The 10 Best Flatware Sets, According to Our Tests

Fable Flatware Set

$285 at Nordstrom View on Fable.com $285 at Revolve

You don’t have to dine out to enjoy a chic table setting when you have black or gold flatware at home. With several striking finishes available, these sleek utensils with the same brushed steel throughout the head and handle are more of a statement, but you may be surprised at how well they work with all sorts of dinnerware styles. If you can’t commit to an accent color like black or gold, there’s always the matte or polished silver options too. 

When we put them to the test, we found these beautiful utensils a pleasure to hold and work with. They’re well-balanced, they have a nice weight to them, and they’re the perfect length. Getting into the nitty gritty, we loved the forks’ slightly wider pitchfork shape and the spoons’ flat, wide curve — both of which made eating more enjoyable. The only real drawback we noticed was that watermarks can appear after washing so you may want to be prepared to do some hand polishing before setting the table to get the flatware looking its absolute best.

Material: 18/10 stainless steel + PVD finish (depending on color choice) | Pieces Included: One 20-piece set with 4 place settings (dinner fork, salad fork, large spoon, small spoon, and knife) | Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Lenox Portola 65-Piece Flatware Set

$210 $138 at Amazon $113 at Wayfair View on Shoppremiumoutlets.com

You can’t really go wrong with silver flatware, and it doesn’t have to be boring. This sophisticated flatware set features a pretty beaded band at the bottom of the handles. Paired with a cloth napkin, they can make casual meals feel like fine dining. With enough utensils for 12 table settings plus serving utensils (that’s a whopping 65 pieces in total), you’ll have everything you need for a large dinner party. Just make sure you have enough storage space for it all!

As soon as you hold a utensil in your hand, you can tell whether it feels “right” to you or not, and we found that this flatware set hit the mark with its nice balance and ideal handle thickness. During our tests, we didn’t have any issues with the silverware getting stained, and the polish (which we love by the way) stayed looking perfect. With its 18/10 construction, you can count on this set’s longevity. However, we did notice that the utensils are prone to smudging, so just whip out your trusty microfiber cloth when that happens, and you’ll be good to go.

Material: 18/10 stainless steel | Pieces Included: One 65-piece set with 12 settings (salad fork, dinner fork, dinner knife, soup spoon, and teaspoon) plus a 5-piece serving set (cold meat fork, pierced tablespoon, tablespoon, sugar spoon, and butter serving knife) | Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Made In Flatware 4 Place Settings Set

$199 at Amazon $199 at Walmart View on Madeincookware.com

This polished flatware set may seem plain upon first glance, but once you get your hands on them, you can tell that their thoughtful construction makes them a truly elegant and effortless option. Along with their shininess, we found that there’s a real weight to them that adds a feeling of luxury. The forks and spoons are made of 18/10 stainless steel for extra corrosion protection, while the knives are 18/0 stainless steel for blade strength. With enough utensils for four table settings, this is a good everyday set for a small family. 

During our tests, we found the utensils to be on the large side, which could be a plus or a minus depending on how large your hands are. All in all though, we found each piece extremely comfortable to hold as the teardrop shape at the end of the handles contours to the hand. The cherry on top? The price matches the quantity and quality.

Material: 18/10 and 18/0 stainless steel | Pieces Included: One 20-piece set with 4 settings (dinner fork, salad fork, dinner knife, tablespoon, and dessert spoon) | Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Mepra Fantasia Flatware 5-Piece Set

$107 at Food52 $108 at Anthropologie

Around since 1947, the Mepra brand has long been associated with quality craftsmanship, and they didn’t disappoint us in their Fantasia line. With the specific variations dependent on where you’re buying this flatware set, there are attractive color options available like guacamole and sky blue that can add some visual interest to your table. During our tests, we noticed that the colored resin overlay on the handle does more than just add personality to the design — it also provides extra grip, making the utensils pretty comfortable to hold.

Nothing felt extraneous to us in this set, and we loved that they popped out of the dishwasher with the same luster they had right out of the box. We did find that the included table knife doesn’t really compare to a sharper steak knife, but its serrated edge is still enough for cutting through average cuts of meat. Since these come in individual sets of five, it can be costly to get the volume needed for large gatherings. Imported from Italy, the set does make for a nice splurge though.

Material: 18/10 stainless steel and resin | Pieces Included: One 5-piece set of table fork, table knife, dessert fork, dessert spoon, and coffee spoon | Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Fortessa Tableware Arezzo Flatware

$65 at Amazon $50 at Williams Sonoma $50 at Food52

For those who want to keep things simple but classy, this flatware set from a brand appreciated by culinary professionals and home cooks alike checks both boxes. With a contemporary, elegant design, the set is available in a few different finishes: There’s stainless steel and brushed stainless steel for those who prefer their plate of food to be the star of the show, and then there’s brushed gold and brushed black for those who want to add some more pizzazz to the table.

While we love their sleekness, we did find in our tests that the square-shaped handle makes the utensils heavier and more difficult to hold — especially if you’re used to utensils with rounded handles. If you appreciate a certain amount of heft with your flatware though, they’re a good option because these are on the heavier side. From our tests, we determined that this set would be great for someone who wants something a little different from your traditional, shiny silverware.

Material: 18/10 stainless steel | Pieces Included: One 5-piece set of salad fork, dinner fork, dinner spoon, knife, and teaspoon | Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Robert Welch Westbury Mirror Flatware Set

$45 at Williams Sonoma

Featuring a tasteful V-shaped handle and good weight, this flatware’s contemporary design can be attributed to the award-winning English designer Robert Welch. The name of the set is spot on because we found the material to be so mirrored that we could easily see ourselves in the pieces. While this 20-piece set has utensils for four settings, you can also opt for the smaller 5-piece set or go big with the 50-piece set (which includes steak knives and a hostess set).

Throughout our testing, we really couldn’t find much to dislike here. There’s the possibility of leaving fingerprint smudges, but given the material, that’s pretty standard and we could wipe them right off. Other than that, we thought the packaging could’ve been more streamlined since each place setting comes in its own small box and each utensil is wrapped in plastic. That’s obviously only a one-time issue, so it’s a small price to pay for such reasonably priced utensils (just don’t forget to recycle!).

Material: 18/10 stainless steel | Pieces Included: One 20-piece set with 4 settings (dinner fork, salad fork, dinner knife, soup spoon, and teaspoon) | Dishwasher-safe: Yes

West Elm Reagan Hammered Mirror Flatware Set

$57 at Walmart $85 at West Elm

Hammered flatware always seems to be in style, and the dimpled design of this silver-finished flatware set adds a distinct touch without stealing the spotlight. While we found these utensils to be pretty lightweight, they’re also well-built from stainless steel — we didn’t think they felt flimsy at all when we tested them. We also liked the length of each utensil, which seems like a small detail but actually makes a big difference in how it feels getting food from your plate to your mouth.

While the included knife does have some light serration on the end, our tests revealed that it wasn’t very sharp. If you have tougher cuts of meat in regular rotation at your table or if you host larger dinner parties, you might need to buy some separate steak knives to add to your table setting. But hopefully, that’s easier to swing given the nice price-per-unit of each piece in this silverware set.

Material: 18/0 stainless steel in silver finish | Pieces Included: One 20-piece set with 4 settings (dinner fork, salad fork, dinner spoon, dinner knife, and teaspoon) | Dishwasher-safe: Yes

West Elm Costa Nova Mito Brushed Stainless Steel Flatware Set

$133 at Amazon $100 at Bloomingdales $133 at West Elm

Looking for something a little outside the norm with your flatware? It’s easy to forget that silverware doesn’t have to look a certain way until you see an option like this chic, design-forward set. It has a bit of mid-century modern flare given its more geometric shape, minimalist look, and use of mixed materials. For example, the circular spoons are a stark visual contrast to your traditional tapered spoon, but we found they still give you a nice full bite. There are three neutral color options to choose from for the handle: black, wood, and cream.

During our tests, we determined that aesthetics won over function with this set. The utensils weren’t the most comfortable to hold because of the thinness of the handles, and the difference of weight in the materials messed with their balance. This makes them a tricky option for kids or those with dexterity challenges. We did appreciate how different the sizes were between the two types of forks and spoons, however, because that made the set more versatile.

Material: 18/10 stainless steel with resin | Pieces Included: One 5-piece set with table knife, table fork, tablespoon, dessert fork, and dessert spoon | Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Year & Day Four-Person Flatware Settings

View on Yearandday.com

Made in a family-owned factory in Portugal, this hand-finished flatware set proves that utensils can, in fact, be pretty. The slender utensils are offered in matte gold, matte black, matte steel, and polished steel. Each piece is stamped with the Year & Day initials, Portugal, and 18/10 so you have the who, where, and what right there. As smooth and slim as the flatware’s handles may be, we didn’t find them to feel too delicate to use, or feel like they would bend. If you’re looking for a wedding or housewarming gift for someone who hasn’t settled on their flatware yet, this is a strong contender.

During our tests, we liked that the forks have ultra-long prongs. The knife’s handle seemed a little short to us in proportion to how long the blade is but still comfortable to hold. Also, the larger of the two spoons is so big that it veers close to serving spoon territory. If you go for the black or gold option, keep in mind that the brand recommends drying them immediately to prevent spotting.

Material: 18/10 stainless steel (forks/spoons), polished and matte steel (knives) | Pieces Included: One 20-piece set with 4 settings (knife, big fork, big spoon, small fork, and small spoon) | Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Sabre Bistrot 4-Piece Flatware Set

$120 at Williams Sonoma $45 at Food52 View on Bignightbk.com

Living up to its name, this made-in-France flatware set with riveted handles looks like the sort you’d find at a classic bistro in Paris. The wide variety of bold color options for the handles — including orange, lapis blue, and garden green — bring the modern flair. As big fans of the design, we thought the flatware looked stylish and equally good with modern and traditional dinnerware.

During our tests, we liked how durable the flatware felt, which makes sense seeing as it has a full-tang design. We did think the blockier handles made the utensils feel bulkier than other options out there, but not to the point of discomfort. Another thing we loved? The knife could do double duty: It cut through tougher vegetables and meats easily thanks to its serration but also worked as a butter knife. No need to go out and buy a second steak knife to complete a table setting! Some retailers offer a 5-piece set that comes with an extra salad fork, but we found that it’s not really necessary since there isn’t a huge difference in size when compared to the dinner fork.

Material: 18/10 stainless steel with acrylic or nylon handle (depending on color choice) | Pieces Included: One 4-piece set of dinner knife, dinner fork, dinner spoon, and dessert spoon | Dishwasher-safe: Yes