On this page
We may earn a commission if you buy through links here. Brands do not pay to be listed. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Start with how many cups
An electric kettle does one job: it boils water fast and then switches itself off. In an Indian home that water goes into tea, coffee, instant noodles, oats, or a hot water bottle on a winter night. It is also handy in a hostel room or an office pantry with no gas stove.
The first choice is size. A bigger kettle is not always better, because you pay to boil every drop you put in.
| Who uses it | Size to look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 or 2 people | 1.2 to 1.5 litres | Enough for a few cups at a time |
| A family of 3 to 5 | 1.5 to 1.8 litres | Fewer refills at tea time |
| An office or guests often | 1.8 litres | One boil serves more people |
Most kettles have a minimum mark too. Fill at least to that line, and no higher than the maximum line, or boiling water can spit out of the spout.
What to look for
- Auto shut-off. The kettle turns off once the water boils. All five below list it.
- Boil-dry protection. It turns off if the kettle is switched on empty.
- Steel inside. A stainless steel inside means the water touches steel, not plastic. Some listings name 304 grade steel, which is a common food-grade steel.
- Cool-touch or double wall body. The outside stays cooler, which matters with children around.
- Cordless base. The jug lifts off a base that stays plugged in, so you can pour without a cord in the way. A 360 degree base lets you put it back from any side.
- Wide mouth. It makes filling and cleaning easier.
- ISI mark and warranty. Look for the ISI mark on the listing and on the box, and check how long the warranty is.
Top 5 electric kettles to look at
We have not tested these. The details come from each Amazon listing, and the pros and cons are our reading of those details and of this type of product. This is a shortlist, not a ranking. We picked popular listings on Amazon.in, so the order does not mean one is better. Check the current price, warranty and reviews on Amazon.
| Product | Capacity | Listed power |
|---|---|---|
| Pigeon Amaze Plus | 1.5 litres | 1300 watts |
| Prestige PKOSS 1.5 | 1.5 litres | 1350 watts |
| Havells Aqua Plus | 1.2 litres | 1250 watts |
| Milton Rapid Cool Touch | 1.5 litres | 1350 watts |
| AGARO Elegant | 1.8 litres | 1500 watts |
1. Pigeon Amaze Plus
This is a simple 1.5 litre kettle from Pigeon by Stovekraft, with a polished steel body and a cordless swivel base. It is listed at 656 g. It is aimed at someone who wants a basic kettle for daily tea and hot water.
Key details
- Capacity: 1.5 litres
- Power: 1300 watts in the title and details
- Body: stainless steel and plastic
- Base: cordless, 360 degree swivel, 1 metre cable
- Safety: automatic shut-off and an indicator light
- Warranty: 1 year from the manufacturer
- At 656 g it is easy to lift and pour when full
- The swivel base works for left and right-handed users
- The listing lists it as BPA-free
- One part of the listing says 1500 watts while the title says 1300 watts, so confirm it
- The listing says there is no water level indicator
- Boil-dry protection and a cool-touch body are not listed, so the steel outside can get hot
Good for: One or two people who want a light, basic kettle.
2. Prestige PKOSS 1.5
This is a 1.5 litre steel kettle from Prestige with a steel lid as well as a steel body. It is the only one of the five whose listing says ISI certified in the title. It is aimed at a buyer who wants a known brand and the ISI mark.
Key details
- Capacity: 1.5 litres
- Power: 1350 watts at 230 volts
- Body and lid: stainless steel, with a cool-touch handle and lid
- Safety: switches off when the water boils or if the kettle runs dry
- Base: 360 degree swivel base with a cord winder
- Certification and warranty: ISI certified, 1 year
- ISI certification is stated on the listing
- Auto cut-off covers both boiling and running dry
- A steel lid means the steam does not sit against plastic
- Only the handle and lid are listed as cool-touch, so the steel body will get hot
- The listed weight is clearly wrong, so check the weight if it matters to you
- 1 year warranty is shorter than the Havells
Good for: A small family that wants an ISI-marked steel kettle.
3. Havells Aqua Plus
This is the smallest kettle here at 1.2 litres, with a double wall body that stays cool on the outside. It also has the longest listed warranty of the five. It is aimed at one or two people, or a home with children.
Key details
- Capacity: 1.2 litres
- Power: 1250 watts at 230 volts
- Inside: 304 stainless steel, listed as having no plastic inside
- Body: double wall, cool-touch outer body, wide mouth
- Safety: auto shut-off and boil-dry protection
- Warranty: 2 years comprehensive, listed as door step service
- The cool-touch double wall lowers the risk of burns
- Steel inside with no plastic, which some buyers prefer
- 2 years of warranty, double most of the others here
- 1.2 litres is small for a family or guests
- At 1.1 kg empty it is heavier than the others that list a weight
- ISI is not mentioned in what we read, so check the box
Good for: A small household that wants a cooler body and a longer warranty.
4. Milton Rapid Cool Touch
This is a 1.5 litre Milton kettle with a cool-touch body and a full 304 steel inside. It sits between the Prestige and the Havells: the same size as the Prestige, with a cool outside like the Havells. It is aimed at a family that wants a cooler body at a middle size.
Key details
- Capacity: 1.5 litres
- Power: 1350 watts
- Inside: SS 304 food-grade steel
- Body: cool-touch body and handle, wide mouth
- Safety: auto shut-off and dry-heat protection
- Warranty: 1 year in the title
- Cool-touch body and steel inside in one kettle
- Wide mouth makes it easy to clean
- At 750 g it is light for a cool-touch kettle
- The outer body is listed as plastic, if you want an all-steel look
- ISI is not mentioned in what we read, so check the box
- This is a newer listing, so it may have fewer reviews to go on
Good for: A family of three or four that wants a cooler body to touch.
5. AGARO Elegant
This is the largest and most powerful kettle of the five, at 1.8 litres and 1500 watts. It has a double layer body with steel inside and a cool-touch outside. It is aimed at larger families and office pantries.
Key details
- Capacity: 1.8 litres
- Power: 1500 watts
- Body: double layer, stainless steel inside, cool-touch textured outside
- Safety: thermostat with boil-dry protection and auto shut-off
- Base: 360 degree swivel base, 1.2 metre cord
- Warranty: 1 year from the manufacturer
- The biggest capacity here, so fewer refills for a crowd
- Highest power of the five, which helps a full kettle boil sooner
- The 1.2 metre cord is the longest listed here
- A full 1.8 litres is heavier to pour
- At 1500 watts, check that your inverter can run it during power cuts
- ISI is not mentioned in what we read, so check the box
Good for: A family of five or more, or a shared office kitchen.
What it costs to run
One unit on your bill is one kilowatt-hour. A kettle draws a lot of power, but only for a few minutes, so the cost per use is small. This table is a rough guide for water at room temperature. It uses ₹8 per unit as an example. Your rate depends on your state and your slab, so check your bill.
| Water you boil | Units, roughly | Cost at ₹8 a unit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cup, about 250 ml | 0.03 | about 25 paise |
| 1 litre | 0.1 | about 80 paise |
| 1.5 litres | 0.15 | about ₹1.20 |
Wattage changes how fast the water boils, not how much heat it needs. So a 1500 watt kettle boils sooner than a 1250 watt one, but the units used for the same water are close. The easy way to save is to boil only what you need. Winter water starts colder, so it takes a little longer and a little more power.
Kettle or gas stove?
A kettle switches itself off, so you cannot forget it on the flame. It also works in a room with no stove. A gas stove can heat a pan of water just as well, and costs depend on your cylinder price. If you mostly make tea with milk and spices, you will still use the stove for that. A kettle is best for plain hot water.
Safety and care
- Fill between the minimum and maximum marks.
- Plug the base into a wall socket, not a loose extension board.
- Keep the cord away from the edge of the counter, where children can pull it.
- Do not open the lid while the water is boiling. Steam burns.
- Do not put the jug or base in water. Wipe the outside with a damp cloth.
- Descale every few weeks if your water is hard and leaves white marks.
Before you buy
Count how many cups your home makes at one time. Then pick the smallest size that covers it, with auto shut-off and boil-dry protection. If children are around, choose a cool-touch body. Check the warranty on the listing, and look for the ISI mark on the box when it arrives.
Read next
We read the Amazon listings, compared the details and noted what they leave out. We have not tested these products, and brands do not pay to be listed.
Common questions
How much electricity does an electric kettle use?
Very little per use. Boiling a full 1.5 litre kettle takes roughly 0.15 units. At an example rate of ₹8 per unit, that is about ₹1.20. Boil only the water you need to use less.
Can I boil milk in an electric kettle?
Most kettles are made for water. Milk can froth over and burn onto the base. Some listings say milk is fine, so check what the maker says for your model before you try.
What is boil-dry protection?
It switches the kettle off if it is turned on with little or no water inside. This protects the heating element and is a useful safety feature.
How do I remove white scale from a kettle?
Fill it part way with water and some white vinegar or lemon juice, boil, leave it for a while, then empty and rinse well. Boil fresh water once and throw it away before you use the kettle again.