Just like full-size models, the best personal blenders are kitchen workhorses. Ideal for smaller households, these versatile machines are designed to blend smaller servings of smoothies (and even soups) that can be enjoyed on the go. Despite their smaller size, personal blenders are nonetheless capable of puréeing vegetable soups and whipping up fruit smoothies in mere seconds. Our top pick, the NutriBullet Pro, pulverizes frozen fruits and ice with ease, thanks to its mighty 900-watt motor.
The best personal blenders are compact and whip up your favorite concoctions in no time. Gaia Top Neck Fan
When shopping for your perfect personal blender, make sure to look closely at the motor power, as not all models can break up large chunks of ice, and capacity. Also, you want to consider the machine’s power source; while most models are corded and must be plugged in to operate, you can find some portable options that run on battery power. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the best personal blenders to add to your arsenal, whether you’re looking to store one at the office, bring one to the gym or simply add a less-bulky version to your kitchen countertop.
Dimensions: 7.7 x 12 x 15.9 inches | Capacity: 32 ounces | Wattage: 900 watts | Power source: Electric
Boasting a 900-watt motor, the NutriBullet Pro is one powerful blender. It’s also slightly larger than most personal models, as it can blend up to 32 ounces of soup or smoothie at once. So if you’re in the market for a mighty model that’s up to any blending task, you can’t beat this machine. Alongside the motor base and blades, the NutriBullet comes with two cups, two to-go lids, two lip rings with handles and a recipe book. To clean the machine, give the blades a thorough rinse in the sink and place the cups in the dishwasher. And the best part? This blender comes in a suite of colors like coral, rose gold and green.
What the editors say: “I’ve had the same NutriBullet Pro for nearly three years, and it has yet to let me down,” says home and kitchen editor Amanda Arnold. “Whether I’m using it for a morning green smoothie with lots of nuts and seeds or homemade hot sauce, the might machine breaks down the ingredients with ease—often, in a matter of seconds.”
Dimensions: 3.9 x 3.9 x 11.9 inches | Capacity: 14 ounces | Wattage: 175 watts | Power source: Electric
This personal blender from Hamilton Beach is powerful, easy to use and under $25. Featuring a 14-ounce capacity, this model takes up little countertop real estate while the slender cups fit in most car cup holders. To use the blender, simply toss in your favorite fruits, vegetables and ice and let the stainless steel blades get to work. When you're all finished, the blender cup, lid and blades can go into the dishwasher, while the cord wraps around the base for easy storage. Pick from five colors including black, blue and raspberry red.
What the reviews say: “I was truly skeptical at first, but I absolutely love this powerful little blender,” writes one reviewer. “The amount of money I spent on the other blenders was unbelievable—this model packs a serious punch for the price. I drink protein shakes twice a day with added frozen fruits and vegetables and this goes through it with ease. Plus, it’s so much quieter than others I’ve tried.”
Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 15.8 inches | Capacity: 32 ounces | Wattage: 1,000 watts | Power source: Electric
If you’re willing to pay a little extra for a premium personal blender, the Beast Blender is worth every penny. Equipped with a strong 1,000-watt motor, this model can pulverize pretty much everything, yielding blends that are ultra-smooth. What’s more, it makes little noise as it works, making this is a great option for those who like to make smoothies early in the morning before the rest of the household wakes up. Lastly, this blender is one good-looking machine, with its ridged jar and tall, sleek design. It comes with a 32-ounce jar and two different travel lids, plus a cap for easy carrying. You can also buy 27-ounce and 17-ounce jars separately if you’re most interested in making small batches of things like baby food and pesto.
What the reviews say: “I honestly didn’t know a smoothie could be so smooth,” writes one customer. “This blender pulverized kale—and even the chia seeds—I put into the jar so that the consistency was velvety smooth. [I’m] also pleased with how much quieter it is compared to my last blender.”
Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.9 x 11.7 inches | Capacity: 16 ounces | Voltage: 7.4 volts | Power source: Rechargeable battery
This compact portable blender from Cuisinart has the strength of a standard blender but is a fraction of the size, great for taking with you on the go. This mobile version can pulverize ice, fruits and vegetables to yield creamy, smooth shakes and soups. To charge the cordless blender, use the provided USB cord for a quick charge or fully charge for two hours to get up to 20 minutes of continuous runtime. The blender comes with a 16-ounce travel cup and lid, all dishwasher safe.
What the reviews say: “It’s so nice to have a little compact blender to travel with,” writes a reviewer. “I purchased this blender as a solution when traveling since I prefer a healthier option than hotel or take-out food for breakfast. I stuff it with frozen fruit (or fresh fruit and ice), yogurt and coconut milk—it’s a quick blend and clean-up, then I’m on my way.”
Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 13 inches | Capacity: 16 ounces | Wattage: 700 watts | Power source: Electric
Powered by a 700-watt motor, the Ninja Fit Personal Blender has about twice the horsepower of your standard personal blender. Ideal for frozen blending, this single serving size 16-ounce blender can crush ice and make foods like frozen desserts or smoothies. Alongside the motor base, the set includes two cups and spout lids so you can make a smoothie before you leave the house and bring it when heading out for the day. Once you're done with your frozen drink, throw all the dishwasher-safe pieces into the top rack and they will be ready for the next day.
What the reviews say: “As it is, it's a good little work horse,” says one pleased customer. “We use this every day to make protein drinks and it takes up almost no space at all. It's super easy to clean and works like a charm.”
Dimensions: 5.3 x 5.8 x 14.5 inches | Capacity: 20 ounces | Wattage: 500 watts | Power source: Electric
For those who want something worthy of a permanent spot on their kitchen countertop, this popular model from Zwilling fits the bill. Simply put, this is one pretty blender, with its break-proof, ribbed Tritan jar and sleek base. Though it doesn’t have as high of wattage as some of the other models that make this list, it has no issue whipping up creamy soups and thick smoothies, thanks to the blender’s sharp blades. (After all, Zwilling is best known for its kitchen knives.) Alongside the blender, you get a 20-ounce jar and a to-go lid.
What the reviews say: “After using different blenders, large and small, this is my favorite,” writes one happy customer. “I like the design and simplicity and the ease of use. I use it daily.”
The Forbes Vetted kitchen and home team is constantly on the lookout for appliances that make everyday tasks not only easier to complete, but more enjoyable. We cover everything from slow cookers to microwaves, often trying out these appliances in our own homes. For the best personal blenders, we looked to home and kitchen editor Amanda Arnold, who specializes in all things kitchen and food. She’s tested and written dozens of reviews, including a popular handheld frother and the best wooden cutting boards. Arnold also writes a monthly column on the best things Forbes Vetted ate that month. Co-author and updates editor Raena Loper also has nearly a decade of experience covering home essentials, including clothes irons and home diffusers.
We regularly update this article to ensure we provide readers with the most current products and accurate information. This story was last updated in September 2023 to add a guide on how to find the best blender, update specs for each of our picks and to answer more commonly asked blender questions.
To find the best personal blenders, we first looked at our other blender stories—the best blenders on Amazon, the best immersion blenders and the best blenders for smoothies—to see which picks from this lists can function as personal blenders. Then, we cross-checked our findings with top-rated picks beloved by customers.
Once we had our contenders, we examined the features of each blender, including wattage, capacity, accessories and unique functions. We also read through hundreds of reviews and only included products with a minimum 4-star rating.
Personal blenders vary from 175 watts to 900 watts. If you want a blender that can handle ice and other frozen foods, it’s best to opt for a higher wattage. Otherwise, you’ll need to break up food into smaller chunks or pieces for the blender to process completely.
If you want to whip up fresh smoothies in the car after the gym or anywhere else you may be on the go, you’d likely be happier with a battery-powered model than an electric one. But if your blender activities are confined to your kitchen, a corded model should suit you just fine.
Not all personal blenders have the same capacity, so to ensure you pick the right option for you, start by considering your ideal blender size. Most personal blenders have a capacity of about 14 to 16 ounces. If you need something slightly bigger, options like the NutriBullet Pro can hold up to 32 ounces.
Additional accessories like travel lids can make life easier, while dishwasher-safe attachments save you the effort of hand-washing. And like with all kitchen appliances that experience a lot of wear and tear, check if your model has a warranty. This can help you in the long run if you have any malfunctioning issues or need your model fixed.
If you’re thinking of bringing home a personal blender, you can’t go wrong with any of the ones on this curated list. That said, one model might be better suited to your needs than the others, depending on a few subjective factors. Our overall favorite is the NutriBullet Pro because of its strong 900-watt motor that crushes ice and frozen fruit easily.
The longevity of a personal blender depends on a few overlapping factors—namely, its quality and how much it gets used. Generally speaking, though, you can expect a personal blender to last around five years, so long as you care for it properly.
If you’re trying to decide between a high-end, 64-ounce blender and a personal model, the former is objectively better at the job; full-size blenders are more powerful, versatile and precise. If you only need a blender for making the occasional smoothie for one, though, then a personal model is better for you. Again, the right option for you is one that fits your needs and blending preferences.
Steve Forbes is Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media.\n\nSteve’s newest project is the podcast “What’s Ahead,” where he engages the world’s top newsmakers, politicians and pioneers in business and economics in honest conversations meant to challenge traditional conventions as well as featuring Steve’s signature views on the intersection of society, economic and policy. \n\nSteve helped create the recently released and highly acclaimed public television documentary, In Money We Trust?, which was produced under the auspices of Maryland Public television. The film was inspired by the book he co-authored, Money: How the Destruction of the Dollar Threatens the Global Economy – and What We Can Do About It. \n\nSteve’s latest book is Reviving America: How Repealing Obamacare, Replacing the Tax Code and Reforming The Fed will Restore Hope and Prosperity co-authored by Elizabeth Ames (McGraw-Hill Professional).\n\nSteve writes editorials for each issue of Forbes under the heading of “Fact and Comment.” A widely respected economic prognosticator, he is the only writer to have won the highly prestigious Crystal Owl Award four times. The prize was formerly given by U.S. Steel Corporation to the financial journalist whose economic forecasts for the coming year proved most accurate.\n\nIn both 1996 and 2000, Steve campaigned vigorously for the Republican nomination for the Presidency. Key to his platform were a flat tax, medical savings accounts, a new Social Security system for working Americans, parental choice of schools for their children, term limits and a strong national defense. Steve continues to energetically promote this agenda.
Steve Forbes is Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media.\n\nSteve’s newest project is the podcast “What’s Ahead,” where he engages the world’s top newsmakers, politicians and pioneers in business and economics in honest conversations meant to challenge traditional conventions as well as featuring Steve’s signature views on the intersection of society, economic and policy. \n\nSteve helped create the recently released and highly acclaimed public television documentary, In Money We Trust?, which was produced under the auspices of Maryland Public television. The film was inspired by the book he co-authored, Money: How the Destruction of the Dollar Threatens the Global Economy – and What We Can Do About It. \n\nSteve’s latest book is Reviving America: How Repealing Obamacare, Replacing the Tax Code and Reforming The Fed will Restore Hope and Prosperity co-authored by Elizabeth Ames (McGraw-Hill Professional).\n\nSteve writes editorials for each issue of Forbes under the heading of “Fact and Comment.” A widely respected economic prognosticator, he is the only writer to have won the highly prestigious Crystal Owl Award four times. The prize was formerly given by U.S. Steel Corporation to the financial journalist whose economic forecasts for the coming year proved most accurate.\n\nIn both 1996 and 2000, Steve campaigned vigorously for the Republican nomination for the Presidency. Key to his platform were a flat tax, medical savings accounts, a new Social Security system for working Americans, parental choice of schools for their children, term limits and a strong national defense. Steve continues to energetically promote this agenda.
I’m a London-based freelance journalist who specializes in all aspects of technology including reviews, investigations, comment and news. My Audible original podcast 'The Squid Scam' came out in January 2023. I have also written for The Guardian, TechRadar, The Evening Standard, New Scientist and others. I'm a recovering founder of the investigative journalism focused YouTube channel, Point. (Pronounced: jan-eye).
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