# Brita Filter Compatibility: Which Pitchers Take the Standard, Elite and Stream Filter, and Which Ones Interchange > Brita Standard (OB03) and Elite (OB06) fit every Brita pitcher except Stream and interchange: 40 gal vs 120 gal. Stream (OB05) fits only 3 models. | | | |---|---| | Source | https://ownerspec.com/water/parts/brita-pitcher-filter-compatibility-standard-elite-stream/ | | Publisher | OwnerSpec (https://ownerspec.com/) | | Published | 2026-09-12 | | Updated | 2026-09-12 | | Facts verified | 2026-09-12 | | Disclosure | Contains affiliate links. OwnerSpec may earn a commission at no cost to the reader. | --- ## Short answer Brita sells three pitcher filter families, and the fit rule is short. The Brita Standard (model OB03) and the Brita Elite (model OB06, formerly Longlast+) share one cartridge shape and drop into the same filter cage, so both fit every Brita pitcher and dispenser except the Stream line and interchange freely in the same pitcher, per Brita's replacement-filter FAQ. The Brita Stream filter (model OB05) attaches to the lid and filters as you pour, so it fits only the Cascade (OB57), Hydro (OB56) and Rapids (OB55), and no other filter works in those three. Capacity is the spec that separates Standard from Elite: Brita's performance data sheets rate the Standard at 40 gallons or about 2 months, the Elite at 120 gallons or about 6 months, and the Stream at 40 gallons or about 2 months. Only the Elite carries a lead reduction row on its data sheet, listed at 99.5 to 99.6 percent under NSF/ANSI 53. ## Fact sheet - **Answer:** Brita's Standard (OB03) and Elite (OB06) filters fit every Brita pitcher and dispenser except the Stream line and interchange in the same pitcher, per Brita's replacement-filter FAQ; the Stream filter (OB05) fits only the Cascade (OB57), Hydro (OB56) and Rapids (OB55). Brita's data sheets rate the Standard and Stream at 40 gallons or about 2 months and the Elite at 120 gallons or about 6 months. - **Applies to:** Brita Standard filter OB03; Brita Elite filter OB06 (formerly Longlast+); Brita Stream filter OB05 - **Compatibility basis:** Brita performance data sheets for the Standard (OB03), Elite (OB06) and Stream (OB05) filters, each with its compatible system-model list and replacement line, plus Brita's replacement-filter FAQ - **Assumptions:** Every certification on this page is listed per Brita's own performance data sheet; NSF, WQA and IAPMO keep their listings behind interactive search forms and none was queried.; Fit and certification claims for the Amazon Basics and AQUA CREST cartridges are each seller's listing text as read on 2026-09-12, not a Brita document. - **Method:** Part numbers, rated capacities, intervals, compatible system numbers and certification rows were copied from Brita's three performance data sheets and its FAQ, then cross-checked against each replacement filter's Amazon listing title. Nothing was tested. - **Primary source:** [Brita Elite filter (OB06) Performance Data Sheet (PDF)](https://assets.ctfassets.net/bugnyha6so6z/5JK8pJvAg8UaTe0U6jsWnd/4515ccd819082d64c5620746dd03974e/4af0c53c02f8ca9f805f5072fcbc4619.pdf) (manufacturer or vendor document) - **Facts verified:** 2026-09-12 - **Last updated:** 2026-09-12 - **Canonical URL (cite this):** https://ownerspec.com/water/parts/brita-pitcher-filter-compatibility-standard-elite-stream/ The spec people get wrong is not the fit, which Brita keeps simple, but the interval: Brita rates every filter in gallons, and the months are an estimate for an average family. ## Which filter fits which Brita pitcher? Each of Brita's three performance data sheets prints the list of system model numbers its filter is certified in, and Brita's replacement-filter FAQ states the rule in two lines: Standard and Elite filters are compatible with all Brita pitchers and dispensers, and Stream products only work with Stream filters. | Filter | Model | Fits, per Brita's data sheet | Mechanism | |---|---|---|---| | Brita Standard | OB03 | 20 system numbers: OB01, OB11, OB21, OB24, OB32, OB36, OB41, OB43, OB44, OB46, OB47, OB48, OB50, OB51, OB53, OB54, OB58, OB60, OB61, OB62 | Drop-in cartridge in the reservoir cage | | Brita Elite | OB06 | 17 system numbers: the Standard list without OB54, OB58 and OB61 | Same cartridge shape and cage as the Standard | | Brita Stream | OB05 | Cascade (OB57), Hydro (OB56), Rapids (OB55) only | Attaches to the lid, filters as poured | The Standard sheet names three system numbers (OB54, OB58, OB61) that the current Elite sheet does not, and Brita publishes no reason for the gap. In every other pitcher on the list the two interchange: same cage, same cartridge shape, different media and a different rating. Cascade, Hydro and Rapids are also not currently listed among Brita's featured pitchers on brita.com/products/. That does not mean the pitchers are gone, but it is worth checking Brita's current listing before buying a Stream pitcher new. ## What is each filter certified to? Brita's data sheets are the certification record on this page. NSF, WQA and IAPMO keep their listings behind interactive search forms, so every standard below is listed per Brita's own performance data sheet, not a database lookup. | Row on the sheet | Standard (OB03) | Elite (OB06) | Stream (OB05) | |---|---|---|---| | Standards and certifier | NSF/ANSI 42 and 53, WQA | NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401, WQA; PFOA/PFOS by IAPMO R&T; lead in the Pacifica (OB41) also by NSF International | NSF/ANSI 42 and 53, WQA | | Chlorine (NSF/ANSI 42) | 95% | 97.4% | 94% average, 88% minimum | | Particulate (NSF/ANSI 42) | No row | Class I, 99.6% | Class VI, 99.8% | | Lead (NSF/ANSI 53) | No row | 99.5 to 99.6%, to 5 ppb | No row | | Other NSF/ANSI 53 rows | Cadmium 91 to 94%, copper 73 to 89%, mercury 82 to 86% | PFOA/PFOS 98.1% to 0.07 ppb; asbestos over 99% | 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene 96.4% average, 92.2% minimum | | NSF/ANSI 401 | Not listed | Microplastics 0.5 to 1 micron, 99.6% | Not listed | | Zinc (NSF/ANSI 42) | 64% | Not listed | Not listed | The Elite's PFOA/PFOS and NSF/ANSI 401 figures carry a footnote limiting them to named systems: Slim/Metro (OB11), Space Saver (OB21), Ultramax Jet Black (OB24), Pacifica (OB41), Marina (OB47), Monterey (OB50), Wave (OB53), Everyday/Huron/Tahoe (OB60), and Denali (OB62). Outside that list, don't assume those two rows apply. If lead is the reason you are here, the [lead in tap water guide](/water/guides/lead-in-tap-water-service-line/) covers where it comes from, and the [NSF/ANSI 53 pitcher review](/water/reviews/best-water-filter-pitcher-nsf-53-lead-pfas/) sets the Elite against other pitchers with a lead row. ## What else fits the same cage? Two third-party cartridges on this page claim the Standard's shape and list the same exclusion Brita does: no Stream fit. Their figures are each seller's listing text as read on 2026-09-12, not Brita's. | Alternative | Same fit? | Rating claimed on the listing | What differs | |---|---|---|---| | Amazon Basics Enhanced, 3-pack | Brita pitchers and dispensers, excluding Stream | 40 gallons or 2 months; WQA certified against NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 and 372; nine contaminants named, including chlorine, zinc, copper, cadmium and mercury | Certification is the seller's claim; no Brita sheet covers it | | AQUA CREST, 6-pack | Brita pitchers and dispensers, OB03 and Mavea 107007; excludes Stream, Hub Instant and Bottle | 40 gallons or 2 months; NSF/ANSI 42 and 372 | No NSF/ANSI 53 claim, so no lead row; NSF/ANSI 372 covers lead content of the materials, not contaminant reduction | | ZeroWater and PUR cartridges | No | Their own cartridge families | Not on Brita's compatibility list; Brita publishes no cartridge dimension, so this page states none | Brita's FAQ adds one line that cuts the other way: the Elite may fit into non-Brita pitchers, but it is certified for contaminant reduction only in Brita pitchers and dispensers. Brita publishes no counterfeit or genuine-filter guidance, so there is nothing to cite on that question. ## How often do they need replacing? Each data sheet gives one gallon figure and calls the month figure an estimate for the average family. The gallon figure is the rating. | Filter | Brita's replacement line | Maximum daily use on the sheet | Shortens when | |---|---|---|---| | Standard (OB03) | 40 gallons / 151 liters, about 2 months | 2 gallons / 7.5 liters | At 2 gallons a day, 40 gallons arrives in 20 days | | Elite (OB06) | 120 gallons / 454 liters, about 6 months | 2 gallons / 7.5 liters | At the 2 gallon daily maximum, 120 gallons arrives in 60 days | | Stream (OB05) | 40 gallons / 151 liters, about 2 months | 2 gallons / 7.5 liters | At 2 gallons a day, 40 gallons arrives in 20 days | That arithmetic is the reason to count gallons rather than months: a pitcher refilled at Brita's stated daily maximum reaches the Elite's rating in a third of the quoted 6 months. If the complaint is taste rather than a lab result, start with the [chlorine and chloramine guide](/water/guides/chlorine-chloramine-city-water/) before choosing between a 95 and a 97.4 percent chlorine row. **Which one to buy** The Standard is the cheapest way to keep a Brita pitcher running, and its data sheet has no lead row and no particulate row: on paper it is a chlorine, zinc, cadmium, copper and mercury filter and nothing more. If one of those gaps matters, the Elite is the only Brita cartridge with an NSF/ANSI 53 lead figure, and it drops into the same cage. If you own a Cascade, Hydro or Rapids, the Stream is the only filter that fits, with the lowest chlorine minimum of the three at 88 percent. Those three pitchers are not currently listed among Brita's featured pitchers on brita.com/products/, so check availability before buying the pitcher new. Buy Brita Standard for taste in any drop-in pitcher, Brita Elite when your model number is on the Elite sheet's list, and Brita Stream only for the three Stream pitchers. Compare current listing prices rather than a remembered gap: this page copies none. ## The picks - **Brita Standard filter, 4-pack**: Any drop-in Brita pitcher or dispenser, taste and odor (OB03; 40 gallons or about 2 months; NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 by WQA per Brita's sheet; chlorine 95%, no lead row) Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000CF98Q/?tag=ownerspec-20 - **Brita Elite filter, 2-pack**: Same pitchers, when lead or PFOA/PFOS is the reason (OB06; 120 gallons or about 6 months; NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 per Brita's sheet; lead 99.5 to 99.6% to 5 ppb) Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MU7973W/?tag=ownerspec-20 - **Brita Stream filter, 3-pack**: Cascade, Hydro and Rapids pitchers only (OB05; 40 gallons or about 2 months; NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 by WQA per Brita's sheet; chlorine 94% average, 88% minimum) Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBXOBNP/?tag=ownerspec-20 - **Amazon Basics Enhanced filter, 3-pack**: Cross-fit for drop-in pitchers, seller-claimed NSF/ANSI 53 (40 gallons or 2 months and WQA certification to NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 and 372, per the listing; excludes Stream) Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YT16TMS/?tag=ownerspec-20 - **AQUA CREST filter, 6-pack**: Cross-fit for drop-in pitchers, taste and odor only (40 gallons or 2 months and NSF/ANSI 42 and 372, per the listing; no NSF/ANSI 53 claim; excludes Stream, Hub Instant and Bottle) Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G7BT8QV/?tag=ownerspec-20 ## Frequently asked questions ### How often should a Brita Standard filter be changed? Brita's Standard performance data sheet says to replace the Standard filter (model OB03) every 40 gallons or 151 liters, which Brita calls about 2 months for the average family. The sheet also caps daily use for maximum efficiency at 2 gallons or 7.5 liters. A household pouring that daily maximum reaches 40 gallons in 20 days, a third of the quoted 2-month estimate. ### Does the Brita Elite filter reduce lead? Brita's Elite performance data sheet lists lead reduction of 99.5 to 99.6 percent under NSF/ANSI 53, from a 150 ppb challenge down to 5 ppb. The sheet marks both lead rows as certified by NSF International, and separately certifies the Pacifica pitcher (OB41) with the Elite filter by NSF International for lead. The Standard and Stream data sheets carry no lead row at all. ### Can I use an Elite filter in a pitcher that came with a Standard filter? Yes. Brita's replacement-filter FAQ states that Original (Standard) filters and Elite filters are compatible with all Brita pitchers and dispensers, and the two share one cartridge shape and one cage. The only gap is on paper: the Standard data sheet lists three system numbers (OB54, OB58, OB61) that the current Elite sheet does not, and Brita publishes no reason for the difference. ### Will a Standard or Elite filter work in a Brita Stream pitcher? No. Brita's FAQ says Stream products only work with Stream filters. The Stream filter (OB05) attaches to the lid and filters as you pour instead of dropping into a cage in the reservoir, and Brita's Stream data sheet lists only the Cascade (OB57), Hydro (OB56) and Rapids (OB55) as compatible systems. Neither third-party cartridge on this page claims a Stream fit either. ### Is the Brita Elite filter certified for PFOA and PFOS? Brita's Elite performance data sheet lists PFOA/PFOS reduction of 98.1 percent to a maximum of 0.07 ppb, certified by IAPMO R&T against NSF/ANSI 53. The figure carries a footnote limiting it to named systems, among them the Slim and Metro (OB11), Space Saver (OB21), Pacifica (OB41), Monterey (OB50), Wave (OB53) and Denali (OB62), so check the pitcher's model number first. ## Sources - [Brita Standard filter (OB03) Performance Data Sheet (PDF)](https://assets.ctfassets.net/bugnyha6so6z/5joaMltFHv8CSYCb83DF5z/9b88384adc604f0913516907b8a1d630/8e1d9029be93c2ecd46234b943d9d4d5.pdf) (manufacturer or vendor document) - [Brita Elite filter (OB06) Performance Data Sheet (PDF)](https://assets.ctfassets.net/bugnyha6so6z/5JK8pJvAg8UaTe0U6jsWnd/4515ccd819082d64c5620746dd03974e/4af0c53c02f8ca9f805f5072fcbc4619.pdf) (manufacturer or vendor document) - [Brita Stream filter (OB05) User's Guide and Performance Data Sheet (PDF)](https://assets.ctfassets.net/bugnyha6so6z/1a63DnqMhQFus41oVGWbqe/bd9827a6874ec15195dd65cc2f31e249/ac2353fb91d8b9b5c8efbeaf35bac511.pdf) (manufacturer or vendor document) - [Brita, Replacement Filters FAQ](https://www.brita.com/support/faq/replacement-filters/) (manufacturer or vendor document) - [Brita, Original (Standard) Replacement Filters product page](https://www.brita.com/products/brita-original-replacement-filters/) (manufacturer or vendor document) - [Brita, Elite Replacement Filters product page](https://www.brita.com/products/brita-elite-replacement-filters/) (manufacturer or vendor document) - [Brita, Performance Data index](https://www.brita.com/performance-data/) (manufacturer or vendor document) - [Brita, current pitcher and dispenser product listing](https://www.brita.com/products/) (manufacturer or vendor document) - [NSF, Drinking Water Treatment Units official listings search](https://info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/) (standards or certification body) --- Citation: OwnerSpec, "Brita Filter Compatibility: Which Pitchers Take the Standard, Elite and Stream Filter, and Which Ones Interchange", https://ownerspec.com/water/parts/brita-pitcher-filter-compatibility-standard-elite-stream/, facts verified 12 September 2026. Canonical citation target: the URL above (the public HTML page), not this Markdown representation. Reuse: quoting with attribution and a link is permitted. See https://ownerspec.com/legal/terms/.