What’s the Difference Between All of the All-Clad Lines?

When it comes to stainless steel pots and pans, All-Clad is one of the most recognizable names in the game. Their cookware has come highly recommended in our tests, and we’ve used All-Clad’s pots and pans at home and in the test kitchen for many, many years. Pretty much any Serious Eats staffer can speak to their durability and practicality. 

But with so many different products—and vague identifiers like D3 and D5—what’s the difference between All-Clad's cookware lines? 

Tri-Ply vs. Five-Ply All-Clad Pans

First things first: Descriptors you’ll see over and over again when shopping for stainless steel cookware are “3-ply” or “tri-ply” or “triply.” They all mean the same thing, which is triple-layered material. This is usually a sandwich of stainless steel with a layer of aluminum in the middle because aluminum is great at conducting heat but it isn’t exactly food-safe on its own.

Thus, when you see a reference to “5-ply,” it should be no surprise that this means there are five layers of metal rather than three. In All-Clad’s case, they alternate layers of stainless steel and aluminum for added durability and even heat distribution. Because there’s more material, 5-ply pans are pricier and heavier.

Polished vs. Brushed Stainless Steel Pans

Honestly, this detail is all about personal preference (and price...as we'll get into below). Some people love the gleam of a polished finish, others prefer a brushed surface for its subtlety and resistance to fingerprints. In either case, if you store your pots and pans by stacking them in a drawer or cabinet, it’s a good idea to use pan protectors to help safeguard against scratches (which a mirror finish is more likely to show). In our many cookware tests, though, we haven't found either finish affects performance.

A Comparison of All-Clad's Lines

The All-Clad D3 Stainless Line 

All-Clad D3 Stainless-Steel 12-Inch Fry Pan

$130 at Amazon $100 at Williams Sonoma $13 at Walmart

All-Clad Stainless Steel Tri-Ply 3-Quart Saucepan with Lid

$120 at Amazon $120 at Williams Sonoma $228 at Walmart

All-Clad D3 Tri-Ply 3-Quart Stainless Steel Sauté Pan

$180 at Amazon $180 at Williams Sonoma $17 at Walmart

All Clad D3 Stainless 3 Ply Bonded Cookware Set

$700 at Amazon $700 at Williams Sonoma $700 at Sur La Table

The All-Clad D3 Stainless collection is try-ply and has a polished finish. In our tests, we've found this line performed exceptionally well (even heating; great durability; nicely balanced). In fact, the All-Clad D3 Stainless skillet nearly earned the top spot in our testing of 22 stainless steel skillets (it was bumped out by the Made In, which is ever-so-slightly cheaper). Some of our favorite saucepans, saute pans, stockpots, and stainless steel cookware sets are also part of this line.

Key Specs

• Line includes: 28 products, plus 12 options for sets or pairs
• Number of layers: Try-ply
• Induction compatible: Yes

The D3 Everyday Line

All-Clad’s D3 Everyday shares a lot of the traits of the D3 Stainless, but adds in some features that some may find more user-friendly, like handles that are rounded and indent-free (for those that have taken issue with the classic All-Clad handle). The 3-quart saucepan in this line also features a flared pouring rim (to minimize dribbling), which we have wished the D3 Stainless saucepan had as we poured brown butter, sauces, and soups out of it. Price-wise, the D3 Stainless and Everyday lines are also similar. For example, their 10- and 10.5-inch skillets cost $100 a pop, but the Everyday's doesn't come with a lid.

Key Specs

• Line includes: 7 products, plus 3 options for sets or pairs
• Number of layers: Try-ply
• Induction compatible: Yes

The D5 Line

All-Clad d5 Brushed Stainless-Steel Fry Pan

$250 at Amazon $180 at Williams Sonoma

Stepping up to 5-ply construction, the All-Clad D5 Brushed series provides two additional layers and has, you guessed it, a brushed finish. Given those extra layers, D5 pans are heavier than D3 ones. They’re more expensive, too, with D5 Brushed products starting $85 higher than those in the D3 Stainless line and going far beyond that, too. The D5 Brushed's 10-inch skillet is $250 compared to the $130 D3 Stainless. When we tested a D5 Brushed pan as part of our stainless steel skillet review, we didn’t see enough difference in performance to justify paying more. We felt the same way about the D5 Brushed saucepan and cookware set when we tested them: they were nice to use, but not worth the added price over the D3.

Key Specs

• Line includes: 17 products, plus for options for sets 
• Induction compatible: Yes

The D5 Polished Line

All-Clad D5 Stainless Polished 5-ply Bonded Cookware, Saute Pan with lid, 3 quart

$300 at All-clad.com

Yep, you guessed it: All-Clad’s D5 Polished line is just like the D5 Brushed, but with a polished finish. Again, this line's price is high—and we remain skeptical of the added performance benefits you'll actually notice/care about for the additional cost. However, we haven't formally tested anything from this line.

Key Specs

• Line includes: 24 products, plus 6 options for sets or pairs
• Number of layers: Five-ply
• Induction compatible: Yes

The D7 Stainless Line

All-Clad D7 Stainless Stovetop Slow Cooker with lid, 6 quart

$300 at All-clad.com

The All-Clad D7 Stainless is quite a small collection with just one product—a stovetop slow cooker with a 7-ply construction that includes four layers of stainless steel and three layers of aluminum. It's not a slow cooker at all and is more of a lightweight Dutch oven alternative. For the price, though ($360, when not on sale), and size, we'd opt for a 5-quart Dutch oven and a stainless steel stockpot instead. Our budget-friendly recommendations from these reviews, together, cost far less than the D7 pot.

Key Specs

• Line includes: 1 product
• Ply-level: Seven-ply
• Induction compatible: Yes

The Copper Core Line

All-Clad Copper Core 5-ply Bonded Cookware Set, 7 piece Set

$1,100 $861 at Amazon $1,100 at All-clad.com

These pans are 5-ply and combine stainless steel, aluminum, and copper. The Copper Core line is meant to be ultra-responsive to heat changes (we’ve written about copper cookware and how it both heats and cools quickly). That said, since the All-Clad cookware we’ve tested is already heat-responsive, we’re not totally sold on this line’s added cost. For example, the 7-piece cookware set is a whopping $1,100 compared to the D3 set's (still whopping) $799.

Key Specs

• Line includes: 12 products, plus 3 options for sets
• Number of layers: Five-ply
• Induction compatible: Yes

The Graphite Core Line

All-Clad G5 Graphite Core Stainless-Steel Fry Pan

$180 at Williams Sonoma

If you're looking for a lightweight stainless steel pan that'll heat up lickety-split, then consider this newer line. Made with a graphite core, the 12.5-inch skillet weighs a mere two pounds, 14 ounces. That's nearly two pounds lighter than the D3 12-inch skillet—and with an extra half-inch of surface area to boot. This skillet is also sold in eight and ten-inch sizes and sports a rounded handle that's comfortable to hold.

Key Specs

• Line includes: 17 products, plus 2 options for sets
• Number of layers: Five-ply, with a graphite interior instead of steel
• Induction compatible: Yes

So, Which All-Clad Line Should I Buy?

Our tests continuously prove the All-Clad D3 Stainless line to be the best value for its performance, price, and durability. In fact, across all of our cookware reviews, it's the only All-Clad line we've recommended. If you're already spending a lot, you shouldn't spend more—especially if you won't notice performance differences.

FAQs

What's Better: All-Clad D3 vs D5?

It depends on which metrics you're using to judge. The All-Clad D3 line is more affordable, and is still plenty durable with three layers of cladding. The All-Clad D5 line costs more because it has five layers of cladding. Extra cladding means greater durability and (in theory) better heat distribution. We have extensively reviewed, and like, All-Clad's D3 stainless line.

What's with the All-Clad handle?

Nearly all of All-Clad's cookware has the same handle that features an indent on the top that runs its length. Some people dislike it, preferring rounded handles that feel smooth to hold. However, we've found this indent has a purpose: it prevents the handle from rotating in your palm as you pour. It's also just a nice place to put your thumb for added leverage as you toss, pick up, and move the cookware. All that said, All-Clad has changed up some models, like their graphite core G5 series, adding rounded handles that are a bit more user-friendly.

How do you clean All-Clad cookware?

Always wash your All-Clad cookware by hand, and only after it cools down. While stainless steel cookware can go in the dishwasher, we recommend hand-washing it to preserve its longevity.

Are the All-Clad nonstick pans any good?

Really, the only All-Clad nonstick piece we recommend is the reasonably-priced HA1 nonstick skillet. We seldom use nonstick except for delicate things like cooking eggs or crepes—and think stainless steel is, generally, a much better investment. And because we don't recommend spending a lot on nonstick pans, that puts All-Clad's pricey Fusiontec skillets out of the running for us from the jump.

Can All-Clad cookware go in the oven?

All-Clad stainless steel cookware is oven-safe up to 600°F. Be aware that extended exposure to heat above 500°F may result in discoloration, but pan performance won’t be affected.

Does All-Clad work on induction?

All-Clad's D3, D5, and Copper Core cookware are compatible with induction cooktops.

Does All-Clad cookware have a good warranty?

All-Clad’s stainless steel products—including pots, pans, skillets, and cookware sets—are backed by a lifetime warranty. 

Why We're the Experts

• Summer Rylander is a freelance journalist who's written for Serious Eats since 2022.
• We've tested and published numerous reviews on stainless steel cookware (including All-Clad).
• You can read our full review of stainless steel skillets here.
• Grace Kelly is a commerce editor at Serious Eats.
• She's owned the 12-inch D3 stainless steel skillet for years and recently added the 12.5-inch G5 skillet to her collection.