Pricing and Costs of Water Coolers

Determine an appropriate budget for your office water coolers

Water coolers come in a variety of sizes and styles to fit the needs of any office. There are bottleless water coolers and bottled water coolers. There are water coolers that you purchase as part of a water cooler delivery service and pay a monthly fee to maintain rather then purchasing the water cooler outright.

To purchase a bottled water cooler and a dispenser without a service plan will cost around $200-$300. If you prefer the bottleless water coolers and bottleless water dispenser you are looking at anywhere between $300-$800 depending on the size, style and features. Consider the following when you are evaluating the pricing and costs of water coolers:

1. Bottleless water coolers may be more expensive upfront, but if you plan on keeping your office water coolers around for awhile, you may end up saving money in the end.

2. A bottled water cooler may end up costing more in the long run when you factor in the amount of your monthly service plan over a set amount of time, but you don't have to worry about maintaining the cooler.

3. Water coolers hold different volumes of water with smaller ones costing less.

Consider whether the bottleless water dispenser or bottled water dispenser is right for your office

A bottleless water cooler dispenser hooks right into your cold water source. You'll need to change the filter about twice a year, which costs around $25-$30 each. Bottled water dispensers are less upfront, but require you to purchase water cooler jugs either monthly or as needed. Purchasing 5-gallon water bottles on your own costs around $8 per bottle.

Decide whether a monthly service fee is worth not worrying about your office water dispensers

For many business owners time is money, which means it may be worth the monthly service fee to have all your water cooler needs taken care of by your provider. Monthly service fees vary depending on the size of the water bottles and how many you need on a monthly basis but generally run around $30 per month, which includes around five 5-gallon water bottles.

Purchase water coolers that fit the size of your office

If your office is on the small side, less then 20 people, there are countertop models that may work better for your office. Since water shouldn't sit stagnant for long periods of time, it's best to get a water cooler that is the appropriate size for your office, so you deplete the water on a regular basis.

• It is important to research a few providers that carry water coolers before purchasing a cooler or a monthly service plan.

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