What to look for in a kettle

First, start with the type of kettle you want.

Stovetop kettles are great if you’re looking for something traditional or if you want to take it camping. Although they can be cheaper to buy, they’re often more expensive to run as they take longer to boil and use up more energy in the process.

Electric kettles can be much safer. They’ll automatically switch off when the water has boiled so there’s no chance of over-boiling and, if you have the lid on properly, it will never boil dry.

They also have the benefit of being more energy efficient and can boil your water faster.

Next there’s the shape. Kettles generally come in two shapes: dome/pyramid shape with the handle over the top or jug-style with the handle on the side.

This can be down to preference as the dome/pyramid styles look more stylish but their lids can be a bit fiddly and they take up a lot of space. The lids on jug ones are much easier to open and close but most designs are quite simple.

Size and weight is another important factor.

If you regularly make big rounds of hot drinks, or use hot water for cooking, you’ll want a bigger kettle. For travelling or just individual brews, a smaller kettle is more than enough.

And of course, a lighter kettle will be easier to use and move around the home.

You might also want to look for rapid boil and one-cup boil functions – these mean you won’t have to wait as long for your drink.

If you drink lots of fancy teas and coffees, a kettle with variable temperature might come in handy.

And finally there’s the design. Think about whether it will match your kitchen and, if you need one, whether there’s a matching toaster available.

Which is the best kettle to buy?

We’ve rounded up some of the most popular kettles out there below and tested a handful too. Here's our selection.

1. We tested: Progress Jupiter jug kettle

• Progress Jupiter jug kettle, £29.99 from Amazon – buy here

Progress’s budget-friendly 3,000W Jupiter jug kettle comes in a sleek black and rose gold design, with a swirling pattern created by the contrasting matte and glossy surface. A matching toaster is also available.

It has a generous 1.7l capacity, which is suitable for most families, while the 360 degree swivel base means it’s great for left- and right-handed users.

Thanks to the rapid boil design, you never have to wait long for your hot water. The kettle also has an in-built boil dry sensor, which means it will automatically switch off if you forget to put the lid on properly and all the water has evaporated.

What we love about it is that it has a really petite, lightweight frame. This means it takes up hardly any room on the counter and, as it weighs just over 1kg, it’s really easy to use even when it’s fully filled.

Our only minor complaint is that the water level indicator is behind the handle, which can make it harder to read. That said, we feel that if it’s anywhere else on the body of the kettle it would have interrupted the swirling design.

2. We tested: Salter EK3643GRG pyramid kettle

• Salter EK3643GRG pyramid kettle, £41.99 from Amazon – buy here

This stylish matte grey (the colour has a slight eggshell blue tinge to it) pyramid kettle with rose gold plating from Salter has a 1.7l capacity, which is ideal for families, and you can get a matching toaster, too.

Just be aware that because of its pyramid design, it will take up more room on your counter top than a jug kettle, so it’s best for larger kitchens.

It sits on a 360 degree swivel base, which makes it easy to lift on and off from any direction. Given that the handle is over the top of the kettle, we feel it’s slightly easier to use if you’re taller.

The water level indicator is easy to read and the whole area lights up when the kettle is in use.

With 3,000W of power, the water boils very quickly and there’s also a boil dry sensor for safety.

We have found that this kettle needs a bit more care during use, though, as the matte surface is very easily scratched. It’s not noticeable unless you’re close up but it does mean that over time it won’t look as good as new if you’re not careful.

3. KitchenAid Artisan variable temperature jug kettle

• KitchenAid Artisan variable temperature jug kettle, £129 from Currys – buy here

This 3,000W premium kettle is designed to colour match KitchenAid’s other appliances.

It has a 1.5l capacity in an unusual dwarfed jug design, and sits on a 360 degree swivel base.

What puts this kettle a bit above the rest is that you can adjust the temperature from 50°C to 100°C, depending on what you need it for.

4. Bosch TWK7203GB Sky variable temperature kettle

• Bosch TWK7203GB Sky variable temperature kettle, £79.99 from Argos – buy here

For a more affordable variable temperature kettle, try this one from Bosch.

The temperature range is 70°C to 100°C, which is easily adjustable using the touch-sensitive base, and it will even keep the water at your desired temperature for 30 minutes.

It has a generous 1.7l capacity with a sturdy stainless steel body and comes with a quiet boil feature.

5. Russell Hobbs Emma Bridgewater polka dot traditional kettle

• Russell Hobbs Emma Bridgewater polka dot kettle, £59.99 from Currys – buy here

Fans of Emma Bridgewater’s designs will love this whimsical polka dot pattern kettle.

It’s in a traditional dome design that’s spacious enough to boil 1.7l of water and you can get a matching toaster as well.

This stainless steel, rapid boil kettle also comes with a three year guarantee.

6. Russell Hobbs Purity Brita Filter clear plastic kettle

• Russell Hobbs Purity Brita Filter clear plastic kettle, £34.99 from Argos – buy here

For hard water areas, it’s hard to beat this device as it combines a water filter and kettle in one.

The process can take a little longer as you need to filter the water first but you can start boiling the kettle while the filtering is happening.

It does have a much smaller capacity of just 1l though.

7. Dualit Domus kettle

• Dualit Domus kettle, £109.99 from Amazon – buy here

This sleek stainless steel kettle features Dualit's patented Sure Pour design that means you don't have to lift it as high to pour, making it easier on the wrists.

Not only is it one of the fastest to boil – bonus – it also has compact design so it'll tuck neatly away on your worktop.

When it heats up, it does so quietly. Well worth the slightly punchy price tag.

8. SMEG 50s retro style KLF04PBUK jug kettle

• SMEG 50s retro style jug kettle, £160 from Currys – buy here

Like KitchenAid's option, this kettle's variable temperature control means you can get hot water anywhere between 50°C and 100°C.

This retro design also features a generous 1.7l capacity with a power of 3,000W.

It's quite a bit pricier, though. But for that, you get a wider range of colour options.

9. Cookworks kettle

• Cookworks kettle, £10.99 from Argos – buy here

Sometimes cheap and cheerful is all that you need – like this one from Cookworks.

It's perfect for freshers off to uni or couples setting up their first home together, and has a great 1.7l capacity.

Plus, it's one of the lightest options on this list.

10. Russell Hobbs illuminating jug kettle

• Russell Hobbs illuminating jug kettle, £39.97 from Currys – buy here

This see-through kettle is a great design to show off in your kitchen.

The exterior changes from clear to blue as the water heats up and you can literally watch your kettle boil.

It has that generous 1.7l capacity and a 360 degree swivel base as well.

11. Sage The Smart Kettle

• Sage the Smart Kettle, £99.99 from Lakeland – buy here

This kettle has a large capacity of 1.7l and you're going to love the keep warm function. It offers variable temperatures depending on what you want to drink.

And to kick things up a notch, it also has pre-set functions – including an Oolong tea button – so you get perfect temperature at a touch of the button.

12. De'Longhi Active Line KBLA3001.R kettle

• De'Longhi Active Line KBLA3001.R kettle, £39 from Amazon – buy here

If your tea drinking habit requires a super-powered kettle, DeLonghi's look-at-me red version delivers.

Not only is it a stunning accent on your kitchen counter, its 3000W power means it'll boil water super quickly.

It has a 360-degree base, removable anti-scale filter and non-slip feet, too.

Which brand of electric kettle is the best?

There are many great brands that offer quality, easy-to-fill kettles that allow you to measure water level accurately.

The best one will depend on the individual needs but we suggest taking a look at the most popular brands such as Russell Hobbs, Morphy Richards, and Cookworks.

How much do kettles cost?

Kettles can vary enormously in price, from around £10 all the way to over £100.

The best kettle doesn’t have to be the most expensive, though – it just needs all the features you’re looking for at the right price.

There's no guarantee that a more expensive kettle will last longer either but the manufacturer's guarantee that's included should be a good indicator.

How much electricity does a kettle use?

This varies from kettle to kettle and depends on how much water you put in.

Suffice to say if your kettle is full, and it has a high power, then it will use more electricity.

But a smaller, inefficient kettle can use just as much electricity as a bigger, more efficient one so it’s certainly not a hard and fast rule.

How much does a kettle cost to boil?

Shell energy estimates it’s about 2.5p a cup but again, this depends on how much energy your kettle uses, the amount of water you’re boiling and the rates of your electricity or gas.

Sust-it has a fun timer that shows you approximately how much boiling your kettle costs.

How to descale a kettle

Descaling a kettle is easy to do and you should do it regularly to make sure your appliance is working efficiently – a build up of limescale means it will take longer for the kettle to boil.

All you need to do is fill the kettle to around three quarters full with a mixture of water and white vinegar in a ratio of 1:1.

Bring this mixture to a boil and then allow the liquid to cool. As it cools, it should start dissolving some of that built up limescale.

When the liquid is fully cooled, pour it out and scrub the inside of your kettle with a clean brush to remove any stubborn bits.

Repeat the process if there’s a big build up that’s not coming off on the first boil.

Finally, rinse it out a couple of times and your kettle should be as good as new.

Some people also like to boil it for a second time with clean water before reusing to make doubly sure that any vinegary taste is gone – it’s a matter of preference.

Is it safe to use plastic electric kettles?

More and more people have also been avoiding plastic household products that come in contact with their food.

That's because some studies have shown that small amount of chemicals – in particular one called Bisphenol A (BPA)  – from plastic containers can end up in the food or drinks that are kept inside them. But these levels are very low.

Following a scientific review, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2015 concluded that at current levels of BPA, it posed no health risk to people of any age.

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