Meta Description: A variety of water hardness test kits are available for sale. Choose a kit with test strips and a color-matching chart or a newer digital meter. Some kits test total water hardness while others identify levels of alkalinity and pH as well as mineral contents. Learn how to choose a kit with the right sensitivity level.
Best Water Hardness Test Kits
Hard water contains dissolved solids that can cause pipes in your home to build up mineral deposits. Water can also contain minerals that may cause health issues over time. A water hardness test kit is the best way to determine the hardness of water from your municipality or well.
This detailed review compares the 10 best water hardness test kits available for sale. Each of these kits stands out for reasons such as accuracy, ease of use, or unique features. We provide a detailed comparison table to make it easy to determine which kit has the features you need.
Our comprehensive buyer’s guide includes detailed reviews of all of these test kits and covers which features to consider when buying a kit. After reading this guide, you should have a better sense of how to select the best water test kit for your needs.
Water Hardness Test Kit Reviews: Compare the Top 10
In this section, we provide detailed reviews of the kits. These hardness test kits are rated based on important features such as overall accuracy, ease of use, and sensitivity.
| Product |
Rating |
Hardness Range (parts-per-million) |
Hardness Range (grains-per-gallon) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Best Drinking Water Test Kit
HealthMate Drinking Water Test Strips |
0 ppm to 500 ppm |
0 gpg to 30 gpg |
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A water hardness test kit designed for drinking water provides information that is important for your health. These strips test alkalinity, pH, hardness, free chlorine, and total chlorine levels. These responsive strips come with an easy-to-read color-matching chart. A set of two strips from HealthMate is an affordable one-time purchase. If you want to be able to repeatedly test your water over time, you may save money by purchasing a testing kit with more strips for a lower price per strip. Bottom Line:Specialized drinking water testing strips provide relevant results. Key Features:
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Affordable and Accurate
JNW Direct Water Total Hardness Strips |
0 ppm to 425 ppm |
0 gpg to 25 gpg |
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JNW Direct sells a kit that contains 150 water hardness test strips. These strips are considered more accurate than many other strips sold to test total water hardness. When some customers remarked that the strips they received were not responsive, JNW Direct supplied them with a replacement batch of working strips. Bottom Line:A large batch of affordable and accurate water hardness test strips with easy-to-read color indicators. Key Features:
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Simple Test Kit
Hach Total Hardness Test Strip |
0 ppm to 425 ppm |
0 gpg to 25 gpg |
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A set of 50 test strips from Hach makes it easy to measure the total hardness of your water. These strips do not measure the presence of specific minerals in the water you test. Consider this kit if you want simple water hardness test results that are easy to interpret Bottom Line:Simple and easy to use. Key Features:
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Complete Water Quality Test Kit
NovoBlue 14-in-1 Water Test KitCheck Price |
0 ppm to 425 ppm |
0 gpg to 25 gpg |
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The water test kit from NovoBlue tests water in 14 areas including alkalinity, hardness, bromine, carbonate, copper, cyanuric acid, fluoride, free chlorine, total chlorine, iron, nitrates, nitrites, and pH. These multi-use strips are designed for testing water in pools, hot tubs, and spas, but also work for potable water. The results may not be as sensitive or reflect trace amounts of these minerals. Bottom Line:Many different testing areas but results that may not be as precise for drinking water. Key Features:
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Single Strip Results
Baldwin Meadows Drinking Water Test Kit 9-in-1 |
0 ppm to 425 ppm |
0 gpg to 25 gpg |
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Baldwin Meadow’s specialized drinking water testing kit returns nine results for nine water quality tests on a single strip. Measure total alkalinity, pH, hardness, free chlorine, copper, iron, lead, nitrate, and nitrite and line up the color results with the chart printed on the container to determine results Bottom Line:A quick and easy way to perform nine water quality tests at once. Key Features:
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Thorough Testing
TestSure 9-in-1 Drinking Water Test Kit |
0 ppm to 425 ppm |
0 gpg to 25 gpg |
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The 9-in-1 Drinking Water Test Kit from TestSure is designed to test drinking water for total hardness as well as alkalinity, pH, and levels of copper, free chlorine, iron, nitrate, nitrite, and lead. Each box contains nine strips, one for each type of test.The color schemes for each test are printed on the package in which the strip is sealed. Results with these tests are slightly slower than some other simple water hardness testing kits. Bottom Line:More complete water testing kit. Key Features:
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Easy to Read
HoneForest Water Hardness Test Strips, Upgraded |
0 ppm to 425 ppm |
0 gpg to 25 gpg |
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This upgraded set of water hardness test strips from HoneForest comes in a container that is easy to close. The color comparison chart is printed on the label, so it is not easy to lose. These strips primarily respond to the levels of calcium and magnesium in water.These strips are slightly slower than some other brands are, as they take 40 seconds to develop. A desiccant in the container helps to preserve the viability of these test strips over time. Bottom Line: Key Features:
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For Well Water Watersafe Well-Water Test Kit |
0 ppm to 425 ppm |
0 gpg to 25 gpg |
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This test kit from Wastersafe provides you with multiple tests in one. It is specifically made to provide results for well water, which is known to contain plenty of contaminants since it is not running through a water treatment facility. You can test all of the following with this kit:
Bottom Line:Get more for your money with the possibility to test for multiple contaminants in water coming from a well. Key Features:
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Basic Value
Bulk Water Hardness Test Strips |
0 ppm to 500 ppm |
0 grains to 30 grains |
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This re-sealable package of Bulk Water Hardness Test Strips containing 35 test strips costs $15. These strips provide results in only 15 seconds. Immerse the test strip in a water sample for 1-2 seconds and place the strip on a surface with the testing pad side up. After 15 seconds, compare the color of the test pad to the color results chart. Bottom Line:An affordable and fast way to test the water in your home. Key Features:
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Industrial Test Systems WaterWorks Total Hardness Test Strips |
0 ppm to 1000 ppm |
0 gpg to 58 gpg |
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This set of 30 water hardness test strips from Industrial Test Systems tests the total hardness of water and returns results up to 1000 ppm. The cost per strip for this testing kit is more expensive than many of the other kits we reviewed and some customers point out that some strips either do not have testing areas or do not return clear results Bottom Line:These specialized hardness test strips are easy to use. Key Features:
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Comparison
| Product | Rating |
Hardness Range (parts-per-million): |
Hardness Range (grains-per-gallon): |
|---|---|---|---|
|
HealthMate Drinking Water Test Strips |
0 ppm to 500 ppm |
0 gpg to 30 gpg |
|
 JNW Direct Water Total Hardness Strips |
0 ppm to 425 ppm |
0 gpg to 25 gpg |
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Hach Total Hardness Test Strip |
0 ppm to 425 ppm |
0 gpg to 25 gpg |
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 NovoBlue 14-in-1 Water Test Kit |
0 ppm to 425 ppm |
0 gpg to 25 gpg |
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Baldwin Meadows Drinking Water Test Kit 9-in-1 |
0 ppm to 425 ppm |
0 gpg to 25 gpg |
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TestSure 9-in-1 Drinking Water Test Kit |
0 ppm to 425 ppm |
0 gpg to 25 gpg |
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HoneForest Water Hardness Test Strips, Upgraded |
0 ppm to 425 ppm |
0 gpg to 25 gpg |
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Watersafe Well-Water Test Kit |
0 ppm to 425 ppm |
0 gpg to 25 gpg |
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 Bulk Water Hardness Test Strips |
0 ppm to 500 ppm |
0 grains to 30 grains |
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Industrial Test Systems WaterWorks Total Hardness Test Strips |
0 ppm to 1000 ppm |
0 gpg to 58 gpg |
Hard Water Across The US
Buyer’s Checklist: 5 Features to Consider
Here are five things you should keep in mind when selecting a water hardness test kit
What is the intended use of the water hardness test?
Some water hardness kits are designed for use in pools and spas. Other kits are sensitive enough to detect trace amounts of the minerals that make water hard in drinking water. Make sure to choose a kit that is intended for the type of water testing you want to perform. In general, digital tests are less responsive for the purposes of testing drinking water than are strip tests.
How sensitive is the testing kit?
Check the measurement range of the kit you are considering as well as any available information about its ability to detect traces of minerals and other factors. If you only care about total hardness, you can choose a kit designed for this purpose. Kits that combine more testing parameters may offer greater insight into water quality.
Which results and testing ranges does a kit provide?
Some tests provide up to 14 parameters while others only interpret water hardness or provide basic results for water alkalinity, pH, and levels of chlorine (total and free), and lead. Keep in mind that total water hardness is only the big picture when it comes to overall water quality.
How responsive is a testing kit?
You should consider the length of time it takes to get results from a testing kit as well as the number of users who remark on dud testing strips. Try to choose a responsive testing kit, especially if you choose a kit that only includes one or two rounds of hardness testing strips.
How easy is it to interpret the results?
Most kits with testing strips come with color-matching charts. Consider the size and accuracy of the chart that comes with the kit you choose. Digital kits may require you to perform conversions between the total dissolved solids and the parts-per-million or grams of hardness in water.
The Bottom Line:
Choose a water hardness test kit that provides the level of accuracy and detail you desire. You may find it helpful to compare the results of two different types of tests. If you still are not sure about the composition or hardness of your water, you may want to have experts perform a lab test. Most of these testing solutions should at least provide you with a basic sense of whether your water is hard or soft.
