I Tested 22 Sets of Drinking Glasses—Eight Even Made Water Look Good

Drinking glasses are a necessity, whether you’re rehydrating with water, serving a casual spot of wine, or want to sip some orange juice with your pancakes on a Saturday morning. 

But when I decided to tackle reviewing glassware, the sheer scale of options was a little intimidating—how could I narrow it down? Plus, talk about subjective! Just because I might like drinking from bright pink round orbs doesn’t mean the next person will. 

In an attempt to winnow the field, I tested 22 highly rated offerings that would fit into many kitchens and lifestyles. 

In the end, the winners were versatile, reliable, solid (yet still nice-looking) picks that looked great on my tabletop as well as holding my beverage of choice.

The Tests

• Drinking Water Test: I had three users with different hand sizes use each glass to drink water. 
• Stacking Test: I stacked all the stackable glasses and examined how easily they fit together. 
• Seltzer and Ice Test: I filled the glasses with 1/2 cup of ice and topped it with seltzer. I sipped from them and let them sit for 10 minutes to see if any condensation formed. 
• Durability and Cleaning Tests: I hand-washed the glasses with soap and water. I then dropped them in the sink three times, as if the glass slipped out of my hands while washing them.

What We Learned

Thicker Glasses Were (Usually) Better Than Thin Ones

While the Our Place glasses bordered on too hefty the four-millimeter thick rim impeded drinking), there was a sweet spot when it came to thickness. Overall, I preferred glasses with rims that were two to three millimeters thick, like those on the Sophie Lou Jacobson and Duralex, respectively. Thinner glasses, like the one-millimeter-thick Borosil and the 1.5-millimeter-thick glasses from Fable, felt fragile and chintzy. The thin rims felt sharp and incredibly fragile. I also preferred glasses with thick bases, like the Riedel set and the Kinto Hibi tumblers, which helped the glass stay put on the table and gave it a nice weightiness. Glasses like the Libbey Polaris, which had thin bases and curved bottoms, felt like they’d knock over more easily.

Faceted (or Grooved) Glasses Were Easy to Grip

I preferred glasses with faceted sides (like the Duralex and Bormioli Rocco Rock Bar) or grooved lines on the exterior (like the Riedel). They helped me grip the glasses securely. The Sophie Lou Jacobson had a unique take on grip, with rippled sides that, while beautiful, also created indent points where my fingers naturally slotted in. 

At first glance, the Ichendorf Milano Laguna Tumblers looked to have grooved exterior lines, but, puzzlingly, they were actually on the inside of the glass, which didn’t help with grip at all.

Plain, Straight-Edged Glasses Were Too Basic

A few glasses in the lineup—including the Made In, Borosil, and Fable—featured almost rectangular silhouettes with no flaring whatsoever. They looked rather clinical and more closely resembled chemistry beakers than drinking glasses. Conversely, I loved the elegant, ridged lines on the Riedels, as well as the classic silhouettes of the Duralex. While the Bormioli Rocco bodega glasses were the plainest of my winners, they feature a slight flare outwards from the thicker base, which aided in grip and looked nice.

Quality Craftsmanship Made an Impression, As Did Sloppy Manufacturing

Most of the glasses I tested came in identical sets, with no variation between glasses: Each Luminarc, Duralex, Bormioli Rocco, and Riedel looked exactly the same (save for the tall glasses in the Riedel set, which looked different from the rocks glasses on purpose). But when we unboxed the Libbey Ascent set, which included highball and rocks glasses, we were surprised to find that many of the glasses varied in terms of production quality; many had uneven bases that sloped off to one side, and one glass even had a bump in the rim. When you buy a set of glasses that you might break out when guests are over, do you really want glasses that look shoddily made? I wouldn’t.

Stackable Glasses Were Easy to Store

While many of the glasses we tested claimed to be stackable, a few really stood out: the Duralex, Bormioli Rocco, and Kinto Hibi. The Kinto Hibi, in particular, were lovely stackers, with a smaller bottom section that slid easily into the wider top part of the accompanying glasses.

Our Favorite Glasses Were Made of Tempered Glass

Many of my favorite drinking glasses are made from tempered glass, which is overall quite durable and more resistant to thermal shock. (It's also cheaper than borosilicate glass, which, while durable, is more brittle). This isn't to say tempered glass is unbreakable—if you get a chip in the glass, it can lead to a higher likelihood of shattering. But, overall, a quality tempered glass set of drinking glasses is sturdy and should last you a long time with proper care.

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Drinking Glass

While looks depend on your personal preferences (whether you like to go flashy or prefer subdued elegance), there are a few things to look for in a good drinking glass: it should have a thicker bottom, taper outward slightly, and ideally have a Goldilocks thickness of between two to three millimeters. It should also be durable because accidents happen, easy to grip, and each glass in the set should be defect-free. I preferred glasses with faceted sides or etching, which was more secure to hold.

Our Favorite Drinking Glasses

The Best Classic Drinking Glasses

Duralex Picardie Clear Tumbler Set

$40 $25 at Amazon $48 at Williams Sonoma $5 at Sur La Table

What we liked: I loved the faceted sides and slightly blooming opening of this durable glass—which also survived a drop on concrete, a minor miracle. It was a pleasure to use whether sipping water, seltzer, or even a spot of wine (sacré bleu!). It also was easy to stack, making for efficient storage. You can also purchase this glass set in smaller and larger sizes, if the mid-sized offering isn’t your cup of tea—er, water?

What we didn’t like: My only minor qualm was that the facets went up high on this glass, which caused my hand to slide upwards. Other than that, this is a fantastic glass.

Key Specs

• Lip thickness: 3 millimeters
• Number in set: 6
• Diameter of opening: 3.4 inches 
• Height: 5 inches
• Weight: 11.3 ounces
• Capacity: 12.62 ounces
• Materials: Tempered glass
• Stackable: Yes
• Cleaning and care: Dishwasher-safe

Another Great Set of Classic Drinking Glasses

Bormioli Rocco Rock Bar

$27 $23 at Amazon View on Walmart $40 $29 at Target

What we liked: With a similar, classic cafe aesthetic, this offering was slightly cheaper (and smaller) than the Duralex. I liked its similar faceted sides, tapered base, and just-the-right-thickness rim. It also stacked well. 

What we didn’t like: They look a little more blocky than the Duralex.

Key Specs

• Lip thickness: 3 millimeters
• Number in set: 6
• Diameter of opening: 3.25 inches 
• Height: 4.75 inches
• Weight: 9.7 ounces
• Capacity: 12.5 ounces
• Materials: Tempered glass
• Stackable: Yes
• Cleaning and care: Dishwasher-safe

The Best Juice Glasses

Bormioli Rocco Bodega Collection Glassware

$38 $36 at Amazon $7 at Sur La Table $44 at Food52

What we liked: These simple glasses featured a slim profile, perfect rim thickness, and a slightly weighty base to keep ‘em steady. While they might not have the curb appeal of fancier glasses, they really were great for drinking anything—water, juice, seltzer, margaritas…the list goes on. Plus, their neutral design means you can pair them with homemade pizza as readily as a fancy steak dinner (I do have to say, they look particularly nice filled with rose next to a platter of oysters). They stack nicely, too. Also: I’ve been using these for a while since I first tested them, and none have broken even though I use them daily. 

What we didn’t like: They are a little plain. 

Key Specs

• Lip thickness: 2 millimeters
• Number in set: 12
• Diameter of opening: 3.4 inches 
• Height: 3.5 inches
• Weight: 6.3 ounces
• Capacity: 12 ounces
• Materials: Tempered glass
• Stackable: Yes
• Cleaning and care: Dishwasher-safe

The Best Drinking Glasses for Cocktails

Riedel Drink Specific Glassware Rocks & Highballs, Set of 8

$135 at Amazon $135 at Wayfair View on Riedel.com

What we liked: This set of fancy glasses comes with four each of rocks glasses and highball glasses, all of which feature an art-deco-esque design. These are the glasses you find at good bars; they’re pricey, have a nice weight to them, and look fantastic in the glow of a candle. On a practical note, they are surprisingly durable (I’ve been using them for over a year with nary a chip), and I loved the grooved lines on the exterior, which made gripping easy. 

What we didn’t like: While the rocks glasses were near-flawless, I wasn’t quite as enamored with the highball glasses for everyday sipping. They’re narrow and seem more apt at holding a crushed ice cocktail rather than a glass of your favorite grapefruit juice swigged at breakfast. Also, this set is PRICEY.

Key Specs

• Lip thickness: 2 millimeters
• Number in set: 8 (four rocks and four highballs) 
• Highball diameter: 2.5 inches
• Rocks diameter: 3.25 inches
• Highball height: 3.5 inches
• Rocks height: 3.25 inches
• Highball weight: 15.4 ounces
• Rocks weight: 11.3 ounces
• Highball capacity: 10.9 ounces
• Rocks capacity: 10 ounces
• Materials: Tempered glass
• Stackable: Yes (technically you can stack highball inside the rocks glass)
• Cleaning and Care: Dishwasher-safe

The Best Quirky Drinking Glasses

Sophie Lou Jacobsen Ripple Cup

View on Bloomingdales $70 at Food52 View on Sophieloujacobsen.com

What we liked: While the ripples are aesthetically pleasing, they also serve a practical purpose: They provide an indent for your fingers to securely grip. Pretty and functional? Yes, please. The glass has a wide, flat bottom, so it sits sturdily, and the two-millimeter rim was the perfect thickness. If your aesthetic is modern with a touch of whimsy, then these could be a great addition to your glasses cabinet. I know I’ll be breaking them out often. 

What we didn’t like: They don’t stack, and they’re quite expensive at $35 per glass.

Key Specs

• Lip thickness: 2 millimeters
• Number in set: 2
• Diameter of opening: 2.5 inches 
• Height: 4.5 inches
• Weight: 5 ounces
• Capacity: Not given
• Materials: Borosilicate glass
• Stackable: No
• Cleaning and care: Dishwasher-safe

The Best Vintage-Inspired Drinking Glasses

Williams Sonoma Vintage Etched Tumblers

$17 at Williams Sonoma

What we liked: While Rococo is one of my least favorite artistic periods (bear with me: I was an art history major), the one contribution I do love is the etched glassware. So soft, so demure, so floral and dainty! Clutch one of these glasses filled with wine and it somehow becomes softer, more casual. Romantic musings aside, the tumblers are also sturdy, fluted, and stackable—all qualities of a good, practical drinking glass. They are available in a lovely blush tone, too. 

What we didn’t like: The etching quality isn’t the best; there are some ovals where there should be circles, and some of the flowers look a little stretched. 

Key Specs

• Lip thickness: 2 millimeters
• Number in set: 4 or single
• Diameter of opening: 3 inches 
• Height: 4.4 inches
• Weight: 7.1 ounces
• Capacity: 9.75 ounces
• Materials: Not given
• Stackable: Yes
• Cleaning and care: Dishwasher-safe

The Best Simple Drinking Glasses

Kinto Hibi Glass Tumblers

$49 at Pottery Barn

What we liked: Hibi means “day to day” in Japanese, and these glasses embody their title. They’re simple, sturdy, everyday vessels that are great for sipping water or slurping a smoothie. I liked the flared shape, which funneled liquids neatly as I sipped, and the heavy bottom ensured no tipping when set down. 

What we didn’t like: They are heavy and have a thicker rim. They also smudge easily. 

Key Specs

• Lip thickness: 3 millimeters
• Number in set: 4 
• Diameter of opening: 3.25 inches 
• Height: 4.5 inches
• Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Capacity: 7.5 or 12 ounces
• Materials: Soda glass
• Stackable: Yes
• Cleaning and care: Dishwasher-safe but handwashing is recommended

The Best Outdoor Drinking Glasses

DuraClear Tritan Outdoor Multicolored Faceted Tumblers

$80 at Williams Sonoma

What we liked: These large, 15-ounce tumblers make a great backyard drinking glass—fill ‘em up with iced tea or lemonade and you won’t need a refill for a while. While the rim was quite thin—a single millimeter—it was still pleasant to sip from and didn’t cut into my lips. I liked the faceted sides, too, which helped with grip. Oh, and since they’re made of plastic, they’re forgiving if your elbows have a mind of their own (like mine seem to). 

What we didn’t like: These glasses are a big and bold, that’s for sure. They don’t stack either, which makes for tricky storage. 

Key Specs

• Lip thickness: 1 millimeters
• Number in set: 6 
• Diameter of opening: 3.25 inches 
• Height: 6 inches
• Weight: 7.5 ounces
• Capacity: 15 ounces
• Materials: DuraClear Tritan food-grade plastic
• Stackable: No
• Cleaning and care: Top-rack dishwasher-safe
  

The Competition

• Luminarc Funambule Glasses: While these were my winning stacking drinking glasses, they are no longer available.
• Fable Glassware Set: While these glasses were surprisingly durable considering how thin they were, they verged on plain. 
• Libbey Polaris 8-Piece Tumbler Set: With a simple but elegant design, these glasses had a lot going for them—save for the curved bases and very tall height (6.25 inches, the tallest of the lineup), which made them tippy. 
• Libbey Ascent 16-Piece Tumbler And Rocks Glass Set: This set had potential, but its downfall was quality control: a few of the tumblers and rocks glasses had defects, including bumpy rims and uneven bases. 
• Borosil Simple Glass Tumblers: Simple can be nice, but these glasses veered too close to chemistry beaker territory. The rectangular silhouette and thin glass were not winning traits. 
• Ichendorf Milano Laguna Tumblers (Set of 6): Oh these glasses looked so nice, but sometimes good looks don’t guarantee a good user experience. I was puzzled to find that the grooved lines were actually on the inside of the glass (negating any grip they may have lent) and while the little raised edges on the rim were pretty, they were uncomfortable and messy to sip from. 
• Fortessa Tableware Solutions Modo Basic Bar Glasses/Schott Zwiesel: While these glasses were elegant and had a thick base, the top was very thin (a mere one millimeter thick) and felt fragile. 
• Our Place Night + Day Glasses: While I liked the appearance of these glasses (and the fact that they come in a fun range of colors), since the rim was a whopping four millimeters thick, drinking from them was akin to trying to drink from a candle jar. However, they did stack nicely and feel sturdy. 
• Hawkins New York Essential Stackable Colored Glassware and Pitcher: While these glasses come in pretty colors, that wasn’t enough to win my vote. The glass was uneven in spots and had odd streaks/smears baked in. Drinking from them was pleasant enough, and the rims were thin and didn’t impede each sip. However, the glasses were a little wide, making them difficult to grip.
• A di Alessi 3-1/4-Inch Glass Family Water Glass: I wanted to like these, but the rim was too thin, cutting into my mouth with each sip. The weighty bottom was nice, though. The glass I dropped in the sink shattered during my durability test.
• TOSSWARE RESERVE 10oz Tumbler: While these looked nice and were made of durable plastic, they were so small—the opening diameter was a mere 2.5 inches. They felt more like a kiddie cup than a glass I’d grab for an outdoor dinner party. 
• Material The Full Glass Set: I loved the look of these glasses, but the elevated bottom and lightweight glass made them tippy. 
• Made In Drinking Glasses: These glasses looked like they belonged in a lab, with perfectly straight sides. One of the glasses shattered easily after a short drop in the sink while washing. 
• Bormioli Rocco Romantic Set Of 4 Cooler Glasses: Chunky! Too chunky. The rims blocked the flow of what I was sipping. The pattern on the side didn’t look as pretty in person as it did online, and I found the raised bumps slippery. 

FAQs

What size drinking glasses should I buy?

It depends on your needs and desires (an annoyingly vague answer, we know). While some people might be totally cool with rocks-sized glasses, other might want highballs to pack full of ice. The good news is that many glasses come in sets with smaller glasses and taller ones, so you can get the best of both worlds. But if a set of glasses catches your eye and they only come in one size, take a gander at the dimensions and capacity. 

How many glasses are in a set?

It really depends on the set, but six glasses was the most common set amount in our testing. 

What is the best way to clean drinking glasses?

All glasses can be hand-washed, but there’s also the option to just pile ‘em in the dishwasher. All of the glasses we tested came out of the dishwasher unscathed and glinting.

Why We're the Experts

• Grace Kelly is a commerce editor at Serious Eats. 
• Before working here, she tested equipment for America's Test Kitchen.
• She has reviewed hundreds of pieces of equipment, including steak knives and casserole dishes, as well as ingredients and foods, like tinned fish and hot sauce.
• For this review, Grace tested 22 sets of glasses by having three different users drink from each glass. She also stacked the glasses and used the winners to sip seltzer, noting if any condensation formed on the exterior. After, she hand-washed the winning glasses with soap and water and dropped them in the sink three times to test durability.