SodaStream Cost per Liter: What Homemade Fizz Really Costs

On this page (10 sections)

1. How do you calculate SodaStream cost per liter?
2. What changes the cost from one household to another?
3. Which refill option fits your SodaStream cost per liter?
4. Does the machine cost belong in the per-liter figure?
5. How do you include flavor in the calculation?
6. How do you set up and care for a SodaStream?
7. What mistakes make the estimate less useful?
8. How can you compare homemade fizz with bottled drinks?
9. Which SodaStream setup should you choose?
10. Is a SodaStream worth it for your drinking habits?

SodaStream cost per liter is your net CO2 refill cost divided by the sparkling water you actually make, plus water and any flavor. Count the machine separately when comparing startup spending with bottled drinks.

A 60-liter cylinder gives you a starting estimate, not a promise that every user will make exactly 60 liters. A cylinder is rated for up to 60 liters, and your fizz setting and machine affect how much you get.

To make a useful comparison, track one cylinder from full to low, record your refill cost and the water you carbonate, then do the math. Our guide to how long a SodaStream CO2 cylinder lasts explains how carbonation level affects cylinder life.

How do you calculate SodaStream cost per liter?

Divide your net refill cost by the liters you actually make. Add water and flavor costs if you want to estimate the complete drink rather than the carbonation alone.

CO2 cost per liter = net refill cost ÷ actual liters made

For example, if a refill costs 18 dollars and you make 45 liters, the CO2 portion is 0.40 dollars per liter. This is an example calculation, not a current refill price.

For flavored drinks, add another line:

Drink cost per liter = CO2 cost + water cost + flavor cost

Tap water may not take up much room in a household budget, but it still goes into the drink. If you add drops or syrup, estimate how much you use per liter instead of treating all homemade fizz as the same cost.

Keep two totals if you are deciding whether to buy a machine. Your running cost includes refills, water and flavor, while your startup cost also includes the machine and any extras you buy.

What changes the cost from one household to another?

Actual CO2 yield and refill cost are the main parts of your estimate. Your preferred fizz level, flavor use and cylinder-return habits also affect the final number.

A cylinder's advertised yield is an upper estimate. If your normal drink is strongly carbonated, use your own measured liters rather than the rated maximum.

The gear also needs to fit your kitchen and routine. If you want a quick explanation of what happens during carbonation, see how a SodaStream works.

Which refill option fits your SodaStream cost per liter?

Choose a refill pack by comparing its net cost per usable liter and whether you need spare cylinders. More cylinders can help you avoid running out, but the pack size alone does not prove that each liter costs less.

The 2-cylinder Quick Connect exchange pack includes a return label and a gift-card offer after the two empties are received and registered. Count that credit only after you complete the return and receive it.

The 3-cylinder pack includes three 60-liter Quick Connect cylinders. It suits heavier users or households that want more refill stock available, while occasional users may prefer to avoid keeping extra cylinders on hand.

Before buying either pack, check that your machine takes the pink Quick Connect cylinder. SodaStream machines use different cylinder systems, so compare the connector on your model with the guide to Quick Connect CO2 cylinders.

Does the machine cost belong in the per-liter figure?

Leave the machine out of your ongoing cost per liter, but include it when comparing total spending over a set period. This keeps refill costs easy to compare while still accounting for the cost of getting started.

For a first-year estimate, use:

First-year cost per liter = (machine cost + CO2 + flavor + water) ÷ liters made in the first year

For a longer estimate, choose the number of months or years you expect to use the machine. Add the spending in that period and divide by the liters you expect to make.

The SodaStream Terra Starter Kit includes a Quick Connect cylinder rated for up to 60 liters, a reusable BPA-free bottle and a Bubly Lime drop. It is a practical starting point for someone who wants to measure their own refill use from the first batch.

This hand-powered machine suits people who want to carbonate water with a button press and do not need an electric model. Skip it if you rarely drink sparkling water, have no convenient refill route, or want ready-to-drink bottles without the counter space and refill routine.

If you are still choosing a machine, see our SodaStream starter kits guide for other first-purchase setups.

How do you include flavor in the calculation?

Add flavor only to the liters you flavor. Plain sparkling water has no flavor-drop cost, while flavored batches need an estimate based on the amount you pour.

The Bubly Drops variety pack contains Strawberry, Grapefruit, Blackberry, Lime, Mango and Cherry. Each bottle makes about 36 cans, and the drops are unsweetened with no calories or sweeteners.

To estimate your flavor cost, divide what you paid for the drops by the number of servings you expect to get, then count how many servings go into a liter. Follow the package directions and adjust to taste, since a heavier pour changes the cost.

If you want more choices, browse our Bubly Drops and flavor drops guide.

How do you set up and care for a SodaStream?

Start with cold water, secure the compatible bottle and cylinder, then carbonate in short presses until the fizz suits you. Follow your machine's instructions for bottle placement and cylinder changes.

For a Terra, the bottle snaps into place and its Quick Connect cylinder clicks in with one push. Use the supplied reusable bottle with the machine, and make sure it is seated before pressing the carbonation button.

Keep the cost notes simple while you get used to the machine. Record each batch in the bottle's volume or another consistent measure, and use the same unit throughout your cylinder log.

Wash the reusable bottle according to its care instructions. The Terra bottle in the starter kit is dishwasher safe, which can make routine cleanup easier; check the specific bottle instructions before placing other bottles in a dishwasher.

Carbonate water before adding flavor. This keeps the carbonation step consistent and helps avoid foaming over when you add drops or syrup afterward.

What mistakes make the estimate less useful?

The most common mistake is dividing by the cylinder's rated maximum instead of your actual yield. Other errors include counting a promised credit before receiving it, mixing machine cost into refill cost, and forgetting flavor.

Avoid these traps:

• Assuming every cylinder makes its full rated volume: stronger fizz or a different machine can reduce the total.
• Counting a return credit too early: subtract it only after you receive it.
• Comparing different drinks: plain homemade water is not a like-for-like match for flavored soda or premium bottled water.
• Ignoring flavor use: a few drops and a generous pour do not have the same cost.
• Counting the machine every month: use a separate startup or ownership estimate for the machine.
• Changing units mid-calculation: convert bottles, cans and liters before comparing totals.

A cylinder log can be a note on your phone. Write down the refill cost, the date it goes into use, each batch size and when it runs low.

How can you compare homemade fizz with bottled drinks?

Compare the same drink type and volume, using the price you normally pay for the bottled option. Include flavor when you compare against flavored drinks, and leave it out when you compare plain sparkling water.

For example, compare one liter of plain homemade sparkling water with one liter of the plain bottled water you usually buy. Then make a separate comparison for flavored versions, since drops or syrup change the homemade total.

Convenience also belongs in the decision. Homemade carbonation starts with tap water and requires a refillable cylinder and reusable bottle, while bottled drinks arrive ready to chill and serve.

If your household buys sparkling water only occasionally, ready-made bottles may be simpler even when the homemade refill estimate looks lower. Frequent drinkers are more likely to benefit from the machine because they spread its startup cost across more liters.

Which SodaStream setup should you choose?

Choose the setup that matches how often you fizz, which cylinder your machine accepts and how much refill stock you want. Use your own yield to decide whether the ongoing cost makes sense.

• Choose the Terra Starter Kit if you are new to home carbonation and want the machine, a Quick Connect cylinder, a reusable bottle and a flavor drop together.
• Choose the 2-cylinder refill pack if you already have a compatible machine, want a spare and will follow the return process for the gift-card offer.
• Choose the 3-cylinder pack if you carbonate often and want more cylinders available before your next refill.
• Choose Bubly Drops if you want unsweetened fruit flavor and will use several flavors; skip them if you mostly drink plain sparkling water.

Check connector compatibility before buying any refill. The starter kit and refill packs described here use the pink Quick Connect system, so they are not the right match for a machine that takes a different cylinder.

Is a SodaStream worth it for your drinking habits?

A SodaStream is a better fit when you drink sparkling water often, have a practical refill route and are willing to track actual cylinder yield. It is a weaker fit for occasional drinkers who want no equipment or refill chores.

Start with the running cost: divide your net refill cost by the liters you actually make, then add any flavor cost. Keep the machine in a separate first-year estimate so you can see whether your expected use spreads out the startup spending.

For frequent plain-water drinkers, the refill cost per liter is the key number. Flavor fans should include their drops or syrup, while occasional drinkers can compare the full setup with ready-to-drink bottles before deciding.

If you are still weighing home carbonation against other machines, use our carbonated water makers guide to compare the broader options.

Frequently asked questions

How do you calculate SodaStream cost per liter?

Divide what you pay for a CO2 refill by the liters you make from it, then add flavor and water costs per liter. Use your own measured yield because stronger fizz can use more CO2 than a light carbonation setting.

Include the machine cost separately if you are comparing total first-year spending.

How many liters does one SodaStream CO2 cylinder make?

A 60-liter cylinder is rated to make up to 60 liters, but actual output can vary with carbonation level and the sparkling water maker. If you prefer strong bubbles, calculate your running cost using the liters you actually get before the cylinder runs low.

Is homemade sparkling water cheaper than bottled sparkling water?

It can be, but the answer depends on your refill cost, actual cylinder yield, bottled-water choice and how often you drink it. Compare the CO2 and flavor cost per liter with the price you normally pay, then account for the machine separately.

Does flavored SodaStream water cost more per liter?

It can, because flavor drops or syrup add a cost beyond CO2 and water. Unsweetened drops are optional, so compare plain sparkling water first, then add flavor cost based on how much you use for each liter.

Should I count the machine in the cost per liter?

For the ongoing cost, count CO2, water and any flavor. For a first-year or long-term comparison, add the machine cost and divide that total by the liters you expect to make over the same period.