One of the most satisfying touring feelings is arriving at the campsite and knowing you’ve safely reached your destination – your holiday is truly underway. At this point, many of us will want to sit back and relax with a cup of tea – and to do so, you’ll want the best motorhome kettle for the job. That’s where this guide comes in.
A motorhome kettle can provide plenty of versatility to your touring set up too, operating at a lower power, just like a low wattage air fryer, so you have the freedom to head off-grid and power it with a portable power station or inverter.
When you’re choosing a kettle for a motorhome, wattage is your main consideration, along with size. You want to avoid something that takes up too much room, while offering enough capacity for what you need. In short, it’s a buy you’re going to want to get right for your ‘van’s kitchen, just as you would if you’re looking for the best air fryer for a motorhome.
In our guide, we’ll cover a couple of different types, including a collapsible kettle (useful for its space-saving capabilities) and options that can be heated on a gas hob. There are also a range of capacities, starting from 500ml and going up to two litres, so you can source the size that best suits you.
Get your ‘van’s kettle right and you’ll be all set for sitting back with some tea and toast on the first morning of your tour – just don’t forget the best motorhome toaster either!
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The best motorhome kettles are:
Collaps Kettle
Vango Stainless Steel Whistling Camping Kettle
Aigostar Cooltravel 30MBA
Quest Travel Kettle
Russell Hobbs Travel Light White Small Kettle
VonShef Travel Kettle
LIVIVO Cordless Kettle
Aigostar Small Electric Kettle
Jalann Travel Kettle
The best motorhome kettles: our top picks
Collaps kettle
- Weight: from 500g
- Capacity: 1.5l – 2.5l
- Wattage: N/A
Reason to buy:
- Collapsible and space-saving
Reason to avoid:
- Relatively pricey
We really like this clever BPA-free collapsible kettle. This product from Outwell comes in a number of colours, and after you’ve made yourself a cup of tea, you can collapse it. This innovative touch is one of our favourite things about it, as it helps you save some valuable extra space when you’re on the road.
It’s remarkably easy to do this too, taking only seconds to flatten and then restore it to its original shape.
The motorhome kettle is also break resistant, and provides the versatility of going onto direct heat (with the exception of a microwave oven or induction hob) to heat up. Then, after your tour is over, you can give it a clean in the dishwasher.
The product is also available in either a 1.5- or 2.5-litre option, so you can find a size that best suits your touring requirements.
Vango Stainless Steel Whistling Camping Kettle
- Capacity: 2 litres
- Weight: 430g
- Wattage: N/A
Reason to buy:
- Great capacity for the weight, clever folding handle
Reason to avoid:
- It could be too bulky for you if you struggle for storage
Ideal for using on a gas hob, this two litre camping kettle from Vango will whistle when the water is boiling, so you’ll know when you’re able to make yourself a refreshing cup of tea.
We really like that it comes with a heat resistant handle, and are also fans of the useful space-saving practicality it provides; you can fold the handle in when it’s not being used.
The motorhome kettle is also nice and easy to fill, thanks to its completely removable lid. We think its capacity is excellent too, especially when taking how little it weighs into account, making it ideal for families or larger parties who are going on tour together.
Aigostar Cooltravel
- Capacity: 600ml
- Weight: 460g
- Wattage: 650w
Reason to buy:
- Only 650 watts, comes with two cups and two spoons
Reason to avoid:
- Best suited to one or two of you
We think this Aigostar travel kettle makes an enticing prospect for motorhome owners who want a low wattage option for up to two of you.
Only 650 watts, it provides a capacity of 0.6 litres and we like the safety features it provides – both built-in boil dry protection and automatic shut-off. Another useful feature is the two cups and spoons that come with it – while not a deal breaker in its own right, it’s a nice touch.
A BPA-free product, it’s made with food grade plastic and will take between three to six minutes to boil water, according to the manufacturer. Helpfully, the handle is heat-resistant too.
Quest Travel Kettle
- Capacity: 500ml
- Weight: 500g
- Wattage: 600w
Reason to buy:
- Low wattage, comes with two cups
Reason to avoid:
- Capacity could be too small
This extra small travel kettle from Quest offers a 0.5 litre capacity and some incredibly useful compactness. At only 640g, it’s going to be very easy to pack and transport, something which could be particularly useful for those who have limited space in their vans.
An indicator light will let you know when it’s in use, while a transparent fill window makes it straightforward to ensure you’re filling it with the right amount of water.
Two cups are helpfully included too.
VonShef Travel Kettle
- Weight: 566g
- Capacity: 500ml
- Wattage: 650w
Reason to buy:
- Ideal for solo travellers or couples
Reason to avoid:
- Not ideal if there’s more than a couple of you
We think if you’re travelling on your own or as a pair, this 500ml motorhome kettle from VonShef is well worth considering.
The motorhome kettle is the ideal size for boiling enough water for up to two people, and also comes with a wide spout, which makes it easy to pour.
We also like how the 650W product is very lightweight, only weighing 566g.
Russell Hobbs Travel Light White Small Kettle
- Weight: 590g
- Capacity: 0.85 litres
- Wattage: 1000W
Reason to buy:
- Offers useful internal storage, lightweight
Reason to avoid:
- Lower wattage options available
We really like this lightweight motorhome kettle from Russell Hobbs.
It boasts a 0.85-litre capacity and, as well as that, it’s very easy to operate, thanks to its 590g weight. Coming with an automatic switch-off, it will turn off after it’s boiled, preventing any chance of it boiling dry.
The useful product also comes with two spoons and two cups, which you can store inside when you’re travelling, for some safe and easy transportation. This has the useful function of saving you the hassle of trying to locate where you packed the cups, once you’ve reached the campsite…
Check the latest price of the Russell Hobbs Travel Light White Small Kettle on Amazon now.
Image: Amazon
LIVIVO Compact Kettle
- Weight: 660g
- Capacity: 1L
- Wattage: 900W
Reason to buy:
- Ultra-lightweight and compact, making it ideal for campervans or travel where every gram matters
Reason to avoid:
- Slower boiling time due to the lower wattage compared to other travel kettles.
This incredibly lightweight model will knock just 660g from your payload, and we’re big fans of the handy overheat and boil dry cut off feature. The simple design includes a transparent water gauge with illumination and an on-off switch with LED indicator.
We love how unobtrusive this kettle is while still offering a litre of water capacity, enough for 4 cups of tea or coffee. Since it’s only 900W, you’re more than safe to use this in a campervan or motorhome without straining your electricity supply.
Check the latest price of the LIVIVO Compact Kettle on Amazon now.
Image: Amazon
Aigostar Small Electric Kettle
- Weight: 800g
- Capacity: 1L
- Wattage: 1100W
Reason to buy:
- Great balance between speed and portability.
Reason to avoid:
- Higher wattage could strain the power supply in some motorhomes or off-grid setups.
Perfect for compact motorhomes, this 800g kettle still packs a punch with 1100W, meaning that you won’t be waiting too long for your water to boil. We love the construction of this motorhome kettle, which combines food-grade BPA-free plastic with a 304 stainless steel inner.
It also features a perfect-pour spout with a filter, dual water level windows and storage in the base for the cable. There is an LED to indicate when the kettle is boiling while the 1L capacity is great for 2 people but will make up to 4 cups of tea.
Check the latest price of the Aigostar Small Electric Kettle on Amazon now.
Image: Amazon
Jalann Travel Kettle
- Weight: 850g
- Capacity: 0.8L
- Wattage: 600W
Reason to buy:
- Extremely low wattage perfect for off-grid or limited power environments
Reason to avoid:
- Smaller capacity (0.8L) may be limiting if you need to make drinks for more than 2 people at a time.
This might be one of our favourites in the line up, given its super low wattage and sleek design which comes in three colours. Despite its dinky design and 800ml capacity, the manufacturer advises boiling time is 5 minutes, which is great for a kettle with such low wattage.
All parts of the kettle are made from 304 stainless steel and it’s designed with a double layer to avoid the body becoming too hot to touch. There’s also automatic shut-off and boil-dry protection.
Check the latest price of the Jalann Travel Kettle on Amazon now.
Can I use a normal kettle in a motorhome?’
In short, yes, you can use a normal kettle in a motorhome, but there are some caveats to consider.
On average, a household kettle is around 2200-3000 watts and draws around 10-13 amps from a standard 230V plug in your kitchen. So, in theory, you could use a normal kettle in a motorhome, but you’d need to forgo most or all other appliances while it’s boiling to avoid overloading your supply and causing a power cut.
If you’re connected to mains power at a campsite, the supply can vary. While many of the best motorhome sites offer 16A, some are only equipped with 10A or even less. A typical 3000W kettle draws between 10 and 13 amps, which could easily trip the circuit, especially if you’re running other appliances at the same time.
If you’re running on battery power with an inverter, a household kettle can drain the battery very quickly and could damage your inverter if it can’t handle the wattage.
Better Alternatives:
Low-wattage kettles that are specifically made for campervans and motorhomes tend to be designed 800–1000W. Yes, these boil water considerably slower but are much safer for limited power supplies and you can use them at the same time as other appliances.
Gas kettles – or stovetop kettles – can be boiled on your hob so utilise the gas supply instead of electricity. This means they don’t affect your power consumption, making them a safe choice for every motorhomer, including off-gridding and outdoor use.
How to choose a motorhome kettle
When you’re choosing a motorhome kettle, there are some points to consider that will help you find the best one for your tours.
Firstly, think about how many of you are using the kettle. If you’re only touring as a two, you can get away with a smaller capacity than you would want if you’re touring as a family, where a one-litre or even a two-litre capacity could be more useful.
It’s also worth thinking about where you’ll be touring too. For motorhomers who love touring off grid, an option which is relying on direct heat instead of mains power could be the option for you, saving you from having to worry about having the means of operating it.
Lastly, consider how much space you have, not just for storing it but in your ‘van’s kitchen too. If work surface is limited, a collapsible or more compact option is well worth considering, as it saves you valuable room and, in the case of a collapsible kettle, will be much easier to store and transport.
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