The 10 Very Best Water Pitchers

Whatwe’relookingfor

Material:Glass| Capacity:64 ounces| Features:Plastic stopper

Anchor Hocking has been making glassware since the turn of the 20th century (poke around the Strategist archives and you’ll see that we’vementioneditmanytimesbefore, often calling out the affordable price and durable nature of its pieces). This pitcher comes recommended by photographerMackenzie Smith Kelley, who has owned it for 15 years. While it doesn’t have a handle, Smith Kelley says the grip is still solid. The rectangular shape makes it easy tostorein the fridge, too, she says, as it fits in a more modular way than a round pitcher. There’s a stopper so the contents don’t absorb smells, and Smith Kelley also likes that feature for making sun tea outside (an open top would leave the water susceptible to dust and debris floating around in the air). But it’s also notjustabout practicality: “When the light shines through, it makes a pretty refraction with the way the glass is fluted,” she says. “And you don’t see fingerprints on it as much as you would with a smooth pitcher.”

Material:Glass| Capacity:51 ounces| Features:Cork stopper

The cost of this pitcher and the even less-expensive one below aren’tdramaticallydifferent from that of the Anchor Hocking (though they do technically decrease by a few dollars.) While they’re all made from thick glass, the main differences between the three — that could account for the variation in price — are design details. Recipe developer andcookbook authorColu Henryhas owned this one for nearly a decade and says it has never chipped or broken. “It looks quite sleek and elegant, too,” she says. “The curve of the handle is nice and easy to pour from.” While she doesn’t keep hers in the fridge, she says she also appreciates the cork for sun tea.

Material:Glass| Capacity:57 ounces| Features:Handle

This is the pitcher I’ve had for the last four years. It’s incredibly sturdy; I throw it in the dishwasher after every use and am not precious about taking it to mybackyard. It looks much more expensive than it is, too (I’ve had several friends ask me where I got it and react in surprise when I tell them Ikea). The rounded bottom tapers up gracefully and the handle, only connected at the top, gives it a modern feel. Still, it’s very comfortable to grip andpour from.

Material:Glass| Capacity:8 to 15 ounces| Features:Handle

Because of its smaller size and lighter weight, Stotz keeps this Hay pitcher by herbedside. “The handle is wide, with a good grip, and it’s stout enough that I’m not worried about pouring from it at night,” she says. Recipe developer and food stylistChloe Walshhas the same one, though she uses it at the dinner table. “It’s smaller, which means it’s nice to use if you’re eating by yourself or with your partner,” she says. “Or sometimes I’ll use it to make other drinks, like ashrub, where I don’t need a ton.” Walsh says she finds it sturdy, too; it’s lasted for two years with no chips, and she even cleans it in the dishwasher.

Material:Glass| Capacity:44 ounces| Features:Handle

Food photographerJulia Stotzis a fan of this pitcher from designer Sophie Lou Jacobsen. “The colored glass and wavy handle are playful, but it still reads as sophisticated,” she says. Most of the time she keeps it out as a decorative object on ashelfor filled with flowers as avase— but she still pulls it out to serve water atdinner parties. “It’s on the thinner side, definitely delicate,” she says. “I only hand wash, but beyond that, I’m not nervous to use it.” In fact, despite what it looks like, she says you can get a secure hold on the handle by gripping the second squiggle.

Material:Ceramic| Capacity:67 ounces| Features:Handle

This “timeless and classic-looking pitcher” as recipe developer and private chefJane Morgandescribes it, is the largest on this list. “I like that it has some heft to it,” she says. “The weight feels good.” Still, she says the design of the holes make it easy to pour from. While you fill it from a larger opening at the top, the separate spout allows for a steady and controlled stream of water when you tip it. “It’s really easy to clean because of the glossy finish, too,” she says. Walsh has the bright-orange poppy, but there are 14 colors to choose from.

Material:Ceramic| Capacity:23 to 58 ounces| Features:Handle

Kalen Kaminski, founder of the glassware and textiles companyUpstate, has the smallest Pomelo Casa pitcher, which she says is “not too precious or heavy to pass around the table, even though it’s ceramic.” Each one is handmade and hand-painted and “looks just as good on a casual breakfast table as it does on a more formal dinner table,” she says. Kaminski says she finds the 23-ounce size especially useful forjuiceortea(which people tend to drink less of), though the company offersthree sizes and a handful of color options.

Material:Enamelware| Capacity:48 ounces| Features:Handle

Walsh uses this pitcher when she eats outside because enamelware is particularly durable (a characteristicwe’vepointedoutbefore). “If it drops, it won’t shatter,” she says, and it can go in the dishwasher without a problem. Walsh points out that it’s lightweight compared to ceramic and glass, so carrying it in and out and lifting it up is easy. She calls the look “French countryside,” so it feels fitting to use in her garden.

Material:Glass| Capacity:16 to 50 ounces| Features:None

While a Chemex is designed specifically forcoffee, Henry likes the design so much that she says she kept it around for water even after she “stopped doing the pour-over thing.” “It’s such a nice-looking and classic object, we still use it all the time,” she says. Even though there’s no handle, the grip of the wood in the neck of the pitcher “fits well in my hand and pours easily and neatly,” she says.

Material:Glass| Capacity:34 ounces| Features:None

Walsh keeps this pitcher by her bedside. There’s no handle, but the indent where the neck meets the body is very pronounced, allowing for a comfortable grip and controlled pour even “when tipping it from a lying-down position,” she says. It comes with aglassthat sits upside down over the top when not in use for a neat, compact effect. Walsh says she also loves the “sophisticated” sage-green color.