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Matt Jancer

The Best Travel Mugs to Keep Drinks Hot or Cold

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Best Overall Hydro Flask Coffee Mug With Flex Sip Lid (16 Ounce) Read more

A Good Wide-Mouth Bottle Klean Kanteen TKWide Insulated Mug (16 Ounce) Read more

A Classy Paper Cup Replacement KeepCup Brew Cork (12 Ounce) Read more

An Eco-Friendly Option Miir Climate+ Read more

Staying hydrated can be a battle, especially if you're toting around a bottle of lukewarm water, coffee, or tea. Whether you drink cold drinks or hot ones, a vacuum-insulated beverage holder can keep it at your preferred temperature so that every sip is a joy. There are tons of vacuum-insulated bottles, mugs, and tumblers on the market these days. Most of them are perfectly capable at keeping beverages colder or warmer than room temperature for much longer than a non-insulated bottle, too.

I tested each bottle with both ice water and cold water, sat outside on a patio in indirect sunlight, and then with hot coffee left indoors, where the ambient temperature was 70 degrees. During testing so far, none of the bottles failed to roughly match up to their claims of how long they'd keep cold liquids cold and hot liquids hot. It's rare to run across an insulated bottle that's a total failure at doing that these days, but it's also rare to find one that truly stands out. Rather, I've noticed the features that tend to make or break a bottle are their leak-proofing, exterior coating, and cap. Here are the best travel mugs that impressed us, and some of the rest.

Note that my colleague, Medea Giordano, wrote a piece about the use of lead soldering in the construction of some reusable bottles. Be sure to check out our guides to the Best Reusable Water Bottles , Best Coffee Subscriptions , Best Coffee Grinders , Best Espresso Machines , Best Portable Coffee Makers , Best AeroPress Coffee Makers , and How to Make Better Coffee at Home and Joe Ray's rave on how he learned to love pour-over coffee .

Updated March 2024: We've added the Yeti Rambler Vacuum Bottle With Chug Cap, Stanley IceFlow Straw Tumbler, REI Co-op Camp Mug, and GSI Outdoors MicroLite 500 Flip. We've also added information about the use of lead in some bottles' manufacturing, as well as updated pricing and availability throughout.

Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off) . This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com , full Gear coverage, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

Best Overall

Hydro Flask’s powder coating is one of the toughest I have come across on a beverage container. Whenever I can foresee some serious abuse happening to a coffee mug on a trip, I take a Hydro Flask. I’ve yet to dent or scratch one through routine carelessness over the past four years. Without a cupholder in my car, my Hydro Flask lived on the floorboards, rolling and crashing around with every maneuver, and it still held up. The pebbled texture is grippy, so you're less likely to fumble it if your hands get wet or greasy.

A Good Wide-Mouth Bottle

Narrow openings are fine for water, in my opinion, but for hot beverages, I like having a wider gap so I can take a big gulp. I'm less likely to burn my mouth on hot drinks when I can let them cool off through a bigger opening, too. The TKWide’s Cafe Cap is more like drinking from a regular to-go coffee cup, rather than a water bottle.

All the colors have matte powder-coated finishes, which are more scratch-resistant than the brand’s smooth powder-coated finishes. That said, I haven’t found them to be as tough as Hydro Flask’s powder coating, and the uncoated stainless-steel ring on the bottom of the mug is pretty easy to scuff up.

A Classy Paper Cup Replacement

The Brew Cork is greater than the sum of its parts. This double-walled, insulated mug is meant to replicate and replace paper coffee shop cups. It’s fun to drink out of. Many other tumblers’ lid openings are blocky or mash your nose, but the KeepCup is ergonomically on point. It’s not the best for road trips, nor the best for keeping a ton of coffee hot for hours, but I highly recommend the LongPlay if all you want is a reusable cup to cut down on single-use waste and keep your drink warm long enough for you to actually drink it. That said, the lid is a bit dribbly. While the interior and lip are glass—no metallic off-tastes here—the exterior shell below the rubber grip is plastic.

An Eco-Friendly Option

It doesn't fit a typical car’s cup holder, but if you like an insulated mug that resembles a cup more than a bottle or beer glass, the Climate+ is for you. It has the solid build quality and tough powder-coated finish we’ve come to expect from Miir, in a package that has less of an impact on the environment. Miir says that the Climate+ uses no new plastic (the lid is 100 percent recycled and recyclable), and its insulation uses 25 percent less stainless steel than traditional insulated mugs. It’s also completely BPA-free.

Camp Classic

This camp cup is awfully charming, harkening back to the classic blue, enameled camp cups that ooze 20th-century Americana. Like all the tumblers on this list, it’s vacuum-insulated to keep hot drinks hot and cold ones cold. Its screw-on plastic lid, with a sliding lever for sipping, is leak-proof enough. If you leave it upside down for more than a few seconds or shake it, it’ll drip, but I couldn’t get it to leak by knocking it onto its side. The handle is plastic to avoid conducting heat from hot contents, and the inner part of the handle is lined in cork. The Campy isn’t enameled—it’s just painted to look like it—but it pulls off the effect well.

For Coffee Purists

Instead of a tiny sippy hole, the Carter’s screw-on cap reveals a wide tumbler that lets you breathe in your coffee’s aromas as you drink. The opening is 69 millimeters wide, so you can use most manual coffee brewers, such as an AeroPress or Hario pour-over, directly on it. That’s too wide for many cars’ cup holders, but it’s plenty stable, and you won’t have to worry about tipping it over on a desk. My average-size hands had no issues, but some buyers with smaller hands might find it difficult or uncomfortable to hold.

The interior is ceramic-coated, so you don’t get any metallic flavors, and the thin metal lip is curved like a cabernet glass. Its textured matte exterior coating is tough and held up as well as the mighty Hydro Flask’s coating. It's been completely leak-proof too. You should have no concerns throwing it into your laptop bag completely full.

For Camping

When traveling, I want to pack light. Snow Peak’s gorgeous insulated titanium camp mug is less than 4 inches tall, weighs only 4.2 ounces, and has foldaway handles to make it even smaller. Its 450-ml capacity equates to slightly more than 15 fluid ounces. As someone who finds washing mugs to be an interminable hassle, this is the easiest one to travel with—just refill, rinse, and carabiner it to the outside of your bag. I've carried mine up glaciated mountains and down desert trails for six years now, and although the lettering has worn away, the mug itself works as well as it did when new. You can also buy a Snow Peak lid for $14 separately, which is splash-proof and kept my coffee warmer for longer.

Tumblers and travel mugs are generally designed for you to pour your chosen beverage into, but what if you just want to put a can in there? These kinds of insulated drink holders are particularly useful when I'm out and about, drinking a canned soda or beer, and want it to stay cool in the summer heat.

Not only can you put the can directly into the drink holder, but you can also pour it into the Hydro Flask and drink directly out of it, if you wish. Just remove the collar, and now you've got a handsome, stainless steel rim to sip from. The collar fits over the bottom of the can to stabilize it too, so you won't lose it. This is the 12-fluid-ounce version that fits a standard beer, soda, juice, or wine can. There's also a 16-fluid-ounce Tallboy Cooler Cup for $28 if you're feeling particularly thirsty.

Honorable Mentions

We've run through many travel mugs, and not all of them are winners. These are a few we like, just not as much as the ones above.

Miir Flip Traveler for $28 : The Miir has a tough powder coating with a flip-top lid that is absolutely leak-proof. I couldn’t get one drop of liquid to escape, no matter what I did to this tumbler. It’s narrow enough to fit any cup holder or backpack bottle holder, and it feels tough enough to survive years of abuse. Personally, I also find it quite aesthetically attractive, with its sharp lines and angular cap, compared to its competition. Miir has stated that some of its bottles use lead, and its website states : “MiiR drinkware is frequently tested at a 3rd party accredited lab by COE Resolution CM/RES(2013)9. When MiiR drinkware is tested, lead is not detected. The limit of detection is < 0.002 mg/kg (ppm).” Representatives at Miir declined to clarify if the Flip Traveler is one of its bottles that use lead.

Yeti Rambler Bottle With Chug Cap for $50 : The star of this bottle is what Yeti calls the chug cap, a threaded spout that's between a wide-mouth opening and a more typical sipping hole in size. I enjoyed it quite a lot. When gulping water, it flowed more smoothly and quickly than a sipping hole, but it didn't spill over my face, as a wide-mouth opening can sometimes do when in a hurry. A cap with a plastic handle screws on over it to close up the bottle. The handle is wide and robust. I'd use a carabiner to clip it to a backpack often and never worried about it breaking (36 fluid ounces of water is heavy). If you're a frequent sipper like me, you'll appreciate that it only takes a half turn of the cap to expose the chug cap. Yeti cautions that the chug cap (which can be unscrewed and removed) is unsuitable for hot beverages. Just to make sure I didn't burn my mouth on that initial, exploratory sip of hot coffee, I'd take it off when drinking something hot, which negated some of the bottle's convenience. Like most Yeti bottles, the exterior coating was durable and didn't scratch or dent during testing—we've often got a code to customize it for free on the WIRED coupons site. Yeti uses lead in its manufacturing .

Stanley IceFlow Tumbler for $30 : Rather than a long straw, the IceFlow has a stubby, flip-open straw about an inch long that's built into the cap. It was easy to manipulate with my thumb to flip it out, which I appreciated when I was hot and sweaty after a workout and didn't want to fumble with a hard-to-use cap. Its small diameter meant that I couldn't gulp water, though, only sip a steady trickle. The carry handle was big enough to use while wearing puffy gloves this past winter, and it flips down and out of the way when you don't need it. Both are a very nice touch that outshine most other bottles' handles. Like Stanley's other bottles, its exterior coating is tough enough that I noticed no scratches or wear. Stanley uses lead in its manufacturing process .

Contigo Luxe Autoseal for $36 : What makes the Contigo “automatic” is a button on the side of the lid that opens the sipping hole. There’s a lock to prevent the button from opening the hole, too. With or without the lock activated, the Contigo never leaked a single drop. Some buyers have complained that the metal lid gets too hot, but I filled up the Luxe Autoseal with scorching, molten coffee, and the lid barely even got lukewarm. Contigo is also among the manufacturers that uses a lead solder bead in its construction. When reached for comment, a company representative said, “The bead is covered and insulated by multiple layers—it never comes in contact with users or liquids in the bottle—and cannot be accessed unless the bottle is fully deconstructed. No traces of lead are found on or in the bottle that would be exposed to the consumer or the beverages in the bottle.”

KeepCup Thermal for $26 : This is the answer to those who like the KeepCup LongPlay's ergonomic shape and paper-cup-imitating feel but long for a cup that can keep their coffee warmer for longer. The Thermal is, like most of the vessels in this guide, vacuum-insulated stainless steel that insulates against heat loss or, in the case of cold beverages, heat gain. It shares the Brew Cork's slightly dribbly lid, although it loses some of the novelty of the Brew Cork's glass.

REI Co-op Camp Mug for $23 : There are getting to be an awful lot of insulated camp mugs in this basic style on the market, and REI's own is a perfectly fine option that doesn't particularly stand out. REI didn't attempt any gimmicks with its lid, which is a durable piece of thick plastic with an open hole for sipping and a smaller hole for airflow (so that sipping is smooth). You can't just toss it in a backpack or on the floor of your car without it leaking, but for a camp mug, that's fine. They're better suited for use in camp, a motorhome, or on a desk anyway, in my opinion. The exterior coating was tough enough to show no scratches, even after knocking it over a few times outside, and the REI graphics were tasteful and attractive, in my opinion.

Miir Camp Cup for $28: Miir's insulated coffee mug doesn't leak, it insulates hot and cold drinks just fine, and the coating is as tough as any Miir. But it's up against tough competition, and for the same money the Hydro Flask Mug is a bit nicer. The Miir lacks the Hydro Flask's stainless steel rim, and the transparent plastic lid feels a little cheap. The sliding opening on the lid felt like just an extra step to operate each time I wanted a sip.

Hydro Flask All Around Travel Tumbler for $35 : The rounded handle is comfortable to hold, which is important in an 18.4-ounce mug loaded with up to 32 fluid ounces of drink. Like most Hydro Flask products, it comes with the same bomb-proof powder coating (in optional soft, pastel colors) that resists scratches and chips very well, plus the addition of a straw poking through its lid. There's also a 40-fluid-ounce version for $40 .

GSI Outdoors Glacier 15-Fluid-Ounce Camp Cup for $20 : It's not too easy to find at retailers, and when you do, they tend to be available in just a few colors and go in and out of stock. This cup is awfully simple, particularly the incredibly basic lid, but it's more than a little endearing. There's a brushed stainless steel version and, my favorite, a "blue speckle" that imitates the classic enameled blue camp cups of past generations, although both of these colors are plain steel. Other colors come in a more durable-seeming pebbled coating.

Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug for $29 : The stainless-steel interior is BPA-free and has a wide-mouth opening. The lid locks to avoid accidental spillage, and I once accidentally left hot tea in it for 18 hours and found it still hot when I opened it again. It’s also small enough to fit in my jacket pocket on chilly morning walks. It’s not my preferred mug for daily use, simply because the lid has three separate parts—a mouthpiece, a gasket, and a lid—that are deeply ridged and hard to clean.

Rambler Stackable Cup for $30 : This insulated cup holds 16 fluid ounces, which is the capacity of a typical tall drinking glass. The best aspect of this is that you can stack several of them, so you can keep a bunch in your pantry without taking up much room. It comes with Yeti's durable powder coating, too, making them among the toughest options out there.

Hydro Flask Mug for $28: The Hydro Flask Mug merges a durable powder-coated, vacuum-insulated construction with the traditional, handle-sporting shape of a diner or camp mug. Hydro Flask does it better than most. The stainless steel rim makes it nicer to sip from than competitors' mugs, and it comes with Hydro Flask's usual drip-proof lid and bomber-tough powder coating that is nearly impossible to scratch. But it is more at home on a desk than at a campsite or in a car's cup holder, which it can't fit into.

GSI Outdoors MicroLite 500 Flip for $30 : Under the button-activated, flip-up lid there's a contoured bowl that you drink from, as if somebody cut the top half off a plastic cup. It felt gimmicky and unnecessary. It didn't do anything that just drinking from an open bottle couldn't do, and it tended to collect stray water droplets after I was done drinking. The overly complex cap was harder to hand wash than most caps, although the dishwasher could clean the cap without issue. What saves the MicroLite 500 is the stainless steel rim, which felt nice to drink from when the cap was removed, plus the array of available colors in durable, non-scratch coatings. Minus the cap, the bottle was fairly nice, if not particularly a standout among the competition. There's a MicroLite 500 With Twist Lid for $30 that does away with the gimmicky cap and has a simpler lid, although the carry strap is narrow and not as robust as I'd have liked.

Owala FreeSip for $28 : Product reviewer Medea Giordano loved the FreeSip ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ) for its dual drink spouts: one open hole, plus a built-in straw. If you've got mobility or pain issues that make tilting your head a hassle, this mug is a solid performer. It's easy to grip too, with its flattened sides, which can come in handy for those with reduced hand dexterity.

OtterBox Elevation for $30 : At 8.5 inches tall, the Elevation 20 looks a lot bigger than it is. It has a copper lining that the company says helps better maintain your beverage’s perfect temperature, although I saw no noticeable difference in the Elevation's temperature-holding abilities. The clear press-on lid has a locking mechanism that you can switch it out for a straw lid or a French press lid if you’re in a hurry. It comes in a variety of stunning hues. OfferBox uses lead in its construction. When reached for comment, a company representative said, “ The seal is not open or accessible to the end user, and at no time, under intended use, could it come into contact with the end user. The OtterBox Elevation tumbler meets all applicable US regulatory requirements.”

Purist Mover for $48 : Ever empty a stainless-steel bottle of one beverage and fill it up with a different one, only to notice that the taste of the first drink lingers? The Purist has applied a thin layer of glass over the interior of the Mover, which keeps this taste transfer from happening. You can down a mug full of coffee and then fill it with herbal tea without risking a coffee aftertaste. I didn’t experience leaks from the Element top, but a high number of customers have reported their Purist lids leaking over time. I’ll keep using the Purist and update this page with information on how it performs.

S'well Traveler Tumbler for $30 : S’well boasts that its tumblers are triple-walled, but I'm not convinced that has much real-world benefit over a normal double-walled tumbler. It didn't keep beverages remarkably colder or hotter than its competitors, for example. What really sets the S’well apart are its designs. There are 12 finishes, from plain colors and bare stainless steel to elaborate patterns, such as blue marble and faux wood, and a slide-open lid so you don’t have to pop it off every time you want a swig of coffee.

Stanley Classic Vacuum Pint for $26 : Stanley’s vacuum pint includes a press-on lid with a deeply pebbled exterior that’s reminiscent of classic flasks. Although it’s billed as a 16-ounce pint, Stanley has added a few extra ounces to accommodate foam (or splashing hot coffee), and the lid comes with a slide-in metal bottle opener if you like to go immediately from work to happy hour. Stanley uses lead in its manufacturing process .

Avoid These Travel Mugs

We’ve tested a great many tumblers, and not all are winners. These aren't anywhere near as good as our picks above.

Greens Steel Beast 20-Ounce Insulated Tumbler for $18 : Greens Steel’s Beast tumbler has more than 67,000 positive reviews on Amazon and is, at least for me, one of the top hits when I search Amazon for an insulated tumbler. But the rubber seal around the lid is thin and easily comes out of place. I was ready to write the Beast off when it was leaking like a sieve, but after I adjusted the seal, it was reasonably leak-proof. Sometimes it dribbles, sometimes it doesn’t, depending on whether the seal stays put when you’re attaching the lid. The exterior color coating is not as durable as the Klean, Hydro Flask, Yeti, or Fellow. It did come with a regular metal straw, a thick metal milkshake straw, and a cleaner brush.

Snow Peak Kanpai 500-ml Bottle for $98 : Unlike most of Snow Peak’s line of camping and backpacking gear, the Kanpai is stainless steel, not titanium, and it’s not made in Japan. It’s a double-walled, insulated stainless-steel tumbler with a glossy finish, and it comes with three lids, for some unnecessary reason. There’s a white screw-on lid that needs to be removed every time you want a drink, and a black version of the same lid. The third lid—one with a sipping hole that can be closed with a sliding latch—leaks if the Kanpai tips over. It took damage in a mere 3-foot drop when it was empty, landing on its rim, which flattened. A steel bottle, especially one with no liquid in it, should be able to survive that without battle scars.

Toaks Titanium Double Wall 450ML Cup for $40: More often than not, I champion Toaks gear as an affordable source of titanium camp cookware compared to Snow Peak and Evernew and MSR, which tend to be more expensive. But this mug is only $10 less than the Snow Peak mug we recommend above, and its finishing is rougher.

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Lauren Goode

Medea Giordano

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Icon Series

Stainless king collection, alta series.

16oz ICON™ MUG

When you need your coffee hot, or your water cold, look no further than the 16oz Stainless Steel Mug from the Icon™ Series by Thermos. From the Thermos™ vacuum insulation technology, to the Dura-seal™ drink lid that is leak proof when closed, to the Griptec™ non-slip base and handle, this mug is truly iconic. The Icon™ Series by Thermos is a celebration of what’s made us thrive for over a century: Meticulous design, thoughtful engineering, and a relentless desire to make people’s days easier. Make every sip worth savoring with this 16oz. Stainless Steel Mug. Hot, fresh-tasting coffee at every sip, wherever your day takes you.

Item Number: IS1002SN4

Checkout made easy with many options

• Thermos™ vacuum insulation technology for max temperature retention
• High quality 18/8 stainless steel
• Dura-seal™ 360˚ drink lid
• Leak proof when closed, variable flow when opened
• Easy to clean insulated stopper disassembles for thorough cleaning and increases thermal retention
• Equipped with Griptec™ technology for a quiet, soft touch, non-slip base and non-slip, soft touch, molded handle
• Fits most standard size cup holders
• Dishwasher safe (top rack dishwasher safe for added convenience)
• Height: 7.6
• Weight: 0.8 lb.
• Capacity: 16oz. (470 ml)
• Origin: China
• Item Numbers: Sandstone: IS1002SN4, Sunset Pink: IS1002SP4, Matte Stainless Steel: IS1002MS4, Glacier: IS1002GC4, Granite: IS1002GT4, Saddle: IS1002SD4

VACUUM INSULATED

Stainless Steel Construction

LEAK PROOF WHEN CLOSED

For Peace of Mind

GRIPTEC™ BASE

For added stability

STAINLESS STEEL CONSTRUCTION

With sweat-proof exterior

EASY TO CLEAN CAP DESIGN

Made with minimal parts that are dishwasher safe

LEAK PROOF (WHEN CLOSED)

Due to the Dura-Seal™ 360˚ Drink Lid

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Living up to the test

On orders $50-$500

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Best Insulated Cups of 2024

We tried the Stanley Tumbler, Yeti Rambler, and other cups to see which did the best job keeping drinks hot and cold

When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more .

An insulated cup lets you take your favorite drink, hot or cold, anywhere you go. Whether you’re looking to tote around a day’s worth of cold water, or you want to keep your coffee hot all the way to work, the right insulated cup feels like it was designed with your routine, and even you, in mind.

But the worst insulated cups can feel like a piece of over-engineered junk that leaks tepid coffee or room-temperature water onto your lap, and clutters your cupboards, collecting dust.

Best Insulated Cups

Stanley tumbler review, yeti rambler review, how cr tests insulated cups.

These devices go by many names—travel mug, travel cup, or tumbler to name a few. And of course, some brands and models have become all but synonymous with taking your drink to go: The Yeti Rambler, Stanley Tumbler, and Thermos-brand models of any variety are all famous for different reasons, from inventing the category itself to protecting your drink so well even a fire won’t breach its vacuum-insulated walls.

But reputation isn’t everything. In our recent evaluation of insulated cups, we tried out a traditional Thermos, the Stanley Tumbler, and the Yeti Rambler, along with plenty of the competition, to see which insulated cups rose to the top.

“One of the most interesting findings in our testing was that some of the really well-known brands, including Yeti and Starbucks, fell short of the competition,” says Bernie Deitrick, CR’s test engineer in charge of evaluating insulated cups. “In certain cases, we’d find that the mug would be beautifully designed and styled, but would have something like a flimsy plastic lid that would allow the heat to escape, or liquid to spill.” We run our tests to give you data-based comparisons. With something like an insulated travel mug—which will live in your grip day after day—we realize that only you can decide what makes it great, whether that’s a leakproof design or a profile that fits in the slimmest of cup holders. Know that at a minimum, every mug here keeps drinks hot for at least a few hours; we sincerely hope that’s plenty long enough for your commute.

We test how well-insulated cups keep drinks hot or cold, how easy they are to clean, and whether they offer readily replaceable gaskets.

For the temperature tests, we filled each insulated cup with boiling water (212° F) and immediately screwed or pressed each lid back on. Then our testers opened each cup at set intervals to take the temperature of the water inside until it dropped to 140° F—better known as lukewarm.

We also tested each cup to see whether it could keep cold drinks cold as well as hot drinks hot. “We found that cups that were well-insulated did a great job with keeping liquids either hot or cold,” Deitrick says.

To rate how easy cups are to clean, we evaluated each lid, assigning points to those that were easy to clean and subtracting from those that had hard-to-clean nooks or gaskets in their lids that retained soils even after a thorough scrubbing.

Each insulated cup in our test had at least one silicone gasket, and some had as many as three. Over time, they can wear out, and many harbor foul odors. So we removed each gasket that could be removed—some can’t—to see how easy it would be to clean beneath it, and then replaced it. We also noted whether a manufacturer offered replacement gaskets or lids, which will, on occasion, spare you the need to replace an entire cup.

Lastly, we sized up ease of use, which reflects whether or not the cup resists leaking and spilling, how easy it is to open the lid and drink from the cup without it, and how easily the cup will—or won’t—fit into car cup holders.

Paul Hope is a senior multimedia content creator at Consumer Reports and a trained chef. He covers ranges, cooktops, and wall ovens, as well as grills, drills, outdoor power tools, decking, and wood stains. Before joining CR in 2016, he tested kitchen products at Good Housekeeping and covered tools and remodeling for This Old House magazine. You’ll typically find him in his old fixer-upper, engrossed in a DIY project or trying out a new recipe.

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Stanley The Flowstate Quencher H2.0 Tumbler

Hydro flask 20 oz w/ flex sip, contigo byron 2.0 16 oz (2094843), starbucks 16 oz (insulated tumbler), bubba hero xl (20088), s'well traveler (13016-b19-52140), takeya 17 oz (51273), zojirushi 16 oz (she48za), zojirushi 16 oz, yeti rambler 20 oz, s'well commuter 16 oz, thermos stainless king 16 oz.

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The Best Coffee Mugs, According to Our Editors

Piping hot mug picks ahead!

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

We collected our staff's favorites, along with a few expert-approved picks, to put together this list of the best mugs for coffee, tea or any toasty beverage.

Our top picks:

Best Overall Mug

Le creuset stoneware mug.

Best Value Mugs

Our place mugs (set of four).

Best Travel Mug

Hydro flask stainless steel reusable mug.

Best Handmade Mug

The citizenry lucero mugs (set of two).

Best Smart Self-Heating Mug

Ember temperature control smart mug 2.

Best Everyday Mug Set

Leeway mug (set of four).

Best Glass Mug

Nguyen coffee supply stackable glass mug.

Best Vintage-Inspired Mug

Denby heritage terrace mug.

Best Giftable Mug

Uncommon goods college team spirit mug.

Best Mugs with Cute Sayings

Rae dunn princess-inspired ceramic coffee/tea mug.

When evaluating the best mugs to buy, we consulted our analysts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, who regularly test all types of coffee and tea gear and have compiled comprehensive guides to heated mugs , travel mugs and coffee thermoses , to name a few.

We considered how comfortable they were to hold, how much coffee they could hold (and keep hot), durability, dishwasher safety and nitty-gritty details like the lip shape, handle design and weight. Here, we're recommending mugs that our editors and analysts use daily, plus a few extra picks that stood out for specific features, like stackability or a value price.

The heavy feel and slim handle of this luxurious mug make it equal parts sturdy and sleek, and it's our absolute go-to for afternoon coffee (with a splash of steamed 2% milk) in the Test Kitchen.

It's also a favorite of Nicole Papantoniou , director of the Good Housekeeping Institute 's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab. The 14-ounce stoneware mug with thick walls comes in a rainbow of colors, many of which feature a stunning ombré effect, so you can pick one that suits your personality.

Le Creuset is a brand known for its stellar quality and excellent heat retention and distribution. (The brand also makes our favorite Dutch oven .) At $20 per mug (at the time of publication), you can enjoy a piece of serious craftsmanship with your everyday cup of coffee or tea. The brand claims to be break-resistant and dishwasher-safe.

We love that this set of four, 16-ounce mugs is stackable, which is great for storing a whole set in a smaller space. The small indent at the bottom allows them to be stored on top of one another. The set of four is a great value for porcelain mugs.

If you consider your coffee or teatime to be your moment of zen, then you'll love the muted, natural colorway — though some reviewers wished they came in more than three colors. The extra-wide handle should be easy to hold too. According to the brand, these mugs are dishwasher and microwave-safe.

They have hundreds of five-star reviews, with users noting that they are sturdy, good quality and look great.

Papantoniou loves that the lid on this stainless steel, travel-friendly mug is easy to use and clean, and it helps keep stains invisible .

"I like the soft grippy handle and material of the outside. It's not entirely spill-proof, but it helps prevent splatter and leaks when you’re on the go," she says. The insulated mug (which keeps coffee hot for up to six hours, per the brand) comes in 6-, 12- and 24-ounce capacities and unique colors like "snapper" and "bark." One reviewer noted that it's perfect for enjoying your beverage outside, as the lid helps keep bugs and dirt away.

Insulated mugs work particularly well for iced drinks — Papantoniou uses this one at home for iced espressos — as they help prevent the ice from melting. And with minimal melting, your first sip will be just as strong and smooth as your last. It doesn't fit in a car cupholder, so Papantoniou purchased this genius cup holder adaptor to pair with her Hydro Flask. "Best investment I ever made," she said.

These beautifully designed, 15-ounce earthenware mugs come in a set of two, which can be tricky to find. Handmade from locally sourced clay in Mexico, they make a luxurious gift that you can feel good about: T h ey're hand-cast, fired and glazed by a group of artisans with a process guaranteed by the World Fair Trade Organization .

Short, wide mugs will cool liquids down more quickly, as there is more room for steam to escape, which is why we like that these are tall and slim. They're ideal for keeping liquids hot, and they're easy to slip into a cabinet. We also love the unique, curved handle. They are microwave-safe, but hand washing is recommended.

While certain materials, like stoneware, can help keep your beverage hot for longer, they won't work quite as well as an electronically heated mug. Ember products have sensors throughout the mug that monitor the temperature of the liquid inside, and then turn on built-in heaters if the temperature drops.

In her Ember mug review , GH Institute deputy editor Sarah Wharton found this mug easy to use with a useful app that was simple to set up. In her Lab tests, she found that this mug held the set temperature for nearly its entire battery life (80 minutes) and it was comfortable to hold. While impressed overall, she did note that the mug is not dishwasher safe and will change the flavor of your coffee the longer it sits.

Choose from 10 muted or bright colors to find your new everyday cup. The solid colorways can hold up to 16 ounces, while the striped mugs hold 12 ounces. The simple design and value price make these a winning choice for upgrading your current everyday set.

The brand claims that the handle doesn't get hot, even when you microwave it, and it features a curved bottom that sits nicely in your hands. Enthusiastic reviewers say it can hold plenty of coffee (with room for milk) and that it brings joy to their morning. One reviewer even wished for clear cabinets to better display their Leeway mugs. Just note that the mugs only come in a set of four, so if you break one you can't replace it with a single mug.

But they're made of stoneware, which is one of the most durable types of ceramic, and we love that they're safe to put in the dishwasher — as any good everyday mug should be.

One of our editors uses this mug every morning at home. Its relatively p etite in size at 9 ounces which is perfect for a typical 6-ounce cup of coffee, especially if your coffee tends to get cold before you can finish it.

We love the way you can watch your cream swirl into the coffee through the clear glass mug, and it makes it easier to monitor the color to gauge how much cream is needed. The handle is small, but our editor says it comfortably fits her index finger, which is all she needs to hold this lightweight mug, though may not be suitable for people with larger hands.

According to the brand, it's microwave- and dishwasher-safe, but hand washing is recommended to preserve the label.

While this 10-ounce, stoneware mug made in England isn't cheap, reviewers rave about the quality. Its design is inspired by Arabesque, a 1960s bold folk style pattern that gives it a charming, vintage feel .

The glaze is designed to prevent chipping and enhance durability. "This mug fits really nicely in my hands with the finger rests at the top and bottom of the handle," says Associate Food Editor Becca Miller . "It's really beautiful and delicate, but also sturdy. I've had a set for almost a decade and none of them have ever chipped." They're dishwasher-, microwave-, oven- and freezer-safe, according to the brand.

Looking for a great gift for coffee lovers ? Let a friend or family member show off their school pride: "I bought my parents these college spirit mugs. They stack (huge storage win) and have a bunch of cute decals that are unique to each school," says Deputy Food Editor Trish Clasen Marsanico .

According to the brand, these ceramic mugs are safe to clean in the top rack of the dishwasher and hold 12 ounces of liquid. Reviewers also noted that they had a nice weight to them and could hold a lot of coffee. They are available in eight different school motifs, but we wish they had more.

Rae Dunn is popular for a reason: Its dishware offers cute sayings and phrases that can perk up your mood in the morning and look great on open shelves or in clear cabinets.

"When I had roommates in college, I'd race to get up in the morning to snag this sturdy cup that holds two full cups of coffee," says Miller. This line of dishwasher- and microwave-safe ceramic mugs is inspired by Disney characters, which is great for kids and nostalgic adults alike, but the brand comes in dozens of different collections.

At 16 ounces, this mug is definitely on the larger side, which is perfect if you enjoy a supersized cup. While the uneven lip gives it a handmade look, it might not be the most comfortable lip to drink from.

Alaya The Morning Mug

Made in a pottery studio based in south India, this mug holds two cups of coffee (or 16-ounces) , has a nice weight and warms your hands as you hold it, according to reviewers.

According to the brand, the pottery studio where the mug is made works to bring jobs to rural communities in India, training 100 potters and craftspeople. Alaya also uses repurposed shipping containers and batch kilns to reduce fuel consumption, and the brand plants thousands of trees to help regenerate the soil and the local ecosystem.

The brand notes that there will be natural imperfections from cup to cup, as they are handmade. They are made of stoneware and are hand-wash only.

Starbucks Been There Mug

GH Institute Nutrition Lab Director Stefani Sassos loves these c ollectible mugs from Starbucks that feature charming sketches of cities and states : "Whenever I travel, I get one for my parents. We now have a collection of them from around the world and we reminisce on the travels! It’s a great gift and become a tradition in our family," she says.

The high-quality, sturdy ceramic mugs hold 14 ounces of liquid and weigh in at just over a pound, which some reviewers found too heavy. They are wider than they are tall, so they'd be great for eating soups or ice cream, too. They are microwave- and dishwasher-safe, according to the brand.

Yeti 24-Ounce Rambler

If you like to drink a lot of coffee or tea at once and don't want to invest in a heated mug, this stainless steel, large-format insulated mug is your best bet.

The double-walled, vacuum-insulated cup can hold 24 ounces of liquid (it also comes in 10-ounce and 14-ounce sizes) and will keep your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks cold. Perfect for taking on the go, it has a wide handle that's easy to grip, and the brand says it's puncture and rust-resistant with a splash-resistant lid. Every part of the mug is dishwasher-safe.

GH Food Producer Tina Martinez prefers sipping from the smaller size at home: "It keeps my coffee hot for hours . Perfect for enjoying a slow, leisurely cup on the weekends," she says.

Ozeri Moderna Artisan Series Double Wall Barista Coffee Glass

These double-walled, 15-ounce glass mugs were a winner in GH's annual Kitchen Gear Awards , standing out for great heat retention (and for keeping drinks cold too). We also love the built-in recipes on the side of the glass . Whip up cappuccinos, lattes and an assortment of other drinks without having to memorize ratios or rely on your phone.

Plus, the double-walled design will prevent beverages inside from affecting the outside temperature of the glass, making these comfortable to hold. In our Lab, testers found that the measurements on the side of the cup were easy to read and the cup was easy to clean.

Available as a single cup or in a set of two, these make an excellent gift for espresso aficionados or beginners looking to improve their at-home barista game. It's microwave- and freezer-safe, but hand washing is recommended.

MacKenzie-Childs Coco Davez Artist Mug

MacKenzie-Childs is known for its whimsical decor and ceramics, and the brand recently released a collection of 16-ounce, ceramic mugs celebrating various artists.

"I’ve been using the Coco Davez Artist Mug just about every morning, and it’s been such a treat," says GH's Senior Home Editor Monique Valeris . "It washes up well — there’s not one stain on the mug’s interior yet — it's safe to use in the dishwasher and microwave and the lively print is the perfect pick-me-up. "

While it’s one of the priciest picks on this list, a portion of the sales from every mug is directed to a charity the artist supports as well as the MacKenzie-Childs Hands on Scholarship for Design.

How we picked the best coffee mugs

In addition to collecting recommendations from our staff and surveying cooking and product experts, we evaluated each mug based on our previous testing experience with food and beverage-related products, like dinnerware , outdoor dinnerware , glassware , travel mugs , heated mugs and more.

From that experience, we know which brands are reliable, what materials to look for, and what features make one mug stand out from another. We regularly attend industry trade shows to learn about new trends and work closely with brands to stay up-to-date on the best technology.

What to look for in a coffee mug

There are a few key specifications to consider when finding the best mug for your mornings:

✔️ Size: Do you drink a few sips of coffee in the morning, or do you prefer to savor a supersized cup? Mugs typically range in size from 8 ounces (1 cup of liquid) to 16 ounces (2 cups of liquid), so choose something that fits your capacity preference. While there is no "standard" size, a common just-right size is 12 ounces. Your coffee may get cold before you finish drinking it in larger sizes, and smaller sizes may not hold a satisfying amount of liquid. Consider getting a few different mugs for different drinks; you may want a larger mug for hot cocoa than you would for coffee, for example.

✔️ Handle: A handle that is barely big enough to hook your finger around makes it difficult to hold the mug steady, which can be a problem if there is a piping hot liquid inside. Large handles that start near the top of the mug and end near the bottom are great if you like to hold the mug with the palm of your hand, but often indicate a heavier mug overall. Lighter, smaller mugs will have smaller handles that are great if you prefer holding the mug with just your thumb and index finger. You can also look out for finger rests on the top and/or bottom of the handle.

✔️ Material:

• Porcelain is a type of ceramic with a glazed, nonporous surface that is generally dishwasher- and microwave-safe. It is often pricier than stoneware but less expensive than bone china, making it great for both daily use and more formal occasions.
• Stoneware is another type of ceramic and tends to be less expensive, but heavier and thicker, compared to porcelain. It's durable and great for daily use.
• Earthenware , the third main type of ceramic, is one of the oldest forms of pottery. It is a rustic, porous material that must be glazed to help prevent the absorption of liquid. Earthenware pieces often have a one-of-a-kind, handmade look, though they are more delicate than porcelain and stoneware.
• Ceramic : Some brands don't specify what type of ceramic they use for their mugs, but know that all ceramic is designed to be hard, heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant for everyday use.
• Stainless steel is the most break- and chip-resistant material. It also excels at heat retention and often comes with a lid, which is great for travel.
• Glass offers a nice aesthetic and can be useful if you like to see the color of your coffee. It is not as good at heat retention as ceramic or stainless steel and the outside of the glass will get hot when a hot liquid is poured in. If you like the look of glass but want something with more heat retention, consider double-walled glass, which stays cool to the touch and keeps the liquid inside warmer for longer.

What is the best mug to keep liquids hot?

If heat retention is your number one priority, then an electronically heated mug is your best bet . For a more cost-effective option, consider stainless steel, followed by thick and durable stoneware or double-walled glass.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

As an assistant food editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, Samantha MacAvoy has written countless food and beverage-related product reviews, including a guide to excellent latte machines , a roundup of top-tested coffee beans and a comprehensive list of the best dinnerware . She is a certified coffee-lover and enjoys several cups, out of many mugs, throughout each week.

For this story, she tested several mugs and surveyed editors across Good Housekeeping about their favorite mugs, including Nicole Papantoniou , director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab. Samantha also conducted extensive research and scoured customer reviews online to round out her recommendations.

Samantha (she/her) is an Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she writes about tasty recipes, must-try food products and top-tested secrets for home cooking success. She has taste-tasted hundreds of products and recipes since joining GH in 2020 (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.

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