Jugs and kettles are among the most‑used kitchen appliances in New Zealand, and performance varies more than most people expect. Some are fast and quiet, others slow or awkward to fill, and certain designs prioritise style over function. Our reviews and buying guide will help you choose confidently.
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Buy the best jug or kettle for your kitchen
Looking to buy a jug or kettle? Compare price, performance, noise, boiling and energy efficiency to find the best-performing model for your budget. Our reviews will help you find the right one.
Best kettles of 2026
Top-performing kettles
Best value kettle
Best smart kettles
Most stylish kettles
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What to know before buying a jug or kettle
Things to consider before choosing a jug or kettle are; how quickly you want water to boil, how quiet you need the appliance to be, and which features matter most to you in daily use.
Boil speed: Boil times may vary depending on power rating.
Noise level: Don't want a kettle that's too noisy? Read about what causes the noise, and which kettles you can buy to avoid it.
Other features: Learn about the other features to consider when buying a jug or kettle, such as lid types, water-level gauges and more.
People's Choice
Our People's Choice awards are granted to brands that consistently rate above average for customer satisfaction and meet out other performance criteria. Become a member and see which brands have earned a People’s Choice award.
Which jugs and kettles are most reliable?
We ask thousands of Consumer members about their products to find out which brands are most reliable and satisfying to own. The results are available to members and Digital Pass holders.
Get the most out of your kettle
Full steam ahead – is an induction kettle the fastest and best way to make a cuppa?
When we upgraded from a gas cooktop to an induction cooktop, we trialled an induction kettle to compare it against a standard electric kettle.
Budget vs premium kettles: what an extra $374 buys
Why is a Dualit kettle 16 times more expensive than Kmart's? We took them apart to find out.
How to make your kettle quieter
Learn how to fix a noisy kettle.
Complete your kitchen setup
Best retailer to buy small appliances from
Many things can ruin your shop – a pushy salesperson, an out-of-stock product or having to pay more than you intended. We asked consumers who they think are the best and worst retailers. Here are the stores people like best for buying small appliances from.
How we test jugs and kettles
We test a range of electric jugs in New Zealand to find the best models.
The assessment involves:
Ease of use - How easy it is to fill and pour the jug or kettle
Noise - How noisy is it when boiling?
Boiling performance - How much energy and time the kettle uses to boil one litre of water
See how we perform the test and also how we weight the overall score.
