Our pick of the best kettles for hard water areas 2023

We've found the best kettles for hard water so you can get a clean and clear cup of Joe every time. In the UK, most of us live in a hard water area and have had to deal with limescale across our homes — so we've made it our mission to find the best kettles for hard water areas. Nothing takes the biscuit more than rogue flakes slipping into your tea or coffee from your kettle, turning that beloved brew into a less-appetising and unplanned infusion.

Our team of shopping experts tried and tested a number of kettles in their homes with hard water to find which ones delivered a limescale-free cuppa from these very best quiet kettles. They also looked for those that included the necessary specs to ensure limescale could be prevented from building up over time.

Best kettles for hard water at a glance:

Best value: Russell Hobbs Brita Purity Filter Clear Plastic Kettle 22851 – view on Argos
Best for an extra clean cuppa: Russell Hobbs 20760-10 Brita Purify Kettle – view on Amazon UK
Best for temperature control: Sage The Smart Kettle – view on Sage Appliances
Best for energy efficiency: Russell Hobbs Inspire Electric Kettle – view on Amazon UK

Whether you are on the hunt for the best smart kettles or want something simple and effective to filter tap water, we have hand-selected the top products on the market to help you on your way.

We also studied the reviews for each kettle listed, making sure we only selected kettles with excellent reviews — a minimum of four out of five stars. We want to make sure the best kettles for hard water we have selected have met the demands of real-life users and go on to deliver customer satisfaction.

Best kettles for hard water

What to look for in the best kettles for hard water

Filtration

Filtration is important for stopping any limescale residue from entering your drink — no one likes to see those flakes floating in your tea or coffee! There are two key filtration methods available; reusable mesh filters and cartridge filter technology.

Reusable, mesh, anti-limescale filters are the most cost-effective option. The filter sits near the spout and stops the limescale from escaping. It can be removed, cleaned, and reused with any build-up.

Cartridge filter technology is more advanced and works to eliminate the build-up of limescale in the kettle too as it'll filter and boil at the same time. This option is great if you prefer the taste of soft water, filtered water in general or are looking for crystal clear water cleansed of any impurities.

While you may be guaranteed a cleaner, clearer cuppa, it's worth considering that the cartridges will come with a higher cost for replacement and the built-in filtration system will reduce the water capacity of your kettle. You're likely to get fewer cups out of one boil which might mean running the kettle multiple times for larger, tea-loving families.

Concealed heating element

Having an exposed heating element in the body of your kettle can make cleaning it more difficult as you'll have to try to navigate around it to remove limescale residue. As the heating element isn't removable, this could be a tricky job for any super stubborn limescale. An exposed heating element is also likely to collect limescale easily which can increase the build-up of limescale residue in your kettle.

By choosing a kettle with a hidden heating element, the residue won't have extra components to grip, helping to reduce any build-up.

Electric kettle

Electric kettles typically boil quicker than stove-top kettles, which gives the limescale less opportunity to form. We've also found that in a lot of anti-limescale electric kettles, they'll come with a quick boil to help reduce this further, as well as deliver your cup of tea or coffee in no time at all! If you're after a quiet kettle, electric kettles are the best for this. Plus, you can normally get electric kettle and toaster sets that look the same to match the rest of your kitchen.

We’ve listed some great kettles you can buy with a mix of filtration options to suit your budgets and needs.

FAQs

What is hard water?

Sixty per cent of the UK has hard water, but what exactly is it?

'Hard water' is created in the sourcing process across regions where water seeps through soft, sedimentary rocks like limestone, sandstone, and chalk resulting in water with high mineral content.

In comparison, soft water doesn't have these collected minerals as the water has percolated through less porous, metamorphic rocks without dissolving the chemical compounds.

You're more likely to find soft water in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and hard water across the UK, especially in the South East of England.

Because of the high mineral content, hard water can leave behind a chalky residue known as limescale.

Is it safe to use a kettle with limescale?

Yes, it's perfectly safe for you and in fact, research suggests that it could be good for you with the heightened mineral levels helping to fulfil your calcium and magnesium intake. Good levels of calcium can help promote strong bones, regulate muscle contractions and make sure your blood clots normally.

While it might be safe for you, it isn't such good news for your kettle.

Limescale build-up can reduce the lifespan of your kettle, which is why it's important to clean and descale regularly to get the most from your appliance.

How to clean your kettle?

Nick Small, small appliances expert at AO.com, says: “Having a kettle that has a high level of limescale build up can be a factor as to why your kettle is using more energy than it should be. This is because the water will take much longer to boil. If you live in a hardwater area, you’ll find that limescale can build up quickly because the water supply contains high amounts of calcium and magnesium.

"It’s quick and easy to get rid of this build up - you should give your kettle a descale every couple of months, using either a dedicated descale product or a homemade mixture of half white vinegar and half water. Simply leave the mixture in the kettle overnight, empty in the morning and pop on a full kettle of water bringing it to the boil and then empty again.”

To descale your kettle with safe, natural ingredients that are super low cost, follow the advice in this video on how to clean a kettle and it'll be sparkling again in no time.

Eleanor Weaver is the Deputy Homes & Garden Product Editor for Yours, specialising in home décor, furnishings and appliances. Having worked commercially on Yours magazine and Yours.co.uk for the past six years, she's previously hosted Yours Live events and loves looking for home inspiration online.