The Best Editor-Tested Electric Kettles That You Can Buy Now

When it comes to home and kitchen appliances, nothing quite embodies the “set it and forget it” principle quite like an electric kettle. They can be used for a multitude of purposes, including beverages and food, and cut down significantly on prep time. In fact, they boil water so quickly and more safely than their stovetop counterparts that once you start using one, you won’t want to turn back. Besides, there’s no need to get the stove involved anymore when you can simply let your kettle do all the work for you — and at a faster rate than a stove would! But with so many models on the market, it can be difficult to pick out the absolute best electric kettle. That’s why we did it for you. Whether you’re a coffee or tea drinker, want something simple, or with all the bells and whistles, we have just the perfect electric kettle for you.

• Best Overall: SAKI TeaSmart Electric Turkish Tea Kettle
• Best Budget-Friendly: Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 1.7L One-Touch Electric Kettle
• Best Splurge: SMEG Mini Kettle
• Best Small: Hamilton Beach 1L Electric Kettle
• Best Large: Haden Heritage 1.7L Stainless-Steel Electric Cordless Kettle
• Best Glass: Elite Gourmet 1.2L Adjustable Temperature Electric Honeypot Glass Kettle
• Best Stainless Steel: DASH 1.7L Insulated Electric Kettle
• Best for Tea: Adagio Teas VelociTEA Electric Tea Maker
• Best Temperature-Control: Ninja Precision Temperature Kettle

Purchasing an electric kettle can be tricky because of the wide variety of models and settings available. From the type of spout to size and temperature options, there are a lot of features to consider when selecting the best kettle. Knowing how you’ll be using your kettle will help to determine the features that will be most important to look for.

Stainless steel: While you can’t watch water boil in a stainless steel kettle, they’re often more durable than glass.  

Glass: One of the perks of glass kettles is that you can see directly inside to check the status of the water and evaluate whether your kettle needs a good cleaning. The glass also creates an illusion of taking up less space, which is great for small kitchens. 

Gooseneck: The long, thin spout on a gooseneck kettle allows for precise pouring, which is especially useful for making pour-over coffee.

Standard: For those looking for a basic boil, a standard electric kettle is the way to go. There are no frills here – at the press of a button, the kettle will reach a boiling point.

Variable temperature: These kettles have several temperature presets or the ability to select a specific temperature within a wide range.

Temperature controls: Whether you opt for a standard kettle that simply brings water to a boil or a variable-temperature kettle depends on what you’ll use your electric kettle for. If you’re looking to have more precise control over water temperature for making tea and coffee, a variable-temperature kettle is the way to go. For these you’ll want to make sure that it’s easy to select a temperature and that any presets are ones you will use.

Pour spout: Gooseneck spouts are most popular for their pouring precision, while large, traditional spouts come with more pouring power. Whichever you choose, you’ll want to keep an eye out for those that leak when poured — this is more common for kettles with larger spouts.

Safety: Many kettles will automatically shut off once they reach a boiling point or the desired temperature, which is an important safety feature to look for. You’ll also want to look for kettles that remain cool when heated to avoid burns when being handled or poured.

We tested a range of electric kettles, from standard to variable and stainless steel to glass, judging them on the following criteria:

• Functionality: How easy and intuitive is it to use? How does it heat and pour? Does it have any temperature controls?
• Utility: Does it store well? Does it seem effectively designed to last?
• Style: How large is it? How does it look when displayed?

The electric kettle at the top of our list is hands down the TeaSmart Electric Turkish Tea Kettle. “The TeaSmart Electric Turkish Tea Kettle from SAKI isn’t jam-packed with a ton of features, but what it does, it does well,” says Britt, our Best List Editor. “It’s super sleek and modern, and has a filter built into the smaller pot so that loose-leaf tea can be steeped directly inside of it and poured into a cup without anything extra getting into your drink.” This kettle also boasts a live temperature display, putting the heat control entirely in your hands. Once it reaches your desired temperature, you can then utilize the Auto-Keep Warm feature. It kicks in as soon as the water hits boiling temperature and keeps your beverage warm up to three hours. Plus, it’s the first plastic-free tea maker ever built, with a fully stainless steel body!

Specifications:

• Stainless steel body and teapot lid; heat-proof rubber handles
• 7-cup kettle capacity; 3-cup teapot capacity
• Cordless kettle and teapot
• 8.5″ x 7″ x 14.5″ (fully assembled, including base)
• 120 volts; 1500 watts
• Built-in stainless steel infuser
• Smart live temperature display
• Auto shut-off and boil-dry protection
• Hand wash
• 3-year replacement warranty

Who It’s Best For: Loose-leaf tea drinkers; those who prefer a specific temperature for their hot beverages; those who prefer a plastic-free kettle

Good to Know: The kettle isn’t compact, but as long as you have room for it the kettle shouldn’t get in the way. 

If you’re not looking to break the bank or you’re just dipping your toe in the electric kettle space, the Beautiful 1.7L One-Touch Electric Kettle is a great place to start. Not only is it super affordable, but it’s also super fast: It can boil seven cups of water in under seven minutes! “I typically only boil as much water as I need in the moment,” says Britt, our Best List Editor, “and since it heats up so quickly, it’s not a huge pain to boil more afterward.” Its sleek design features four touch-activated preset programs for white, green, oolong, and black teas — or you can simply use it as a quick way to boil water for cooking purposes. The kettle itself is cordless, with a compact docking station (with the cord) that appears as part of the kettle unit when the two are paired, helping you to save space in your kitchen. “It’s easy to clean (simply wipe it down), and I haven’t experienced any mineral buildup as of yet,” says Britt. “I’m looking forward to moving it from my kitchen to the coffee and tea station in my home office!”

Read our full review of the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 1.7L One-Touch Electric Kettle.

Specifications:

• Plastic with double-walled stainless steel interior
• 7-cup capacity
• Cordless kettle
• 9.21″ x 6.39″ x 10.51″
• 120 volts; 1500 watts
• Preset temperatures for green tea, white tea, oolong tea, and boil/black tea
• Touch-activated display
• 360-degree power base
• Auto shut-off and boil-dry protection
• Available in 6 colors
• Hand wash
• 2-year limited warranty

Who It’s Best For: Those who don’t want to spend a lot for an electric kettle; those who desire a speedy boiling process

Good to Know: Even without utilizing the Keep Warm mode, the stainless steel kettle still keeps the water warm up to 30 minutes. 

If you were looking for a sign to give in to your aesthetic desires and invest in a SMEG product, we can’t recommend the SMEG Mini Kettle enough. This retro-style kettle comes in pastel blue, black, cream, pastel green, pink, and red — so it should be able to fit into any kitchen design. Senior Commerce Editor Alicia spoke to the versatility of the mini kettle:  “The SMEG heats up in less than three minutes, holds enough water for my boyfriend’s oatmeal and my morning cup of coffee, and is easy to maneuver.” The kettle also switches off once it reaches 212 degrees Fahrenheit, when there’s an insufficient water level, or when the body is detached from the base. If you’re also debating on whether the mini size will be large enough, “[O]ur commerce managing editor, Tamara, owns the larger SMEG kettle and says that she wishes she got the mini, because it’s too big. So if you’re debating between the two sizes and are heating up water for one or two people, we say go smaller,” says Alicia. 

Read our full review of the SMEG Mini Kettle.

Specifications:

• Plastic with double-walled stainless steel interior
• 3-cup capacity
• Cordless kettle
• 8″ x 8″ x 6″
• 240 volts; 1400 watts
• Anti-slip 360-degree rotating base
• Available in 7 colors
• Auto shut-off and boil-dry protection
• Wipe clean with damp cloth
• 1-year warranty

Who It’s Best For: Smaller households; those who prioritize both design and quality; those looking for a compact kettle; those who only need 1-2 cups of hot water at a time

Good to Know: You can’t see the water level from the outside, and the cord is a little cumbersome. 

When kitchen space is limited, the compact Hamilton Beach 1L Electric Kettle will be sure to slot into the nooks and crannies of your space. This simple kettle gets the job done without a ton of expanded features, which is exactly why Creative Studio Editorial Director Matt loves it. “I specifically wanted something that would be reliable, last a long time, and not stick out on my counter,” he says. “This kettle delivers on all those features! It has exactly one button (‘On’) and goes up to exactly one temperature (‘Boiling’).” This small kettle also boils within 1–2 minutes, has a water-level window for easy monitoring, a concealed heating element for safe handling, and comes complete with an auto shut-off feature with boil-dry protection. “As someone who wanted a simple, reliable kettle that doesn’t have a bunch (or any) bells and whistles to break, I couldn’t be happier with the one I have!” says Matt. 

Specifications:

• Stainless steel
• 1 liter capacity
• Cordless kettle
• 7.8″ x 8″ x 5.5″
• 120 volts; 1500 watts
• Auto shut-off and boil-dry protection
• Includes removable mesh filter
• Hand wash; Use non-abrasive damp cloth for kettle exterior
• 1-year warranty

Who It’s Best For: Those looking for a simple kettle; those with limited kitchen space

Good to Know: While the base is corded, the kettle is cord-free for ease of serving.

For those who prepare their caffeinated beverages in bulk (guilty) or who need to heat up water for a large meal in a short amount of time, the Haden Heritage Stainless-Steel Electric Cordless Kettle is the one for you. It holds seven cups of water and boasts a rotating base and water-fill window for ease of use. “I use this kettle every day to make pour-over coffee, and it also comes in handy for instant soups and ramen when I can’t be bothered to cook,” says Commerce Editorial Assistant Nikol. “It’s easily my most used small appliance. I love its sleek appearance, plus the auto shut-off feature gives me peace of mind.” The power light also illuminates the water as it boils, helping signal when the kettle is in use and when the auto shut-off feature is enabled. 

Specifications:

• Stainless steel and BPA-free plastic
• 7-cup capacity
• Cordless kettle
• 9 1/2″ x 7″ x 11 3/4″
• 120 volts; 1500 watts
• Stay-cool, 360-degree rotating base
• Auto shut-off and boil-dry protection
• Available in 6 colors
• Includes extra water filter
• Unplug and allow to cool before cleaning. Wipe kettle exterior and base with damp cloth then dry thoroughly. Wash interior of kettle with hot, soapy water, then rinse thoroughly.
• 1-year limited warranty

Who It’s Best For: Those who need to boil a lot of water at once; those looking for a retro-style kettle

Good to Know: The kettle’s handle is close to the opening, which may make cleaning a bit tricky. Additionally, this kettle does not stay cool to the touch while in use.

The Elite Gourmet Adjustable Temperature Electric Honeypot Glass Kettle truly lives up to the “elite” status in its name. Like many others on this list, it boasts the versatility of use, but it also allows you to be as precise as you wish when boiling your water. Not only can you see through the container (complete with capacity markings) to see its water level and boiling status, but this kettle also features a temperature dial where you can preserve the warmth of your water at the exact temperature you desire. It’s made of borosilicate glass, which is 100-percent BPA-free and stain resistant. However, it does feature a longer cord, so keep that in mind for countertop storage. One unexpected feature that blew the mind of Senior Branded Content Editor Elizabeth was the removable lid: “The lid, the lid, the lid. The fact that the lid comes off completely is something I did not know I needed from a kettle, and now can’t live without.” 

Specifications:

• BPA-free glass, stainless steel, and plastic
• 5-cup capacity
• 8.64″ x 6.46″ x 8.62″
• 230 volts; 1200 watts
• Cordless kettle with removable lid
• Detachable 360-degree swivel power base
• Adjustable keep-warm temperature dial up to 190°F
• Auto shut-off and boil-dry protection
• Hand wash
• 1-year warranty 

Who It’s Best For: Those who prefer a glass kettle; those who prefer a smaller countertop kettle

Good to Know: Though the temperature dial stops at 190°F to keep water hot or warm after boiling, the kettle can heat to a rolling boil for coffee, black tea, and other higher temperature needs.

Our pick for the best stainless steel electric kettle in the game goes to the Dash Insulated Electric Kettle. This durable kettle has vacuum insulation that can hold heat up to eight hours. Contributor Amy appreciated the sleek LCD temperature control: “This kettle is fantastic. I was very impressed with the range of functionality. I love that you can program it to specific temperatures depending on what you’re making, and it heats up incredibly fast!” While it’s made of stainless steel, the kettle has a cool-touch exterior that keeps its body and handle from burning to the touch. It also boasts an anti-spill lid, so all you need to do is press the lever to pour once it’s done heating up!

Specifications:

• Vacuum-insulated stainless steel with cool-touch exterior and plastic
• 57-ounce capacity
• Cordless kettle
• 8.7″ x 7.1″ x 9.8″
• 120 volts; 1500 watts
• Precise temperature control from 104-212°F
• Digital display with temperatures in Fahrenheit and Celsius
• Auto-shutoff
• Available in 4 colors
• Hand wash
• 1-year warranty

Who It’s Best For: Those who use kettles throughout the day; those who prefer a durable appliance

Good to Know: One-year warranty can be extended to two years by joining DASH’s Feel Good Rewards program.

Tea lovers need to look no further for the best electric kettle for their needs — the Adagio Teas VelociTEA Kettle is the one for you! This electric kettle allows you to brew tea directly into it at the push of a button. It simply pumps water from the base into the tea infuser basket and steeps the tea leaves as the water circulates. “As someone who likes to get from Point A to Point B as efficiently as possible, I love the VelociTEA kettle!” says Best List Editor Britt. “You can use loose tea and tea bags in it, and it has preset temperatures specific to the type of tea you’ll be drinking.” Once your tea is ready, the kettle will keep it warm for up to an hour. There is also a “heat only” option if you only want to boil water, allowing you to use the kettle for other needs other than tea-related ones. 

Specifications

• Stainless steel and glass
• 40-ounce capacity
• Cordless kettle
• 6″ x 6″ x 11″
• 110 volts; 1500 watts
• Makes 8-40 ounces of tea
• Precise temperature settings for green, white, oolong, black, and herbal teas
• Heat-only option for boiling water
• Includes removable infuser basket and base
• Hand wash kettle; dishwasher-safe infuser basket

Who It’s Best For: Heavy tea drinkers; those who prefer glass kettles; those who want to cut down on the time it takes to make tea; those who want a large pot of ready-made tea

Good to Know: The kettle might be more prone to mineral buildup, so it might be smart to bundle this purchase with descaling tablets and use them weekly.

For those looking for specificity with their brewing, the Ninja Precision Temperature Electric Kettle is the way to go. “I love this thing!” says Deputy Lifestyle Director, Maddie. “ I will say it’s for someone who cares about the perfect temps for their beverages, rather than the kettle owner who just wants to heat up water fast.” This electric kettle features seven one-touch presets for green tea, white tea, oolong tea, black tea, herbal tea, coffee, and simply just for boiling water. There’s also a manual temperature control in case the presets don’t suit your needs. This kettle can boil one cup of water in 90 seconds, and it’ll keep your water warm for 30 minutes once it’s finished. It also features an illuminated water window so you can monitor the level in this seven-cup kettle. 

Specifications:

• Stainless steel
• 7-cup capacity
• Cordless kettle
• 9.42″ x 7.55″ x 9.66″
• 120 volts; 1500 watts
• 7 preset temperatures for green tea, white tea, oolong tea, black tea, herbal tea, and coffee, and water
• Illuminated display
• Manual temperature control and hold temperature setting
• Includes removable scale filter and power base with cord storage
• Unplug before cleaning. Use non-abrasive damp cloth to clean kettle exterior and base. Remove filter then run under hot tap water before cleaning with a cloth or brush.

Who It’s Best For: Those who are very specific about water temperature; those who prefer stainless steel kettles

Good to Know: No parts of this kettle are dishwasher safe.