- The best tea kettles are easy to fill and pour and bring water to a boil quickly and consistently.
- Our top electric pick has various water temperature settings, a durable design, and an accessible price.
- While our top stovetop pick features drip-free pouring, large capacity, and other special features.
There's nothing more comforting than a hot cup of tea, but boiling water and safely pouring it into a mug or teacup is a surprisingly difficult task without a proper kettle. If you want to quickly and easily make boiling water — so you can relax with your tea sooner — you should invest in an electric or stovetop kettle.
Each style has its own merits, and the type you choose comes down to personal preference. Electric kettles are faster and you can heat water to the exact temperature your tea requires. Stovetop kettles have a more classic look and they often whistle loudly to grab your attention.
We've included the best of both in our guide, and you can read more about them here.
Here are the best tea kettles
- Best electric kettle overall: Krups Cool Touch Adjustable Temperature Kettle
- Best stovetop kettle overall: OXO Brew Classic Tea Kettle
- Best electric kettle on a budget: Secura Stainless Steel Double Wall Electric Kettle
- Best stovetop kettle on a budget: Cuisinart Aura Steel Stovetop Teakettle
- Best high-end electric kettle: Smeg '50s Retro-Style Electric Kettle
- Best high-end stovetop kettle: Le Creuset Enamel-on-Steel Zen Teakettle
The best electric kettle overall
The Krups Cool Touch Adjustable Temperature Kettle heats water to the perfect temperature for brewing a variety of teas. It looks sleek and it costs much less than similar kettles.
Pros: Affordable, adjustable temperature settings, easy to use, attractive metal design
Cons: Some users experienced leaking
If you're serious about your tea and you like to drink all different kinds of tea, you need an adjustable temperature kettle. This 1.7-liter kettle has six preset temperature settings to ensure that you never burn your green tea leaves with scalding hot water ever again.
It's remarkably easy to select the temperature setting you need with pre-sets for delicate, green, white, oolong, and herbal teas. If you just want black tea, hit "boil" and watch the water go up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit within five minutes or less.
Believe it or not, using the right temperature is a big deal. Whenever I make green, white, or oolong tea with this kettle, I always set it to the right temperature instead of just hitting the button. The teas' flavors come out in full force when brewed at the right temperature, and it's so easy to select the right temperature on the Krups kettle.
The kettle automatically stops boiling when it hits the temperature you selected or if it runs dry. The kettle will even keep your water warm for a time before automatically shutting off to protect the heating element.
The kettle is made out of brushed stainless steel, and it looks gorgeous in my kitchen. The kettle jug is unattached, so you can pick it up and pour the water over your tea, oatmeal, or cooking pot without worrying about the length of the cord. The cord is concealed in the base and you can have it as short as you need it to be.
There's a big button on the top of the kettle, which pops the lid open when pressed. The handle is big, comfortable, and always stays cool for easy handling and pouring. There is a water window as well, so you can check how much is in there. Krups put the anti-scale filter in the spout of the kettle, and you can remove it if need be.
The best stovetop kettle overall
If you're looking for a classic kettle that heats quickly, fills easily, and is simple to pour, the OXO Brew Classic Tea Kettle is an excellent choice.
Pros: Wide bottom for quick heating, easy to fill and pour, large capacity
Cons: Can rust if not properly cleaned
The OXO Brew Classic Tea Kettle has a traditional shape with its wide-bottom body that narrows at the top and a spout that draws from near the bottom of the kettle. More importantly, it has a strong whistle that alerts you when the water is boiling. Once the water boils, you open the spout cover, and the spout offers precise, drip-free pouring.
This kettle is made of high-grade stainless steel that is supposed to be rust-resistant. OXO recommends wiping the kettle down regularly to keep cooking oils from wearing away at the steel. The handle and spout have silicone touch points that resist heat for burn-free use. The handle folds to the side for storage or easy filling. The kettle holds 1.7 quarts, which is a good amount for a big pot of tea.
OXO offers a satisfaction guarantee, so the company will refund or replace your kettle if you are not satisfied for any reason.
The kettle also has a handle that folds out of the way, there's good interior visibility, and it's easy to fill thanks to its broad opening.
The best electric kettle on a budget
The fast-heating Original Secura Stainless Steel Double Wall Electric Water Kettle is about the same price as plastic models, but it's completely BPA-free.
Pros: Made of durable 100% stainless steel, keeps water warm, shuts off automatically, two-year warranty, easy to clean
Cons: No water gauge to see how much is inside, no variable temperature settings
Sometimes you just want a no-frills appliance that works and comes at an affordable price point. The Original Secura Stainless Steel Double Wall Electric Water Kettle fits the bill as a budget-friendly stainless steel electric kettle that boils water quickly.
It may not have fancy features like variable temperature settings or a water gauge, but it does offer a full stainless steel unibody design and 1500 watts of heating power. The kettle turns off automatically so you don't boil a dry pot and damage the heating element.
Secura's kettle is about the same price as cheap plastic ones, but it's completely BPA-free and no plastic ever touches your water. The stainless steel inner wall is easy to clean after each use, so you can avoid mineral buildup over time. It has a double-wall construction, so the outer layer of plastic stays cool to the touch even as the water boils inside.
As long as you don't need variable temperatures for tea or want to see the water level inside, the Secura kettle is a real winner — especially at this price point.
The best stovetop kettle on a budget
Not only is the Cuisinart Aura Steel Stovetop Tea Kettle inexpensive, it also has a large two-quart capacity that is useful for much more than tea making.
Pros: Limited lifetime warranty, inexpensive, large capacity
Cons: Very loud whistle, can rust without proper cleaning
The Cuisinart Aura is a basic stovetop tea kettle, and sometimes that's all you need. It gets the job done at a great price point, and if it breaks or rusts, it won't break your heart.
The Cuisinart Aura features a two-quart-capacity solid stainless steel body — enough for eight cups of tea. The large capacity is also handy for boiling water for oatmeal, instant noodles, or anything else you need to quickly boil water for. This kettle notifies you that your water is boiling and ready with a whistle that increases in intensity. Sometimes it's a bit too intense and you'll find yourself running over to the stove to make it stop.
To pour the water, there's a lever on the handle that you push to open the spout cap, ensuring you'll never have to put your fingers near hot steam or boiling water to remove a cap. The handle is stationary and made of plastic, and the wide lid allows for easy refilling of the kettle.
To top it off, the entire setup is backed by a lifetime limited warranty.
The best high-end electric kettle
The Smeg '50s Retro-Style Electric Kettle adds style to any kitchen with its fun old school look, and it'll heat your water quickly, too.
Pros: Fun 1950s-inspired design, stainless steel, automatic shut off, removable stainless steel filter, water level indicator, lots of color options
Cons: You're paying for form more than function
Smeg's '50s Retro-Style Electric Kettle adds much-needed flair to the traditional kettle with its '50s color palette and fun design aesthetic. You can get it in multiple color options, including cream, blue, green, red, black, chrome, and pink.
The kettle is made of stainless steel that's powder-coated for added durability and protection from mineral buildup. If anything goes wrong, Smeg offers a one-year warranty.
Inside, there's a removable, stainless steel limescale filter that you'll need to clean every now and then to prevent too much of a deposit from building up. If you have hard water, you'll have to clean the filter more often. It also has a water level window so you can check how much water is inside.
You are paying a premium for the design, but anyone who loves well-designed appliances or has a retro-inspired kitchen will love this kettle.
The best high-end stovetop kettle
If you are looking for a stylish tea kettle that heats quickly and stores easily, you will be hard-pressed to find a better option than the Le Creuset Enamel-on-Steel Zen Teakettle.
Pros: Heat-proof handle folds down, loud whistle, can be used with any stove type, including induction
Cons: Expensive, may dribble
The enamel-on-steel body of the Le Creuset Zen Teakettle makes it more resistant to rusting and thus more durable than its counterparts. The kettle holds 1-5/8 quarts of water and has an inverted bowl shape, which helps it heat quickly. The arched handle folds down for storage and filling, and the lid is wide for easy cleaning and filling.
Though the enamel of the kettle is "chip-resistant," Le Creuset warns that repeated banging may damage the exterior enamel. The Zen Teakettle comes in ten colors, including Marseille, cherry, dune, and palm. Plus, each style comes with a limited five-year warranty.
Additional nice features are its heat-proof handle, loud whistle, and the fact that it can be used on any type of stovetop. However, the price is a bit steep for a kettle.
FAQs
Electric kettles vs. stovetop kettles — which should you buy?
Electric kettles: For real tea fanatics, it can be difficult to get just the right temperature water for your brew, and nuking H2O in the microwave is simply out of the question. That's where electric kettles come in. They boil water faster than a watched pot on your stove, and the best ones even offer adjustable temperature settings to ensure that the water is just right for your delicate tea leaves.
You can also use electric kettles to boil water quickly for any cause. No matter your needs, it's good to have a dedicated appliance in your kitchen that boils water quickly.
Stovetop kettles: The hardest part of making tea is remembering that you're making tea. An electric kettle won't notify you when the water is ready. Conversely, the whistle of the stovetop kettle demands attention more intensely — you can't forget you're making tea with something that whistles
What are kettles made of?
Most kettles are made of stainless steel, plastic, enamel-on-steel, or some combination of these materials. There are a few glass kettles available, but they receive low marks for performance from both buyers and experts.
Due to research linking bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates to cancer, many people are a little squeamish around kettles made out of plastic, especially since heating plastics can cause chemicals to leach into liquids or foods. However, the plastics that have been shown to cause cancer are used to make clear, hard containers or soft, flexible products. Tea kettles don't fit into either of these categories.
But, if you are concerned about drinking hot water that has come into contact with plastic, make sure you choose a tea kettle that avoids this problem. Each of the kettles in our guide uses plastic sparingly, but never in the main part of the kettle.
What's the best way to prevent rust or mineral buildup in your kettle?
Though the name may suggest otherwise, stainless steel tea kettles are susceptible to rusting. The best way to combat this is to regularly wash your kettle and dry it completely. If you do notice rust, fill your kettle with a 1:1 ratio of vinegar and water, boil it for a few minutes, empty it, and then wash your kettle per the manufacturer's specifications. Rusting is less common with enamel-on-steel kettles.
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