Best blenders 2024: Which? Best Buys and expert buying advice

If you’re into making smoothies and milkshakes or love homemade soup, a blender is a nifty and useful addition to your kitchen – the best blenders can blitz your ingredients to a smooth consistency in seconds.

But do you need a traditional jug blender or would a mini blender such as the Nutribullet suit you better? And what features are really useful to have?

In this expert guide, we tell you what to look for as you begin searching for a jug blender, and how much you'll need to spend to get a decent one. Plus, you'll find the very best blenders we’ve tested.

Go our in-depth blender reviews to see all the models we've tested.

Best blenders for 2024

We’ve put a wide range of blenders to the test, using popular and tricky-to-blend foods to see which blenders can make great soups and smoothies, and also tackle tough tasks such as making pesto and crushing ice. These are some of our most recently tested Best Buys.

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Best jug blenders

Best mini blenders

Not found the blender you’re looking for? See all our blender reviews to find an alternative.

Video: how to buy the best jug blender

Not sure what type of blender to buy? Watch our video to decide on the style of blender that will best suit your needs.

What makes a good blender?

• A good blender should make a great soup or smoothie. It shouldn’t leave coagulated lumps or unblended bits in the mixture after a fair bit of blitzing - your food and drink will have a consistent texture and it’ll be velvety smooth.
• It should also be able to handle tough ingredients such as herbs, seeds, nuts and raw vegetables - dry and fibrous ingredients which prove more of a challenge than soft fruit. Look out for our star ratings for making pesto to see if a blender is up to this task.
• It should crush ice if it’s been designed to do so. If it is ice-crushing compatible, it will turn cubes into a fine snow. 
• It shouldn’t be too loud. Blender motors always kick up a bit of a fuss, but a good blender will create fewer decibels and the noise won’t be as abrasive as other blenders.
• It should blend your ingredients quickly without requiring lots of fussing and tampering. 
• It will be easy to use with intelligent auto programs, a well-labelled control panel, and an ergonomic design that makes it a cinch to handle deftly.
• It should also be easy to clean and dishwasher-safe if possible. 

Blender types explained

Whether you opt for a personal blender or a traditional jug blender, you shouldn’t need to compromise on quality of blending, as long as you choose a good model. Below, we explain the pros and cons of each type to help you to decide which is best for you. 

Mini blenders 

Mini blenders (or personal blenders) are usually smaller than traditional jug blenders, and have a smaller bullet-shaped blending cup which unscrews at the base, meaning that it can be easily converted into a drinking mug with lid. They are designed to be quick and convenient, originally envisioned as a way to whip up a quick smoothie en route to the gym for those on a health kick. The blenders are smaller, so they won't take up much space on your worktop. They are great for people who just want to blend one smoothie at a time.

• Pros: Usually simpler to use. Blending cup is ideally sized for one portion, and doubles up as a travel mug - saving hassle and washing up.
• Cons: Not suitable for making bigger batches.

Jug blenders 

These have a larger blending jug with a handle and removable lid, although some allow you to unscrew the base for easier cleaning. They are larger than mini/personal blenders - usually around 1.7l capacity compared to around 600ml - so are a better choice if you want to blend large batches of smoothies and soups to feed a family. They tend to take up more worktop space, but often have dedicated blending programs for different tasks such as pureeing, ice-crushing and smoothie-making.

• Pros: Good for whipping up big batches of soup, or more than one smoothie portion.
• Cons: Smaller portions can be tricky to blend, some are difficult to clean around the blades.

Head to our blender reviews to see all our tested models, including the Nutribullet range and rival blenders.

Best blender features to consider

Use this checklist to make sure you get a blender that has the extra features you need: 

• Blender jug Plastic is lighter but can absorb odours and get scratched over time. Glass jugs are sturdier and look more upmarket, but can be very heavy when full. You’ll pay more for high-quality plastics such as BPA-free Tritan, which is extra strong, light and looks like glass, but offers the best of both worlds. 
• Cable storage Cable storage keeps the cable tidy when not in use, and some machines have plug storage too.
• Dishwasher-safe parts Washing up can be laborious, so look for a blender where the parts are dishwasher-safe. It’s handy if the blade is removable, so it can be separated from the jug and thoroughly cleaned.
• Ice crushing More advanced models sometimes have an ice crush setting for making cold smoothies or frozen drinks. If your blender isn’t suitable for crushing ice, it can blunt the blades.
• Jug blender lids Some models have a jug lid that incorporates a strainer that can filter out any remaining lumps when you pour. Many have removable inserts in the lid, which means you can add ingredients as you go along for precise blending jobs, such as when making homemade mayonnaise.
• Mini blender cups Some jug blenders come with an extra smaller blending cup and lid, as well as the standard blending container - useful if you want to take your smoothie to work or the gym.
• Milling/grinding blade Some models will have an extra jug and blades for drier jobs, such as grinding coffee beans or nuts.
• Smart connectivity This is when a blender can connect with your smartphone to unlock extra features. The only smart blender we’ve tested is the Nutribullet Balance, which the manufacturer claims will work with an app on your phone to analyse the nutritional content of your smoothie. 
• Speed settings Variable speeds give more blending control. Most blenders have at least two speeds, while some have programs designed for specific tasks, such as making milkshakes.
• Tamper This is a stick used to safely push ingredients towards the blending blades when stuck. They’re handy for thicker mixes such as instant ice cream, but ideally the blender shouldn’t need manual intervention to blend smoothly.

Useful personal blender features to look out for

Personal blenders can have these additional features:

• Automatic blending programs Some blenders have automatic programs for different blending tasks that adjust between mixing and pulsing to tackle either tougher or softer ingredients. This theoretically means you can walk away and leave the blender to it, but make sure you check our reviews first to see if the programs really work.
• Extra cups Some personal blenders, including most Nutribullet blenders, come with extra blending cups in a variety of sizes – helpful if more than one family member is going to be clamouring for a smoothie in the morning rush.
• Insulated containers Some models come with an insulated drink container designed to keep soups warm - and smoothies cool - on the go. A handy extra, but they are usually found on more expensive models only.
• Speed settings Typically, the more speed settings your blender has, the more flexibility you’ll get over what you can make. If you want to make a range of purées, ranging from nut butters and mayonnaise to sauces and soups, look for one with a higher number of speed settings.
• Sports lids These fit onto personal blending cups once you’ve made your smoothie, transforming them into travel mugs. Useful if you want to take your smoothie into work or to the gym.

Now find the perfect blender for you by comparing models using our blender reviews.

Should I buy a blender, juicer, smoothie maker or soup maker?

Blenders vs juicers and smoothie makers

Smoothie makers are similar to jug blenders, except that they have a dispensing tap so you can pour your smoothie straight from the jug into your glass.

However, they’re no longer widely available. If you’re looking for a convenient and speedy smoothie maker, a mini blender such as the Nutribullet may be a better choice, as we’ve found that the taps on smoothie makers tend to clog easily.

Confusingly, some blenders also describe themselves as juicers. Juicers extract juice from fruit and vegetables, leaving you with a thin, clear drink, and pile of waste pulp. Blenders blitz all the fruit and veg together, forming a thicker mixture with no waste pulp. 

Our expert guide to choosing a jug blender, juicer or smoothie maker explains the pros and cons of each in more detail.

Blenders vs soup makers

In our tests, lots of blenders do a good job of blending soup. But transferring soup from the pan to the blender and back can be messy and time-consuming, especially if you’re making a big batch.

If you mostly want to make soup, it’s worth considering a soup maker. These have a heating element at the bottom of the jug, which means you can blend and cook your soup all in the same appliance. They usually also have a smoothie setting, so you might not need to get a blender as well.

Head to our in-depth soup maker reviews to find out which ones make the best soup with minimum fuss.

Looking for ideas for how to use your blender? See BBC Good Food’s top smoothie recipes and soup recipes. 

What do vacuum blenders do?

Vacuum blending is a recent trend in newer, more expensive blenders that take air out of the jug or cup before blending. It’s often claimed that this produces brighter, more flavoursome smoothies with fewer bubbles and less foam on top, and that the smoothie should separate out into layers less over time. 

Bigger claims can even include that smoothies will stay fresh for longer and retain more of the nutrients of the original ingredients. With ordinary blenders, the high-speed blending action can introduce lots of air into the mix. So, in theory, the lack of oxygen in the blending jug would help to prevent the smoothie oxidising – in the same way that avocados or apples go brown – by preventing enzymes from undergoing a chemical reaction that creates melanin. The lack of oxygen is also said to help to stop water-soluble vitamins, such as B-complex vitamins and vitamin C, from oxidising, helping to preserve the amount of each in your smoothie.

In our vacuum blending try-out, we found that vacuum blending produces a smoothie with fewer bubbles and less foam on top. But the smoothies we made weren’t brighter or more flavoursome, and didn’t have less separation. We kept them in the fridge for four days and found that they didn’t stay fresh for longer, either.

What’s the difference between cheap and expensive blenders?

Blenders can cost as little as £25 and as much as £500 for super-premium ‘professional-grade’ blenders from brands such as Blendtec, Sage and Vitamix. We’ve found cheap blenders that are Best Buys because they get the basics just right. The price you pay is often a matter of how many additional features you want.

Super-premium blenders claim to tackle many more food preparation tasks, such as milling grains, making nut milk, heating soup and chopping veg. Some also have lengthy guarantees and claim to be more durable than cheap blenders.

The good news is that you don’t have to spend a lot to get hold of a brilliant blender – if you’re willing to skip extra features and attachments, then you can snag a decent blender for under £50. And some pricier blenders have disappointed in our tests, so it’s worth checking our reviews before forking out for a premium model.

We’ve found that more power doesn’t always equal better blending, but if you want features such as interactivity with your phone or tablet, extra blades/jugs for different food preparation jobs, or a long guarantee, you will need to pay more.

Nice-to-have blender features include:

• Automatic programs that do the work for you
• Dishwasher-safe parts
• Extra attachments for food preparation
• Ice crushing
• Smart controls
• The ability to process hot liquids
• Vacuum blending for deoxygenated drinks 

With a basic blender, it’s important you only use it for the things it was designed for. Trying to crush ice with a non-compatible blender can damage the blades and the container. And hot liquids, such as soup, should never be put into a blender that’s not made for that purpose - it’s dangerous and could damage your appliance. 

If you want to keep your options open, start at around the £100 mark and go higher or lower depending on whether you need more features or fewer.  

We’ve surveyed blender owners to discover which brands are most prone to faults. Read our guide to blender brands to find out more. 

Should I buy a Nutribullet blender?

Nutribullet has become a household name since releasing its first mini blender. These machines specialise in blitzing fruit and veg quickly and letting you drink straight from the blending cup after you screw on a lid. 

If you’re in the market for a blender, chances are you’ve considered a Nutribullet. Since the original Nutribullet 600, there have been a lot of Nutribullet blenders to choose from. Older Nutribullet blenders are cheaper mini models, while new ones have features like smart connectivity and bigger capacities. 

Nutribullet became famous because of its line of mini blenders, though in 2020 it started releasing jug blenders too. We’ve reviewed a lot of Nutribullet blender products – some are great, and others underwhelmed us.

Visit our Nutribullet reviews to see how all nine Nutribullet blenders scored in our tests.

Our guide to the best Nutribullets will help you navigate the Nutribullet blenders on the market

Should I buy a second-hand or ex-display blender?

You might be able to grab a better deal if you buy a second-hand or ex-display blender, which also cuts down on waste and does your pocket a favour. But there are a few things you should think about before buying one, particularly if it’s previously been used:

• A second-hand blender may require maintenance, particularly if the rubber seals are damaged or if the blade is blunt from use. It’s easy to replace these parts, but if the motor is worn from misuse you won’t know this until it breaks. 
• Check whether the seller offers a guarantee on its appliances, particularly for third-party sellers on marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay. This will give you more security in case the electronics go wrong quickly, or in case there is a safety problem with the product. 
• Vintage electrical products have been identified by Electrical Safety First as being a particular safety concern, with the potential to cause fires and/or electric shock. You should be especially cautious of a second-hand appliance with an original braided cable instead of a new PVC cable.

Find out more about your rights when buying second-hand goods.

How should I dispose of or recycle my old blender?

According to Recycle Now, around one million tonnes of electrical and electronic waste are generated every year. Every item that has either a plug, a charger, batteries or carries a crossed-out wheelie bin logo can be recycled, and that includes blenders.

Broken appliances should be recycled:

• Some shops, such as Currys, will collect and recycle old appliances when delivering new ones – check the store website for details. Many will also allow you to drop off smaller electrical appliances in-store for recycling.
• Arrange for a bulky waste collection through your local council.
• Take the appliance to your local council recycling/reuse centre.

Appliances that are still working can be reused. If your old blender is still working, donate it to charity (many offer collections), sell it or take it to your local council recycling/reuse centre.

You can find your nearest recycling location (including stores and council sites) using Recycle Now’s recycling locator.

For more advice on appliance recycling, see our guide on how to recycle electrical items.