Indeed, the modern market is brimming with a wide array of dinnerware sets. Typically, shoppers pick these items from the inventory of retail shops, often compromising on their choice and settling for what’s available instead of getting the dinnerware they desire. If owning an excellent set of dinnerware holds significance for you, then you’ve come to the right place… Here, you’ll find the best dinner party sets for your home.
How We Graded the Dinnerware
Before moving on to our list of the best dinnerware sets available, we want to talk about how we graded them. There is a good chance that you are going to find less expensive dinnerware graded ahead of what are intended to be higher quality products. If we just went off common questions such as, “What is the most durable dinnerware material?” we may have filled this entire list with only ceramic dinnerware. If you are actively shopping for the best set of dinnerware limiting your options to one type of material is not very wise. Part of this process was meant to find a good all-around product.
1. Far & Away Collection
We understand that this selection may earn some critics. We want to give out four main reasons why we decided that this was the best collection out there. Number one is the fact that this dinnerware set can virtually be afforded by anyone. That is not something that we can say about every entry on the list! Number two is the versatility that we talked about in the last paragraph.
This is dinnerware that you are going to be able to use if you need to set up a formal place setting. It is dishwasher safe, and it is not too fancy or expensive to where you are not going to want to pour cereal or popcorn in a bowl. Number Three is the fact that it is not dull! That is the knock that we had on the previous entry. With the Far & Away collection, you are going to have many different colors to choose from.
The collection actually sells for a lower price than the number two option. It is a win-win all across the board. The number four reason why this is the best collection of dinnerware sets out there is that they provide a durable product, though it is not to say that other collections are not durable. For the most part, though, we can see certain patterns. If you have a durable dinner plate, there is a chance that it is dull or too expensive.
Some of the best dinnerware sets are just not down-to-earth enough. Sure, they are perfect for a formal place setting, but you are probably going to have to buy them in sets of four though. This is going to lead to you spending too much money on dinnerware.
2. Mason Collection
So far we have provided dinnerware options for all tastes and budgets. The Mason collection is a perfect setup for our number one dinnerware set. So, to be honest, design-wise, our two top options are very similar. Let’s get to why though, we have the Mason Collection so far up the list. The main reason is versatility.
Both the Mason collection and our number one pick are dinnerware sets that are truly versatile. In that, you are going to feel comfortable grabbing a dinner plate from this set to pour some snacks on it. You can also do proper place settings with this type of dinnerware. You won’t have to buy four plates at a time. The price for a complete dinnerware set is very affordable.
There is one main issue with the Mason Collection though. To put it simply it’s dull! That is why it ultimately missed out on claiming the spot as the best dinnerware set!
3. AmazonBasics 16-Piece Kitchen Dinnerware Set
Before you say anything, we know this is the cheapest entry on the list, and we know it is not the best entry on the list. Why then would we have its place, setting, or whatever you want to call it so high on the list? This set comes with pretty much anything that you are going to need. Dinner plates, salad plates, cups…you name it.
For what you would pay for a set of four dinner plates, you can get a full place setting. Place settings can be really expensive if you want to have each little detail just right. In this case, this may not be one of the best dinnerware sets around. It can make your life a lot easier, though, especially if you are someone who constantly has set plates for dinner parties.
This is a set that is going to be perfect for newlyweds or people who are just starting out to live on their own where buying dinnerware is not going to be a priority. So going out and spending hundreds of dollars on it is just not a viable option. At the same time, you don’t want people who come to your house to feel like they are showing up at your college dorm. If there was ever a product that could be part of the adulthood starter pack, this one is it!
4. Nova Deruta Collection
Do you want quality dishwasher and microwave-safe dinner plates, bowls, and salad plates at reasonable prices? If you do, the Nova Deruta Collection could be one that you would do well to take a look at. Certainly, it is one of the best dinnerware sets that you can find at Pottery Barn.
The plates can be bought in sets of four at around $54 on sale. As with some of the other dinnerware sets on the list, one of the biggest issues is that there are no cups in the collection. Although the design is well executed and the colors are vibrant, it is actually not all that unique. This means that finding four cups to match your four-plate dinnerware set is not going to be as hard to do.
Having to go find cups to complement your dinnerware settings is not the best thing in the world. It would be harder to find matching salad plates though, so we did not want to downgrade this collection that much.
Contrary to what happens with the Sicily Outdoor Melamine Dinnerware Collection, the price here is going to make people more comfortable using these plates on an everyday basis. Even if the design and the colors make them not as appropriate in a formal setting.
5. Wedgwood Renaissance Gold 5-Piece Dinnerware Set
If you are looking for a bone china dinnerware set with a unique touch, this set may just be what you are looking for. This set comes with a dinner plate, salad plate, bread and butter plate, a teacup or mugs, and a saucer. This is one of the best dinnerware sets on the list so far, without a doubt. You can also buy extra bowls for this set.
If anything, the only negative side is that you would have to buy multiple sets to get a decent number of dinner plates to be able to actually host a party and use these plates. That would probably set you back north of $1000. Certainly, the bone china quality is worth it. As was mentioned, this is one of the best dinner plate sets out there.
The price just makes it not for everyone. That is why we couldn’t put it higher on the list! If you want to get a number of plates, bowls, and cups with this same design, the cost can pile up really quickly. You may find a store that could sell you sets of four plates or one dinner plate at a time. The thing is, the manufacturer has a “rights reserved” clause on how their products are sold. So, it could be tough to get multiple plates delivered without buying the whole set.
6. Sicily Outdoor Melamine Dinnerware Collection
Up until this point, we have basically talked about dinnerware that looks formal. For some people, nothing will ever beat a pure white bone china dinner plate. That is certainly a respectable opinion. That being said, if you are looking to add some color and spice things up with your everyday dishes set, try plates from the Sicily Outdoor Melamine Dinnerware Collection.
They come with unique colors and designs that are specifically thought out to brighten your day. These plates are sold exclusively at Williams Sonoma and are sold in sets of four. If there is a negative side to this particular dinnerware set it would have to be the lack of mugs. With those bright colors and designs, it can be hard to find products that can match up well with these plates.
Other than it being hard to find glasses or cups to match, another issue could be that the price is a bit steep for plates that you could be using every day. There is no question that certain people may shy away.
7. Gibson Elite Soho Lounge 16-Piece Dinnerware Set
If we were strictly comparing quality, there is no way that the Gibson Elite Soho Lounge 16-Piece Dinnerware Set would be in the same league as some of the other sets that we talked about. So, why is it ahead of top-quality dinnerware sets? It is really simple for the price, and you will be getting a great everyday dinnerware set.
It is not the best dinnerware set in the world, but it gets the job done!
There is an argument to be made that there are very similar dinnerware sets to this one pretty much everywhere. That is not necessarily a lie. Amazon heavily promotes this particular dinnerware set. Being that it is easy to obtain, it got the nod over other products that could arguably be very similar or better.
8 – Emma Collection from Pottery Barn
One of Pottery Barn’s best sellers and one of the most simple yet elegant dinnerware sets out there. This collection includes plates that are dishwasher safe and microwave safe. It is not that easy to get these two qualities out of decent dinnerware. The set of four plates can go for around $36, which is a reasonable price. You can get dinner plates, salad plates, mugs, and soup bowls from this collection. Quite frankly the only reason why it won’t rank higher on the list is that the white color can turn yellowish over time. True white, though, is probably the color that you want to go for.
This is a mixture of a value pick and a high-end collection. If you are out there looking for a classic look, this could be the set that you want to really explore. There are certain concerns about the way that these plates could deteriorate over time, though, and these concerns certainly kept the collection out of the top four or five spots on this list.
9. Corelle 16 Piece Cascading Lines Square Dinnerware Set
Next on this list of best dinnerware sets is another set that is arguably better suited for everyday use. Corelle is an American manufacturer that is known for making quality products. This set of dinnerware is certainly proof of that. The plates have a simple, yet modern design to them. They are not going to look old-fashioned in any way. That can take away a bit of that formal feeling for a lot of folks.
We know that this can be a reason for people to stay away from these products. They are the closest thing to bone china without being real china. The sets can include soup bowls and mugs. You are essentially buying the closest thing to china without paying the china price. So, that is always a good deal.
Do you want to know, what is the best chip-resistant dinnerware? Well, the collections from Corelle are always up there as some of the top three or four best dinnerware sets that just so happen to be chip resistant. If this is something that is important to you, be sure to look into this particular brand.
10. Ralph Lauren X Burleigh Tableware
Starting out the list is the Ralph Lauren X Burleigh Tableware. While we agree that some of the patterns in this collection are not to everyone’s liking, there are a couple of reasons why we stand by the pick. This is a dinnerware set that is going to include bowls and mugs. Maybe the Ralph Lauren name is not synonymous with the dinnerware industry? In this case, though, it has teamed up with British pottery maker, Burleigh. This can help ease people’s minds. For the price, and also due to the overall design, this probably won’t be an everyday use type of product.
This is one of, if not the most, expensive set on the list. It can be said that it is set that is mostly for people with a very particular taste. The price tag and design are not going to be for everyone as was mentioned before. That said, it is a product that is going to be able to provide may be that change of pace in your dining events. Therefore, it could be worth it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the main questions that people tend to ask before buying any type of dinnerware. We, of course, took this into account when creating the list of the best dinnerware sets.
What is the most durable dinnerware material?
As we mentioned the general consensus across the industry is that ceramic products are the most durable. Other materials don’t fall far behind though.
What is the best chip-resistant dinnerware?
When you tend to hear about chip-resistant dinnerware, it is usually because the plates, bowls, and mugs are made from some type of hard plastic. Ceramic, porcelain, and some of the other frequently used materials will chip. This type of dinnerware is typically dishwasher safe and easy to use across the board.
What is the best brand of china dinnerware?
This is a tough question to answer. What do you mean by “the best”? The best could apply to the brand that makes the dinnerware that the Queen of England uses. It can also apply to the affordable brand that sells on Amazon. There is no one true answer to this question.
How long can I realistically expect my dinnerware to last?
This can depend heavily on the type of materials that your particular dinnerware is made from. You have bone china for example, that if treated correctly could last literally centuries. Yet, one false move and you will end up cleaning the pieces of the broken mugs off the floor. Then there is the issue with synthetic materials and plastic-based dinnerware. It can last a long time, it probably won’t break, but after a while, its original color can start fading and a lot of wear and tear signs will show up.