10 Best Bottom-Loading Water Dispensers of 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks
- Pete Ortiz
- Last updated:
Bottom-loading water dispensers keep the water bottle itself out of sight. They also negate the need to have to lift and flip the water bottle, and this combination means that they are suitable for use in offices, commercial properties, and even in homes.
A full five-gallon water bottle can weigh around 45 pounds, so it is no easy feat to lift and situate the bottle. However, while a bottom-loading water dispenser might look less unsightly and be easier to load, it needs some means of pumping the water up to the dispenser.
There are numerous options, as well as a choice of models that include features like hot or cold water, self-cleaning variants, and the ability to work with different sized water bottles (typically 3- or 5-gallon bottles). With this amount of choice, it can seem a daunting task to get the right dispenser for your needs, which is why we’ve written reviews of the top 10 best bottom-loading water dispensers available today.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Brio Bottom Loading Water Dispenser |
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CHECK PRICE | |
Best Value
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Primo Bottom Loading Water Cooler |
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Premium Choice
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hOmeLabs Bottom Loading Water Dispenser |
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CHECK PRICE | |
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Avalon A6 Touchless Bottom Loading Water Cooler Dispenser |
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CHECK PRICE | |
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Brio Bottom Loading Water Dispenser |
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CHECK PRICE |
The 10 Best Bottom-Loading Water Dispensers
1. Brio CLBL520SC Bottom-Loading Water Dispenser – Best Overall
The Brio CLBL520SC is a reasonably priced water dispenser, despite having a raft of excellent features. It has 3 water temperature settings and will accept either 3- or 5-gallon bottles. It has a child safety lock to prevent injuries and accidents with the heavy bottles.
It also has three dispensing faucets, so you can prevent queueing around the water cooler. There is a simple self-cleaning feature. Simply press the button and the Brio will dispense a disinfectant solution that cleans all internal components and water lines. The splash plate is anti-bacterial, so it’s entirely safe, and the drip tray is removable, which makes it easy and convenient to clean this component too.
There’s even an empty water warning light, which means that you don’t have to keep opening the door to check when it’s time to put the next bottle in. Perhaps the only gripe with this dispenser is that it isn’t the quietest model on the market, although it still isn’t deafening either. All in all, we think this is the best bottom-loading water dispenser on the market today.
- Self-cleaning
- Food grade materials
- Empty water warning light
- Works with 3- or 5-gallon bottles
- Reasonable price for a well-featured model
- Could be quieter
2. Primo 601088 Bottom-Loading Water Cooler – Best Value
If you’re operating on a budget and don’t need quite the same wide range of features, then the Primo represents the best bottom-loading water dispenser for the money.
It only has two faucets, rather than three, but this should be more than enough for most offices and workplaces. It also only has two water temperature settings but, again, this will be enough in most cases. It still accepts 3- and 5-gallon bottles and the hot water faucet, which will provide piping hot water, has a child safety shut-off feature. Its sleek black look houses a stainless-steel water reservoir while the removable drip tray is even dishwasher safe.
The Primo 601088 uses a combination of filters, including a reverse osmosis filter, to deliver purified and great-tasting water. The Primo can be a bit loud, and it gets louder after being used for several months. In a typical office, the volume won’t be that noticeable, but it could be an issue if you’re sat right next to it or in a waiting room or reception area.
- Cheap
- Hot or cold water
- Safety shut-off for hot water
- Works with 3- or 5-gallon bottles
- Quite loud
- No self-cleaning feature
3. hOmeLabs Bottom-Loading Water Dispenser – Premium Choice
The hOmeLabs water dispenser is another model that works with pretty much any standard size of water bottle. It also has three temperature settings so that you can opt for freezing cold, piping hot, or somewhere in between.
The stainless-steel door looks good and helps prevent accidental damage to the unit. It has a removable drip tray that is easy to clean and there is an indicator to let you know when it is time to switch out the water bottle for a new one. The LED night light means that you can dispense cold water without having to turn the lights on, and the safety lock offers a convenient method of protecting small hands from getting burned.
It is one of the most expensive options on our list, despite not having an automatic cleaning function, though, but it does look great. Its sleek design is only a little wider and deeper than the water bottle, so it should fit easily into any space in any property.
- Three temperature settings
- Hot water safety shut-off
- Empty water warning light
- LED night light
- Expensive
- No auto-clean
4. Avalon A6 Touchless Bottom-Loading Water Cooler Dispenser
The Avalon A6 Touchless Bottom Loading Water Cooler Dispenser has hot and cold waterspouts that are clearly marked as blue for cold and red for hot water. There’s a child safety lock on the hot water dispenser, and both feature a touchless lever that you push your glass or cup against to dispense water so that you don’t have to use your hands.
The cabinet will hold a 3-gallon or 5-gallon bottle and there is a removable drip tray that is easy to clean and just as easy to replace after cleaning.
However, there are some problems with this model. The water float has a tendency to get stuck, which can cause the dispenser to continue dispensing water, even when not required, leading to some fairly major leaks. This has been a problem in a handful of units but is worth mentioning. It is also quite a noisy unit, whether it is in use or is simply waiting to provide water.
- Touchless water dispenser
- Hot and cold water options
- Child safety hot water feature
- 3- or 5-gallon water bottles
- Water float gets stuck, causing leaks
- Quite a noisy dispenser
5. Brio CLBL420V2 Bottom-Loading Water Dispenser
Compatible with 3- and 5-gallon bottles, the Brio CLBL420V2 is a bottom-loading water dispenser that offers three temperature settings for hot, cold, and warm water. Its child safety lock prevents burns, and its smart water level meter alerts you when it is time to change the bottle, so that you don’t have to keep opening the door and checking the water level.
The removable drip tray is not only easy to clean but is BPA-free, and it has a good-looking design with stainless steel accents that will look good in any office or other location. It is recognized for its quiet operation and for the fact that it doesn’t require any plumbing or mechanical work to install, although this should be a common feature with any water dispenser of this type.
It is at the more expensive end of the dispensers we feature, though, despite not having high-end features like a self-cleaning unit.
- Empty water warning light
- Three water temperatures
- Removable drip tray
- Silent
- Pricey
- No premium self-clean feature
6. Avalon A3BLK Self Cleaning Bottom-Loading Water Dispenser
The Avalon A3BLK Self Cleaning Bottom Loading Water Dispenser has three temperature settings. As well as cold water that negates the need to add ice, and hot water that is more than hot enough for coffee and tea, it also serves room temperature water. It has a built-in night light that illuminates the spouts while the empty-bottle indicator lights up to let you know when it is time to change the bottle. The hot waterspout also has a child-safety lock that shuts off the hot water dispenser and prevents burns and scalding water accidents. It is compatible with 3-gallon and 5-gallon bottles, and the design combines a stainless-steel water compartment door with dark gray, almost black elements.
Although the Avalon A3BLK is quite expensive compared to most models on the list, it does have a self-cleaning feature that cleans all internal elements including the water pipes, ensuring that you can enjoy clean and fresh water without having to take it apart for cleaning.
- Self-cleaning
- Three water temperatures
- 3-gallon and 5-gallon bottles
- Safety shut-off feature
- Good-looking design
- Expensive
7. Vitapur VWD1006BLP Bottom-Loading Water Dispenser
The Vitapur VWD1006BLP is a bottom-loading water dispenser with a lot of the usual features. It will dispense water at three temperatures so you can enjoy your choice of cold, hot, or room temperature water.
It has indicator lights that let you know when it is ready for use and a safety shut-off for the hot water. It also has a float switch system that prevents leaking and stops water from overflowing. It will work with 3-gallon and 5-gallon bottles.
Unfortunately, the Vitapur is at the higher end of the price bracket for this type of product, despite not being a self-cleaning unit. It is also quite loud and there are multiple cases of the doors not closing properly, as well as some other malfunctions and problems that suggest it has not been constructed well. It also has a tendency to leak when using a 5-gallon bottle, suggesting that the water straw that is placed in the bottle is not the right length.
- Three water temperatures
- Compatible with 3- and 5-gallon bottles
- Safety shut-off features
- Some construction issues
- Some leaking
- No premium features despite premium price
8. LeMuna Bottom-Loading Water Dispenser
The LeMuna bottom-loading water dispenser offers many of the usual features. It will work with 3-gallon or 5-gallon water bottles, which also makes the unit easy to install because it doesn’t need plumbing or any mechanical installation. Simply plug it in and wait three minutes.
It offers water at three temperatures and has three separate faucets, so it can dispense water at each of the three temperatures at the same time. It has a removable drip tray for easy cleaning and there is a safety shut-off on the hot water button that will prevent burning water from being dispensed except when you want it.
However, the LeMuna bottom-loading water dispenser is not ideal for heavy use. It needs to constantly heat water so that, after each cup of hot water, you will have to wait before dispensing another. It doesn’t have the same build quality as a lot of other models, either so it suffers from things like poorly fitting doors. There are better options out there for the money.
- Affordable
- Compatible with 3- and 5-gallon jugs
- Safety shut-off feature
- Three water temperature options
- Slow to heat up after use
- Poor build quality
9. Costway 23358-CYPE Bottom-Loading Water Cooler Dispenser
The Costway 23358-CYPE is a water dispenser that can dispense cold or hot water but does not have a middle-temperature setting. It has separate spouts for each, and switches for each, which means that you can turn the cooler or heater off, as required, and save money and energy according to your typical use. The dispenser will produce 1 liter of cold water an hour and 3.2 liters of hot water every hour.
There’s also a child-safety lock on the dispenser and the large drip tray is easy to remove so that it can be easily and conveniently cleaned. Unfortunately, it is only compatible with 5-gallon jugs, it doesn’t have a middle-temperature setting, and its quality is lower than others on our list.
- Hot and cold water dispenser
- Safety shut-off features
- Only compatible with 5-gallon jugs
- No middle temperature
- Quality not as good as others
10. Magic Chef MCWD40BB Bottom-Loading Water Dispenser
The Magic Chef MCWD40BB bottom-loading water dispenser is expensive for what it offers, but it does dispense hot or cold water, at temperatures suitable for a nice chilled cold drink or a piping hot cup of tea or coffee. It has separate spouts, which are operated by pushing the lever back with the cup or glass, so it offers no-touch operation. It uses food-grade stainless steel and BPA plastic.
It comes in a black or white finish and has a dishwasher-safe and removable drip tray. It also has an empty-bottle indicator and the usual child safety lock on the hot water tap that should prevent accidental injuries to small hands.
Unfortunately, the Magic Chef MCWD40BB Bottom Loading Water Dispenser is only compatible with 5-gallon water bottles, it is lacking the room temperature setting that a lot of other dispensers have, and is primarily made of plastic which doesn’t give a sense of durability or strength. For the price of this model, you can certainly find better.
- Child safety hot water lock
- Quiet
- Expensive
- Cheap plastic parts
- No room temperature option
Conclusion – Finding the Best Bottom-Loading Water Dispenser
A bottom-loading water dispenser not only provides water on tap, but it negates the need to have to lift heavy water bottles and flip them for use in standard dispensers. Most models offer at least hot and cold water, with some also yielding room temperature water as a third option. Ensure that they have security and safety features like child-locks on the hot water tap, and consider spending a little extra to get the self-cleaning function that makes maintenance and care much easier. There are a lot of options to choose from, so we hope that our list of reviews above has helped you choose the model you want—or at least eliminate those that aren’t suitable.
While compiling our reviews, we found the Brio CLBL520SC offered some really good functions at a reasonable price, and makes for our best bottom-loading water dispenser. It has three water temperature faucets, a self-cleaning feature, and a really good build quality. If you’re willing to forego the self-cleaning function, don’t require room temperature water, but still want the same high-quality product, the Primo 601088 offers the best value for money during our testing and reviews.
Related Reads:
- 6 Best Bottleless Water Coolers – Reviews & Top Picks
- 8 Best Water Distillers of – Reviews & Top Picks
- 10 Best Refrigerator Water Filters – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: Cegli, Shutterstock
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