Guide · Kettles
Best quiet kettle: low-noise kettles for open-plan kitchens and early starts
Quiet-boil and Quiet Mark kettles from UK retailers compared on what the makers actually claim, with prices checked 3 Oct 2026.
If you’re looking for the best quiet kettle in the UK, the first thing to know is that “quiet” is a claim, not a measurement you can compare across brands. Some makers give a percentage, some carry Quiet Mark certification, and some just say “quiet boil”. We’ve compared five kettles sold at Currys that are marketed on noise, and we’ve quoted each claim as the listing states it. We haven’t tested this in person. We haven’t measured noise ourselves either. Our picks are based on published specs, retailer listings and UK prices checked on 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
The best quiet kettle for each kitchen: the short answer
Buy the Russell Hobbs Quiet Boil 20460 if you want the most specific noise claim at a mid-range price. It’s £44.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, and Currys says it boils “up to 75% quieter than a standard kettle”.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants temperature control for green tea or pour-over coffee.
Get the Breville Edge Low Steam VKT236 if steam under wall cupboards bothers you as much as noise. It’s £74.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. The listing says it’s Quiet Mark certified and gives off 75% less steam.
Who it isn’t for: anyone on a tight budget. The two Russell Hobbs quiet-boil models cost less.
Choose the Russell Hobbs Calm 27450 if you want a quieter boil plus temperature settings. It’s £99.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, with 40–100°C in 5-degree steps and up to 15 minutes’ keep warm.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who just wants a plain kettle. You’re paying for lights, sounds and a touch display.
Skip the extras with the Russell Hobbs Everyday Quiet Boil 28850. It’s also £44.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, with boil-dry protection and cup markings.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a measured claim to compare. The listing says “less noise than a standard kettle” without a number.
Why kettles are loud
Most kettle noise comes from the heating stage, not the final boil. As the element heats the water at the bottom, small steam bubbles form and then collapse in the cooler water above, which makes the rumbling and hissing you hear before it settles into a rolling boil. A powerful 3kW element heats fast, but it can also be noisy for that reason. The shape of the kettle, the base and any limescale on the element can all add to it.
“Quiet boil” designs aim to reduce that rumble, and makers describe their methods in different ways. Because there’s no single standard figure across brands, we’d treat a percentage as the maker’s comparison against its own idea of “a standard kettle”, not a decibel reading you can line up against a rival.
Who it isn’t for: if your current kettle got louder over time, descale it before replacing it. Limescale on the element is a common cause of extra noise.
What the claims actually say
- Russell Hobbs Quiet Boil 20460: “up to 75% quieter than a standard kettle”, with rapid-boil zones for one, two or three cups and a removable washable filter, per Currys.
- Breville Edge Low Steam VKT236: Quiet Mark certified, with a “50% quieter boil” in the feature list, 75% less steam and steam surge control, per Currys.
- Russell Hobbs Calm 27450 and Calm Connected 27480: “Quiet Boil Technology”. The Connected model adds app and smart speaker control and up to 40 minutes’ keep warm, per Currys.
- Russell Hobbs Everyday Quiet Boil 28850: “Quiet Boil Technology”, described as making less noise than a standard kettle.
Quiet Mark is a third-party certification scheme. It’s a useful signal, but it doesn’t give you a figure to compare between kettles.
Who it isn’t for: shoppers who want lab-style noise figures. None of these listings give a decibel number, so we haven’t invented one.
Capacity, speed and the trade-offs
All four kettles with full specs listed are 1.7-litre, 3,000W models, so on paper they’re as quick as a standard rapid-boil kettle. Currys says the Quiet Boil 20460 boils a cup in 45 seconds. The trade-off with quiet kettles is usually price and features rather than speed. If you want the very fastest boil and don’t mind the noise, see our rapid boil kettle guide.
For pour-over coffee, none of these has a gooseneck spout. The Calm models can heat water below boiling, which helps, but you’ll still pour from a jug. Our best gooseneck kettle guide covers that, and the Dualit Pour Over Electric Kettle there is also listed as Quiet Mark certified.
Who it isn’t for: anyone with a tiny worktop. The Calm 27450 is listed at 270 x 287 x 262 mm, bigger than the plain quiet-boil jugs.
Hard water and descaling
In hard-water areas, limescale builds up on the element and can make any kettle louder and slower. All of the fully listed kettles here have an anti-limescale filter, but a filter catches flakes in your cup rather than stopping scale forming. Descale regularly, following the maker’s instructions, and empty the kettle rather than reboiling old water.
Who it isn’t for: if you live in a soft-water area, you’ll need to descale far less often.
Downsides
- No comparable figures. Noise claims are worded differently by each maker, and none give decibels.
- Price premium. The Calm models cost more for lights, sounds and controls that don’t make them quieter.
- Still a 3kW boil. “Quieter” isn’t silent. You’ll still hear it in a small flat.
Where to go next
FAQ
What is the quietest kettle in the UK? We can’t name one with confidence, because makers don’t publish comparable noise figures. The Russell Hobbs Quiet Boil 20460 gives the most specific claim among these, at up to 75% quieter than a standard kettle.
What does Quiet Mark mean on a kettle? It’s a third-party certification for quieter products. The Breville Edge Low Steam VKT236 is listed by Currys as Quiet Mark certified.
Are quiet kettles slower? Not on paper. The kettles here with full listings are 3,000W, the same as typical rapid-boil kettles.
Why do kettles get louder over time? Limescale on the element is a common reason. Descale it following the maker’s instructions.
Where can you buy these? Russell Hobbs Quiet Boil 20460 at Currys, Breville Edge Low Steam VKT236 at Currys, Russell Hobbs Calm 27450 at Currys, Russell Hobbs Calm Connected 27480 at Currys and Russell Hobbs Everyday Quiet Boil 28850 at Currys.