When shopping for measuring cups, think about your daily lifestyle and how you’ll use them. Since they’re not one size fits all, we’ve found the best cups for both liquids and dry ingredients in a variety of styles. “Dry and liquid ingredients should be measured differently, using cups for dry ingredients and liquid measuring cups for liquids,” says Jen Pattap, baker and founder of Piece of Love Pastries. Consider whether you want to display the cups or tuck them in a drawer or cabinet, how large of a set you’ll need, and how much storage space you have. Depending on the frequency you cook (and your cooking style), your measuring cups could be items you use daily, so you’ll want them to be easily accessible. Based on various features, budgets, and materials, we rounded up the best measuring cups on the market. Overall, our top pick for the best measuring cups for liquid is the Pyrex Prepware 2 Cup Measuring Cup because it’s durable and easy to use. For dry ingredients, the CozyKit 7 Piece Stainless Steel Measuring Cup Set was the clear winner due to its sturdiness. Here are the best measuring cups. If you’re looking for just one, a 2-cup measuring cup will be sufficient for most recipes. If the recipe calls for more than two cups of liquid, simply fill the cup up more than once. If you do have multiple Pyrex measuring cups, the handle shape allows the cups to be nested into each other. While this size of measuring cup is a bit hefty, it’s also super durable and will likely not break if dropped. This durable measuring cup is dishwasher, freezer, oven, and microwave safe, and the non-porous glass is easy to clean and will not stain or retain smells. Pyrex makes these measuring cups in a wide range of sizes. Because of its strong construction, reliability, and simplicity, we chose this as the overall best measuring cup. Price at time of publish: $13 Number of Cups Included: One 2-cup measuring cup | Material: Non-porous glass | Ingredient Type: Liquid This seven-piece set includes the standard measuring cups along with useful ⅔ and ¾ cup sizes. The outside of the cups have the measurements stamped into the metal, and the handle has engraved measurements in both cups and milliliters, preventing any confusion or wearing away of markings, which can often happen with painted-on measurements. When the cooking is done, these wash up easily and can be compactly stacked for storage. The cups also come with a metal ring to clip them all together, making organizing all your cups simple and clutter free. Price at time of publish: $20 Number of Cups Included: Seven | Material: Stainless steel | Ingredient Type: Dry Made out of BPA-free plastic, the clear cups are dishwasher safe. They’re easy to clean and the material doesn’t stain or absorb odors. Cleverly crafted, these are fun to use and long-lasting. The set is more expensive than other options and only includes four cups, but because of its innovative design, it’s one of our top picks for measuring cups. Price at time of publish: $26 Number of Cups Included: Four | Material: BPA-free plastic | Ingredient Type: Dry Each cup is engraved with both cup and milliliter measurements on the outside of the cup, so there’s no risk of the measurements disappearing from wear and tear. This stainless steel set can be easily hand washed or washed in the dishwasher. There are a few color options available for the handles including black, brown, green, or a multicolor set. If you prefer a classic stainless steel look, you can also order a plain set without the colorful silicone handles. Price at time of publish: $26 Number of Cups Included: Seven | Material: Stainless steel | Ingredient Type: Dry There are some benefits and drawbacks to the polycarbonate made cups. These measuring cups are not microwave safe, so if you like to melt butter or chocolate right in the measuring cup, avoid this pick. On the other hand, the plastic material makes these much lighter weight than their glass counterparts. The lighter weight comes in handy when you’re pouring 16 cups of liquid, which is quite heavy on its own. While five cups might be too many for some home cooks, others find that having the range of sizes comes in handy for uses beyond cooking, like gardening, watering plants, laundry, or other household cleaning needs. The measuring cups do stack, so the five cups can easily be stored in a pantry or other spot in your home. Price at time of publish: $35 Number of Cups Included: Five | Material: Polycarbonate | Ingredient Type: Liquid All the tools feature standard U.S. and metric measurements engraved on the tool, so they’re simple to read and won’t fade over time. We especially like the elongated rectangular shape of the spoons that allows the spoons to fit right into narrow spice jars, something rounded spoons can’t often do. To store these, you can stack the cups and spoons inside of each other. The cups and spoons also have holes in the handles, so you can keep them together with a metal ring or hang them from hooks to save space. Price at time of publish: $31 Number of Cups Included: Six cups and six spoons | Material: Stainless steel | Ingredient Type: Dry Liquid measuring cups can take up quite a bit of room, but this set will save you valuable cabinet space since the cups nest inside of each other. The colorful silicone bottoms help them stay level and secure on a countertop, so you don’t have to worry about them tipping or wobbling. This set is dishwasher safe on the top rack, but if you prefer to hand wash your tools, it may be difficult to squeeze a sponge into the smaller beakers. There’s also no handle, so if you prefer that feature, another option on this list may be a better pick for you. Price at time of publish: $23 Number of Cups Included: Seven | Material: BPA-free plastic | Ingredient Type: Liquid Since both pieces are microwave safe, the 2 cup size is perfect for reheating leftovers or other food in the microwave. The cup’s top helps prevent splatter and keeps the heat in. The top is also useful if you’re mixing up a batter or other ingredient and then need to store it on the counter or in the fridge. The top will prevent spills or odors getting in and out of the measuring cup. Price at time of publish: $26 Number of Cups Included: One | Material: Non porous glass and BPA-free plastic top | Ingredient Type: Liquid Beside the look, a stand-out feature of these measuring cups is the pour. The cups are flexible, so you can squeeze the cup and make your own spout to pour. These are great for syrup or honey since you can squeeze the cup tightly and push all the ingredients out. Dishwasher safe, they’re easy to clean, too. Price at time of publish: $23 Number of Cups Included: Three | Material: Silicone | Ingredient Type: Liquid We like that the measurement is imprinted on both the middle of the cup and the handle, so it’s easy to see and hard to confuse. This pick is dishwasher safe on the top rack. Whether you hand wash or put them in the dishwasher, make sure the measuring cups are fully dry before collapsing and storing. Price at time of publish: $10 Number of Cups Included: Four cups and four spoons | Material: Silicone and BPA-free plastic | Ingredient Type: Dry You can also use these cups for more than just measuring. Pour some almonds in a cup to use as a snack bowl or use them as mini prep bowls for spices as you cook. Price at time at publish: $32 Number of Cups Included: Four | Material: Ceramic | Ingredient Type: Dry Dishwasher safe in the top rack, this compact cup is also perfectly sized for little hands, so if you’ve got a child-sized sous chef in the kitchen, they will appreciate using this measuring cup. Affordable and petite, you’ll be surprised by how often you will reach for it. The non-slip grip handle is also a helpful feature for little helping hands and the BPA-free plastic is lightweight, safe, and easy to clean. A tapered spout makes for spill-proof pouring, a bonus for all cooks, but especially those cooking with little ones who may be more prone to spills. Price at time of publish: $3 Number of Cups Included: One | Material: BPA-free plastic | Ingredient Type: Liquid What we like about the 8-cup container is its size and versatility. It’s so big that you can use a hand blender or electric mixer right in the measuring cup. Bread bakers will love that because of this measuring cup’s size, home cooks can mix the dough and proof it in one container. You can also blend soup in the measuring cup and then pour it straight from the cup into serving bowls. The only downside is that this measuring cup is heavy and requires a dedicated storage space when not in use. Price at time of publish: $20 Number of Cups Included: One | Material: Non-porous glass | Ingredient Type: Liquid We like that the style is made from BPA-free plastic and is both microwave and dishwasher safe. The angled measuring cup is available in 1 cup, 2 cup, and 4 cup sizes, with both standard and metric measurements boldly printed on both the inside and outside. The cups boast Oxo’s famous slip resistant rubber handles, which help prevent spills. Keep in mind that because it is angled, it may be awkward to store if you have limited space. Price at time of purchase: $11 Number of Cups Included: One | Material: BPA-free plastic | Ingredient Type: Liquid The measuring cup shows both cups and ounce measurements. While the measuring cup is safe for the top rack of the dishwasher, this one might require some extra scrubbing if you want to wash it by hand, especially since it is made to handle sticky ingredients and has multiple parts. Price at time of publish: $31 Number of Cups Included: One | Material: Plastic | Ingredient Type: Either
What to Know About Measuring Cups Before Shopping
Number of Cups Included
Some cups come individually while others are fully stocked sets. Prior to shopping, consider your storage space, needs, and lifestyle. Avid home chefs may want a large set of measuring cups for both dry and liquid ingredients while others may prefer a more minimalist option. Collapsible cups and those that nest together can help with storage issues, too.
Material
Look for a measuring cup material that is easy to wash and sturdy. Baker Jen Pattap says, “Measuring cups don’t require any special washing. Some are dishwasher safe and others are best to hand wash but no extra steps must be taken for cleaning.” There are benefits and drawbacks to the most common materials, so choose what works best for you and your lifestyle. Stainless steel is easy to clean, dishwasher safe, won’t rust, and is extremely durable. The downside to this material is that it’s not microwave safe and can be on the heavier side. Plastic measuring cups are usually made of BPA-free materials (check to make sure). Depending on the make and model, they may be microwave safe and could be dishwasher safe in the top rack. The benefit of plastic is that it’s very durable and not likely to break if dropped. If you’re using ingredients like turmeric, some plastic may stain or be hard to clean. Glass measuring cups are often sturdy, but can be breakable and as they get bigger, they are much heavier. Depending on the make and model, glass measuring cups may be microwave safe and dishwasher safe in the top rack.
Dry or Liquid Ingredients
Typically dry ingredients are measured in scoop style measuring cups and liquids are measured in pourable type of measuring cups. If you’re ever confused or caught without a specific type of measuring cup, a kitchen scale is always accurate.
Your Questions, Answered
Are liquids and dry ingredients measured differently?
While the measurement may be the same, you’ll need to use different tools to measure liquids and solids. Liquid measuring cups enable you to put the liquid into the container to the exact amount. Dry ingredients should be scooped into the cup and then gently leveled off. If a recipe includes a weight, this is a much more precise way of cooking, and a kitchen scale will prove invaluable in determining the weight of ingredients.
Do you have to use measuring cups?
While many home cooks do use measuring cups, they are not a necessity. Baker Jen Pattap shares, “You don’t have to use measuring cups! Using a kitchen scale is the most precise way to measure ingredients.”
How many measuring cups do you need?
“Liquid and dry ingredients can be measured with the same tool, but only if you’re using a kitchen scale,” Pattap says. If you do want to add measuring cups to your kitchen arsenal, “a set of 4 to 6 cups is more than enough,” she says. You’ll also want to add in measuring spoons, too.
What’s the right way to use measuring cups for dry ingredients?
“Most ingredients should be scooped into a measuring cup and then swiped off the top, not tightly packed in,” Pattap says. “Brown sugar, however, is often measured with cups more tightly packed.” If you want the most accurate measurement, weigh the scooped ingredient with your kitchen scale.
Who We Are
This article was written by Maya Polton, an experienced freelance writer for Better Homes & Gardens who has written for a wide variety of publications. In looking at measuring cups, she searched for products and brands that offer a variety of styles and sizes, affordable prices, and long-lasting materials. She also spoke with baker Jen Pattap for advice. Maya is an avid home cook and loves to cook and bake, often with her three kids who are voracious eaters enjoy helping in the kitchen. She loves her 8-cup Pyrex measuring cup as a go to pancake mix container since she can mix up the batter and then pour out the batter all with the same container.
