As you’re shopping for dinnerware sets, experts recommend thinking about the following factors.
To recommend the best dinnerware sets, I rounded up a few that NBC Select staff love, as well as highly rated options that align with expert guidance.
The most basic dinnerware set you can buy is a bundle of all white bowls and plates, like this one that has a 4.7-star average rating from 10,296 reviews on Amazon. It comes with dinner plates, bread plates and soup/cereal bowls. The dishes are made from Vitrelle, Corelle’s proprietary glass-ceramic hybrid material. It’s non-porous so it won’t stain easily, lightweight and chip- and crack-resistant, according to the brand.
Material: Vitrelle | Number of pieces: 18 | Number of place settings: 6 | Microwave-safe: yes | Oven-safe: yes | Dishwasher-safe: yes
Since these dishes are made from melamine, a type of plastic compound, they’re shatter-resistant if dropped, according to the brand — a plus for homes with kids or outdoor dining. The dinnerware set, which has a 4.2-star average rating from 1,501 reviews on Amazon, comes with square-shaped dinner plates, dessert plates, bowls and 20-ounce tumblers.
Material: melamine | Number of pieces: 16 | Number of place settings: 4 | Microwave-safe: no | Oven-safe: no | Dishwasher-safe: yes
I put Fiesta’s dinnerware through three moves (one across the country) in four years, and every piece I own is still in perfect condition. Dishes come in bright colors like Turquoise, Sunflower (yellow), Scarlet (red), Meadow (green) and Butterscotch (orange), which make me happy whether I’m eating off a plate or drying off a bowl. All the pieces have a glossy finish and subtle circular detailing that I find eye-catching. They’re also stackable and don’t scratch easily, in my experience. This set of Fiesta dinnerware comes with dinner plates, salad plates and cereal bowls.
Material: porcelain china | Number of pieces: 12 | Number of place settings: 4 | Microwave-safe: yes | Oven-safe: yes | Dishwasher-safe: yes
Every piece in Fable’s dinnerware set is hand-finished in Portugal and organically shaped, giving them a rustic farmhouse look that’s popular among shoppers, our experts say. The set, which has a 5.0-star average rating from 3,985 reviews at Fable, comes with dinner plates, salad plates, pasta bowls that hold up to 26 fluid ounces and breakfast bowls that hold up to 20 fluid ounces. Dishes are available in colors like Speckled White, Dove Gray, Beachgrass Green and Blush Pink. Since they have a semi-matte finish, they’re susceptible to superficial marks from flatware you can remove with a scouring powder like Bar Keepers Friend and a Tawashi Brush, according to the brand.
Material: stoneware | Number of pieces: 16 | Number of place settings: 4 | Microwave-safe: yes | Oven-safe: yes, up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit | Dishwasher-safe: yes
Maren Ellingboe King, a food stylist, recipe developer and the author of “Fresh Midwest,” recommends East Fork Pottery’s dinnerware for its function and beauty. Its pieces are handmade in North Carolina and available in colors like Black Mountain, Eggshell (white), Night Swim (indigo), Amaro (burnt red) and more. This set comes with East Fork’s mug, Bitty Bowl, Breakfast Bowl, Everyday Bowl, Cake Plate, Side Plate and Dinner Plate. Since only one of each dish is included, someone who lives alone will benefit most, though you can purchase multiple sets if needed, or consider gifting to a host.
Material: ceramic | Number of pieces: 7 | Number of place settings: 1 | Microwave-safe: yes | Oven-safe: no | Dishwasher-safe: yes
King recommends West Elm’s simple, modern dinnerware sets, and uses one like this in her everyday life. It comes with pieces that have asymmetric edges, including dinner plates, salad plates, cereal bowls that hold 20.3 fluid ounces and pasta bowls that hold 3.8 fluid ounces.
Material: porcelain | Number of pieces: 16 | Number of place settings: 4 | Microwave-safe: yes | Oven-safe: no | Dishwasher-safe: yes
In addition to cookware sets, Dutch ovens and air fryers, Our Place makes tableware. This set includes the brand’s Full Plates, Midi Plates and Demi Bowls, all of which are stackable for easy storage. and beautifully designed with a semi-matte exterior, glossy interior and raw rim. Plus, it comes in mixed colors or individual shades like Steam (white), Spice (light pink), Terracotta and Char (black).
Material: stoneware | Number of pieces: 12 | Number of place settings: 4 | Microwave-safe: yes | Oven-safe: yes, up to 350 degrees Farenheit | Dishwasher-safe: yes
Nikki Brown, NBC Select SEO editor, says her interior design style is colorful organized chaos, except for in the kitchen. She has limited space, so she keeps things as toned down as possible. Year & Day's dinnerware set, which the brand sent her to try, aligns perfectly with her lifestyle. "The dishes are heavy duty but surprisingly durable. I’ve had them for about a year and they’re still in pristine shape despite being banged around a bit," she says. "My favorite part of this set are the bowls. The larger ones are the perfect size for rice bowls and soups, while the smaller, deeper ones are perfect for cereal or salad." Brown also says it's easy hand-wash the dishes (she doesn't have a dishwasher), and that stains come off easily. She finds their temperature regulation to be ideal, too.
Year & Day’s Core Set comes with the brand’s Big Bowls, Small Bowls, Big Plates and Small Plates. Dishes are made from locally sourced clay by artisans in Portugal and they’re coated in a semi-matte glaze that’s available in colors like Moon (white), Lagoon (blue), Dune (taupe), Fog (gray) and more.
Material: ceramic | Number of pieces: 16 | Number of place settings: 4 | Microwave-safe: yes | Oven-safe: yes, up to 480 degrees Fahrenheit | Dishwasher-safe: yes
Crow Canyon Home’s dinnerware and serveware were centerpieces at my family’s barbeques growing up — since they’re made from enamelware, we never worried about dropping them or banging them around, and it’s hard to take your eyes off the colorful, splatter-patterned exterior. Since moving from the suburbs to the city, I can confirm they’re just as great to use indoors. This set comes with dinner plates, raised salad plates, cereal bowls and mugs. You can purchase them in colors like Burgundy and Cream Splatter, Red Splatter, Black Splatter, Blue Splatter and more.
Material: enamelware | Number of pieces: 16 | Number of place settings: 4 | Microwave-safe: no | Oven-safe: no | Dishwasher-safe: no
A dinnerware set is a collection of matching or coordinated dishes used for dining and serving, says Robbins. Sometimes these bundles include other pieces like mugs and platters. Dinnerware sets come with everything you’ll need, while open stock dinnerware involves curating your own collection by purchasing items one at a time.
In its most basic form, a dinnerware set includes plates and bowls in varying sizes. Some sets include add-ons, like mugs and saucers, cups, servingware and more. Here are specific dishes experts recommend for everyday dinnerware sets and those you’d use on special occasions.
Dinnerware sets make shopping for dishes quick and easy, says Caza. It comes with a specific number of coordinated dishes in sizes most people commonly use at home, so once you find one that fits your lifestyle, all you have to do is checkout.
Buying a dinnerware set is also typically more cost-effective compared to buying dishes individually, says Robbins. On average, the bundle price is 10% or 15% less compared to the total price of all the dishes in the set if you purchased them separately, our experts say.
One of the downsides of a dinnerware set is that what you get in convenience you give up in flexibility. “You’re stuck with the pieces offered in the set, whether you want them all or not,” says Robbins. “A pro of buying open stock is variability. You can create your own curated set, mixing and matching to tell your story. Plus, if you don’t ever use bread plates or never serve soup, you don’t have to include those items.”
Caza suggests thinking of a dinnerware set as your foundation and building upon it with open stock pieces. That allows you to grow your collection over time while always knowing you have a great base to fall back on.
Material is one of the most important factors to consider while shopping for dinnerware. It dictates other qualities of the pieces, like how resistant they are to stains, durability and microwave safety. To help you decide what material to go with, our experts break down the benefits and drawbacks of a few options below.
Food tends to look best on neutral colors like white, off-white, gray and even navy blue, says King. These colors make food pop instead of competing with it, whereas bright colors may distract your attention away from food. The same goes for big, bold patterns — they’re usually distracting. Subtle patterns and accent colors, however, give your dishware some personality without being overbearing. Think neutral colored dishes with a speckled glaze and or a gold rim, for example, says King .
If you’re unsure about a particular color or pattern for your dishes, or can’t decide between a few, Robbins recommends “test driving” them. Buy one or two pieces in a particular pattern or color and use it for a while. Then, evaluate. “If you love eating off of it and seeing it in your space, consider investing in more,” she says. “If you find it distracting, unappetizing or inappropriate for your décor, you’ll know before you have a 40-piece set.”
Always read and follow a manufacturer’s care instructions, experts say. You can put dinnerware in the dishwasher so long as it’s dishwasher-safe, but if the instructions explicitly tell you to hand-wash pieces, you should. Before you put dinnerware away post-clean, make sure that it’s totally dry — leaving wet spots may lead to bacteria buildup, says Barde. And if you’re trying to get rid of food that’s stuck on the surface of a dish, don’t soak it as a lot of stains begin in murky water, says Robbins. Instead, gently scrub with warm water, a baking soda and dish soap solution and a soft yet textured sponge, like the Scrub Daddy, a NBC Select editor favorite cleaning tool .
It’s easy to stack your dinnerware in kitchen cabinets, or pack it up in a box if you only take it out for special occasions. But to ensure your dinnerware lasts for years, put a little more thought into how you store it, experts say. Below are some best practices to keep in mind.
Dinnerware sets range in price, so you’ll be able to find one within almost any budget. But keep in mind that price is often an indication of quality. It tells you about the quality of the materials used to make each piece, and how each piece was made. For example, handmade pieces are often pricier than dishes that are mass-produced, says Barde. Overall, remember that quality is an investment and well-made dishes last longer, says Robbins.
You don’t need multiple dinnerware sets to create beautiful tablescapes. Instead, consider purchasing a simple, quality set and dressing it up with decorative elements. Below are expert tips for styling your own.
Consider taking your tablescape to the next level by adding color, texture and height through accessories. Here are some of our favorites.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I'm an associate updates editor at NBC Select who writes about kitchen tools, including meal prep containers, pie baking essentials and ice cream makers. For this article, I interviewed four experts about how to shop for dinnerware sets and rounded up highly rated options, expert picks and NBC Select staff recommendations.
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