The 10 Best Flatware and Silverware Sets in 2021

What to Look for When Buying Flatware

By Marshall Bright

Material 

Silver: Flatware is often called “silverware” for good reason: Traditionally, it was silver! The rich showed off their wealth with elaborate table settings (hence the oyster fork) while the poorer classes made do with pewter or even wood cutlery. The invention of stainless steel, which is resistant to rust and corrosion, in the early 1900s changed all that. These days, you can find stainless steel in the finest restaurants and homes, but sterling silver flatware is still very much around. A single flatware setting can run from around $50 to hundreds of dollars. That means a full table setting of sterling silver flatware can easily be thousands of dollars. They also require a lot of upkeep and polishing.

Silver-plated: Silver-plated flatware is another option, but it can feel like a “worst of both worlds” scenarios. Sterling silver flatware remains valuable for years to come because the material is valuable; silver-plated flatware has no such intrinsic value. You’ll have to care for it like it was sterling silver but without any opportunity for resale. If you like the antique look of sterling silver flatware but don’t have the thousands to spend, partial sets or individual pieces can often be purchased at antique stores for a fraction of the price. Even secondhand sterling silver, if all the pieces are included, can be incredibly expensive.  

Other plated silverware includes titanium, gold, and copper. Again, this is about looks rather than quality, so most will have a stainless steel core. Plated flatware can chip and wear over time and requires greater care than stainless steel.

Stainless steel: Stainless steel flatware is able to have the shine of silverware at a fraction of the price. Today, our flatware still owes something to those more formal silver settings of yore; you can find designs on even the most humble flatware handles that are meant to hearken back to actual silverware. 

While stainless steel makes bright, shiny cutlery more affordable, it is also far easier to care for than silver. This type of flatware can just be thrown in the dishwasher, dried off, and put away, over and over again.

Stainless Steel Grades

You can’t just grab any flatware that boasts the stainless steel logo, though. Good stainless steel will show a grade on the packaging or product page that looks like a fraction: usually 18/10, 18/8, and 18/0. 18/10 means the flatware is 18 percent chromium and 10 percent nickel, and so on. 18/10 flatware is the highest-quality: it will feel a bit more weighted in the hand, and the 10 percent nickel gives it more shine and more protection from corrosion. If no grade is listed, it’s best to assume it is of a lower grade, or may not even be stainless steel at all. In general, it’s easy to find a wide variety of styles and designs in 18/10 stainless steel, but lower grades are still a good option if you need to save money. 

Finish

Typically, higher-quality stainless steel with an 18/10 grade is going to be shinier because of the higher quantity of nickel. The bright shine of 18/10 stainless steel is usually called a “mirror finish.” Lower nickel amounts typically mean a satin finish, sometimes called a “butler finish” because it has the look of hand-polished silver. But there are exceptions to keep your eye out for. You can get 18/10 flatware with a “tumbled finish," which reduces shine and sometimes even gives it a textured look. Tumbled finishes can give your flatware an heirloom, hand-me-down quality, or a more hand-forged look. 

Stamped vs. Forged

Today, most flatware you’ll find is stamped, meaning it’s been stamped from a larger piece of steel. Forged flatware, which is forged by hand, tends to be more expensive. Traditionally, forged flatware has been seen as the longer-lasting option, but technology in stamped flatware has continued to improve. The main difference between a high-quality forged flatware set and a high-quality stamped set is going to be weight: forged flatware is heavier. Whether that’s a positive or a negative may come down to taste, but odds are you are used to using stamped silverware for your everyday use.  

Quantity 

Most flatware sets come with five pieces for table settings: dinner knife, dinner fork, salad fork, tablespoon, and teaspoon, which should be more than enough for day-to-day use. Some larger sets will also include steak knives and serving utensils for those who like everything to match. But unless you anticipate regularly needing an oyster fork or dessert spoon, you also don’t need to worry about investing in a giant collection of flatware.

Box sets: Settings are typically sold in a single pack (one of each) and sets of four, eight, 12, and so on. A flatware set with five settings will, for example, have 20 pieces. Also known as box sets, these packs are also commonly available in 45- and 65-piece sets (both come with the addition of serving utensils, with the former containing enough place settings for eight and the latter serving 12). 

How big a set you buy is totally personal and can be informed by your kitchen size, number of housemates or family members, and how often you run the dishwasher. Flatware stores flat (of course), so it’s better to err on the side of a slightly larger number of settings than a slightly smaller one—there’s nothing worse than reaching for a cereal spoon and finding only forks. 

Open stock: If you’re worried about getting too few, you can also check to see if the flatware set is sold in individual settings or individual cutlery. This is also referred to as open stock because retailers keep them in stock so that you can always buy more forks or settings later as the need arises. If the flatware only comes in a 20-piece set, you may just have to buy an entire second set one day as your needs grow.

Design 

Traditionally embellished flatware tends to have a more classic feel to it to mimic silverware. More modern sets typically pare down details with a more streamlined appearance: a straight, thin handle with no major elements. Because we are so used to design elements in our flatware, these more modern sets are often, paradoxically, more unique and interesting than a more ornate set. Many contemporary options also straddle these two worlds: subtle shaping at the end of the handle, for example, will give it a traditional feel without other elements. 

Your choice comes down purely to taste: both traditional and modern styles are made from stainless steel. The only major consideration is if you want stainless steel flatware in a different color. Black and gold flatware have become increasingly popular in recent years, largely because they're such a striking contrast to the bright silver cutlery we use almost everywhere, every day. These sets are typically made from stainless steel with another color added on top. While some are nearly as easy to care for as regular stainless steel, others may require more careful treatment to keep the coating from peeling off.  

Sometimes you’ll see handles made from another material, like wood or plastic. This is reminiscent of a tradition even older than silverware: handles for knives made from materials like bone. The look can be impressive but has some drawbacks: a separate handle can loosen over time, especially if you’re tossing it in the dishwasher. Less expensive flatware is going to show wear and tear along the handle the quickest, and grime and food can settle into cracks. More expensive flatware with resin or wood handles will age better but tend to be expensive and require more care than a simpler, all-stainless steel piece. 

Ease of Use 

You probably don’t think much about the forks and knives you use every day, but shopping for a new set brings new considerations come: do you want a heavier, high-quality 18/10 stainless steel, or something lighter? Is the handle comfortable? While most basic sets are ergonomically designed to be comfortably held and used, fancier and more design-forward sets may offer more to think about: is a giant soup spoon, as striking as it is on your setting, something you (or your kids) will want to reach for? Do you prefer utensils with skinny stems, or perhaps longer fork tines for more European-style dining?

Price

Even though most flatware sets are stainless steel, there's still a considerable price range. Design and stainless steel grades have the biggest effects on price, with 18/10 being the highest quality and most expensive. But even an inexpensive set, with proper care, can last a long time. A basic set of stainless steel flatware can run as low as $20 for a set of six table settings and go up from there; unique finishes and designs can cause the price to jump to several hundred dollars for a table setting for six. But you can still pick up an investment-worthy setting for six for around $60 to $100. 

Pricier silverware is rarely sold in open stock: You’ll have to purchase additional full settings if you realize you need more spoons or forks. But because of that, open stock tends to be affordable—usually around $2 apiece. 

Types of Flatware Sets

Place Settings

Flatware is typically sold in settings with between three to five pieces per person. A typical table setting will usually have at least one fork, one spoon, and one knife. Five-piece settings, which are the most common, have a dinner and salad fork, a table spoon and teaspoon, and a dinner knife. Place settings can be sold individually or in sets of four, six, or eight. 

Disposable

Disposable flatware is ubiquitous these days and offers one advantage: convenience. The typical takeout set isn’t great at piercing, cutting, or ladling food. Then, once it’s done, the plastic goes into the trash and into a landfill. There are eco-friendly alternatives, however, like biodegradable birchwood utensils.

Reusable/Portable 

These days, the eco-conscious can find alternatives to disposable utensils that can still travel with you. Portable sets can be made of lightweight stainless steel, bamboo, or reusable plastic. If you want to get a travel set, look for one that comes with a carrying case; you’re more likely to actually take it with you if it’s easy and convenient to do so. 

Brands

Lenox

Lenox is perhaps best known for its china, and for good reason: the brand has made dinnerware for the White House and the Met Gala. Lenox flatware is just as high-quality, and a set is definitely an investment. But don’t be fooled by its storied past; these days, Lenox also sells unfussy, modern flatware and dinnerware. 

Oneida

Like Lenox, American flatware company Oneida has well over a century of experience, but its backstory is fairly unique. It was originally founded as a way to fund a utopian community in Oneida, New York. Started in the 1840s, stories you’ll read from the commune sound like they’re out of the 1960s. The commune eventually dissolved, but the silverware production remained and eventually switched to stainless steel. You’ll never look at an Oneida fork the same way again!

Laguiole 

While most high-quality flatware is stamped from a single piece of stainless steel, there’s one exception: Laguiole. Made in France since 1829, these knives (and later spoons and forks) have a distinctive handle made from materials like wood, bone, or colorful resin. This statement-making flatware is often imitated, though knock-offs won’t have the same quality as a real Laguiole set. 

Maintenance

There are a few simple rules for taking care of stainless steel, and most are pretty intuitive. Most stainless steel flatware can be hand-washed or placed in a dishwasher. Avoid steel wool or steel brushes, since those can nick the surface and cause corrosion or even rusting. If food dries on your silverware and can’t be gently scrubbed away, let it soak for a bit or try the more abrasive side of a soft sponge. If you have a color-plated flatware set, like matte black or gold, you’ll want to be extra careful about abrasive cleaners or sponges, as it could strip the finish. 

“Stainless steel” can also feel like a misnomer because it can show some stains: namely, water stains from hard (mineral-rich) water. If your stainless steel starts to lose its luster, and to reduce mineral spotting, try drying it as soon as it’s out of the sink or dishwasher. Finally, don’t use bleach, which can stain stainless steel.

FAQs

What is in a 45-piece flatware set? 

Typically a 45-piece flatware set includes service for eight people, made up of a salad fork, dinner fork, soup spoon, teaspoon, and knife. Additionally, it includes five serving utensils including a serving spoon, slotted serving spoon, meat fork, butter knife, and sugar spoon. 

What does a 5-piece flatware set include? 

A 5-piece flatware set is typically a single service of flatware that includes a salad fork, dinner fork, soup spoon, teaspoon, and knife. 

How many flatware sets do you need? 

Generally speaking, you want to have double the amount of flatware settings as there are people in your household for everyday use. For example, a 2-person household should have a 5-piece setting for four. That way you’ve always got a set to use while another set is in the dishwasher. 

If you plan to entertain regularly, consider buying a larger set that includes serving utensils, as well as enough settings for guests. Buying a set that offers additional settings individually is convenient if you need to grow or replace parts of your set down the road. 

How do you set flatware on a table? 

You may have noticed in costume dramas on tv, your cousin’s fancy wedding, or at a high-end restaurant that flatware is laid out in a certain arrangement. You don’t need a full course in formal dining etiquette to set a nice table. A few points to remember include:

• Utensils are used from the outside, moving in. So salad fork and soup spoon go on the outside. 
• Forks go on the left of the plate, spoons and knives on the right. Coffee, tea, and dessert utensils go above the plate (twist!). 
• So from left to right across the setting, you’ll layout: a salad fork, dinner fork, plate, steak knife (if using), dinner knife, soup spoon. If using a teaspoon and dessert fork, place the dessert fork closest to the top of the plate, and the teaspoon above it (pointing in the opposite direction).
• For any pieces you aren't using, simply remove them from the lineup without changing the order of the other utensils.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

This piece was updated by Jenny Kellerhals. Jenny is a food and beverage writer who lives and cooks in a tiny NYC kitchen, where only the highest-quality tools make the cut. She's into the flatware sets with more contemporary finishes, like the Gourmet Settings Birch Black Silverware Set that can transition from a casual breakfast to a more formal-style dinner party.