Beverages
How long does bottled water last?
USDA stores commercially bottled water indefinitely — what changes is the taste, so keep cases out of sunlight and away from paint, fuel, and cleaners.
How long does it keep?
| Pantry | Indefinitely |
|---|
- Pantry: Water will store indefinitely, though the taste may be impacted by storage conditions, including sunlight, items stored around it and the containers being used to store it.
Can it sit out?
Bottled water is shelf-stable, so sitting out at room temperature isn’t the safety question — storage time is.
How to tell if bottled water has gone bad
- A plastic or chemical taste from a bottle stored somewhere warm
- A flat, stale mouthfeel
- Cloudiness or floating specks in a clear bottle
- A cracked, crushed, or weeping bottle
When in doubt, throw it out.
Store water off a garage floor and clear of solvents — plastic breathes, and it takes on whatever’s stacked around it.
Quick answers
How long does bottled water last?
USDA stores commercially bottled water indefinitely — what changes is the taste, so keep cases out of sunlight and away from paint, fuel, and cleaners.
How long can bottled water sit out?
Sitting out at room temperature isn’t the safety question for bottled water — storage time is.