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The 6 Best Spill-Proof Coffee Mugs That Reviewers Love
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When you’re drinking coffee on the go, the best spill-proof coffee mugs utilize lids that lock, screw, or slide closed to prevent spills and splashes. While some mugs simply make it harder to slosh coffee out the top, it’s also possible to find spill-proof mugs from brands like Contigo or S’well that create such a tight seal, they can be tossed into your bag without making a mess. These mugs may not be necessary if you’ll be sipping at your desk or in your car, but if you want a truly fool-proof travel mug, they might be right for you.
What Criteria To Consider
When you’re shopping for a good travel mug, you’ll likely want to look for options with double- or triple-wall vacuum insulation to maintain your drink’s temperature. This type of insulation uses a gap between two layers in order to increase the heat retention so your beverage will stay hot for longer.
Stainless steel coffee mugs tend to retain temperature better than standard plastic and are much more durable than common ceramic or glass cups. Although they don’t keep heat as long as stainless steel coffee mugs do, travel mugs made from polypropylene can be a lot cheaper, and they may be safe to warm in the microwave if your beverage cools.
No matter which material you choose, it’s helpful to have a coffee mug that’s easy to clean — so if you hate washing dishes, look for a product that’s dishwasher-safe.
Shop The Best Spill-Proof Coffee Mugs
In a hurry? These are the best spill-proof coffee mugs:
- The Overall Best Spill-Proof Coffee Mug: Contigo Autoseal Stainless Steel Travel Mug
- A Spill-Proof Mug That’s Designed To Work Well With Tea: Thermos Stainless King Travel Mug with Handle
- A Spill-Proof Tumbler That Doubles As A Water Bottle: Iron Flask Sports Water Bottle
- A Spill-Proof Mug With A Built-In French Press: Bodum Insulated Travel French Press Coffee Mug
- A Travel Mug That Keeps Coffee Hot For Up To 12 Hours: S’well Stainless Steel Travel Mug
- A Set Of Budget-Friendly Spill-Proof Cups: Evron Spill Proof Travel Mug (4-Pack)
Scroll on for my top picks for the best spill-proof coffee mugs to take with you wherever you need caffeine without the risk of spills or leaks — even if you’re just staying at home.
1. The Overall Best Spill-Proof Coffee Mug
The Contigo Autoseal stainless steel travel mug is a top pick among coffee lovers with more than 93,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. It has a locked lid to prevent spills or leaks, so you can even toss it in your bag or purse with confidence, knowing it’s tightly sealed. There’s a button located on the cap that lets you quickly open to sip, then lock to close it securely once more.
The stainless steel mug is also double-walled vacuum-sealed for optimal heat retention, enabling you to keep your drinks hot for up to 5 hours and cold for up to 12 hours. Although the mug itself is hand-wash only, the spill-proof lid is dishwasher safe for easier cleaning. It’s available in dozens of different matte and metallic shades, as well as versions with a handle.
One shopper wrote: “I’ve spilled some coffee in my day. The daily routine often involves balancing my hot beverage, an energetic puppy on a leash, plus my work lunch bag. I can confidently toss this mug full of coffee in my bag and put it in the car without worrying about it spilling. Easy to drink from, the self open/close mechanism is a dream. My life is truly better with this thing in it.”
Material: Stainless steel | Available sizes: 10 ounces — 24 ounces | Available styles: 38 | Insulation: Yes | Dishwasher safe: No
Also available on: Walmart, $20, and Wayfair, $26
2. A Spill-Proof Mug That’s Designed To Work Well With Tea
The Thermos stainless king travel mug is another spill-proof option designed to keep your hot beverages hot, even if you’re drinking tea. This 16-ounce stainless steel mug has a built-in tea hook located inside to hold tea bags and most loose leaf tea infusers. Plus, it’s double-wall vacuum-sealed to maintain temperature for both hot or cold drinks for up to 4 hours. The included locked lid is also leak-proof to prevent spills. This mug will fit most standard cup holders, so you can easily take it with you on your morning commute.
Although it's technically dishwasher safe, the manufacturer recommends washing this mug by hand. This travel mug is available in 10 different shades ranging from midnight blue to cranberry red.
One shopper wrote: “Thermos brand lives up to its good name! My coffee stays hot for hours and the open/close does exactly what it should. No spills! This metal cup is very durable and dishwasher safe too.”
Material: Stainless steel | Available size: 16 ounces | Available styles: 10 | Insulation: Yes | Dishwasher safe: Yes
Also available on: Walmart, $22, and Wayfair, $30
3. A Spill-Proof Tumbler That Doubles As A Water Bottle
Boasting a near-perfect 4.8-star overall rating after nearly 100,000 reviews, this popular tumbler flask is a spill-proof stainless steel mug, and it comes with three leak-proof lids. One is a flip-locking lid ideal for coffee and hot liquids. The second is a simple stainless steel lid for cold beverages, so the flask can double as a water bottle when you’re hitting the gym or outdoors. And the last is a straw lid with a carabiner, which you can attach to a backpack.
The mug is double walled and vacuum sealed, and it can keep drinks hot for up to 12 hours and cold for up to 24 hours. One trade-off is that it’s not dishwasher safe. However, it comes in a huge variety of cool colors and prints, as well as in six sizes.
One shopper wrote: “I use this when I travel for my coffee. I was looking for a spill-proof system and I’m glad to say this is it. I can’t say if it keeps beverages like coffee hot for long. I usually drop a few ice cubes in my coffee and it stays warm for several hours. It has different attachments but I always have used the simple screw-off and on top. It’s easy to clean and it’s sturdy.”
Material: Stainless steel | Available sizes: 14 ounces — 64 ounces | Available styles: 27 | Insulation: Yes | Dishwasher safe: No
Also available on: Walmart, $20
4. A Spill-Proof Mug With A Built-In French Press
This stainless steel Bodum travel mug is a must-have for anyone who prefers to make their coffee in a French press, especially if you like your kitchen items to be multipurpose. This double-walled, vacuum-insulated mug allows you to brew and drink from the same container while you’re on the go. The mug is super easy to use — just add coarse-ground coffee, pour in hot water, and seal the lid with the plunger positioned up. After four minutes of brewing, press the plunger down and enjoy your fresh coffee. The 15-ounce mug can be used in place of a traditional 3-cup French press and can also be used to brew loose-leaf tea. A colorful silicone band around the mug gives you a more ergonomic grip in addition to a splash of color (it comes in red, black, green, and white). The mug also comes in a plastic version if you’re not fond of stainless steel.
One shopper wrote: “Top of the line material, seals tight so coffee won’t spill even if it falls over in the car! [...] Keeps coffee hot for hours. I used mine for 3 years, no leakage or damage, until I lost it and I had to replace it. It’s worth the money.”
Material: Stainless steel or plastic | Available size: 15 ounces | Available styles: 4 | Insulation: Yes | Dishwasher safe: Yes
Also available on: Walmart, $15, Wayfair, $22, and Bodum, $21
5. A Travel Mug That Keeps Coffee Hot For Up To 12 Hours
If you want a mug that’s resistant to spills and stays hot all day, the S’well stainless steel travel mug is worth considering. It’s vacuum sealed with a triple-layer construction that keeps your coffee warm for up to 12 straight hours. If you think that’s a long time, consider this: It can also keep cold beverages cold for up to 24 hours. Plus, the lid screws tightly shut with a secure seal, so you can toss it in your bag without worrying about spills.
According to the manufacturer, you should always wash this mug by hand. However, if you don’t mind cleaning, this sleek, stylish travel mug may be worth it. It’s available in five sizes, plus it comes in dozens of striking designs and shades from white marble and yellow gold to floral prints.
One shopper wrote: “I love this water bottle. It has amazing storage capacity. It looks polished and refined. Liquids are sealed and spill-proof. Most importantly, I frequently use it for cold liquids and they stay ice cold for multiple days. Amazing technology compared to other bottles I own. Well worth the price.”
Material: Stainless steel | Available sizes: 3.4 ounces — 40 ounces | Available styles: 30 | Insulation: Yes | Dishwasher safe: No
Also available on: S’well, $35
6. A Set Of Budget-Friendly Spill-Proof Cups
These cheap spill-proof travel mugs are a great option if you have more than one coffee drinker in your home. The double-walled cups are made of polypropylene and can stay hot for up to 3 hours — not as long as the other mugs on the list, but they are safe to reheat in your microwave so long as you remove the lids first. The lids are leak-proof with an anti-overflow cover design. Best of all, these reusable mugs are dishwasher safe, which means cleaning is quick and easy. Get a four-pack of 10-ounce or 16-ounce cups for just around $24, or a two-pack with a 10-ounce and 16-ounce cup for even less.
One shopper wrote: “I wanted a travel mug that was dishwasher and microwave safe...these are perfect! They worked really well. I had no issues keeping the lids on tight. My drink never spilled.”
Material: Plastic | Available sizes: 10 ounces — 16 ounces | Available styles: 4 | Insulation: No | Dishwasher safe: Yes
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