The Best Measuring Cups (2024)

We also pulled from our personal baking, cooking, and reporting experiences. Sarah Zorn is a recipe tester for cookbooks, and Sarah has reviewed kitchen products for Food Network and USA Today. Wirecutter’s Ganda Suthivarakom, who wrote the original guide, has reviewed numerous kitchen items for Wirecutter, and has been published in Saveur and Every Day With Rachael Ray. Ray Aguilera worked as a restaurant critic in San Francisco, is an avid cook and home brewer, and has written and edited product reviews since 2006.

If you don’t currently have a liquid measuring cup and a set of good dry cups, you should invest in both. Liquids level themselves, so measuring against a fixed line on a clear container works best. Flour and other dry ingredients mound and are generally measured using a dip-and-sweep method, so cups with flat rims work best for scooping and leveling.

Flour Bakery owner Joanne Chang elaborates: “If you try to measure liquids in a dry cup, they will spill over the edge if you fill up correctly. And then you will lose liquid. If you try to measure dry in a liquid cup, it’s very difficult to level the dry ingredient (unless it’s something like sugar, in which case you can tamp the measuring cup so that it levels off). And when you try to level off the dry, you will pack in more than you probably want or get an uneven level, leaving you with a mismeasured item.”

That said, even the best measuring cups used correctly are not as accurate as a scale. That’s because ingredients like flour can vary in density. The same volume of flour can vary in weight by several ounces, depending on factors such as how old it is, the humidity in the room, and how forcefully you’ve scooped it. When you measure by weight, however, you will end up with the same amount every time. So for tasks requiring precision, like baking, we recommend using a kitchen scale (we have a guide to those, too). But measuring cups can still come in handy for lots of other cooking tasks, especially since they’re the standard metric for most American recipes. You may find yourself using them for everything from preparing rice to measuring a cup of chopped herbs.

Although accuracy is the most important feature of a measuring cup and can really be determined only in tests, there are a number of other features we looked for as we researched hundreds of cups.

We looked for dry measuring cups that were:

We looked for liquid measuring cups that were:

To test the dry cups, we filled the 1-cup measure to the brim with water and weighed the results on a digital scale to check for accuracy. Although we wouldn’t usually use dry measuring cups to measure liquid, a cup of water has a clearly defined weight, which allowed us to easily determine the accuracy of each cup. We reached out to the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Office of Weights and Measures, which told us: “1 fluid ounce of water at 20°C (68°F) will weigh approximately 0.065081506 pounds—8 fluid ounces [or one cup] will be about 0.520652 pounds.” Rounding to the nearest gram (the resolution of our test scale), that means 1 cup of water weighs 236 grams, the standard we used for all of our testing.

To compare the many identical-looking sets of cups we tested in 2019, we also tested the accuracy of every other cup in each set using the same water-weighing method. To account for human error, we repeated every test three times, averaging the results.

Beyond accuracy, we tested how easy each set of cups was to use. We checked to see whether the smallest cup in each set could sit balanced on its own, without tipping from the weight of the handle. We scooped oats from a large canister to see how easy each cup was to maneuver in a narrow space. We also scooped and leveled a cup of flour to make sure that no dry ingredients got stuck in crevices that would throw off the measure. We measured peanut butter and scraped it out to see how well each cup handled thick, sticky ingredients and how hard each was to clean. Finally, we tried to bend the handle of each cup, with a reasonable amount of pressure, against a glass container.

To test the liquid measuring cups for accuracy, we again measured a cup of water and weighed it. We tried pouring from each cup to see if it dribbled. To address concerns we had about the plastic and silicone cups, we poured hot tomato sauce into the cups and let it sit for 10 minutes to check for stains and smells. Then we heated a pot and set it against the lips of the measuring cups to make sure nothing melted. And finally, because oil tends to cling to plastic, we poured a tablespoon of oil into each cup, swished it around, then washed the cups by hand in the sink to see how easy they were to clean.

We tested several sets of nearly identical dry measuring cups, including sets from ChefsGrade, Simply Gourmet, Hudson Essentials, Lee Valley, and KitchenMade, and we would confidently recommend any one of them over all the other sets we’ve tested. The Simply Gourmet 7 Piece Measuring Cups Set is our top pick simply because, as of this writing, it’s the best deal. But otherwise, all the other sets are just as good. These are the most accurate cups we tried, as well as some of the sturdiest, with comfortable handles that didn’t bend under pressure. They’re easy to clean and nest well for storage, and they didn’t topple over on the counter the way some others did. Stamped secondary measurements on the sides of each cup are also useful.

All of the sets mentioned above are clones—not knockoffs—which means there’s no original maker for us to recommend. They’re a white-label product, made by one manufacturer for other companies to put their names on. And they’re great. There are some slight cosmetic differences between one set and the next. For example, the placement of the measurements etched into the handles varies. And some sets have pour spouts on one side of each cup, while others have pour spouts on both sides. But we don’t think any of those small differences matter—pour spouts aren’t really necessary on dry cups anyway.

What does matter is the cups’ accuracy. We tested every cup in each six- or seven-piece set and found that almost all of them came within 2 or 3 grams of perfect accuracy. The only exception was the the ChefsGrade 1-cup measure, which averaged 242 grams, 6 grams off our 236-gram standard. But that’s still far more accurate than many other models we tested, like the 1-cup measures from Cuisipro (213 grams) or OXO (222 grams), and within a margin of error that could probably be chalked up to slight variability among individual sets.

Although other cups we tested bent easily at the handle, even under light pressure, these cups didn’t bend at all, no matter what we were scooping or how much pressure we applied. As our experts noted, balanced handles are important, too. A number of sets we tested contained cups that were off-balance, with heavy handles that caused the smallest measures to tip backward. All of the clone cups were able to stand upright on their own, which comes in handy when you’re pouring ingredients into the cup, rather than scooping from a larger container.

The single-piece construction of these cups means there aren’t any seams, nooks, or crannies to trap flour or other ingredients at the point where the handle meets the cup. This made cleanup a snap, and since stainless steel is nonporous, we had no trouble with stains or smells lingering. All of the six nearly identical sets we tested also feature additional stamped measurements on the cups’ sides, which (though not the most accurate way to measure) allow you to use a single cup for multiple measurements. You can find a number of similar clone sets, like these from Bellemain, that don’t have the stamped measurements on the sides. We suspect these are just as accurate as the sets we tested, but we chose not to test them because they lack those extra measurements.

A small tab on the outside rim opposite the handle of each cup allows all the clone cups to nest neatly inside one another, without the smaller sizes tipping forward into the larger ones. Almost all of the other cups we tested tilted upward at the handles when stacked, making them difficult to store in shallow drawers due to the increased height. All of the sets we tested also came with an easily removable ring, making it simple to keep them together or to hang them from a hook.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Whether you get the Simply Gourmet set or a clone, don’t expect any kind of reliable customer service. Simply Gourmet doesn’t appear to have a website, and we found other companies that do, such as KitchenMade, difficult to contact through the online forms they provided. In the past we’ve tried contacting KitchenMade about the lifetime guarantee that supposedly comes with its cups, but the company never responded. This would probably be a dealbreaker for a different product, but given the simplicity of a measuring cup and the sturdiness of these in particular, we’re not worried about them failing. We’ve been recommending one of these clone sets since 2013 (the one from KitchenMade used to be our top pick, and the one from Lee Valley our runner-up), and we have used them in our test kitchen without issue for just as long.

The Pyrex Prepware 2-Cup Measuring Cup is our long-standing favorite liquid measuring cup. It’s well designed, with easy-to-read markings, a good pour spout that minimizes drips, an L-shaped handle that allows it to nest inside other cups, and a wide, short profile that gives you space to mix ingredients. Made from shatter-resistant tempered glass, it’s one of the more durable liquid cups we’ve found, and it won’t retain stains or smells like plastic cups do. The Pyrex’s classic design, which hasn’t changed much since 1941, has earned this cup a place in nearly every kitchen we’ve been in. You can even find Julia Child’s Pyrex cups in the National Museum of American History.

Pyrex’s bold red markings make reading measurements easy. One side shows US cup and ounce markings, and the reverse side has a metric scale in milliliters. Many of the other cups we tested opted for shorter measurement lines centered on the face of the cup, but we found that the staggered arrangement on the Pyrex was easier to read without being too crowded. It’s a small detail that makes a huge difference.

Unlike plastic or silicone cups, the Pyrex cup won’t stain or retain smells. We didn’t have much trouble cleaning any of the cups we tested, but oil tends to cling more to plastic than to glass, making the Pyrex easier to hand-wash.

Its heft, compared with lighter plastic or glass models, actually made the Pyrex a bit easier to pour from, especially in a thin stream. Drips are minimal, which is particularly nice when you’re measuring multiple ingredients in succession while cooking.

We prefer the Pyrex’s L-shaped handle—as opposed to cups with loop handles—because it allows you to nest the cup inside a bowl or another Pyrex cup. (In addition to the 2-cup size, you can also get the Pyrex in 1-cup, 4-cup, and 8-cup sizes, all of which stack nicely together.) This helps it take up less space in the cupboard and allows you to easily store tools like measuring cups and mixing bowls together.

The Pyrex’s wider footprint makes this cup more versatile overall. The wider dimensions enabled us to whip and mix ingredients in it more easily than we could in taller, narrower cups, such as those from Cambro and Rubbermaid Commercial Products.

Pyrex cups are made of tempered soda-lime glass, which is more impact-resistant than other types of glass. Although it’s not totally shatter-proof, the Pyrex has a good chance of surviving if you drop it on the floor or bang it against the kitchen sink. Tempered glass is also more resistant to thermal shock (which causes glass to shatter when it’s subjected to extreme temperature changes) than regular soda-lime glass is. Borosilicate glass (which some other cups, such as older Pyrex cups, are made of) has even better thermal-shock resistance, but it’s otherwise not as durable. For the day-to-day use and abuse a liquid measuring cup goes through, we prefer tempered glass.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

When it came to accuracy, 1 cup of water in the Pyrex cup averaged 256 grams, 20 grams more than the test standard. But considering the inherently inaccurate nature of measuring cups, we were willing to overlook that.

Because they’re painted on, the measurement markings on a Pyrex cup may fade over time. We’ve noticed this starting to happen on the Pyrex cup we’ve been using for years in our test kitchen. But we think the bold red markings can remain legible longer than the finer markings on some other cups we looked at. You can also help prevent fading by hand-washing the cup with a soft sponge. Unfortunately, there just aren’t many good options for liquid measuring cups with molded, rather than printed, markings. But if you really want one, consider the polycarbonate plastic cups from Rubbermaid Commercial Products or Cambro, which we cover in the Competition section, below. Both have molded markings that won’t wear off (though they’ll become harder to read once the paint on them wears off).

Dry measuring cups

The upside to the Prepworks by Progressive Collapsible Measuring Cups is that they collapse for easy storage. The flexible silicone material is also comfortable to hold and cleanly releases sticky ingredients. But these cups tip over easily, and they hold on to stains and smells.

We liked that the Oxo Good Grips Stainless Steel Measuring Cups with Magnetic Snaps felt balanced and comfortable to hold, with short, nonslip handles and round, generous cups. The fact that they adhere to one another with magnets—meaning we didn’t have to struggle with a ring—was another plus. But they’re quite tall when stacked together, and they lack milliliter markings. They weren’t as accurate as our favorite cups, and there are only four in the set—our top pick includes seven cups for about the same price.

The New Star Foodservice Stainless Steel Measuring Cups performed admirably in terms of accuracy, but the long wire handles were rather unwieldy, and the cups tended to tip when set on the counter. The connecting ring was also difficult to remove and easy to lose. The oddest issue was that measurement markings were inconveniently printed on the undersides of the cups, rather than on the handles, where they’re easy to read at all times.

Although certainly attractive, the Cuisipro Stainless Steel Measuring Cups felt heavy and unbalanced, with long, tapering handles and oval cups. They didn’t sit without tipping, and they could easily become tiresome during a long day of baking.

The Bellemain Stainless Steel Measuring Cup Set is another clone that’s similar to those we recommend from Simply Gourmet and others. However, these cups lack the secondary markings on the side, which we think makes them less useful overall.

The Culina Stackable 6-Piece Stainless Steel Measuring Cups set is sturdy, and we appreciated the deep, clear size markings etched into the handles. But the smallest cup was poorly balanced and barely able to stand on its own, and there are no alternative measurements inside the cup. This was one of the least accurate dry cups we’ve tested, measuring 4 percent more water than a standard cup.

The accuracy of the AMCO Advanced Performance Measuring Cup Set also left much to be desired (the 1-cup measure gave us 5 percent less than a standard cup of water), and the smallest cup didn’t stay upright on a countertop.

The All-Clad Stainless Steel Measuring Cups are beautiful and accurate, and they feel indestructible. But the high price feels excessive, especially considering reports that the stainless steel rusts. And the generic cups we recommend are at least as accurate and durable, for less than half the price.

The flared lip of the CIA Masters Collection Stainless Steel 4-Piece Measuring Cup Set could cause over-measuring—a clean sweep of fine particles like flour would throw off measurements. The mL and ounce markings are also inconveniently hidden on the undersides of the handles.

We strongly disliked the AMCO Stainless Steel Measuring Cups. The flimsy metal handles bent easily, as many reviewers testified. These were also the least accurate of the cups we tested, with the ¼ cup giving us 10 percent less water than the standard quarter cup.

Liquid measuring cups

The was one of the most accurate liquid cups we tested, and it is both durable and heatproof. But silicone stains easily. It was fine when we left hot tomato sauce in the cup for 10 minutes, but after about 30 minutes the cup was permanently yellowed. Those with smaller hands may also find it a bit difficult to grip this handle-less cup securely when it’s full and heavy.

The durable Rubbermaid Commercial Products 1 Pint Bouncer Measuring Cup can easily survive being dropped, and the printed markings haven’t shown signs of fading after several vigorous scrubbings. Still, it’s not quite as easy to clean as glass, and the looped handles prevent nesting.

The lightweight plastic OXO Good Grips 2-Cup Angled Measuring Cup is durable, and the angled, read-from-above interior markings are convenient—no more bending over the counter to read quantities. But they’re inconsistent with the markings on the side of the cup and less accurate. Plus all those extra edges and corners make cleaning more of a chore.

The beaker-style Catamount Measuring Cup (now discontinued) is made of borosilicate glass, but for use in kitchens, we prefer the thicker, sturdier feel of Pyrex. This was one of our least accurate liquid measuring cups, with the 1-cup measure giving us 5 percent less water than the standard cup. Also, the loop handle makes nesting impossible.

The Cambro Camwear 1-Pint Measuring Cup is made of durable plastic, and it cleans up easily—but we still prefer glass measuring cups overall. The molded markings won’t wear off, but the red and blue printing is already showing signs of wear after only a few washings by hand. Loop handles prevent nesting, too.

The OXO Good Grips 2 Cup Adjustable Measuring Cup is a plunger-style cup intended to push viscous ingredients like honey or peanut butter out cleanly. It’s a bit clumsy to use and more difficult to clean than a standard measuring cup. It’s tall, narrow, and top-heavy when filled. Peanut butter and honey both slid out easily when we pushed the plunger. But any time or effort saved by not having to scrape out a standard cup was more than overshadowed by the time it took to clean the two-piece cup.

1. Joanne Chang, chef-owner of Flour Bakery, interview, 2013

2. Leah Koenig, The Hadassah Everyday Cookbook, interview, 2013

3. Lynn Blanchard, test kitchen director, Better Homes & Gardens, interview, 2013