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Wedgwood
When it comes to dinnerware, you want something that lasts for years and fits your aesthetic and lifestyle. Plates, bowls, and glasses come in a variety of materials and styles. Some are sturdy and perfect for busy families with kids. Others are delicate and best for special occasions. Some brands keep their value and are meant to be passed on for generations. You'll want to consider all these factors when choosing the best dinnerware set for you and your family.
For our guide on the best places to shop for dinnerware, we spoke with Courtney Whitmore, cookbook author and party hosting expert, as well as Bruce Roy, a wedding caterer for more than 30 years. We used their advice and our own research to come up with the best dinnerware you can buy. You can read more about how to choose the best dinnerware set for your needs in our FAQs and primer on dinnerware materials below.
The best places to buy dinnerware in 2022
Wedgwood
Renowned brand Wedgwood comes at a high price, but its pieces are unique, and you'll be able to pass the long-lasting dinnerware from generation to generation.
Pros: Comes in many bold patterns, world-renowned brand
Cons: Pricey, most of the dinnerware sets haven't been made in England since 2009
If you frequently host dinners and gatherings and love bold patterns, Wedgwood is the way to go. Josiah Wedgwood, an English potter, founded the company in 1759. Because of his invention, Jasperware (a colorful stoneware), Wedgwood became one of the first dinnerware companies to offer colors, including the iconic "Wedgwood Blue."
Historically, British royalty and other nobility have chosen Wedgwood for fine china, and the company holds a royal warrant, denoting it as a supplier to the British royal family. But you don't need to be nobility to enjoy a set of your own; Wedgwood is available online at many retailers.
While Wedgwood may be known for dishwasher-safe bone china in elegant, unexpected patterns, its white dinnerware is just as coveted. Many Wedgwood customers like to mix and match the bold patterns with the white dinnerware to bring an elegant look that also makes a unique statement.
Wedgwood offers numerous collections, including one from designer Vera Wang, and most of its dinner sets are sold by place setting that comes with a dinner plate, salad plate, bread plate, teacup, and saucer. You can also purchase items separately, like plates, bowls, flatware, drinkware, serveware, and even teaware.
What to buy:
Mikasa
Mikasa is widely available at many retailers, so it's easy to replace items in your dinnerware collection and even mix and match new styles with your current pieces.
Pros: Affordable, available at many retailers, reputable brand
Cons: Some buyers report inconsistencies in quality
Whether you're looking for a formal dinnerware set or an everyday set, the American brand Mikasa will have what you need. It offers several collections from an antique white to a more intricate trellis collection, all at an affordable price. You can buy open stock plates or sets with service for one to 12. Mikasa's dinnerware is made from durable porcelain and stoneware.
Mikasa offers a generous return policy of up to 90 days from purchase.
You can find Mikasa at virtually every major retailer, so it's readily available if you ever want to add to your current collection or upgrade a few pieces.
What to buy:
Noritake
Noritake is a Japanese brand that offers a large variety of formal place settings and casual dinnerware. Its Colorwave stoneware collection comes in 28 colors.
Pros: Timeless look, reputable company, provides a breakage replacement program
Cons: More expensive than many other reputable brands
Noritake is a Japanese brand that's been around for more than 100 years, and you can still find some of its vintage china today. These days, the brand is well known for providing a large variety of dinnerware options, whether you're looking for something formal or more casual.
Its formal dinnerware is made from porcelain or bone china, and you can choose from a gold band, platinum band, or no band at all to add a classic look to your tablescape. Its casual collection, Colorwave, is made from stoneware and comes in 28 colors. The colors complement each other so you can mix and match if you choose, and every piece in the collection is microwave- and dishwasher-safe.
You can purchase most collections by the piece, place setting, or in a set. Noritake does come at a higher price, so "buying in sets would generally prove to be the best option and money-saving choice," Roy said.
And as a Noritake customer, you can register your dinnerware pattern. If you do, Noritake will send you information on any new items available in your pattern, and you'll have access to the brand's breakage-replacement program. This program allows you to replace any broken pieces at a discounted price as long as the pattern is actively being sold and in stock.
What to buy:
Our Place
Our Place makes its dinnerware in ethical factories and keeps communities and cultures top of mind when curating its dinnerware collections.
Pros: Ethical company; handmade, one-of-a-kind dinnerware
Cons: Doesn't offer a wide variety of patterns and materials, doesn't offer a complete dinnerware set
If you want dinnerware that makes a big impact on your table setting, Our Place dinnerware is a great choice. The company's founders, Shiza Shahid, Zach Rosner and Amir Tehrani launched the company with a small collection of dinnerware that satisfies the needs and wants of the modern kitchen.
The company sources high-quality materials from ethical factories and artisan collectives with a focus on female entrepreneurs. Like its best-selling product, the Always Pan, Our Place's dinnerware options are both simple and highly functional. The porcelain plates and nesting bowls are hand painted, and the drinking glasses are hand blown, giving each piece a one-of-a-kind look.
Our Place is a great option if you're looking for ethical dinnerware that's as unique as it is functional. You can buy just the essentials separately or purchase a bundle like the Dinner for 4 and Set the Table sets, which offer all the pieces you need at a better value.
What to buy:
Our Place
Gibson offers a variety of budget dinnerware, and you'll find it at most retailers.
Pros: Affordable, available at many retailers, durable
Cons: Some buyers reported discoloration, some buyers reported small bumps in the glazing
For those on a budget, Gibson makes a great everyday dinnerware choice. The company partners with many brands — like The Pioneer Woman, Oster, and Crockpot — to provide affordable customized dinnerware and cookware options.
You can find just about every style and material in its massive line of dinnerware, but we're particularly fond of its chip- and scratch-resistant melamine dinnerware for outdoor entertaining or households with children. This high-quality melamine line is great for kids and "can be mixed and matched or added into the table settings for the adults," Roy said.
Another favorite is the Gibson Elite Collection, which offers an artistic approach to everyday dinnerware in bold colors and a reactive glazed finish. In general, Gibson's dinnerware is heavier duty than many other brands out there, which makes it a great durable choice. However, if you're looking for something more delicate and lightweight, you'll want to shop with another brand.
Most retailers that carry the brand sell the dinnerware in 16-piece sets, but you can also buy the dinnerware in 12-piece sets, bowl sets, and some individual pieces.
What to buy:
Crate & Barrel
Crate & Barrel has nearly 50 dinnerware sets to choose from, and the Mercer line is a minimalist's dream. The all-white dinnerware and flat bottoms provide a simple, elegant look to any table setting.
Pros: Simple and elegant; dishwasher-, microwave- and oven-safe
Cons: Some buyers reported chipping after months of use, the unglazed bottom can scratch certain surfaces
For a timeless and simple all-white design that will last for years, the Mercer line from Crate & Barrel is the perfect selection. This low-maintenance dinnerware made from porcelain is dishwasher-, microwave- and even oven-safe.
The plates in this line are flat on the bottom and feature low rims to provide more surface area and a rustic feel that's still classic and elegant. Not only does Mercer come with all the essentials for a complete place setting, but you can purchase matching serveware, too. The line is versatile, so you can match it with any other dinnerware look.
Crate & Barrel sells the collection as open stock pieces so you can pick exactly what you need, or you can buy the plates and bowls in sets of eight.
What to buy:
Lenox
Lenox's dinnerware can be moved directly from the freezer to the oven for those who love to prep their dinners ahead of time. And the company will replace any broken items for free if you register your dinnerware.
Pros: High-quality dinnerware, reputable brand, good return/replacement policy
Cons: Pricey
An American company that's more than 130 years old, Lenox offers high-quality dinnerware with obvious craftsmanship. Even though Lenox is more known as a traditional dinnerware retailer, it's done a great job of introducing modern designs through the years.
The dinnerware comes in many materials including porcelain, bone china, stoneware, melamine, and metal. You can buy the dinnerware as open stock pieces and in sets from three pieces all the way up to 28 pieces. The 28-piece set is a service for four and includes dinner plates, accent plates, dessert bowls, fruit bowls, rice bowls, party plates, and mugs.
Lenox's dinnerware is not only dishwasher- and microwave-safe but is also durable enough to move directly from the freezer to the oven (at up to 350 degrees F).
Lenox also offers a Replacement Promise if you register your dinnerware, meaning the company will replace any Lenox brand dinnerware and serveware you break for free as long as the replacements are available. (This is a recent improvement from their previous policy of replacing items at 50 percent off.)
What to buy:
Noritake
How many dinnerware pieces do I need?
You can buy dinnerware as open stock, by the place setting, or in sets with services of two to 12 people.
"I always advise people to have a dinnerware set for at least 10 [people] in addition to a selection of platters, trays or serving pieces," said Whitmore. "You can mix and match pieces to coordinate a cohesive look as well."
Brands may differ in what pieces they include in their place settings or sets. If you are shopping for a dinnerware set for a formal dinner, make sure each place setting "includes the key pieces like dinner plate, salad plate, a teacup and saucer and dessert plate," said Roy.
What's the best type of dinnerware to buy?
How you plan on using your dinnerware will determine the type you need. For formal special occasions, you probably want porcelain or china. Stoneware and melamine are sturdier and dishwasher-safe, more suited to everyday use.
What style of dinnerware should I buy?
The style of dinnerware depends on your personal aesthetic and how you plan on using your dinnerware. If it's for everyday use, you can play with different colors and patterns. If you're looking for dinnerware for a formal table setting, it's best to keep it simple.
"I always recommend a classic white set with a little extra detail like a subtle scallop edge or a beaded trim," said Whitmore. "You can use it all year long and switch out the colors of table linens, flowers and decor to coordinate color schemes with holidays and occasions."
What are the best dishes for everyday use?
First, you want a material that's dishwasher- and microwave-safe. You may even want an oven-safe material. Overall, they should be versatile and sturdy.
While stoneware and melamine are obvious choices, some china and porcelain are dishwasher-safe but are still more delicate.
What is the most chip-resistant dinnerware?
Porcelain, bone china, stoneware, and melamine all resist chips and scratches.
Where can I purchase replacements for broken china?
If you receive a broken or damaged dinnerware item when you first purchase it, most companies will replace the product for free. If you want to replace a broken item from your collection, check to see if the brand offers a replacement program. If you register your dinnerware, brands like Lenox and Noritake offer a replacement program at a discounted price or free as long as the items are still actively being sold. You can also check Replacements, Ltd., the world's largest retailer of dinnerware (with more than 425,000 patterns available), to search for a replacement.
Wedgwood
When shopping for dinnerware, you'll want to consider a material that meets your durability and lifestyle needs. The main dinnerware materials you'll find are porcelain, fine and bone china, stoneware, and melamine. In general, porcelain and china are more delicate, while stoneware and melamine are heartier and can go in the dishwasher. Here's a breakdown of the different material types:
China
China is durable, lightweight, and often reserved for special occasions. There are two types of china — bone and fine. Bone china is made by combining china clay and cow bone ash, which forms a translucent, milky look that's timeless and classy.
While both bone and fine china may be associated with special occasions, they're also a surprisingly good option for everyday use — both bone china and fine china are durable dinnerware options, with bone china being the most durable.
If you prefer the look of bone china, you will pay a higher price. When shopping for bone china, make sure you look at the percentage of cow bone ash content. According to Noritake, the standard amount of bone ash should be 30%. If you don't see the percentage listed in the product details, ask the manufacturer before purchasing; brands can claim their dinnerware is bone china with even a small percentage of bone ash.
Porcelain
If you prefer a slightly heavier, sturdier feel for dinnerware, porcelain is a great option. Porcelain — a nonporous ceramic — is fired at a high temperature making it durable, and it's oven-, dishwasher- and microwave-safe. Porcelain dinnerware usually comes in white but you can find it in different colors and patterns.
Stoneware
Stoneware is a nonporous ceramic dinnerware made from stoneware clay that's fired at a high temperature. It's thicker than both porcelain and china, and you'll often find this dinnerware material at your favorite restaurant for this reason. This type of dinnerware requires a little more maintenance as it doesn't handle extreme heat or extreme cold temperatures well.
Melamine
Even though many dinnerware materials are durable, they aren't completely shatterproof like melamine. Melamine is a type of plastic that's food safe. Whitmore suggests it's worth investing in a chic melamine set if you have small children in your household; it also doubles as dinnerware for outside or poolside dinner parties. However, according to the FDA, it isn't microwave safe. And even though melamine has come a long way in appearance — often looking like a higher-end material — it may be too casual for a formal dinner.
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Source: Kalayaan News
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