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The best travel mugs for leakproof coffee and tea on the go
Keep your favourite handbag safe with these leakproof reusable coffee cups
Tested by Blossom BoothroydHomes Testing Manager
In a bid to lead more environmentally sustainable lives, many of us are making simple daily swaps, such as skipping plastic straws, using refillable cleaning products or packing reusable shoppers in place of single-use grocery bags.
One easy swap is to ditch single use coffee cups for a reusable travel mug. The benefits are obvious, and not only because they reduce the 2.5 billion cups we collectively throw away each year; they’re designed to keep your chosen beverage hotter for longer and our top picks are easy to drink from on the go, with secure lids to avoid spillages.
Some coffee shops will reward you with discounts for bringing your own cup, and most chains don't have any size restrictions, making it even easier to do good and get your daily caffeine fix.
Understandably, however, you want to be sure that you’re investing in a travel mug that lives up to its leakproof and temperature retention claims. So, here are the best to buy in 2024, as tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute but scroll on for our detailed reviews.
How to choose a travel mug
Choosing a good travel mug involves finding an ergonomic design that is comfortable to carry while you’re out and about.
Look for a leakproof lid, especially if you’ll be carrying the mug in a bag. Every reusable coffee cup on our list passed our leak tests with flying colours, so you can shop with confidence.
Consider how long the mug claims to keep drinks warm or cool for, too, so you don’t arrive at your destination with a lukewarm beverage.
Finally, check how easy it is to clean, especially if you’re after a time-saving dishwasher-safe design.
How the GHI tests travel mugs
To put these market-leading travel mugs to the test, our GHI experts replicated different aspects of everyday usage in the lab. They tested leakproof claims by filling each mug to its maximum level, before tipping it on its side for 20 minutes. For accuracy, they weighed the mug before and after to measure any weight loss from spillage.
To test heat retention, they used temperature tracking software to monitor heat loss for the duration of the product’s claim, before repeating for cold liquid temperature retention.
Separately, they assessed each mug on comfort, design, and ease of use. If a mug claimed to be dishwasher safe, they also ran it through multiple cycles and noted any changes in quality.
The scores have been counted, and these are the top travel mugs you can rely on for your morning cuppa.
Pros
- Standout performance across testing, from heat retention to leak proofing
- Comfortable to grip on the go
Cons
- Metallic taste at first
Score: 96/100
Our winning travel mug won over testers with its helpful design features, including a comfortable hand grip and trigger action button to quickly open and close the sipping valve while drinking on the move.
Fully leakproof (it didn't drop a point on this test), its double-wall vacuum insulation successfully keeps your chosen beverage hot (or cold); in our lab tests, it retained 93.5% of its heat after 30 minutes, dropping to 62% after five hours.
Our experts had to wash it a few times to eradicate its metallic taste, but at 470ml, the Stanley Classic boasted the most generous capacity of all the travel mugs on test. This size was too large to fit snugly into conventional car cup holders, but it’s also available in two smaller sizes (250ml and 350ml), so it’s worth thinking about which is right for you, especially if you’re planning on using yours for a morning brew during long commutes.
Key specifications
| Capacity | 250ml, 350ml, 470ml |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel, BPA free |
| Walls | Double wall vacuum insulation |
| Lid type | Trigger action easy-push button lid |
| Heat claim | 5 hours |
| Cool claim | 6 hours and 26 hours with ice |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Colours | 12 colourways |
Pros
- Eye-catching design
- Entirely leak proof
Cons
- Good at locking heat in for shorter periods but not for an extended time
Score: 90/100
When testing “spill-proof” claims, Frank Green excelled, thanks to the watertight lid and cleverly designed push-to-open button. How can we be so sure? In the lab, our testers filled the mug with hot water, sealed it, and flipped it upside down. Twenty minutes later, not a drop had leaked. It weighed exactly 512g pre and post-test, making this our winning travel mug for drinking on the move.
Plus, it retained heat well, especially in the short term, with our piping hot drink dropping just five degrees in half an hour. It didn’t do as well as our winner over a longer period, losing over 50% of its heat after six hours, but the compact design and bright neon colourway are guaranteed to brighten any Monday morning. Or could that be the caffeine…
Key specifications
| Capacity | 295ml |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel base with ceramic lining, BPA free |
| Walls | Triple walled and vacuum insulated |
| Lid type | Push button lid |
| Heat claim | Unspecified |
| Cool claim | Unspecified |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes – the lid only |
| Colours | Four |
Pros
- Lockable lid good for preventing spills
- Kept drinks effectively cold, and warm in the short term
Cons
- Struggled to lock in heat for longer periods
Score: 89/100
This stylish travel mug impressed from the start with its curved shape that enables a comfortable grip. Our panel liked the push-button seal, which effectively closed the lid and prevented any spillages (this can also be locked to ensure the button isn’t pressed accidentally while on the move or running errands). This stand-out feature clearly did the trick, as it scored a perfect ten in our leakproof lab test.
Our testers found it didn’t quite live up to its claims when it came to heat retention, finding the drink lukewarm after five hours, as opposed to the promised hot. It retained nearly 90% of its starting temperature after half an hour, though, so this shouldn’t be a problem if you gulp down your coffee as quickly as we do.
It scored full marks for keeping drinks cold, and the ergonomic design makes it a great option if you’re looking to enjoy a beverage safely on the go.
Key specifications
| Capacity | 360ml and 470ml |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel and BPA free |
| Walls | Double wall and vacuum insulated |
| Lid type | Push button with AUTOSEAL technology |
| Heat claim | Three to five hours |
| Cool claim | 10 to 12 hours |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes – on the top rack |
| Colours | Six |
Pros
- Good short-term warmth retention
- Spill-preventing lid
Cons
- Metallic taste at first
- Lost heat over extended period
Score: 88/100
You may know Chilly’s for its sell-out water bottles (which, as the name suggests, are designed to keep drinks cold), but the brand has used that expertise to develop a portable cup that aims to keep your coffee piping hot. It didn't keep our testers' drinks hot for hours on end, but they were still plenty warm enough after 30 minutes.
Not only does this mug look good, but it is also well-designed. The rotational stopper on the sip hole prevents spillages, while the outer casing stays cool to the touch.
Our experts particularly enjoyed the helpful QR code, which links to a virtual video showing you how to use your coffee mug. The only drawback is that it might take a couple of thorough hand washes to get rid of that lingering metallic taste.
Key specifications
| Capacity | 340ml and 500ml |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Walls | Double walled |
| Lid type | Twist lid |
| Heat claim | Four hours |
| Cool claim | Six hours |
| Dishwasher safe | No |
| Colours | 11 |
Pros
- Great value
- Stand-out heat retention in both the short and long term
Cons
- No sipping hole means it has limited use on the go
Score: 85/100
Our best budget travel mug beat pricier models when it came to heat retention, rivalling our winner and runner-up for both short- and long-term warmth. It lost points for comfort and convenience (there’s no designated sipping hole, so you have to unscrew the entire lid to drink), bur it’s well-made (especially considering the price tag) and leakproof.
There was no metallic aftertaste in any of our testers' drinks either, but they'll be saving it for camping, picnics or sipping when safely sat down, as opposed to while running errands or commuting.
Key specifications
| Capacity | 300ml |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel and BPA free |
| Walls | Double wall and vacuum insulated |
| Heat claim | Six hours |
| Cool claim | 12 hours |
| Lid type | Screw lid |
| Dishwasher safe | No |
| Colours | 15 |
The verdict on travel mugs
Our best buy is the aesthetically-pleasing Frank Green's Ceramic Mug which impressed with its entirely leak-proof design. You can certainly rely on this one for your morning commute.
And if you’re on a budget, Lifeventure should serve you well, but note that you can’t sip via the lid – you'll have to unscrew it.
Why you should trust the Good Housekeeping Institute
Our GHI experts are meticulous in their testing, and travel mugs are no exception. Blossom Boothroyd, our homes testing manager, oversaw this testing to make sure that every temperature taken is exact, and every leak test precise.
Millie West writes across our food and drink verticals here at the GHI, too – so she knows what goes into nailing the perfect brew, even on the go.
Millie is freelance journalist and editor with five years’ experience writing product reviews, buying guides, breaking news and about the latest trends.
Millie has also reviewed countless restaurants and written travel features for British GQ, The Telegraph and the Independent, and has interviewed a number of leading chefs, including Jamie Oliver, Heston Blumenthal and Raymond Blanc.
Founder of creative catering brand @grazeandgorge, Millie also spends her time creating seasonal recipes and tablescape content, as well as planning her next golden retriever-friendly getaway and rearranging her own home bar cart (... again).
Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.
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