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The Spruce Eats / Danie Drankwalter
A great cereal bowl is a necessity each and every morning if you want to start your days off right. For maximum enjoyment of this classic breakfast food, you need to look for a relatively narrow and deep bowl. This ensures you'll have plenty of space for an adequate portion, but milk won’t go sloshing over the sides. Of course, the best cereal bowls can also accommodate hot cereals, like oatmeal, without allowing contents to spill over when heated in the microwave.
We researched the top brands and ideal materials to help you choose the best cereal bowl to upgrade your breakfast.
Best Overall
Williams Sonoma Pantry Cereal/Soup Bowl, Set of 6
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Courtesy of Williams Sonoma
Clean aesthetic
Wide mouth
Dishwasher, freezer, oven, and microwave-safe
Versatile
Affordable
Too big for some
Value, function, aesthetic—there’s hardly anything this Williams Sonoma cereal bowl set doesn’t have. The restaurant-quality porcelain bowls have a sophisticated design that looks great on your table or open shelving but also tucks nicely into a standard kitchen cabinet.
These bowls have just enough weight to them, not too heavy, but not at all flimsy. A medium height and wide mouth make them supremely versatile and easy to eat out of. Use the bowls for cereal, soup, ice cream, a smoothie bowl, or whatever else you have a craving for. You can even heat things like French onion soup right in the bowl, as these vessels are safe in the oven, freezer, and microwave. When you’re done, simply send them for a spin in the dishwasher.
As if that’s not enough to love, despite the quality, when you break things down by piece, you’ll pay less than $7 per bowl at full price.
Price at time of publish: $48 for 6-piece set
Materials: Porcelain | Capacity: 20 ounces | Care: Dishwasher safe
Best Budget
DUOLUV Unbreakable Cereal Bowls, Set of 4
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Courtesy of Amazon
Large capacity
Affordable
Lightweight
Eco-friendly
Dishwasher-safe
Don't hold up to heat
You can’t get much more cost-effective than these bowls made of a highly durable plastic alternative called wheat straw fiber. The natural and organic material is odorless and environmentally friendly, and you get the durability and longevity you’d get with plastic.
At 24 ounces, these bowls are sizable too, which makes them great for meals that go way beyond cereal—think grain bowls or dinner-sized soups and stews. Despite their size, the bowls are very lightweight, making them easy for little hands to hold onto.
Price at time of publish: $11 for 4-piece set
Materials: Wheat straw fiber | Capacity: 24 ounces | Care: Dishwasher safe
Best Ceramic
Le Creuset Cereal Bowls, Set of 4
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Courtesy of Williams Sonoma
Durable
High-temperature cooking
Microwave, oven, and dishwasher-safe
Expensive
If durability is a concern for you, you’ll love this stoneware set from the famed Le Creuset. Like their cookware, the deep porcelain bowls are crafted of high-fired stoneware and finished with a durable enamel glaze finish that’s easy to clean and resists chips, scratches, and stains. If you know anything about the brand, it’s that their pieces have exceptional strength and are made to last, even despite years of heavy use. You most likely won't have to replace these bowls as time goes by.
It’s one of the most versatile sets too. Though many others are safe for your favored appliances, this one has another claim to fame: In addition to being microwave, oven, and dishwasher-safe, it’s also broiler-safe for high-temperature cooking (think French onion soup!).
Stylistically, you’ll love that you can buy additional dinnerware to match and that your entire set, including these bowls, will match your favorite cookware.
Price at time of publish: $68 for 4-piece set
Materials: Stoneware | Capacity: 22 ounces | Care: Dishwasher safe
Best Glass
Corelle Classic Winter Frost White Bowls, Set of 4
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Courtesy of Amazon
Attractive
Affordable
Dishwasher, oven, and microwave-safe
Large capacity
Durable
Smaller than some options
Another very utilitarian but stylish option that will suit most. The set of four bowls, made by Corelle, is made of an attractive coated glass in a go-with-anything shade of white called “Winter Frost White.” It’s great for mixing and matching, no matter what the rest of your dinnerware looks like. It’s plenty functional too. The Vitrelle tempered glass resists the cracks, chips, and other stresses that come with heavy use, making these bowls a great durable option for families, especially those with kids.
For convenience, you’ll love that you can toss them into any of your favorite appliances, including the oven, the microwave, and the dishwasher. If there’s any downside, it’s that these bowls are a bit smaller than some other options. At 12 ounces, there’s room for a small bowl of cereal or fresh fruit, but not enough space for something like a smoothie or a rice bowl.
Price at time of publish: $15 for 4-piece set
Materials: Glass | Capacity: 12 ounces | Care: Dishwasher safe
Best Porcelain
Sweese Porcelain Fluted Bowls, Set of 6
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Courtesy of Amazon
Stylish
Stackable
Affordable
Dishwasher, oven, microwave, and freezer-safe
Prone to chipping
You’ll love these classically-designed porcelain bowls. Though understated, they have a real retro charm that will look great on your table or on your shelf. The mix-and-match colors are a fun touch, too, though the brand does also sell singular hues for a more modest aesthetic.
One of the nicest design elements is the fluted style of the bowls. It makes it easier to hold the bowls if you’re perched on the couch or eating a quick breakfast while standing on your way out the door. It also ensures the bowls are deep and large enough to use for cooking hot cereals or oatmeal in the microwave without any frustrating and hard-to-clean overflow. Don’t worry about the carvings on the side, the bowls stack neatly and securely for easy storage.
Price at time of publish: $36 for 6-piece set
Materials: Porcelain | Capacity: 26 ounces | Care: Dishwasher safe
Best for Kids
Max Playful Sports Mugs
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Courtesy of Amazon
Unique
Dishwasher-safe
Bright colors
Expensive
Small
If there’s any way to get your picky child to eat their breakfast, it’s with a fun mug like this. The ceramic bowl comes in four versions, each with a unique design based on a popular sport: basketball, soccer, hockey, and baseball. Though just as functional as other cereal bowls, each one has a fun interactive element to make mealtime fun, like a hoop for shooting cereal through or a net to toss hot chocolate marshmallows into.
If there’s any downside to this one-of-a-kind dinnerware, it’s that the 14-ounce and 16-ounce capacities (depending on the design) are a bit smaller than some other cereal bowls. Still, it’s plenty large for toddlers and young kids. And, for adults with a playful side, it doubles as a great mug.
Price at time of publish: $25
Materials: Ceramic | Capacity: 14 or 16 ounces | Care: Dishwasher safe
Best Decorative
Anthropologie Old Havana Cereal Bowls, Set of 4
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Courtesy of Anthropologie
Sizable
Stylish
Microwave and dishwasher-safe
Expensive
Nobody does decorative dinnerware quite like Anthropologie, and this set of four cereal bowls doesn’t disappoint. The stoneware bowls, which are handcrafted in Portugal, have an elegant boho-inspired design that works with a wide range of modern styles. The set of four comes in multiple colors: blush, mint, white, and iris blue. Stick with a single shade, or mix and match for a unique but cohesive look.
Despite the fine details and the dreamy crackle glaze, these 20-ounce cereal bowls aren’t difficult to care for. They’re both dishwasher and microwave-safe for easy-breezy prep and cleanup.
Price at time of publish: $56 for 4-piece set
Materials: Glazed stoneware | Capacity: 20 ounces | Care: Dishwasher safe
Best Deep
Thomas Both Couch Bowl, Set of 2
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Courtesy of Uncommon Goods
Ergonomic
Deep
Microwave and dishwasher-safe
Expensive
With its 23.6-ounce capacity, this cereal bowl is about as deep as they get, making it a great option for anyone who likes to eat on the couch or standing up (it’s easier to balance, which minimizes spills!). But that’s not the only thing that makes this bowl so great for eating this way: It has a special ergonomic design that easily fits in your hand, as well as an indent in the base to give fingers extra grip and balance. As an added bonus, there’s also a notch on the side to provide a place for your thumb and stabilize your spoon.
Like other great cereal bowls, this one is also microwave and dishwasher-safe, so you can get the most out of it (hot cereal!) and clean up easily.
Price at time of publish: $38 for 2-piece set
Materials: Ceramic | Capacity: 23.6 ounces | Care: Dishwasher safe
Our best overall cereal bowl is the Williams Sonoma Pantry Cereal/Soup Bowl, which is a very versatile, functional, and stylish pick that comes at a great value. You’ll love the convenience—serve up just about anything (hot or cold), then send it for a spin in the dishwasher. For something a little more affordable, consider the DUOLUV Unbreakable Cereal Bowls.
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The Spruce Eats / Laurel Randolph
What to Look for in a Cereal Bowl
Material
What material a cereal bowl is manufactured from can determine whether it will work for you. Cereal bowls come in various materials, including stoneware, porcelain, tempered glass, and plastic. Depending on the substance it is fabricated from, factors such as heaviness and whether nonbreakable, heat resistant, microwave safe, and dishwasher friendly come into play. Lightweight and unbreakable are great options to consider when using bowls for kids as well as adults.
Design
Cereal bowls come in many shapes, colors, and sizes. You might want them to match the rest of your dinnerware, and if so, they can usually be found together in a set. You might decide to switch it up and get many different colors. Shapes vary from square-shaped bowls to round-shaped ones to bowls with an ergonomic design to make them easier to hold. Also consider What the bowls are made of and whether or not they are easy to clean.
Capacity
A key feature in getting the ideal bowl is how much it holds of your favorite cereal (or ice cream at night) without having any issues of spilling or creating a mess. Get a bowl deep enough to help prevent this from happening. Also, make sure it is easy to scrape up every last drop of whatever food you're eating.
Maintenance
Can the bowls be washed in the dishwasher? Are they microwave safe? Do they stack well within each other to make them easy to store and take up less space in the cupboard? How easily they can be washed and stored are components that can be deciding factors when choosing the perfect bowls for you and your family.
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The Spruce Eats
FAQs
What else can a cereal bowl be used for?
A cereal bowl is not just for eating cereal. It is multifunctional and can be used for eating soup, salad, chili, pasta, applesauce, fruit, pudding, ice cream, and more.
What can you add to cereal?
While milk is the first thing that comes to mind for adding to that bowl of cereal, you can also add some slices of banana or strawberries, top it with other types of fruits such as blueberries or raspberries, add pieces of almonds or walnuts, throw in some raisins, or add spices like cinnamon. These toppings can be used along with the milk of your choice or eaten along with dry cereal.
How big is a cereal bowl?
A standard-sized bowl is around 8 ounces. This size will fit most cereals' recommended serving sizes. But once the milk is added, the contents will be almost to the top of the bowl, making it easy to spill. Plus, there's no room for those extra goodies. A deeper bowl can hold the cereal and topping you want, plus save you cleaning up messes.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Brigitt Earley is a freelance writer who has spent the last 10-plus years researching the best home goods and kitchen items for various digital publications, including The Spruce and Good Housekeeping. From dinnerware and wine glasses to small appliances, she’s covered it all.