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11 best kettles for energy efficiency
Like a good friend, a kettle is always ready to provide warmth and comfort within moments. And any new parent will tell you that the value of a good, warm cup of tea cannot be overstated. We reveal the best kettles to buy, as tried and tested by Mumsnet users.
By Rachel Erdos | Last updated Apr 19, 2024
There’s a kettle for every kitchen style and budget, from traditional stove-top pots that whistle pleasingly when it’s time for tea, to smart kettles that switch themselves on before you’ve even decided you want a brew.
And while there are plenty of kettles that can boil water effectively, it can be worth investing in extra features to make your tea breaks as pleasant as possible. If you live in a hard water area, built-in filters can help to soften water to improve your brews and lessen the impact of limescale. Quiet kettles are great for small spaces, especially if you're brewing up near a napping baby. And energy-efficient kettles can help you save money on your monthly bills.
Whatever your cup of tea (or coffee), we’ve done the hard work for you, scouring the Mumsnet forums and beyond to find the best kettle.
And if you're looking to kit out your kitchen with top kitchen appliances that have been tried, tested and recommended by busy parents, we've got guides to the best microwaves, the best toasters, the best juicers, the best blenders, the best food steamers and the best soup makers, all featuring reviews by Mumsnet users.
Best kettles at a glance
Best overall: Bosch Styline Cordless | Buy now, £64
Best budget: Russell Hobbs Textures Plastic | Buy now, £24
Best energy-efficient kettle: Russell Hobbs 23911 | Buy now, £28
Best luxury: KitchenAid Artisan Temperature Control | Buy now, £199
Best quiet kettle: Russell Hobbs Buckingham Quiet Boil | Buy now, £35
Best one-cup: Breville HotCup Hot Water Dispenser | Buy now, £40
Best for the hob: Le Creuset Traditional Stovetop | Buy now, £97
Best for hard water: Russell Hobbs Brita Purity Glass | Buy now, £60
Best variable temperature: Sage Smart BKE820UK | Buy now, £105
Best fast boiling: Kenwood Mesmerine Jug | Buy now, £50
Best eco kettle: Philips Conscious Collection | Buy now, £40
Variety of temperature settings to suit different drinks
Fast boil
Built-in limescale filter
Can feel quite heavy when full
Price on writing: £64 | Capacity: 1.5L | Wattage: 3,000 | Integrated filter: Yes | Multiple temperatures: Yes | Matching toaster: Yes | Warranty: Two years
This sturdy stainless steel and plastic cordless jug sits on a square base unit and offers four different temperature settings (100, 90, 80 and 70 degrees) and there’s a keep-warm function so you don’t have to reboil water. The kettle beeps when you turn it on and to let you know when it’s boiled too, just in case you forget.
We love the really fast boil and the decent capacity of 1.5 litres. And the minimum fill is only 280ml so you can boil enough for just one cup without wasting water or energy. The only aspect that doesn't get rave reviews is the in-built limescale filter, which looks a bit gappy and may let flakes of limescale seep through. But, inside, the heating element is covered, making it easier to clean than other kettles.
The double-walled design is spot on - the exterior can't burn you if you were to touch it and the cord can be coiled up inside the base securely, making it a great choice for homes with curious toddlers. The anti-slip grip makes it easy to hold and we love the push-button lid – you won't have to wrestle to open this one. It also features boil-dry protection to help prevent damage.
Read next: The best rice cookers to buy, according to Mumsnet users
Boils a cup of water in under a minute
Very quiet
Lightweight design
Basic look
Removable filter isn't the most effective
Price on writing: £23 | Capacity: 1.7L | Wattage: 3,000 | Integrated filter: Yes | Multiple temperatures: No | Matching toaster: Yes | Warranty: Two years
This isn’t the cheapest kettle you can buy, but for the price, you’re getting one that’s pretty close in spec to more expensive models.
Russell Hobbs is a reliable port of call for appliances and the plastic Textures model (available in grey, black and white) shouldn’t disappoint. Its maximum capacity is an impressive 1.7 litres and minimum just 250ml. You just need to open the lid to fill to the one-cup level.
It boils really quickly and can boil one cup in under a minute. It’s also very quiet, so if you’re up with the lark then you won’t be waking anyone else with your morning brew.
Integrated cord storage keeps everything tidy and safe, and it’s very easy to use. Not only is it lightweight (ideal if you have weak wrists), it also sits on a 360-degree base, which is handy if you’re left-handed or live with a leftie as you can swivel it to wherever you want it to sit.
Reviews suggest the removable filter isn’t the most effective but you’re getting a lot of great features from a reliable brand at a great price. We’d expect it to keep you in cuppas for a long time to come.
Read next: The best blenders for smoothies, as tested by parents
KitchenAid Artisan 1.5-Litre Temperature Control Kettle
Cool retro design
Quality limescale filter
Variety of temperature settings for different drinks
On the heavy side (2.5kg)
Price on writing: £195 | Capacity: 1.5L | Wattage: 3,000 | Integrated filter: Yes | Multiple temperatures: Yes | Matching toaster: Yes | Warranty: Three years
We all covet KitchenAid gadgets. If you want a bit of the iconic KitchenAid style (in a range of colours) in your kitchen but can’t quite stretch to the stand mixer, this Artisan Kettle might fill a hole on your work surface and in your heart.
It may look like an old-fashioned stove-top kettle but it’s got all the mod cons. The multiple temperature settings let you heat water from anywhere from 50 degrees up to 100 in 10-degree increments, and it also has a temperature gauge so you can see how hot the water is at any time, even when not on its base.
It's double-walled so it’s never too hot to touch - a boon in a kitchen with children about, and its safety credentials are top-notch. It’s got cord storage, a 360-degree, non-slip base and a soft-touch handle that won’t slip in your hands.
The limescale filter is top-quality so it’s a good choice if you live in a hard water area, and it’s capable of boiling one cup to 1.5 litres of water.
At 2.5kg, it’s a little heavier than some, but that’s the only potential downside we can see.
Read next: The best stand mixers to buy, as tried and tested by Mumsnetters
Really quiet boil
Removable filter - great for hard water areas
Matching toaster and microwave
Can get louder as it ages
Price on writing: £35 | Capacity: 1.7L | Wattage: 3,000 | Integrated filter: Yes | Multiple temperatures: No | Matching toaster: Yes | Warranty: Two years (plus an extra year if you register online)
We are big fans of products that do exactly what they say on the tin and the Russell Hobbs Buckingham Quiet Boil Kettle really does boil quietly. It’s impressively speedy too, boiling enough water for a mug of tea in 45 seconds using its Rapid Boil feature.
It has a generous maximum capacity, as well as a useful one-cup feature to save energy, and there’s also a non-boil-dry feature that kicks in if you accidentally switch it on when empty.
The removable filter is very easy to clean and does an impressive job of keeping things limescale-free – a solid choice if you live in a hard water area. Most of all though, if you have an open-plan kitchen and don’t want to drown out the after-dinner chat, or a home with the bedrooms perilously close to the kitchen, you’ll be very grateful for this quiet-as-a-mouse kettle.
Read next: The best waffle makers to buy, as recommended by Mumsnetters
No heavy jug to deal with - great for people with mobility issues
Cheaper than a built-in hot water tap
Takes up quite a lot of worktop space
Water doesn't get as hot as from a kettle
Price on writing: £40 | Capacity: 1.5L | Wattage: 3,000 | Integrated filter: Yes | Multiple temperatures: No | Matching toaster: No | Warranty: One year
Not strictly a kettle, but this hot water dispenser is a great alternative for anyone who has trouble lifting heavy items, or if you usually use a kettle for single drinks. It’s also significantly cheaper than a built-in boiling water tap which would set you back a few hundred pounds.
The tank holds enough for five to seven cups of tea if you do want to make several and it delivers a cup very speedily (less than a minute). It takes up slightly more space on the work surface than a standard kettle, but looks very sleek and unobtrusive.
It would go particularly well in a modern kitchen with its blue light-up feature when in boiling mode, and a permanent limescale filter means it’s suitable for hard-water areas.
The only thing to be aware of is that some reviews suggest it doesn’t always boil water to 100 degrees. This may not matter too much if you don’t need water to be at boiling point for tea or coffee, but if you’re fastidious about your cuppa, it’s worth opting for a more traditional kettle.
Otherwise, it’s a great option for making a quick tea, a hot chocolate or even a mug of super-fast noodles.
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Stylish retro design
Available in a range of colours
Whistles when water has boiled
Can take a while to boil
Price on writing: £97 | Capacity: 2.1L | Integrated filter: No | Multiple temperatures: No | Matching toaster: No | Warranty: Five years
If you like a proper cup of tea from a proper old-fashioned kettle, this stove-top model from Le Creuset ticks all the boxes. It has traditional good looks and a charming whistle that lets you know when your water has boiled.
It’s made from enamelled steel and has a lovely wide base that sits robustly on your hob or Aga, while an ergonomic handle makes pouring easy. It does take a little while to boil, but not nearly as long as you’d think thanks to its wide induction base – and anyway, that’s part and parcel of a stove-top kettle.
It's available in Le Creuset’s usual wide range of colours so you can match it to your other cookware and it provides a cheerful pop of colour on your hob.
Russell Hobbs 20760-10 Brita Purity Glass Kettle
Built-in Brita water filter
Quiet boil
Neat cord storage
Quite heavy
Cartridges need replacing regularly
Price on writing: £60 | Capacity: 1.5L | Wattage: 3,000 | Integrated filter: Yes | Multiple temperatures: No | Matching toaster: No | Warranty: Two years (plus an extra year if you register)
Hard water can make your cup of tea taste a bit like pond water so if you live in a hard water area, you’ll want to choose the best kettle that counteracts that.
This glass model by Russell Hobbs comes with a built-in Brita water filter to reduce both limescale and chlorine, and also absorb any copper or lead that may occur in your water. An alert will let you know when the cartridge needs replacing. If you prefer to use filtered water in your kettle, this will take some of the faff out of your daily cuppa.
Fill it at the top and a blue light glows through the glass, getting brighter as it boils, which is a nice touch. It's relatively quiet when boiling too.
We like the cord storage, which makes it safe for a family kitchen, and a concealed element, meaning it’s that little bit easier to clean. The filter does make it heavy to lift, which is worth being aware of, and you can’t boil very small amounts either. Some reviews say that the spout can be a bit drippy too. Otherwise, if the flavour of your hot drinks is important to you or you know you live in a hard water area, this is a great buy that will transform your brew.
Five different temperature settings for a range of drinks
20-minute keep warm feature
Neat cord storage
Expensive
Price on writing: £105 | Capacity: 1.7L | Wattage: 3,000 | Integrated filter: Yes | Multiple temperatures: Yes | Matching toaster: Yes | Warranty: Three years
The Sage Smart kettle offers five different temperature settings from 80 to 100 degrees at five-degree increments, specifically designed for black, green, white or Oolong tea, and French press coffee. It has a generous maximum capacity for when you’re brewing up for a crowd as well as a 20-minute keep-warm function.
Cord storage and a 360-degree rotational base mean it’s easy to use anywhere on your worktop, and it includes useful safety features like an auto shut-off and boil-dry protection.
In brushed stainless steel, it looks incredibly smart in any kitchen, and the ergonomic handle and soft-open lid make it feel lovely to use too. It’s at the expensive end of the scale, but for those who like top gadgetry in their kitchen and a truly posh cuppa, it’s a good buy.
Handy internal markers for one, two and three cups
Sleek polished finish
Turns off promptly when water has boiled
The cable is pretty short
Price on writing: £28 | Capacity: 1.7L | Wattage: 3,000 | Integrated filter: Yes | Multiple temperatures: No | Matching toaster: Yes | Warranty: Two years
This basic kettle is a great buy if you regularly make single cups of tea throughout the day. It has handy internal markers to indicate levels for one, two and three cups so it's easy to boil only the water you actually need, making it our top energy efficient kettle. A cup of water (235ml) boils in 45 seconds and the 'perfect pour' spout means you won't waste any water through spillages. It also switches off promptly when the water has boiled. It has a polished finish and there are matching two- and four-slice toasters to add to your worktop too. Note that the cable is on the short side so you'll need to think about where to position it in your kitchen.
Impressively speedy
Very easy to handle and pour
Variety of colours available
Lid can be tricky to remove
Price on writing: £50 | Capacity: 1.6L | Wattage: 3,000 | Integrated filter: Yes | Multiple temperatures: No | Matching toaster: Yes | Warranty: Three years through Currys
Handsome and quick off the blocks, you say? We’re sold. This textured jug design comes in six lovely colours and would make a colourful centrepiece in any kitchen. Reviewers agree that it's the best kettle for speedy brews, getting a litre of water bubbling in two and a half minutes in testing, and one cup in under a minute.
The filter works really well to reduce limescale and the ‘tilted’ design makes it very easy to handle and pour. The textured surface looks stunning, but also stays cool to the touch even when the water inside is boiling. But it’s worth knowing that the lid doesn’t stay cool and can also be tricky to take off.
In terms of safety features, this kettle has cord storage, boil-dry protection and a light to indicate when it’s in use – all very helpful. The only criticism is that it's on the noisy side, but not excessively so. And you never know, if someone elsewhere in the house hears the kettle on they might be moved to come and pour your tea for you.
Cool, contemporary design
Made from bio-based plastics
Features an anti-limescale filter
Lid cab be a little tricky to remove
Price on writing: £40 | Capacity: 1.7L | Wattage: 1,850 - 2,200 | Integrated filter: Yes | Multiple temperatures: No | Matching toaster: Yes | Warranty: Two years
Part of Philips' Conscious Collection range (there's also a toaster, a coffee maker and a blender), this cool kettle is made from bio-based plastics, a sustainable alternative to most materials used in kitchen appliances. Alongside its green credentials, it comes with useful features including an easy-to-read water level and cup indicators for simple water measuring and an anti-limescale filter. It's fairly quiet and boils quickly so all the essentials are covered, although some reviewers report that the lid can be a little stiff to remove.
How to buy the best kettle
Size: First, decide where your kettle is going to live in your kitchen as size will dictate your product choice.
Capacity: If there are only one or two tea or coffee drinkers in your household, this won’t be so important. But if you regularly make a round of drinks for a group of people, you’ll want to go for a large capacity to avoid having to boil the kettle multiple times.
Shape: Consider what sort of shape you want to go for. Most kettles are either a jug style, with the handle at the side, or a dome style with the handle placed over the top. Some people find one easier to use than the other.
Weight: It’s also worth thinking about the weight of the kettle when full. Most of us have no problem lifting a full kettle, but if you suffer with arthritis or carpal tunnel, for example, lifting a heavy kettle can be really difficult and you'll want to go for a lightweight or smaller model.
Speed: Look for a wattage of 3,000 watts or above as the higher the wattage, the quicker your kettle will boil. Just be aware that the faster the kettle, the more energy you'll use and the noisier it'll be – particularly important if you're an early riser.
Design: Aesthetics will play a part. Kettles come in a range of styles and colours so you should be able to find the best kettle to complement your kitchen, whether you want something that'll fit in with the existing scheme or make a bit of a statement.
Noise: Think about noise when choosing the right kettle. The higher the wattage, the noisier the kettle, although this isn't the case for the Russell Hobbs Buckingham Quiet Boil Kettle, which we think is the best quiet kettle to buy. Quiet kettles should also have been awarded a Quiet Mark.
What features should I look for in the best kettle?
There’s a lot more to kettles than just boiling water for your brew. Here are some features you may want to consider investing in:
Filters: If you’re in a hard water area, look for the best kettle with built-in filters that will soften hard water.
Water level indicator: These are helpful for checking the maximum, as well as the minimum, water capacity. You'll want to be able to boil enough water in one go, but you might also want to only boil enough for one cup at a time, which is kinder to the environment.
Variable temperature: A kettle that offers multiple temperature settings is useful if you use it for coffee and some teas like Oolong, which are both best made at a slightly lower temperature. Warm water can also be used to heat a baby bottle or pouch. Some of the best kettles also have a keep-warm feature.
Boil-dry protection: Many kettles now come with safety features such as boil-dry protection, which means the kettle won't turn on if there’s not enough water in it.
Grips: If you have young children in the house, it’s also worth checking that the best kettle you choose has a good grip on the handle so it’s less likely to slip in your grasp.
Safety features: You might also want to go for a kettle with plastic rather than stainless steel casing so that the body of the kettle never gets too hot. An auto shut-off feature will stop the kettle from boiling if it's lifted from its base.
Energy efficiency: One-cup or eco-friendly kettles are better for the environment and will use much less energy than standard kettles. An auto shut-off feature will also help to save energy.
Smart features: The fanciest of kettles now have smart features, meaning you can switch on your kettle from your app or keep it warm so your cup of tea is only seconds away when you walk in the door.
How much should I spend on the best kettle?
The best kettle is one purchase where it doesn’t always pay to spend more. We’ve seen kettles that are perfectly reliable for less than a tenner – our budget choice, the Russell Hobbs Textures Plastic Kettle, is around £20 and really impressed us.
Design can push the price up, with high-end branded kettles coming in at around £100.
Overall, you should be able to buy the best kettle with a few fancy features that will make brewing a lot more pleasurable for less than £50.
Verdict: what's the best kettle to buy?
We think the best kettle is the Bosch Styline TWK8633GB Cordless Kettle for its brilliant safety features and added extras that make it a real pleasure to use.
We also like the Kenwood Mesmerine Jug Kettle which, although pricey, will deliver a cup of tea or coffee in under a minute. Music to our ears.
Best kettle: which brand is best?
Russell Hobbs is a leading kettle brand that has landed three models in our list, which we think says a lot about quality and reliability. There are also Russell Hobbs kettles to suit every budget.
Breville kettles also come highly recommended and, while none of them made our final cut, we also heard lots of good things about De’Longhi during our research process.
It’s also worth checking out some of the premium kitchen brands that are better known for other appliances but are now breaking into the kettle market, such as Sage and KitchenAid.
How we chose our recommendations
First we put our kettle on to see how long it took to make a cuppa – and because we just think more clearly with a mug of tea in our hands.
As always, we looked at what Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum were recommending – and, more importantly, what they were not recommending. Having drawn up a list of products, we looked at reviews sites and read consumer reviews to see which of those recommendations were confirmed elsewhere.
We checked the specs and features of all the kettles and compared them with others on the market to see which offered the best value for money. We also looked at safety features to ensure we could recommend them all for a family home and narrowed down our choices to bring you a guide to buying the best kettle.
About the author
Rachel Erdos is an Editor at Mumsnet where she commissions, edits and writes content with a focus on product reviews, homeware roundups and family travel.
She’s written buyer’s guides for publications including Expert Reviews, Coach and Den of Geek as well as reviews and features for the Guardian, TripSavvy and Visit London.
As a mum of two, she’s always on the lookout for products that make life easier at home and loves putting gadgets and appliances to the test to highlight best buys for families.
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