Cucumber lemon water is one of the easiest ways to make plain water taste really fresh and good. All you need is sliced cucumber, fresh lemon, and water, then let it chill so the flavors infuse.

I’ve tested this a lot, and here’s the key. You can drink it after an hour, but if you let it sit overnight, the flavor gets so much better. It’s crisp, lightly citrusy, an makes you want to keep refilling your glass all day.

This is the version I keep in the fridge on repeat, especially in the summer or when I just need something refreshing that isn’t sugary.

cucumber and lemon water in a pitcher with fresh mint

Why You’ll Love This Cucumber and Lemon Water

This cucumber lemon water is simple, but the difference is in how long you let it infuse. After making it daily all summer, I found the sweet spot is about 8–12 hours. That’s when the cucumber and lemon really release their flavor without turning bitter.

It’s the kind of thing you make once and end up sipping on all day. My kids even ask for it when they see it in the fridge.

thinly sliced cucumber and lemon in a pitcher of water

Ingredients You Need

Here are the simple ingredients for infused water. Jump to recipe for step-by-step instructions and exact measurements.

Fresh cucumbers: Make them thinly sliced. (You can also use a vegetable peeler to make ribbons.) No need to peel the cucumbers prior to adding them to the water. The kind of cucumber does not matter; regular cucumbers, organic cucumbers, or english cucumbers are great.
Fresh lemons: Fresh lemon slices and lemon juice add so much flavor. Slice and pop out the seeds to avoid them getting into the drink (optional).
Mint leaves (optional): fresh herbs brighten up all summertime drinks.
Water: Use filtered water from the fridge, plain water from the sink, or bottled water.

Leftover cucumbers? Make cucumber tomato avocado salad or cucumber margaritas next!

How to Make Cucumber Lemon Water

To make cucumber lemon water, add thinly sliced cucumber and lemon to a pitcher, fill with water, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, ideally 8–12 hours for the best flavor.

Cut the cucumber and lemon: Thinly slice the lemon and cucumber and place them in the bottom of a pitcher. Add if you want to!
Mix in a large pitcher: fill the pitcher with 8-10 cups of tap water or filtered water and mix gently.
Refrigerate: Let it infuse in the fridge for at least 1 hour. The flavor gets stronger over time, so refrigerate longer if you can. I find overnight (12 hours) yields the best flavor.
Serve: pour it over ice cubes and add more lemon slices, cucumber slices, and mint to serve.

Recipe shortcut: if you don’t have time, this drink is still delicious if you make it right away. Mix it with very cold water and ice to serve.

cucumber and lemon slices in a pitcher with a sprig of mint — 1. Add cucumber and lemon to pitcher

cucumber lemon water in a pitcher — 1. Add cucumber and lemon to pitcher

How Long Do I Keep Cucumber Slices in Water?

Cucumber lemon water is ready to drink after 1 hour, but the best flavor happens after 8–12 hours in the fridge. That’s when the cucumber and lemon really infuse into the water and taste fresh and balanced.

Don’t leave it longer than 24 hours. After that, the lemon rind can start to taste bitter. If you want to keep it longer, just remove the slices and keep the water chilled.

Recipe Variations

Omit the lemon and mint: You can just use cucumbers alone if you aren’t a fan of lemon or mint. It’s up to you!
Add more citrus: this lemon cucumber water is delicious with grapefruit, oranges, and limes.
Fruit infused water: Add strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, or melon and pair it with fresh herbs like basil or mint.
Watermelon basil: cut the watermelon into cubes and infuse the water with fresh basil.
Frozen edible flowers: Add water and edible flowers to ice cube trays and freeze them solid. Add the ice cubes just before serving to a crowd.
Make it a cocktail: Combine the cucumber lemonade with a shot of vodka and simple syrup. Top it with a little lemon-flavored seltzer water if you find the vodka to be too strong of a flavor.

a glass of cucumber and lemon water on a serving tray

Can I Reuse the Cucumber and Lemon for Another Batch?

You can refill the pitcher once, but the flavor will be much lighter the second time. For the best taste, I recommend using fresh slices each day.

More Refreshing Drink Recipes

Or try more of my favorite drink recipes!

Tap stars to rate!

5 from 2 votes