We Tested Dinnerware Sets and Found Great Options at a Variety of Price Points

Our top picks include sets from Made In, Hawkins New York, Le Creuset, Villeroy & Boch, and even… Amazon Basics.

Straight to the Point

We recommend 13 dinnerware sets and have splurge-worthy and budget-friendly picks. Some of our favorite sets include the Open Kitchen by Williams Sonoma 16-Piece Dinnerware Set and Made In The Tabletop Set, though we have many other picks, too.

It’s a universal truth that dinnerware sets are, for the most part, expensive as heck. They go in the class of things I don’t think should cost as much as they do—along with bath towels, bed sheets, and outdoor furniture. 

But the right dinnerware can elevate any table. Sets come in an endless range of styles—from classic, all-white plates to ones fit for a bistro to ceramics meant to look hand-thrown. Ultimately: no matter the set—and price—dinnerware has to be functional, durable, and (hopefully) eye-appealing. 

This brings me to a point that, as an equipment reviewer who likes to have clearly defined “winners” and “losers,” surprised me. That is: after testing 17 sets priced from $42 to $589 ($2.25 to $33.50 on average per piece), the grand majority of the dinnerware was totally fine. 

There were a couple of sets that our testing panel agreed were eh and some objective factors worth considering (i.e. some of the sets were more prone to scratching). However, you could make a case that most sets could be right for a certain type of consumer/price point/general vibe. 

Ultimately, we landed on 12 winners we thought could be suitable for both everyday use and fancier occasions. However, check out our The Competition section for more options if you don’t find something you like, because, again, most of the sets were good.

The Tests

• Initial Unboxing Test: Upon unboxing the dinnerware, we evaluated each piece for any glaze imperfections, scratches, or other damage. We also weighed each piece. 
• Aesthetics and Feel Test: We had four users evaluate each set, weighing in on its aesthetics, design, feel, and anything else of note. 
• Mug Test: We drank hot coffee from each set’s mug (if it had one), evaluating how comfortable the mug was to hold and drink from. 
• Durability Test: We took the salad plate from each set and scratched its surface five times with a dinner knife, checking for any damage. We then did this with a steak knife. After inspecting the salad plate, we repeated this scratching-and-checking with the dinner plate from each set. 
• Staining Test: We smeared a mixture of turmeric and oil on each dinner plate and left it for three hours (as if you had a dinner party) and didn’t clean up for a prolonged period of time. We then washed each plate, checking for any leftover stains, oil marks, or odors. 
• Microwave Test: We put the bowl from each set in the fridge for 30 minutes, filled it with room temperature water, then placed it in the microwave for one-and-a-half minutes, to see if temperature changes would affect the dinnerware, how hot the bowls got in the microwave, and if the dinnerware was truly microwave-safe.
• Dishwasher Test: We ran one place setting from each set through the dishwasher, placing them in the dishwasher as non-gently as possible (like you were quickly loading it after dinner). We ran the dishwasher, then unloaded the dishes and checked for any damage. 
• Steak Test (Winners-Only): We used a steak knife to slice a 4-ounce portion of steak on the dinner plate from each of our favorite sets. We wanted to see if any juices ran off the sides of the plate or if any scratching occurred from slicing the meat.
• Daily Use Test (Winners-Only): We have placed all of our winners into daily use and will update this review with any further findings after a couple of months. 

What We Learned

Consider What You Want in a Dinnerware Set

While all of the sets we tested included dinner and salad plates, the standardization ended there. Some had pasta bowls, some had soup bowls, some had two bowls, some had dessert plates, and some had mugs. We liked it when sets had two bowls (one small, one large), as this felt comprehensive (in my house, we often eat dinner out of behemoth bowls). However, what you want in a dinnerware set is really up to you: maybe a set of mugs is essential or perhaps you already have soup bowls you favor—you get the gist. 

You should also determine the aesthetic you want. Whether it should be colorful, modern, all-white to match anything, have a bistro vibe, or feel fancier, for example, is totally up to you.

It’s also worth considering how you’ll buy the dinnerware. We favored sets that could be purchased as full sets as well as in additional single-place settings and individual pieces. That way, you could buy a set and add to it over time or easily replace a piece that breaks.

How Much Should You Spend? 

Ah, a personal question! The *right* price for dinnerware depends entirely on your budget. Our winners run the gamut of price points, so there should be something for everyone. While our testing panel could immediately (and correctly) point out the more expensive sets, our super budget-friendly pick, from AmazonBasics, was still totally serviceable. It’s not exceptional, but its all-white motif will get the job done and is well-suited if you’re furnishing on the cheap, looking for something for a college student, or buying a dinnerware set for a camper or RV. At $2.25 on average per piece, we don’t feel it’s anything to scoff at.

Wide Rims vs. Straight Walls vs. Gentle Slopes

Several of the sets had plates and bowls with wide rims (sometimes paired with more angled sides). While they cut down on the amount of flat plate space, the rims gave you a place to grab onto (especially helpful when pulling a plate or bowl out of a microwave or warming oven). We didn’t mind when they had higher walls either, which kept food nice and centered.

Plates with short, straight walls had more of a modern look (which we liked) and had wide, flat surfaces with plenty of room for food. Because the plates’ usable space was so expansive, the steak tended to slide around more as we cut and ate it.

Lastly, some plates had more gentle slopes to their walls. This was kind of like a middle ground between the wide rim-steep side combo and straight walls: still plenty of flat, usable plate space, but a little more corralling of food.

Some of the Mug Handles Stunk

We preferred smaller mugs that help coffee cool faster and allow you to finish a cup before coffee turns cold and sours. We also preferred handles where you could fit at least two fingers through to wrap your hand around the mug. Some of the mugs had small, looped handles that were tougher to hold.

Drinking from the mugs, however, was almost all fine: most had thin enough, unobtrusive lips. 

How Easily Did the Plates Scratch? How Durable Was the Dinnerware? 

In general, porcelain fared better in our scratching tests—withstanding any marking. The ceramic stoneware tended to scratch more easily. However, most of the marks were super minimal—and we really went at it with a steak knife.

And, for what it’s worth, almost all of the dinnerware emerged from our staining and dishwasher tests spotless.

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Dinnerware Set

We preferred dinnerware sets that were available as a full set and that had additional place settings and/or pieces available for purchase. That way, you can easily add to your collection (or replace something if it breaks). We looked for dinnerware sets that were scratch- and stain-resistant and mugs that were easy to drink from, if the set included one. As for price, we think there’s a ton of great dinnerware out there at a variety of budgets.

Our Favorite Dinnerware Sets

A Crowd-Pleasing Dinnerware Set You Can’t Go Wrong With

Williams Sonoma Open Kitchen 16-Piece Set

What we liked: This all-white set really gave us nothing to complain about. Our testing panel said it’s the kind of set that it “doesn’t feel like you could go wrong with.” It features dinner and salad plates with wide rims and small bowls suitable for cereal or starter portions of soup. The dinnerware didn’t stain or scratch and the bowl didn’t get hot in the microwave. Its mug was on the small side, which we liked, and had a slightly tapered shape to it and a medium-sized looped handle that we could easily fit our fingers through, allowing us to securely hold it. Pasta bowls can be purchased separately and extra sets of plates, bowls, and mugs are available.

What we didn’t like: The bowl is on the small side. If we’re splitting hairs, there were a few black specks embedded on the surface of a couple of the plates.

Key Specs

• What’s included: 4x dinner plates, salad plates, cereal bowls, and mugs
• Serving pieces: Not included
• Material: Porcelain 
• Care instructions: Microwave- and dishwasher-safe
• Made in: China