Good Housekeeping’s influential awards programs recognize excellence and innovation across many industries and consumer product categories. Each year, thousands of companies enter for the chance to be vetted by our judges and earn the distinction of winning a GH award — an honor guaranteed to help your product stand out from the competition and boost retail.
For over 15 years, the scientists, analysts and experts in the GH Institute have delighted consumers with winning picks from our annual award features. In recent years, we've expanded our awards lineup to include additional categories so consumers can find more winning recommendations from a source they know they can trust.
In 2025, we're thrilled to introduce new enhancements to the Good Housekeeping Awards program, reinforcing our unwavering commitment to excellence. This includes several new programs as well as updated emblems. If you'd like us to notify you when award programs open for submission, please fill out this form.
Bath Awards
New for 2025!
Beauty Innovation & Tool Awards
New for 2025!
Cleaning Awards
Next Winners Announced: Spring 2026
Organizing Awards
Next Winners Announced: Spring 2026
Why (and How!) to Enter to Win a GH Award
Benefits of Entry
All entries are assessed by the scientists, engineers and analysts in the Good Housekeeping Institute, so this is a perfect opportunity to get your product in front of our experts and editors, whether you win or not. For winners, the value of editorial coverage is unparalleled. Good Housekeeping currently has an audience of 58+ million consumers across our print, digital and social channels — and that audience is continuously growing.
We can’t wait to share the winners with our audience, which visits our website and social channels regularly for expert advice, shopping tips and trusted product recommendations. Winners have the opportunity to license the use of our Awards emblem, as well as additional assets including words, images, quotes, etc., to promote the news of the win. Winners are often featured in other relevant product stories on our site — and many of our awards programs are featured in segments on prominent national TV shows.
How to Enter
- Complete the submission form.
- Complete the payment form.
- Send samples as directed.
GH Awards FAQs
Is the process the same for each awards program? All of our award programs follow a similar process. First, you must complete one submission form per product. For best outcomes, fill in as much detail as you can, including basic product information (MSRP, description, etc.) as well as product highlights and notable features/key differentiators. Please remember that one submission form per product entry is required. Next, complete the payment form.
As of 2025, the entry fee is $695 per product (with the exception of Beauty Awards at $795 per product). If you have more than one product to submit, please fill out a separate submission and payment form for each. Please note that samples are not required at the time of submission but may be requested for further review at a later date.
Do you require product samples? Most awards require multiple samples, though the exact number will vary based on relevant testing protocols. We will reach out to brands individually to request product samples and/or clinical efficacy data. For professional and app-based services or products, we will notify brands directly about specific requirements.
How are the winners chosen? Each award program has a dedicated group of expert judges who evaluate all entries. Every submission is thoroughly reviewed by the editors and product experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute, along with third-party experts in some cases. While testing criteria vary by program, the main judging criteria for our awards are:
- Quality
- Performance
- Innovation
- Ease of use and assembly
- Value
The judges examine each submission as well as marketing claims made by the brand. Samples and/or supporting materials may be requested for further evaluation.
Which products are eligible to apply? Products must be approved for consumer use and available for purchase in the U.S. They can be new or existing items; however, they must be available for purchase when the award is announced.
Is there a limit to the number of products I may submit? No, you may submit as many products as you like. Just note that you must fill out a new submission form and pay a separate fee for each product submitted. The entry fee is $695 per product (with the exception of Beauty Awards at $795 per product).
My product has already been tested and/or featured in Good Housekeeping. Do I still need to apply? Yes, you will need to submit an application regardless of whether your product has previously been reviewed by Good Housekeeping. Our award programs are independent of prior coverage and previous award programs.
How can I make my application stand out? Focus on what makes the product special and unique, whether it’s an easy shopping experience, any sustainability features or something that’s interesting and noteworthy. Let us know tangible takeaways as opposed to generic claims — e.g., instead of saying, “It’s extremely comfortable,” tell us what specifically makes it comfortable.
If our product wins, how can we promote the honor? Good Housekeeping encourages you to promote the honor to your network. Winners often issue a press release or send a dedicated email to their contacts. Winners may also post the news of their win on their own social media channels. When sharing the news, winners must follow the Good Housekeeping PR requirements, which are outlined in the next question. Winners also have the opportunity to work with a Good Housekeeping sales director or Wright's Media to license the use of the award emblem, as well as additional assets including words, images, quotes, etc., to make the news of the honor a more impactful part of their own marketing and promotional plans. Unauthorized use of the award emblem is prohibited.
If our product wins and we want to issue a press release, are there any special requirements? Yes. All press releases must be approved by the Good Housekeeping PR team, and in certain cases may need to be vetted by Wright’s Media based on what language is used. You will be directed to a Good Housekeeping sales director or Wright’s Media for questions about using a quote attributed to a member of the Good Housekeeping Institute in your release. No announcements can be made publicly prior to the award program’s embargo or announcement dates. No exceptions can be made to this timing.
If our product wins, will it be featured on Good Housekeeping’s official social channels? All organic social posts on Good Housekeeping's official channels are at the discretion of our editors and not necessarily a winner benefit.
If our product wins, will we receive hi-res images, PDFs or the award emblem for our own use? You will be directed to a Good Housekeeping sales director or Wright’s Media for questions and pricing related to asset usage, including PDFs of the magazine, the official awards emblem, images, text from the magazine or quotes attributed to the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
If our product wins, does that mean we have received the Good Housekeeping Seal or a seal from Good Housekeeping? No, the Good Housekeeping Seal is a different opportunity. For questions on the Good Housekeeping Seal, please email Tamara Smith (tamara.smith@hearst.com) and Pat Haegele (phaegele@hearst.com).
More About Each Program
Beauty Awards
There are thousands of beauty products already on the market, and new ones are launching every day. Since 2010, Good Housekeeping’s annual beauty awards have been guiding our audience on what products are worth their time and money in an overcrowded market space. With our Good Housekeeping Beauty Awards, the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab strives to highlight the best-performing skincare, haircare and makeup products.
For the 2025 awards, the Beauty Lab will evaluate facial and body skincare products, hair care and styling products, makeup and nail products, fragrances and spa treatments. Supplements, health-related, wellness and non-beauty products are not eligible to apply.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab evaluates the originality of the product’s technology, delivery form and packaging along with the major product claims behind each submission. In the next stage, the products with the highest potential are assessed for efficacy and performance using consumer and/or Lab testing with state-of-the-art scientific instruments and/or by reviewing clinical, consumer and technical data provided by the brand.
Important Dates and Details:
- Submissions for 2025 are now closed.
- To learn more about Good Housekeeping Beauty Awards and learn how to apply, please see our Beauty Awards FAQ.
- Please contact GHBeautyAwards@hearst.com with any additional questions.
Check out the 2025 Best Beauty Award winners!
Family Car Awards
The Good Housekeeping Institute has been testing cars and honoring the best sedans, SUVs, wagons, minivans and electric innovations for over 10 years. Each year, our team of experts — composed of GH's engineers, media & tech experts, automotive analysts and specialized consumer testers — team up with the auto pros at Car and Driver (another Hearst-owned brand) to determine the winners.
We drive the year’s new vehicles on city roads, highways and test tracks to find the top makes and models. Using industry standards and our proprietary protocols, we rate cars on performance, design, safety, handling, mileage, onboard technology, interior space, value and more. Then our experts zero in on all the little things people really care about, like how easy it is to fold down the seats, the intuitiveness and modernity of the infotainment system, the amount of cargo space in the trunk and how well car seats install and fit in the second and third row.
We also look closely at the interior: We rate the amount of headroom, legroom and storage space for all passengers, overall comfort and how easy the command center is to use without reading the manual. Last but not least, we give points for innovative and useful features like a hands-free liftgate, well-placed lighting and anything else that improves the driving and riding experience.
Important Dates and Details:
- Submissions are currently closed.
- Please contact lsachs@hearst.com with any additional questions.
Check out the 2024 Best Family Car Awards winners!
Bedding Awards
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab is run by fiber scientists who regularly test the latest and greatest fabric-based products on the market. Bedding is one of the Lab’s highest-engaging areas of content, and our experts spend much of their time finding the top-performing products to help readers sleep their best. For this program, the team joins forces with Good Housekeeping’s home editor to evaluate submissions based on criteria like quality, innovation, convenience and value. We then review the products in the Lab, our homes and the bedrooms of over 600 real consumer testers to get feedback on comfort, support, fit, appearance and more.
In the Lab, bed sheets and pillowcases are durability-tested for factors like fabric strength, pilling resistance and washability, while pillows are measured for how well they keep their shape after pressure is applied. To find the best mattresses, we research the specifications and send them to home with real users for extensive feedback — plus, we survey our consumer tester panel to get data on the mattresses they already own. Additional categories we look at for Bedding Awards include comforters and blankets, mattress pads, toppers and protectors, pajamas and other accessories like sleep masks and decorative items.
Important Dates and Details:
- Submissions for 2025 are now closed.
- Please contact emma.seymour@hearst.com with any additional questions.
Check out the 2025 Best Bedding Awards winners!
Snack Awards
The snack aisle seems to change every time we go to the supermarket. With an abundance of new snacks and health claims arriving on shelves every day, it can be difficult to decide what to add to the grocery cart. The Good Housekeeping Nutrition Lab’s Best Snack Awards help our audience figure out which snacks are actually nutritious and worth the money.
For this program, our registered dietitians and food experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute rigorously analyze ingredient lists, nutrition fact labels, packaging claims and flavor profiles to find the best of the best. Consumer testers weigh in on taste and provide additional real-life analysis. The winners are innovative snacks in the food space for both adults and kids that meet our nutritional criteria (including caps on per-serving calories, sugar and sodium).
Important Dates and Details:
- Submissions for 2025 are now closed.
- Winners will be announced in June 2025.
- Please contact stefani.sassos@hearst.com with any additional questions.
Check out the 2024 Best Snack Awards winners!
Bath Awards
There’s no better place to unwind than a serene bathroom, which is why the Good Housekeeping Institute is thrilled to launch our inaugural Bath Awards in 2025. Our fiber scientists, home improvement pros, cleaning experts and other analysts have been testing bathroom products for years — from bath towels to shower heads to bathroom cleaners and beyond — and we’re excited to bring all of these must-haves together to help readers create the most calming and comfortable environment.
The GH Institute Labs will join forces to evaluate products across all bath categories, including towels, mats, shower curtains, cleaners, organizers, toilets, faucets and more. Assessments will consist of both Lab evaluations (such as tests for the absorbency, drying time and washability of towels) and in-home consumer tests for feedback on comfort, ease of use and other real-world attributes.
Important Dates and Details:
- Submissions for 2025 are now closed.
- Winners will be announced in Summer 2025.
- Please contact emma.seymour@hearst.com with any additional questions.
Parenting Awards
Parenting can be overwhelming — even without being told you need to buy a mountain of gear. Fortunately, the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute evaluate parenting products for all of your needs to find quality items that are worth buying, including on-the-go gear (like car seats, carriers and strollers), everyday essentials (like diapers, personal care products and baby food), playroom items, apparel, postpartum products and more.
We review applications across all product categories designed for babies, toddlers, kids of all ages and their caregivers. Our team of experts — scientists, engineers, editors and more — vets each submission on criteria including innovation, problem-solving capabilities and value, then evaluates the top contenders in person. Winners include hot new innovations that have just hit the market along with tried-and-true products that have stood the test of time.
Important Dates and Details:
- Submissions for 2025 are now closed.
- Winners will be announced in August 2025.
- Please contact GHParentingAwards@hearst.com with questions.
Check out the 2024 Best Parenting Awards Winners!
Cleaning & Organizing Awards
From its very beginning, Good Housekeeping has been providing cleaning and organizing advice and product testing recommendations to keep homes running smoothly and families safe. Though the advice we offer in the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab has changed through the years, what hasn’t changed is that we are still an incredibly trusted resource.
We established our Best Cleaning & Organizing Awards to recognize the truly innovative and outstanding products that make caring for a home — and creating a calm, clutter-free sanctuary — so much easier.
Our Cleaning Lab uses industry standards and in-house developed protocols to scientifically evaluate how well laundry detergents remove stains and how thoroughly washing machines clean and care for fabrics. We assess how well dishwashers clean dishes, flatware, glassware and cookware. We test floor cleaners and tools on wood, tile, laminate and vinyl floors and measure how much dirt and pet hair vacuum cleaners remove from carpeting and bare floors. We look at every product through the eyes of a consumer to assess how easy it is to use.
Virtually all cleaning and organizing categories are eligible for the awards. We’re looking for products that perform well, are easy to use and are standouts in their categories. The judging is conducted by the expert consumer product scientists in our Cleaning Lab and any other GH Institute Lab where the expertise may be relevant. Consumer testing is also conducted in actual in-home environments; consumers are surveyed, and their responses are scored.
Important Dates and Details:
- Our 2026 Awards are now closed for submissions.
- Winners will be announced in February 2026.
- Contact Carolyn Forté at cforte@hearst.com with questions.
Check out the 2023 Best Cleaning & Organizing Awards winners!
Toy Awards
There are thousands of toys in the marketplace. This long-standing program honors the best toys of the year: Toys that inspire a child's imagination, foster problem-solving skills, encourage social play, build skills (whether fine motor, gross motor, math, science, artistic or other) and are just plain fun — most importantly, toys that are safe, well-designed and well-constructed.
We look at toys suitable for kids under 13 years old. To be considered, toys must adhere to the latest guidelines set forth by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). We will verify compliance of such by requesting conformance to ASTM testing standards. After the lab assesses safety, durability/construction and play value, the real testers — kids — give the final, verdict as many children play with the toys to assess the fun factor!
Important Dates and Details:
- Submissions for 2025 are now closed.
- Winners will be announced in October 2025.
- Contact GHToyAwards@hearst.com with any questions.
Check out the 2024 Best Toy Awards winners!
Kids' Book Awards
To find the special new books that come out each year, we turn to librarians, literacy experts and publishers to recommend some of their best reads. The submissions are then evaluated by readers of the correct interest and age level.
This awards program launched in 2022, and we are continually expanding its scope. We're accepting submissions in the following categories for children up to age 12: audiobooks, activity books, board books, box sets, gift sets, concept books, early readers, graphic novels, middle grade (as part of a series), picture books and pop-up books published this year.
Important Dates and Details:
- Submissions for 2025 are now closed.
- Winners will be announced in October 2025.
- Contact marisa.lascala@hearst.com with questions.
Check out the 2024 Best Kids' Book Award winners!
Kitchen Awards
The Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab is run by culinary experts with backgrounds in professional kitchens, product development and recipe development. The team is constantly testing the latest innovations in cookware, appliances and other cooking-related gear and gadgets.
For this program, the Lab joins forces with the team in Good Housekeeping’s iconic Test Kitchen, including professional chefs, recipe creators, food editors and more. They also partner with the GH Institute's Cleaning Lab and Home Improvement Lab to review dishwashers, kitchen countertops, kitchen faucets and more.
Together they evaluate submissions based on criteria like quality, innovation, ease of use, performance, convenience and value. They put submissions to the test in the GH Labs and Test Kitchen, working with real food and recipes to grade results. Products are also used in home kitchens, including those of consumer testers, to get additional feedback from cooks of all levels.
Important Dates and Details:
- Submissions for 2025 are now closed.
- Winners will be announced in late October 2025.
- Contact nicole.papantoniou@hearst.com with questions.
Check out the 2024 Best Kitchen Gear Awards winners!
Home Reno Awards
Whether you're working on a major home renovation project — or even a small upgrade — you shouldn't have to worry about sacrificing time, money or quality. The Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab is run by home building and engineering experts who are constantly vetting the latest and greatest items for your house. For this program, any and all home renovation products or services are eligible, including (but not limited to), cabinets, countertops, decking, flooring, furniture, home technologies, HVAC equipment, plumbing fixtures, roofing, siding, windows and more.
Our testing-based evaluation process will be based on criteria like quality, innovation, ease of use, performance, convenience and value. We ask renters, homeowners and even professional contractors to put products to the test to find the best options for most households.
Important Dates and Details:
- Submissions for 2025 are now closed.
- Winners are slated to be announced in fall 2025.
- Contact dan.diclerico@hearst.com with questions.
Check out the 2025 Best Home Reno Award winners!
Travel Awards
We all love going on vacation, but the organization required to get there can be downright exhausting — especially with the whole family. The Good Housekeeping Institute’s engineers, fiber scientists and parenting experts work together to evaluate the best family travel items that make traveling easier and hold up to trip after trip.
We’re looking for the best products and services to make travel fun, simple and engaging for families, from suitcases and travel accessories to airlines and trip-planning services. Tell us about fab luggage, winter items and swim gear, health and safety supplies designed with travel in mind, even travel-focused beauty and grooming products. We’ll consider baby/kid equipment that has a special feature that makes it easier for traveling (like a stroller that fits into an overhead compartment) and tech/electronics that keep kids entertained on those long car and plane trips.
We’re also covering destinations, lodging, attractions and experiences as well as the nuts and bolts of getting to and from your vacation. Airlines, car rentals, trains and associated services have a place in these awards. We’d love to hear from helpful services like trip-planning websites, travel loyalty programs and other services of that nature.
Important Dates and Details:
- Submissions are now closed.
- Winners will be announced in November 2025.
- Contact lsachs@hearst.com with questions.
Check out the 2025 Best Family Travel Awards winners!
Beauty Innovation + Tool Awards
The pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab are excited to launch the Beauty Innovation + Tool Awards this year. This new program spotlights the best breakthroughs in skincare, hair, makeup and nails, plus devices and tools, hair removal products, professional treatments, men's grooming products and oral care products. Supplements, health-related, wellness and non-beauty products are not eligible to apply.
Our chemists and beauty editors evaluate the product design and/or formulation, claims and any company or clinical data behind each beauty product. They assess products for efficacy and performance using state-of-the-art scientific instruments and factor in feedback from consumer testers.
Important Dates and Details:
- Submissions for 2025 are now closed.
- Winners will be announced in October 2025.
- To learn more about the Good Housekeeping Beauty Awards and to learn how to apply, please see our Beauty Awards FAQ.
- Please contact ghbeautyinnovationawards@hearst.com with any additional questions.
