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The best brands and materials for a gorgeous tablescape. Ceramic Cups And Plates
Whether you're moving into a new home, setting up your wedding registry or looking to replace old plates and bowls, good dinnerware is essential. Think about it: You'll pull it out at least once a day, use it to feed friends and family, maybe even use it as outdoor dinnerware for an alfresco feast. The best dinnerware fits into your style, budget and promises to last through everything from easy weeknight meals to extravagant holiday table settings.
We scoured our favorite home brands for dinnerware that isn't just built to last, but also easy to clean, light enough to carry and microwave-safe at a range of prices, weights and styles. Our picks include best-selling models from long-standing brands and those we've used over the years, many of which have replacement programs for broken and defective dinnerware.
Read on for the best dinnerware material as well as how to choose the best dinnerware for you. Looking for more sets and dishes? Furnish your dream kitchen with our guides for the best glassware sets and the best casserole dishes, as well as round-ups of the best bakeware sets, nonstick cookware sets and ceramic cookware sets.
In a recent round of testing, Gibson’s large, versatile dinnerware set impressed us with its quality and style. We tested a similar set from the brand and we love that this 30-piece Home Zen Buffet set includes mugs, dinner plates, dessert plates, standard bowls as well as salad bowls and can be used in the microwave and cleaned in the dishwasher. The set gives you perfectly-sized pieces for any meal, and though a few reviewers said the 4.5” salad bowls were a little too small for salad and were better suited as prep bowls, we love the added versatility — all for under $70.
Reach for this set for everyday use — it's chip-resistant and both microwave- and dishwasher-safe at an amazing price. "The Corelle brand has earned a reputation for dinnerware that is resistant to breaking, chipping, scratching and staining," says Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou. It was a top pick for our outdoor tableware after performing well in past tests, and this dinnerware set is currently a best-seller Amazon. While its ultra-lightweight frame certainly doesn't feel sturdy, it's just as durable as a heavier, thicker porcelain piece.
Available in a variety of patterns, the set includes six of each of the following: dinner plates, salad plates and bowls. We highly recommend this set for families who want durable dinnerware but would prefer not to use plastic. It’s also a great option to use when eating outdoors for all of these reasons.
With 40 pieces of sleek bone china, this is an incredible dinnerware set for the price. It comes with eight of each of the following: dinner plate, salad plate, cereal bowl, fruit bowl and 14-ounce mug, making this perfect for a larger family or for anyone who frequently hosts dinner parties or holiday gatherings. Dinner plates typically measure 10 to 10.5 inches, but these clock in at 11 inches. While the extra inch might come in handy for Thanksgiving dinner, some reviewers felt that it took up too much space in their cabinets.
The minimalist style, clean lines and all-white palette make this a classic, timeless collection, which is key for a set that's meant to last. Reviewers loved the lightweight feel and durable quality. Best part? It's oven-, dishwasher-, microwave- and freezer-safe.
The highly popular Fiesta brand is known for unique dinnerware. It's made of porcelain (also referred to as china), which is a more affordable option than bone china with a similar durability and weight. The pieces are dishwasher-, microwave- and oven-safe up to 350°F and come in bright color options with a fun concentric pattern around the rim. While saturated colors may not complement food as well as white or more muted plates, they will definitely make a personality statement on your table.
A set includes four dinner plates, salad plates and bowls, and reviewers love that they are sturdy and thick. The brand claims the dishes are chip-resistant. In fact, Fiesta provides a five-year chip-replacement warranty. If you prefer setting your tables with multiple patterns instead of just sticking to one, or you want to expand your collection to mix and match or decorate for the holidays, the brand also offers 3-piece sets in a variety of colors.
Not into an over-the-top aesthetic? Organic, natural designs in unexpected shapes are trending right now. This modern-looking set — which includes four dinner plates, salad plates, larger pasta bowls and smaller breakfast bowls — will elevate any table with beautiful, muted colors like taupe, blush and light green.
Thousands of five-star reviews rave about the weight, feel and size of the plates and bowls in this set (which stands out for offering two different sized bowls). It's dishwasher-, microwave- and oven-safe up to 450ºF. According to the brand, each piece of the hand-finished stoneware is one of a kind, and although the plates and bowls are susceptible to scratches from flatware, they can be removed with a scouring powder and brush.
Crate and Barrel's Mercer dinnerware is sold open stock, which gives you the flexibility to personalize a set with the dishes you will use the most. Although this set is pricier than others, we love the flexibility offered; for example, you can opt for a tall and deep 6.25-inch-wide bowl, or a wide and shallow 8-inch bowl depending on your preference.
Additional options include the dinner plate shown here (also available in a set of eight) as well as a salad plate, an appetizer plate, a mini bowl and a mug. Pieces are sold individually or in sets of eight of the same. We love the slim profile and rippled organic design of these porcelain pieces. They are dishwasher-, microwave- and oven-safe up to 350°F.
These coupe-shaped rimless dinnerware pieces pair a colorful matte exterior with creamy off-white stoneware. We love the clean lines and the glossy glazed interior. A set includes a dinner plate, salad plate, bowl and mug, which are all dishwasher-safe and microwavable.
Some reviewers noted that the pieces get very hot in the microwave over time and that silverware can leave markings on the surface. To increase longevity, we recommend avoiding sudden temperature changes. The set is available in several colors, so you can find one that suits your decor.
Wedgwood has a long history as a producer of quality dish ware: The company has been making ceramics for over 260 years(!). We like the unique and muted textural design of this set. They're a bit pricey, but reviewers love that the pieces, made of bone china, are light, thin, practically flawless and neatly stackable. Although they look delicate, they are durable enough to withstand the rigor of daily use — you don't have to set them aside to use only for special occasions.
A set includes four of each of the following: dinner plate, salad plate, bowl and mug. They are microwavable and dishwasher safe. Our pros love that this set is part of a collection that includes cups, bowls, plates and serving pieces that are sold separately — perfect if you accidentally break a piece or simply want to add more pieces.
Glass and colored dinnerware in addition to glamorous, bright and jewel-toned pieces are popping up as trends and add instant personality to your kitchen. "I’ve been using [this set] for a while now and have gotten so many compliments. It’s really durable and I’m not worried about things breaking in the sink or dishwasher," says Papantoniou.
Testers loved the shape of all the pieces and noted that they weren't too heavy, though one tester noted some variation in the shade of the clear plates. The 16-piece set includes four dinner plates, four salad plates, four cereal bowls and four pasta bowls and comes in clear glass or a variety of colors, like pink or blue. It's dishwasher- and microwave-safe.
Melamine dinnerware sets for outdoor dining look just as good as fancier indoor sets. This Williams-Sonoma dinnerware brings a rustic look with stylish wide rims reminiscent of stoneware, but it's made of durable BPA-free melamine. Melamine is a great choice for outdoor dining because it's lightweight and less prone to scratches or breaks, even when dropped on a hard surface. It is also more functional than paper plates.
You can purchase the bowls (pictured), salad plates and dinner plates separately, as well as accessorize with serving platters, serving bowls and chargers to further elevate your outdoor dining experience. All pieces are top-rack dishwasher safe, but not microwavable.
When choosing the best dinnerware sets, we rely on our expertise as trained chefs as well as testing experience from similar categories. Pros in the Good Housekeeping Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab visit numerous trade shows per year and connect with brands to learn about the latest and greatest in dinnerware. When selecting our picks, we consider the material, weight, set size and style as well as whether pieces are sold individually (so you can replace broken items). We look for a variety of pieces such as salad plates, pasta bowls, cups and more. We also look for pieces that are versatile and can withstand daily use. We note whether they are dishwasher safe, microwaveable and factor in any other special features they may have. In general, we like versatile sets that have at least a large dinner plate, a small salad plate and a shallow bowl that can be used for soups or pastas.
✔️ Number of settings: If you live alone or with just one person, a four to six-serve dinnerware set might still make sense so you can have plenty of plates for visitors. Or, look for single sets or open-stock dinnerware so you can mix and match exactly what you want. Larger households should consider six to eight-serve sets in case something breaks or chips, or sets that offer replacements for damaged pieces.
✔️ Type of dishes included: Looking to outfit every cabinet on your shelf? The most comprehensive dinnerware sets include two types of plates, two types of bowls and a mug. If you just need to expand your collection, look for sets that include fewer pieces — and just the ones you need.
✔️ Care instructions: Be sure to read the fine print — not all dinnerware sets are microwave- and dishwasher-safe. Some may include metallic banding that can't go in the microwave while others can be made out of a delicate material that can chip in the dishwasher.
✔️ Durability: If you're cooking for kids or plan to take your dinnerware outside, you may want to consider lightweight, durable materials such as laminated glass or melamine. If you'd prefer a set that can be used both daily (with caution) and for more formal occasions, opt for bone china, porcelain or stoneware.
✔️ Bone china is formed when bone ash is added to porcelain. It creates a delicate, slightly translucent and perfectly constructed material that usually has a milky white, luminous glaze, making it a great choice for refined formal dinnerware. Bone china is lightweight and thin, but it is considered the most durable ceramic dinnerware. It is also the most expensive material. Not all bone china is dishwasher- and microwave-safe, so check the care instructions before you buy.
✔️ Porcelain, also referred to as china, is the most ubiquitous ceramic dinnerware. It is less expensive than bone china, and with the right balance of price, durability and weight, it's great for both daily use and formal dinner parties. It has a glazed, nonporous surface that makes it dishwasher safe, microwavable and sometimes oven-safe.
✔️ Stoneware is popular for its rustic and textured aesthetic. It is often a speckled off-white or ivory (rather than pure or bright white). Stoneware is relatively inexpensive, but it is heavier, thicker, less durable and more porous than bone china and porcelain. The more unique or handmade pieces may not stack uniformly for storage. Stainless steel utensils often leave marks on lightly glazed stoneware: This is not an imperfection and can be wiped off with commercially available cleaners. Earthenware is similar to stoneware in its organic design but more prone to chipping. Both are great options for daily use if you don’t mind the extra care required.
✔️ Melamine is a strong, food-safe plastic that is break-resistant, dishwasher safe and generally affordable. Even if BPA-free, the FDA recommends that you do not microwave food and drinks on it. It's a great choice for families, outdoor dining and college students.
✔️ Laminated glass (also called Vitrelle) is an incredibly durable material proprietary to the Corelle brand. In our tests, we found it is resistant to breaking, chipping, scratching and staining. If dropped on a hard surface, it will shatter, but it's still a versatile choice for indoor and outdoor dining.
If you're looking for a long-lasting set that can stand up to the wear and tear of daily breakfasts, lunches and dinners, there are certain materials that tend to fare better than others: "Stoneware is known to be durable but it can be heavy and is prone to chipping," says Papantoniou. "Laminated glass (the material Corelle uses) is quite durable and will last a long time — it also performed well in our scratch tests."
Samantha MacAvoy is the assistant editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she writes about food and drink recipes, must-try products and top-tested secrets for home cooking success. She researched dozens of dinnerware sets and connected with Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou and Reviews Analyst Eva Bleyer to learn about top materials, the best brands and hottest dinnerware trends. Jamie Kim also contributed to a previous iteration of this article, helping with testing and selecting products.
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.
Jamie Kim is a consumer products expert with over 17 years of experience in areas of product development and manufacturing. She has held leading roles at both mid-size consumer goods companies and one of the most notable and largest apparel brands in the world. Jamie has contributed to several of the GH Institute Labs, including Kitchen Appliances, Media and Tech, Textiles and Home Appliances. In her free time she enjoys cooking, traveling, and working out.
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