Margaritas are one of the most popular and recognizable cocktails. Super refreshing and the perfect balance between sweet and sour flavors, they’re a crowd-pleasing, food-friendly option for virtually any drinking or dining occasion, whether in the middle of winter or on a balmy spring afternoon. Additionally, the versatility of the cocktail’s preparation makes it even more approachable. Whether shaken in a cocktail shaker or frozen and blitzed in your go-to blender, there are endless ways to make the perfect margarita recipe. The glassware you choose is important and highly personal.
From classic rocks glasses with endless versatility to dramatic oversized stems, the margarita can be served in many glassware styles, and we tested a nice range of each. After testing nearly a dozen options, we’ve compiled a list of the best margarita glasses for any kicked-back sipping occasion.
Our Favorite Margarita Glasses
The West Elm Recycled Mexican Double Old Fashioned Glasses won us over in testing. The glasses’ thick-ish rims are perfect for accommodating tajín, sugar, or salt, and their standard 12-ounce capacity is enough for any-sized margarita with ample room for ice.
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The glasses’ thick-ish rims are perfect for accommodating tajín, sugar, or salt, and their capacity is enough for small and large margaritas with ample ice.
These West Elm margarita glasses outperformed every other option we tested due to their simplicity. Crafted from mouth-blown, recycled glass, these shatter-resistant glasses have a hand-cut end, giving them a delicate feel, while the base remains sturdy and durable on all surfaces. The glasses can easily accommodate cocktails ranging from four to six ounces, plus a decent amount of ice. They come in sleek finishes and are available in sets of four or eight.
In addition to their simple-yet-functional design, we loved the slightly bulbous shape of these cylindrical glasses and their versatility. While we wouldn’t use them for serving food items, we found them excellent picks for soda, water, and other classic cocktails — they’re even the perfect width for dipping cookies in milk. The only downfalls of these glasses are that they’re hand-wash only and not particularly stackable. Their thick-ish rims, versatility, and various finishes still make them our top pick.
Capacity: 12 ounces | Quantity: Set of 4 or 8 | Material: Recycled mouth-blown glass | Dishwasher-Safe: No
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These double Old Fashioned glasses from Fortessa are a solid budget-friendly choice for textured margarita glasses with some flair. Crafted from soda-lime glass with magnesium oxide and alumina, these durable glasses are shatter-resistant and perfectly accommodate a standard-sized margarita with ice. The rim of the glasses is thicker due to the beaded design, making them feel sturdy and pleasantly weighty in the hand. We recommend this set of six for a crowd if you’re looking for margarita glasses that seamlessly transition from indoor to outdoor glassware.
In addition to the price, the beaded design of these glasses was one of our favorite things about them. We also loved their versatility and found them great for using with soda, juice, and other cocktails. Overall, the texture, size, and accessible price landed these glasses as our Best Value pick.
Capacity: 10 ounces | Quantity: Set of 6 | Material: Fortessa glass | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
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At 18 ounces, the Phoebe margarita glasses are slightly larger than the average cocktail glass, making them less versatile across the board.
Looking for a unique twist on the classic margarita glass? This contemporary model from Mikasa captured our attention. Crafted from standard glass, the Phoebe Margarita glasses are thicker than most options and are marked by a particularly sturdy base and slightly thinner rim. The glasses are also stackable, making them ideal for smaller entertaining spaces.
We loved how these glasses felt in the hand and the party-inspired vibe that using them evoked. However, at 18 ounces, these glasses are quite large for standard margarita glasses and would likely not be usable for other smaller cocktails. Although the size slightly limits their versatility, we appreciated their fun design and availability in multiple colors. We recommend trying them with frozen margaritas or low-ABV drinks to get the best use out of them.
Capacity: 18 ounces | Quantity: Set of 4 | Material: Glass | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
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The shapes of the glasses aren’t entirely consistent, which might be a dealbreaker for some, and they aren’t dishwasher safe.
Crafted in Mexico, these Pacifico Blue Rim glasses from Crate & Barrel are perfect for recreating your last sun-drenched escape at home. Styled in double Old Fashioned format, these gently rounded glasses flow from blue to sea green in color, evoking feelings of swim-up bars and salty sea breezes. Their thick, compact build makes them extra durable.
At 12 ounces, we found the capacity of these Crate & Barrel options to be just right, as they’re perfect for accommodating a single or double margarita. We also loved that the glasses could easily double as drinking glasses for water or rocks glasses for other cocktails, and their somewhat small size makes them easy to store. The unique coloring is also beautiful, and at $9 a pop, the price reflects their value.
Capacity: 12 ounces | Quantity: Set of 1 | Material: Glass | Dishwasher-Safe: No
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Due to their handmade design, the glasses may slightly vary in size, and some might have a few tiny air bubbles.
For a classic blue-rimmed margarita tumbler that can hold a standard 5-ounce margarita, check out these versatile options from Novica. Hand-blown from recycled glass, these thick and sturdy options offer ideal weightiness and could be used with different drinks, desserts, and snacks. Additionally, the glasses are easy to store and can reliably be cleaned in the dishwasher without worrying about shattering.
Apart from the signature blue rim design, we loved their sturdiness and versatility. Their standard short and cylindrical size makes them perfect for everyday use. The glasses are comfortable to hold for long periods. At just under $45 a set, the glasses clock in around $8 a pop, which we found to be more than fair, so much so that we’d consider picking up a second set to have on hand for parties and larger gatherings.
Capacity: 10 ounces | Quantity: Set of 6 | Material: Blown glass | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
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Stackable glassware is always a plus, especially for those in smaller living spaces, and these Yarai Double Rocks glasses from Cocktail Kingdom exceeded our expectations. Crafted from durable acrylic glass, these 10-ounce double rocks glasses can accommodate single or double margaritas and large ice cubes. In addition to being stackable, the glasses are dishwasher safe, making cleanup and care seamless.
We love the textured design of Cocktail Kingdom’s Yarai glasses, which have an almost pineapple-inspired feel. They also fit in most commercial dishwashers and are generally safe for outdoor use, making them suitable for seasonal gatherings and happy hours at home. The glasses cost around $7 each, making the price fair for the quality and versatility offered.
Capacity: 10 ounces | Quantity: Set of 6 | Material: Glass | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
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Handmade in Mexico from recycled glass, these unique margarita glasses from Uncommon Goods have a chunky, stout design and are marked by a wide, low bowl. The rim is medium-thick and comfortable to sip from. We loved the glasses’ weighted bases, which ensure zero wobbling and an overall sturdy sipping experience. The glasses are also dishwasher safe, making them easy to clean and use regularly.
At 12 ounces each, we liked that the glasses could easily accommodate a standard 5-ounce margarita with ice, and that their wide openings are perfect for doubling as snack holders — think salty snacks, nuts, or even ice cream sundaes. We also found that these glasses work particularly well for frozen margaritas and that their modern design makes them an excellent gift for cocktail lovers. They’re even surprisingly stackable, which is the cherry on top.
Capacity: 12 ounces | Quantity: Set of 2 | Material: Recycled glass | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
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Pottery Barn does it again with these stemmed Baja margarita glasses. Hand-blown and made from recycled glass, these festively shaped glasses stand seven inches tall and are marked by a thick rim, perfect for adding salt or tajín. Despite the top-heavy design of the glasses, the stems are pretty thick, which makes them feel less precarious in the hand. Additionally, we love the pop of blue color, as well as the fact that they’re dishwasher safe.
At 15 ounces, these margarita glasses err on the larger side, which some may find difficult to maneuver or hold. Some may find the design a bit clunky, though their larger design makes them suitable for use with large-format drinks or desserts. At $17 a glass, these picks are a bit pricier, though we can justify the higher price tag due to the glasses’ larger size.
Capacity: 15 ounces | Quantity: Set of 4 | Material: Recycled glass | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
How We Tested Margarita Glasses
Food & Wine
We tested nine sets of margarita glasses side-by-side to see which performed best. We followed the same process to ensure that all tests considered material, size, versatility, and durability.
- Material: We noted the material that the glassware was made of and measured its overall capacity and shape. We then explored whether the bases of the glass felt sturdy when set down and took note of how the rim felt during sipping.
- Versatility: We assessed whether or not we’d use the glassware beyond margaritas, keeping other cocktails, desserts, and snacks in mind. Once we analyzed the glassware without liquid in it, we prepared a standard margarita and poured it over ice into each glass. We took note of whether the glass offered enough space for the drink with ice, as well as how comfortable it felt in the hand. We also tested each glass with an everyday beverage (water or soda) to further assess its versatility.
- Durability: We cleaned each glass at least twice according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. For dishwasher-safe options, we washed them in the dishwasher at least twice and noted any damage, discoloration, or chipping. We did the same for any hand-washed options and observed how durable the glasses felt during everyday handling, drying, stacking, and use.
The margarita glasses tested ranged in price from $9 to $69. All products were tested without knowledge of their price until after the full test was completed. After testing, we assessed whether the price reflected the product’s quality and value.
Editor’s note: We included the Sobremesa Hand-Blown Recycled Margarita Glasses in our tests, which are currently unavailable to purchase online.
Food & Wine
Factors to Consider
Size
Although the classic margarita recipe requires just a few ingredients, the process of shaking and serving over ice makes it suitable for slightly larger glassware. While the cocktail itself generally clocks in between three and four ounces total, the final volume after shaking will often be closer to five or six ounces. We’ve found that eight to 12 ounces offers a good capacity, depending on how much room you prefer at the top of the drink. While larger-sized glassware can seem convenient initially (especially at parties or large gatherings), the disadvantage is that the drinks inside will often get warm and diluted before finishing them.
Material
Across the board, standard machine-shaped glass is the most popular material for margarita glasses, as it offers uniform design at an accessible price, as well as the most consistent durability across the board. While hand-blown glasses can feel more luxurious, they often come with a higher price and can generally feel heavier in the hand. For an environmentally-friendly option, recycled glass is a solid choice, as it offers the same utility with less of an impact.
Plastic is another option, and is an ideal choice for outdoor parties, beach/pool outings, or boat days. Thanks to its shatter-free design, plastic glasses are also a pretty durable option, and often come with a low price tag. However, they’re generally not as good as keeping drinks cold, as their insulation capacity is far lower than that of glass.
Food & Wine
Stemmed vs. Stemless
There are pros and cons to both stemmed and stemless margarita glasses. The biggest case for stemmed glassware is that, when made of glass, the drink will likely stay colder for a longer period, as this glass avoids warming contact with the hand. However, the biggest con here is their inability to be stacked, meaning they’ll take up much more space on your outdoor bar cart.
Stemless glasses, on the other hand, are a much more versatile option. In addition to being easier to clean, they can also be used with a wider range of cocktails — think Old Fashioneds, Sazeracs, and more. Additionally, they’re much easier to store, thanks to their stackable design, making them great options for smaller living spaces.
Rim Thickness
Glassware rims directly affect how a cocktail tastes and feels, and the margarita is no exception. While thin rims are generally preferred with wine, a slightly thicker rim is preferred with margaritas, as this allows for salt or tajin rims to be added into the mix. We found that an overall balanced rim tends to be the best case scenario for our favorite margarita glasses.
Food & Wine
Care & Cleaning
When choosing the best margarita glasses for your home bar, consider the care and cleaning required for each option. The majority of glasses are dishwasher safe, which tends to be an overall preference. Handwashing margarita glasses can increase the risk of breakage.
Our Expertise
Vicki Denig is a wine and travel journalist who divides her time between New York and Paris. She is a certified wine specialist who has worked in the wine trade since 2013. Denig’s writing appears regularly in Decanter, WineSearcher, Food & Wine, and Wine Enthusiast, among others.
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