The Best Flatware and Silverware Sets for Every Occasion, According to Our Tests

Best Overall

Lenox Portola 65-Piece Flatware Set

Orig. $210 $114 at Amazon $158 at Wayfair $194 at Home Depot

Earning our best overall spot despite only coming in one finish, the Lenox flatware set features quality construction, a contemporary design, and a reasonable price point. It is made of 18/10 stainless steel, which means it has an 18 percent chrome content and a 10 percent nickel content. Nickel is what keeps stainless steel shiny meal after meal and dishwasher run after dishwasher run. (Yep, this set is dishwasher safe.) In fact, in terms of longevity, we think this set could easily be passed down to the grandchildren.

The set comes with enough five-piece settings for 12 people, plus five serving utensils. The pieces are ergonomically designed to be comfortable to hold while eating, and the beaded channel design at the base is subtle. We love the flatware's high-quality feel and minimalist but beautiful detailing. A rather versatile, modern design for the 130-year-old Lenox company, this set adds an upscale touch to your table—no matter if used during a casual pancake breakfast or formal dinner party.

As with all stainless steel tableware, be sure to wash this flatware immediately after use to protect it from corrosion. Likewise, dry each piece right after washing, avoid citrus detergents, and don't soak the utensils for too long. If you do notice any corrosion or flaws in general, however, Lenox offers a Breakage Replacement Program that refunds or replaces products within 120 days after purchase.

Materials: 8/10 stainless steel | What's Included: (12) 5-piece settings with a salad fork, dinner fork, knife, table spoon, and tea spoon; (1) serving spoon, (1) serving fork, (1) pierced serving spoon, (1) butter knife, and (1) sugar spoon

Best Budget

LIANYU 20-Piece Silverware Flatware Cutlery Set

Orig. $20 $17 at Amazon Orig. $38 $32 at Walmart

You can't go wrong with this affordable set, especially if you're just starting out or want extra flatware for an upcoming dinner. You'll get enough pieces for four people to each have a salad fork, a dinner fork, a soup spoon, a tea spoon, and a dinner knife. Also, the set comes in five different colors, in case you're looking for something with a little more personality than basic stainless steel.

While these stainless steel utensils are lightweight—which can give the set a less-expensive feel depending on your preference—we found that the pieces are durable for the price and hold up well after multiple rounds in the dishwasher. The set is also super compact and doesn't take up a lot of space in the kitchen drawer, or it can be placed in a glass on the counter.

No dishwasher? The simple design makes these easy and quick to hand wash, but we did notice that fingerprints stand out a bit. Also, bee careful when wiping, as this knife is sharper than one might expect from a butter knife. We also found that the serrated edges on the knives work well for cutting items like ham, turkey, and vegetables.

Materials: Stainless steel | What's Included: (4) 5-piece settings with a salad fork, dinner fork, knife, soup spoon, and a tea spoon

Best Gold

Gourmet Settings Birch 20-Piece Stainless Steel Flatware Set

$99 at Wayfair

This place setting combines contemporary finishes with a classic silhouette—a versatile mix of new and old. Available in both a matte black or antique gold finish, these attractive pieces will look at home alongside sleek modern dinnerware as well as more traditional table settings.

Each set comes with 20 pieces for a four-person service, including dinner and salad forks, table spoons, tea spoons, and a dinner knife. These are quite substantial in weight and feel balanced and comfortable to hold, though the knife edge is smooth and therefore we found not quite sharp enough to cut through less tender meats. As for the fork, the tines are fairly thick, but still spear well without feeling awkward. The spoons feel nice in the hand and are perfect for soup and sauces.

Made of 18/10 stainless steel, this unique gold flatware set carries a 25-year limited warranty provided by the manufacturer. We did find that the gold finish showed some signs of wear after a run through the dishwasher, so hand-washing (and drying right away to avoid spotting) will be the best way to preserve the finish on these pieces.

Materials: 18/10 stainless steel, gold finish | What's Included: (4) 5-piece settings with a salad fork, dinner fork, knife, table spoon, and tea spoon

Best Black

Cambridge Silversmiths Poet Black Satin 20-Piece Flatware Set

Orig. $125 $53 at Amazon $81 at Wayfair View on Jossandmain.com

The sleek satin finish on this black flatware set by Cambridge will add a dramatic accent to your table setting, especially for themed parties. This set includes four five-piece settings featuring a salad fork, dinner fork, knife, soup spoon, and tea spoon, each made of 18/0 stainless steel and specially treated to achieve the flat black finish.

During testing, the pieces felt lightweight, but not flimsy, and comfortable in the hand. The knife is serrated to aid in cutting through pieces of meat, and the soup spoon has an easy shape that holds a generous amount of liquid. The fork tines come to a gentle point that pierces food easily, giving you great control over whatever you're eating, from salad to fish and everything in between.

While you can toss these utensils in the dishwasher, you'll want to avoid citrus-scented detergents, and when hand-washing, don't use a scouring pad or metal polish as it may damage the finish. After running the set through the dishwasher, some spots were left behind but easily removed with a polishing cloth. Stubborn hard water spots can be removed with a bit of white vinegar and a warm water rinse, according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Materials: 18/0 stainless steel, black satin finish | What's Included: (4) 5-piece settings with a salad fork, dinner fork, knife, soup spoon, and tea spoon

Best Modern

Knork Stainless Steel 20-Piece Flatware Set

Orig. $130 $62 at Amazon $71 at Wayfair

Knork flatware's lauded design was the invention of the brand’s founder Michael D. Miller who, while struggling to eat a slice of pizza with a fork, was inspired to create a fork that’s more like a pizza slicer. He went on to design the Knork’s signature fork (part knife-part fork) with beveled outer tines that can be used to eat left- or right-handed and are sharp enough to cut many foods.

This dishwasher-safe set comes with enough utensils to set a full five-piece serving for four people (though we do wish it included more). We love that each utensil is ergonomically designed with noticeably balanced weight. Plus, the utensils feature a wide, flat finger platform for comfort and are designed to fit the contours of your hand. Each piece is hand-forged according to a 26-step process and is made of 18/10 stainless steel. We also love how the branding blends seamlessly into the flatware’s design, so you won't find any bold brand etchings on your knife handles.

Materials: 18/10 stainless steel | What's Included: (4) 5-piece settings with a salad fork, dinner fork, knife, table spoon, and tea spoon

Best for Parties

Zwilling J.A. Henckels Opus 45-Piece Flatware Set

Orig. $200 $120 at Walmart Orig. $200 $60 at Target $120 at Wayfair

Zwilling J.A. Henckels is known for its premium forged knives made in Germany for nearly three centuries, so it's safe to say they know their way around cutlery. The company's Opus flatware collection combines elegance and convenience with 18/10 stainless steel construction and a reasonable price. This set includes eight 5-piece settings as well as five serving utensils for a total of 45 pieces, everything you need for a big dinner party. Once the meal is over, simply run the flatware through the dishwasher and get back to enjoying your guests.

Although the knife blade is shorter than others, it worked well during testing. Still, the knives were noticeably heavier than the other pieces in the set. The spoons were also on the smaller side but still held a satisfying amount of soup. Likewise, the salad fork's light handle and shorter tines weren't ideal for salad, though the dinner fork's wide design and larger tines more than made up for it.

Along with the balanced weight and value, long-term users praise this set for handling multiple runs through the dishwasher without any corrosion or damage. Overall, this is a simple and functional set that offers great value.

Materials: 18/10 stainless steel | What's Included: (8) 5-piece settings with knife, dinner fork, salad fork, soup spoon, and tea spoon; (1) slotted serving spoon, (1) serving spoon, (1) serving fork, (1) sugar spoon, and (1) butter knife

Best Color Options

Jean Dubost Laguiole Flatware Set

$258 at Amazon $100 at Williams-Sonoma

The Dubost family has spent generations perfecting the art of cutlery, famously adapting their craft in response to consumer demand while maintaining the integrity of traditional French workmanship. This set features the distinguished bee emblem that sets Laguiole cutlery apart and acrylic handles available in a wide range of colors to match any aesthetic.

There's a total of 24 pieces included, enough for six place settings with a knife, fork, soup spoon, and tea spoon, along with a wooden tray to store everything in. The handle colors range from vibrant blue and classic silver to pale pink and even multicolor, all with rust-resistant (and dishwasher-safe) stainless steel.

Durability is always something to look out for with acrylic handles, so we made sure to keep that in mind during testing. We found that the overall look is the best feature of this set, particularly the classic two-toned design. While it didn't show wear after one round in the dishwasher, we suggest washing these by hand to keep them in good condition.

Materials: Stainless steel, acrylic | What's Included: (6) 4-piece settings with knife, fork, soup spoon, and tea spoon

Best Splurge

Made In Flatware 4 Place Settings Set

$199 at Amazon $199 at Walmart View on Madeincookware.com

Want to dine like Italian nobility? Made In's line of stainless steel flatware is produced by a partnership of artisans with almost two centuries of experience and a history of crafting silverware for Italy's noble families. Each utensil is made using a single piece of stainless steel with a polished finish that's durable and resistant to corrosion. This flatware set is made with usability in mind; forks and spoons are crafted from 18/10 stainless steel to protect the pieces even further from corrosion and rust, while the knives are made of 18/0 stainless steel to increase the blade strength.

We loved the balance and weight of this flatware during testing, noting the contour of each fork, knife, and spoon is comfortable in the hand while adding a touch of elegance. While slicing into chicken breast, the knives were sharp enough to easily cut through the meat without being too sharp to the touch. The spoons had a good weight with chic, thin handles, and the dinner forks featured soft round tines with smooth edges that gave them a high-quality feel. We also appreciated the proportions of the lightweight salad forks, which had luxurious, rounded edges. The flatware was easy to clean in the dishwasher, coming out free of smudges or spots. For this price, we do wish the set was bigger, but the quality, look, and feel are still worth it.

Materials: 18/10 stainless steel | What's Included: (4) 5-piece settings with a dinner fork, salad fork, table spoon, dessert spoon, and dinner knife

Best Simple

Oneida Mooncrest Flatware Set

$104 at Amazon $90 at Wayfair

If your style is no-fuss, no-muss, you'll appreciate this flatware's sleek and simple lines. It's 18/0, which means it has 18 percent chrome to prevent rusting and wear and tear over time. The flatware feels sturdy, so you won't have to worry about it warping with continued use. The set comes in one finish with a few serving pieces and enough forks, knives, and spoons for up to eight dinner settings, and its very reasonable price makes it a great value.

We particularly like the flatware's ease of use—their soft curves and balanced weight make them well-suited for all ages to handle. Take care to dry these pieces carefully, as our at-home testing found that rust formed when the knives were left damp too long (as with all stainless steel). Overall, if you’re hunting for an affordable starter collection, this set checks many boxes.

Materials: 18/0 stainless steel | What's Included: (8) 5-piece settings with a salad fork, dinner fork, knife, soup spoon, and tea spoon; (1) serving spoon, (1) serving fork, (1) slotted serving spoon, (1) butter knife, and (1) sugar spoon

Best Everyday

Robert Welch Westbury Mirror Flatware Set

$45 at Williams-Sonoma

This timeless and elegant flatware is for anyone who prefers a minimalist approach to their tablescape. We think this pattern is sure to feel as contemporary and classic 10 years from now as it will when you buy it—and the quality means you'll still be able to use it every day. Its longevity is thanks to its 18/10 stainless steel and quality forging process.

When we put this flatware to the test, we found that the utensils' mirror-polished shine held up to everyday use. While we think the shine is definitely a selling point, it does mean that the set smudges easily. However, with a simple cloth wipedown, the brilliance was restored.

We really appreciate the versatility of this flatware. It's available in sets of five pieces, 20 pieces, 42 pieces, and 50 pieces, so you can get the exact number of settings you need for your home. The larger setting sizes also include steak knives and serving pieces so that everything on your table matches.

Materials: 18/10 stainless steel | What's Included: (1, 4, or 8) 5-piece settings with a salad fork, dinner fork, knife, soup spoon, and tea spoon; with (1) serving spoon, (1) serving fork

Best Minimalist

Mepra Stiria Flatware

Orig. $199 $110 at Amazon $199 at Walmart $199 at Wayfair

Mepra is known for its stylish Italian-made flatware featuring sleek, simple lines. The Stiria series is a minimalist, modern collection that has wonderful balance in the hand and a high-luster finish. Available in a 24-piece set, this flatware set will add a touch of contemporary luxury to any tablescape.

Made from 18/10 stainless steel, these pieces are lightweight, but also very sturdy and balanced. The tines on the forks are narrow, yet functional—nice for spearing salad greens or holding meat in place while cutting with the included serrated knives. We love the gentle curves of the soup and tea spoon that make them super comfortable for eating and the long, slender handles that feel very elegant to hold.

These high-quality pieces are very easy to clean by hand or in the dishwasher. Any spots could be wiped away with a dish towel. Mepra backs this set (and it's slightly hefty price) with a limited-lifetime warranty, so expect that you'll be able to use it for a very long time.

Materials: 18/10 stainless steel | What's Included: (6) 4-piece settings with a dinner fork, knife, soup spoon, and tea spoon

Best Small Set

Robert Welch Caesna Mirror 5-Piece Flatware Place Setting

$45 at Crate & Barrel $180 at Zola

If you're just starting out or live in a smaller household, that doesn't have to mean sacrificing quality (or buying more than you need). This Caesna flatware comes in 3-piece and 5-piece sets with beautiful pieces designed by Robert Welch. They're forged with 18/10 stainless steel and feature a mirror, satin, or silver finish with a smooth transition from top to handle. The 3-piece flatware place setting includes a dinner fork, dinner spoon, and dinner knife, while the 5-piece place setting adds a salad fork and tea spoon.

What we appreciate about this small flatware set is its versatility. Since there is also a 20-piece set available in the same collection, it's easy to add to your set as your family grows or you need more flatware for guests. There are also matching steak knives and a stunning serving set in the same style, perfect for larger groups. This flatware felt very simple yet elegant during our tests. The dinner forks were balanced and the tapered lines of the spoons held soup well. Thanks to the hefty weight and serrations on the knives, we were able to cut through chicken breast easily.

The manufacturers recommend a short hot cycle in the dishwasher with all-in-one dishwasher tablets and rinse aid for the best cleaning results. A few reviewers reported rust spots on the knives after washing, but we didn't have any issues during our testing period.

Materials: 18/10 stainless steel | What's Included: (1) 3-piece setting with dinner fork, dinner spoon, and dinner knife. or (1) 5-piece setting with dinner fork, salad fork, dinner spoon, tea spoon, and knife.

Best Portable

Hommaly Portable Cutlery Set

$11 at Amazon

Those who care about the environment likely cringe when they have to eat their takeout salad with a disposable plastic fork, but who wants to carry around their regular flatware with them everywhere they go? Enter this portable, reusable stainless steel set. It comes with everything you could need to enjoy lunch at your desk—even a set of chopsticks for those days when you order sushi—plus two metal straws. It's also a perfect set for travel and camping.

Best of all, the utensils come packaged in a waterproof and washable bag that’s as easy to clean as the utensils. We love that it's available in a few different, fun colors, including rainbow, adding personality to your desk lunches. We also appreciated how sleek the packaging was, allowing for easy transportation and storage. In addition, the carrying case's interior features aluminum lining for quick cleanup. One thing we don't love is that there are no straps inside to keep each utensil in place, but this is still a great set to take with you anywhere.

Materials: Stainless steel | What's Included: (1) 8-piece setting with a fork, knife, spoon, chopsticks, cleaning brush, bent metal straw, straight metal straw, and carrying case