This paper compares the performance of single basin single slope solar still with and without water nanofluid. Water nanofluids of Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3), Zinc Oxide (ZnO), Iron Oxide (Fe2O3) and Tin Oxide (SnO2) of different concentrations were characterized for thermal and physical properties and suitable nanofluids were selected for performance testing in solar still. Two experimental stills of the same basin area have been fabricated and tested with water and different nanofluids simultaneously. The still with Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) nanofluid has 29.95% higher production and the still with Zinc Oxide (ZnO) and Tin Oxide (SnO2) nanofluids has 12.67% and 18.63% more production respectively than the still with water. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.