We Tested the Best Quiet Blenders for Stress-Free Soups, Sauces, and More

A good blender has the potential to become your kitchen's biggest workhorse—and also one of the loudest. However, it doesn't have to be that way. Choosing a quiet blender means making a morning smoothie without waking up the entire house or whipping up a soup for dinner without the added noise. To help you find the best quiet blender for your kitchen, we tested top options from trusted brands by measuring sound pressure levels and considering other important attributes like motor power, ease of cleaning, extra features, and size.

Our Top Picks

• Our Top Pick: Breville Super Q
• Runner-up: Vitamix 5200
• Best Value: Cleanblend Commercial Blender
• Best Safety Features: Hurom Hexa Power High Speed
• Best Portable: Dash Personal Portable USB Blender
  

About Our Tests

In our test kitchen, we examined 23 top-rated blenders and evaluated their performances in making fresh almond milk, smoothies, frozen margaritas, homemade mayonnaise, and pureed soup. To measure quietness, we recorded and registered the sound pressure levels using two decibel readers—one to register maximum levels and the other to register minimum levels. For each blender, we recorded the sound of the motor alone at low, medium, and high speeds, both empty and with ice cubes.

Each blender was then sorted from lowest to highest decibel level and rated on the following attributes:

• Sound: Can you have a conversation while the blender is running? Would you feel comfortable using it in your kitchen while other household members slept?
• Design: Are the materials high-quality or cheap and flimsy? Does the blender jar fit securely onto the base? Do ingredients leak around the lid or center cap?
• Ease of Use: Is the blender easy to lift, pour from, and scrape down the sides? Is the control panel intuitive?
• Performance: Does the blender effectively integrate ingredients of different textures? Does it leave any large pieces in the blending jar after use?
• Convenience: Is the blender very heavy? Are there any features or settings—cord storage, accessories, etc.—that make this blender more or less convenient to use?
• Ease of Cleaning: Is it easy to clean the jar, base, and blending mechanisms? Does it have an auto-clean function? Do any food particles get stuck in hard-to-reach nooks and crannies?
  

Our Top Pick

Breville Stainless Steel Super Q Blender

$500 at Amazon

$500

$400 at Sur La Table View on Williams Sonoma

The Breville Super Q features a cooling system that’s specifically designed to reduce operating noise. This technology pays off: it was the quietest blender we tested, with an average decibel level of 82.1. Seeing as how our loudest blender had an average of 92.9, the difference in noise level is pretty substantial. There are 12 different speed settings and five programs (green smoothie, smoothie, soup, pulse, ice crush, and frozen dessert) that trigger at the touch of a button. 

Along with the 64-ounce jar, the Breville comes with an additional blade system to blend your favorite drinks into a personal blender cup. The blades have a slightly angled design, which makes them easier to clean by hand, but there’s also an auto-clean cycle that’s built into the blender itself. This blender excelled in making soup during tests; it came out super smooth and perfectly hot at 131ºF. We loved that it had functions for both green smoothies and regular smoothies for the true smoothie enthusiast—and it produced a great texture in both settings. 

The Details: 10.5 x 8.1 x 18 inches; 43-inch power cord; 160-ounce base; 48-ounce jar; 208-ounce total weight; 68-ounce capacity; 82.1 average decibel level

Our Other Top Pick

Vitamix 5200 Professional-Grade Blender

$550

$480 at Amazon View on Walmart View on Vitamix.com

This Vitamix model was the second-quietest blender we tested. It also received perfect scores around our design, ease of use, performance, ease of cleaning, and convenience tests. We were able to have raised conversations at both low and medium speeds, and it was incredibly efficient while making smoothies, frozen drinks, and soups. It even stood out by being one of the only blenders on the list to produce a smooth and creamy homemade mayonnaise. 

The four blades made quick and easy work of all the ingredients without any ear-splitting sounds. We especially love that it has 10-speed settings and an additional "high" setting, which is even faster than speed 10. Although there is no self-cleaning feature, we found it easy enough to clean during tests—especially the base, as there are not a lot of moving parts or buttons. Overall, though the Vitamix brand does come with high expectations and a high price tag, this model definitely lives up to its reputation. 

The Details: 7.25 x 8.75 x 20.5 inches; 75-inch power cord; 112-ounce base; 40-ounce jar; 152-ounce total weight; 64-ounce capacity; 84.8 average decibel level

Best Value

Cleanblend Commercial Blender

$177 at Amazon

For the quality of materials and performance, the Cleanblend Commercial Blender offers fantastic value. We compared it closely to the Vitamix 5200, which is nearly twice the price. Besides the cost, there are a couple of other features that set the Cleanblend Commercial Blender apart from the rest. First, there are four serrated blades and four regular blades that sit directly under one another in a multi-angle, tiered design to ensure even and efficient blending. Second, the wide mouth spout makes pouring dense ingredients much easier than with other blenders. Although it is a bit heavy, cord storage under the base helps keep everything organized, and the broad opening makes it easy to clean.

It was one of the best-performing blenders for almond milk and smoothies during our tests, blending smoothie ingredients to a perfectly smooth and creamy consistency in less than 30 seconds and leaving hardly any pulp behind when pushed through a mesh strainer. It also made quick work of pureeing soup.

The Details: 15 x 18 x 13 inches; 60-inch power cord; 112-ounce base; 46.2-ounce jar; 158.2-ounce total weight; 64-ounce capacity; 85.2 average decibel level

Best Safety Features

Hurom Hexa Power High Speed Blender

$349

$299 at Amazon

This is a great option for home cooks who want to elevate their recipes with a high-quality blender that’s simple to use. Its six stainless steel blades complement a powerful motor and the flat walls on the pitcher make it easy to scrape down the sides. 

During tests, we liked the ability to turn it on without any activity from the blades, which is both a safety feature and allows for extra time to ensure you’re getting exactly the right setting. We also appreciated the automatic safety system that prevents the motor from overheating; the power shuts itself off when the heat reaches its limit. Likewise, if the container is lifted off the base while in use, the blender stops automatically. It made quick work of almond milk, soups, and smoothies, leaving hardly any pulp behind, but struggled a bit crushing ice for margaritas. Although the blender is pretty heavy, it’s stylish and modern enough to keep out on the counter. 

The Details: 17.2 x 13.1 x 9.3 inches; 44-inch power cord; 128-ounce base; 42.3-ounce jar; 170.3-ounce total weight; 64-ounce capacity; 85.8 average decibel level

Best Portable

Dash Personal Portable USB Blender

$40 at Amazon $20 at Target $40 at Wayfair

Even though we can’t compare the decibel levels of this small personal blender to the full-sized models on the list, the Dash Personal Portable USB Blender definitely deserves a mention. During tests, it made practically zero noise, and we noted that we’d be more than comfortable using it while the whole house slept. It has a USB-rechargeable battery that can handle multiple uses on a single charge, as well as a leakproof lid and carrying strap to take on the go.

Despite its size, the motor was powerful enough to blast through smoothie ingredients in two to three minutes during our tests. However, it wasn’t strong enough to handle frozen fruit straight from the freezer, so it’s best to wait for it to defrost a bit first. We love the USB cord (we even plugged it into a laptop) and the simple push-button controls to blend. After running it through the dishwasher several times, it still came out looking as good as new.

The Details: 9.25 x 3.25 x 3.25 inches; 39-inch USB-C charging cable; 16-ounce total weight; 12.8-ounce capacity

Our Takeaway

The Breville Super Q was the quietest out of all the blenders we tested—but it also produced perfect smoothies and soups. If you're looking for a more budget-conscious option that is also very quiet and blends easily, we also love the Cleanblend Commercial Blender.

How to Pick the Right Quiet Blender

Design

If you don't know the decibel ratings for your blender, look for noise-suppressing design features like extra housing around the motor to dampen sounds, noise-reducing covers, a cooling system to reduce operating noise, or rubber gaskets around the lid. Blenders that come with preset functions can also help reduce overall noise since they run on their own and offset the need for continually holding down the blending button.

Ease of Cleaning

Some models have self-cleaning functions, but filling the blender halfway with water and a bit of dish soap before blending to clean can be just as quick. Choosing a blender with dishwasher-safe parts can make cleanup even easier, but we still suggest cleaning by hand as much as possible to preserve the quality of the pieces.

Size

Although it might be more difficult to store, a blender with a heavier base may help minimize noise from vibrations on the counter. Likewise, regardless of the size of the jar, look for a blender with a tight-fitting lid for the same reason.

The Leftovers: Other Blenders We Tested

Out of all 23 models tested, the Ninja Professional Compact Smoothie & Food Processing Blender and the Ninja Detect Duo Power Blender Pro + Single Serve were the two loudest blenders. They both registered 10 times louder than our top pick—or about twice as loud as most gas-powered outdoor appliances (think lawnmowers and leaf blowers).

Common Questions

How do you reduce blender noise?

A blender that's loud enough to wake the neighbors is never fun. Try placing it on a folded dish towel or rubber mat to absorb the sound—just make sure it doesn't block any vents or cause the blender to become unsteady while in use. You can also move the blender away from the wall to keep the noise from bouncing off more surfaces.

What is the best way to wash a blender?

Before using your blender, make sure to read the manufacturer's instructions on how best to wash it. Some models may or may not be dishwasher-safe, and some have auto-cleaning features. Either way, a good trick is to fill the jar a little less than halfway with warm water and a few drops of soap, fit the lid back on, run it on low for a few seconds, and rinse. You can also wipe the base of the blender clean with a moistened towel.

Why Take Our Word for It?

Katherine Gallagher is an editor for Allrecipes who focuses on kitchen gear and product reviews. She worked in the restaurant industry for over a decade, gaining knowledge about what to look for in the best cooking tools, drinkware, and serveware. Katherine wrote this article using insights from the Allrecipes test kitchen and her own experience as a smoothie lover.