If you’re searching for distilled water in the UK, you may have already noticed something: most supermarkets don’t stock it.
Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and Aldi typically sell spring, filtered, or mineral water — not distilled water.
So where can you actually buy distilled water?
And what’s the difference between buying it at retail vs from a dedicated UK manufacturer?
Here’s everything you need to know.
🏬 Do Supermarkets Sell Distilled Water?
In most cases, no.
UK supermarkets rarely stock distilled water for several reasons:
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Low consumer demand for everyday drinking
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Distilled water is mainly used for appliances and specialist applications
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It’s more expensive to produce than bottled mineral water
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Limited shelf turnover
Some stores (like Halfords) may sell small amounts of “battery top-up” water, but this is often deionised, not distilled.
Want to understand the difference between distilled and deionised water? Read our Distilled vs Deionised Water guide.
🧪 What’s the Difference Between Distilled and Deionised Water?
Quick summary:
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Distilled water = boiled → steam → condensed → extremely pure
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Deionised water = filtered through ion-exchange resin → removes charged ions
They are not the same — especially for medical devices, steam irons, humidifiers or laboratory use.
If you need guaranteed purity, always choose distilled.
🚚 So Where Can You Buy Distilled Water in the UK?
✔️ 1. Buy direct from a UK manufacturer (BEST OPTION)
Buying directly from a manufacturer ensures:
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Freshly produced water
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Traceable quality
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Consistency between batches
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Better pricing on 5L, 10L and 25L containers
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Reliable nationwide delivery
At The Somerset Clearwater Company, we produce all distilled water in-house at our Somerset facility, ensuring genuine UK-made purity for home, commercial, and industrial use.
✔️ 2. Specialist online suppliers
Some niche retailers sell distilled water online, but not all produce it themselves — many simply repackage bulk water.
Always check for:
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UK manufacturing
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Certificates of Analysis
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Batch information
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Purity specifications
✔️ 3. Car parts and hardware stores
Shops like Halfords may stock battery top-up water, but this is usually:
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Not distilled
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Often deionised only
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Sometimes lower purity
This is fine for car batteries — but not recommended for steam irons, humidifiers, skincare, CPAP machines, or lab applications.
🧩 Why Buying Direct Is Usually Cheaper (and Safer)
When you buy from a supermarket or third-party retailer, you’re paying extra for:
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Shelf space
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Packaging
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Transport
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Middleman fees
Buying direct from a UK manufacturer gives you:
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Better value
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Faster delivery
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Fresher water
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Traceable quality
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Larger container options (5L, 10L, 25L)
🇬🇧 Why Choose The Somerset Clearwater Company?
We don’t resell bulk water — we manufacture our distilled water ourselves using controlled distillation equipment at our Somerset facility.
You get:
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Consistent, lab-tested purity
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UK-made production
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Retail and trade options
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Fast, nationwide delivery
Whether you need distilled water for home appliances or commercial processes, you can rely on our in-house manufacturing.
If you're choosing water for appliances, see our Best Water for Steam Irons guide here