We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. The 11 Best Dinnerware Sets for Every Style From everyday to special occasions, set the table with our favorite picks. By Lauren Wicks Lauren Wicks Lauren Wicks has been a writer and editor since 2022. Lauren's work has been featured across a host of respected national media brands, including Food & Wine, Redbook, Real Simple, and Delish. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 17, 2026 In This Article View All In This Article Top Picks Reviews How We Tested Factors to Consider FAQ Other Sets We Tested Our Expertise Credit: Food & Wine Dinnerware may be a fun purchase, but it also takes some forethought. First, there's your hosting style: Are you a frequent entertainer, or do you prefer to play the grateful house guest who brings the best host gift? How often you have people over will determine how many settings you need and the types of pieces you’ll want in the setting itself. You’ll also want to consider your favorite glassware, flatware set, and other serving pieces: Do you want a cohesive or more collected look? And because dinnerware sets range in price, you’ll want to know your budget. Our editors did the dirty work to determine the best dinnerware sets for every budget and style, from modern and minimalistic to retro with a pop of color. Testing 10 sets at home, we considered their durability, overall look and feel, and value to narrow down the list. Our Favorite Everyday Dinnerware Set The Williams Sonoma Open Kitchen 16-Piece Set is a great value set that can be used for everyday dining or dressed up for more formal occasions. Top Picks Best Value : Williams Sonoma Open Kitchen 16-Piece Dinnerware Set at Williams Sonoma $144 Jump to Review Best Ceramic: Staub 12-Piece Ceramic Dinnerware Set at Amazon $240 Jump to Review Best Porcelain: Pillivuyt Coupe Porcelain Dinnerware Collection at Williams Sonoma $130 Jump to Review Best Modern: Fable Dinnerware Set, Set of 16 at Fable.com $331 Jump to Review Best Stoneware: West Elm Kanto Stoneware Dinnerware at West Elm $240 Jump to Review Best Everyday Stoneware: Year & Day The Core Set at Yearandday.com $264 Jump to Review Best Straight-Sided: West Elm Straight-Sided Stone Dinnerware, Set of 16 at West Elm $176 Jump to Review Best Dessert Set: Fortessa Jupiter Glass Dinnerware Set at Amazon $114 Jump to Review Best Enameled: Falcon Enamelware Plate Set at Amazon $46 Jump to Review Best Melamine: SALE Thomas Fuchs 1/2 & 1/2 Melamine Side Plates at Amazon $65 $54 Jump to Review Best Value Williams Sonoma Open Kitchen 16-Piece Dinnerware Set Credit: Williams Sonoma $144 at Williams Sonoma Pros This is a great basic set for everyday use, as it’s durable, versatile, and easy to clean. Cons We found the cereal bowls a bit small. This 16-piece set from Williams Sonoma’s Open Kitchen line was a big hit at a relatively low price. We love the addition of the mugs, which the average dinnerware set lacks, and the comfortable-to-hold 13-ounce size. White with sleek edges, the plates and bowls be dressed up for more formal occasions, too. Matching edge plates, serving pieces, mugs, and more are available for purchase if you want to round out your collection. What’s Included: Four settings, each including a dinner plate, salad plate, cereal bowl, and mug | Material: Porcelain | Dishwasher Safe: Yes Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Best Ceramic Staub 12-Piece Ceramic Dinnerware Set Credit: Walmart $240 $221 at Amazon $342 $240 at Wayfair $240 at Sur La Table Pros This set is incredibly durable and is safe for the microwave, dishwasher, freezer, and even the oven. Cons It’s on the more expensive end of this list. We love Staub and Le Creuset for their made-to-last enameled cast iron cookware, and we found the same quality in this dinnerware set from Staub: “I love the construction and durability. I feel like these dishes will last forever,” says senior writer Jason Horn. At the same time, the pieces feel lightweight, and they’re easy to clean by hand or in the dishwasher. While the size of the bowls feels a bit small for salad or pasta, Staub also sells larger matching pasta bowl sets. And if you’re looking for more pieces to suit your next gathering, every item can be purchased in four-packs. We checked in with Jason recently to see how his set has held up over time. He was pleased to report that the plates and bowls remain indestructible and extremely easy to clean. The glaze is still thick and glossy, and it doesn’t stain or stick to anything. They come out of the dishwasher looking brand-new every time. What’s Included: Four settings, each including a dinner plate, salad plate, and cereal bowl | Material: Porcelain | Dishwasher Safe: Yes Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Best Porcelain Pillivuyt Coupe Porcelain Dinnerware Collection Credit: Williams Sonoma $130 at Williams Sonoma Pros This is a durable, versatile set that you can add to over time. Cons It’s the priciest pick on our list, and we didn’t find the coffee cup very comfortable to hold. We loved the everyday elegance of this setting, which can transition well from weeknight dinners to three-course holiday feasts. High-fired porcelain will make your table feel more special, and as beautiful (and fragile) as it looks, it’s surprisingly sturdy. This set is also available in 16- and 20-piece sets for those who are looking to invest in dinnerware for multiple people, and all items are available for individual purchase to suit all of your dining and entertaining needs. What’s Included: One setting including a dinner plate, salad plate, pasta bowl, and a cup with saucer | Material: Porcelain | Dishwasher Safe: Yes Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Best Modern Fable Dinnerware Set, Set of 16 Credit: Fable $331 $298 at Fable.com Pros Hand-finished in Portugal, the set has an artisanal feel and is sustainably made. Cons We noticed small scratches accumulating over just a few uses, and it’s a bit pricey. Fable’s 16-piece dinnerware set will make any table feel fresh with its organic shapes, modern finishes, and a nice textural contrast. It’s made of locally sourced Portuguese clay in a zero-waste facility, which means extra materials are reused instead of discarded. The set comes in one glossy and eight semi-matte finishes, with a selection of modern, muted colors to choose from. While we noticed a few tiny scratches within a month of use, using scouring powder or a brush on the dishes can get them looking smooth again. This set is dishwasher-safe and oven-safe up to 450°F, attesting to its durability. "After testing Fable's dinnerware set for four months, I still have mostly positive things to say!" says senior editor Danielle St. Pierre. "I use the bowls and large plates at least once a day. I dropped one large dinner plate in my sink while hand-washing it. Sadly, it broke, but apart from that, I haven't noticed any significant scratching or dinging from constant daily use. Since we wrapped this test, I've also tested a few speckled white dinnerware pieces from Fable and actually recommend these over the midnight color. The unglazed pottery bottoms look more cohesive and intentional in the lighter colors." What’s Included: Four settings, including a dinner plate, salad plate, pasta bowl, and cereal bowl | Material: Ceramic | Dishwasher Safe: Yes Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Best Stoneware West Elm Kanto Stoneware Dinnerware Credit: West Elm $240 at West Elm Pros This set has excellent dish variety, a smart design, beautiful colors to choose from, and is high quality. Cons Utensils can interact with the plates to create a scratchy matte feeling, which may irk some people. We loved this set from the moment we received it. Upon unboxing, we felt the weight, the durability, and the overall quality of their design. Every part of each piece is fully finished, glazed, and smoothed, and the speckles are consistent; each piece fits beautifully together when stacked. We also appreciate the functional designs of the dishes, having just the right shape and volume to harbor lots of different recipes and ingredients. With 16 pieces, there are no additional pieces you need to purchase. The set comes stocked with both cereal and pasta bowls, but we found each dish to serve its own purpose. While you might get some overlap with the two types of bowls, we have found them both to be useful for specific instances — the set wouldn’t be complete without either. The same can be said with salad and dinner plates. While this set is suitable for a family, it would also be a perfect pick for apartment dwellers and couples who are trying to be selective about how much space they’re willing to give to their dinnerware. What’s Included: Settings of four dinner plates, four salad plates, four cereal bowls, and four pasta bowls | Material: Glazed stoneware | Dishwasher Safe: Yes Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Best Everyday Stoneware Year & Day The Core Set Credit: Year & Day $264 $238 at Yearandday.com View on Allmodern.com Pros These handmade pieces feel sturdy, high-quality, and modern. Cons They can feel slippery when wet. This beautiful 16-piece set includes four large and four small bowls and plates, making it complete for any small family or couple. The set strikes the perfect balance of both practicality and aesthetics, and the soft curves and colors are a signature of this editor-favorite brand. The semi-matte glaze and the monochrome look make the set feel luxurious yet approachable for everyday use, and while testing, we noted its durability, ease of use, and low-maintenance care. What’s Included: 4 dinner plates, 4 salad plates, 4 large bowls, 4 small bowls | Material: Ceramic | Dishwasher Safe: Yes Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Best Straight-Sided West Elm Straight-Sided Stone Dinnerware, Set of 16 Credit: West Elm $176 at West Elm Pros This set offers style, versatility, and durability at a reasonable price. Cons The straight sides of the dishes make fitting them in some dishwasher racks difficult. Can you tell we think stoneware dinnerware is an appealing vibe? Made in a Fair Trade-certified factory, this stoneware dinner set from West Elm offers a cool, stackable design that looks as great on open shelving as it does on a table. The uniform sizes of the plates and bowls make it easy to organize in a cabinet, though fitting them in the dishwasher requires a bit of strategizing. Even though it showed no signs of wear over our initial testing period, over time, we've noticed the salad plates and dinner plates show some lines and scratches from cutlery, and one of the plates has a couple of small pigmented spots or stains on it that we can't scrub off. Still, they've been durable against cracking and chipping, and we like that we can stack them up when I take them out of the dishwasher without fearing that they'll break. Even with the slight damage, we still feel they're of great value, and we continue to recommend them. We consider it a great mid-range investment for its quality and versatility. All of the pieces are available for purchase in sets of four and eight if you want to expand your collection. What’s Included: Four settings, including a dinner plate, salad plate, pasta bowl, and cereal bowl | Material: Porcelain | Dishwasher Safe: Yes Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Best Dessert Set Fortessa Jupiter Glass Dinnerware Set Credit: Amazon $120 at Fortessa.com Pros At a reasonable price, this glass dinnerware is fit for holidays, special occasions, and everyday use. Cons With the beaded texture, they don’t stack as neatly as smoother sets. This set of blown-glass plates, offered in five colorways, makes an elegant statement during the holidays and special occasions. We enjoyed the uniqueness of these pieces, though we advise against stacking them due to their texture, which makes them a bit wobbly when stacked. We also fear that too much pressure would crack the plates. However, we think they would be great for indoor and outdoor use, and we would love to consider these pieces for gifting. After a pretty significant amount of time testing these, we've noticed a few things about the set to be aware of. While the textured exterior and bottom are very pretty, it's important to be cognizant of your table surface when using these, which can get easily scratched up. In addition, with its soda-lime silica material, these are not microwave-safe, which makes them unfavorable for everyday use and a bit of a danger if someone in the household doesn’t realize they shouldn’t be microwaved. That said, we think this beautiful stack is an especially great option for avid home bakers who frequently serve up their goodies to loved ones. What’s Included: Settings of four dinner plates, four salad plates, and six cereal bowls | Material: Glass made with soda-lime silica | Dishwasher Safe: Yes Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Best Enameled Falcon Enamelware Plate Set Credit: Falcon Enamelware $46 at Amazon $46 at Falconenamelware.com Pros They are modern, lightweight, and durable. Cons Only plates are included, and these are not microwave-safe. Made from heavy-gauge steel coated in porcelain enamel, these 9-inch outdoor plates can handle the elements. Shatterproof and lightweight, you can transfer from the kitchen to the deck with ease, and the modern-colored rim looks chic in any outdoor setting. Take these plates camping or just to the backyard, but be careful when washing: The rolled rim could lead to future rust, so be sure to dry thoroughly before storing them away. What’s Included: 4 dinner plates | Material: Enamelware | Dishwasher Safe: Yes Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Best Melamine Thomas Fuchs 1/2 & 1/2 Melamine Side Plates Credit: Amazon $65 $54 at Amazon Pros The modern design feels fresh, and we appreciate their durability. Cons The plates are a bit smaller than your typical dinner plates. Durable, kid-friendly, and excellent for outdoor use, we love the modern two-way design of these melamine plates. During testing, we found that these stack easily and were among the sturdiest, chip-resistant plates we tested. At eight inches, these also make excellent accent plates, perfect for appetizers, sides, or salads. If you already have a set you love and wish to expand your outdoor dinnerware, these are a great option. What's included: 4 plates | Material: Melamine | Dishwasher safe: No Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Best Bamboo Chic Leaf Compostable & Biodegradable Palm Leaf Disposable Bamboo Plates Credit: Amazon $39 at Amazon Pros These are 100% compostable and biodegradable. Cons They are not reusable plates. Oftentimes, the compostable plates at the backyard bash can feel way too flimsy, but not these. Made from pressed palm leaves, they’re thick and rigid. We used these at one of our own parties, and we felt they looked surprisingly upscale. You can also feel good that these plates are 100% compostable and biodegradable, free of any lurking chemicals ready to settle into your food. And at 50 plates, you can use these for more than one gathering, party size-dependent. What's included: 48-50 plates | Material: Bamboo | Dishwasher safe: No How We Tested Dinnerware Sets Our editors used ordered dining sets in their homes, washing them by hand and testing them in the dishwasher and microwave (if appropriate) to see how well they fared. After more than a month of testing, we compared notes and ranked the best dinnerware sets based on factors like design, durability, care and cleaning, and value. Factors to Consider Open Stock vs. Sets Being able to purchase dinnerware in sets can be useful in helping you build a collection with ease, especially if you’re buying from a specific line for the first time. Having the option to also purchase open stock, however, is a great insurance policy if a dish chips or shatters (it happens to the best of us). Plus, you can invest in more sets and individual pieces as your specific needs change through the years. Material and Care It’s important to consider the type of material you want in your dinnerware, as that will affect the level of care required to keep it shiny and scratch-free. While most of the sets we tested are made of porcelain, the quality can vary, as well as the type of glaze, which can have an effect on the aesthetic appeal and durability. Additionally, you’ll want to check the care instructions of any dinnerware set you are looking to purchase, as it may not be suitable for use in the dishwasher and may not be microwave-, oven-, or freezer-safe. Design Naturally, you’ll want a dinnerware set that fits your style. It’s worth browsing a variety of dinnerware styles, in person or online, to determine what you’re looking for from an aesthetic perspective. Most of the sets featured here make excellent neutral settings for a variety of occasions that can be zhuzhed up with festive linens and decor or kept clean and simple for Wednesday night dinner. Frequently Asked Questions Where’s the best place to buy dinnerware sets? Shopping for dinnerware sets online offers you tons of options choices, the ability to compare prices, and convenience. Of course, you also run the risk of a set arriving with broken pieces, but in our experience, the majority of pieces have arrived intact. Our go-to retailers include Williams Sonoma, West Elm, and Food52 for their curated collections and brand exclusives, though we’ve also ordered our favorite brands, including Staub, from Amazon.Shopping in-person, on the other hand, can give you a better idea of the size, feel, and quality of pieces. “As with clothing, there are so many places to buy dinnerware sets, from the affordable to the luxurious,” says Stephanie Nass, entertaining expert and founder of the home goods store Chefanie. “On the less expensive end, I love to purchase at flea markets or second-hand stores." Which dinnerware set material is best? Selecting the right dinnerware set material is all about the occasion, according to Nass. She likes pairing stoneware dinner sets with dark cotton napkins for everyday dining, and fine bone china pairs with linen napkins and nice cocktail glasses for more formal and festive gatherings. How many sets of dinnerware should I have? There’s no set number of dinnerware you should have, according to Nass. While you’ll want a set of everyday plates and bowls, you may also want to expand your collection to a set (or multiple sets) for holidays, especially if you enjoy hosting people for dinner. Just make sure you have enough storage space. Other Dinnerware Sets We Tested Strong Contenders West Elm Organic Porcelain Dinner Plate Set ($42 at West Elm) While we thought this set of four dinner plates (matching pieces are available on the site) was elegant and durable, the plates felt a bit clunky for both the dishwasher and storage. We’d recommend them for those seeking an eco-friendly option or something suited for more formal occasions sans little ones. What Didn't Make the List We tried a budget-friendly 18-piece set from Corelle Vitrelle (Amazon) that features six bowls, small plates, and large plates, respectively. The only positive was the price point, however, as the quality and durability was lacking. We also tested a 16-piece set from Made In’s Essentials line (Made In) and were surprised by how easily the pieces chipped and scratched, especially due to the price tag and how beautiful the set looked when it first arrived. Our Expertise Lauren Wicks is a freelance writer and editor with more than six years of experience writing for lifestyle brands, including home and design publications. Lauren tapped Stephanie Nass, chef, shop owner, entertaining expert, and author of Swing By! Entertaining Recipes and the New Art of Gathering for this story to glean her expert advice on how to invest in dinnerware and the different types needed for successful hosting. Explore more: What to Buy Hosting & Dining Serveware Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit