The 8 Best Travel Coffee Mugs, Tested & Reviewed

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We spent months testing 28 popular mugs from Yeti, MiiR, Fellow, and Zojirushi to find our favorites for traveling.

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Food & Wine

Travel coffee mugs are essential kitchen items for coffee and tea drinkers, especially those with little time to spare in the mornings. While nothing can truly compare to sipping a fresh brew from your favorite espresso machine, go-to coffee maker, or French press, a travel mug can keep you fairly close to enjoying a similar experience while you're on the fly.

The problem is finding the best travel mug that checks all the boxes: It should preserve the flavor of your coffee without imparting any metallic aftertaste, control the temperature of your beverage for long periods, and easily fit into your cupholders. To find the best travel coffee mugs that check these boxes and more, we tested 28 popular picks from Fellow, Yeti, and HydroFlask, observing insulation, design, and size. We also asked some die-hard coffee drinkers their expert opinions on the best travel coffee mugs, including ceramic and stainless steel tumblers.

Thanks to its durability, size, and next-level insulation, the Yeti Rambler earned the top spot on our list of best travel coffee mugs. During testing, we found the Yeti to work great in virtually any environment, keeping our beverage at the exact desired temperature for up to 10 hours.

At 20 ounces, it’s large enough to hold enough coffee or other beverages to last all day long, with tough insulation to keep the temperature just right.

Be careful: The MagSlider lid isn’t leakproof.

The Yeti Rambler Tumbler is durable, perfectly sized, and provides superior insulation. It can handle all environments, from your office to your car, pool chair, or camping tent. Made from kitchen-grade, rust-resistant stainless steel with double-wall vacuum insulation, your beverage will remain at the exact temperature you desire (whether hot or cold) for hours.

The Rambler can take a tumble with its hardy construction, and the exterior won’t chip or fade from years of use. However, during an upside-down leak test, we noted that the mug dripped a bit, so they wouldn’t leave it loose in a bag. The magnet on the MagSlider Lid adds an extra layer of protection to keep heat or cold from escaping.

Throughout our tests, we also noted the Rambler’s long-lasting cool insulation, staying under 40°F for about 10 hours. It won’t sweat either, and if you spend a decent amount of time in the car, you can rest easy knowing it fits in most cup holders. We've also weighed in on the Stanley vs. Yeti debate if you're curious. Once you’re done for the day, you can throw it in the dishwasher to be ready for tomorrow.

Volume: 20 ounces | Lid type: Twist-on, twist-off lid | Weight: 14.4 ounces | Dimensions: ‎3.5 x 6.6 inches | Dishwasher-safe: Yes

This mug is a great size, features a stylish design, offers stellar hot and cold insulation, and is truly leakproof — all for under $20.

While the lid is dishwasher-safe, the body should be hand-washed.

Some of the coolest travel tumblers around, Ello products have great heat retention to keep things piping hot for hours. We especially love the Campy Stainless Steel Mug, which is great for traveling because it didn't leak a single drop during testing. It also performed very well for cold insulation, with under-40° temperatures lasting more than 10 hours.

Pair those marks with the mug’s stylish design and comfortable cork handle and you’ve got a perfect formula for an all-around great mug. Hikes, commutes, working from home or at the office, picnics — we can't envision a scenario where this travel coffee mug wouldn't be useful. And under $20, it can't be beaten for value.

Volume: 18 ounces | Lid type: Twist-on, twist-off lid | Weight: 5.28 ounces | Dimensions: ‎3.5 x 4.4 x 6.9 inches | Dishwasher-safe: Lid is dishwasher-safe, body is not

This mug kept drinks insulated for nearly two days, outperforming competing options.

You might want to pass if you're only looking for a travel mug that's good for cold beverages.

Contigo's leak-proof mug is ideal for anyone who takes their beverages on the go, especially hot drinks. It fits in cup holders, it keeps drinks insulated for hours, and it's easy to use with just one hand if you're driving or holding something in the other.

We loved this mug’s Autoseal feature, where the snap seal top pops open with the click of a button. It can even help you avoid spilling your drink. Functionally, it’s comfortable to hold, with a center groove that lends itself nicely to wrapping your hand around. The downside is there’s no handle or a texture to boost grip, though the color coating on the outside provides a light layer of non-slip.

Volume: 20 ounces | Lid type: Pop-off lid | Weight: 8.8 ounces | Dimensions: ‎3.5 x 9 inches | Dishwasher-safe: Lid is dishwasher-safe, body is not

Food & Wine

It provides excellent hot and cold insulation, is leakproof, and seals incredibly well, thanks to its twist-on cap.

This mug is not dishwasher-safe.

This high-end travel mug looks as good as it functions. It aced our usability and leakproof tests: It has a screw-on cap that ensures every drop of liquid stays in the mug (although we noted that you need to make sure you screw on both pieces very well or else they will leak). The kinto's slim body is comfortable to hold. We enjoyed drinking from the circular opening of the mug, which allowed us to sip from any angle, though we noted that the flow was a bit fast.

The cap covers the mouth area, which prevents contact with germs as it rolls around inside your bag. Plus, it's versatile enough to be used as an insulated water bottle since it keeps hot and cold drinks at your desired temperature for long periods. While this tumbler is expensive, if you want an aesthetically pleasing travel mug that works, we say it's worth it. The compact size, exceptional insulation, and smart, leakproof lid design make this an all-around standout travel coffee mug.

Volume: 17 ounces | Lid type: Twist-on, twist-off lid | Weight: 10.6 ounces | Dimensions: ‎2.9 x 8.9 inches | Dishwasher-safe: No

This mug feels high-end and offers incredible insulation abilities, keeping drinks hot for hours.

Since it doesn't fit in a cup holder, this is not a good option if you like to sip while you drive.

For a reliable and secure travel mug with exceptional insulation abilities, we recommend the Fellow Carter Everywhere Travel Mug. During our tests, we noted that the lid screwed on and off easily, creating a tight seal when shut — meaning no liquid was spilled when the mug was placed upside-down, on its side, or even shaken.

Insulation-wise, this mug performed very well with both cold and hot liquids. For cold drinks, the ice didn't melt the following day. For hot drinks, the temperature dropped very slowly. Plus, the ceramic interior helped their drinks taste better and ensured the mug didn’t absorb residual odors after washing. Our only qualm was the overall size of this mug, as its wide base does not fit in standard car cupholders.

If you're looking for a slimmer model that fits into a car cupholder, we also highly recommend the Fellow Carter Move Mug, which comes in three sizes: eight, 12, and 16 ounces. We've tested the 12-ounce and 16-ounce options and love their built-in splash guard and sleek, minimalist profile.

Volume: 16 ounces | Lid type: Twist-on, twist-off lid | Weight: 12.3 ounces | Dimensions: ‎3.39 x 6.18 inches | Dishwasher-safe: No

We gave this tumbler a perfect score across all four categories, including size, design, insulation, and value.

It’s difficult to open this mug with one hand.

Another great name in insulated and no-sweating drinkware tech, the Hydro Flask All Around Tumbler earned a perfect score. This large mug can carry hot or cold coffee or tea in any environment for extended periods — and looks good. Made from stainless steel, it’s comfortable to hold, while the wide mouth facilitates easy access to add liquids and ice. The handle and exterior texture make it easy and secure to grip on the go.

The lid can be sealed completely by twisting to prevent leakage, and it even has a red marking inside that easily indicates when it’s fully closed. During testing, we noted that the lid’s super-tight seal never leaked, despite placing the mug upside-down and on its side. Given its sleek design and high performance, we recommend this mug for any type of liquid, hot or cold.

Volume: 20 ounces | Lid type: Twist-on, twist-off lid | Weight: 11.6 ounces | Dimensions: ‎2.9 x 9.35 inches | Dishwasher-safe: Yes

This is the ideal iced or hot drink container for the car.

This mug is not leakproof.

If you’re looking for a reliable, extra-large travel mug, the Bubba Straw Envy Vacuum-Insulated Stainless Steel Tumbler might be your best bet. The removable straw is nice for iced coffee or a fresh batch from your cold brew coffee maker, and the size is ideal for a car cup holder. The mug is spill-proof, so if knocked over, the lid won't pop off, but some liquid may dribble out. While it's comfortable to hold, the lack of leak protection will make a mess even if it's tipped, let alone knocked over or turned upside down. It should remain upright in your hand or a cup holder only.

Despite that, this mug has incredible insulation and keeps liquid cold for nearly two days. In our tests, the hot water remained hot for three hours and kept warm until the following day, after 22 hours. We found the insulation abilities of this mug to be surprisingly unmatched, performing better than mugs twice or three times the price. We even poured an iced coffee to drive down to the beach one morning, and on the way home, the remaining coffee was still ice-cold. Case in point: This is the ideal iced or hot drink container for the car.

Volume: 24 ounces | Lid type: Pop-off lid | Weight: 13.1 ounces | Dimensions: ‎3.74 x 3.54 x 10.07 inches | Dishwasher-safe: Lid is top-rack dishwasher-safe, body is not

Food & Wine

Stainless steel is an effective material for insulating cups, but even the best steel travel mugs aren't perfect at minimizing their metallic aromas. The Vinglacé, on the other hand, is an insulated glass coffee mug, making it non-reactive and allowing you to hone in on your brew's exact tastes and smells. Jennifer Zyman, our Testing Editor, has put the flavor-maximizing mug to good use:

"This Vinglacé glass travel mug has become my go-to coffee mug when I am on the go," Zyman says. "I love the flavor of coffee in glass mugs, but they are often too hot to the touch. This has a nice insulated metal holder with a comfortable handle that a glass insert sits inside of. It also has a plastic lid, and I find the mug fits in most car cup holders." According to Zyman, the mug is also easy to clean. The steel shell is quickly hand-washable, and she throws the glass insert and plastic lid into the dishwasher. "It keeps coffee super hot, which is nice. I prefer this style to tumblers, and it is stylish to boot."

Volume: 12 ounces | Lid type: Pop-off lid | Weight: 1 pound | Dimensions: ‎3.75 x 4.69 x 4.75 inches | Dishwasher-safe: Glass insert and lid are dishwasher-safe, stainless steel shell is not

We tested 28 popular, top-rated travel coffee mugs via an initial 4-week testing period and through long-term testing to collect further insights from editors after months of continued use.

Food & Wine

Travel coffee mugs are usually made of either metal or ceramic, with tight-fitting lids, and some can be vacuum insulated. Your choice of material should reflect how you intend to use the mug, how long you need your coffee to stay hot, and how you drink out of it. Travel mugs are much different from regular coffee mugs.

Food & Wine

Choosing the right size of travel mug is about more than just how much coffee you want it to contain. If you need it to fit in your car’s cup holder, for example, or slide easily into a bag or backpack for a train commute. In general, you want a travel mug that will be easy to transport and contain enough volume of coffee to keep you satiated.

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Lids are either designed as “drink-thru” or have to be removed to access the contents. Drink-thru lids are easier to navigate on the go but are not as good at keeping heat from dissipating. If you need a mug just to get hot coffee from one place to another without needing to drink it en route, a sealed lid with no drink-thru access will work best for retaining heat. If you do need to sip on the go, look for a lid with an easy slide or flip access that still protects from spills, rather than one that has a permanent opening.

Leak-proof travel mugs are designed to not allow any liquid to release when properly closed and sealed. These are ideal for mugs that you might need to toss into a bag or backpack during your commute. Spill-proof mugs are designed to mitigate a mess when accidentally knocked over during use. Some companies may use the language interchangeably, but in general, Leak-Proof will usually be slightly more secure than just spill-proof.

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Many travel mugs are not dishwasher safe, especially some that are vacuum insulated. Be sure to check the packaging to determine the best way to care for them. Regardless, travel mugs should be at least rinsed out after each use, even between cups, to keep them fresh, and preferably fully cleaned once a day to prevent mold and mildew. Remember that even if your mug is dishwasher safe, the dishwasher won’t remove tough stains and strong odors. For that, you’ll want to use baking soda and water and give it more of a scrub.

Food & Wine

“This is a vessel with two layers (or walls), one inside and one outside,” says Jessica Easto, author of Craft Coffee: A Manual. “In between is a layer of space, which even air has been sucked out of (that's what a vacuum is). Heat moves very slowly through the air, and it moves even more slowly through this "vacuumed" space because there are very few molecules in that space. Since heat transfer happens so slowly, your coffee stays hotter for longer.”

In early 2024, news broke of brands like Yeti and Stanley using lead in their vacuum sealing processes. The lead is sealed away and capped within the base of your mug or tumbler, out of reach from any consumables. As long as you're not hammering away at the base of your vacuum-insulated mug, the vessel will remain completely safe to use.

This will depend on your travel mug, says Easto. “A vacuum-insulated travel mug can keep coffee hot for several hours. Different brands promise different times.” If you need your coffee just to get you through your commute, you may not need the top-of-the-line mugs, but if you want that coffee hot all day, investing in a good vacuum-insulated mug or bottle will be the way to go.

Up to a point, says Easto. "The best performers of any material will be vacuum insulated.” Having said that, ceramic is a good material for retaining heat, and lids help to prevent fast cooling, so if you only need your coffee to stay hot for a short amount of time, they work fine.

Use a stiff brush or rough-sided sponge to remove the oils left behind by coffee (and any dairy or oat milk you've added). Baking soda and vinegar are the best bet for neutralizing aromas; soap is often difficult to thoroughly rinse out, and you can get lingering unwanted aromas and flavors. Put a half cup of vinegar and a teaspoon of regular dish soap in the travel mug, fill the rest with hot water, let it soak for a few hours, and then rinse it out thoroughly.

For the lid and rubber gasket (if needed), take the gasket off, and wash it with regular dishwashing liquid on a soft sponge. You can use the same sponge to clean the lid. Finally, rinse the mug and let it air dry.

Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug ($31 at Amazon)

Although the Zojirushi performed well in our leak tests and kept both hot and cold beverages at the right temperature, we didn't love the overall design of this travel coffee mug. Since this mug is narrow yet tall, we found it difficult to hand-wash and dry.

S'well Stainless Steel Traveler ($24 at Amazon)

We liked the vacuum insulation of the S'well Stainless Steel Traveler and noted that it formed a perfectly airtight seal to keep our beverages cold for up to 30 hours. However, we wish this travel coffee mug had a grippy exterior, a looped handle, or another more travel-friendly design feature, as it was slippery to grab and go.

THERMOS Travel Coffee Mug with Snap Flip Lid ($24 at Amazon)

We noted that this mug does not leak at all, even when knocked around on the countertop. Though it fits in standard car cupholders, the bulky handle of this thermos makes it awkward to easily grab and sip while driving, so we would have preferred not to have a handle at all.

MiiR Insulated Travel Tumbler with Locking Flip Lid ($33 at Amazon)

We liked the overall design, insulation, and size of the MiiR Insulated Travel Tumbler. However, we found a design flaw with the locking flip lid, as we found it difficult to take a sip without splashing coffee especially while commuting.

RTIC Outdoors Travel Mug ($17 at RTIC)

This travel mug performed well in our leak and insulation tests, but we didn't love the somewhat bulky handle and we found it difficult to quickly unscrew the lid for cleaning or refilling.

In our tests, a few travel coffee mugs did not meet our expectations in terms of design, performance, and insulation. Some models like Klean Kanteen's leaked and spilled during our tests. We were also disappointed by the performance of the Ember mug and found that the smart controls took some time to get used to, and even then were ultimately awkward to use.