Best cutlery sets and flatware for a stylish table

Cutlery sets can certainly be an investment, but many come with long or even lifetime guarantees from the retailer.

Read on for our guide to the best cutlery sets to buy in 2024. For more homeware inspiration, check out our guides to the best gin glasses to buy or best coffee mugs.

Jump to:

• Best cutlery sets at a glance
• Best cutlery sets to buy in 2024
• What to look for when buying cutlery
• How can you tell if cutlery is good quality?

Best cutlery sets at a glance

• Best everyday cutlery set: Sophie Conran x Arthur Price Rivelin 52-piece set, £149
• Best classic cutlery set: Soho Home stonewashed cutlery 24-piece set, £129
• Best cutlery set for summer hosting: OKA harlequin blue cutlery 16-piece set, £95
• Best colourful cutlery set: ProCook Camden Green cutlery set 32-piece set, £38
• Best bamboo-handled cutlery set: Rebecca Udall bamboo handle cutlery 6-piece set, £120
• Best modern cutlery set: The White Company Symons cutlery 42-piece set, £325
• Best investment cutlery set: Villeroy & Boch Blacksmith cutlery 30-piece set, £398.18
• Best mid-range cutlery set: ProCook Greenwich 32-piece cutlery set, £119

Best cutlery sets to buy in 2024

Sophie Conran x Arthur Price Rivelin 52-piece set

• Available from Amazon (£149), Harts of Stur (£149), Fenwick (£175)

Best everyday cutlery set

A collaboration between homeware designer Sophie Conran and Arthur Price, this extensive set is perfect for every occasion from everyday family meals to special occasions and dinner parties. In this set you'll get the core cutlery needed for six people, as well as a cheese knife, butter knife and two serving spoons. Made from 18.10 stainless steel, the design features an elegant, elongated handle.

Available from:

Amazon (£149)
Harts of Stur (£149)
Fenwick (£175)

Soho Home stonewashed cutlery 24-piece set

• Available from Soho Home (£129)

Best classic cutlery set

The stainless steel on this set is treated with a matte pewter finish which gives the stonewashed effect, and a timeless, antique look. From Soho House and used in its Beach House in the Caribbean, this set would be great for summer dining, or for everyday luxury.

Available from:
Soho Home (£129)

OKA harlequin blue cutlery 16-piece set

• Available from OKA (£95)

Best cutlery set for summer hosting

Perfect for summer, this cutlery set from OKA will add an elegant pop of colour to your table. The handles of this 16-piece set are made from resin and feature a stylish muted blue harlequin pattern, giving a Mediterranean feel and perfect for summer hosting.

Available from:
OKA (£95)

ProCook Camden Green 32-piece set

• Available from ProCook (£38)

Best colourful cutlery set

Colourful cutlery sets are having a moment, gaining momentum from Matilda Goad & Co's viral sets. If you want to jump on this trend without breaking the bank this set from ProCook could be a great option. Available in green, grey, ivory and cream, this set will add a retro look to any table.

Available from:
ProCook (£38)

Rebecca Udall bamboo handle 6-piece set

• Available from Rebecca Udall (£120)

Best bamboo-handled cutlery set

If you're looking for something a little different from stainless steel cutlery, this bamboo handled-set is great for summer. The blades are made from high quality 18.10 stainless steel, while the handles are made in France from natural bamboo. It's worth noting that this set requires hand-washing, so might not be for everyday use, but would impress at a dinner party.

Available from:
Rebecca Udall (£120)

The White Company Symons 42-piece set

• Available from The White Company (£325)

Best modern cutlery set

If you're looking for an everyday cutlery set to suit any occasion, this expansive option from The White Company comes with 42 pieces, including soup spoons and side knives and forks. The stainless steel, which has a lifetime guarantee, has a beautiful elongated design that strikes a pleasant balance between being modern and timeless.

Available from:
The White Company (£325)

Villeroy & Boch Blacksmith 30-piece set

• Available from Amazon (£398.18), Harrods (£419)

Best investment cutlery set

This cutlery set is perfect for a modern kitchen. Made from high-quality stainless steel, this design has a squared-off end and hammered metal handle. This 30-piece set is enough to lay the table for six with knives, forks, spoons, teaspoons and dessert forks.

Available from:
Amazon (£398.18)
Harrods (£419)

ProCook Greenwich 32-piece cutlery set

• Available from ProCook (£119)

Best mid-range cutlery set

This set, made up of eight knives, forks, spoons and teaspoons, is in a classic design with ribbed handles. Made from 18.10 stainless steel, this set is perfect for everyday use and is dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.

While it's still an investment, this set is relatively affordable compared to many others in this list, and ProCook has a 25-year guarantee.

Available from:
ProCook (£119)

What to look for when buying cutlery

There are several things to consider when buying cutlery. The first is how often you want to use the set — are you looking for something for everyday use, or an eye-catching set to get out for hosting and special occasions. If it's the former you're looking for we'd recommend going for a set that is dishwasher-safe and doesn't need to be hand-washed as this'll save you a lot of time.

Another important factor to think about is the weight of the cutlery. We know some people love a weighty set and others who find that irritating, so this is really up to personal preference.

How can you tell if cutlery is good quality?

When you're looking at stainless steel, it's the percentage of nickel in your cutlery that's key to take note of. Nickel provides resistance to erosion and also adds lustre so is key to high quality cutlery. Stainless steel cutlery will usually be labelled as 18.0, 18.8 or 18.10, which indicates the ratio chromium to nickel. The latter (18.10) is the highest quality with 18 per cent chromium and 10 per cent nickel.

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