Sri Rain Stewart is a fashion, gift, and beauty writer. She is also a yoga enthusiast and the author of The Ultimate Guide to Yoga Blocks.
After trying and placing dozens of coasters, we’ve rewritten this guide and settled on six of our favorite options.
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 our drinks on coasters and tried dozens of options, from stylish felt ones to quirky rubber ones, before finding our favorites.
The job of a coaster is simple: 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 scoured both well-known brands and smaller online stores for a wide range of models, most of which were in stock.
We tried coasters made from almost every conceivable material: silicone, ceramic, cork, felt, marble, wood, resin, and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). We placed coasters on wooden floors and doused them with tea and wine to test how easy they were to clean and to make sure that glasses wouldn’t slip or get stuck on them. We also considered aesthetics to ensure that there was enough variety to suit different styles.
These glass coasters are available in a variety of color combinations. However, they can easily collect small puddles of water.
Handcrafted in San Jose, California, these Subtle Art glass coasters come in a dazzling array of sleek, glossy color combinations. Subtle Art’s most famous two-tone checkerboard pattern is available in over 50 color combinations (also customizable).
Surprisingly, they didn’t crack or scratch during our drop test, and because they’re made of smooth composite wood with a felt bottom, they won’t scratch your table either. While some water may collect in a cold glass, the condensation will dry without leaving any marks. Just wipe up spills immediately; white cement attracts 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 multicolor, solid, gradient, and custom Price: About $18 for one set, $30 for two sets, $50 for four sets Materials: Glass tile, wood composite, felt Care: Wipe clean with a damp soft cloth, then wipe dry with a cloth; hang to dry in shade; not dishwasher safe; do not soak
These geometric coasters are made from stain-resistant, dishwasher-safe silicone and are available in a range of soft earth tones. They run a bit small, though.
The Original Degrē Hexagonal Coasters from Line+Arc feature earthy tones and are made from food-grade silicone with a smooth matte finish. They’re waterproof, dishwasher safe, stain-resistant, and heat-resistant up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. They can do just about anything, and they’re also affordable, making them our most affordable recommendation. The ribbed design at the top of the coaster prevents condensation from dripping down and makes drying easy.
Unlike other silicone coasters we’ve tested, this one doesn’t collect a lot of lint (we’ve noticed this on other models, too), which can be annoying. They’re a bit small, though—our IKEA mug fits neatly inside the coaster, while some wine glasses cover the rim.
Size: 4 x 3.5 inches Colors and styles: Available in seven sets, including neutrals, greens, blues and lavender 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 furniture set features a partially painted dune-inspired surface that can be assembled into a tripod. However, the clay material it is made of is somewhat fragile.
As the name suggests, Areaware Dune Coasters designed by Ben Medansky are inspired by the sand dunes of the American Southwest. In addition to the unique wave pattern, each square coaster features a glazed quarter circle that, when joined together to form a larger square, creates a colorful circle (which can also be used as a tripod).
The deep grooves on these coasters, combined with the absorbent properties of the unglazed clay, hold water securely and prevent it from dripping over the edges of the coasters, so even the wettest glasses will remain protected on your table. The bottom of the coaster is lined with cork, which has a good anti-slip effect. There were a few tiny bubbles in the recesses of the glaze on our coasters, but we were not bothered.
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
Originally designed to catch drips from beer glasses, these versatile coasters are available in more than 20 colors. The merino wool felt is thick and absorbent, but the material requires more thorough cleaning.
If you prefer a quiet tabletop to place your glasses on, the Graf Lantz Bierfilzl round coasters made of merino wool have been a favorite among our staff for years. Like the Subtle Art glass tile coasters, they are available in a variety of beautiful colors and can be round, square, or in other shapes.
Unlike plastic and other nonporous surfaces, these felt coasters absorb water (and dry quickly), making them ideal for storing cool, dripping glasses. Cleaning them requires more work than simply wiping. We found that they easily hide stains and don’t leave them on the surface, but if you spill red wine or tea, Graf Lantz has cleaning instructions.
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 pleasing to the eye. But they are not suitable for hot drinks.
The late architect and designer Gaetano Pesce created his beloved Fish Design collection in the 1990s, and these vibrant clear resin coasters, or Table-Mates, remain a favorite today. The flexible resin material is molded into irregular ovals or circles, and the jagged edges highlight the handmade craftsmanship. They come in sets of two, with 13 color combinations to choose from (you can also order matching napkins).
These coasters can sometimes stick to wet glass and collect 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 for most hot drinks (even if you pour them 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. They are heavy, though, 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 coasters is thick and durable (it won’t stain if dropped on a wood floor) and is condensation-resistant, so it won’t even stain wine. Foam padding on the bottom prevents scratches on the marble of the table. But they’re a little heavier than our other recommendations, so if you drop them, they’ll make a loud noise. (It’ll hurt if it lands on your feet.)
Size: 4″ x 4″ Color and Pattern: White Marble Price: About $15 for a set of four Material: Marble Care: Spot clean
If you like the ridged surface of 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 the ridged surface of the PrettiCool coasters has deeper ridges. Because the PrettiCool coasters are made of concrete and glass, they have a more sophisticated look and are available in four colors. However, a set of four costs about $65, which is $20 more than those coasters.
If you love the rustic look of Moroccan tiles: These Moroccan Terracotta Coasters from World Market look exactly like the unique tiles you’d find at a Moroccan street market. Available in three styles, the coasters are coated with a protective sealant that gives them a smooth, easy-to-clean, shiny finish. Like our featured Subtle Art Glass Tile Coasters, each corner is padded with a small piece of felt to prevent scratching of unglazed terracotta furniture. Unfortunately, these coasters are currently sold out, so we don’t know how long they’ll be available.
We were originally going to recommend Anthropologie’s Naomi Mother-of-Pearl Coasters, but unfortunately they were discontinued before we could publish a guide. The clever 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’re too small to fit most of our glasses and tend to stick to them.
We love the look of these colorful woven Goodee Jipi Japa coasters (similar to these), but they don’t provide much grip and slide easily across the table, and condensation can seep into the fibers, rendering their protective surface useless. This coaster is now sold out.
The cheap wooden Kaizen Casa coasters were covered in fuzzy circles and scratches, and worse, the brown paint had worn off when we wiped them down.
Kim Seibert’s brown tortoiseshell resin coasters have a nice tortoiseshell design and come with a handy stand. But they cost about $70, scratch easily, collect fingerprints, and stick to the glass easily.
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.
The Lily Pad TPU coasters on display at the MoMA Design Store appealed to us for their ability to create small sculptures, but they tend to warp when molded, and condensation seeps through the Lily Pad’s seams.
The Yamazaki Tower Silicone Coasters have a nice, simple design, but the silicone easily collects dust and lint, making them a little unpleasant to the touch.
I write style, gift, and beauty articles for Wirecutter, as well as produce research and reporting for those sections.
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Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists use a combination of independent research and (sometimes) top-tier testing to help you make buying decisions quickly and confidently. Whether you’re looking for great products or getting practical advice, we can help you find the right product (the first time).