Most star bakers and Europeans use kitchen scales to ensure that they get the perfect amount of each ingredient into their recipes, but us mere mortals in the US typically stick to recipes based on dry and wet cup measurements.

There are many different kinds of dry measuring cups, and some are more durable than others. Cheap plastic sets and flimsy metal ones never last very long – either the handle snaps off or it bends under the least amount of pressure. We recommend you invest in a good sturdy pair of stainless steel measuring cups for dry ingredients that will last you a lifetime. Thicker plastic ones are also acceptable, but they won’t last quite as long.

Although longer handles may look classy, sets with shorter handles have better balance when standing empty or stacked together. A good grippy handle with smooth edges is best for comfort, and you need a set with clear, etched measurement markings that won’t fade over time or peel off as some printed labels do.

If you’re working with European recipes, you’ll also probably want a set of measuring cups that have milliliter markings. Should you run into a recipe that measures in grams and you don’t have a kitchen scale, Doves Farm has a great conversion chart for different types of ingredients.

When it comes to wet ingredients, look for a sturdy set of glass measuring cups. Plastic measuring cups for wet ingredients always seem to get stained, and the plastic can absorb and transmit unwanted flavors to your ingredients. You should also check for metric measurements, comfortable handles, clear marking, and a good spout for pouring the wet ingredients. To make things easier, we researched top offerings and found these measuring cups are the best to fit most needs.

Here are the best measuring cups:

Updated on 8/26/20 to edit copy, prices, links, and remove references to third-party ratings and reviews, because we've found them to be unreliable in the past.

The best overall for dry ingredients

The KitchenMade Stainless Steel Measuring Cups are sturdy enough to last a lifetime, and you'll get accurate measurements for dry ingredients in recipes.

While cheaper metal measuring cups have flimsy handles that bend or cut into your hands, KitchenMade's set is comfortable to hold and it'll last a lifetime - the company even has a lifetime 100% money-back guarantee to prove it.

The cups are made out of one piece of stainless steel, so the handles won't snap off. The steel is reasonably thick, too, so you don't have to worry about the handle bending under pressure. There's a hole in the handle of each cup in case you want to loop them together or hang them in your kitchen.

Measurements are etched into the short handles in both milliliters and cups, so you won't get confused with metric measurements. The measurements are also listed on the side of the cup, and the 1/4 cup measurement has a handy half-measure line for when you need 1/8 cup in a recipe.

Although you should really separate measuring cups for wet ingredients, too, if you want to use KitchenMade's set for wet ingredients, you can, thanks to the small pouring lip and a flat bottom.

Pros: Sturdy stainless steel design, short handles, etched measurements in both cups and milliliters, lifetime 100% money-back guarantee

Cons: Pricey

The best overall for wet ingredients

Foto: Source: Pyrex

The Pyrex 4-Piece Glass Measuring Cup Set for wet ingredients can't be beaten with its sturdy design, clear markings, and great price.

When it comes to measuring wet ingredients, there's only one brand that comes to mind: Pyrex. The company has been making glass measuring cups for wet ingredients for 90 years, and it's still the top brand among bakers and chefs. The Pyrex 4-Piece Glass Measuring Cup Set is ideal for any recipe with its 1-cup, 2-cup, 4-cup, and 8-cup capacities.

Although these measuring cups are made of glass, they are very sturdy and shouldn't break easily. The nonporous glass doesn't absorb odors or flavors the way plastic inevitably does, and these cups won't warp or melt in the presence of hot ingredients.

Pyrex guarantees that you can pop its measuring cups in the oven, microwave, fridge, freezer, or dishwasher without any problems, so you can get a lot of use out of this set. The company also offers a two-year warranty in case of any defects or problems, and you can feel good knowing you bought something that's American made.

More importantly, though, Pyrex's measuring cups offer accurate measurements and clear markings in cups, ounces, quarts, and milliliters. The spout pours well without dripping and the handle is comfortable to hold, too.

Although you can buy the measuring cups individually, the set is a much better deal.

Pros: Glass design is strong, no odor absorption, clear metric and imperial measurements, two-year warranty, easy to clean, good spout for pouring liquid ingredients.

Cons: None

The best magnetic set

Foto: Source: OXO/Business Insider

The OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Measuring Cups with Magnetic Snaps are easy to grip and measure dry ingredients with great accuracy.

If you don't want to pay more than $20 for a set of measuring cups, the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Measuring Cups with Magnetic Snaps are your best bet. They're not the cheapest ones you can buy, but they're far better than the lower-priced options.

These sturdy stainless steel measuring cups come with excellent grippy handles and clearly etched measurement markings. You don't have to worry about bent or broken handles because the steel is relatively thick. The handles also have magnets inside, so they stick together when you stack them. The magnets aren't terribly strong, but they have enough force to hold the cups in place in your cupboard.

The set comes with 1/4-cup, 1/3-cup, 1/2-cup, and 1-cup measurements, and the only complaint we have with the set is the lack of metric measurements. But, most people won't need to measure in milliliters, anyway. There's also a matching set of teaspoons you can buy with magnets in the handles if you want your baking gear to match.

Pros: Sturdy stainless steel, magnetic stacking cups, clear etched markings, grippy handles, decent price

Cons: No metric measurements

The best on a budget

Foto: Source: OXO/Business Insider

The OXO Good Grips Plastic Measuring Cups are an affordable alternative to the high-end stainless steel sets.

OXO also makes our favorite budget measuring cups with the Good Grips Plastic Measuring Cups. These sturdy plastic measuring cups snap together for easy storage in your cupboard and make it easy to measure dry ingredients for any recipe with clear markings for half and full measurements.

OXO includes a scraper with the cups to level off ingredients as you bake. The measurement of each cup is engraved in the handle, so you can always know which one is which, but there are also colorful measurements stamped on the sides. Those marks typically wear off over time, so it's good that OXO made indelible markings on the handle, too.

The inside of each cup also has a half measure line for when you need to cut a recipe in half, but can't be bothered with the math. Although the cups are made of plastic, they are BPA free and relatively sturdy.

For this price, you're not going to get the same quality as you would with a pair of solid stainless steel measuring cups, but if you just need a set for occasional use, these affordable plastic ones are perfectly fine.

If you can afford the pricier OXO set or our top pick from KitchenMade, your measuring cups will likely last you longer. However, this is the best affordable plastic set you can buy, and if you take care of it, the OXO plastic set should last you a good amount of time. The only other downside is the lack of milliliter markings, but most US buyers won't need those.

Pros: BPA-free plastic, half measurement lines, comes with a scraper, clear measurement markings, very affordable price

Cons: Plastic isn't as durable, no milliliter markings

The best stainless steel set

Foto: Source: Bellemain

The Bellemain 6-piece measuring cup set is nearly identical to our top pick, but will set you back a few dollars less.

The Bellemain Stainless Steel Measuring Cup Set is nearly identical to our favorite from KitchenMade. The set is made of stainless steel, and thanks to each cup's flat bottom, they won't tip over and are great for nesting inside one another for compact storage. Each cup is made with a single piece of dishwasher-safe steel, and thus far, I haven't had any issues with bending or pieces snapping off.

All cups include both mL measurements as well as cup sizes, which are clearly noted on the handles. While there aren't markings on the inside of the cups, the six-piece set does cover all the standard measurements: 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, and 1 cup.

The edges aren't terribly sharp, which is quite useful for folks without dishwashers (or who just prefer to hand wash their cups). And thanks to the wide handle, you won't have these measurers slipping out of your hand. - Lulu Chang

Pros: Solid construction, accurate measurements, lower price and nearly identical construction to other high-ranking measuring cups

Cons: No markings on the insides of the cups

The best for scooping

Foto: Source: Norpro

The Norpro Grip-Ez Stainless Steel Measuring Cups are narrower than most, which makes them perfect for reaching into a jar of sugar or bag of flour without doing any damage to the cup or container.

Most measuring cups are indistinguishable when it comes to their design, but that's not quite the case with the Norpro Grip-Ez Stainless Steel Measuring Cups. Considerably narrower than the other cups you might find, and more closely resembling a large spoon than a cup, I've grown particularly fond of this set as it's extremely useful for scooping dry ingredients.

They perform well in terms of accuracy of measurement, and the "Grip-Ez" aspect of the product's name comes into play with the rubber coating on the handles. This makes grabbing the cups quite comfortable, and of course, helps to ensure that they don't move around in your hand. There's also a small indentation in the handle that allows your pointer finger to rest comfortably as you're scooping. Be warned though, it's designed for right-handed folks, and lefties may find the notch a bit less than comfortable.

The Norpro comes in a set of five, so you'll get 1/8 cup, 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup and 1 cup in your collection. Better still, the 1 cup measure actually features markings on the inside of the cup. While they're not going to be nearly as accurate as the other cups in your set, they do work well for approximations, or in situations where all your other cups are dirty, and you're left with just the one big guy.

Constructed with two pieces, the Norpro still feels quite sturdy, seeing as the handles are securely fastened to the actual bowls. Of course, that's not quite as break-resistant as cups made with a single piece of steel, but as far as two-part construction goes, this feels pretty solid. - Lulu Chang

Pros: Shovel-like shape makes for easy scooping, great grip (for right-handed folks), accurate

Cons: Expensive, rubber grip isn't totally sealed to the handle, which could allow for some buildup

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Foto: Source: Spring Chef

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