Mineral Water TDS Comparison

Every major mineral water brand ranked by Total Dissolved Solids — from ultra-light low-mineral spring waters to the 5,000+ mg/L heavyweights of Europe and the Caucasus.

How to read these TDS numbers

TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) is the dry weight of everything dissolved in a litre of water — calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, sulfate, chloride and trace minerals — usually reported as dry residue at 180 °C on European labels.

EU and FDA framework, simplified:

Low mineral: below 250 mg/L (Evian, Acqua Panna, Volvic)
Medium mineral: 250–500 mg/L (most premium still mineral waters)
High mineral: 500–1,500 mg/L (San Pellegrino, Ferrarelle, Saratoga)
Very high mineral: 1,500 mg/L+ (Gerolsteiner, Vichy Catalan, Borjomi, Mendocino)

All mineral waters compared by TDS

Click any column to sort. Default order: highest TDS first. All values in mg/L.

Brand	TDS ↓	Ca	Mg	Na	HCO₃	pH	Country
Borjomi	6,000	50	20	1150	4000	8.0	Georgia
Vichy Catalan	3,052	53	9	1110	2081	7.0	Spain
Apollinaris	2,650	90	130	470	1810	6.0	Germany
Gerolsteiner	2,500	348	108	118	1816	5.9	Germany
Contrex	2,078	468	74.5	9.4	372	7.4	France
Ferrarelle	1,346	365	18	49	1418	6.2	Italy
Badoit	1,200	190	85	165	1300	6.0	France
Vittel	1,084	240	42	5.2	384	7.5	France
San Pellegrino	854	164	49.5	31.2	243	7.7	Italy
Topo Chico	728	122	18	253	465	6.5	Mexico
Perrier	475	147.3	3.4	9	390	5.5	France
Evian	357	80	26	6.5	360	7.2	France
Buxton	280	55	19	24	248	7.4	England
Solan de Cabras	257	58	26	2.5	244	7.6	Spain
Lanjarón	134	33	6.5	3.6	130	7.6	Spain
Volvic	130	12	8	12	71	7.0	France

Very high TDS (≥ 1,500 mg/L)

The heavyweight class — deep aquifer waters with century-long therapeutic traditions.

Borjomi

TDS 6,000 mg/L · pH 8.0 · Georgia

Vichy Catalan

TDS 3,052 mg/L · pH 7.0 · Spain

Apollinaris

TDS 2,650 mg/L · pH 6.0 · Germany

Gerolsteiner

TDS 2,500 mg/L · pH 5.9 · Germany

Contrex

TDS 2,078 mg/L · pH 7.4 · France

High TDS (500–1,500 mg/L)

The premium-restaurant tier — pronounced mineral character without crossing into 'spa water' territory.

Ferrarelle

TDS 1,346 mg/L · pH 6.2 · Italy

Badoit

TDS 1,200 mg/L · pH 6.0 · France

Vittel

TDS 1,084 mg/L · pH 7.5 · France

San Pellegrino

TDS 854 mg/L · pH 7.7 · Italy

Topo Chico

TDS 728 mg/L · pH 6.5 · Mexico

Medium TDS (250–500 mg/L)

Balanced everyday mineral waters with a discernible but gentle profile.

Perrier

TDS 475 mg/L · pH 5.5 · France

Evian

TDS 357 mg/L · pH 7.2 · France

Buxton

TDS 280 mg/L · pH 7.4 · England

Solan de Cabras

TDS 257 mg/L · pH 7.6 · Spain

Low TDS (< 250 mg/L)

Soft, light, near-neutral waters — easy drinking with minimal mineral signature.

Lanjarón

TDS 134 mg/L · pH 7.6 · Spain

Volvic

TDS 130 mg/L · pH 7.0 · France

Frequently asked questions

What does TDS mean for bottled mineral water?

TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids — the combined weight of every mineral, salt and trace element dissolved in the water, expressed in mg/L. It's the single best number for telling how 'mineralised' a water actually is.

What is a high TDS for mineral water?

Under the EU framework, water above 1,500 mg/L TDS is classed as 'very high mineral content'. Anything above ~500 mg/L is considered high. Gerolsteiner (2,500), Vichy Catalan (3,050), Borjomi (5,500) and Mendocino (8,800) all qualify as very high TDS.

Is high TDS water safe to drink every day?

Yes for healthy adults — high-TDS European waters have been consumed daily for over a century. People on sodium-restricted diets should check the sodium line specifically, and those with kidney conditions should follow their doctor's guidance.

How is TDS different from water hardness?

Hardness measures only calcium and magnesium. TDS measures everything dissolved — calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, sulfate, chloride and trace minerals. A water can be high in TDS but soft (low Ca/Mg), like a sodium-bicarbonate water.

How is TDS measured on the label?

Labs evaporate a fixed volume of the water and weigh the residue (the 'dry residue at 180 °C' method on European labels). Field meters estimate TDS from electrical conductivity, which is fast but slightly less accurate for high-mineral waters.