Sri Raine Stewart is a writer specializing in fashion, gifts, and beauty. She is also a yoga enthusiast and the author of The Ultimate Guide to Yoga Blocks.
After trying out drink stands on dozens of coasters, we’ve rewritten this guide and settled on six of our favorites.
Coasters not only protect surfaces from stains and scratches, but also give you the opportunity to show off your personality and style.
Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or enjoying a hot cup of tea on the couch, cute coasters will make everything more enjoyable (and protect your furniture, too).
We set out the drinks and used dozens of coasters—from stylish felt ones to funky rubber ones—to find our favorites.
The purpose of coasters is simple: to protect surfaces from damage. But they also need to be pleasing to the eye, and we wanted to find coasters that were both functional and aesthetically pleasing. We looked at well-known brands and small online stores to find coasters that were mostly reliable.
We looked at coasters made from just about every material available: silicone, ceramic, cork, felt, marble, wood, resin, and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). We placed the coasters on wooden floors and spilled tea and wine on them to test how easy they were to clean and to make sure the glasses wouldn’t slip or get stuck. We also considered aesthetics to ensure there were enough options to suit a variety of styles.
These glass coasters are available in a variety of color combinations. But they can easily collect small puddles of condensation.
Handcrafted to order in San Jose, California, Subtle Art’s glass tile coasters come in a stunning variety of sleek, glossy color combinations. Subtle Art’s most famous two-tone checkerboard pattern is available in over 50 color combinations (also customizable).
Amazingly, they didn’t crack or scratch during our drop test, and thanks to the smooth composite wood and felt base, they won’t stain your table. While a frosted glass may collect some water, the condensation will dry without leaving any marks. Just wipe up any spills immediately; the white cement can absorb small stains (as it did in our black tea test).
Dimensions: 3.875 x 3.875 x 0.5 inches Colors and styles: More than 90, including multi-color, solid, gradient, and custom Price: About $18 for one set, about $30 for two sets, about $50 for four sets Materials: Glass tile, wood composite, felt Care: Wipe clean with damp soft cloth first, then dry with cloth; hang to dry in shade; not dishwasher safe; do not soak
These geometric coasters are made from stain-resistant, dishwasher-safe silicone and come in a range of soft earth tones. They run a bit small, though.
The Original Degrē Hexagonal Coasters in Earthy Shades from Line+Arc are made from food-grade silicone with a smooth matte finish that’s waterproof, dishwasher-safe, stain-resistant, and heat-resistant up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. They’re practically everything-proof and still one of our favorites for the best-priced coasters. The ridges on the top help catch condensation and dry quickly.
Unlike other silicone coasters we’ve tested, these don’t collect a lot of lint (we’ve noticed this with other models, too), which can be annoying. They’re a bit small, though—our IKEA mugs fit perfectly on the coasters, but some wine glasses spilled over the rim.
Size: 4 x 3.5 inches Colors and styles: Seven color sets, including neutrals, greens, blues, and fuchsia Price: About $15 for a set of six (prices vary by color) Material: Silicone Care: Wipe clean with a damp cloth; dishwasher safe
The four-piece set features a partially painted dune-like surface that can be used as a tripod. However, the clay material is quite fragile.
As the name suggests, Areaware Dune Coasters by Ben Medansky are inspired by the sand dunes of the American Southwest. In addition to the unique ripples, each square coaster has a glazed quarter circle that, when arranged in a large square, creates a colorful circle (which can also be used as a tripod).
Because the grooves on these coasters are deep and the unglazed clay absorbs moisture, water is held securely and does not drip over the edges of the coasters, so even the foggiest glass will not stain your surfaces. The bottom of the coaster is covered with cork, which prevents it from slipping. A few tiny bubbles formed in the recesses of the glaze, but we did not mind.
Size: 3.5 x 3.5 inches Colors and styles: Set of several colors Price: $45 for a set of four Materials: Terracotta, cork Care: Wipe clean with a damp cloth
These versatile coasters, originally designed for beer mugs, are available in over 20 colors. The merino wool felt is thick and absorbent, but the material requires more thorough cleaning.
If you prefer to place your glasses on a quiet surface, these round Graf Lantz Bierfilzl mug coasters made of merino wool have been a favorite among our staff for many years. Like the art glass tile coasters, they are available in a variety of beautiful colors and in round, square, and other shapes.
Unlike plastic and other nonporous surfaces, these felt coasters absorb water (and dry quickly), making them ideal for storing a cool, dripping glass. They require more than just a wipe to clean. We found that they hide stains easily, but Graf Lantz has cleaning instructions if you spill red wine or tea on them.
Size: 4 x 4 inches Colors and styles: More than 20, including multi-color and ombre colors Price: About $28 for a set of four; about $42 for a set of six Material: Merino wool Care: Spot clean with mild soap and water
These handcrafted coasters are uniquely shaped and make a delightful decorative item. However, they are not suitable for hot drinks.
The late architect and designer Gaetano Pesce created his popular Fish Design collection in the 1990s, and these brightly colored clear resin coasters, or Table-Mates, remain a favorite to this day. The flexible resin material is molded into imperfect ovals or circles with jagged edges that highlight the handmade craftsmanship. They’re sold in sets of two and are available in 13 color combinations (you can buy matching placemats, too).
Sometimes these coasters can stick to wet glass and leave fingerprints or water stains, but they can be easily wiped off. They can’t withstand temperatures above 105 degrees Fahrenheit, which means they can’t be used with most hot drinks (even a warm cup of tea). So save them for cocktails and room-temperature drinks, just in case.
Size: 4.75 x 4 inches Colors and patterns: 13 color combinations Price: About $30 for a set of two Materials: Resin Care: Not suitable for hot drinks or temperatures above 105 degrees Fahrenheit; wipe clean with a damp cloth and mild soap; avoid cleaners containing alcohol
These thick marble coasters are inexpensive, clean, elegant and versatile. However, they are heavy, so be careful not to drop them on your bare feet.
Target’s Threshold Marble Coasters have a slight mineral sheen that makes them look more expensive than they are, but at just $15 for a set of four, they’re one of the best deals we’ve picked (second only to The Original Degrē Coasters).
The marble on these stands is thick and durable (it won’t scratch a wooden floor if dropped on it) and is also very resistant to condensation—even wine won’t stain it. The foam padding on the bottom prevents scratches on the marble of the table. However, they are a little heavier than our other products—if you drop one, it will make a loud noise. (If you drop it on your foot, it will hurt.)
Size: 4 x 4 inches Color and pattern: White marble Price: About $15 for a set of four Material: Marble Care: Spot clean
If you like the ridged surface on your coasters and don’t mind paying a premium for more color options, the PrettiCool coasters are similar in weight and design to the Areaware Dune coasters, but have deeper ridges on the ridged surface. The PrettiCool coasters are made of concrete and glass, giving them a more sophisticated look, and are available in four colors. However, these coasters cost $20 more, as a set of four costs around $65.
If you prefer the rustic look of Moroccan tile, these immaculate Terracotta Moroccan Tile Coasters from World Market look exactly like the unique tiles you’d find at a Moroccan street market. The set includes three models that are coated with a protective layer that gives them a smooth, easy-to-clean glossy finish. Like our recommended Subtle Art Glass Tile Coasters, there’s a small piece of felt on each corner to keep the unglazed terracotta from scratching your furniture. Unfortunately, they’re currently on sale, so we don’t know how long they’ll last.
We would have chosen the Naomi mother-of-pearl coasters from Anthropologie, but they were discontinued before our guide was published. The perfect combination of stone, mother-of-pearl, and steel makes these coasters durable, slip-resistant, and easy to clean.
Bower’s Areaware Optical Table Tiles create an interesting optical illusion, but they are too small for most of our glasses and tend to stick to them.
We love the colorful Goodee Jipi Japa wicker coasters (like these), but they have no traction, so they slide easily across the table, and condensation can seep into the fibers, rendering the surface protection useless. They’re currently out of stock.
The cheap wooden Kaizen Casa stands had smudges and scratches on them, and worse, the brown paint had worn off when we wiped them down.
The Kim Seybert Tortoiseshell Coasters in Brown Resin have an attractive tortoiseshell design and a handy tray. But they cost about $70 and are too easy to scratch, collect fingerprints, and stick to the glass.
The Geo Stacking Coasters from MoMA Design Shop look stylish and we love that they’re stackable, but they’re too small to fit a standard cup.
MoMA’s Lily Pad coasters, made from thermoplastic polyurethane, attracted us for their ability to create small sculptures, but they tend to bend to maintain their shape, and condensation seeps through the cracks in the Lily Pad.
The Yamazaki Tower Silicone Coasters have a simple design that feels nice to the touch, but the silicone easily attracts dust and lint, which can be a bit of a nuisance.
I write about style, gifts, and beauty for Wirecutter, as well as produce research papers and features.
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Wirecutter is the product recommendation service of The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (sometimes) additional testing so you can make buying decisions quickly and confidently. Whether you’re looking for great products or helpful advice, we’re here to help you make the right choice (the first time).