The Best Electric Kettles to Get the Water Going
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
-(blue)-(beige)-(green)-Offwhite-Background-SOURCE-Walmart.jpg)
You're missing out if you don't have an electric kettle in your kitchen. Not only are these appliances slightly more energy-efficient than a stovetop, but they're also portable and boil water more quickly. These days, electric kettles come in various sizes and different kinds of spouts. You'll often find models with customizable temperature settings, allowing you to set the perfect brew temperature for your pour-over coffee or loose-leaf tea.
There are a lot of electric kettles out there. If you're looking for the best bang for your buck or one that's particularly great for coffee, we've done the hard work for you. We've been testing over a dozen models for a few years to find the best electric kettles worthy of your countertop.
For more kitchen guides, check out the Best Espresso Machines, the Best Latte & Cappuccino Makers, the Best Air Fryers, and the Best Chef's Knives.
Updated January 2025: We added the Dash Easy Kettle, Fellow Corvo EKG, and The Bistro Tile x Haden 1.7 Liter Electric Kettle.
Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.
Stainless Steel Vs. Glass
Our electric kettle recommendations are made of either stainless steel or glass. If you're wondering which to choose, there are pros and cons to both materials.
Glass electric kettles are easier to maintain. You can spot buildup in and around the kettle more clearly, though that might mean you'll be cleaning it more often. Glass kettles are less likely to get rusty over time too. Since they're see-through, they're easier to fill with water, and you can keep an eye on the boiling process. However, they are fragile—even if they're made of durable glass, you still have to be careful.
Stainless steel electric kettles tend to hide any kind of mucky buildup, but that doesn't mean they're a hassle to clean. They're more durable and often don't get as hot as glass kettles, so they're a little safer to hold. Generally, there are also more styles and colors to choose from. However, it's not as easy to check water levels since the body isn't see-through, and the exterior can often feel hot even if it has a double-walled body.
Don't Forget to Descale Your Electric Kettle
It's important to maintain your electric kettle for a variety of reasons—it'll increase its longevity, let your tea and coffee taste fresh, and keep the kettle itself looking its best. But as with other kitchen appliances, you can't simply throw it in the dishwasher or scrub it with some soap and water. Below, we answer all the common questions that come with descaling an electric kettle.
Why do I need to descale my electric kettle?
Water contains natural minerals like calcium carbonate and magnesium. When boiling water, the heat causes those minerals to precipitate into a white, chalky deposit inside the kettle known as limescale buildup. Descaling your electric kettle removes that buildup. While limescale isn't dangerous to your health, it can damage the kettle and affect its efficiency—causing it to take longer to boil water. It can impact the taste of the water too.
How do you descale an electric kettle?
You can descale your kettle using a water and vinegar solution—the mild acidity helps to break down the buildup of minerals. Add equal parts water and vinegar to the kettle and bring it to a boil. If you don't have vinegar on hand, you can also use baking soda or lemon juice. When using baking soda, you should add one to two tablespoons to two cups of water and bring it to a boil. For lemon juice, you can either cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice out or use a quarter cup of lemon juice. Then, add the juice to one cup of water, mix it, and bring it to a boil.
Depending on how much mineral buildup there is, or how long it's been since you've descaled your kettle, you can let your solution sit inside the kettle for as little as 15 to 20 minutes or as long as overnight. Then, pour the water out and wipe the inside with a sponge, soft cloth, or soft-bristle sponge. You can repeat the process if you still see limescale.
How often do I need to descale my electric kettle?
If you live in an area with hard water (which is water with a high mineral content), you should descale your kettle every three months. If you live in an area with soft water (which has a low mineral content), you can wait a little longer. However, you should also descale it if you notice mineral deposits in the kettle, your tea or coffee tastes somewhat off, or you see grainy sediment at the bottom of your mug.
- Photograph: Walmart
Best Overall
Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Beautiful Electric KettleThe Beautiful Electric Kettle has every feature we look for in an electric kettle. It has an insulated, double-walled body (to keep you from accidentally burning yourself), four preset programs (which takes the guesswork out of boiling the perfect cup of tea or coffee), auto shutoff, a “keep warm” mode, and a charming aesthetic (with a matte finish available in fun colors like sage green and cornflower blue)—all at an affordable price.
We particularly love the touch-activated display, which only appears when the kettle is in use. With zero buttons or knobs, the kettle is unobtrusive and blends in nicely with the rest of the appliances on my countertop. Tap on a preset program or manually set a specific temperature using the plus and minus buttons. It lets out a few short beeps when it's done, but it also displays the exact temperature in real time as it heats. The kettle lives up to its claims too. The company says it can boil a full pot in under seven minutes, and we heard it beep after five and a half minutes.
Specs Capacity: 1.7 liters Materials: Aluminum and plastic Features: Double-walled stainless steel, auto shut-off, boil-dry protection, keep warm mode, touch-activated display with presets, temperature control Weight: 4.3 pounds Wattage: 1,500 watts - Photograph: Cosori
A Great Glass Kettle
Cosori Electric KettleThe Cosori is affordable, easy to use, and durable. Made of borosilicate glass, it can withstand high temperatures. While it's heavier than the stainless steel kettles we've tested, the rounded handle offers a sturdy hold (even with my smaller hands).
The bottom of the kettle has a built-in blue LED, which turns on when the water is boiling and off when it's done—it automatically shuts off when it's done boiling. The LED is convenient for when I'm moving around my apartment; I just glance at it to see whether the light is still on or not. The Cosori is on the louder side, but it boils quickly. We boiled a little more than one liter of water in just four minutes. Best of all, it pours quite smoothly.
Specs Capacity: 1.7 liters Materials: Stainless steel, borosilicate glass Features: Auto shut-off, boil-dry protection, non-drip spout, rapid boil, and LED base Weight: 2.6 pounds Wattage: 1,500 watts
- Photograph: Amazon
Best Upgrade
Breville IQ PureBreville (Sage in the UK and Australia) has carved out a niche in the small-appliance market as a purveyor of high-quality products—far from cheap, but not too premium—and this 2,400-watt kettle epitomizes Breville's approach to form and function. It feels good, looks good, works well, boils quickly, and should last years. It also teaches you the correct temperature to brew better-tasting drinks, with five presets for green tea, oolong, coffee, and black tea. Yes, there are loads of buttons as a result, but all of them make sense.
In WIRED contributor Chris Haslam's test kitchen, lined up alongside the KitchenAid, Hay, and Wolf kettles, it was the undisputed champion of repeat use—which, given the quality of the competition, is saying something. The pour was consistently easy and smooth. There’s nothing to fault here, and while the price is high, it’s not extortionate. Haslam tested the brushed metal version, which is now harder to find in stock. But the IQ Kettle Pure pictured here has the same controls and capacity but with a thermal glass kettle instead.
Specs Capacity: 1.8 liters Materials: German Schott glass Features: Auto shut-off, boil-dry protection, keep warm button, preset buttons, soft-open lid Weight: 3.6 pounds Wattage: 2,400 watts - Photograph: Fellow
A Gooseneck Kettle for Precision Pours
Fellow Stagg EKG Electric KettleFellow's Stagg EKG kettle has a gooseneck spout—it quite literally looks like a goose's neck. It's the perfect option for those who love making pour-over coffee because it gives you precise control when pouring water over the coffee grounds. But WIRED reviewer Jaina Grey recommends it for anyone, whether you brew coffee or not. Thanks to the temperature control knob and LCD display, you have the luxury of heating up water at any desired temperature. It's great for tea lovers who prefer steeping at specific temps or bakers who need a narrow spout for certain recipes.
There's a smart version, the EKG+, complete with Fellow's iOS companion app (there's no Fellow Android app, but you can use the Acaia Brewmaster app). The app functionality is minimal (and is generally clunky). You can use it to turn the kettle on and off, change the temperature, and keep an eye on it without needing to head to the kitchen. That's about it. We recommend skipping the “smart” version and sticking with the regular Fellow Stagg EKG to save some cash.
If you don't need a gooseneck spout, there's also the Corvo EKG ($195). It has all the same features as the Stagg EKG but with a wide spout—making it the better option for tea, ramen, and oatmeal, rather than just pour-over coffee.
Specs Capacity: 0.9 liters Materials: Stainless steel Features: Gooseneck spout, LCD display, precise temperature control knob, 60-minute hold mode Weight: 2.75 pounds Wattage: 1,200 watts
- Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
Best Kid-Proof Kettle
Zwilling Enfinigy Cool Touch Kettle ProIf you have kids who love to touch everything on the kitchen countertop, I recommend the Enfinigy Cool Touch Kettle Pro for peace of mind. It has a heat-insulated double-walled body—the water stays hot inside while the kettle remains cool outside. You won't burn your prints off by touching the stainless steel kettle. The dock you place the kettle on has a touchscreen display with six presets you can cycle through, including specific temperatures for tea and coffee from 140 degrees up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. There's also a dedicated button for baby formula, which heats water to a specific temperature safe to pour into the formula, and another button keeps the water warm for up to 30 minutes. It's quick to boil and quiet—letting out a few short beeps when done.
My only gripe? The touchscreen display can be finicky; occasionally I had to tap it a few times to wake it up. That's easy to forgive because this is arguably the sleekest-looking electric kettle I've tested. I tested it at my parent's house, where my mom tends to stash away appliances she deems unattractive. This one remained on the countertop. She liked it so much that she bought a matching toaster that now sits next to the kettle in the kitchen.
Specs Capacity: 1.5 liters Materials: Stainless steel Features: Double-walled body, keep warm function, six presets, temperature control Weight: 5.3 pounds Wattage: 1,500 watts - Photograph: Cuisinart
Best for Beginner Tea Enthusiasts
Cuisinart PerfecTemp Cordless Electric KettleFormer WIRED contributor Jeffrey Van Camp has been using Cuisinart's PerfecTemp for several years and he's been happy with it. It's especially great for tea lovers because it comes with six preset buttons for green tea, white tea, oolong tea, and black tea, plus a “delicate” button for light and spring teas that boils the water to 160 degrees Fahrenheit (the sixth preset is for French press coffee). There's a backlit water window that lets you see how much water you're filling it with (helpful if your kitchen doesn't have the best lighting), and a blue light indicates when it's boiling water and on what setting. There's a mesh filter near the pouring spout you can remove and clean as well.
Unfortunately, there's no simple way to mute the alarm that goes off when the kettle is done boiling water. It's a little too loud and runs a smidge too long. (You can mute it, but it requires taking the kettle apart, which the manufacturer does not endorse.)
Specs Capacity: 1.7 liters Materials: Stainless steel Features: Six preset temperatures options, one-touch controls with blue LED, keep warm function, backlit water window, auto shutoff and boil dry protection, removable limescale filter Weight: 2 pounds Wattage: 1,500 watts
- Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
For Loose-Leaf Lovers
Breville Tea MakerBreville's Tea Maker is a great option for anyone who prefers loose-leaf tea instead of tea bags. As someone new to the world of loose-leaf, though, I was very intimidated when I first unboxed the Tea Maker—mainly because of all the buttons on its base. There are buttons denoting auto-start, keep warm, “basket,” hot water, and tea, along with a built-in display with up and down arrows on both sides and two additional unmarked buttons. But I quickly learned this is a perfect choice for beginners because it's foolproof. (I suggest reading through the manual first.) With the ability to customize your settings (choosing the temperature, strength, and time), it's a great choice for experienced tea lovers as well. It's expensive, but worth the price for the extensive functionality.
Simply remove the basket, fill the kettle with water, fill the basket with your loose-leaf tea using the included tea scoop (Breville suggests one scoop of tea leaves per cup), clip it back to the inside of the kettle (it attaches magnetically), and click through the preset tea settings on the base. On the left, you can use the button to cycle through green, herbal, black, oolong, white tea, or a custom setting. On the right, you can choose the strength: strong, medium, mild, or custom. That way, you don't have to second-guess whether you're boiling it at the right temperature and for the correct amount of time. There's also a dedicated “basket” cycle button that you can press to increase the infusion rate for stronger tea. Because of the display and included buttons, the base is larger than the ones I've tested on other electric kettles. So you may have to designate some extra counter space for it.
Specs Capacity: 1.5 liters Materials: Stainless steel Features: Keep warm function, five pre-programmed settings, auto shut-off, boil dry protection, LCD display, precise temperature control, automated tea basket, strength button Weight: 5.22 pounds Wattage: 1,500 watts - Photograph: Walmart
A Quieter Boil
KitchenAid 1.5 L Pro LineFounded in Ohio in 1919, KitchenAid is the original “retro” small-appliance brand. While best known for its die-cast metal stand mixers, KitchenAid has evolved, and its old-school appliances are well worth a look. Stovetop aesthetics aside, there’s nothing retro about this 1.5-liter design, as it has a sliding 122- to 212-degree-Fahrenheit adjustable temperature gauge, keep-warm function, and dual-walled insulation, meaning it remains cool to the touch while the water stays hotter for longer. There’s even a second temperature dial on the kettle, so a glance can tell you how hot the water is. It also comes in several colors including black, red, and white.
But what was noticeable in our tests was just how quiet it was when boiling compared to the competition, with a gentle “finished” tone, rather than an aggressive beep. If you’re always up first or are a sensitive soul in the morning, this is the kettle for you. It also has an easy-to-remove-and-clean limescale filter, and the whole package is well thought out. It lacks a bit of the premium feel of the Breville and is heavy in comparison, but if you’re sold on the look, the kettle will serve you well.
Specs Capacity: 1.5 liters Materials: Stainless steel Features: Dual-walled insulation, adjustable temperature slider, dial-style temperature gauge, water level window Weight: 6 pounds Wattage: 1,440 watts
- Photograph: Smeg
For the Retro Look
Smeg Electric KettleLooks matter, and if you want a stylish kettle in your kitchen, look no further than Smeg. Its kettle comes in a variety of different colors (I opted for pink). It adds a really fun, bright pop of color next to the more bland-looking appliances in my kitchen. At around 3.6 pounds, it is on the heavier side for an electric kettle. It makes up for this weight by boiling very quickly—so much so that I often just wait for it to finish boiling (it does come with an automatic shutoff feature, so you can safely leave it unsupervised too). On the back is a small window that lets you see exactly how much water you're pouring in.
Despite the high price, it doesn't come with all the bells and whistles as other electric kettles on this list. There's no dial for precise temperature settings and no LED or sound to let you know it's done boiling. As a casual tea drinker, I didn't miss those features. It's just a cute, spendy, and reliable electric kettle. There is a slightly pricier Smeg ($220) with some of those features, including preset temperature settings and a keep warm function, but I haven't tested it yet.
Specs Capacity: 1.7 liters Materials: Stainless steel Features: Auto-shutoff, removable limescale filter, non-slip feet, water level indicator Weight: 4 pounds Wattage: 1,400 watts - Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
For the Dorm
Dash Easy KettleThis is a great, affordable option if you're looking for a basic but efficient electric kettle. It doesn't come with presets, buttons, or a digital display, but it does feature a window on the front that makes it easy to see the water level. The handle is cool-touch, so you don't have to worry about accidentally burning yourself when the kettle is hot. There's also a single switch that you press to turn it on.
It's made of plastic, so it doesn't feel as high-end as other electric kettles in this guide. But that means it's lighter too—making it easy to carry around the kitchen even when it's full. While Dash claims it packs rapid-boil technology, it's on the slower side. It took about 10 minutes to boil a full kettle (1.7 liters), which isn't a deal-breaker but compared to other kettles I've tested, I wouldn't call this “rapid.”
Regardless, it's an ideal choice for anyone who lives in a dorm and wants a no-frills electric kettle for making ramen or tea to get through late study sessions.
Specs Capacity: 1.7 liters Materials: BPA-free plastic Features: Easy view window, boil-dry safety, one-touch boil, cool-touch handle Weight: 2.68 pounds Wattage: 1,200 watts
-Reviewer-Photo-SOURCE-Brenda-Stolyar.jpg)
- Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
A Luxurious Kettle
Aarke Stainless Steel Electric KettleThis is the fanciest electric kettle I've tested—it even comes with an Aarke-branded microfiber cloth. It's pricey, but it looks like something you'd see in Architectural Digest. The rounded, modern design looks crisp and clean, and the stainless steel feels high-end and durable. It's also compact enough that you won't have trouble fitting it between other countertop appliances.
It's fairly bare-bones when it comes to features. You can set various temperatures—140 degrees to 212 degrees Fahrenheit—and you can cycle through them by pressing a button on the base (the LED lights show you which temperature you're on). There's a memory function, so it automatically lands on the last setting you picked when you turn it on, and it'll also show the current temperature as it cools down over time. It's one of the quietest kettles I've tested too (at one point I had to double-check it was on), and it's fast—boiling almost a full pot to 212 degrees Fahrenheit in five minutes. Like the Zwilling Enfinigy Cool Touch Kettle Pro and Beautiful Electric Kettle, it has a double-walled body, but it does get hot to the touch closer to the top. Out of caution, I wouldn't recommend this one if you have kids running around. It is, however, great for anyone who wants to invest in an appliance that elevates the rest of your space.
Specs Capacity: 1.2 liters Materials: Stainless steel Features: Multiple temperature settings, heat-retaining double wall, quiet boiling, heat-safe handle, removable limescale filter, auto-off dry-boil protection, memory temperature function Weight: 3.65 pounds Wattage: 1,500 watts - Photograph: Wolf Gourmet
Professional Grade
Wolf Gourmet True TemperatureTo anyone with even a passing interest in cooking gear, the chunky red control dial found on Wolf range ovens is a symbol of big budgets, swanky kitchens, and the pinnacle of professional-grade home appliances. The Wolf True Temperature shares these traits, and if you’ve already invested in the brand, you won’t balk at the price. For everyone else, it may seem a bit excessive, but there’s no denying it’s a very good kettle.
It’s built like a tank (reassuringly, it also comes with a five-year warranty), and every aspect screams “professional kitchen.” It’s easy to clean; the removable lid has a huge, easy-rinsing water filter; the body is double-walled stainless steel for excellent insulation; and it feels great to pick up and pour. There are also pinpoint precision temperature controls from 95 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit, so if you demand your coffee is brewed at 199 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ve got it. You can also set it to keep warm for up to an hour after boiling. It’s wildly expensive, but it does buy you entry to a very exclusive culinary club.
Specs Capacity: 1.5 liters Materials: Stainless steel Features: One-touch preset controls with precise temperature control, customizable manual temperature setting, double-walled insulation, removable lid with boil-dry protection, programmable keep warm functionality Weight: 6 pounds Wattage: 1,500 watts
- Photograph: Dualit
The Repairable Option
Dualit Classic KettleHere we have 3.5 pounds of all-metal, super quiet water boiling from one of the UK's longest-running small-appliance brands. Dualit has been hand-making toasters since 1945, and this modern kettle is still made in Britain. It’s expensive and lacks some convenience features, like adjustable temperature settings, a pop-up lid, and keep-warm functions, but it is repairable. If the heating element breaks, the company can easily swap another one in for you, extending the kettle's life far beyond its rivals. Dualit even sells a range of refurbished appliances at discounted prices.
The boils quickly and is much quieter than most—it has even been awarded a Quiet Mark from the UK-based Noise Abatement Society. The spout is angled in such a way that you don’t have to lift it too high to get it pouring, and it rarely drips. I also like the double windows, with one side showing cups and the other liter increments. Yes, it'll run you a couple hundred bucks, but you won't find a better-made or longer-lasting kettle.
Specs Capacity: 1.7 liters Materials: Stainless steel Features: Dual water level indicators, auto shutoff, whisper boil, non-drip spout Weight: 4.6 pounds Wattage: 1,500 watts
More Good Kettles
We've tested several kettles, but not every model deserves a top spot above. Here are a few others that work well, but aren't standouts.
Art and Cook Electric Glass Kettle for $43: When I first unboxed Art and Cook's electric glass kettle, there was one red flag: Typos on both the box and the instruction manual. That made me a little hesitant, but my experience over the past six months has been perfectly fine. There's no LED light as on the Cosori to indicate when it's boiling, but it holds slightly more water (1.8 liters as opposed to 1.7). It has an automatic shutoff feature, but overall, I found it a little slower to boil.
Bonavita Digital for $130: This kettle is similar to the Stagg EKG I tested but slightly less expensive. It has a gooseneck spout for precise pouring, a temperature dial, a display, and a 0.9-liter capacity. You'll have the option to program up to five presets for your most-used temps.
The Bistro Tile x Haden 1.7 Liter Electric Kettle for $128: This kettle is gorgeous, with two options of tile-style exterior that makes it feel like you’re in a Parisian coffee shop. There’s a single power switch and a temperature gauge on the front to let you know how hot the water is. You can’t control it as much as other electric kettles, and it doesn’t retain heat as well as double-walled options, but it’s very design-forward. —Nena Farrell
Try These Tea Accessories
You can find more recommendations in our Best Tea Accessories guide.
Oxo Brew Tea Infuser Basket for $15: This is our go-to accessory for brewing loose-leaf tea. The stainless steel is durable and doesn't impart any flavor to the brewing process, and the hole pattern does a solid job of keeping most of the tiny particles out of the hot water. We particularly love that the lid not only retains heat but also doubles as a drip tray.
Kotubuki Matcha Tea Whisk for $24: If you're a fan of matcha, this is a great whisk to have on hand. Equipped with 80 bamboo bristles, it'll help to create a nice froth that brings out all the bright, grassy notes for a delicious cup of matcha.
East Fork the Mug for $44: These mugs are expensive, but they're consciously crafted. WIRED product reviewer Jaina Grey says they “feel sturdy, with a gently sloping grip that's big enough for most hands and feels smooth and balanced when you pick it up.” They also come in various fun colors (seasonal options included). You can buy a single mug or a four-pack for $150.
Hydro Flask 32-Ounce Wide Mouth Vacuum Flask for $50: WIRED senior editor Michael Calore uses this to keep freshly brewed tea hot throughout the afternoon. Even after four or five hours, the tea remains piping hot. He considers it an essential item for those who drink their tea on the go. For more options, be sure to check out our guide to the Best Travel Mugs.
The Tea Spot Sipping Cup Tea Subscription for $20 (Monthly): This is a great subscription for new tea drinkers. Each box includes whole leaf teas harvested from tea estates around the world.
