The trusty kettle is a true staple of any household and arguably gets the most use when compared to other kitchen appliances. From making teas and coffees to boiling water for cooking and cleaning, a decent kettle keeps the household in good running order.
As with most appliances, choosing the best kettle for your requirements needs a bit of thought beforehand. Consider factors such as size, efficiency and features that could make your life that much easier.
If you’re part of a big household and constantly putting the kettle on, then you’ll probably need a larger capacity pick than what a smaller household could get away with. Although most kettles tend to hold around 1.5l litres of water, some options can hold more like 1.7 – 2l.
Another factor to consider is the kettle’s efficiency. Ideally, you would want your kettle to boil as quickly as possible without using too much energy. Some kettles are higher-powered than others, and subsequently boil water faster, but may use more power to do so. In either case, we make sure we assess how much power both faster and slower kettles use in the boiling process.
More kettles now also offer smart features, including variable and adjustable temperatures. This is a really impressive feature, as the usual one-size-fits-all policy isn’t always sufficient for the job at hand. Different drinks, including coffee and some herbal teas, shouldn’t be made with boiling water as this affects their taste. A multi-temperature kettle is also useful for other jobs, such as making up a baby’s bottle.
To ensure we thoroughly test each kettle that arrives at our offices, we use them consistently for at least a week. As part of our test, we time how long it takes to boil, how long it holds hot water for, and note any particular features that are worth considering. We also note how heavy the kettle actually is and how easy it is to use.
Best kettles at a glance
How We Test
We use every kettle we test for at least a week. During that time, we’ll see how quick it is at boiling water, how easy it is to use and if any special features stand out from the rest. We measure how long kettles hold water hot for, to save money on reboiling.
We’ll also check its cable length to see if it can be stowed easily and that it isn’t too heavy.
Ninja Perfect Temperature Kettle KT200UK
The best overall kettle
Pros
- Low minimum boil level
- Excellent temperature selection range
- Easy to see fill levels
- Pours well
Cons
- Looks a bit functional
- Beeps a touch annoying
Offering the option to boil just 250ml of water, the Ninja Perfect Temperature Kettle KT200UK can efficiently deliver hot water for one, while the competition’s minimum is usually twice that amount. With preset and manual temperature controls, the kettle is supremely flexible, allowing tea and coffee lovers to brew their drinks at the correct temperature.
Available in black or stainless steel (the KT201UK), it’s a traditional jug kettle. The maximum capacity of 1.7 litres is marked on the outside and the inside of the kettle. The LCD screen shows the set temperature, but once the kettle has finished heating, it also shows the current temperature of the water. This is helpful, as you can see at a glance if the water is hot enough to use. There’s a keep-warm feature, too, which will maintain the water temperature you’ve set for up to 30 minutes.
Inside, you’ll find a stainless steel limescale filter, which can be removed for cleaning. Given its tough build quality, this should prove robust and reliable.
This is a 3kW kettle, which means it boils as fast as UK electricity will allow. It boiled 250ml of water in just 48 seconds, from start to finish.
There are better-looking kettles available, but few come close to delivering the Ninja Perfect Temperature Kettle KT200UK’s mixture of features and performance.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full review: Ninja Perfect Temperature Kettle KT200UK review
Russell Hobbs Structure Kettle
The best budget kettle
Pros
- Will boil a single cup in less than a minute
- Reasonable price
- Water level is accurate
- Removeable limescale filter
Cons
- Mostly cup measurements
- Lid has to be removed to fill
- Exposed element
Kettle design seems to be taking centre stage on this list, and the Russell Hobbs Structure Kettle is no exception to the rule. It offers a more minimalistic overall look, characterised by some architectural lines that makes it look modern and fit well with any forward-thinking kitchen.
Moreover, its 1.7-litre capacity is great for gatherings big and small, as is the fact it can boil one cup at a time for ultimate precision, or if things need to be done on a person-by-person basis. The Structure Kettle is also a fast boiler, taking roughly two and a half minutes for a litre, four minutes for full capacity and for one cup, just 45 seconds.
There’s only one small niggle with the Structure kettle overall – the simple fact you’ve got to remove the lid to fill it up, but other than that, it’s a great and rather affordable all-rounder that looks great.
Reviewer: Rachel Ogden
Full review: Russell Hobbs Structure Kettle review
WeeKett Smart Wi-Fi Kettle
The best smart kettle
Pros
- Reasonably quick and efficient
- Smart steel finish
- Dual water gauges
Cons
- Could be a little more practical
- Can be a very messy pourer
Does a smart kettle really make life easier? The WeeKett Smart Wi-Fi Kettle certainly hopes so, although if you ignore its smart features and just focus on its other features, including multiple temperatures, this is a still a great kettle.
Taking a maximum of 1.7-litres, with a minimum boil of 500ml, this is a good-sized kettle. It can be hard to see the fill lines on the side of kettle, which are marked in litres only, not cups. From the front, there are buttons to select the temperature you want: 70°C, 80°C, 90°C and 100°C.
That range takes in pretty much every type of hot drink. Get the kettle connected to the app and there’s a wider choice of temperatures: you can pick everything from 40°C to 100°C in 1°C increments. And, you can even do the same with Alexa or the Google Assistant: “Alexa, heat the kettle to 40°C.”
Of course, you have to have the kettle filled with water and ready to go before remotely starting the kettle to boil. If you do, then it can be neat arriving to a freshly boiled kettle.
There’s only a 2.2kW heating element here, so this is isn’t the fastest kettle. In our tests it took 1m 40s to boil 500ml of water. More impressive, the WeeKett Smart Wi-Fi Kettle retains heat well, so you won’t have to reboil it often.
Well priced for a multi-temperature kettle, this is a good kettle in its own right, with the smart features a handy bonus.
Reviewer: Simon Handby
Full review: WeeKett Smart Wi-Fi Kettle review
Cuisinart Signature Collection Multi-temp Kettle
The best small multi-temperature kettle
Pros
- Boils quite quickly and efficiently
- Variable temperature from 85-100°C
- Slimline base
Cons
- Handle ergonomics could be better
- No keep warm function
Most multi-temperature kettles have larger bases with the controls on them. Not so with the Cuisinart Signature Collection Multi-temp Kettle, which has everything built into its handle. That’s useful if you don’t have much space in your kitchen, as this kettle doesn’t take up any more room than a regular one.
It’s fairly easy to use, too: hit the 100°C button to boil; hit 85°C to start at this temperature, and then the + button to increase temperature by 5°C. Our only complaint is that 85°C is quite a high starting temperature, which is good enough for hot drinks but not, for example, baby bottles. Still, as the screen shows the current temperature on the screen, a boil can be interrupted manually at a lower level.
This 1.7-litre kettle (500ml minimum boil) is fast thanks to its 3kW element: it took 1m 17s to boil 500ml of water in our tests. Our only real complaint is that the lid-open button isn’t very well placed and it takes two hands to open the lid: one to press the button and one to hold the kettle.
That aside, if you want a small kettle that can get to multiple temperatures, this is a good choice.
Reviewer: Simon Handby
Full review: Cuisinart Signature Collection Multi-temp Kettle review
Dualit Pour Over Kettle
The best pour-over kettle
Pros
- Multiple temperature selection
- Can hold temperature for five minutes
- Concealed element
Cons
- Small capacity
- Slow to boil
If you’re someone who is a real lover of all sorts of teas or making fancy coffee, then the Dualit Pour Over Kettle is an ideal choice. With its long and thin spout, it’s ideal for super-precise pouring and when you want to get things just right for the perfect hot drink.
Combined with this, as a specialist appliance, it is a slower boiler than most, taking around four and a half minutes for its positively dinky 800ml capacity.
Where the Pour Over is really useful is with its variable temperature selection, available in one-degree increments. No matter what type of drink you want to make, then, you can get the perfect temperature. It’s also a super quiet kettle thanks to that slow boil, meaning it won’t disrupt any conversations.
Do note, this isn’t a general all-purpose kettle due to that small capacity, but for those wanting a truly specialist appliance, Dualit definitely has you covered.
Reviewer: Rachel Ogden
Full review: Dualit Pour Over Kettle review
Smeg KLF03 50’s Style Kettle
The best retro kettle
Pros
- Fingerprint-proof matte finish
- Soft-opening lid to minimise sudden release of steam
- Washable limescale filter
- Drip-free spout
Cons
- Expensive
- Heavy, especially when full
The Smeg KLF03 kettle is one of the more expensive models around, but it’s also one of the quickest to reach boiling point and is classily designed. In line with the Italian company’s other appliances, the KLF03 is available in a variety of pastel shades and features a raised Smeg logo on each side.
The 74cm cable is adequate. It can be neatly wound under the base and can exit from almost anywhere – there’s no annoying single exit point.
The handle feels solid and comfortable, and the kettle pours well through a removable limescale filter. The KLF03 is relatively quiet in operation, and the soft-touch lid opens with the press of a button.
A 3kW-rated kettle, the Smeg KLF03 managed to boil 1-litre of water in just 2mins 5secs, making it one of the fastest models we’ve tested. If you want a high-quality kettle that looks great then this is the one to buy.
Reviewer: Rachel Ogden
Full review: Smeg KLF03 50’s Style Kettle review
FAQs
Kettles come in two main types: jug style and traditional. Which you opt for will largely be down to preference and which looks best in your kitchen.
In both instances, ergonomics have a vital role to play. We tell you how comfortable each kettle is to hold, and if the handle offers a good grip. We also explain how easy each kettle is to pour.
All of the kettles reviewed here feature a stand on which the kettle sits for power. We explain how easy it is to drop the kettle onto its stand.
The ease with which you can open the lid and fill a kettle shouldn’t be overestimated. This is particularly true when refilling an already-hot kettle; there’s nothing worse than getting your hand caught in the steam. A kettle with a push-button flip-top lid is often a good choice, and makes refilling simpler.
Ignore anything you read about faster-boiling kettles. Converting electricity into heat is extremely easy, so all kettles will have similar efficiency figures. And since UK plugs house a maximum of a 13-amp fuse, the most energy a kettle can draw is 3kW.
The main differences are with regards to how quickly a kettle takes to boil, which is defined by two factors: power usage and the auto shut-off.
For power usage, kettles that draw more power will boil faster; lower-rated kettles will take longer to get your water to boiling point. However, the total power usage remains the same to heat water to boiling point. Really, then, the choice for power usage comes down to how quickly you want your boiling water.
The automatic shut-off has a part to play: the faster the kettle can recognise that it has hit the boiling point, the quicker it will shut off and stop using power. To that end, our reviews list how much power a kettle draws and the time taken to heat 1-litre of water.
To ensure that each kettle works properly, we measure the time to boil 1-litre of water and the kettle when full.
There are two main ways to save electricity when using a kettle. First, only boil the amount of water you need. As such, a kettle that has a clear window and water scale makes it easier to fill to the level you need.
Secondly, stopping the kettle boiling sooner saves energy. Some kettles have adjustable temperature sensors for different jobs, although you can manually stop any kettle with a lower degree of accuracy.
For example, if you’re making coffee in a french press, the ideal water temperature is somewhere between 88ºC and 96ºC, depending on the blend and personal taste (remember, coffee boiled is coffee spoiled).
Using filtered water, particularly in a hard water area, can help to reduce limescale build-up. Some kettles have integrated water filters, but using filtered water from a jug or filtering tap is just as good.
Most kettles will have an integrated limescale filter. This prevents limescale being poured into your drink, but it doesn’t prevent the build-up of limescale. This filter, along with the kettle, will need descaling to keep everything in tip-top condition. How often you do this will depend on the type of water in your area.
