The 6 Best Plastic Cutting Boards, Tested & Reviewed

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Straight from the chopping block.

In This Article

Food & Wine / Kevin Liang

Cutting boards are one of the most ubiquitous cookware items — you’ll find them in nearly every kitchen. Most people, whether home cooks or professionals agree that preparing a meal without one is challenging. The variety of shapes, sizes, and materials available provide options, and that’s ideal since not every kitchen (or every cook) has the exact needs. That said, many cutting boards are only made with aesthetics in mind. While a decorative cutting board can tie a beautiful kitchen counter together, it may wreak havoc on your knives or be challenging to clean or store.

Because of this, plastic cutting boards tend to rise above the rest. Plastic is often cheaper, more durable, and better for your knives than any other material. It can be molded into nearly any shape, size, or thickness, which is fantastic if you are looking for a cutting board big enough to carve a turkey for holiday dinner, small enough to rough chop fruit for your morning smoothie, or durable enough to keep your most excellent knives in good condition. We’ve tested nearly the top ones available today, and these are our best picks.

All-around functional and reliable; an instant favorite.

They’re not going to be your go-to for putting on display when entertaining.

Picking the best cutting board for your own kitchen is difficult. Trying to pick one that’s best overall for every kitchen is nearly impossible. But we’ve done it! (No, really.) The Gorilla Grip Cutting Boards are versatile enough to suit any kitchen and any cook. Not only is the set highly durable, but it has never dulled our knives. Each board is reversible, has a handle on either side, and is outfitted with deep grooves on the surface to keep liquid from running over its edges. Thin and lightweight, these cutting boards are a breeze to store and use.

Material: Plastic | Dimensions: Three sizes: the largest is 16 x 11.2 inches, the medium board is 13.8 x 9.6 inches, and the smallest is 11.8 x 8 inches. | Additional Size Options: No | Additional Color Options: About a million; the body of the board comes in either gray or white, but the handle colors are endless.

This is the sports car of cutting boards. It is smooth, non-slip, and extremely durable.

The price matches the quality, and it’s also bulky to carry around.

This professional-grade sashimi cutting board may be the best cutting board ever to grace your home kitchen. It’s hefty, but its size and weight make it incredibly durable and fit for your counter. It won’t slide around, either. The price is easier to swallow when you consider that a cutting board like this is meant to last a lifetime — you’ll certainly get your money’s worth. It’s sturdy and designed to absorb knife slices, particularly from sharper Japanese knives. We also appreciate smaller design features, like its just-big-enough hole to push food scraps through, which also makes it easier to carry around. We used it for countless everyday chopping tasks, and it never gathered any weird colors or odors.

Material: Polyvinyl acetate | Dimensions: 19.6 x 10.6 inches | Additional Size Options: Yes | Additional Color Options: No

It’s conveniently sized, reliable, and affordable.

This is a no-frills cutting board.

When it comes to low-cost, high-value products, we often reference college students, first-apartment-livers, and uninitiated beginner cooks. That’s an ideal owner for this Kitchen Aid Classic, but it’s also important to note that cutting boards are so useful it’s often good to have an extra or even a variety of sizes on hand. The KitchenAid Classic Plastic Cutting Board also suits these situations. It’s a convenient size, not too large or too small. It’s durable and designed with nonslip edges plus a trench around the outside edge to contain spillage. Its look is neat and classic, with a few additional color options. You'll be surprised at its price for a cutting board that did this well in our tests — you’re certainly getting the best possible value here.

Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 13.98 x 11.02 inches | Additional Size Options: Yes | Additional Color Options: Yes

They’re not just beautiful — they’re lightweight, non-slip, and durable.

It’s a perfect score from us, though you can certainly spend much less on this kitchen item.

Cutting boards often sit out in the kitchen, on top of an island, on a countertop, or tucked behind a basket of utensils. You may feel a tool this visible is a good reason to splurge. The Material rePrep “reBoards” are gorgeous and come in several stylish color sets. They’re sleek and thin and have a circular hole in the top corner for easy gripping and maneuvering. We were also surprised by how lightweight each board was. Each set of three comes with one standard reBoard, one “grippy” reBoard with silicone corners, and one smaller “mini” reBoard. These boards performed exceptionally well when we tested them and even tied for a top score with our Best Overall pick. We love that they’re lightly textured, easy to handle, and gorgeous.

Material: Recycled plastic and renewable sugarcane (with silicone corners on the “grippy” board) | Dimensions: The reBoard and grippy reBoard are 14.75 x 10.75 inches, mini reBoard is 13.3 x 8.5 inches | Additional Size Options: No | Additional Color Options: Yes

This board’s nifty tray design can really come in handy.

It takes up more than a bit of space on the counter, so this may not be for small kitchens.

The Cup Board Pro Synthetic Cutting Board is designed with convenience in mind. The board is large but extraordinarily lightweight. It’s easy to move but never slides around. The trench running around the outside and divots help redirect any mess to a tray that hangs off the side of your counter. This makes cleanup, prepping large quantities of ingredients, and tackling juicy produce a breeze. We felt the tray was also the perfect size — not so large that it made using the board tricky but not too small to be unhelpful when transferring food into a pan or a bowl.

Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 16 x 11 inches | Additional Size Options: No | Additional Color Options: No

We loved this board’s non-slip grips and juice reservoir.

Serrated knives leave marks on this board.

This board is ideal for many reasons; it’s difficult to name just a few positive attributes. What stood out the most were the non-slip nubs on each side that kept the board from sliding around dangerously. They also came in handy when we broke down whole (slippery) chickens. The cutting board includes a deep juice reservoir, which keeps your countertops clean and sanitary. In our tests, we noted that when using a serrated knife to cut bread, some marks were left on the board's surface due to the knife's serrations. That said, this is a fantastic larger option with great versatility.

Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 14.34 x 21.11 inches | Additional Size Options: No | Additional Color Options: No

You can’t go wrong with the Gorilla Grip Cutting Board Set. With three convenient sizes, no-slip grip, and easy-to-maintain materials, this is one you will use for just about every meal. If you’re looking for something that doubles for a charcuterie board or just something you’re comfortable having out when guests are around, we recommend the Material the rePrep Set. It performs as well as it looks.

To find the best plastic cutting boards for any kitchen, we tested 22 different boards or sets. We looked for two main qualities: durability and odor resistance. To test how well each board would stand up to the wear and tear of our knives, we used a serrated knife to slice a few pieces of bread on the cutting board. We then described the marks left by the knife.

To test odor resistance, we minced garlic on the cutting board and crushed it with our knives into a paste, letting it sit for 30 minutes. We then washed the cutting board by hand and noted whether or not it retained the garlic’s odor. If it was dishwasher safe, we ran the board through a cycle and noted whether this helped to further remove the garlic odor (if needed).

After these initial tests, we proceeded to regularly use each one over a period of time, incorporating the cutting boards into our regular cooking routine. Over the course of the testing period, we made sure to chop both hard items, like carrots, slippery items, like fish, and juicy items, like tomatoes. If part of a set, we interchanged the boards to understand how convenient (or inconvenient) the various sizing was.

Ultimately, we were looking for boards that didn’t move around during use, were not too heavy to maneuver comfortably, ease to transfer items from, didn’t collect any weird odors or stains over time, and washed well.

All plastics are not created equal. The most important thing to look for is BPA-free plastic. When it comes to materials that touch your food, it’s always better to be safe by avoiding any plastic that might leech harmful substances like BPA into your food. Many cutting boards are made of high-density polyethylene, which is incredibly durable and doesn’t take on stains or unsightly smells from different foods. Polypropylene is very similar to polyethylene and is an affordable and common material. Polyvinyl acetate is a type of vinyl resin that offers a “rubbery” texture, which, when it comes to cutting boards, is optimal for the longevity of knife blades.

The size of the cutting board to buy depends heavily on your kitchen and use. A smaller size is best if you’re a casual cook and usually cook for only one or two people at a time, especially if you have limited space. For those who break down beef loins or chop enough fresh veggies for a family of five, a board with a larger surface area is a better match. When it comes to thickness, a thicker board is more durable, but the trade-off is it can be more cumbersome and harder to store.

Plastic cutting boards are more durable than glass and can be more durable than wood, but they aren’t indestructible. Plastic boards don’t usually bend and crack, but they can melt or warp — particularly if they’ve been run through the hot dishwasher too often. Ultimately, you’ll get more life from a plastic cutting board than any other material.

The great thing about plastic is that, unlike wood, it doesn't require seasoning or conditioning. Even so, some boards require more upkeep than others. Many can’t go in the dishwasher and need a good hand scrub to stay clean. Super high heat, like that of the dishwasher's sanitizing cycle, can bend the board's plastic, so hand washing can be the best tactic for many models, especially thinner ones.

Henckels Plastic Cutting Board Set ($35 at Zwilling)

This was our strongest of all strong contenders; it performed exceptionally well and is reasonably priced (clocking in at $35), but its larger size proved to be a little awkward in usage and storage.

Wusthof TPU Cutting Board ($45 at Wusthof)

The second runner-up, the Wusthof TPU Cutting Board, performed as well as the Henckels but cost $95. While this might be worth it, it’s certainly a more luxurious product and not for every kitchen.

Joseph Joseph Folio Chopping Boards ($80 at Amazon)

The “folio” design of these was undeniably helpful when we tested them. They are tiny, though, which is fantastic for smaller kitchens but a little more difficult for anyone prepping larger quantities of food.

Williams Sonoma Synthetic Prep Cutting Board with Wells and Grippers ($60 at Williams Sonoma)

The texture of these boards keeps food from slipping around when it’s being handled, but it also makes transferring your cut fruit, veg, or meat into or onto another vessel difficult.

Unfortunately, our least favorite plastic cutting board models were the July Home Extra Thick Flexible Cutting Boards and the Choice Cutting Board. We found that the material of the July Home cutting board set dulled our knives quickly and that each cut left behind unreasonably large surface gashes. We did, however, appreciate that it had good gripability and never shifted from its place on the countertop. The Choice Cutting Board slipped and slid on the counter surface while we used it, though we liked that the textured material kept the ingredients from rolling or moving.

The size of the cutting board to buy depends heavily on your kitchen and use. A smaller size is best if you’re a casual cook and usually cook for only one or two people at a time, especially if you have limited space. For those who break down beef loins or chop enough fresh veggies for a family of five, a board with a larger surface area is a better match. When it comes to thickness, a thicker board is more durable, but the trade-off is it can be more cumbersome and harder to store.

Plastic cutting boards are more durable than glass and can be more durable than wood, but they aren’t indestructible. Plastic boards don’t usually bend and crack, but they can melt or warp — particularly if they’ve been run through the hot dishwasher too often. Ultimately, you’ll get more life from a plastic cutting board than any other material.

The great thing about plastic is that, unlike wood, it doesn't require seasoning or conditioning. Even so, some boards require more upkeep than others. Many can’t go in the dishwasher and need a good hand scrub to stay clean. Super high heat, like that of the dishwasher's sanitizing cycle, can bend the board's plastic, so hand washing can be the best tactic for many models, especially thinner ones.

All plastic cutting boards can be hand-washed with dish soap, warm water, and a sponge. Just like handwashing any other dish or kitchenware, some extra scrubbing may be necessary for dried or stuck foods. Some boards are dishwasher-safe and can be tossed in with your regular dishes. Always check the manufacturer’s recommendations on how to clean your board.

Obviously, plastic cutting boards are made of plastic, but not all plastics are the same. Most boards are made of safe, durable plastic to withstand daily wear and tear. The primary types of plastic for cutting boards are polyethylene and polypropylene because they’re cheap, easy to manufacture, and have longevity.

In contrast to wood cutting boards, plastic cutting boards are much more sanitary. This is because the plastic used for cutting boards isn’t absorbent and doesn’t hold on to harmful bacteria. One thing to note, though, is that as you use cutting boards and your knife digs into the plastic, you must clean it more thoroughly to ensure you get everything out of those grooves and that it’s still being adequately cleaned.

Wood is an absorbent material, meaning the juice — and subsequent bacteria from the meat — can hang around on the surface even after you wash it. Chicken, for example, can harbor Salmonella, E. Coli, and Campylobacter, to name a few. All of which can spell significant trouble for you and your digestive system. Cutting meat on plastic tends to be safer because it can be much easier to clean and sanitize.

While not as soft as wood, plastic provides a similar level of resistance (or, rather, receptivity) to knife blades. Plastic isn’t bad for your knives at all! The plastics most used to make cutting boards — the aforementioned polyethylene and polypropylene — are safe for use with your nicest knives.

Christa Glennie has been a freelance writer and food editor for nearly 20 years. She is also the author of two cookbooks and specializes in food and drink trends, agriculture, the regional foodways of Western New York, and the restaurant business. For this piece, Christa used Food & Wine's tested insights to make the best recommendations when it comes to plastic cutting boards.