The fondest memories are often made when sharing meals around the table. And since the mood of a tablescape depends partly on dinnerware, you want dishes that are as beautiful as they are functional.
Dinnerware sets make shopping easy since everything you need comes in a convenient, coordinated bundle. I talked to experts about all their benefits, plus what to pay attention to while narrowing down your options. I also rounded up dinnerware sets across materials that experts and the NBC Select staff recommend.
SKIP AHEAD The best dinnerware sets to shop | How to style your tablescape | Why trust NBC Select?
Best melamine set$33.41$34.99
Best porcelain set$undefined$152.00
How I picked the best dinnerware sets
As you’re shopping for dinnerware sets, experts recommend thinking about the following factors.
- Use case: Think about when and how you’ll use the set. Will you use the included pieces everyday during most meals? Or is it only for special occasions, like holidays, birthdays and dinner parties? Pinpointing your intended use case will help you decide on other factors while shopping, like material, number of settings, style and more.
- Number of place settings: “At minimum, look at how many people your dining table can comfortably sit and then have some extra [dishes] on hand in case you need to use them for serving or prepping,” says Christy Caza, the senior product development manager at Fable, a home dinnerware brand. (Ed’s note: The inclusion of products sold by Fable in this article was made independently of Caza.) “No one likes having to wash dishes midway through a dinner party.” If you’re buying an everyday dinnerware set, make sure it has twice the total number of settings than there are people in your household, says Cara Barde, the CEO and owner of Crow Canyon Home. (Ed’s note: The inclusion of products sold by Crow Canyon Home in this article was made independently of Barde.) For example, if you live in a four-person household, make sure the dinnerware set comes with at least eight place settings. Also remember that place settings and pieces mean different things — place settings are a complete bundle of dishes one person would use during a meal, while pieces refers to the total number of individual dishes that come in the set.
- Types of dishes included: Most everyday dinnerware sets include plates in varying sizes and a bowl in at least one size, says Julie Robbins, a product specialist at Replacements, which sells China and tableware. Many also come with mugs or saucer and mug sets to use for coffee and tea. Some may include serving pieces, like platters and large bowls.
- Material: The material dinnerware is made from determines its durability, weight, stain or scratch resistance and microwave safety. When deciding what kind is right for you, think about how you live, dine and entertain, says Robbins. Parents, for example, may want the most durable, easy-to-clean material. But if you only want something for special occasions, less durable but pretty, delicate-looking dinnerware could work. (To further guide your shopping, I broke down some of the most common dinnerware materials below).
- Design: The color, shape and finish of your dinnerware is a personal styling preference. If you don’t know where to begin, however, start with something simple (classic shapes and neutral colors, like white, off white or gray) and layer in other products to customize the table, says Caza.
- Care: Handwashing dinnerware with a soft cloth or sponge, warm water and dish soap is best, but nothing beats the convenience of a dishwasher if you have one. Follow manufacturers’ care instructions and never put something in the dishwasher if directions explicitly say hand-wash only.
- Storage: Before you buy a 20-piece dinnerware set, make sure you have space to store it. Most plates and bowls are designed to be stackable, but if they’re very delicate, you may have to take extra precautions, like using felt plate protectors or risers when pieces are not in use.
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The best dinnerware sets to shop
To recommend the best dinnerware sets, I rounded up a few that NBC Select staff love, as well as highly rated options that align with expert guidance.
Best budget set: Corelle Vitrelle 18-Piece Dinnerware Set
- Dishwasher-safe
- Lightweight
- Stackable
- Nothing to note at this time
The most basic dinnerware set you can buy is a bundle of all white bowls and plates, like this one that has a 4.7-star average rating from 10,296 reviews on Amazon. It comes with dinner plates, bread plates and soup/cereal bowls. The dishes are made from Vitrelle, Corelle’s proprietary glass-ceramic hybrid material. It’s non-porous so it won’t stain easily, lightweight and chip- and crack-resistant, according to the brand.
Material: Vitrelle | Number of pieces: 18 | Number of place settings: 6 | Microwave-safe: yes | Oven-safe: yes | Dishwasher-safe: yes
Best melamine set: Gibson Home Soho Grayson Square Melamine 16-Piece Dinnerware Set
- Cups included
- Shatter-resistant
- Dishwasher-safe
- Not microwave-safe
Since these dishes are made from melamine, a type of plastic compound, they’re shatter-resistant if dropped, according to the brand — a plus for homes with kids or outdoor dining. The dinnerware set, which has a 4.2-star average rating from 1,501 reviews on Amazon, comes with square-shaped dinner plates, dessert plates, bowls and 20-ounce tumblers.
Material: melamine | Number of pieces: 16 | Number of place settings: 4 | Microwave-safe: no | Oven-safe: no | Dishwasher-safe: yes
Best colorful set: Fiesta 12-Piece Bistro Dinnerware Set
- Many color options available
- Dishwasher-safe
- Durable
- Nothing to note at this time
I put Fiesta’s dinnerware through three moves (one across the country) in four years, and every piece I own is still in perfect condition. Dishes come in bright colors like Turquoise, Sunflower (yellow), Scarlet (red), Meadow (green) and Butterscotch (orange), which make me happy whether I’m eating off a plate or drying off a bowl. All the pieces have a glossy finish and subtle circular detailing that I find eye-catching. They’re also stackable and don’t scratch easily, in my experience. This set of Fiesta dinnerware comes with dinner plates, salad plates and cereal bowls.
Material: porcelain china | Number of pieces: 12 | Number of place settings: 4 | Microwave-safe: yes | Oven-safe: yes | Dishwasher-safe: yes
Best stoneware set: Fable Base Dinnerware Set
- Rustic farmhouse look
- Dishwasher-safe
- Many color options available
- Utensils may leave marks
Every piece in Fable’s dinnerware set is hand-finished in Portugal and organically shaped, giving them a rustic farmhouse look that’s popular among shoppers, our experts say. The set, which has a 5.0-star average rating from 3,985 reviews at Fable, comes with dinner plates, salad plates, pasta bowls that hold up to 26 fluid ounces and breakfast bowls that hold up to 20 fluid ounces. Dishes are available in colors like Speckled White, Dove Gray, Beachgrass Green and Blush Pink. Since they have a semi-matte finish, they’re susceptible to superficial marks from flatware you can remove with a scouring powder like Bar Keepers Friend and a Tawashi Brush, according to the brand.
Material: stoneware | Number of pieces: 16 | Number of place settings: 4 | Microwave-safe: yes | Oven-safe: yes, up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit | Dishwasher-safe: yes
Best for solo diners: East Fork Pottery 7-Piece You’re-All-Set Set
- Mug included
- Handmade
- Dishwasher-safe
- Individual place settings only
Maren Ellingboe King, a food stylist, recipe developer and the author of “Fresh Midwest,” recommends East Fork Pottery’s dinnerware for its function and beauty. Its pieces are handmade in North Carolina and available in colors like Black Mountain, Eggshell (white), Night Swim (indigo), Amaro (burnt red) and more. This set comes with East Fork’s mug, Bitty Bowl, Breakfast Bowl, Everyday Bowl, Cake Plate, Side Plate and Dinner Plate. Since only one of each dish is included, someone who lives alone will benefit most, though you can purchase multiple sets if needed, or consider gifting to a host.
Material: ceramic | Number of pieces: 7 | Number of place settings: 1 | Microwave-safe: yes | Oven-safe: no | Dishwasher-safe: yes
Best porcelain set: West Elm Organic Porcelain 16-Piece Dinnerware Set
- Organic shapes
- Modern style
- Dishwasher-safe
- Not oven-safe
King recommends West Elm’s simple, modern dinnerware sets, and uses one like this in her everyday life. It comes with pieces that have asymmetric edges, including dinner plates, salad plates, cereal bowls that hold 20.3 fluid ounces and pasta bowls that hold 3.8 fluid ounces.
Material: porcelain | Number of pieces: 16 | Number of place settings: 4 | Microwave-safe: yes | Oven-safe: no | Dishwasher-safe: yes
Best for small spaces: Our Place Starter Set
- Stackable
- Mixed or individual colors
- Dishwasher-safe
- Nothing to note at this time
In addition to cookware sets, Dutch ovens and air fryers, Our Place makes tableware. This set includes the brand’s Full Plates, Midi Plates and Demi Bowls, all of which are stackable for easy storage. and beautifully designed with a semi-matte exterior, glossy interior and raw rim. Plus, it comes in mixed colors or individual shades like Steam (white), Spice (light pink), Terracotta and Char (black).
Material: stoneware | Number of pieces: 12 | Number of place settings: 4 | Microwave-safe: yes | Oven-safe: yes, up to 350 degrees Farenheit | Dishwasher-safe: yes
Editor's pick: Year & Day The Core Set
- Durable
- Ideal temperature regulation
- Easy to remove stains
- Nothing to note at this time
Nikki Brown, NBC Select SEO editor, says her interior design style is colorful organized chaos, except for in the kitchen. She has limited space, so she keeps things as toned down as possible. Year & Day's dinnerware set, which the brand sent her to try, aligns perfectly with her lifestyle. "The dishes are heavy duty but surprisingly durable. I’ve had them for about a year and they’re still in pristine shape despite being banged around a bit," she says. "My favorite part of this set are the bowls. The larger ones are the perfect size for rice bowls and soups, while the smaller, deeper ones are perfect for cereal or salad." Brown also says it's easy hand-wash the dishes (she doesn't have a dishwasher), and that stains come off easily. She finds their temperature regulation to be ideal, too.
Year & Day’s Core Set comes with the brand’s Big Bowls, Small Bowls, Big Plates and Small Plates. Dishes are made from locally sourced clay by artisans in Portugal and they’re coated in a semi-matte glaze that’s available in colors like Moon (white), Lagoon (blue), Dune (taupe), Fog (gray) and more.
Material: ceramic | Number of pieces: 16 | Number of place settings: 4 | Microwave-safe: yes | Oven-safe: yes, up to 480 degrees Fahrenheit | Dishwasher-safe: yes
Best enamelware set: Crow Canyon Home Splatter 16 Piece Dinnerware Set
- Shatter-resistant
- Great for dining outdoors
- Eye-catching pattern
- Not dishwasher-safe
- Not microwave-safe
- Not oven-safe
Crow Canyon Home’s dinnerware and serveware were centerpieces at my family’s barbeques growing up — since they’re made from enamelware, we never worried about dropping them or banging them around, and it’s hard to take your eyes off the colorful, splatter-patterned exterior. Since moving from the suburbs to the city, I can confirm they’re just as great to use indoors. This set comes with dinner plates, raised salad plates, cereal bowls and mugs. You can purchase them in colors like Burgundy and Cream Splatter, Red Splatter, Black Splatter, Blue Splatter and more.
Material: enamelware | Number of pieces: 16 | Number of place settings: 4 | Microwave-safe: no | Oven-safe: no | Dishwasher-safe: no
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How to style your tablescape
You don’t need multiple dinnerware sets to create beautiful tablescapes. Instead, consider purchasing a simple, quality set and dressing it up with decorative elements. Below are expert tips for styling your own.
- Don’t be afraid to mix old and new, says Barde. She’s recently seen shoppers gravitate toward unique items, which makes for a more interesting table. You can use the pieces from your dinnerware set as a base and layer in colorful or patterned vintage, antique or heirloom pieces.
- Turn to nostalgia for inspiration, says Robbins. “Think about meals from your fondest memories,” she says. “Is there a pattern, color or design element that speaks to you?” If so, identify it and brainstorm how you can bring it to life in your space.
- If your everyday dishes are a neutral color, consider buying serveware or glassware decorated with patterns or colors to brighten up your tablescape, says King. Platters, large bowls, pitchers and wine glasses, for example, can become instant centerpieces.
- Flatware (forks, spoons and knives) and serving utensils also add flair to a tablescape, says King. You can find budget-friendly sets in gold, copper, matte black and traditional silver at stores like Target and Urban Outfitters, she says
- Linens like tablecloths, placemats, coasters and cloth napkins are functional decor, and they’re easy to fold up and store between uses. King is a fan of Atelier Saucier ’s table linens, which come in a variety of patterns and colors.
- Add height to your tablescape with flowers in a vase, candlesticks, olive oil and vinegar in decorative bottles, and salt and pepper shakers, experts say. Doing so helps fill the room and gives the table depth.
Best tablescape accessories
Consider taking your tablescape to the next level by adding color, texture and height through accessories. Here are some of our favorites.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Christy Caza is the senior product development manager at Fable, a home dinnerware brand. She is responsible for designing and developing all of Fable’s products and has worked in the design industry for 15 years. (Ed’s note: The inclusion of products sold by Fable in this article was made independently of Caza.)
- Julie Robbins is a product specialist at Replacements, which sells China and tableware.
- Cara Barde is the CEO and owner of Crow Canyon Home, a enamelware tableware, cookware and serveware brand founded in 1977. (Ed’s note: The inclusion of products sold by Crow Canyon Home in this article was made independently of Barde.)
- Maren Ellingboe King is a food stylist, recipe developer and the author of Fresh Midwest. Her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Epicurious, Target, Food Network Magazine and more, and you can follow her on Instagram at @marenellingboeking.
Why trust NBC Select?
I'm an associate updates editor at NBC Select who writes about kitchen tools, including meal prep containers, pie baking essentials and ice cream makers. For this article, I interviewed four experts about how to shop for dinnerware sets and rounded up highly rated options, expert picks and NBC Select staff recommendations.
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