The best electric kettle can do so much more than make tea and coffee. Capable of boiling water in minutes, they can speed up your cooking time for pasta or potatoes significantly, and even save you energy in the process.
While they do quite a simple job, electric kettles can be incredibly high-tech if you want a smarter option. For a start, there's the choice between traditional or gooseneck models, which are ideal for pour-over coffee. There are also a number of electric kettles that come with a selection of temperature pre-sets for making coffee, green tea or black tea, all of which require different temperatures, and many even have the technology to keep your water at the perfect temperature for those days when you've got no time to waste between your cups of coffee.
When testing the best electric kettles, we rolled up our sleeves and got technical. Our rankings included safety considerations such as tracking the external temperature of the kettle after boiling, as well as a test 30 minutes after boiling to see how well the kettle insulated and maintained heat. Another key consideration was speed. We boiled one liter of water in each kettle and timed how long this took, and when pouring, we looked for ease of use and tactile features, and marked down models that dripped and spilled.
The quick list
Here’s the best electric kettles you can buy right now based on our comprehensive online research. Scroll on for our full in-depth reviews.
Sleek and minimal, this kettle from Zwilling is smart yet sleek. It heats water to boiling at the flick of a switch and provides internal markings for the minimum and maximum capacities. Double wall construction keeps the outside cool while insulating inside.
This Cuisinart kettle comes with 6 temperature settings ranging from 160°F up to boiling. Each is labeled to guide you on its best use, including green, white and oolong tea, as well as French press for coffee. With a handy keep warm setting, it couldn’t offer much more.
This Breville kettle has its own control panel which offers 5 temperature settings ranging from 175°F up to boiling and descriptions for each, similar to our winner. There’s a 20-minute keep warm setting, and premium features include a soft-open lid and steel exterior.
For pour-over coffee, this Fellow kettle is the best. With its thin, long spout, you can control the pour speed and accuracy with ease. Plus, you can be exact in terms of temperature, with settings visible via an LCD screen, ranging from 135 – 212°F in one degree increments.
The KitchenAid Pro Line Series Electric Kettle has a charming classic design with an adjustable temperature dial on the base. It has a robust design that will last for years and years, but the handle does make for awkward pouring when the kettle is full.
Available in a huge range of colors, this Smeg kettle is a stylish choice that will suit a range of interiors. In terms of its features, you pay for the brand and looks with this kettle, but if you're happy to spend a little more for a chic option, it does the job well.
The best electric kettles you can buy today
We love the Zwilling Enfinigy Cool Touch Electric Kettle Pro's streamlined, uncluttered appearance and its sleek stainless steel finish doesn't mark easily with greasy fingerprints. We loved that there’s no plastic inside the kettle, as well as the fact that the outside stays cool to the touch. This is due to the double wall construction that not only keeps the outside cool, but insulates the kettle, keeping the water inside hotter for longer.
It doesn’t have a water gauge, so you can’t check how much water is inside, but the flip top lid opens easily and there are markings inside to indicate different fill levels, including the maximum. In testing we found that it’s easy to use and has a smart control panel that allows you to choose a range of pre-set temperatures depending on your preferred drink. The kettle could've used an external water gauge to make it easier to tell how much water we've added, but that's our only downside.
Best budget
With six different temperature settings, the Cuisinart PerfecTemp Cordless Electric Kettle lets tea lovers heat water to the optimal temperature for a variety of teas, choosing between delicate, green, white, oolong and black settings. And if you’re not content with just tea, you’ll love the French press setting which delivers the perfect water temperature to brew coffee in your French press.
If you engage the 30-minute keep warm function, when it’s time for your second cup the water will still be at the perfect temperature, great for refilling your mug during a zoom call. It’s not the cheapest kettle in our list but the features and large capacity make it a versatile choice and tea geeks will love the variety of temperature options.
Best premium
Premium appliance brand Breville has a reputation for making high quality kitchen appliances with a sleek stainless-steel finish and this kettle is no exception. It’s the most expensive kettle on our list, but it has plenty of features and reviewers praise the sturdy build quality. The large capacity is ample for making hot drinks for the whole family and the 20-minute keep warm function means the water will still be hot when it’s time for a top-up.
Tea lovers can choose the perfect brewing temperature at the touch of a button, with options for green tea, white tea, oolong and black tea. There’s also a coffee button, so you can heat water to the perfect temperature for pour-over coffee. With all these hot drink options, the kettle is sure to keep everyone in the house happy.
Best gooseneck
The simple aesthetic and multiple color options make this kettle the perfect choice for lovers of sleek and contemporary design. But, it’s not all form over function though — the gooseneck spout is designed for precision pouring, making it the ideal electric kettle for pour over coffee aficionados. This is the kettle one of our editors bought for all his tea- and coffee-drinking.
It’s packed with features and reviewers love the keep warm setting which will maintain a set water temperature for up to an hour. The easy dial control allows you to set the kettle to heat the water to any temperature between 135 – 212oF giving the most precise temperature control of all the kettles on this list. The LCD display on the base shows the real-time temperature inside the kettle as it heats and once you’ve poured the hot water over your coffee or tea bag, the built-in brew stopwatch gives you a quick and convenient way of timing your brew or extraction. What more could you want from a kettle?
Best classic
KitchenAid is one of those trusted American brands that you can rely on to produce excellent quality appliances. There’s always a great selection of colors to choose from as well and this kettle is no exception — it comes in five colors that you can coordinate with other KitchenAid appliances. The 50 ounce/ 1.5 liter capacity is big enough for most people’s needs, but it’s not the largest capacity kettle available.
We enjoyed the traditional style of the kettle and the sturdy metal construction, but noted that the outside of the kettle gets hot to the touch. However, you can rest assured that despite the metal construction, the handle stays cool. If you’re just looking for a bog-standard electric kettle, you may not make full use of variable temperature control, but the KitchenAid Pro Line Series Electric Kettle is ideal for those who drink tea, coffee and matcha with its range of settings to suit different beverages.
Best retro
With its retro shape, this 50s inspired Smeg kettle is definitely a showstopper and with eleven amazing colors to choose from, there’s definitely an option that will suit most kitchens. The colors include standard safe options like black, white and cream as well as pastel green, pink and blue and even gold or rose gold — for the more adventurous, there’s even a Dolce & Gabbana patterned version of this kettle. While we love the style and shape of this kettle, but there’s no denying that it’s expensive for an appliance that just boils water.
The 57-ounce/ 1.7 liter capacity means you’ll be able to boil enough water for several hot drinks or a large French press all with a flick of the cute ball switch. There’s a handy water gauge behind the handle that lets you check how much water is inside. The stainless-steel construction gives this kettle a reassuringly durable quality, but the outside does get hot to the touch, which is an important safety consideration.
Best quality
The Dualit Classic Kettle is a top pick in the UK, so you know it's approved by tea-lovers. Recently launched in US retailers such as Macy's and Williams Sonoma, the luxe and high-quality electric kettle can be paired with their iconic toaster for a timeless look.
In testing, we did find that the handle on this kettle sticks a little bit, so it's a good thing it has a ring pull to make it easier to open without having to touch hot metal when refilling after boiling. Temperature retention was impressive, although it does get noticeably hot to touch due to the metal construction of this kettle. The carefully-crafted spout doesn't drip when pouring and the plastic-coated handle feels secure and stays cool for easy pouring.
How we picked
When testing electric kettles in our test kitchen we took into account how sturdy they felt, how long they took to boil five cups of water, and how well they retained the heat of the water once boiled.
We used an extra-sensitive thermometer to track the temperature of the water once first boiled, as well as how hot this stayed after 30 minutes in order to evaluate the insulation. We also touched the exterior of each kettle after testing to see if they felt safe to touch, and consider whether that could be a health concern.
Other factors such as value for money, range of settings, and ease of use were considered when we ranked these electric kettles. Ultimately, every model that made our roundup comes highly recommended, but the right kettle for you will depend on what your budget is, and what your most-used feature will be.
How to choose
It's no surprise if you need help with choosing an electric kettle. In fact, I test appliances for a living and I’m surprised electric kettles aren’t more popular in the U.S. So, these appliances are a learning curve for most.
When choosing your electric kettle, you’ll need to consider a few factors before you buy. The overall aesthetics shouldn’t be dismissed when you’re looking at an appliance that will be visible on your kitchen counter. Also, think about how much you’re willing to spend — prices vary drastically and there’s a kettle for every budget. You should also consider:
- Capacity — The majority of kettles range from 30 ounces/ 0.9 liter to 61 ounces/ 1.8 liters. This difference in size impacts how many hot drinks you can make at once. So if you’ve got a larger household, it’s worth considering a kettle with a large capacity.
- Temperature settings — If you just want to boil water, then a simple no-frills kettle will do the job, but tea geeks and coffee aficionados will appreciate a kettle that can heat water to a range of temperatures for optimum brewing. Some also have a keep warm function, so the water temperature is maintained and ready for when you need a top up.
- Safety — Most electric kettles automatically shut off when the water boils, making them safer than stovetop options. But, for added peace of mind, some also have boil dry protection, which means they’ll shut off if there’s no water remaining. And if you want a kettle that doesn’t get too hot on the outside, look for one with a double wall or plastic construction.
Kettle FAQs
How much should you spend on an electric kettle?
Electric kettles can vary greatly in price, with basic entry level models starting from $20, ranging up to $300 for the most premium brands. If you want a kettle with a quality feel to it, such as a soft grip handle or soft open lid, you need to be prepared to pay for it — entry level models tend to feature a basic plastic or stainless steel exterior which will get the job done, but lacks aesthetic appeal. If you want a variable temperature kettle, so you can better control the temperature for herbal teas, this will likely cost you more for the added technology as well. Variable temperature kettles tend to start from $45 for guidance.
You should only pay for what you need when it comes to electric kettles. So don’t be driven to spend more on special features if you’re unlikely to use them, such as a keep warm setting or smart connectivity. Do take the time to check if it comes with energy claims though — a kettle with a good energy rating will cost less to run over time. How much you ultimately spend will be down to your needs and preferences. We recommend coming up with a budget before you start browsing, and then considering the features you require so you don’t spend more than necessary.
Are electric kettles worth it?
The answer to this question depends on how often you’re likely to use an electric kettle. If you’re often heating up water to boiling point via the stove or the microwave, then an electric kettle can save you both time and effort. Plus, it will use less energy in the process too, meaning it will save you money. In addition, the convenience of heating the water at the flick of a switch can't be emphasized enough.
If you’re a fan of herbal teas, then a variable temperature electric kettle is definitely worth considering. With one of these you’ve got greater control over the final temperature, so you can heat the water to the ideal level for brewing different beverages. For instance, green tea requires a brewing temperature of 175 to 185°F, while black tea brews best in water at 200 to 205°F. However, this will add to the price tag, so you should only opt for it if you intend to use it.
Some electric kettles are naturally better than others, so their worth can also vary from model to model. Some perform more efficiently, heating water both quickly and quietly. If you want some guidance on which electric kettle to choose, check out our shortlist above. We’ve scoured the marketplace to find the best electric kettles.
