Kettles

The ideal size kettle depends on your needs. Kettles typically come in sizes from 0.5 litres to 1.7 litres but can get as large as 5 litres for a kitchen kettle. 

Smeg kettles come in two sizes. Our standard and variable temperature kettles have a capacity of 1.7 litres, whereas our mini kettles have a capacity of 0.6 litres.

How much it costs to boil a kettle depends on the power of the kettle, how long it takes to boil, and the price you pay for your electricity, which is measured in kilowatts per hour (kWh).

At the time of writing, the current average price of electricity in the UK is 24.50 pence per kWh. A kettle that takes 3 minutes to boil 1 litre of water at 3,000 watts per hour would cost you around 3.68 pence to boil, and make around 4 cups of tea.

You can save on boiling your kettle by only filling it with the amount of water you need to use and buying an energy-efficient, fast-boiling kettle.

As your kettle is classified as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), please do not throw it in the bin. Instead, there are better options available:

• Donate: If your existing kettle is still safe, fully functioning, and in good condition, ’re upgrading to a new kettle, it’s always worth checking with local charities if they accept donations of small electrical appliances.
• Recycle: Check with your local council to see if they offer recycling and collection services for small electrical appliances. Many councils will collect as part of your weekly or biweekly bin collection service.
• Take-back scheme: Many retail stores offer a take-back scheme, so it’s well worth checking with the retailer or supplier you purchased your kettle from to see if they will take it back for recycling and disposal.
• Take it to a local recycling centre: All household waste and recycling centres have drop-off points for electrical appliances. Some centres even have areas where they can be refurbished and reused, giving your old kettle a new lease of life for someone else.