What’s the big deal about boxed water? Well, a lot of folks are turning their backs on plastic bottles of water. There are plenty of reasons to do so, whether you’re concerned about that trash island or ingesting microplastics or just don’t like the crinkle of the plastic. And some folks don’t want to lug around a giant reusable water bottle—or they don’t have access to decent tap water with which to fill those giant reusable water bottles. Yes, canned water exists. But there’s also boxed water, which comes in a box mostly made of paper with some plastic (often plant-based plastic).
While Boxed Water Is Better was the first brand to make a splash with their milk carton-style water in a box, there are more brands out there making boxes of water these days. And they all taste different. Yes, really. Just as we found in our best bottled water taste test, our best boxed water taste test revealed nuanced differences between the boxed water brands. And there’s more than just plain boxed water out there—boxed flavored water is a thing, too.
So, if you’re in the market for the best boxed water, consult our ranking first. You’ll find the best plain box of water as well as the best alkaline water in a box and some flavored boxed water if you simply cannot stomach the flavor of standard water.
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- Flow Organic Peach + Blueberry
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Do you hate water? Do you wish water tasted like candy? Then I have the box of water for you! This flavor of Flow boxed water may advertise itself as peach flavored, but it’s actually peach ring flavored. It’s not so flavorful that you’ll mistake it for juice, but it still packs a good splash of fruity, gummy flavor. It sort of tastes like the memory of a peach soda—a bit like a flat LaCroix, but in a good way. I don’t get a ton of blueberry flavor, but, honestly, blueberry is rarely a good artificial flavor. I’m okay with the pure peachiness of this water in a box.
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- Hint Apple
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If your kid keeps begging you for juice (or if you keep staring longingly at the apple juice boxes but know that it’s pretty much just sugar water), these Hint water juice boxes will satisfy those desires while actually providing hydration. Made with zero juice, sweeteners, or sugar, this is simply water infused with “apple essence” and “natural flavors.” It really smells like apple juice. And it really tastes like actual apple juice, too! Faintly, of course, but there’s a definite bright green apple flavor present. Plus, it comes in little juice boxes, so you can still have the classic juice box experience.
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- Flow Alkaline Spring Water
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Flow boxed water comes in a Tetra Pak-style box, which makes it more ergonomic than the more angular boxes of water on this list. Alkaline water is essentially basic (as in, the opposite of acidic) water. (Want to know more? We wrote a whole article answering the question, what is alkaline water?) And this boxed water is definitely alkaline. It’s very soft and finishes totally clean. It really and truly tastes like nothing. Personally, I like my water to have some hint of water-y flavor—something crisp. But if you’re looking for that extremely soft and neutral alkaline experience, this is the best boxed water for you.
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- Boxed Water Is Even Better with Cucumber
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Welcome to the Boxed Water Is Even Better section of the best boxed water ranking. The original boxed water brand is still making some of the highest quality boxed water on the market—including boxed flavored water, which they market as Boxed Water Is Even Better. Their cucumber flavored water is super, super lightly flavored, but it’s distinctly cucumbery. It tastes like the stuff you get in a mid-to-high range hotel lobby or at a spa. I chugged this whole box of water. It goes down easy—but you do need to like cucumber.
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- Boxed Water Is Even Better with Blackberry
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Out of all the Boxed Water Is Even Better flavors we tasted, the blackberry was the most pronounced by far. Though it’s still gentle. It’s not trying to pass as juice. It tastes like water mixed with a dollop or two of blackberry jam. It’s fruity and rich and just a little bit tangy. It tastes fresh and real, and that’s a pretty big accomplishment for boxed flavored water.
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- Boxed Water Is Better
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Boxed Water Is Better water lives up to its name. Because it truly produces the best boxed water. It’s still pretty darn neutral, but it has a crispness to it that makes it just slightly better than Flow boxed water. It’s extremely refreshing. Plus, the milk box-style box is just such a fun design. If you’re going to drink boxed water, drink a fun box of water.
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Best Super Fruity
Best for Kids
Best Alkaline Water
Best Cucumber Flavor
Best Berry Flavor
Best of the Best
More boxed water brands we tried: Boxed Water Is Even Better with Grapefruit, Boxed Water Is Even Better with Lemon, Hint Cherry, Hint Watermelon, Hint Blackberry, Just Water 100% Spring Water, Naturally Alkaline, Flow Organic Cucumber + Mint, Flow Organic Strawberry + Rose
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!