Best Travel Coffee Mugs of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

A travel coffee mug must do at least 2 things extremely well: keep your coffee hot, and keep it from spilling all over your bag/car/desk. Additionally, matters of size, aesthetics, ease of cleaning and one-handed operability may be factors to consider. Our list was assembled based on CNET’s previous picks, those that have been well-vetted by other review sites and appear repeatedly on best lists, and best-selling and consistently highly-rated models at major retailers such as 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-degree liquid and measured the temperature after both 3 hours and 5 hours. Lids for travel mugs tend to fall in 1 of 2 camps, either some sort of threaded, screw-on mechanism or else a plastic and rubber twist/press-on lid that creates a vacuum seal. To test for leakproofness, I repeatedly upended each mug while full, looking for even a hint of a dribble.

Best travel mugs compared

Zojirushi Stainless Mug Miir Flip Traveler Yeti Rambler Contigo West Loop Keep Cup Hydroflask 16 oz S’well Tumbler
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 top Screw top Twist/press on Screw top Press on Screw top Press on
Leakproof Yes Yes Mostly Yes No Yes Mostly
Dishwasher safe? No Yes* Yes Yes No No No
Price $29 $28 $35 $23 $32 $35 $30