Best kettle 2026: the highest-ranking multi-temp and standard models

Owning the best kettle possible is an essential for tea-loving Brits, and they come in handy in other countries too. Even the very best kettles used to be simple things that boiled water, so you could make tea, instant coffee, Bovril or fill up saucepans to boil veg. About 10 years ago, kettles started adding 'advanced' features such as heating water to temperatures other than 100ºC, and keeping water at the temperature you desire.

Given the price of energy these days, this seems a bit mad so perhaps it's no surprise that the trend now is back towards old-school kettles that just boil your water and leave it at that. Whichever type of kettle you prefer, you will find the best one for you right here.

You can then complete your breakfast selection with the best toaster – you know, for toast – and the best bean to cup coffee machine or best pod coffee machine for a caffeine rush.

The top three

WRITTEN BY

WRITTEN BY

Lizzie Wilmot

Lizzie is T3's Senior Staff Writer, with extensive expertise in the world of kitchen appliances. She's tested most of the options in this list and beyond, making her your go-to guide when it comes to the best kettles.

Best kettle ranking 2026

The best kettle overall

The Smeg KLF03 is one of those kitchen appliances that will simply never age. With a huge amount of colourways available, its iconic design never fails to make an impression, and guests are bound to take notice the moment they step into your kitchen.

One of its standout features is the 360° swivel base, which is particularly convenient for open-plan kitchens where you may approach the kettle from different angles. However, due to its squared-off shape rather than a fully rounded design, positioning it thoughtfully ensures the best visual effect.

Beyond style, the KLF03 is built for performance. It features a removable and washable limescale filter, a 1.7-litre capacity and a powerful 3,000-watt heating element, ensuring your water boils quickly and efficiently.

Yes, it's on the pricier side, but that's Smeg for you. In fact, the KLF03 feels even more luxurious than competitors like Sage or KitchenAid – and that's why it's our favourite.

The best multi-temp kettle

The KitchenAid 5KEK1722 may have launched back in 2018, but it still holds its own as a stylish and high-performing kettle. Much like the Smeg KLF03, it boasts a sleek design and comes in a variety of colourways, but its variable temperature control is what truly sets it apart. Unlike most kettles, which typically offer preset increments of 10ºC, this one allows you to heat water to any temperature between 50ºC and boiling point – a feature we absolutely love (perhaps a little too much!).

The top-mounted display next to the temperature controls provides real-time updates on the heating process, and the lid pops open like there's no time to lose. Another standout feature is the keep warm function, which eliminates the frustration of having to re-boil your water after getting distracted.

The best fast-boil kettle

We love the Perfect Temperature Kettle from Ninja, and whilst it might not look at swanky as some of the kettle on this list, it's got a huge amount to offer. It features not one, not two, but six temperature settings ranging from 60°C to 100°C, meaning you can tailor your cuppa to absolute perfection. It's also able to boils one cup in under 50 seconds, which is rather impressive if you ask us.

After using the Perfect Temperature Kettle for a few weeks, it became clear that the matte finish showed marks easily, especially in a high-limescale area. However, with two additional colour options available, you can easily find one that best suits you. It's a great kettle to choose, and isn't overpriced at £99.99. For Ninja, that's not bad at all.

The best large kettle

Best known for its toasters, Dualit also makes a wide and growing range of kettles, and the Dome is one our favourite. Most standard kettles have a capacity of 1.5–1.7 litres, which typically fills around 4-5 cups. In contrast, the Dualit Dome holds up to two litres, providing around 6-7 cups in one boil. This makes it a great choice for larger families or just avid tea drinkers – look, there's no judgement here.

It captures the classic Dualit look of being retro without looking old – timeless, really – and it boils quick and fast. The handle allows easy lifting and pouring and the water level gauge is very easy to read. The scale filter is unusually easy to access and clean, too.

Sometimes, the simplest tech, done best, is the most pleasing. It's a shame it doesn't have multi-temperature settings though.

The best compact kettle

Despite its standard 1.7-litre capacity, the Breville Edge Low Steam is impressively compact, making it an excellent choice for smaller kitchens. As Breville claims, it does seem to reduce steam output, which could be particularly beneficial if your kitchen struggles with condensation.

One common observation is the lack of a noticeable click when switching it on to boil. We’d agree, and it takes a little getting used to, as the button operates differently from most kettles.

That minor quirk aside, the Breville Edge Low Steam is a fantastic all-rounder, offering a sleek design, a compact footprint, and ample cable length to easily reach power sockets.

The best affordable kettle

The Russell Hobbs Groove Kettle is a keenly priced and stylish appliance that boils water in quick and efficient fashion. It has a standard 1.7-litre capacity, which means when it’s full you’ll have enough hot water for around 6 cups. It also has a a very distinctive design, thanks to the exterior finish and brushed metallic base.

In terms of heating up water, the 3,000 wattage is more than adequate, and it illuminates up when it's at work. There’s also push button lid, removable and washable anti-scale filter and a 360° swivel base with integrated cable storage. The 61cm is a decent length too.

The design also comes in a choice of colours, so if you don't fancy a stainless kettle, this is the next best thing.

The best smart kettle

The Swan Alexa Smart Kettle is super easy to set up on the Alexa side of things. You plug it in, switch it on and the Alexa app recognises it immediately, letting you add it to your Alexa devices list and set personalised commands for its operation, such as Alexa, boil the kettle.

Boiling a full kettle takes about six minutes for the top 100ºC temperature while heating it to 60ºC takes about three minutes. When it's about 10 degrees away from the chosen temperature, it might seem like it turned off, but it's just slowing down to get it right. It's 1.5-litre capacity is enough to make about eight cups of tea.

It has a rather funky Cool Touch body feature, a design detail that means it doesn’t feel hot to touch, even right after it’s boiled. It also has a Keep Warm feature, which you guessed it, keeps the water warm once boiled.

However, it is on the pricer side, which has divided a lot of people.

The best versatile kettle

This retro-styled gooseneck kettle is an ideal choice for tea and coffee connoisseurs. It features a precision spout to allow for a more even flow of water, enabling consistent and slow extraction of coffee. There's also a variable temperature range of 38˚C to 100˚C, ensuring you can select the perfect heat level for different types of tea and coffee.

Unfortunately, the Dualit Pour Over only has a capacity of 800ml so it’s not the best option if you’re looking for a large capacity kettle. It spends over four minutes boiling a full kettle’s worth – 1 minute 25 seconds for a single cup – and it takes a painfully long time to pour.

On the plus side, the Pour Over comes with a brilliantly easy push-dial interface, a button to change the temperature units from Fahrenheit to Celsius and a really comfortable handle that makes the act of pouring a cup of tea a veritable delight.

The best soft-opening kettle

As you may have probably gathered, we're quite fond of Sage household products here at T3. This is partly because they look great, but mostly because they work so well, and this minimalist kettle is a prime example.

The Soft Top Pure comes swathed in Sage’s customary brushed stainless steel so if you already have the Sage The Bambino Plus espresso machine or the Sage The Smart Toast, you will very likely want this 1.7-litre kettle to complete the set.

Aside from its stylish looks, this kettle’s main USP is the soft-opening lid that really is soft opening. It also gently releases steam and eliminates splashing, meaning it's highly unlikely you'll burn yourself as well.

The best looking kettle

This kettle might not be the most exciting on this list, but it’s certainly the most beautiful. The De’Longhi Ballerina Seta comes in two stunning finishes – a stunning deep blue and a soft, silky ivory – both featuring a smooth, silk-like pattern that adds a touch of elegance. Inspired by luxurious silk fabrics from Italian ateliers, the Ballerina Seta is easily one of the most aesthetically striking kettles we’ve come across in a long time.

Functionally, it delivers exactly what you’d expect from a reliable, everyday kettle. Whilst it doesn’t offer any particularly standout features, it performs efficiently and dependably – which, at the end of the day, is all you really need.

How to choose the best kettle

If you're wondering how a kettle stands out in such a busy market, you wouldn't be the only one. However, materials and design matter – premium metals, sleek shape and industrial-style finishes can make your kettle a kitchen showpiece. Secondly, digital features like variable temperature settings and smart controls allow you to get the most out of different drinks, so there's actually still a lot to choose from.

Interestingly, a high price tag doesn’t always mean better longevity. Whilst a £100 kettle might last longer for some users, we’ve seen expensive models fail after just a few months, and cheap plastic kettles sometimes survive through years of student life. If you’re going high-end, it’s worth buying from a retailer with a strong returns policy, like John Lewis or Amazon.

At the end of the day, kettles boil water. Our job is to tell you which ones do it well and safely, so you can decide which suits your style and kitchen.

How we test the best kettles

We focus on the essentials when it comes to testing kettles. This includes how quickly and safely the kettle boils water, how easy it is to pour, and whether it’s comfortable to handle without any spills or scalds.

For variable-temperature kettles, we check how accurately they hit the target heat for different drinks. We also look at build quality, design, noise levels and overall usability.

Once we’ve tested, we give you our verdict so you know which kettles are practical, which are fun to use, and which are worth your money.

Best Kettle FAQs

Do all kettles have variable temperature control?

No – only some do. We highlight which ones in our reviews.

Why does my variable-temp kettle stop and start whilst heating below 100°C?

This is normal! All variable-temp kettles do it, though the reason is a bit mysterious. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt your kettle or water.

Are glass kettles safe?

Yes, as long as they’re made from heat-resistant borosilicate glass. They’re great for seeing the water boil, but be careful as glass can get hot.

Reviewer Panel

Lizzie Wilmot

Lizzie is T3's Senior Writer, and has reviewed more kettles than she count. She actually went and purchased the Smeg KLF03 as soon as the review sample went back – that's how you know it's a goodun!

Derek Adams

Derek specialises in home and outdoor tech, and has tested a huge range of kitchen appliances over the years. His reviews are some of the best on T3, and the magazine wouldn't know what to do without his insights.

Rob Clymo

Rob has been reviewing tech longer than he likes to admit, including many of the best kettles over the years.

Duncan Bell

Duncan is the former Lifestyle Editor of T3 and has been writing about tech for almost 15 years, meaning his reviews are still ones to rely on.