If you’re hooked on smoothies, you know that there’s a big difference between a well-blended masterpiece and a gritty, chunky mess, and the difference comes down to the machine that makes it: the almighty blender. To make great-tasting smoothies, you need a blender that’s designed to crush ice and frozen fruits down into smooth, well-blended liquids. The best blenders for smoothies span a range of styles, capacities, and prices, so there are many options to choose from, ranging from full-size countertop blenders down to portable single-serving devices.
We reviewed dozens of smoothie blenders to identify the best of the best. We considered full-sized countertop blenders, personal blenders, immersion blenders, portable options, and multi-function appliances, so whether you’re looking to optimize for power, portability, additional functions, convenience, or price, you should be able to find something that works for you.
From the many smoothie blenders we evaluated, one option stood above the rest to earn its place as our favorite smoothie blender overall: the Ninja Professional Countertop Blender. With its high-powered 1100-watt motor, large 72-ounce pitcher, two included personal-sized cups, and stellar customer reviews, this Ninja blender can make both large batches of smoothies and convenient single-servings, all for a reasonable mid-range price.
In This Article
The 5 Top-Rated Smoothie Blenders
| Editor's Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Smoothie Blender Overall | Ninja Professional Countertop Blender | 4.5 |
| Best Personal Smoothie Blender | The NutriBullet 12-Piece High-Speed Blender | 4.3 |
| Best Budget Smoothie Blender | Oster My Blend 250-Watt Blender | 4.3 |
| Best Immersion Smoothie Blender | Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender | 4.5 |
| Best Portable Smoothie Blender | G-TING Portable Blender | 4.7 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
Best Smoothie Blender Overall: Ninja Professional Countertop Blender
With its powerful 1100-watt motor, large capacity, and single-serve function, the Ninja Professional Countertop Blender earns the top spot on our list. In addition to its high-powered motor and three speeds, this countertop blender from Ninja also offers a great solution for those torn between the large capacity of a full-size blender and the convenience of a personal blender, by including both a 72-ounce pitcher that can make large batches of smoothies, as well as two 16-ounce blender cups with lids that can be used to make single servings you can take with you.
In other words, this blender gives you the ability to make a large batch of smoothies for the whole family one night, and then swap out the pitcher for a single-serving cup the next morning, so you can enjoy your favorite breakfast smoothie while heading out the door.
This reasonably priced blender uses a six-blade assembly to crush through ice and other ingredients, and its 1100-watt motor makes it one of the more powerful smoothie blenders on our list. With its dishwasher-safe parts, this Ninja blender is also fairly easy to clean. Many of its users especially love the Ninja’s powerful motor and praise the convenience of having both a large capacity pitcher and smaller single-serving cups.
Ninja Professional Countertop Blender Key Features:
- 1100-watt motor
- 72-ounce pitcher
- Two 16-ounce cups with lids for single-serve blending
- Three speeds
Best Personal Smoothie Blender: The NutriBullet 12-Piece High-Speed Blender
If you don’t want to give up too much counter space in order to indulge your smoothie habit, you’ll probably prefer the compact profile of a personal smoothie blender, and in this category, the NutriBullet 12-Piece High-Speed Blender stands out as the best option.
Boasting more than 15,000 reviews on Amazon with an average of 4.3 stars, the Nutribullet is widely loved by its users for the power it packs into its 600-watt motor, its convenient size, and how easy it is to use and to clean.
The Nutribullet comes with two different blades to chop through different ingredients, one tall 24-ounce cup, two short cups, and two resealable lids—so you can whip up a smoothie directly in the cup, take it off the base, screw on a lid, and enjoy your favorite drink on-the-go. This personal smoothie blender weighs under four pounds and makes clean-up a snap: just rinse the blade with soap and water, and toss the cups into the top rack of the dishwasher.
The Nutribullet 12-Piece High-Speed Blender Key Features:
- 600-watt motor
- Up to 24-ounce capacity
- Three included cups: one tall cup and two short cups
- 3.6-pound weight
- One-year limited warranty
Best Budget Smoothie Blender: Oster My Blend 250-Watt Blender
If you’re looking for a blender that’s easy on the wallet but still capable of making well-blended smoothies, this Oster My Blend 250-Watt Blender has you covered, as the best budget smoothie blender on our list.
At just $20, this small blender from Oster is a great option for those who want a convenient personal blender at a steal of a price. This blender features a 250-watt motor and uses a sport bottle as the blender cup, so you can blend your smoothie directly in the bottle, and then easily take it with you—simply swap out the blade attachment for the lid, and you’re good to go. The plastic bottle holds 20 ounces and has a hook on the lid for added convenience. With its compact and lightweight design, it can also easily be reused throughout the day as a regular water bottle.
While this Oster blender boasts impressive convenience and value, it’s worth recognizing that its 250-watt motor is strong enough for basic fruit smoothies, but it is probably not as adept at chopping through tougher, more complex ingredients like hardy vegetables and seeds.
Oster My Blend 250-Watt Blender Key Features:
- 250-watt motor
- Dishwasher-safe bottle
- One-touch blending
- Three-year satisfaction guarantee
- One-year limited warranty
Best Immersion Smoothie Blender: Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender
If your least favorite part of making a smoothie is the cleanup, you may want to consider an immersion smoothie blender like the highly-rated Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender. An immersion blender allows you to blend your ingredients directly into any container (so long as it fits, of course), so you can reduce the hassle of having to take apart a large blender and clean its various parts.
This immersion blender from Breville boasts an eight-inch immersion depth, so it can reach down into tall containers and blend even large batches. Beyond the immersion blender itself, this option also comes with a 25-ounce chopping bowl, a 42-ounce blending jug, and a whisk attachment—so you can even use it to whip together scrambled eggs on those days when you’re tired of your daily smoothie.
The Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender features a 280-watt motor and adjustable speeds, along with a bell-shaped base designed to reduce suction, so you can crush through ice with greater control.
Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender Key Features:
- 280-watt motor
- 15-speed settings
- Eight-inch immersion depth
- Bell-shaped base
- Whisk attachment, 25-ounce chopping bowl, and 42-ounce jug included
Best Portable Smoothie Blender: G-TING Portable Blender
If portability is your priority, you may find just what you’re looking for in our top pick for portable smoothie blenders, the G-TING Portable Blender. This compact blender takes convenience to a new level by featuring a USB-rechargeable battery—meaning you can charge the blender at home, and then make smoothies wherever your day takes you. You can also detach the blender cup from the base and screw on the included travel lid to sip your smoothie on the run.
This portable blender features six blades and a 150-watt motor, so it offers less power than other larger blenders, but happy customers praise its ability to still crush through small ice cubes and produce well-blended smoothies with less hassle than larger alternatives. Of course, if you’re hoping to make family-sized batches of elaborate smoothies with tough ingredients, this small blender won’t be your top pick, but if you’re looking to optimize for portability so you can make smoothies anytime, anywhere, this G-TING portable blender has you covered.
This convenient blender measures under ten inches tall and less than three inches wide, so it can easily fit in a bag or backpack. To use this blender, make sure to follow the instructions, as they suggest cutting the fruit into smaller bits and shaking the blender during the process for the best results.
G-TING Portable Blender Key Features:
- USB-rechargeable battery
- 450-mL capacity
- 150-watt motor
- Portable design with an included travel lid
Who Should Buy a Smoothie Blender
If you’re shelling out for a store-bought smoothie every morning, it might be time to invest in a smoothie blender and consider making your own smoothies, at least some of the time. Smoothie blenders offer a convenient—and often very cost-effective—way to enjoy your favorite smoothies from the comfort of your own kitchen. Smoothie blenders also give you total control of the ingredients in your drinks, so you can cut out the sugar, add in the spinach, or sprinkle in the protein powder to make it exactly to your tastes and preferences.
Smoothie blenders also provide an easy way to incorporate more fruit into your diet or to make nutrient-rich drinks for those who can’t eat solid foods. Certain smoothie blenders also boast impressive versatility, like offering the ability to make soups, puree sauces, and chop vegetables—so you may find that you end up using your smoothie blender for far more than just smoothies.
For more kitchen appliances, you won’t want to miss The Best Waffle Makers, The Best Bread Machines, or The Best Sandwich Presses.
Important Features to Consider
A smoothie blender should have a few important features. Here’s what to consider when selecting a blender for making smoothies:
- Ice-crushing ability. In order to be effective at making smoothies, a blender needs to be able to crush ice. Not all blenders—including some of the most expensive—have this ability, so it’s important to check the product description first, to make sure it can crush ice cubes into smooth, drinkable slush. The type and structure of the blender’s blades are often key here.
- Motor power. The wattage of a blender’s motor can vary widely from one smoothie blender to the next, so it’s an important feature to consider when choosing the right appliance for you. Generally, a higher wattage will mean a higher price, so you’ll want to consider how much power you really need versus how much you’re willing to pay. Lower-wattage blenders can often be powerful enough for many smoothie drinkers—especially for those who like fairly basic, traditional fruit smoothies—but those who want to make more complex smoothies with tougher ingredients will probably be better served by a higher-wattage motor.
- Size and capacity. Smoothie blenders come in a wide range of sizes, with a wide range of total capacities. Figuring out how big of a smoothie blender you need will be one of the quickest ways to narrow down your search, as smoothie blenders can range from small, personal-sized blenders that make just 20 ounces at a time, all the way up to large, full-sized blenders that can blend through 72 ounces at a time. Larger smoothie blenders allow you to make large batches of smoothies in one go, but take up a decent amount of counter space and can be a hassle to move around and clean. Personal-sized smoothie blenders are smaller and more compact, but can only process small amounts at a time.
- Portability. Beyond the consideration of size, portability is another useful feature to keep in mind. Some blenders offer portable components—like small blender cups with travel lids—so you can make your smoothie at home and then take it with you on the run. But, if portability is your chief concern, some blenders are even entirely portable themselves, by featuring a compact design and a USB-rechargeable battery, so you can take the whole device with you and make a smoothie wherever your day takes you.
- Speed settings. Some blenders offer just one-speed setting, while others offer a range of options for added control over how your smoothie comes out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a smoothie blender and how does it work?
A smoothie blender is a blender that has the ability to crush ice and frozen foods down into smooth, drinkable liquids. These blenders can come in a variety of styles and capacities and can range from under $20 to over $400. Smoothie blenders can range from compact, portable devices that make a single-serving smoothie at a time, all the way up to 72-ounce machines that can function as both a blender and a food processor. The common factor in these various appliances is that they have the ability to pulverize ice and frozen produce into well-blended smoothies.
Smoothie blenders accomplish this by using a rotating metal blade that is powered by an electric motor, but the exact design can vary across different models. Some full-size countertop blenders use a powerful motor and tall, multi-blade assembly to crush through ice, while small personal blenders tend to use a smaller, more compact blade assembly at the base that can be swapped out for a lid to enjoy on the go. Immersion blenders, meanwhile, can be inserted into any container and turned on to blend the liquid inside.
Do you need a special blender to make smoothies?
To make smoothies, you need a blender that has the ability to crush ice. Not all blenders come equipped with this ability, so it’s an important feature to look out for if making smoothies is your primary use of a blender. That said, many high-quality blenders do have this ability, so if your existing blender is capable of crushing ice, you don’t necessarily need a separate, special blender just for making smoothies.
What is the difference between a smoothie maker and a blender?
A smoothie maker is, generally, a smaller appliance designed specifically to make smoothies, often in single-serving portions. Smoothie makers are often compact and offer an easy way to pour the smoothie and transport it, with many including travel cups or smoothie cups that convert into travel cups with an included lid. A blender, in contrast, is generally a larger appliance that can process large amounts of ingredients at once and is designed to blend together a variety of ingredients for a variety of purposes beyond just smoothies. Certain blenders are designed to crush ice for smoothies, but not all blenders out there have that ability, while that’s the primary intention of a smoothie maker.
How many watts should a good smoothie blender have?
How many watts you’ll need in your blender will largely depend on what kind of smoothies you like to make, how long you blend, and how often you use the blender. Smoothie blenders can generally range from around 200 watts up to around 1500 watts. While the lower-powered motors can blend ice and frozen fruit for basic smoothies, they are not as good at tackling more complex ingredients like tough vegetables and seeds for more elaborate smoothies. If you plan to make mostly fruit smoothies, you will likely find that a lower wattage smoothie blender will offer plenty of power for your needs; but, if you hope to make hardy green smoothies that need lots of blending, you will probably be better off with a higher wattage motor.
Other Smoothie Blenders We Reviewed
In addition to our top five picks, we looked at 20 other smoothie blenders. Even though these didn’t make it into our top five best smoothie blenders list, they boast strong reviews and impressive features and stand out as other great options for making delicious smoothies. The information you’ll need to compare each one is included with the listing.
- Full-Size Smoothie Blenders
- Personal Smoothie Blenders
- Rechargeable Smoothie Blenders and Immersion Smoothie Blenders
Full-Size Smoothie Blenders
Blendtec Total Classic Original Blender with FourSide Jar
Featuring a 75-ounce jar and a high-powered 1560-watt motor, this Blendtec blender can whip up enough to serve around 3-4 people at a time, and also has the ability to heat soups through its blade friction heat.
Key Features:
- 10 speeds
- 75-ounce jar
- 1560-watt motor
Cost: $280
Cleanblend Smoothie Blender, 64-ounce
This 1800-watt Cleanblend blender boasts one of the most powerful motors on our list and is designed to make everything from smoothies and milkshakes to soups and dressings.
Key Features:
- 64-ounce container
- 1800-watt motor
- Five-year warranty
Cost: $180
Hamilton Beach Professional Quiet Shield Blender
This Hamilton Beach blender is designed to reduce the noise of the blending process, with a removable quiet shield that fits over its 32-ounce jar—so you can make your smoothies anytime, with less risk of waking up the whole house.
Key Features:
- Removable shield to reduce noise
- 1500-watt motor
- 32-ounce jar
Cost: $140
Homgeek Blender Smoothie Maker
With eight-speed options and a powerful 1450-watt motor, this Homegeek Blender comes with four pre-programmed settings—ice crush, smoothie, grind, and pulse—to make your smoothie-making process even easier.
Key Features:
- 1450-watt motor
- Eight-speed options
- 68-ounce pitcher
Cost: $100
This KitchenAid blender comes with five-speed settings and two pre-programmed settings—crush ice and pulse. Its 56-ounce pitcher is made from BPA-free plastic and can be put in the dishwasher for headache-free cleanup.
Key Features:
- 56-ounce pitcher
- Five speeds
- Crush-ice mode
Cost: $80
Ninja Mega Kitchen System Blender/Food Processor
This option from Ninja offers both a blender and a food processor in one unique appliance, for just $135. You can use the 72-ounce pitcher to make well-blended smoothies, and then swap it out with the eight-cup food processor bowl for your chopping needs.
Key Features:
- Combination blender and food processor
- 72-ounce pitcher, eight-cup food processor bowl
- Two 16-ounce cups with lids
Cost: $135
NutriBullet Rx N17-1001 Blender
With a powerful 1700-watt motor, the NutriBullet Rx comes with a one-liter pitcher and a 30-ounce cup, so it can make both convenient single servings and larger batches. Plus, it has a heating cycle so you can quickly whip up soups and sauces.
Key Features:
- One-liter pitcher
- 1700-watt motor
- Heating cycle
Cost: $140
The NutriBullet Blender Combo boasts a 1200-watt motor, three-speed settings, and a range of blender cup sizes, with its multi-serving pitcher and two smaller travel cups.
Key Features:
- 1200-watt motor
- 64-ounce blender
- One 32-ounce cup and one 24-ounce cup with lids
Cost: $140
It would be hard to make a list of stellar smoothie blenders without mentioning Vitamix. At $450, this Vitamix 5200 Blender is one of the more expensive smoothie blenders out there, but its strongest supporters argue that its unmatched quality and durability make the high price tag worthwhile. Plus, it comes with a seven-year full warranty.
Key Features:
- Self-cleaning 64-ounce container
- Blade friction heating
- Variable speed control
Cost: $450
Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender
With its 48-ounce container and ten-speed options, this Vitamix Explorian Blender offers the Vitamix quality and durability but in a more compact design, ideal for making medium batches of your favorite smoothies.
Key Features:
- 48-ounce container
- Ten speeds
- Easy self-cleaning
Personal Smoothie Blenders
CHULUX Smoothie Bullet Blender Maker
This CHULUX Smoothie Bullet Blender stands out in the realm of personal blenders by featuring two kinds of blades—a six-blade option for blending and a two-blade option for grinding—so it can blend smoothies one minute, and grind coffee beans and spices the next.
Key Features:
- Blending and grinding blades
- 1000-watt motor
- 32-ounce and 15-ounce travel bottles
Cost: $60
COSORI Upgraded Personal Blender
Featuring an 800-watt motor, this COSORI Upgraded Personal Blender can make small or large personal-size smoothies, with its two 24-ounce containers and smaller 12-ounce container. Two included lids make it easy to take these smoothies with you.
Key Features:
- 800-watt motor
- Three containers: two 24-ounce and one 12-ounce, plus lids
- Dishwasher-safe parts
Cost: $50
Hamilton Beach Personal Blender
For just $20, this Hamilton Beach Personal Blender gives you the ability to quickly make a smoothie with its 175-watt motor, and then pop the container off the base to enjoy your drink on-the-go.
Key Features:
- 175-watt motor
- 14-ounce jar
- Dishwasher-safe parts
Cost: $20
Magic Bullet Blender, Small, 11 Piece Set
Boasting an 11-piece set for under $40, this Magic Bullet Blender comes with a 250-watt motor, three differently-sized cups, and multiple lids.
Key Features:
- 250-watt motor
- 10-second recipe guide
- Multiple cups and lids
Cost: $40
With its 1000-watt motor, this Ninja BL480D Blender offers more power than many of other personal blenders out there—making it a great option for those who want a powerful motor in a fairly compact design.
Key Features:
- 1000-watt motor
- 24-ounce cup and 18-ounce cup
- Two included lids
Cost: $80
Ninja Personal Blender with 700-Watt Base
Compact and easy to clean, this Ninja Personal Blender boasts a 700-watt motor and comes with two 16-ounce cups that you can quickly take with you on-the-go, thanks to the two included easy-sip lids.
Key Features:
- 700-watt motor
- Two 16-ounce cups
- Included recipes
Cost: $50
At just $30, this Sboly Personal Blender comes with an impressive mix of tools to help you simplify your smoothie-making process. This personal blender comes with a 20-ounce blender cup plus a silicone ice cube tray and bottle brush for cleaning those stubborn areas.
Key Features:
- Ice cube tray and bottle brush
- 20-ounce blender cup
- 300-watt motor
Rechargeable Smoothie Blenders and Immersion Smoothie Blenders
KitchenAid 3-Speed Hand Blender
If you like the convenience and versatility of an immersion blender, you’ll want to consider this reasonably-priced option from KitchenAid, which features an eight-inch blending arm, a chopper attachment, and a three-cup blending jar.
Key Features:
- Eight-inch blending arm
- Whisk and chopper attachments
- Three speeds
Cost: $55
With its USB-rechargeable battery and easy-carry blender bottle, this LOZAYI Smoothie Blender is a highly portable option, meant for those who want to make smoothies anywhere and everywhere.
Key Features:
- USB-rechargeable battery
- Six-piece blade
- 450-mL blender cup
Cost: $35
This portable blender from TENSWALL boasts convenience and easy operation, with its one-touch blending and rechargeable battery—which they claim can make up to 15 cups of juice on a single charge.
Key Features:
- USB-rechargeable battery
- 380mL blender cup
- Simple one-button operation
Cost: $25
