Five well pressure tanks compared by tank volume, drawdown at each maker's published settings, connections and maker documentation.
Please note: Product availability and information are based on our research at time of writing and are subject to change. Always check Amazon for the latest details before purchasing. Our assessments are research-based. We compared manufacturer documents and Amazon listings, and we have not run these tanks ourselves. Where a figure comes from a listing or from a document hosted by someone other than the maker, we say so.
A well pressure tank stores water under pressure so the pump does not start every time a tap opens. Compressed air in the tank pushes water to the fixtures, and the pump runs only when the pressure falls to the switch’s cut-in setting. A tank that suits the pump means fewer starts; one that is too small means more. If you are new to a private well, our overview of well water vs municipal water covers what changes when the equipment is yours.
Before you compare: tank size is not drawdown
Two numbers get mixed up. Tank volume is the size of the tank, such as 20 gallons. Drawdown is the water the tank delivers between the pump switching off and switching on, which is smaller and depends on the pressure switch setting (20/40, 30/50 or 40/60). Compare drawdown at the same setting; the table below gives each maker’s published figures at 40/60 and 30/50, and Red Lion publishes only 30/50.
Makers size differently. Amtrol’s current sizing card (MC7025, 03/26) is based on about one minute of pump running time for pumps up to 3/4 hp, and lists the WX-202 for a 5 GPM pump and the WX-203 for a 7 GPM pump at 40/60. Red Lion’s selection guide multiplies the system’s gpm by 3 to get tank gallons. Check the maker’s current chart or ask a well contractor before you buy.
| Tank and role | Maker-published size and drawdown | Amazon link |
|---|---|---|
| WaterWorker HT-20B (listing title: 25009) Entry 20-Gallon Tank |
20 gal tank volume 5.35 gal at 40/60 6.18 gal at 30/50 |
Check Price |
| Amtrol Well-X-Trol WX-202 20-Gallon, 150-PSI Rating |
20 gal tank volume 5.4 gal at 40/60 6.2 gal at 30/50 |
Check Price |
| Amtrol Well-X-Trol WX-203 Largest Drawdown Here |
32 gal tank volume 8.6 gal at 40/60 9.9 gal at 30/50 |
Check Price |
| WaterWorker HT-30B Mid-Size 26-Gallon Tank |
26 gal tank volume 6.43 gal at 40/60 7.42 gal at 30/50 |
Check Price |
| Red Lion RL20A (item 604682) Stainless Elbow Connection |
20 gal tank volume 7.2 gal at 30/50 no other setting published |
Check Price |
Sizes and drawdown figures come from manufacturer documents and apply only at the stated pressure settings. Product boxes use price tiers: $ under $20, $$ $20–$60 inclusive, and $$$ above $60. Prices, availability and sellers may change.
✏️ Our Take
There is no single best well pressure tank for every system; the right choice follows your pump, your pressure switch setting and the space you have. All five are pre-charged diaphragm tanks from established well-equipment makers, so the real decision is drawdown, connection and what the maker documents. Set the air charge to your switch, as every maker’s manual describes, and have a well contractor handle the connections. Our how to check and set a well pressure tank’s air charge guide covers the air-charge step.
IN THIS GUIDE
Entry 20-Gallon Tank
WaterWorker lists the HT-20B as a 20-gallon vertical pre-charged diaphragm tank. Its brochure (MC#7230, 05/12) gives drawdown of 7.31 gal at 20/40, 6.18 gal at 30/50 and 5.35 gal at 40/60. WaterWorker’s dealer catalog and installation manual list a 100 psi maximum working pressure, a 1 in NPTF connection with a stainless steel insert, a polypropylene liner and a steel shell, and describe the diaphragm and liner as meeting NSF 61 requirements for potable water. The Amazon listing’s model number (HT20B) and UPC match WaterWorker’s HT-20B; the 25009 in the listing title does not appear in WaterWorker’s documents.
WaterWorker’s documents give a 38 psi factory pre-charge, while the listing says 25 psi, so read the gauge before you rely on either; WaterWorker’s manual tells the installer to set the pre-charge 2 psi below the pump’s cut-in. Its limited warranty is 5 years for the original purchaser and requires installation within 18 months of manufacture (WaterWorker document MC10259, 07/15). The listing gives 15 x 15 x 32 in, while WaterWorker’s site shows packaged dimensions of 16 x 16 x 32 in, and the Amazon page shares one listing with other WaterWorker sizes, so confirm that 20 gallon is the size selected. When we checked, the offer was from a third-party seller and marked non-returnable, and offers change. This review does not cover installation.
Water Worker
Best for: Entry 20-Gallon Tank
A 20-gallon vertical pre-charged diaphragm well tank.
20-Gallon, 150-PSI Rating
Amtrol’s current specification card (MC7025, 03/26) lists the WX-202 as a 20.0-gallon Well-X-Trol stand model, 15 in across and 32 in tall, with a 1 in NPTF system connection and drawdown of 6.2 gal at 30/50, 5.4 gal at 40/60 and 4.7 gal at 50/70. Amtrol’s current submittal sheet (MC4400, 04/24) and product page list a high-strength steel shell, a heavy-duty butyl diaphragm, an antimicrobial liner, a stainless steel system connection, a 150 psig maximum working pressure, a 125 psig maximum relief valve setting and a 38 psig factory pre-charge. Amtrol’s brochure (MC10188, 08/25) says the diaphragm meets NSF STD 61 requirements; we did not check a certificate.
Warranty terms need care. Amtrol’s current limited product warranty (MC10253, 08/26) lists seven years for Well-X-Trol residential well tanks, for the original purchaser only, with conditions: proof of purchase and ownership, a claim within 30 days of the failure, and a clock that runs from the date of manufacture if the tank is installed more than 18 months after it was made. Amtrol’s installation manual (MC10185, 07/25) says the tank must be installed by a licensed professional and that not following its instructions voids the warranty. Older Amtrol documents we also read give five years, so the seven-year term applies only as Amtrol’s current document states it, and the documents do not say how a claim works when the tank came from a third-party seller. Ask Amtrol before you rely on it. The Amazon listing’s model number (WX-202) and UPC match, but its height is 31 in against Amtrol’s 32 in, and Amtrol also lists versions with a DuraBase stand, so check which version is offered. Amtrol’s card lists the WX-202 for a 5 GPM pump at 40/60 on its one-minute run-time basis. When we checked, the offer was from a third-party seller, was marked non-returnable and showed limited stock; offers change. This review does not cover installation.
Amtrol
Best for: 20-Gallon, 150-PSI Rating
Amtrol's 20-gallon Well-X-Trol stand model.
Largest Drawdown Here
The WX-203 is Amtrol’s 32.0-gallon Well-X-Trol stand model, 15 in across and 47 in tall, with a 1 in NPTF system connection and drawdown of 9.9 gal at 30/50, 8.6 gal at 40/60 and 7.6 gal at 50/70, the largest published drawdown in this review (Amtrol’s current MC7025, 03/26). Its construction, 150 psig maximum working pressure and 38 psig factory pre-charge are the same as the WX-202’s in Amtrol’s current submittal sheet, and Amtrol lists a shipping weight of 47 lb, which it says is approximate. Amtrol’s card lists the WX-203 for a 7 GPM pump at 40/60 on a one-minute run-time basis.
A 34-gallon tank is a different Amtrol model (the WX-205), so a listing that rounds this tank to 34 gallons is wrong; the Amazon listing for this ASIN gives 32 gallons. At 47 in tall it needs headroom. The warranty conditions are the same as for the WX-202: Amtrol’s current document lists seven years for Well-X-Trol residential tanks with proof-of-purchase, claim-timing and installation conditions, older Amtrol documents give five years, and the documents do not say how a claim works for a tank bought from a third-party seller. When we checked, the offer was from a third-party seller and marked non-returnable; offers change. This review does not cover installation.
Amtrol
Best for: Largest Drawdown Here
Amtrol's 32-gallon Well-X-Trol stand model, the largest tank here.
Mid-Size 26-Gallon Tank
The 30 in the HT-30B name is part of the model name: WaterWorker lists the tank volume as 26 gallons, which matches the 26-gallon capacity in the Amazon title. WaterWorker’s brochure gives drawdown of 8.78 gal at 20/40, 7.42 gal at 30/50 and 6.43 gal at 40/60. The listing’s model number (HT-30B) and UPC match WaterWorker’s HT-30B, and WaterWorker’s documents list the same 100 psi maximum working pressure, 1 in NPTF connection, polypropylene liner and 38 psi factory pre-charge as the HT-20B.
WaterWorker’s documents disagree on maximum temperature (130°F in the installation manual, 200°F in the dealer catalog), and its brochure and catalog differ on a plain-steel equivalent figure, so we do not quote one. The listing gives 15 x 15 x 39 in, while WaterWorker’s site shows packaged dimensions of 16 x 16 x 39 in and its catalog shows 40 in. The warranty is 5 years under the same MC10259 terms as the HT-20B. When we checked, the offer was from a third-party seller and marked non-returnable; offers change. This review does not cover installation.
Water Worker
Best for: Mid-Size 26-Gallon Tank
WaterWorker's HT-30B has a 26-gallon tank volume per WaterWorker; the 30 is part of the model name.
Stainless Elbow Connection
Red Lion lists the RL20A (item 604682) as a 20-gallon vertical tank with a 1 in FNPT elbow connection of 304 stainless steel, a 20-gauge steel shell, a butyl rubber diaphragm and a polypropylene liner. Its catalog and owner’s manual publish drawdown of 7.2 gal at 30/50 only, and Red Lion’s table shows 6 in its fixtures column for this model. Red Lion states that the tank is certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 and 372, and that tanks can be installed in series or in parallel for increased system capacity. The Amazon listing’s model number and UPC match Red Lion’s.
Red Lion’s documents publish no maximum working pressure for the RL20A that we could find, so check the tank label. Its owner’s manual (Rev. 04, 03/26) says the tank ships pre-charged to 20 psi at a reduced setting, while its catalog FAQ says most tanks ship at 28 psi; either way the installer sets the pre-charge 2 psi below the pump cut-in. The warranty is 5 years limited, counted from purchase in the manual and from manufacture in the catalog. The listing’s name mentions a thermoplastic base, which Red Lion’s documents do not describe, and its dimensions (17 x 17 x 27.3 in) differ from Red Lion’s carton figures (17.7 x 17.7 x 27.6 in). When we checked, Amazon.com sold it with a 30-day refund or replacement window; offers change. This review does not cover installation.
Red Lion
Best for: Stainless Elbow Connection
Red Lion's 20-gallon vertical tank with a 1 in FNPT 304 stainless steel elbow.
Drawdown is the usable water between the pump switching off and on, and the same tank delivers different amounts at 20/40, 30/50 and 40/60. That is why the table compares each maker’s figures at the same setting, and why Red Lion’s single 30/50 figure cannot be set against another maker’s 40/60 figure. A larger tank gives more drawdown per cycle, and Amtrol’s brochure says a larger tank means fewer cycles and longer tank and pump life; confirm the sizing against your pump’s output with the maker’s chart or a well contractor.
WaterWorker’s and Amtrol’s documents give a 38 psi factory pre-charge for the tanks here, and Red Lion’s manual says its tank ships at 20 psi. All three makers’ manuals tell the installer to set the pre-charge 2 psi below the pressure switch’s cut-in, so a 40/60 switch takes 38 psi and a 30/50 switch takes 28 psi. Do not treat the factory number as the working setting, and use a gauge. Our air-charge guide covers it.
All five are diaphragm tanks, in which a flexible membrane separates the air from the water; WaterWorker says its diaphragm is not replaceable. Several of these Amazon pages list more than one tank size, so check the capacity selected and the model on the listing against the maker’s number before you order.
When we checked, four of the five offers were from third-party sellers (which seller held the offer varied by viewer and over time for the WX-202), and Amazon marked each non-returnable because of transportation regulations; only the Red Lion was sold by Amazon.com with a 30-day refund or replacement window. Amazon’s offer text for the four says that if the item arrives damaged or defective, you may request a refund or replacement through Your Orders by providing an image of the item and its defects. The seller pages we read refer to Amazon’s return and refund policy and the A-to-z Guarantee and state nothing more, so time limits, who pays shipping, what counts as defective and how a later failure is handled are not stated; do not assume protection beyond what the offer says. Sellers and prices change, so read the terms on the offer you are about to use.
Tank swaps open the water system, and Amtrol’s installation manual says its tank must be installed by a licensed professional, so many owners hire a well or pump contractor and follow the maker’s instructions and local code. Because the system is open, it is also a good moment to confirm water quality; our guides on how to test for bacteria in well water and how to test for radon in your home’s water supply cover two common tests.
A pressure-tank swap means draining the system, remaking the tank-tee connections, moving the pressure switch and gauge, and setting the air pre-charge. Many owners hand this to a well or pump contractor. Search PlumberArchive.com — the US plumber directory.
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It depends on the pump, the pressure switch setting and how the maker sizes. Amtrol’s chart is based on about one minute of pump running time for pumps up to 3/4 hp, and Red Lion’s guide multiplies the system’s gpm by 3 to get tank gallons. Compare drawdown at your switch setting rather than the gallon figure, and check the maker’s current chart or ask a well contractor.
A pump that starts repeatedly during one shower or one toilet fill can point to a tank that is too small or has lost its air charge. Check the air charge with a gauge, following the maker’s manual, before assuming the tank has failed. If the tank leaks, is corroded or will not hold its charge, ask a well contractor.
The job involves draining the system, remaking connections, handling the pressure switch and gauge, and setting the pre-charge. Amtrol’s installation manual says its tank must be installed by a licensed professional and that not following the instructions voids the warranty, so follow each maker’s instructions and local code, and use a well or pump contractor if you are not sure. This review does not cover installation.
A pre-charged diaphragm tank keeps the air in a sealed chamber separated from the water by a flexible membrane, and it arrives with an air charge that you adjust to your switch. An older bladderless tank lets air and water share the space, so the air can be absorbed and the tank can lose its cushion and need draining and recharging. All five tanks here are pre-charged diaphragm tanks.
Start with your pump and switch setting, then compare drawdown at that setting. The WaterWorker HT-20B and the Amtrol WX-202 are the 20-gallon options with published drawdown at 40/60 (5.35 and 5.4 gal), and Amtrol lists the WX-202 at a 150 psig maximum working pressure against WaterWorker’s 100 psi. The Amtrol WX-203 has the largest published drawdown here (8.6 gal at 40/60), and the WaterWorker HT-30B sits between them at 6.43 gal.
The Red Lion RL20A is the choice if you want the stainless steel elbow connection and an Amazon.com offer with a stated 30-day return window; its drawdown is published only at 30/50 (7.2 gal), so compare it at that setting. Whichever you choose, set the air pre-charge to your pressure switch and plan on a well contractor for the connections.
Prices and offers may change. Always check Amazon for current prices and return terms.
Specifications in this review come from these documents. The Amtrol documents are the current ones on amtrol.com (read in a web browser on 2026-10-08). The WaterWorker items marked “hosted by” are maker literature on third-party sites, and some WaterWorker documents are older, so confirm current terms with WaterWorker. Amazon listings are cited only for listing details.
✍️ About This Review
PTR Editorial Team — Product Reviews. We compare manufacturer specifications, installation requirements, compatibility and available product documentation to help homeowners choose suitable tools and parts. For this Review, specifications are sourced from the manufacturer documents listed above, and from Amazon listings where noted. How we review →
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