10 Best pH Strips for Testing Kombucha (October 2026)

Most brewers grab whatever pH strip is nearby, and that is where batches go wrong. A universal 0-14 strip read in whole numbers cannot separate 4.5 from 3.5, and that is the gap that matters. A starting liquid should sit at or below 4.5 pH, while a finished batch lands between 2.5 and 3.5, and lower numbers taste more tart. The Best pH Strips for Testing Kombucha depend on three choices: how narrow the range is, how fine the reading steps are, and how many strips your brewing schedule will use.

The short answer: the Med Lab 200-Count Universal pH Strips suit brewers who also test soap, pool or household liquids. Kombucha Chemistry 0-6 pH Strips suit weekly brewers who want half-unit markers, and Fermentaholics 0-6 pH Strips suit anyone fermenting beer, mead or vinegar next to kombucha. The rest of the list covers a tear-off tape roll, paper and plastic full-range packs, and multi-liquid kits built mainly for water and aquariums.

TL;DR: top picks at a glance

• Best overall: the Med Lab 200-Count Universal pH Strips, 200 strips across a full 0-14 range in one pack.
• Best for first-ferment checks: Kombucha Chemistry 0-6 pH Strips, 0.5 interval markers across 0-6.
• Best for multi-ferment brewing: Fermentaholics 0-6 pH Strips, 100 strips read after a 1-2 second dip.
• Best for tear-off testing: Hydrion 0-6 pH Tape Dispenser, a 15-foot roll with 0.5 intervals and a color chart.

Best pH Strips for Testing Kombucha Comparison (October 2026)

#	Product	Best for	pH Range	Quantity	Reading Interval
1	Med Lab 200-Count Universal pH Strips	Bulk full-range testing	0-14	200 strips	Not listed
2	Kombucha Chemistry 0-6 pH Strips	First-ferment tracking	0-6	100 strips	0.5
3	Fermentaholics 0-6 pH Strips	Multi-ferment brewing	0-6	100 strips	Not listed
4	Hydrion 0-6 pH Tape Dispenser	Tear-off tape testing	0.0-6.0	15 ft roll	0.5
5	LabRat Supplies 0-14 Plastic pH Strips	General lab use	0-14	100 strips	1 pH unit
6	HomEnjoy 160-Strip pH 1-14 Two-Pack	Drop-test sampling	1-14	160 strips	Not listed
7	LabAider 240-Strip pH 1-14 Three-Pack	Large shared supply	1-14	240 strips	Not listed
8	Kombucha.com 0-7 pH Strips	Brewing and distilling	0-7	100 strips	Not listed
9	HOVIRAN 125-Count Universal pH Strips	Bottled full-range strips	0-14	125 strips	Not listed
10	Just Fitter Alkaline Water pH Strips	Water and aquarium	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed

1. Med Lab 200-Count Universal pH Strips: Best Full-Range Litmus pH Strips for Mixed Household Testing

• pH Range: 0-14
• Quantity: 200 strips
• Material: Litmus paper
• Reading Interval: Not listed
• Named Uses: Kombucha, soap making, pool, spa, aquarium, urine and saliva

Pros:

• The 0-14 range covers sweet tea, finished kombucha and non-brewing jobs like soap with a single pack.
• Two hundred strips is double the 100 supplied with the Fermentaholics and Kombucha Chemistry packs.
• Results arrive in seconds from a color comparison, with no meter and no calibration.
• Kombucha is named among its uses, next to pool, spa and aquarium water, so it is not a single-purpose product.

Cons:

• The reading interval is not specified, so separating 3.0 from 3.5 is not guaranteed.
• Spreading colors across 14 units leaves less resolution in the 2.5-4.5 zone than a 0-6 strip gives.
• Dispenser or case details are not specified, so storage in a humid kitchen needs your own container.

Best for: A home brewer who also checks soap, pool or household liquids and wants one large pack for all of it.

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The Med Lab 200-Count Universal pH Strips earn the top slot on flexibility and supply. A full-range strip means one pack answers a kombucha question on Monday and a soap-batch question on Friday. The 200-strip count also covers daily checks during a long second ferment, which a 100-strip kombucha pack can run short of.

The trade-off is resolution. Because the scale runs 0-14, the colors in the useful kombucha window sit closer together than they do on Kombucha Chemistry 0-6 pH Strips, which print half-unit markers. These strips also fit a general bench: a hobby lab that already keeps a prepared slide set for biology students on the shelf can add them as an everyday acidity check for classroom or home experiments.

Choose a different product if reading 3.0 against 3.5 is the whole point of your testing. In that case the 0.5 interval markers on the Kombucha Chemistry strips or the Hydrion tape are the better fit, and the Med Lab pack becomes the backup for everything else.

2. Kombucha Chemistry 0-6 pH Strips: Best Half-Step Pre-Cut pH Strips for First-Ferment Checks

• pH Range: 0-6
• Reading Interval: 0.5 markers
• Quantity: 100 strips
• Read Time: About 5 seconds
• Strip Style: Thick, individually cut

Pros:

• Markers at every 0.5 across 0-6 let you tell a 3.0 batch from a 3.5 batch without guessing.
• The kit is built around kombucha, with checks intended before and after the first ferment.
• Strips are thick and individually cut, so there is no scissors work and no tearing.
• A hundred strips is pitched as roughly a year of supply for a weekly brewer.

Cons:

• The scale stops at 6, so it cannot check soap, tap water or anything alkaline.
• Half-unit steps are still coarser than a calibrated meter for borderline batches.
• Dispenser or storage-case details are not specified.

Best for: A weekly kombucha brewer who wants 0.5 interval markers and a pack sized to a year of batches.

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Kombucha Chemistry 0-6 pH Strips are the most direct answer to the kombucha problem on this list. The narrow 0-6 span puts the 4.5 safety ceiling and the 2.5-3.5 finished window on one compact scale, and the 0.5 markers give a usable reading at both ends. A reading in about 5 seconds keeps the check quick enough to do while bottling.

Compared with Fermentaholics 0-6 pH Strips, the range and pack size are the same, but this kit states its interval and is aimed squarely at brewers who test around the first ferment. The Hydrion 0-6 pH Tape Dispenser also offers 0.5 steps, but you tear it off a roll instead of grabbing a finished strip.

It is the wrong choice for anyone who wants to test more than brewing liquid. A reader who also needs readings above 6 should pick the Med Lab 200-Count Universal pH Strips or the HOVIRAN 125-Count Universal pH Strips and accept the coarser resolution.

3. Fermentaholics 0-6 pH Strips: Best Dispenser-Style pH Strips for Multi-Ferment Brewing

• pH Range: 0-6
• Quantity: 100 strips
• Method: Dip for 1-2 seconds, compare to the supplied color chart
• Reading Interval: Not listed
• Other Uses: Beer, wine, mead, vinegar

Pros:

• A 1-2 second dip and a color chart comparison make each check quick, with no reagents or calibration.
• The 0-6 span covers kombucha, beer, wine, mead and vinegar, so one pack serves a multi-project fermenting shelf.
• Guidance on the pack gives clear targets: a starting pH at or below 4.5 and a finished kombucha between 2.5 and 3.5.
• The dispenser format keeps strips together, which suits a kitchen where loose strips go missing.

Cons:

• The reading interval is not specified, so it is harder to judge how finely it separates close batches.
• The scale ends at 6, so it cannot check water, soap or alkaline samples.
• At 100 strips it offers fewer checks than the Med Lab or LabAider bulk packs.

Best for: A home brewer who ferments kombucha alongside beer, mead or vinegar and wants one narrow-range pack for all of them.

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Fermentaholics 0-6 pH Strips stand out for breadth inside the acidic range. Where the Kombucha Chemistry kit is pitched at kombucha specifically, these are written for any liquid in the 0-6 spectrum, so the same pack handles a vinegar or a mead must. The built-in guidance on safe starting pH and finished range also helps newer brewers who do not yet know what a good number is.

The weakness is the missing interval spec. If you want a stated 0.5 step, the Kombucha Chemistry strips or the Hydrion tape are clearer on what you are getting. The Kombucha.com 0-7 pH Strips use nearly identical dip-and-compare instructions and also stretch the scale to 7, which matters if you want to check neutral water.

Skip this one if your testing extends past the acidic side. A brewer who also makes soap or checks tap water should lean on the Med Lab 200-Count Universal pH Strips or the LabRat Supplies 0-14 Plastic pH Strips instead.

4. Hydrion 0-6 pH Tape Dispenser: Best Tear-Off pH Tape for Cutting Your Own Strips

• pH Range: 0.0-6.0
• Reading Interval: 0.5 single-color matches
• Format: 15-foot roll in a dispenser with color chart
• Dispenser Size: 2 x 2 x 0.5 inches
• Origin: Made in the USA

Pros:

• Single-color matches at 0.5 intervals make each reading clean to compare.
• A 15-foot roll lets you tear off exactly the length each test needs.
• The small 2 x 2 x 0.5 inch dispenser stores easily in a drawer or on a shelf.
• The pack is named for kombucha, pickling, cosmetics and soap making, so it covers more than one brewing hobby.

Cons:

• It is explicitly not for water testing, and the scale ends at 6.
• Tearing a piece off a roll is slower than pulling a ready-cut strip.
• The number of tests per roll is not specified, only its length.

Best for: A brewer who likes a small dispenser, wants 0.5 interval matching, and does not mind tearing off each piece.

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The Hydrion 0-6 pH Tape Dispenser takes a different route from every other pick here. Instead of a bottle of strips, it gives you a roll, so a short snip serves a quick check and a longer one can handle a larger spot test. The 0.5 interval matching puts it level with Kombucha Chemistry 0-6 pH Strips on stated resolution.

The roll format is the compromise. Pre-cut strips from Kombucha Chemistry or Fermentaholics are faster with wet hands, and nothing needs tearing. Choose this tape only if you like the dispenser and want to control the piece length yourself, and avoid it if you need water or soap testing, since it is limited to acid readings.

5. LabRat Supplies 0-14 Plastic pH Strips: Best Plastic pH Strips for Whole-Number Readings in Mixed Use

• pH Range: 0-14
• Reading Interval: 1 pH unit
• Quantity: 100 strips
• Color Chart: Printed on the case
• Case Size: 3.5 x 2.6 x 0.4 inches

Pros:

• The 0-14 chart prints every whole number from 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very basic), so the scale is easy to read.
• The color chart sits on the case, which keeps the reference next to the strips.
• Plastic strips are intended for water, soap, soil, skincare and urine, so one case covers many household checks.
• Storage guidance is clear: keep strips in the original packaging in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.

Cons:

• One-unit steps are too coarse to separate a 3.0 kombucha from a 3.5 one.
• It is not kombucha-specific, and no brewing guidance comes with it.
• A hundred strips is the same count as the narrow-range kombucha packs but with less resolution where it matters.

Best for: A household that wants one general-purpose case for soap, soil, skincare and water, with occasional kombucha checks.

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LabRat Supplies 0-14 Plastic pH Strips are a generalist. The stated 1 pH unit increment means it will tell you a kombucha is around 3 or around 4, but not much finer than that. It suits a rough pass on a batch, though the half-unit strips from Kombucha Chemistry or the Hydrion tape are a better fit for tight monitoring.

The strips also reach into skincare, so a reader comparing a face wash for fungal acne against its stated acidity can use the same case. For brewers who want a general pack with finer reading, the Med Lab 200-Count Universal pH Strips supply twice as many strips, though without a stated interval.

6. HomEnjoy 160-Strip pH 1-14 Two-Pack: Best Drop-Test pH Strips for Small Samples

• pH Range: 1-14
• Quantity: 160 strips in two sealed packs
• Material: Filter paper
• Response Time: Within 5 seconds
• Weight: 0.02 pounds

Pros:

• Two sealed packs hold 160 strips total, so one stays closed while the other is in use.
• The filter-paper strips respond within 5 seconds.
• The 2.8 x 1.8 x 0.2 inch pack is thin and light at 0.02 pounds.
• The full 1-14 span covers soap, water and soil as well as brewing liquids.

Cons:

• The instructions say not to immerse the strip, which makes it less convenient than dip-and-read kits.
• A dropper or glass rod is needed to apply liquid to the strip.
• The scale starts at 1 rather than 0, and the reading interval is not listed.

Best for: A brewer who prefers testing a small drop of liquid and wants a large sealed supply.

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The HomEnjoy 160-Strip pH 1-14 Two-Pack works differently from the dip kits. Its guidance is to drop liquid onto the strip with a dropper or glass rod instead of submerging it, because immersion can distort the result. That suits a kombucha jar where you do not want to put anything into the culture, and it keeps contamination risk down.

The method is also its main limit. Fermentaholics 0-6 pH Strips are a faster choice for a dip and a glance, and their narrower scale reads more finely where kombucha lives. Pick HomEnjoy for the sealed two-pack and the drop method, but expect more steps per test than the brewing-specific kits need.

7. LabAider 240-Strip pH 1-14 Three-Pack: Best Bulk pH Strips with Storage Case for Shared Use

• pH Range: 1-14
• Quantity: 240 strips in three packs
• Strip Size: 45 mm x 7 mm
• Color Match Window: About 15 seconds
• Extras: One storage case, 0.22 pounds total

Pros:

• Three packs total 240 strips, the largest supply on this list.
• A storage case is included for keeping strips together.
• Strips measure 45 mm x 7 mm, long enough to hold comfortably.
• The 1-14 scale covers soap, juice, milk and detergent as well as brewing liquids.

Cons:

• Colors must be matched against the chart within about 15 seconds, so it demands attention at the moment of testing.
• The reading interval is not listed, and the scale starts at 1.
• Its guidance centers on body and household testing rather than fermentation.

Best for: A brewing club, school group or large household that needs a very large supply of general strips.

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The LabAider 240-Strip pH 1-14 Three-Pack wins on sheer count. Where the Med Lab 200-Count Universal pH Strips supply a full pack of 200, this offers three smaller packs plus a case, so strips can be split among people or locations. For an organization testing many liquids, that structure is useful.

For a single kombucha brewer, it is likely more than needed, and the unstated interval makes close calls harder. The 15-second match window also means you should read the strip right away. Those who want brewing-specific guidance should choose Kombucha Chemistry 0-6 pH Strips instead.

8. Kombucha.com 0-7 pH Strips: Best Brewing-Focused pH Strips for Kombucha, Beer and Mead

• pH Range: 0-7
• Quantity: 100 strips
• Method: Dip for 1-2 seconds, compare to the color chart
• Reading Interval: Not listed
• Pack Size: 2.5 x 3.5 x 0.35 inches

Pros:

• The 0-7 span reaches neutral, so it can confirm that a rinse water or sweet tea base is not far off 7.
• It is made for kombucha, beer, wine, mead and other ferments.
• A 1-2 second dip and a chart comparison keep testing quick.
• It avoids the calibration chores that pH meters require.

Cons:

• The reading interval is not listed.
• The scale stops at 7, so it cannot read alkaline samples.
• The pack holds 100 strips, fewer than the Med Lab or LabAider options.

Best for: A brewer making kombucha and other ferments who wants a little range beyond 6.

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The Kombucha.com 0-7 pH Strips are close in spirit to Fermentaholics: both are dip-and-compare, both hold 100 strips, and both target home brewers. The difference is the extra unit of range up to 7. Its guidance notes that commercial brewers commonly start around 4 and finish near 3, which gives newer brewers a practical benchmark.

If a stated 0.5 interval matters, Kombucha Chemistry's kit is the clearer choice. For readers who also need alkaline readings, step up to the Med Lab 200-Count Universal pH Strips.

9. HOVIRAN 125-Count Universal pH Strips: Best Bottled Universal pH Strips with Chart for Mixed Liquids

• pH Range: 0-14
• Quantity: 125 strips
• Method: Dip for about 1 second, compare to the chart on the bottle
• Reading Interval: Not listed
• Bottle Size: 4.4 x 1.8 x 1.8 inches

Pros:

• The color chart sits on the test bottle, so the reference travels with the strips.
• A 1-second dip is the quickest on this list.
• The 0-14 scale handles water, pool, spa, soap and kombucha.
• A 125-strip count sits between the 100-strip kombucha packs and the 200-strip Med Lab pack.

Cons:

• The reading interval is not listed.
• Guidance calls for colorless samples, which is awkward for tea-colored kombucha.
• At 4.4 inches tall, the bottle is bulkier than the flat packs from HomEnjoy or Kombucha.com.

Best for: A brewer who wants a full-range bottle with a built-in chart and a very short dip time.

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The HOVIRAN 125-Count Universal pH Strips trade brewing focus for convenience. A bottle with the chart attached is handy at the bench, and the 1-second dip is short. Because kombucha is tea-colored, matching a color on the strip needs care, and the narrower strips from Fermentaholics or Kombucha Chemistry are more purpose-built.

10. Just Fitter Alkaline Water pH Strips: Best Multi-Liquid pH Strips for Water and Aquarium Use

• pH Range: Not listed (sold as a universal tester)
• Quantity: Not listed
• Method: Dip each strip and compare with the chart provided
• Reading Interval: Not listed
• Named Uses: Drinking water, aquarium, pool, hot tub, kombucha, brewing

Pros:

• A single kit covers drinking water, pool, aquarium and kombucha checks.
• It states the kombucha target clearly: fermentation should reach a pH between 2.5 and 3.5.
• A chart is provided for comparing each dipped strip.
• Storage guidance reminds buyers that strips are sensitive to heat and light.

Cons:

• The pH range, strip count and interval are all not listed.
• It is marketed mainly around alkaline drinking water, not brewing.
• Without a stated 0.5 step, it cannot match the clarity of Kombucha Chemistry's kit.

Best for: A household that tests drinking water or an aquarium and wants to add the occasional kombucha check.

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The Just Fitter Alkaline Water pH Strips are the most water-focused option here. They suit someone who mainly watches an aquarium or drinking water and treats kombucha as a side project. It also comes in Blue.

Because the key specs are not specified, it is harder to recommend for serious brewing than Fermentaholics 0-6 pH Strips or Kombucha.com 0-7 pH Strips, which state their ranges. Buy it for water and aquarium work, and pick a brewing-specific pack for the kombucha shelf.

Buyer's Guide: How to Choose the Right pH Strip

The core trade-off is range against resolution. A wide 0-14 strip handles every liquid in the house but shows kombucha's narrow window in coarse steps, while a 0-6 strip gives finer readings but cannot test anything alkaline.

Before choosing, check these project details:

• Measuring range: Decide whether you only test acidic ferments or also need water, soap or other liquids.
• Reading interval: Look for stated 0.5 steps if you need to separate close batches.
• Quantity: Match the strip count to how often you brew and how many checks each batch gets.
• Format: Pre-cut strips, a roll, a bottle or a storage case each change how fast testing feels.
• Sampling method: Check whether the strip is dipped or touched with a drop of liquid.

Measuring Range

Kombucha lives between roughly 2.5 and 4.5 pH, so a 0-6 strip such as Fermentaholics 0-6 pH Strips, Kombucha Chemistry 0-6 pH Strips or the Hydrion 0-6 pH Tape Dispenser puts that window in the middle of the scale. The Kombucha.com 0-7 pH Strips stretch one unit further to include neutral.

Full-range packs such as the Med Lab 200-Count Universal pH Strips and the HOVIRAN 125-Count Universal pH Strips pay off when the same strips must cover jobs beyond brewing, for instance checking a cleaning solution or a rust converter against the chart. The cost is lower resolution in the range you care about for kombucha.

Reading Interval

The reading interval decides whether you can tell 3.0 from 3.5. Kombucha Chemistry and Hydrion both state 0.5 markers, and the LabRat Supplies 0-14 Plastic pH Strips state 1 pH unit steps, which is too coarse for close calls.

Most other packs on this list do not state an interval, so treat their readings as approximate. If you need a precise number for every batch, a calibrated meter is the next step up, though strips remain faster for everyday checks.

Strip Format and Quantity

Counts range widely. The LabAider 240-Strip pH 1-14 Three-Pack supplies 240 strips and a storage case, the HomEnjoy 160-Strip pH 1-14 Two-Pack supplies 160 in two sealed packs, and the 100-strip kits from Kombucha Chemistry and Fermentaholics suit a single brewer.

Format matters in a wet kitchen. A bottle such as the HOVIRAN keeps strips and chart together, a roll like the Hydrion needs tearing, and pre-cut strips are quickest. Pick the format that fits how you work at the jar.

Sampling Method and Storage

Most kits are dip-and-compare, with a 1-2 second dip for Fermentaholics and Kombucha.com and about 1 second for HOVIRAN. The HomEnjoy pack is the exception, since its instructions call for a drop of liquid rather than immersion.

Storage affects accuracy. The LabRat pack advises keeping strips in their original packaging in a cool, dry place away from sunlight, and the Just Fitter kit notes that strips are sensitive to heat and light. Keep any pack away from the warm spot where your brew sits.

Frequently Asked Questions About pH Strips for Testing Kombucha

What pH Should Kombucha Be at the Start and End of Fermentation?

A starting liquid needs to be at or below 4.5 pH, and finished kombucha usually lands between 2.5 and 3.5. Commercial brewers commonly start around 4 and finish near 3, which is a useful benchmark for home batches. A 0-6 pack such as Fermentaholics 0-6 pH Strips puts all of those numbers on a single scale.

Can I Use Universal 0-14 pH Strips for Kombucha?

Yes, a 0-14 strip such as the Med Lab 200-Count Universal pH Strips can confirm whether a batch is roughly in range. The catch is resolution, because whole-number steps like those on the LabRat Supplies 0-14 Plastic pH Strips cannot separate 3.0 from 3.5. For close calls, a 0.5 interval strip is the better tool.

Do I Dip the Strip in the Kombucha or Use a Dropper?

Most kits, including Fermentaholics 0-6 pH Strips and Kombucha.com 0-7 pH Strips, are dipped for 1-2 seconds and compared against a chart. The HomEnjoy 160-Strip pH 1-14 Two-Pack is the exception, with instructions to apply a drop of liquid rather than immerse the strip. Follow the method that comes with your pack, since immersion can distort the result on a drop-test strip.

How Many Strips Does a Weekly Brewer Need?

Kombucha Chemistry 0-6 pH Strips describes its 100 strips as about a year of supply for a weekly brewer. If you test several times per batch, a bigger pack such as the LabAider 240-Strip pH 1-14 Three-Pack or the 200-strip Med Lab pack lasts longer. Count your checks per batch before choosing.

Are pH Strips Easier Than a pH Meter?

Strips need no calibration, while meters have to be calibrated frequently. That is the main reason brewers choose products like Kombucha.com 0-7 pH Strips for routine checks. The trade-off is that strips give an approximate color match rather than a precise digital reading.

How Should I Store pH Strips?

Keep them in their original packaging in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. The LabRat Supplies 0-14 Plastic pH Strips give this guidance, and the Just Fitter Alkaline Water pH Strips note that strips are sensitive to heat and light. A bottle with a lid, like the HOVIRAN pack, or the case with the LabAider set helps keep moisture out.

Final Verdict: Which pH Strip Should You Buy?

Best pH Strips for Testing Kombucha for most home brewers start with Med Lab 200-Count Universal pH Strips: a 0-14 range, 200 strips in one pack, and quick color-based results with no calibration. The main weakness is that its reading interval is not listed and a full-range scale shows kombucha's narrow window in coarser steps than a 0-6 strip.

For brewers who want finer readings, Kombucha Chemistry 0-6 pH Strips is the clearest step up, with 0.5 markers and 100 pre-cut strips built around first-ferment checks. Fermentaholics 0-6 pH Strips suit people who ferment beer, mead or vinegar as well, and the Hydrion 0-6 pH Tape Dispenser suits those who like tearing off tape with 0.5 matching.

The specialist picks fill narrower roles. The LabRat Supplies 0-14 Plastic pH Strips, HomEnjoy 160-Strip pH 1-14 Two-Pack, LabAider 240-Strip pH 1-14 Three-Pack and HOVIRAN 125-Count Universal pH Strips suit mixed household use, while Kombucha.com 0-7 pH Strips adds range up to neutral and Just Fitter Alkaline Water pH Strips leans toward water and aquariums. If you are still undecided, buy a 0-6 pack with stated 0.5 steps for the kombucha shelf and keep a full-range pack for everything else.