Big Berkey® vs Royal Berkey®
Big Berkey vs Royal Berkey: which is right for you?
Both are polished AISI 304 stainless steel, both ship with 2 Phoenix elements and hold up to 4, and both take up to 4 PF-2™ fluoride elements. The difference is how much water you want ready at once.
| Spec | Big Berkey® | Royal Berkey® |
|---|---|---|
| Price (with Phoenix) | $267 | $308 |
| Best for | Small to medium families | Medium-sized families |
| Everyday use | 1–4 people | 2–4 people |
| Emergency use (fully configured with 4 elements) | Up to 85–170 people/day | Up to 100–200 people/day |
| Capacity | 2.25 gal (8.5 L) | 3.25 gal (12.3 L) |
| Height in use / nested | 19.25" / 13" | 23" / 15.25" |
| Diameter | 8.5" | 9.5" |
| Weight (empty) | 7 lbs | 8 lbs |
| Flow rate (2 / 4 Phoenix elements)* | Up to 3.5 / 7.0 gal/hr | Up to 4 / 7 gal/hr |
| Max filters | 4 Phoenix + 4 PF-2™ | 4 Phoenix + 4 PF-2™ |
| Material | Highly polished AISI 304 stainless steel | Highly polished AISI 304 stainless steel |
*Flow rate calculated with upper chamber full to top. Flow rate decreases as water level declines.
Which is right for you
Pick by household
Everyday figures are Berkey's own. Your usage may vary with cooking, coffee and pets.
1-2 people
Big Berkey. Plenty of water for drinking and cooking, smaller footprint, nests to 13" for travel or storage.
3-4 people
Either works. Choose Royal if you'd rather refill less often - it holds an extra gallon (3.25 vs 2.25 gal).
Heavy users
Royal Berkey, and consider adding a second pair of Phoenix elements for up to 7 gal/hr and double the gallons between filter changes.
Emergency planning
Fully configured with 4 elements, Big is rated for up to 85-170 people a day and Royal for up to 100-200. Emergency prep guide.
FAQ
Big vs Royal questions
Will a Royal Berkey fit under my cabinets?
The Royal stands about 23" tall in use and the Big about 19.25". Measure from your counter to the bottom of your upper cabinets - and leave a few inches to lift the lid and pour.
Do they use the same filters?
Yes. Both use Phoenix elements (up to 4) in the upper chamber and up to 4 Berkey PF-2™ elements in the lower chamber.
Does the bigger system filter faster?
With 2 Phoenix elements, Berkey rates the Big at up to 3.5 gal/hr and the Royal at up to 4 gal/hr. With 4 elements, both are rated up to 7 gal/hr. Flow rate is calculated with the upper chamber full and decreases as the water level declines.