The Best Water Bottles for Kids of 2021

If you want a bottle that is durable, well-insulated, and can be thrown in the dishwasher without a care in the world, the Hydro Flask Kids' Wide Mouth 12-ounce is your water bottle. Well-insulated and well-built, it keeps drinks cold all day and stands up to numerous bumps and drops with nary a scuff.

The flip straw lid is easy to use and strikes a nice balance of being hard enough that kids won’t chew through it, while not being so dense that you feel like it will knock their teeth out. The loop handle is well-positioned for easy grasping and for when you need to hook the bottle onto a backpack. We also appreciated the powder coating that made gripping the bottle easy when hands were wet or covered in goop or slime—as they often are.

All of those things are great features but, as our poll of 30 parents revealed, the most important thing most parents look for is that a kids’ water bottle be dishwasher-safe. We are happy to report that these not only are, they have no little parts to worry about, so it’s a toss-and-go situation. All you need to do is open the spout, remove the straw, toss it on your dishwasher’s top shelf, and forget about it.

The only drawback we could find to this bottle is its nearly $30 price point. While this bottle is definitely on the more expensive side, it’s backed by a lifetime warranty, should you ever need it. This water bottle has held up well after a year of use, and we haven’t read any reviews that complain about the usual problems facing stainless steel water bottles (like rusting or mold) but should you encounter any issues, Hydro Flask will replace the bottle. It’s also worth noting that Hydro Flask has updated the colors of these bottles, but the design and structure is exactly the same as the one we tested this past year, only changing the previous model’s silicone bumper with a new perforated one.

While these bottles aren’t completely dishwasher-safe, they are super easy to clean and the wide array of sizes and designs make this not only our favorite tween- and teen-friendly choice for top water bottle, they are our favorite higher capacity water bottle for kids of all ages.

The bottles themselves have to be hand washed, but they are wide-mouthed and easy to clean with a swish of a bottle brush, and the patented leak-proof tops are dishwasher-safe for easy sterilization of the drinking area. We also like that these bottles come in a wide choice of sizes, from 14 ounces to 64 ounces and we found that sizes as high as 18 ounces fit in a variety of car seat cup holders. We also appreciate the array of patterns to choose from—from Disney-themed styles for tiny tots, to cool color ombre-styles for kids with more sophisticated tastes.

Because of the high capacity of water it holds, this bottle is our choice for any kid who can’t refill their water bottle during the school day, or for older kids who want to look cool while conveniently—and consistently—hydrating. These bottles did sustain a few small dents and scratches over the course of a year, but that’s to be expected of any bottle that doesn’t come with a bumper or a powder coat. Overall, however, they held up great through continual and constant use.

If you’re looking for a bottle that keeps water cold, is completely leak-free, comes in fun designs, and is a great budget pick—look no further. After a year of testing this bottle, our adoration for this kid-friendly bottle has only grown. It keeps water cold, is completely leak-free, comes in an array of fun designs, and has an intuitive bite-valve that kids love.

While the cap, straw, and bite valve can be cleaned on the top shelf of a dishwasher, it’s recommended the bottle itself be hand-washed to maintain the integrity of the graphic designs. That being said, we have top-shelf washed this weekly for the past year and it looks as good as the day we received it (this is not manufacturer recommended, however, so do keep that in mind). It’s also recommended, for both this bottle and the non-insulated version, that the bite valve be removed and deep cleaned on occasion. There are reports that after removal the bottle tends to leak. While—again, after a year of use—that was not our experience, it may be something to keep in mind.

With all that taken into account, this has been a steadfast favorite of our family for a full year and at $16.99 we think it’s the best value choice on the market.

Yeti is known for its hyper-insulated coolers that can keep food cold for days. We were excited to put Yeti’s reputation for keeping things cold in tact, and we were not disappointed. The insulation on this bottle is excellent and, even after an hour in a hot car, the water in this bottle was still nice and cold.

The powder-coated exterior makes it hold up to any dishwashing cycle you can throw at it, and the wide mouth makes it easy for even small kids to refill with ice. We also liked that the chrome bottom takes the brunt of the impact when this bottle is dropped

This is a beast of a water bottle and what it gives in performance it pays for a bit in weight. The Yeti was one of our favorite bottles, but we found it a bit heavy for smaller kids. Empty it came in at 14.7 ounces, compared to other bottles that ranged from 7.5 ounces to 9.8 ounces. Add an additional 12-ounce of water and, even though this bottle has a ring hook to carry it by, you’ll probably end up finding yourself taking responsibility for carrying it.

That being said, this is truly a terrific bottle overall that we’d recommend for kids over age 7 for whom an extra 5 ounces of weight isn’t an issue.

A lightweight, BPA-free plastic water bottle that can be thrown in the dishwasher? This bottle seems too good to be true, but—after a year of being washed weekly in our dishwasher—this bottle has held up better than even some of the stainless steel bottles we tried.

Not only is the graphic bottle dishwasher-safe, these bottles come with an innovative straw design that can’t be beat. When closed, the straw itself is protected from debris in a foldable shell that easily pops open with a push of the button. The bottom of the straw also has a genius pop-open feature that allows for easy cleaning.

If you don’t care about insulation and are looking for a super lightweight water bottle that is durable and easy to clean, the Contigo Autospout should be your choice.

There are a lot of things to like about this bottle. Like the BPA-free plastic version that we love, it’s durable, the flip-top straw is genius in its ability to both protect the bite valve and be easily cleaned, it’s dishwasher-safe, and it keeps drinks good and cold. The main problem with this bottle is that it just doesn’t come in any fun designs to appeal to kids. It only comes with a colored lid and a stainless steel exterior. We are certain it’s to maintain this bottle’s ability to be dishwasher-safe at a low price point, but kids just weren’t into this one and it was only grabbed when every other bottle in the house was dirty.

If you are looking for a no-frills, utilitarian water bottle, this is a great choice. But if you’re looking for a bottle with a little personality, you could do better.

It’s worth it to note that these bottles made between April 2018 and February 2020 were recalled. We reached out to Contigo and they said this, “You can rest assured Contigo puts consumer safety and quality first. ... Previously, the Contigo kids cleanable water bottle’s clear silicone spout found on the lid may have detached in some cases. There were no reported injuries, but out of an abundance of caution, Contigo reannounced the recall in February 2020.”

Much like our best overall version of the Hydro Flask Kids’ Wide Mouth, the 20-ounce version is durable, a cinch to clean, and keeps drinks cold for hours. We also love the cool little features in this upgraded version, like the perforated silicone boot—which mitigates water collection when it’s tossed into a dishwasher—and the built-in name label on the bottom of the bottle.

The issue we had with this bottle was its height. It just feels like an adult’s bottle in cute colors. At 20 ounces, it was too big to fit easily into a backpack sleeve without kids feeling off-balance. That may not be a problem with older kids, however, but something to keep in mind. If you’re looking for a higher capacity water bottle for smaller kids, we’d probably recommend the 16-ounce option of the Simple Modern Summit, which is a bit easier to manage. Older kids may like this bottle and, if it proves to be anything like the smaller version that we love, the build of this bottle will make it a long-lasting option.

This lightweight, leak-free, sturdy, bottle by CamelBak comes in an array of fun designs. It also has an intuitive bite-valve that our testers loved and that has held up well after a year of gnawing and chewing on it. The drawbacks to this bottle weren’t huge standouts: Since the parents polled said they preferred stainless steel to plastic, it got marked off there. It doesn’t keep drinks cold. And, finally, it’s not dishwasher-safe. All in all, we do like these bottles, but if you’re going to go the lightweight route the Contigo’s dishwasher-safe distinction can’t be beat.

If you’re looking for a simpler design and have a preference for a chug-spout mouth piece, we highly recommend the PlanetBox Capsule water bottle. At first we thought the kids wouldn’t be into the design, but it turns out younger kids really liked the unexpected rocket shape of this bottle and the super shiny chrome exterior.

We especially liked the ingenious soft silicone chug-spout, which is unlike any we’ve seen elsewhere. It’s soft for smaller kids, but—unlike many other silicon-topped bottles—gnawing doesn’t seem to be problematic with this design: After a year of use, this bottle is teeth mark- and tear-free.

Because of its wide mouth, it’s very easy to clean and there are no small pieces to take apart for deep cleaning: Every piece goes in the dishwasher and there are no crevices for dirt or food to get trapped in and no hidden gasket that surprises you with sneaky mold spores months in.

The build of this bottle also makes it easy for little kids to hold, which is a good thing because there isn’t a handle with this one. We feel like the lack of handle is an oversight in the design and caused frustration with some of our young testers. Overall though, we liked this bottle. If you don’t like straws, if your child prefers chug-spouts, and if you want a bottle that seals up tight to prevent spills, this is an excellent choice.

If your biggest concern is keeping water cold, this is the bottle to buy! Out of all of the bottles we tried, the S’ip kept our water noticeably colder than all of the other water bottles; it was the only bottle that still had ice after being in a 90-degree car for an hour. We were so astonished that this beat out other brands that we tested this twice last year and again this year.

This bottle comes in really fun designs that appeal to small kids and big kids alike, and it is the only bottle we tried that keeps liquids hot, too—making this a good option for bringing hot cocoa to a campfire.

As much as we liked this bottle, however, we found the narrow mouthpiece a bit challenging to fill. Ice needs to be finessed in, hot liquids need to be poured very carefully, and it’s a tough bottle for kids to fill from the refrigerator by themselves.

We tried both the 10-ounce and 15-ounce bottles. The smaller size has an attachment so the screw-top lid never falls off or gets lost. It also makes it easier for carrying than the 15-ounce.

If we are to be honest, we thought this water bottle was going to be the winner this year. There is a lot to like about this water bottle: It’s lightweight, well-insulated, and the thoughtful design really makes it stand out. The large and flexible handle is easy to hold and we love the cap is rimmed with grippy silicone to make it easy to tighten and loosen with wet hands. The straw lid is easy to flip with teeth, so there’s no cross contamination with your hands. All in all, this is a great water bottle and we loved that the 16-ounce size was still easy for a 7-year-old to carry in a backpack.

That being said, the issue that dethroned it from the top spot is pretty significant. We were only able to test this bottle for two weeks, but within 10 days the straw split at the top and needed to be replaced. We noticed this is a common complaint on the Takeya website, and replacement straws seem to create the same issues.

The EcoVessel Trimax Insulated water bottle is dual-walled, lightweight, and it is one of the best-looking stainless steel water bottles around. The handle has a rubberized grip to minimize the bottle slipping through little hands, which we can see as being a major draw. We also liked that the hard straws have a rubberized coating, protecting teeth when they accidentally get knocked by the mouthpiece.

Sadly, this bottle showed the most wear and tear of the bunch after a year of use. The covered straw started to show signs of teeth marks within a few months, and the lid sustained a small hairline crack. It’s still usable, but those points are worth noting. This bottle also requires hand washing of all parts, making it a more high maintenance choice.

The leak-proof lid of the Nalgene On the Fly, snaps closed securely is a serious foil against spills. We also love that the lid that doubles as a handle, making for an easy-to-carry design, as well as the thin profile of this bottle—which makes it the easiest to throw in an average-sized purse or a small bag that your kid might take to the park.

This isn’t the best bottle for younger kids, since the top can be a challenge to open for kids under age 5 or 6, but for kids 6 and older this makes for a good bottle to grab for a walk around the neighborhood or to throw in a bag for a quick trip to the park.

This is one of the most popular and affordable bottles on the market. It keeps drinks cold, comes in at a great price point, and is mainly dishwasher-safe (though the cool printed versions tend to lose their colors and fare better over time if hand-washed). Our issue with this bottle, however, is significant and one that doesn’t seem to be unique to my family: The silicon straw is not only a big design flaw, we worry it could be a choking hazard.

The parents we polled consistently expressed frustration over the Funtainer straw: Kids love gnawing at it to the point of biting through and some even found their kids chewing on the bitten off piece as though it were gum. If that doesn’t bother you, the leaks that occur will: Once the straw is bitten through, it subjects the bottle to major leaks (we are talking a full inch of water in the bottom of my son’s backpack).

Soggy mess aside, this issue raises safety concerns. While the pieces gnawed off won’t likely won’t require the Heimlich, I don’t love the idea of my child ingesting pieces of a silicone straw. If you go for this one, be judicious about checking your child’s straw daily and being on top of replacement straws. As a note: There are complaints online about replacement straws causing leaks. We didn’t have an issue with that with our replacement, but the reasons for replacing the straws are concerning enough that we don’t plan to continue using these bottles either way.