Best Everyday Drinking Glasses for Water and Juice

The glass you reach for fifty times a week should be tough, stackable if possible, and plain enough to live with. Four that are.

By the Bonwits editorsUpdated September 25, 20264 picksSave to Pinterest

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Our top picks

4 picks, each linked to the exact listing

1
Best overallBormioli Rocco Rock Bar 16.25 oz. Cooler Stackable Tempered Beverage Glasses, Set of 6, Clear
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2
The sensible entry pointLibbey Gibraltar Glass Tumblers Set of 12, Heavy Base Water Drinking Cups
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3
The crystal upgradeSCHOTT ZWIESEL Forté Universal Tumbler (Set of 6), 19 Ounce
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4
The design classicIittala Kartio 13-Ounce Tumbler Clear, Set of 2
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The everyday tumbler for water and juice

Nobody talks about the water glass, and it is the most used thing in the cabinet. It goes through the dishwasher every day, gets knocked into the sink, is handed to children and left on the lawn. A good one is sturdy enough not to notice any of that and pleasant enough that you do not want to replace it.

The glasses that last are made for restaurants and cafes, where glasses are washed at high heat and handled roughly. Tempered or strengthened glass resists chips and breaks. A heavy base keeps it upright. A shape that stacks saves a shelf. None of this costs much: the best everyday glasses sit between about $3 and $17 each.

The four below run from a restaurant-supply classic sold by the dozen to a Finnish design that has been in production since 1958.

How we chose

Toughness. Tempered or strengthened glass, or a maker with a record in commercial kitchens.
Dishwasher. Every pick is rated dishwasher safe by its maker. Daily glasses that need hand washing do not get used.
Size. Big enough for water with ice, small enough for a child's hand. Roughly 13 to 19 ounces.
Cost per glass. Low enough that a breakage is a shrug, not a loss.

We read makers’ specifications, warranties, care instructions and the sources listed at the end. We do not accept paid placements. How we choose

The 4 picks, in detail

Best overallNo. 1

Bormioli Rocco Rock Bar 16.25 oz. Cooler Stackable Tempered Beverage Glasses, Set of 6, Clear

Our take. A tempered, stackable bistro glass from the Italian glassmaker, and the best all-round everyday tumbler here.

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Keeps for: Years; tempered glass resists chips
Set: 6 glasses
Capacity: 16.25 oz
Material: Tempered glass
Stacking: Yes
Care: Dishwasher safe

Rock Bar is Bormioli Rocco's bar and cafe line: paneled sides, a band near the rim, and tempered glass that the maker says resists thermal shock, breakage, chipping and dishwasher wear. The cooler holds 16.25 ounces, a good size for water or juice with ice.

They stack, which is the practical advantage over most glasses at this price. Six take the shelf space of two or three. The paneled sides give a wet hand some grip, and the look is the French bistro glass most people like on sight.

Skip it if you prefer a smooth, plain glass; the panels and band are a definite style. And stack them dry, since wet tempered glasses can stick together.

The catch. Tempered glass rarely breaks, but when it does it shatters into small pieces all at once.

The sensible entry pointNo. 2

Libbey Gibraltar Glass Tumblers Set of 12, Heavy Base Water Drinking Cups

Our take. The faceted diner glass, strengthened for restaurant use, at about $3.50 each.

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Made in: Mexico
Keeps for: Years of daily dishwasher use
Set: 12 glasses
Capacity: 16 oz
Size: About 6.4 in tall, 3.4 in across
Material: DuraTuff strengthened glass
Care: Dishwasher safe

Gibraltar is the heavy, faceted tumbler you have been served water in at a hundred restaurants. Libbey, the Toledo, Ohio glass company, makes it for foodservice, and this set of twelve 16-ounce coolers is the same glass sold by the box for the home. Libbey's shop page lists these as made in Mexico.

The glass is strengthened with Libbey's DuraTuff process, which the maker says resists thermal and mechanical shock, and the thick base makes it hard to tip. It is dishwasher safe and holds 16 ounces, enough for water with ice, iced tea or lemonade.

Skip it if you want something light or delicate in the hand. It is heavy and unmistakably a restaurant glass, which is also the point.

The catch. Heavy and familiar; some will find it looks like a diner, not a dining room.

The crystal upgradeNo. 3

SCHOTT ZWIESEL Forté Universal Tumbler (Set of 6), 19 Ounce

Our take. A clear, thin-rimmed crystal tumbler that still goes in the dishwasher every day.

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Made in: Germany
Keeps for: Years; Tritan resists clouding in the dishwasher
Set: 6 glasses
Capacity: About 19 oz
Size: 5 in tall, 3.5 in across
Material: Tritan crystal, lead-free
Care: Dishwasher safe

Forté is a range Schott Zwiesel describes as particularly sturdy and resilient, and the Universal tumbler is its large all-purpose glass. It holds about 19 ounces, stands 5 inches tall and 3.5 inches across, with a slight curve to the sides.

It is made in Germany in Tritan, Zwiesel's lead-free crystal, which is thinner at the rim than the tempered glasses above, and it is dishwasher safe. A fine rim is pleasanter to drink from, and this is the least fussy way to get one.

Skip it for young children. It is tough for crystal, but thinner than the Libbey or the Bormioli and less forgiving of a fall onto tile.

The catch. Does not stack, and at 19 ounces it is a big glass for juice.

The design classicNo. 4

Iittala Kartio 13-Ounce Tumbler Clear, Set of 2

Our take. Kaj Franck's plain conical tumbler, made in Finland and still one of the best-looking everyday glasses there is.

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Made in: Finland
Keeps for: Decades; it has been in production since 1958
Set: 2 glasses
Capacity: 40 cl (about 13 oz)
Size: 12 cm tall, 9 cm across
Designer: Kaj Franck, 1958
Care: Dishwasher safe up to 50 C

Kaj Franck designed Kartio in 1958, working toward a glass with nothing extra in it, and iittala still makes it at its glass factory in Finland. The 40 cl tumbler, sold in the US as 13 ounces, is 12 cm tall and 9 cm across, a simple tapered cylinder.

It is dishwasher safe at up to 50 degrees Celsius, which is a normal or eco cycle rather than the hottest one. Kartio comes in many colors, and mixing clear with a tint or two is the traditional way to set a table with it.

Skip it if you are buying for a large family on a budget. At about $17 a glass it is the dearest here, and it does not stack.

The catch. The costliest glass per piece here, and the dishwasher limit rules out the hottest cycle.

Compare the picks

Pick	Best for	Made in	Keeps for	Buy
Bormioli Rocco Rock Bar 16.25 oz. Cooler Stackable Tempered Beverage Glasses, Set of 6, Clear	Best overall	Not stated	Years; tempered glass resists chips	Check priceAmazon
Libbey Gibraltar Glass Tumblers Set of 12, Heavy Base Water Drinking Cups	The sensible entry point	Mexico	Years of daily dishwasher use	Check priceAmazon
SCHOTT ZWIESEL Forté Universal Tumbler (Set of 6), 19 Ounce	The crystal upgrade	Germany	Years; Tritan resists clouding in the dishwasher	Check priceAmazon
Iittala Kartio 13-Ounce Tumbler Clear, Set of 2	The design classic	Finland	Decades; it has been in production since 1958	Check priceAmazon

Compared.

Every comparison

What about Duralex Picardie?

The Picardie, the paneled French cafe glass in production since 1954, is the obvious candidate for this guide. Duralex USA says it is tempered to be 2.5 times stronger than ordinary glass and made at the company's factory near Orléans. When we checked, we could not find it sold on Amazon by Duralex or a seller it lists as authorized, and Duralex USA warns that some third-party sellers are not. Buy it from Duralex USA directly. The Bormioli Rocco Rock Bar is the closest alternative on Amazon.

How many to buy

Two per person in the household, plus six for guests, is a good start. Buy the same glass in quantity rather than a mixed set; matching glasses stack, store and replace more easily.

Keeping them clear

Cloudiness in everyday glasses is usually a film of hard-water minerals or too much detergent, not damage. Use a rinse aid, measure the detergent, and try a vinegar soak. If the cloud does not come off with vinegar, it is etching, and it is permanent.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most durable drinking glasses?

Tempered glass, such as Bormioli Rocco Rock Bar or Duralex Picardie, and strengthened restaurant glass, such as Libbey Gibraltar. All three are built for commercial dishwashers.

What size drinking glass is best for everyday use?

About 12 to 16 ounces covers water with ice, juice and milk. Larger glasses of 19 ounces or more suit iced drinks.

Are tempered glasses safer?

They resist chips and breaks much better. When one does break, it crumbles into small blunt pieces rather than sharp shards, though it can do so suddenly.

Can iittala Kartio glasses go in the dishwasher?

Yes. iittala rates them dishwasher safe at up to 50 degrees Celsius.

Why do my glasses turn cloudy?

Usually hard-water deposits or detergent film, which vinegar will remove. If vinegar does not help, the glass is etched and the cloudiness is permanent.