Looking for the perfect kettle? Our guide covers everything from stainless style icons to filtered models, and from as little as £20
Whether it’s for your morning coffee or a cosy cuppa as you settle in for the evening, few things are more homely than the reassuring crackle of a boiling kettle. That's why we’ve selected the quietest, fastest-boiling and best-looking kettles out there and put them to the test to find out which model you should trust to help you make the perfect cup of tea time and time again.
If you’re not sure whether to go with style over substance, or need a near-silent kettle so you can brew a sneaky midnight cuppa without waking up the whole house, we’ve got you covered. Here you’ll find a selection of the best and most reliable kettles available to buy in the UK right now, and quick reviews with all the key details you need to make your buying decision. Not sure what features to look out for? Then scroll to the bottom of the page for a buying guide that explains everything.
The best kettles to buy
De'Longhi Vintage Icona: The best looking kettle
If you're looking for a cute, classy, vintage-looking kettle, the De'Longhi Vintage Icona is it. The kettle comes in two colours: Beige and Azure Blue; which fits with the two colours the company offers on its 4-slice Vintage Icona toaster, too.
The kettle has a water gauge on the site, a swivel base and an anti-scale filter. It pours well and has a large handle that'll accommodate most hand sizes. As for the lid, it's fully removable, so you can refill the kettle with ease. However, make sure the kettle isn't piping hot, as you can get the odd splash-back when pulling the lid off.
Key Specs – Power: 3000W; Maximum fill: 1.7 litres; Minimum fill: Unknown; Warranty: 2yr; Illuminated gauge: no
George Fast Boil Kettle: Best budget kettle
Supermarket own-brand kettles don’t always smack of great quality, but this 1.7 litre glass kettle has quick boiling time (a full kettle takes two and a half minutes), energy efficiency (you can boil a single mug) and stylish aesthetics (it lights up as it boils, which looks pretty darn impressive). The limescale filter and gauze is as good for hard water areas as many kettles three or four times the price. And it stays cool and boasts a comfortable handle. All this for a mere twenty quid. Negatives are that the spout can dribble a bit and it’s a bit tricky to keep clean.
Key Specs – Power: 3000W; Maximum fill: 1.5 litres; Minimum fill: 300ml; Warranty: 100 day guarantee; Illuminated gauge: no
Breville Crystal Clear: Best transparent kettle
Transparent kettles are in vogue, in case you hadn’t noticed. Like the George kettle, this one holds 1.7 litres and glows blue when it’s heating up, so you’ll be in no doubt as to whether it’s turned on. Also like the George kettle and it’s easy to boil small amounts. It’s a tad faster than the George one, boiling a full kettle in under two-and-a-half minutes and we found the spout worked better too. It’s particularly easy to fill up and feels really robust. It’s easy to keep clean and the glass walls keep the water hot for quite a long time too. But forget it if you live in a hard water area as the limescale filter isn’t nearly as good as some of the other kettles we’ve reviewed here.
Key Specs – Power: 3000W; Maximum fill: 1.7 litres; Minimum fill: 300ml; Warranty: 1yr; Illuminated gauge: Yes
Russell Hobbs Luna: A quick and quiet kettle
If you want your hot water in a hurry, this is a great purchase - a litre boils in under two-and-a-half minutes and one cup in a mere 45 seconds. Moreover, you don’t have to kill all conversation in the kitchen while the kettle boils as it’s so quiet. It's available in various colours , but our favourite is the stainless steel with copper trim version which looks uncannily like the significantly more expensive Dualit below. You can boil just one cup of water at a time, and it’s easy to open the lid, fill up and pour, as well as to see how much water there is left inside. And good news for hard water areas is that it has a great limescale filter. In fact, it pretty much ticked all our boxes, with the one exception that it’s not the easiest to keep clean but even that’s not a deal breaker.
Key Specs – Power: 3000W; Maximum fill: 1.7 litres; Minimum fill: 235ml; Warranty: 2yr; Illuminated gauge: Yes
Dualit Polished Chrome Classic Kettle with Copper Trim: The premium option
This polished chrome and copper kettle is a stylish and sturdy addition to any kitchen. Water gauges on either side of the kettle show the water level in cups and litres while its protruding spout offers drip-free pouring. A silicon grip handle and reassuringly solid on/off toggle finish off what is a beautifully designed piece of kitchenware, although it did take the longest to boil a litre of water out of the kettles tested. With a quiet boil and leak-free lid, this is the kettle to go for if money is no object.
Key Specs – Power: 3000W, Maximum fill: 1.7 litres; Minimum fill: 250ml, Warranty: 1yr; Illuminated gauge: No
Wesco Classic Stovetop Kettle: Best stovetop kettle
What can be more satisfying than the sound of a stovetop kettle whistling to tell you it’s time to make your cuppa. We imagine this being right at home in a country style kitchen, especially on an aga, but as it’s contemporary twist on a traditional concept it will add a touch of style to any kitchen (and can be used on any hob, including induction). The German company Wesco was launched over 150 years ago and has built up a reputation for great style combined with excellent engineering and this kettle is particularly well-built, with an extra-wide base which makes it quicker to boil. The handle is cool to touch and comfy to hold. But it isn’t cheap.
Key Specs – Power: n/a; Maximum fill: 2 litres; Minimum fill: n/a; Warranty: 3yr; Illuminated gauge: n/a
Morphy Richards 102029 Accents Pyramid Kettle: The best kettle for retro looks
Price: £35
The Morphy Richards Accents kettle blends the retro stylings of an old-fashioned hob kettle with the convenience of today’s electric kettles. The spout is plenty large enough to fill the kettle through which is useful as the location of the handle makes it awkward to fill the kettle through the lid at the top. The location of the handle does make pouring a little difficult, particularly if you are left-handed. A choice of four colours, easily removable filter and sturdy base make this a tempting choice for fans of the retro aesthetic, even though this was the second noisiest kettle we tested.
Key Specs – Power: 3000W; Maximum fill: 1.5 litres; Minimum fill: 375ml; Warranty: 1yr; Illuminated gauge: Yes
Bosch TWK7203GB: The best variable temperature kettle
This smart looking kettle doesn’t come cheap, is the best variable temperature kettle we tested by far. You simply select temperatures from 70-100 (in 5 degree increments) on the black touchscreen base and it boils in record time (44 seconds for one mug). All this and it’s energy efficient, switching itself off the moment it boils. Unlike many kettles, it has no spots where you can burn your hands – and it’s good for hard water areas too, thanks to the effective limescale filter. On the downside, it’s not the quietest and is quite heavy and the beeps to tell you when you’ve put it on and when it’s done its job could drive you mad.
Key Specs – Power: 3000W; Maximum fill: 1.7 litres; Minimum fill: 300ml; Warranty: 2yr; Illuminated gauge: Yes
Kenwood kMix kettle: A great kettle – especially for smaller kitchens
With a one-cup minimum capacity, the kMix is perfect for brewing a solo cuppa without wasting electricity. It comes in several colours, each with a vibrant painted metal exterior that will brighten up any kitchen, plus a new addition for this year – a Union Jack. Though it took just two minutes and seventeen seconds to boil a litre of water, the water gauge is positioned directly under the grippy handle, making it hard to check the level at a glance. An easy to remove filter and low power usage add up to make this kettle a tempting choice, particularly for smaller kitchens where its compact footprint means it can squeeze in where countertop space is at a premium.
Key Specs – Power: 3000W; Maximum fill: 1.7 litres; Minimum fill: 240ml; Warranty: 1yr warranty; Illuminated gauge: No
How to buy the best kettle for you
How much do I need to spend?
You really don’t need to break the bank to get your hands on a decent kettle. There are plenty of options between 20 and 40 pounds that will get you a reliable, fast-boiling and reasonably quiet kettle that should last for three years or more. If water filtration or stunning design is a must, however, then expect to pay a premium for it.
What types of kettles are there?
1).Electric kettles: These are by far the most common type of kettle. As well as being the most energy efficient, they are the quickest and easiest way to get water to boiling point. They are also the safest, with most having an automatic shut-off setting so it stops heating the water when it reaches the right temperature. They are also portable and can be used anywhere. The downside is that mineral deposits can build up, effectively the efficiency.
2).Variable temperature kettles: These are a variation of electric kettles that get the water to the optimum temperature for the specific drink you want, with different buttons for different temperatures. Why does this matter? Using boiling water for coffee actually burns it – the ideal temperature is between 91C-96C. Delicate green and white teas are also destroyed by using boiling water – instead, they require water at 70C. Black and oolong teas taste best with water around 85C. And chamomile requires water at 90C. The list goes on.
3).Stovetop kettle: This is the most basic kind of kettle, which you simply put on the stove and heat up. When the water is boiling, it will whistle to let you know. They can be (although are not always) the cheapest kind of kettle, as well as having an aesthetic, retro appeal. They are less susceptible to damage caused by mineral deposits than electric kettles and you don’t need electricity or to use up space on your worksurface.
Are rapid boiling kettles actually faster than normal ones?
Don’t be fooled by kettles advertised as ‘rapid boiling’ – the fastest boiling kettle here is only 11 seconds quicker than the slowest. Also be aware that manufacturer’s boiling time claims are often based on how long it takes room temperature water to boil. In our test, we used water straight from the cold tap, which averaged between 9c and 11c.
What other features are worth looking out for?
Kettles aren't the most high-tech of kitchen items, but it is worth looking out for safety features such as an auto shut-off function - should you accidentally put too little water in the kettle, then this will stop it boiling dry. One very basic thing to look out for is how a kettle is filled - a button-operated flip-top lid is worth having as it means you don't need to put your hand anywhere near the spout (or any steam coming out of it) when you're refilling it. And personally, we'd avoid buying any cheap kettle which has a mains cable connected directly to the jug itself; the slot-in stand design of most modern kettles is far safer. Finally, think about noise. The difference between our quietest and loudest kettles, which measured in at 71 and 76 decibels, is considerable, although everyone’s tolerance to noise is different.