litres, so 12 to 17 cents per litre at medium strength. At strong fizz 15 to 25 cents, with self-filled cylinders 2 to 4 cents.
- Bottles: PET bottles last two to three years (the date is printed on them), glass bottles indefinitely. About 0.5 cents per litre.
- Tap water: 0.2 to 0.5 cents per litre including wastewater.
The comparison
| Sparkling water | Per litre | Per year at 2 litres a day |
|---|---|---|
| Soda maker, cylinder from a shop | 13 to 20 cents | 95 to 145 euros |
| Soda maker, self-filled | 3 to 6 cents | 20 to 45 euros |
| Discount store, PET six-pack | 19 to 30 cents | 140 to 220 euros |
| Branded water, PET crate | 40 to 60 cents | 290 to 440 euros |
| Branded water, glass crate | 50 to 90 cents | 365 to 660 euros |
With bottled water you also have the trips, the carrying and returning the deposit bottles; with a soda maker you give up some counter space. The soda maker cost calculator plugs in your own numbers and shows after how many months the machine has paid for itself.
Where you save
- Compare cylinder prices: Between 6.50 and 10 euros there is almost a third difference.
- Chill the water: Cold water absorbs more CO2. A litre from the fridge needs fewer presses than one at room temperature.
- Fizz strength: One press less per bottle makes the cylinder last weeks longer.
- Large cylinder or refilling: For heavy drinkers and families from three litres a day, both are worthwhile.
What needs saying honestly
If you drink still tap water, you pay half a cent per litre. The soda maker is not a saving compared with the tap, but compared with the bottle. Its strength is convenience: no carrying, no deposit, less plastic. How much plastic you save is shown by the plastic savings calculator.
Try it out
Soda maker cost calculatorMachine, cylinder, fizz level: what a litre costs and when the soda maker pays for itself.Plastic savings calculatorHow many bottles, how much plastic, how much money and CO2 you save per year if you switch.Frequently asked questions
Is an expensive machine with glass bottles worth it?
Financially hardly, but in use it is: glass does not pick up flavours, goes in the dishwasher and lasts forever. The extra 50 to 100 euros is purely a question of comfort.
How much water does a family of four carbonate?
Usually 3 to 5 litres a day. Then a cylinder is empty after two weeks, and a large cylinder or refilling becomes interesting.
Share
