How to Make Soda at Home (and What It Costs)
A 12 oz can of soda or sparkling water runs $0.75–$1.00 by the case, more for name-brand fizz. Carbonated at home from tap water, the same glass costs pennies. Here's how it works and how fast a soda maker pays for itself.
The short answer
A soda maker carbonates plain tap water using CO₂ from a canister. Drink it straight as sparkling water, or add a splash of flavor syrup or a squeeze of citrus for soda. The water is basically free, so a home glass lands at a few cents versus $0.75-plus for a store can.
How it works
A soda maker (a carbonator) injects CO₂ from a screw-in canister into a bottle of cold tap water. Press a button, and the water fizzes. For plain sparkling water, tap water plus CO₂ is the entire recipe — no syrup, no sugar, no cans. For soda, add a flavor syrup or a squeeze of lemon or lime to taste.
What actually goes into the cost
The CO₂ canister (the main ongoing cost)
The canister is where the recurring money goes. One typically carbonates around 60 liters of water and costs a modest amount to refill or exchange, which works out to just a few cents per glass. When it runs out, you swap it for a full one.
Flavor syrup (optional)
If you make flavored soda rather than plain sparkling water, syrup adds a little per glass — still a fraction of a store can. Drink it plain and this line disappears entirely.
Waste
There's an angle beyond money: no cans or bottles to haul out and recycle. One reusable bottle and a swappable canister replace a steady stream of packaging.
The one-time cost: the soda maker
The maker is the only real upfront cost, and it's a one-time buy that ranges from about $90 for a basic model to $130 for a premium one, up to $200 for a pro carbonator with bulk CO₂. Because a glass costs pennies against $0.75-plus for a can, a regular habit pays the machine off in just a few months.
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Try it yourself
Run your own numbers
Your savings depend on how many glasses you drink, whether you flavor them, and which maker you pick. The calculator does the whole tally — weekly, monthly, annual, and the exact break-even point for the machine you choose.
This math, with YOUR numbers — takes 60 seconds, no signup.
Is it worth it?
If you drink sparkling water or soda a few times a week, yes — comfortably. The maker pays itself off and everything after is money you keep, plus you skip the cans. If you only have a fizzy drink now and then, a basic maker still wins; run the numbers to see your break-even before you decide.
Safety note: carbonate only water, and only in bottles rated for pressure — carbonating other liquids or using unrated bottles can make them burst. Handle CO₂ cylinders exactly as your soda maker’s instructions describe. Full terms & disclaimers →