Best easy-to-use kettles for 2024

A kettle is one appliance you’re likely to use more than once a day, especially if you’re a tea lover. 

We've raked through the score detail of the best kettles we've tested to bring you this list of kettles that are easy to use.

It's worth reading the full reviews so you can ensure your choice is right for your specific requirements.

To see all our top kettle recommendations, see our guide to the best kettles.

Best easy-to-use kettles

Most of the kettles we've selected are jug kettles, which means they have a handle at the side, as opposed to traditional or dome kettles that have a handle at the top.

Dome kettles tend to be more evenly balanced, but the handles on jug kettles are generally comfier to use, making pouring easier.

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To see how these kettles compare with others we've tested, visit our kettle reviews.

What makes a kettle easy to use?

There are a number of factors that can affect how easy a kettle is to use, such as the grip of the handle, how comfortable it is to hold, and how easy it is to open the lid and use the controls.  

To test for ease of use, we have defined which of these areas are most important for people with mild impairments or who have difficulty with their hands, sight or hearing.

Focusing on kettles with higher marks for the most important areas - manoeuvring, handling and carrying, comfort of the handle, using the controls and ease of filling, pouring and opening the lid - we narrowed the selection down. All those selected have four or five stars for ease of use overall and have a Best Buy recommendation.

Our lab-test reviews of kettles have uncovered many models that are awkward to hold, especially when filling and pouring, have lids that are tricky to open and controls that take force to press. 

At the other end of the scale, we've found kettles that feel light and balanced, require little force to open and close the lid, and have controls that are easy to see and operate.

For more advice on easy-to-use appliances, see our guide about kitchen appliances and aids for older people.

How to buy the best easy-to-use kettle

Before buying one of our recommended kettles, it’s important to think about what you specifically need to look for to suit you.

Here’s what to consider:

• How heavy is the kettle? The lighter the kettle is before you've filled it, the easier it will be to use - all the ones we've selected in the table above weigh 1kg or less when empty. Also, check whether or not the kettle feels balanced when you lift it.
• What is the handle like? The handle should be comfortable to hold and grip, making it feel stable and supported when you lift it. There should be enough room between the handle and the kettle that you won’t touch hot surfaces - if you sometimes get swollen hands and joints, look for the biggest possible gap.
• Can you open the lid easily? Some lids open or come off by pulling them, whereas others open with the push of a button. Ideally, try both out to see which you prefer. Whichever one you go for, make sure you can press the button easily or grip and pull the lid with minimum force. It should also be easy to ensure the lid is fully secure on the kettle - a click to indicate this is helpful. 
• Is it easy to fill and pour from? Ideally, you want to be able to use one hand to fill and pour water from the kettle, and this will be easier if the kettle feels well-balanced. If you find pouring difficult with any kettle, you might want to consider getting a kettle-tipper aid. It’s worth looking for a kettle with a low minimum fill level, as boiling less water at a time will make it both lighter and more energy efficient.
• Can you easily see and operate the controls? Make sure the controls are easy to press and only require a light touch. If you have difficulty with your sight, check that you can see the controls and markings easily. Look for ones that are large and contrast well with the background. In addition, choose a kettle that illuminates when it's boiling. It's also worth looking for useful features such as boil-dry protection, which stops the kettle from boiling when there is no water in it, or auto-switch off, which will turn the kettle off automatically when boiled. All the kettles in our selection have these features.

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