The 8 Best Portable Blenders of 2024, According to Culinary Experts

Best Overall: NutriBullet Single-Serve Blender

Portable blenders and NutriBullet are practically synonymous, as the brand offers several different options. This model is a top choice for Kellyann Petrucci, M.S., N.D., a board-certified naturopathic physician and weight loss and anti-aging expert. She raves about the high-powered motor and its ability to pulverize superfoods worth adding to your smoothie, like chia seeds, Brazil nuts, and leafy greens. Its 1,200-watt motor is much stronger than most portable blenders.

We also love the pre-programmed function with an automatic shut-off and the two different-sized cups with travel lids that it comes with. It also takes up very little space on the counter and is easy to clean, says Dr. Petrucci, two other musts for portable blenders.

There’s a pulse feature as well; culinary expert Catherine Smart, co-founder and CEO of Not Just Co. says that makes it great for using to whip up pesto, chimichurri, and other sauces where you want to control the texture. If you want a portable blender with a powerful motor that can handle most ingredients, this is a great pick.

Cup Size: 24, 32 ounces | Wattage: 1,200 watts | Power Source: Electric

Best Budget: Hamilton Beach Personal Blender

For a budget-friendly personal blender, grab this petite, travel-friendly blender from Hamilton Beach. This slim machine is available in several different shades and includes a travel lid for easy transportation after a midday smoothie. If your plans include hopping in the car with your on-the-go lunch, you’re set for that, too, because it has a svelte design that fits into most car cupholders with ease.

Since this is a relatively simple machine, there’s just one button to press to reach a satisfactory blend for any of your smoothies or shakes. Since the wattage is relatively low on this machine, you’ll find that it blends best if you use a good knife to cut fruit pieces very small or use the machine with softer fruits, vegetables, and liquids rather than hard chunks of ice or frozen foods.

Cup Size: 14 ounces | Wattage: 175 watts | Power Source: Electric

Best for Travel: Cokunst Portable Blender

Sure, it may be a little "extra" to pack a blender in your suitcase, but this pick is so compact and portable that you’ll barely know it’s there. Because it’s both smaller and rechargeable, it’s easy to pack and use virtually everywhere, says Petrucci, who is a fan. She also calls out the extremely affordable price and notes that it still checks all of the blender boxes despite its affordability.

It has six stainless steel blades and a 22,000 RPM motor, which gives it plenty of blending power for fruits and vegetables but may not suffice for those who need a high-powered blender. This wireless blender also has an easy, one-touch on-and-off feature, and you can recharge it with a USB-C cable. One charge takes about three hours, although there are helpful indicators on the blender base that indicate how much battery power is left. It comes with a brush cleaner, so you can wash it by hand, but you can also self-clean the cup by running the blender with clean water.

Cup Size: 18 ounces | Wattage: 150 watts | Power Source: Battery

Best Multitasking: Magic Bullet Blender

While you will need to clear out some cabinet space for the 11 different components that come with this set, it will expand your blending horizons. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option that can make more than just smoothies, this is the one.

“What the Magic Bullet lacks in simplicity, it makes up for in versatility, with the ability to whip cream, chop chunky salsa, and, of course, blend up a smoothie. Who needs knife skills when you've got one of these?!” says Smart, who lists this among her top picks. Credit the fact that it comes with two different blade attachments.

Anyone who is in a creative cooking rut will appreciate that this blender comes with a recipe book for extra inspiration. Just FYI, while the cups and lids are top-rack dishwasher-safe, the base and blades are not.

Cup Size: 12, 22 ounces | Wattage: 250 watts | Power Source: Electric

Most Powerful: Ninja Fit Compact Personal Blender

“This Ninja is super sleek, so it fits in any bag or on a sliver of countertop, but it still packs enough power to get the job done with a 700-watt motor,” says Smart of another one of her recommendations. Indeed, the wattage (while it falls short of the 1,200 watts of our best overall pick) is notably higher than the other portable blenders on this list. It's also compact, easy to use, and budget-friendly.

The cups, lids, and blades are all dishwasher-safe, a major win since the cups have some nooks and crannies around the edges that can make them hard to clean otherwise. Just keep in mind that the design requires you to hold down the cup the entire time it’s blending, as there’s no locking function.

Cup Size: 16 ounces | Wattage: 700 watts | Power Source: Electric

Best Cordless: Cuisinart EvolutionX Cordless Compact Blender

Our top cordless option stands out for its fast charge time — it takes just two hours for a full charge. And even though it’s small, this portable blender is powerful and can run continuously for up to 20 minutes on a single charge. Just keep in mind that you can't operate the blender while it’s charging. 

Unlike some portable blenders, the lightweight Cuisinart EvolutionX can crush ice cubes and other hard foods. The BPA-free blender comes with a 16-ounce cup complete with a travel lid for toting drinks on the go, so you won't need to bring an insulated water bottle to drink from. It’s also dishwasher-safe, so it’s easy to keep it clean and ready for your next adventure.

Cup Size: 16 ounces | Wattage: Not listed | Power Source: Battery

Best Compact: Ninja Blast Portable Blender

This powerful, easy-to-use, cordless blender from Ninja makes it a breeze to have freshly blended drinks on the go. The portable blender is rechargeable via the included USB cable (which is short, so you’ll need to be close to a power source to charge it). The container holds a generous 18 ounces, and you can blend as many as 15 drinks on a single charge. 

It also has a leakproof lid and a convenient hinged carry handle. There are separate power and blend buttons, so you can’t mix them up, and the lid and vessel are both BPA-free and dishwasher-safe. This all-in-one blending and drinking product is easy to transport and use anywhere.

Cup Size: 18 ounces | Wattage: 500 watts | Power Source: Battery

Best Compact: BlendJet 2 Portable Blender

“I really like the BlendJet because it’s lightweight and you drink right out of the blender, so you don’t have more than one thing to rinse out,” says Pomroy of one of her top choices. “It’s great for travel or as a spare blender to have at the office,” she adds. To that point, it’s even cordless and charges with a USB— one, hour-long charge yields about 15 blends.

It’s also one of the more stylish portable blenders we’ve seen, available in a wide array of fun colors and patterns that are anything but basic. While this version is five times more powerful than the original BlendJet, some may still find it a little too weak to crush lots of ice or really get things super smooth. It also shouldn’t go in the dishwasher, which may be something to take into consideration if you don’t usually hand-wash.

Cup Size: 16 ounces | Wattage: Not listed | Power Source: Battery