Where to Buy Water Softener Resin (4 Options Explained)

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Water softener resin lasts a long time- 10 to 20 years on average – but when it eventually reaches the end of its lifespan, where can you buy a resin replacement?

We’ve shared the possible places to buy water softener resin in this guide.

📌 Key Takeaways:

  • You can buy water softener resin from most places that sell water softeners, including directly from the manufacturer, third-party sellers, online marketplaces, and big-box stores.
  • You’ll find the best deal by shopping around and comparing different products by different brands.

🏪 Where Can You Buy Softening Resin For Water Softener?

Water softening resins aren’t as widely available as other softener materials (such as salt and potassium chloride). However, there are still plenty of places that should sell at least one variation of resin for residential water softeners.

Here are the best places to look:

Online Marketplaces

Online marketplaces often offer the best deals on resin media for water softeners.

You can shop by resin type or crosslink percentage, and you’ll usually have the choice between several popular and lesser-known resin manufacturers.

Just be aware that the shipping price for water softening resin might be very high when you buy from stores like Amazon, since you’ll need to buy a substantial amount of resin to fill your entire resin tank, especially if you have a high-capacity softener.

Shopping for supplies online

Direct From The Manufacturer

Another place to buy softener resin is from the manufacturer of your water softening system.

The manufacturer might offer a discount on their resin products for existing customers. So, you might get the best deal if you shop with them. Plus, you’ll know that your softener manufacturer is guaranteed to offer high-quality resin if you’ve been pleased with the performance of your previous resin.

However, you’re not obliged to buy from the softener manufacturer, so consider this as one option of many.

Also, some popular resin manufacturers don’t actually sell on their websites – their products are only available through other stores.

Third-Party Distributors

Third-party sellers sell various types of resin for ion exchange water softeners.

These sellers might only sell resin from one specific manufacturer, or they might sell a range of products from different manufacturers.

Most sellers will also sell various other water softeners and softener components, as well as salt and potassium chloride products.

You might be able to get a good deal on shipping from a third-party seller, but this isn’t always the case.

Big Box Stores

Finally, a few big box stores might sell new resin for your ion exchange softener system.

Try looking in Menards, Lowe’s, Homax, and The Home Depot for resin products for your softener.

The advantage of buying from a big box store is that you won’t have to pay shipping fees, since you can collect and take home the resin yourself.

You might also get a good deal if the store is holding a clearance sale when you’re shopping. However, keep in mind that products are often in clearance for a good reason – due to lack of popularity.

Plus, big box stores often have a much smaller product range than online stores, and prices are often higher due to the convenience of being able to buy and take home a resin product on the spot.

The home depot store

💯 How to Get The Best Deal On Water Softener Resin

To get the best deal on resin beads for your water softener system, we recommend shopping around and comparing different products by different manufacturers.

You don’t have to stay loyal to your water softener manufacturer. A water softener’s resin bed is the same regardless of the brand that made it. In fact, you might find better-quality or longer-lasting resins from other manufacturers, so it’s worth knowing about all your options before you commit to a purchase.

👨‍🔧 If you have slightly more money to spend upfront, buy a 10% crosslink resin, which lasts 20 years – 10 years longer than 8% crosslink resin.

💲 How Much Does Water Softener Resin Cost?

The average cost of fine-mesh resin for ion exchange water softeners is $80-$120.

The cost of softening resin depends on the size of your resin tank (in cubic foot, or cu. ft). The larger the tank, the more resin will be needed.

Replacing the resin in portable water softeners will be much cheaper than buying resin for full-sized softening systems for large households.

The cost of resin media also depends on the quality of the resin and the crosslink percentage. 10% crosslink resin should cost more than 8% crosslink resin because it lasts about 10 years longer.

Finally, the popularity of the manufacturer may also affect resin costs. Well-known, respected brands may hike up their prices because customers know they’re reliable.

Water softener ion exchange resin

Related Content:

❔ Where To Buy Resin For Water Softeners: FAQs

Where can I find the cheapest price for water softening resin?

You can usually find the cheapest price for water softening resins by shopping online and comparing various products sold by the seller, third-party sellers, and online marketplaces. Remember, though, the cheapest product probably won’t be the best quality – and if you want a durable solution to water hardness, you shouldn’t be looking to spend as little as possible.

What resin should I use for water softener?

The best resin to use for a water softener is 10% crosslink resin, which has high chlorine resistance and lasts about 20 years (10 years longer than 8% crosslink resin). It’s worth the extra upfront cost.

  • brian headshot
    President & CEO, CWS, CWR

    Brian Campbell, a WQA Certified Water Specialist (CWS) and Certified Water Treatment Representative (CWR) with 5+ years of experience, helps homeowners navigate the world of water treatment. After honing his skills at Hach Company, he founded his business to empower homeowners with the knowledge and tools to achieve safe, healthy water. Brian's tested countless devices, from simple pitchers to complex systems, helping his readers find the perfect fit for their unique needs.

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