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Out of all the kitchen tools, measuring cups are a staple for home cooks. No matter the recipe, accurate measurements are crucial to preparing quality meals.
If you're wondering, yes, you do need different measuring cups for wet and dry ingredients. Liquid measuring cups are for volume (fluid ounces), plus their spouts make it a breeze to pour liquid into mixing bowls. Dry measuring cups are for weight (ounces), and are great for packing ingredients—or spooning in, if you're measuring flour!—and leveling off the top for optimal accuracy. (And if you're ever really unsure, you can use a kitchen scale—indeed, some recipes require those, especially those for baking.)
We consulted with Allrecipes editors and community members to sift the great cups from the bad ones, along with our Allrecipes product tester's hands-on insights from a series of tests to determine our favorite measuring cups.
About Our Tests
We asked expert Allrecipes product tester Rachel Johnson to test 12 top-rated measuring cups. To test the dry measuring cups, she made our Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies to gauge scooping, leveling, and packing abilities. For the liquid measuring cups, Rachel made this Grand Margarita recipe. For each test, she considered the following metrics:
- Overall Feel: What are the measuring cups made of? How functional is the design?
- Durability: Are the measuring cups made to last? Will they show wear over time?
- Cleanup/Storage: How are the cups meant to be stored and maintained?
- Efficiency: How accurately are you able to measure ingredients with the cups?
- Value: Is it worth the investment? Does the quality align with its price?
Our Top Pick
OXO Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
Why It's Great: Made from durable stainless steel; easy to level; magnets make it easy to store
Grain of Salt: Only the four standard measurements
These measuring cups from OXO are versatile, durable, and comfortable to hold. They are outfitted with rubber handles for a nonslip grip and magnets for neatly stacking the cuts in a cabinet or drawer.
We easily packed brown sugar, leveled flour, and measured other dry ingredients, such as walnuts and chocolate chips, using each of the cups, and loved how they were etched with the measurements. Nothing is getting rubbed off here!
The only downside is that you'll have to grab additional measuring cups for the ingredient amounts smaller than 1/4 of a cup and use the same cup twice for amounts larger than one cup. But overall, this dishwasher-safe set would make for a perfect addition to any kitchen.
The Details: Stainless steel; includes 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup sizes
Why It's Great: Has a 2/3 of a cup measure; can be snapped together; scrapper tool is also a storage hook
Grain of Salt: Measurement marking might wear off
When using measuring cups, usually you don't need ones with a ton of bells and whistles. This 5-piece set does the job while also not breaking the bank. It includes the typical four measurements, plus a 2/3 cup measurement and a scraper that doubles as a leveler and a hook for storage. What's more, each cup has a half-cup measurement so you don't have to guess when you've reached the midpoint.
We love that these clip together so they don't get lost, and are dishwasher safe. Like many other OXO products, these measuring cups are made with soft nonslip grips so you won't drop them when wet. Add in the extra two pieces, and we're sold.
The Details: Plastic; includes 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, 2/3 cup, and 1 cup sizes
Best for Liquids
Pyrex Prepware 3-Piece Glass Measuring Set
Why It's Great: 4-cup measuring cup doubles as a small mixing bowl; curved spout for easy pouring; safe in microwave and freezer
Grain of Salt: Can be hard to read measurements
You've probably seen, bought, or used these Pyrex glass measuring cups before. The thick, nonporous glass is safe from the microwave to the freezer and has red measurements printed on the sides in cups, fluid ounces, and metric milliliters. These liquid measuring cups are perfect for melting butter directly in the measuring cup or quickly bringing water to a boil in the microwave. The 4-cup version is even big enough to use as a small mixing bowl!
While you do have to read these cups at eye level to get an accurate reading, they have a pour spout that enables every bit of the ingredients to make it into the mixing dish. Keep in mind that this is tempered glass and can break from thermal shock.
The Details: Glass; includes 1 cup, 2 cups, and 4 cups sizes
Why It's Great: 1/8 of a cup and 1/2 of a tablespoon measures; curved handle; nests for storage
Grain of Salt: Measurements are hard to read
It's not just larger ingredient amounts that need measuring: Getting the right measurement of salt in a baking recipe or sugar in tomato sauce is extremely important. Luckily, this set comes with both measuring cups and spoons and is still under $20.
We like this set made from thick stainless steel with a slightly curved handle that's long enough to reach whatever you need measuring. We especially appreciate the 1/8 cup and 1/2 tablespoon inclusions, as those are two measurements we tend to guess at. The only negative here is that the engraved measurements can be a little hard to see.
The Details: Stainless steel; includes 1 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/4 cup, 1/8 cup, 1 tablespoon, 1/2 tablespoon, 1 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, and 1/4 teaspoon sizes
Best Plastic
KitchenAid Measuring Cups, Set of 4
Why It's Great: Stack and clean easily; comes in a range of colors; inexpensive
Grain of Salt: Can wobble on the countertop
KitchenAid does a lot of things well and these high-quality yet affordable measuring cups are no different. Made out of smooth, rounded, BPA-free plastic, they come in several different colors, including signature KitchenAid red and sky blue.
We found that the brand's measuring cups stack well, but some ingredients, like flour and sugar, don't slide out as easily. We also noticed that these measuring cups are a little unstable when placed on the counter. However, these small cons are easy to overlook once you see the price.
The Details: Plastic; includes 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup sizes
Best Angled
Oxo Good Grips 3-Piece Angled Measuring Cup Set
Why It's Great: Can measure up to four cups; nonslip handles; durable Tritan plastic
Grain of Salt: Ingredients can get stuck in the angled corners
Another OXO measuring cup set is on our list, but these angled measuring cups allow you to read the amounts two ways: on the side or from overhead. This means you don't even have to bend down to get an accurate measurement. However, the design does make it easy for ingredients to get trapped in the short angled corners of the cups, as we discovered during testing. This can be easily fixed, though, with a spatula.
Despite that one setback, they have a wide set, nonslip handle, can nest, and feature cup, milliliter, and fluid-ounce measurements. The unique vertical measurement capability of this set makes it well worth the cost for us.
The Details: Plastic; includes 1 cup, 2 cups, and 4 cups sizes
Best Adjustable
OXO Good Grips 2-Cup Adjustable Measuring Cup
Why It's Great: Can be used on dry and liquid ingredients; interior track prevents damage; silicone cleanly scrapes the sides
Grain of Salt: Can spill when filled
This is our last OXO recommendation! But it's another worthy one! This adjustable measuring cup is beloved by our culinary producer, Nicole McLaughlin, who did an entire video dedicated to it. Like she says, adjustable measuring cups are great for any sticky, gloppy, or semi-soft ingredients. There's a squeegee at the very edge of the bottom, that scrapes the sides as you push up.
These are also the only kind of measuring cups where you can measure both wet and dry ingredients. With measurements up to two cups, this has a liquid side and a dry/solids side so you won't get confused. Another great design feature is the interior track that connects the two pieces, which prevents too much force (which can ultimately break the squeegee part). Our only gripe is that when filled to the brim, any liquid can easily spill out.
The Details: Plastic; includes measurements ranging from 1/8 of a cup to 2 cups
Best High-End
Le Creuset Measuring Cups
Why It's Great: Sturdy handles; sleek design; have a nice weight
Grain of Salt: Expensive
For kitchen tools you use often, it may be more cost-effective to invest in a top-quality option. In the case of measuring cups, we like this high-end set from Le Creuset. The four cups are made with durable, heavy-gauge stainless steel, which means they are built to last. Its flat base doesn't tip over when pouring ingredients into the cup, and the handles feel sturdy enough to take on recipes for years to come.
It is on the pricier side, but you're paying for quality cups that won't break or show signs of wear and tear. And finally, they are elegant, shiny, and sleek, so they look and feel high-end.
The Details: Stainless steel; includes 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, and 1 cup sizes
Our Takeaway
For many measuring cups, as long as they hold the ingredients you need to measure, they will get the job done. But because these are used often in cooking and baking, the OXO Stainless Steel Measuring Cups are the best out there. They stack easily thanks to the small magnets in the handles, and they are dishwasher-safe and comfortable to hold.
How to Pick the Right Measuring Cups
Type
Before buying a set of measuring cups, consider what you prepare the most that requires precise measurements. If dozens of cookies come out of your kitchen, a glass set may be more functional, as you can use them to melt butter and measure flour. For those who make a lot of bread, you'll want measuring cups that can accurately measure dry, wet, and sticky ingredients, like honey, without much cleanup i.e. an adjustable measuring cup.
Material
Glass, plastic, and stainless steel are all common materials for measuring cups, but they have different uses. Stainless steel is extremely durable, won't stain, and is generally easy to fill, but the cups can be uncomfortable to use if unbalanced, and the measurement etching might be difficult to read. Plastic is easy to clean, lightweight, and often colorful. But plastic can bend, snap, or warp, and can absorb odors and stains. Glass is the most versatile since it can go in the microwave or otherwise used around heat, but, as we all know, glass can break.
Common Questions
What's the difference between dry and liquid measuring cups?
The reason we have dry and liquid measuring cups is because different ingredients require different techniques to accurately measure them. Dry ingredients require the ability to scoop the ingredients into the cup until it's overflowing, and then level it off for an accurate measurement. This can't be done in a liquid measuring cup. Conversely, liquid ingredients are inherently messy, and filling a dry measuring cup to the brim with liquid will likely lead to a good portion of that liquid on your countertops or floor. Not only would your kitchen be a mess, but your measurements would not be accurate.
Are measuring cups dishwasher safe?
Some measuring cups are dishwasher safe, depending on their material and design. Check the packaging or details online to find out what type of care it requires.
Why Take Our Word For It?
Allrecipes is a community-driven brand for home cooks to find kitchen products, crowd-pleasing recipes, and cooking tips. Contributor Amanda McDonald has more than seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing about all things food—from which ones are best for your heart to the ones in short supply at your local grocery store. Combined with official product testing by Allrecipes experts, her expertise in kitchen supplies, ingredients, and measurements went into carefully selecting each measuring cup set we recommend above.