If you're a fitness enthusiast, student on the go, busy professional, or a frequent traveler, a portable blender is a must-have for a healthy lifestyle.
As a kitchen product tester and health-conscious person, I love starting my day with a fresh smoothie – especially one I can whip up quickly and take to work. It’s just as essential as the best portable coffee cup.
So far, as a team of product testers, we've trialed 12 portable blenders. We tested cordless, battery-operated models, so you can blend on the go. Then, we tested more powerful countertop models with portable blending pitchers that you can slot into your bag. Just like when testing the best blenders, we blended fiber-rich smoothies, crushed ice, dips and dressings. We also tested how easy they were to pop into your bag without leaking.
We’ve narrowed the list down to the top five portable picks from brands like Nutribullet, KitchenAid, and Cuisinart. The standout? The Ninja Blast – a perfect blend of power, cute design, and portability.
The quick list
This portable blender can handle it all, making smoothies, shakes – even frozen margaritas – on the go. Our tester carried it around in a bag every day for a month; it's lightweight and never leaked. Plus, we love the fun colors.
A robust, reliable option. It's on the chunky side, but the battery lasts for ages. Best of all, the stainless steel keeps your smoothies cold and refreshing for up to 24 hours.
Excellent for dips and salsas. As a chef, this one is actually my favorite. You can bring it to the outdoor grill or your friend's dinner parties to make fresh sauces.
Blending in public can be embarrassing, so we love a quiet blender. At 64 decibels, it's the quietest blender we've ever tested, as well as being ultra-lightweight, effective, and inexpensive.
It's big, powerful, and completely cordless without being too heavy. It serves two people, so it's a good investment for a couple of campers, hikers, or gym-goers.
Best portable blenders 2025
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Who (and what) is a portable blender for?
Fitness enthusiasts & gym-goers: You can quickly make protein shakes or smoothies before/after workouts. No kitchen required.
Busy professionals: I know first hand, it can be hard to prioritise health when you're busy. A portable blender helps out with healthy drinks during commutes or office breaks, so you don't reach for unhealthy snacks.
Hikers & campers: Cordless models are compact and lightweight, so you can make fresh drinks away from a plug.
College students: Very convenient for small dorm rooms. My sister uses the Ninja Blast for easy, healthy breakfast on the way to early classes.
Parents with young children: You can easily blend baby food or smoothies while out and about with a cordless model.
Small space dwellers: Ideal for small kitchens, apartments, or dorm rooms. You can tuck them away in a drawer when needed.
Frequent travelers: If you travel a lot, you don't have to leave your healthy routine behind. You can add a cordless model to your luggage.
Best portable blender overall
What we liked: The Ninja Blast has recently taken the crown from Cuisinart's Evolution X at the top of this guide. Why? It has a bigger capacity, liquid measures on the pitcher, it's lighter, smaller, and better value. It's slim enough to sit in any water bottle holder (both in backpacks and car cup holders), available in a range of fun colors, and has a useful flip-top lid that doesn't drip, dribble or leak. We were most excited by the ice-crushing capacity. This is the only portable blender that can make frozen margaritas or desserts on the go, which sent it straight to the top of our books.
What we didn't like: Like most portable blenders, it struggles to process seeds. It's also not as good as a countertop blender for making dips; it made a serviceable hummus, but not a great one. It's also fairly tall, so it's more suited to a backpack than a handbag.
Who would it suit: Everyday smoothie drinkers who want a lightweight but powerful, portable blender that can handle anything from protein shakes to frappuccinos.
Notes from the test kitchen: Our expert, Alex, trialed the Ninja Blast in the test kitchen in 2023 and has been using it ever since. He says, 'It's remained consistent and impressive. I regularly add a scoop of protein powder and creatine to my frozen smoothie mix and the Ninja doesn't struggle to keep the mixture silky rather than lumpy. It has never leaked and it's pretty easy to clean for everyday use.'
There's more detail in our Ninja Blast review.
Best portable blender for cold drinks
What we liked: For cold, fresh smoothies, the Nutribullet Flip is the best portable blender I’ve tried so far. It’s a battery-operated machine with a stainless steel lining that keeps your drinks cool for up to 24 hours – a unique feature in the market. The motor is powerful, the design feels trustworthy, and the lid never leaked during my week of testing. I love the fun range of new colors, too.
What we didn't like: Normally, we wouldn't expect a portable blender to make soup – but the insulated design got us excited. It actually can’t handle hot ingredients and it also struggles on crushed ice, so sadly, soup and frozen margaritas are off the menu. It's also quite chunky, so if you have small hands or a small backpack, that's something to consider.
Who would it suit: If you're something who travels a lot or works long hours, you'll love the cold-insulation technology and long battery life. I personally carried this around all week long, I enjoyed morning and afternoon smoothies that were fresh, full of fiber and packed with healthy fruit – with very little planning or effort. That's a winner for me.'
Notes from the test kitchen: I loved the cool, creamy smoothies and protein shakes I made in the Nutribullet Flip. In many ways, this is the best portable blender I've ever tested. In terms of power, the 11 volts blows the competitors out the water. However, at over 3lbs, it's not as compact, slender or lightweight as other models, like the Ninja Blast (which weighs 1.7lbs). The Ninja Blast also excels on crushing ice, so if you're a slushie or frozen cocktail fan, that could be your winner. The Ninja is also a bit cheaper, but that's reflected in the more plastic materials.
You can read all the details in my Nutribullet Flip review.
Best portable blender for dips
What we liked: This Cuisinart sat in the top spot for our buying guide for a long time. It's completely cordless, looks really premium, and tackles tough ingredients without breaking a sweat. We gave it weeks of testing, making smoothies, frappés, frozen cocktails, and even hummus and salsas. It's arguably the most versatile of the selection, so if you want a portable option to replace your standard blender in the kitchen, this is perfect for you. Plus, the travel lid is airtight and leak-proof. Even in a handbag, jostled around on the subway, our protein shake didn't leak or spill.
What we didn't like: We quickly learned that, whilst this is thorough, it does require a little more prep than all the other models. We tried blending half a frozen banana in our smoothie test and it just got stuck. You'll need to chop some of your fruits into inch-sized chunks before throwing them in. Once your ingredients are in the blender, it's brilliant – especially for more complex, ingredient-rich recipes like dips.
Who would it suit: People who would to blend dips, dressings, or even pancake batter outside at the BBQ or cookout.
Notes from the test kitchen: Our expert tester, Laura said: 'I found the lid especially useful for making pancakes. The lid sits back and out of the way, ensuring a steady, even pour into the saucepan. It gets a proper chef's kiss.
Our Cuisinart EvolutionX Cordless Blender review has more information
Quietest portable blender
What we liked: The BlendJet 2 is the quietest and lightest blender we've ever tested. BlendJet markets it as ‘whisper quiet’, and whilst it’s not silent, it’s certainly much quieter than many other blenders on the market. Reviewers compared the noise levels to a normal conversation (64 decibels), and we found the same on test. It's perfect for blending smoothies in the office, or even making midnight snacks without waking a soul.
What we didn't like: It did struggle a little with tough frozen fruits and blueberry skins, and it might need a little shake as it blends to make sure that all the drink reaches the blades. Having said that, it excelled on the pesto test – turning chunky ingredients into a great dressing.
Who would it suit: It's a great for gym bunnies and commuters. It's smaller and slimmer that the other models on this list, which makes it easier to fit into your gym bag or car cup holders. It just happens to be light on your wallet, too. It's often up to 50% off in sales; the BlendJet2 is now $26.70 at Amazon. A great choice for students, since it doesn't break the bank.
Notes from the test kichen: Our tester Millie was pleased with the results of her smoothies. She says, 'The BlendJet 2 was surprisingly powerful, especially considering this is a cordless and quiet option... I made delicious smoothies and it was brilliant at blending protein powder into a milkshake consistency.'
Our BlendJet 2 review has more information.
Best portable blender for large batches
What we liked: Of all the cordless, personal blenders that I’ve tested, the KitchenAid is the biggest. That makes it the best candidate for kitchen use. You could easily make bigger portions, enough for two or three, in this. It feels more like a normal blender that just happens to be conveniently cordless. So, if you like big protein shakes, or you’re serving two people on the go, this is a great option.
The battery is also the longest-lasting of all the models we’ve tested. It could run for a full 60 minutes, according to KitchenAid, which is a lot of use. The fact that it separates to charge is useful for space, but it also means you can get a lot of juice in it before you go off-the-grid camping, for example. You'll love the carrier bag, too.
What we didn't like: if you’re looking for a model that can slot into your handbag or the bottle holder in your rucksack, this is just too big. it could go in a gym bag, like a protein shaker, but that’s about it.
Who would it suit: This one is ideal for a couple of campers, hikers or gym goers. You'll just have to argue about who carries it.
Notes from the test kitchen: Our expert tester, Laura, says: 'At both half and full capacity, the KitchenAid worked quickly and effectively. The smoothies were perfect, there wasn’t a seed or a skin in sight. Even when I tried adding a scoop of protein powder to my drinks, it was blended perfectly into the smoothie, which would suggest that you could use this for batters and pancake mixes on camping trips, too'
There's more detail in our full KitchenAid Go Cordless review.
Countertop options with portable cups
There aren't masses of portable blenders on the market, so we also tested some corded, countertop models that come with travel cups. On the whole, these are more powerful and versatile, but they are also much more expensive. That said, they are worth considering if you'd like to blend soup and extras further down the line. You'll find the testing notes on our two favorites, below.
If you've got the space and budget for a countertop blender, but portability remains top priority, the Beast Blender is a fantastic choice. We were impressed by its power and the ribbed blending vessel that doubles as a sleek bottle. It's nice for taking smoothies, water infusions, or iced tea to the gym, office, or wherever life takes you. However, it's worth noting that the ribs are trickier to clean than in other models – which can get annoying for everyday use.
See our full review of the Beast Blender for more details.
Again, this bullet blender isn't cordless, but it comes with sealable lids for sipping on-the-go. You'll get a lot of use out of it, especially if you want to dabble in soups, sauces, and creamy dips. It can tackle everything from ice and frozen fruit to kale and seeds. We rated it a rare 5 stars on performance. Plus, it stands the test of time, so it's great value for money. Many of our testers have owned this model for years, and they still love it.
Our full Nutribullet Pro 900 has more details.
This is a newer, more powerful version of the Nutribullet 900 with increased 1200 wattage, slender design, and light-up buttons. It might be faster and better looking, but it's noisier and more expensive, too. Like the 900, it comes with cups and sip-top lids, so you drink your shakes and smoothies on the go.
Our full NutriBullet Ultra review has more information.
How we test portable blenders
We're proud of how we test blenders. As Homes & Gardens' kitchen appliances editor, I test blenders in my home kitchen and fit them into my daily routine, so I can see how they function in real life. When it comes to portable blenders, it's all about ease, portability, and reliability.
We have a series of standardized tests that we carry out to help us gauge which kind of user each portable blender would suit. We'll keep making these tests harder and harder until the blender can't cope. It's important to know the limits of your model, even if they're extremely high.
Smoothies: We blend a mix of frozen and fresh fruits, leafy greens like spinach or kale, and regular or nut milk. We'd note down how well each ingredient was blended, how quickly it was done, and how loud it was in the process. If the blender has an automatic shutoff we made a note of how many tries it took to get the smoothie to the perfect consistency.
Added extras: We also try blending tough ingredients that add nutritional value to your smoothies, like sunflower seeds, collagen and protein powders. This is a good measure of the blenders vortex system, which should blitz evenly to create a smooth blend.
Crushed ice: Finally, we try crushed ice to see if the blenders can handle a few ice cubes. This is a big challenge for a portable blender since, it's not shaped very well for blending ice cubes. You generally need a lot of space and a wider blending pitcher if you want properly crushed ice but some surprise us with how well they do.
Speed & noise: It's pretty embarrassing to use a loud blender in the office or subway, so we measure the decibels on our performance tests, too. We also measure the speed so you can see how efficient the motor is.
Clean-up: Clean-up is just as important as the blending. If it's tricky and inefficient, we'll be the first to let you know.
Reliability & design: After these tests, we'll group together to think about how the model compares to other similar blenders in the market, and we'll consider who it suits. Here, we'll let you how well-built it is, whether it's well-designed for small bags, car cup holders, whether it leaks and how easy it is to use. We also read up on customer reviews to see how it fares over a long period of time and what unique insights real-life users can bring to our reviews.
Often, we're lucky enough to keep the products ourselves, which means we can continually update our buying guides with comments about longevity, including whether they leaked in our bags!
Our review and testing guidelines provide more insight into our processes, and our testers for this guide are listed below.
Meet the testing team
Lydia is the Kitchen Appliances Editor for Homes & Gardens, testing everything from blenders and juicers to air fryers and frying pans. Lydia trained in cookery at Leiths School of Food & Wine and was previously Recipe Editor for Mindful Chef. She’s also worked for healthy food brands, like Deliciously Ella. Her favorite blender recipe is a blueberry muffin smoothie or frozen margaritas. Lydia tests all products in her home kitchen, making sure they're perfect for real home cooks.
Camryn Rabideau is a product tester who has been testing small kitchen appliances (as well as other home goods) for several years. She’s tested everything from blenders and mixers to oil infusion machines. Camryn does her product testing from her small homestead in beautiful Rhode Island.
Millie specializes in reviewing blenders and mixers, and has built up a deep knowledge of the best brands. She has tested budget-friendly portable models and the largest, best Vitamixes that money can buy. All of Millie's reviews are conducted at home, meaning she uses these products in her own kitchen, the way they're designed to be used.
How to choose a portable blender
Portable blenders (also known as travel blenders) are typically designed to make smoothies directly into cordless bottles. They’re built for quick, grab-and-go operation, and are designed to be easier and quicker to use than their full-sized models.
There are a few things to consider before choosing the ideal model for you.
Size: If you travel a lot and want a blender that you can throw in your luggage, then size is all-important. Look for a smaller, lighter and cordless blender, even if you have to compromise on a smaller travel mug as a result.
Countertop or cordless: Some of the countertop models in this list come with travel-sized blending vessels, so you can twist them out and take them with you. This is best suited to morning smoothies; you blend at home then take on the go. However, if you’re out all day or camping a lot, you'll want a cordless, battery-powered model that you can charge and use when you’re out.
Smoothies or dips? Smaller blenders tend to have lower-powered motors, so will work well with soft fruits and for making most smoothies, but you’ll find they struggle with (or can’t handle) nuts, ice or frozen ingredients. Countertop models with large motors should perform well across the board.
Included accessories: It will be more affordable to choose a blender with added accessories, so you get more bang for your buck. However, make sure you have enough storage space.
FAQs
How much does a portable blender cost?
As they’re smaller and aren’t as powerful as full-size blenders, prices are much lower. An entry-level blender should cost under $50, and give you basic smoothie making with softer fruits. At the high-end, you can spend up to $150 on a countertop model with portable accessories and more powerful motors to give you more flexibility.
Is a portable blender as good as a full-size blender?
A portable blender is different from a full-size one. Most portable models are designed to be quick and easy to use, with one-button operation and single-speed motors. They’re typically as good as large models for smoothies.
Travel blenders are generally quite limited, though: you can make smaller quantities, they’re not built to run for as long, and they don’t have the controls of a full-size model.
You usually can’t use hot liquids in personal blenders, either, as the travel cups are made from plastic that could be damaged by the heat.
If you want to vary what you can make, and have more control over the process, a full-size blender makes sense and, as our guide showed, you can always add a travel cup to your model to give you that blend-and-go convenience.
Of course, while these portable blenders are great, they simply can't match bigger blenders for power, speed, or capacity, so it's worth considering a traditional style if that's what you're really after. What's more, blenders can only handle liquids. For dry chopping, you should research the best food processors.
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