A travel coffee mug needs to do at least 2 things really well: keep your coffee hot and keep it from spilling all over your bag/car/desk. Other factors to consider include size, aesthetics, ease of cleaning, and one-handed operation. Our list is compiled based on CNET’s past picks, those that have been vetted by other review sites and repeatedly appear on best-of lists, and best-selling and consistently highly rated models at major retailers like Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Target.
Most travel coffee mugs claim to keep liquids “hot” for about 5-6 hours. To test this, I filled each of the models here with 170 degrees of liquid and measured the temperature after both 3 hours and 5 hours. Travel mug lids generally fall into 1 of 2 camps, either some sort of screw-on, screw-on mechanism or else a plastic and rubber twist/press lid that creates a vacuum seal. To test for leak-tightness, I inverted each mug repeatedly while full, looking for even the hint of a drip.
Best Travel Mugs Compared
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| Zojirushi stainless steel mug | Miir Flip Traveler | Yeti walker | Contigo West loop | Hold cup | Hydroflask 16 oz | S’well cup | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sizes, ounces | 12, 16, 20 | 12, 16, 20 | 10, 14, 20, 24, 30 | 16, 20, 24 | 6, 8, 12, 16 | 12, 16, 20 | 10,16 |
| Lid type | Screw cap | Screw cap | Turn/press it | Screw cap | Press | Screw cap | Press |
| Leak-proof | Yes | Yes | Mostly | Yes | No | Yes | Mostly |
| Dishwasher safe? | No | Yes* | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Price | $29 | $28 | $35 | $16 | $31 | $25 | $30 |
