The 3 best blenders for 2025, tested and reviewed

After researching dozens of blenders, I narrowed down the testing pool to eight popular picks. I ruled out immersion blenders, cordless blenders and single-serve blenders (though we'll be testing them down the road). Instead, I focused on full-size blenders with large pitchers (40 ounces or more), though some worked with personal-size cups, too. In all the models, I looked for a powerful motor, a variety of speeds (not necessarily pre-set functions) and value. Based on my testing, you should expect to spend over $100 for a quality blender — but you don't necessarily need to veer into Vitamix prices for a good one! My picks for the best blenders are easy to use and produce excellent smoothies, frozen drinks, soups, sauces and more.

Table of contents

Best blenders of 2025

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Factors to consider when choosing a blender

My time spent testing blenders yielded these considerations to keep in mind when you're shopping.

• Speed and efficacy: A rich and creamy smoothie should take no more than a minute to blend, and you shouldn't have to strain out any errant chunks of food or scrape unincorporated ingredients from the sides of the pitcher. It should pulverize ice for frozen drinks and make uniform emulsions.

• Dimensions: If you have limited storage space, some models may not work for you. You should consider whether or not you'll use a blender often and if you have room for it in a cabinet or on the countertop — always check the height of the model before you commit.

• Value: These appliances have a range of price points, with only a few under $100. If you know you'll use a machine a few times a month, around $100 will get you a quality model. You'll spend more for high-performance models with commercial-level motors, but it'll pay off in longevity for anyone who uses their blender daily.

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How we tested blenders

After opening each box, I noted if there was any setup required and how easy these appliances were to program. I gave each blender's components and accessories a quick hand-wash with soap and water. I first tested them by making a smoothie that combined lots of different textures, including tough kale, hard frozen fruit and sticky peanut butter and dates. Then I tried a vinaigrette to see how well the oil and vinegar emulsion would hold up and plain ice cubes to see how each blender could handle frozen drinks.

To rank on our list, the gadgets had to excel in the following tests:

• Smoothie test: We combined kale (including stems), frozen fruit, almond milk and peanut butter and blended them to see how even the resulting smoothie texture was. If a smoothie needed to be strained, that was a dealbreaker.

• Emulsion test: A great blender will emulsify, or combine two liquids, like oil and vinegar, that don't usually mix into a stable combination that does not separate immediately after blending.

• Crush test: Does the blender crush ice effectively enough to make a frozen slushy or margarita?

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Other blenders we tested

Ninja Detect Power Blender Pro + ($180): Our runner-up, this blender is an excellent appliance, but the control panel and modes are a bit confusing. Like with some other blenders, it has both a dial and presets, and though I preferred using the former, I can appreciate the multiple options. While not a dealbreaker, the removable blade is one more thing to keep track of and must be handled very carefully. The pitcher and parts are dishwasher-safe.

Breville Fresh and Furious Blender ($200): This was one of the clunkier blenders I tried. It has a 50-ounce pitcher, a 1,100-watt motor, three speeds and two preset buttons. The lid was so tough to pry open after blending that I ended up splattering smoothie all over my face and shirt (and, yes, I used the handy lid assist ring). This machine was not the best at smoothies, leaving some uneven texture, though it worked well for vinaigrettes and crushing ice.

KitchenAid K150 3-Speed Ice Crushing Blender ($200): This 48-ounce blender with a 650-watt motor does crush ice very well and would make an excellent frozen daiquiri, but it wasn't the best for smoothies — unless you love berry seeds. It has a straightforward control panel with a three-speed dial, and it comes with two personal blender cups with to-go lids, which are nice to have but may not be worth the steep price tag.

Cuisinart Smart Power Duet ($124): This combo blender/food processor from Cuisinart has a 40-ounce glass pitcher and a 500-watt motor and a lower profile than some others I tried. I found the control panel a bit chaotic with so many buttons to choose from. It's a good choice for someone with little kitchen storage space who makes smoothies only occasionally and wants a multi-tasking appliance, as it also has a 3-cup mini-food processor attachment.

Oster Classic Series Heritage Blender ($100): This budget-friendly blender looks like a classic retro appliance, probably because Oster was one of the first brands to make a blender. It was one of only two I tried with a glass pitcher (50-ounce), as opposed to plastic. It features a 700-watt motor and a removable blade base. I unwittingly twisted the base loose from the pitcher while attempting to make a smoothie, and it leaked all over my counter and floor. This appliance also emitted a burning rubber smell.

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Blender FAQs

How do I clean my blender?

Many blenders have pitchers and parts that are dishwasher-safe, and some must be hand-washed and dried. Our advice is to hand-wash even dishwasher-safe pitchers and parts as it will prolong the life of your blender and won't take long, especially after using it to make smoothies, soups, slushies or anything that isn't particularly oily. A quick and easy solution is to fill the pitcher halfway with warm, soapy water and blend it for 30 to 60 seconds. If there's still food or oil residue, clean it in the sink with a long-handled bottle brush and some more soapy water. Dry everything with a dish towel (carefully!) before storing it.

What is a tamper?

A tamper is a rod-like tool that pushes ingredients down towards the blade during processing to help dislodge stuck ingredients and burst air bubbles that can form in thick purees. Some blenders (such as the Cleanblend, Vitamix and Nutribullet) come with a tamper.

We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.