Best kettles 2023: Which? Best Buys and expert buying advice - Which? (2024)

We've tested hundreds of kettles, so that you know which ones will make a great addition to your kitchen – and the models to avoid.

But in case you don't have time to whittle down the choice for yourself, we've rounded up some of our favourite top-scoring Best Buys to help you find a brilliant kettle in a hurry.

You can see all of our kettle recommendations on ourkettle reviewspage.

Onlylogged-in Which? memberscan view our recommendations in the table below. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access to all our reviews.

Best kettles for 2023

Each of the kettles recommended in the table below has aced our rigorous lab tests, which include in-depth assessments of boiling speed, noise, usability and energy use.

To seeall our Best Buy and Great Value recommendations, head to our kettle reviews.

Video: how to buy the best kettle

When buying a new electric kettle, there are three key things to think about:

• How much do you want to spend?The cheapest kettles we test are priced at around the £10 mark, with the most expensive setting you back nearly £200. When it comes to getting the basics right though, we’ve found cheap kettles that outclass pricier rivals in our tests. If you’re looking for a kettle that goes the extra mile, lighting up as it boils or ringing when it’s finished, then it may be worth splashing out.
• DesignDome/pyramid kettles have atraditional domed shape with a handle on the top while jug kettles have a taller jug shape with a handle on the side You'll usually find the water gauge is larger and easier to see on a jug kettle, and the lid can be a bit more fiddly to remove on dome models. Plastic kettles tend to be lighter than stainless steel or glass - less than 1kg is nice and light.
• Do you live in a hard water area? If you live in a hard water area, make sure you get a kettle with a limescale filter in the spout. Most have these but some don't. Some kettles also have built-in water filters, although these can be slow to fill and need to be replaced fairly regularly.

Best kettle features to consider

From the essential to the optional, here are some of the key features to consider when choosing a kettle.

Minimum fill/one-cup boil

If you often make tea for one, or just want to save energy, look out for a kettle with a low minimum fill level (less than 300ml). Some kettles will force you to boil as many as four cups' worth in one go, leaving you waiting longer and wasting water and energy.

See our picks of the Best energy-saving kettles.

Water level indicator

Some kettles have fill indicators that are hidden behind the handle, making them hard to read. Look out for a large, clear windows if you want to be able to see at a glance how much water is left.

See our round-up of the Best easy-to-use kettles.

Quiet boil

A loud whistling kettle can be really annoying, particularly if you have an open-plan kitchen/living area. Some kettles are marketed as being especially quiet, but this doesn't always hold true.

Less than a third of the kettles we test are rated as notably quiet: we measure the noise level in decibels during boiling and note any unusually piercing or annoying sounds.

Check our electric kettle reviews and filter for those that score four stars or more for noise if you’re after a quiet operator.

Multi-temperature settings

These allow you to select a range of different temperatures to heat your water to. This is handy if you're partial to herbal or green tea, and coffee, as these drinks work better when brewed at slightly cooler temperatures.

For our top picks, see our guide to the Best variable temperature kettles

Matching toasters and other appliances

If you want a matching set with style to set off your kitchen, there are plenty to choose from. Whatever your design preference, there's almost certainly a kettle to match. Check our electric kettle reviews to filter by glass kettles, brushed steel or chrome kettles, copper kettles, geometric pattern kettles and a wide range of colour options including ever-popular black, red and cream.

See our guide to the Best kettle and toaster sets for a round-up of sets to suit different tastes and budgets. Make sure you also check our toaster reviews to get a matching set that scores well.

Limescale filter

Hard water can wreak havoc on your kettle, damaging the element and shortening its lifespan. It's also no fun getting bits of scale in your brew.

Some kettles have built-in water filters, although these can be slow to fill and need to be replaced fairly regularly. We test how effectively every kettle filters limescale, and how easy it is to clean. For kettles that hold up to hard water, check our Best Buy kettles.

Find out more about limescale in How to descale a kettle.

Smart functionality

Smart kettles work with an app on your smartphone or tablet, allowing you to check how much water is inside, see how hot the water is and set it to boil remotely. However, they tend to be a lot more expensive than other kettles we’ve tested and you'll still need to fill the kettle (and actually make your tea).

There aren't many around, but if you're keen, check our review of the WeeKett Smart Wi-Fi KE4071TB-GS to see what we thought of the smart features - and if it gets the basics right, too.

For more on kettle features, see Kettle features explained.

How water taps vs kettles

An increasingly popular (and rather expensive) alternative is to install a hot water tap and do away with your kettle altogether.

Hot water taps dispense near-boiling water at the touch of a button. They’re a good way to streamline your kitchen surfaces and some claim to save energy as you’ll never have to pay to heat more water than you need.

However, we’ve found that the savings aren’t all that they seem. Hot water taps, while convenient and stylish, are expensive to buy and often have hidden ongoing maintenance costs which outweigh any potential energy savings.

Looking for another alternative? Read our feature on the Best hot water dispensers.

Find out more about the pros and cons, and how the different hot water tap brands compare, go to Quookers and boiling water taps - are they worth it?

Are cheap kettles any good?

• Kettle prices range from £10 to more than £100
• We've found good and bad models at both ends of the price spectrum

You can buy a no-frills own-brand kettle for less than a tenner, so what exactly do you get when you pay more?

You're often paying for a premium style, materials and finish. You're also more likely to get extra features such as variable temperature settings.

Cheaper kettles usually have a more basic metal or plastic design, and stick to the basic job of boiling water. It is possible to get stylish cheaper sets, though, such as the budget Argos copper kettle and toaster set (pictured above).

Budget kettles are also less likely to have a one-cup boil feature, although some models buck the trend.

We've found some brilliant cheaper kettles, and some terrible, expensive ones, so paying more doesn't guarantee a good result.

Sort by price on our kettle reviews page to discover the best cheap kettles.

Which kettle brand is the most reliable?

Kettles are one of the most unreliable household gadgets you can buy. More than one in five will break down in the first two years, but some brands have a better track record for reliability than others.

Regularly descaling your kettle will help it to live longer, particularly if you live in a hard water area.

See our round-up of the Top kettle brands for our verdict on the most reliable kettles.

Can you buy an eco kettle?

Unlike some larger appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines, only a small portion of a kettle's environmental impact will come from day-to-day use. You can make a big difference by opting for a kettle that will last you a long time before it needs to be replaced.

If you want to make more sustainable choices, you also need to buy a kettle that boils quickly and has a low minimum fill. This means you don't need to waste energy boiling water you may not end up using, which is better for the planet and your pocket.

Sadly, just because a kettle is 'sustainable' that doesn't necessarily mean it's a good all-around model - that's where our Eco Buy kettles come in. These are models we've chosen because they're excellent performers and are energy efficient. We also prioritise kettles from brands that perform well in our product experience surveys.

To find the most sustainable models, head to our kettle reviews and use the Eco Buys filter.

Where to buy a kettle

We picked out a handful of sellers that, at the time of writing, are among the most searched-for retailers, have a wide stock of kettles, and have a customer score of over 75% in our survey of the best household and appliances shops.

• Amazon offers a variety of kettles starting at less than £10 and going up to hundreds depending on the model. They have kettles from brands such as Breville, Russell Hobbs, Morphy Richards, and Bosch. You can pick up a matching toaster, and many come bundled as a set. You can get free delivery on most kettles if you're a prime member, with 30 days to return if you're unhappy with your purchase.
• Argos stocks kettles from manufactures such as Russell Hobbs, Breville, Delonghi, and their own Argos Home brand collection. Prices range from £13 to £180, and you can collect in-store for free —otherwise you can schedule a delivery from £3.95.
• George at Asdasells kettles from brands such as Swan, Daewoo and Tower, plus several options from their own-brand. The kettles cost between £13 and £70, and you can also pick up a matching toaster — of which there are many in stock. Asda offers free click and collect from most UK locations, or you can get your kettle delivered from £2.95.
• Currys has several kettles from Breville, Kenwood, Smeg, and Swan, costing from under £10 to £190 depending on the kettle. If you don't like the kettle you've chosen, you have 14 days to return it in store, through their partnered pick-up service, or through a DPD drop-off depending on the item and payment method. If you're unsure of how to return your item, you can consult its returns questionnaire to find out which options you have.
• DuneIm sells dozens of kettles from a variety of brands including Russell Hobbs, Spectrum and Churchgate. Prices start from £16, and you can snag most of the available kettles for under £50. They also stock matching toasters, primarily for their own-brand kettles. You can book a delivery from £3.95, or click and collect in-store for free.
• John Lewis offers kettles from brands such as Bosch, KitchenAid, Delonghi and Sage, as well as their own-brand. Kettles start from £20, and go up to more than £200. Depending on the kettle you choose, you might cross the £50 threshold for free delivery. If you'd prefer to collect from a store, they offer free click and collect for all orders over £30. If you purchase one of their cheapest kettles, expect to pay an extra £2.50 for click and collect, or £4.50 for delivery.

Is it possible to repair a faulty kettle?

If your kettle develops some kind of fault, before throwing it away you should always consider whether it's possible to repair it. You can carry out some minor repairs yourself, such as replacing springs in the lid or lubricating any stuck parts, but make sure you aren't doing anything that could void your warranty.

Any repairs that require dismantling your kettle or fiddling with the electrics should be carried out by a professional. Choose a Which? Trusted Trader to ensure you'll be dealing with a qualified repairperson who you can trust.

Read our article on common kettle and toaster faults and how to fix them for more information.

How can I dispose of my old kettle?

According to Recycle Now, around one million tonnes of electrical and electronic waste are generated every year. Every item that has either a plug, a charger, batteries or carries a crossed-out wheelie bin logo can be recycled, and that includes kettles.

If your kettle is still in working condition and you've simply gone off the design, you can donate it to charity, sell it to someone else or take it to a council reuse centre.

Kettles that are completely broken need to be disposed of correctly. Some shops, such as Currys PC World, will take your old kettle off your hands and recycle it on your behalf, but otherwise, you'll need to make other arrangements. You could book a slot for your local council to come and collect the broken item, but in most cases, it's cheaper to take it to your local recycling centre yourself.

In some cases, you may need to obtain a permit before dropping off broken items, so check this on your local council's website before you travel anywhere.

Find your nearest recycling location (including stores and council sites) using Recycle Now’s electrical recycling locator.

Find out more about recycling small appliances in How to recycle electrical items.