Most families have a teapot, or a tea kettle, or both, for daily use, but what is the difference between a tea kettle vs. a teapot?
Although tea pots and tea kettles look somehow similar, they have different functions and specific designs. Usually, the kettles are used on the stove top, allowing users to boil water with tea leaves inside or for other purposes.
On the other hand, a teapot is thinner, cannot be used on a stove. People often put dried tea leaves or tea bags in the vessel, pour hot water into to make an aromatic pot of a beautiful drink.

What Is The Different Between Teapot vs. Tea Kettle
#1. Usage Purppose
Teapot | Tea Kettle |
A teapot is a container used to brew tea leaves in water at boiling or near-boiling temperature. Often, the object is not used on the stovetop, but in some cultures, the teapots are made tough enough so we could put them over a considerate flame. Japanese cast-iron teapot is one of those.![]() | Different from a teapot, a tea kettle is specifically designed to be used over a fire. The word ‘kettle’ stems from the Latin term ‘catillus’, which means “a deep dish or pan for cooking”. Before the appearance of many types of cooking pans, kettles play an indispensable role in every kitchen.![]() |
#.2 Material That Tea Kettle vs Teapot Made of
Teapot | Tea Kettle |
![]() Often, we see teapots made from porcelain and ceramic, but people also use other materials such as stone, high-quality glass, metal, wood, etc. to manufacture the products. In the past, in some specific cultures, guests were typically welcomed with a cup of tea, poured from a teapot. The tea set’s material, appearance, and quality at that time reflexed the financial and educational background of the host. Therefore, people paid much attention to the tea container. Nowadays, the material is still regarded as a critical criterion for choosing an adequate teapot. If you want to use the object for a long time, try to sort out one with the best endurance and a loveable appearance. | ![]() To ensure the top-knot endurance of the objects, manufacturers often choose metal or heavy stoneware pottery to make tea kettles. More fragile materials such as porcelain, or ceramic, don’t appear in the production regularly. But there are such products made from them in the market, featured with the colorful, dedicated appearances. For users’ convenience, producers have brought about electric kettles which require only a plug and an energy source to work smoothly. The bonus points of those things are short working time, energy efficiency, and burning prevention. Electric tea kettles are typically made of stainless steel, aluminum, and copper. Those metals are helpful thanks to their quick-heating feature, as well as the apparent sturdiness. |
#3. Design
Teapot | Tea Kettle |
![]() The typical design of a teapot often includes an opening from which we put in and take out the tea leaves, and a lid to cover. It also has a handle so you could hold it by hand without burning yourself. You should as well find a spout from which the tea is poured into cups. Because many people love brewing leaves instead of tea bags, designers often add an inside strainer right on the spout’s inner edge. Sometimes, you may find teapots with a spout lid. Owing to the fact that we couldn’t put teapots on a stove, you may consider buying a tea warmer to keep the content of the pot heated. | ![]() A tea kettle looks like a teapot in many ways, but there are some apparent differences. Kettles are often bigger and look much sturdier than pots. In additions, the object usually goes with a drip-free spout to prevent unexpected spills. Electric kettles are made of metals, but the handles are usually plastic or other burn-free materials. You may find a silicon grip attached to a tea kettle for the users’ convenience. |