Coasters are used to protect surfaces from scuffs, rings and stains. But more than just a functional table setting, coasters can be a design accent to personalise your home.
However, simply browsing Amazon or John Lewis will bring up hundreds of results. That's why we've created this buying guide to help you find the best coasters to buy online. What's more, we've ranked our top 10 favourites, from coaster sets with matching placemats to ceramic coasters for the garden, simple wooden ones to spread across the house, and even luxury options made from marble and agate!
Quick List - Top Coasters
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When shopping for coasters, there are a wide variety of products to choose from. To help you decide, here are our top tips on what to look for to narrow down your choice.
Whether you decide to use your new coasters inside or out, they need to be made from a durable material so that you can love them for as long as possible. When comparing materials, consider how you plan to use your coasters and why you're buying them.
Wooden coasters are a popular choice for drinks as they look stylish and are very durable. They can be made from a variety of polished hardwoods, such as oak or acacia.
MDF stands for Medium-Density Fibreboard and is a material that's commonly used in coaster production. It's a man-made wood product that's produced from both hardwood and softwood fibres.
A good choice for regular daily use and for families, MDF coasters are reliable and practically unbreakable. Often they are coated in a waterproof lacquer to protect from stains and are strong enough to hold heavy pint glasses without caving or cracking in the middle.
Fabric coasters are usually woven from fabrics such as polyester. These will make a gorgeous addition to coffee tables as they won't mark glass or polished wood surfaces.
Unfortunately, these coaster's aren't waterproof and are highly absorbent. While this will help to prevent condensation from your cup leaving a ring on your table, it does leave them prone to picking up stains.
Ceramic and slate coasters both make fantastic outdoors options. They are durable, weather resistant and heavy enough to avoid getting blown about in the wind.
Just be careful if you plan to use them on a paved patio or terrace, as an accidental drop could cause them to shatter or break.
If you're looking for a set of luxurious coasters for entertaining, or to compliment your interior design, you might want to consider marble or agate.
Marble coaster are weighty and substantial, and for a bit of extra flair, can be engraved with patterns or lettering. Agate, on the other hand, is fragile and delicate with each slice being totally unique!
Silicone coasters are another practical choice, that can be used both indoors and outside. They are fully waterproof, heat resistant and resilient against wear and tear.
Despite being available various shapes and colours, these coasters may not always be the most stylish option. However, if you're searching for a set of functional coasters for the kids, silicone can't be beat!
While all eyes are on the design, it's the base that's doing the hard work! Make sure that your chosen coaster won't damage the surface it's placed on. If your coaster is able to slide all over the top of your table, it's more likely to leave scratches or dents.
For coasters made from hard materials such as MDF, ceramic, marble or slate, you'll might want to seek ones that feature a cork base. These will help to protect your surfaces by sandwiching a soft non-scratchy texture between hard materials and providing a strong grip.
Think about how many coasters you are going to need to ensure you have enough for everyone. Coasters will often come in sets, although you'll be able to find individual 'accent' or gift coasters too.
Smaller sets of 2 - 4 are suitable for couples and for people who live alone. However, for families, larger households and those who love to entertain, the more the merrier!
You might want to buy an individual coaster to keep on your bedside table or desk, or as a memorable gift for birthdays and calendar events like Mother's Day.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | EAST END PRINTS Cork Backed Fruit Design Coasters | ![]() | Retro Fruit-Themed Coasters | |
2 | John Lewis & Partners Lacquer Coasters | ![]() | Sophisticated Coasters for Cocktail Nights | |
3 | Penta Stars Absorbing Stone Mandala Coasters Penta Stars | ![]() | Stunning Mandala Coasters for the Garden | |
4 | John Lewis & Partners Cork-Backed Cranberries Coasters | ![]() | Colourful Cranberry Coasters | |
5 | H&S Drink Coasters Set | ![]() | Practical Silicone Coasters for Everyday Use | |
6 | John Lewis & Partners Fusion Pattern Round Acacia Wood Coasters | ![]() | Stylish Acacia Wood Coasters | |
7 | The Just Slate Company Best Mum Ever Slate Coaster | ![]() | A Coaster for the Best Mum Ever | |
8 | John Lewis & Partners Agate Coasters | ![]() | Four Unique Agate Coasters | |
9 | MENNYO Round Felt Coasters With Holder | ![]() | Felt Coasters With Matching Box | |
10 | John Lewis & Partners Gin Marble Coaster | ![]() | It's Gin O'Clock! |
What's not to love about these fruit-themed coasters? They're bright and bold with a retro design by Berlin-based artist Rosi Feist. Boasting high quality at an affordable price, without a doubt these are our top pick for versatile everyday use.
Perfect for both kids and grown-ups, they're heat resistant up to 100°C and wipe clean, with a cork base to avoid scratches and scuffs. They even have a matching place mats so you can complete the set!
We love how this set of lacquered coasters manages to strike just the right balance between sophistication and practicality. Made from MDF, they are lightweight and durable, with a rustic design available in both silver and gold.
A superb choice for entertaining, they come in a pack of six with the option to buy coordinating place mats. So why not pick up a set before your next dinner party or cocktail night?
These beautiful mandala coasters are ideal for use in the garden. Made from absorbent ceramic, they'll soak up any condensation from your glass to help protect wooden surfaces from stains and rings.
Rest assured, the base is made from cork to protect both your furniture and the coasters from damage. They even come with an attractive storage rack to keep them organised when you're not using them.
These stylish coasters will see your tabletops protected throughout the four seasons. Their colourful cranberry design will complete the look of any festive table, or add a spring-time to your conservatory. John Lewis even sells matching table runners, place matts and napkins, so you can easily coordinate your table settings.
Each coaster is fully cork backed with wipe-clean laminated surface to extend their longevity.
These practical drink coasters are made from non-slip silicone for everyday use. A great choice for families, they come in a set of six and can be used for a variety of purposes, both inside and in the garden.
The silicone material is capable of handling the heat of your coffee mug, with a silicone base that sticks to the table to prevent them sliding around. Best of all, they are stain resistant, wipe-clean and feature raised edges to catch any excess liquid or spills!
These 4 coasters from John Lewis's Fusion collection are made from gorgeous acacia wood and have stylish wedge-shaped patterns carved in. Their simple colour and design are sure to suit anywhere in the home.
They are not dishwasher safe so must be wiped clean with a damp cloth instead. In addition, you should make sure to keep them dry in order to avoid damaging the wood.
Whether it's a Mother's Day present, a birthday gift, or just a random act of kindness, show your mum how much you care with this beautiful slate coaster. Printed with the words, 'Best Mum Ever', you can remind her how special she is every time she picks up her cup of tea.
A heartfelt choice, it's heat resistant, wipe-clean and ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. It even comes pre-wrapped in a protective gift box.
Each one of these 100% Indian agate coasters form John Lewis and Partners has a uniquely patterned design, so you can guarantee that no two will look the same. This stunningly beautiful set are a joy look at and are sure to make the perfect accent piece to your living room, or a gorgeous birthday gift.
Sadly, they lack any sort of protective base. You will want to use these coasters cautiously as longterm usage may result in damage to your surfaces or even to the coasters themselves.
These fuzzy felt coasters are a great way to keep your surfaces safe from scratches and stains. The fabric is super absorbent to catch any drips or spills and they come in a matching presentation box, which is sure to look neat on any table.
Unfortunately, they aren't water resistant, so you might find they aren't exactly looking their best after a splash of coffee or red wine. Luckily, the material is hand washable. Give them a quick scrub with detergent and warm water and they'll be clean again in no time!
This coaster is ideal for starting off the weekend with a Friday night gin and tonic. Of course you can use this coaster for any tipple of choice, but it's only right that you adhere to the brass inlayed 'GIN' in the centre.
You might want to be careful where you place this coaster as it doesn't have a protective base. Further, at £8 for one, it isn't the best value for money. That said, it certainly looks fab and will make a lovely gift for the gin lover in your life.
Need something to go on your new coasters? Perhaps some new glassware for sipping chardonnay or a glencairn for your Johnnie Walker? If you'd rather stick to the soft drinks, we've even found some reusable ice cubes to cool down your summer soda and lime. Head over to these articles to find out more!
If you fell in love with more than one on the list, you could always buy multiple sets of coasters. Having a few different options let's you mix and match to keep things fresh. You could even swap out designs for different events and seasons. Whatever you decide, we hope this article has helped you find exactly what you were looking for!
Author: Annie Speight
No. 1: EAST END PRINTS |Cork Backed Fruit Design Coasters
No. 2: John Lewis & Partners |Lacquer Coasters
No. 3: Penta Stars|Absorbing Stone Mandala Coasters Penta Stars
No. 4: John Lewis & Partners |Cork-Backed Cranberries Coasters
No. 5: H&S |Drink Coasters Set
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