The Ninja Professional Plus Blender is the best blender for making smoothies for most people. Its 1400-watt motor and 72-ounce pitcher crush ice and frozen fruit quickly, and the Auto-iQ presets deliver consistent results with one touch.
A common belief is that any blender with a high wattage rating will make perfectly smooth smoothies. The wattage matters, but blade design, jar shape, and preset programs do just as much of the work. A 700-watt blender with a well-designed jar can outperform a 1200-watt blender with a poor one.
The right blender for you depends on how much you make at once, whether you want to drink from the blending cup, and how much counter space you have. The five models below cover every common situation, from single-serve breakfasts to family-size batches.
The Best Blenders for Making Smoothies
#1Best Overall
Ninja Professional Plus Blender
Best for Households that make large batches of smoothies and frozen drinks and want one-touch presets.
The 1400-watt motor and Total Crushing blades make fast work of ice and frozen fruit, so you get a smooth drink without stopping to scrape the sides. Three Auto-iQ presets handle smoothies, frozen drinks, and ice cream with timed pulsing and blending, which means you can press one button and walk away. The 72-ounce pitcher is marked with a 64-ounce max liquid line, so it’s easy to make enough for the whole family. If you want a full-size blender that does the thinking for you, this is the one.
Motor power 1400 peak wattsContainer 72-ounce pitcherControls 3 Auto-iQ presetsDishwasher safe Pitcher and blade assembly, top rackBlade type Total Crushing blades
Why it made the cut
1400-watt motor powers through ice and frozen ingredients
Auto-iQ presets take the guesswork out of blending
Large 72-ounce pitcher suits family-size batches
Pitcher and blade assembly are dishwasher safe
Good to know
Takes up more counter space than personal blenders
Only three presets, so less control for custom textures
Skip it if Skip it if you usually make a single serving and want a blender that doubles as a to-go cup.
Best for One person who wants a powerful personal blender with presets and to-go cups.
The 1100-peak-watt motor pulverizes ice to snow in seconds, so even frozen fruit and tough greens come out smooth. Two Auto-iQ programs handle smoothies and crushed ice with one touch, and the Pro Extractor Blades break down whole fruits and vegetables, including parts you might normally throw away. Blend directly in the 24-ounce cup, twist on the spout lid, and you’re out the door. It’s a compact choice that doesn’t skimp on power.
Motor power 1100 peak wattsContainer Two 24-ounce to-go cupsControls 2 Auto-iQ presetsDishwasher safe Cups and lidsBlade type Pro Extractor Blades Assembly
Why it made the cut
1100-watt motor handles ice and frozen ingredients easily
Best for Small kitchens or anyone who wants a simple push-to-blend personal blender.
The 700-watt motor base is small enough to live on a crowded counter, but it still crushes ice and frozen ingredients for smoothies and shakes. You push down on the cup to blend, so there are no buttons or settings to figure out. The two 16-ounce cups come with spout lids, and everything is top-rack dishwasher safe. It’s the easiest way to make a single smoothie without hauling out a big machine.
Motor power 700 wattsContainer Two 16-ounce to-go cupsControls Push-to-blendDishwasher safe All parts, top rackBlade type Nutrient extraction blades
Why it made the cut
Compact base fits on any countertop
Push-to-blend operation is simple and fast
Two 16-ounce to-go cups with spout lids included
All parts are BPA-free and dishwasher safe
Good to know
No presets, so you control the blend time yourself
Smaller cups may not hold larger smoothies
Skip it if Skip it if you want hands-off presets or need to blend more than 16 ounces at a time.
Best for Anyone who wants a personal blender with multiple cups and a recipe book at a budget-friendly price.
The 900-watt motor spins at 23,000 RPM, so it crushes ice and frozen fruit quickly, and the twist-lock operation means you just fill, tighten, and twist to blend. You get two 23-ounce travel cups and one 17-ounce cup, all with leak-proof lids, plus an 18-recipe book to get you started. The anti-slip suction base keeps it steady, and overheat protection adds a layer of safety. For the price, it’s a complete smoothie setup.
Motor power 900 wattsContainer Two 23-ounce and one 17-ounce cupsControls Twist-lock operationDishwasher safe Cups and lidsBlade type Detachable cross-blade
Why it made the cut
900-watt motor with 23,000 RPM for fast blending
Includes three cups in two sizes with leak-proof lids
Twist-lock operation is quick and simple
Dishwasher-safe cups and lids
Good to know
No preset programs, so you control the blend time
Suction base may be hard to move on some counters
Skip it if Skip it if you prefer a blender with one-touch presets or a glass jar.
Best for Those who prefer a glass jar and a full-size blender with multiple functions.
The 700-watt motor and Ice Sabre blades handle ice and frozen fruit, and the patented Wave~Action system pulls ingredients down into the blades for consistently smooth results. Fourteen functions cover smoothies, icy drinks, salsa, and dips, so it’s useful beyond breakfast. The 40-ounce glass jar is sturdy and won’t hold odors, and the lid, jar, blades, and collar are all dishwasher safe. It’s a solid, straightforward blender for everyday use.
Motor power 700 wattsContainer 40-ounce glass jarControls 14 functionsDishwasher safe Lid, jar, blades, and collarBlade type Ice Sabre blades
Why it made the cut
Glass jar resists scratches and odors
14 functions for smoothies, dips, and more
Wave~Action system circulates ingredients for even blending
All removable parts are dishwasher safe
Good to know
700 watts is less powerful than many personal blenders
Glass jar is heavier than plastic
Skip it if Skip it if you want the most powerful motor or a blender with presets.
The best blender for making smoothies depends on how many servings you make at once, not just on brand or price. A personal blender blends directly in the cup you drink from, so there is one less thing to wash. A full-size pitcher holds enough for a family or a week of meal prep.
Choose a personal blender if you make one or two servings at a time. The Ninja Fit Compact Personal Blender comes with two 16-ounce cups, which are fine for a light smoothie but can feel tight once you add protein powder, greens and a frozen banana. If your smoothie is a full meal replacement, look for 24-ounce cups like the ones on the Ninja Nutri-Blender Pro with Auto iQ.
Choose a full-size pitcher if you batch prep or serve a family. The Ninja Professional Plus Blender has a 72-ounce pitcher that handles large batches, and the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender has a 40-ounce glass jar. Glass resists stains and odors from berries and turmeric, but it is heavier and noisier than plastic.
Quick rule
If you drink smoothies alone most mornings, a personal blender saves counter space and cleanup. If you make smoothies for two or more people, or want to blend soup or sauce in the same appliance, a full-size pitcher earns its footprint.
Worked example
Say you make a breakfast smoothie for yourself every weekday with frozen berries, spinach, yogurt and water, and on weekends you make a big batch for three people. A personal blender handles the weekday routine in under a minute. For the weekend batch, a 72-ounce pitcher blends everything in one go instead of running the personal blender three times.
Weekday servings1 per day
Weekend servings3 at once
Best fitfull-size pitcher
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Check the Motor Power and Blade Design
A high-performance blender for making smoothies is not just about the biggest wattage number. The blenders in this list range from 700 to 1400 peak watts, and all of them can make a smoothie. What separates a good result from a gritty one is how the blade shape and jar circulation work with that power.
The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender is a good example. Its Wave~Action system pulls ingredients down toward the blades instead of letting them spin in a pocket above them. That matters more for smooth texture than an extra 200 watts on the motor label.
Very thick mixtures like nut butters or dense frozen fruit can strain lower-wattage motors. If you blend a lot of frozen mango or add scoops of nut butter, a 1400-watt motor like the one in the Ninja Professional Plus Blender gives you more headroom before the motor bogs down.
A practical test: a blender should turn a handful of ice cubes and frozen berries into a uniform drink in under 60 seconds. If it takes longer, or you have to stop and scrape down the sides repeatedly, the blade and jar design are not doing their share of the work.
60 seconds
A fair smoothie test
If a blender cannot turn ice and frozen berries into a uniform drink in under a minute, the blade and jar design are working against the motor.
Ice cream and thick blends
The best blenders for making ice cream in this list are the ones with the strongest motors and a tamper or preset that pushes ingredients down. The Ninja Professional Plus Blender and Ninja Nutri-Blender Pro with Auto iQ both have Auto-iQ programs for thick, frozen mixtures.
Look for Presets That Do the Work for You
You don’t need presets to make a smoothie, but they remove the guesswork when you’re blending frozen fruit, ice, and leafy greens every morning. Auto-iQ presets run timed pulses, pauses, and speed changes so the machine does the stopping for you. That matters because over-blending can heat the ingredients and thin the texture.
If you plan to make frozen drinks or ice cream, presets are genuinely useful. For delicate ingredients like soft berries or yogurt, though, manual control gives you more say. A quick pulse or two is often enough, and a preset may overwork them.
Take the Ninja Professional Plus. It has three presets: Smoothie, Frozen Drink, and Ice Crush. The Smoothie preset blends and pauses in cycles, so fibrous kale and frozen mango break down evenly. The Ninja Fit, by contrast, is fully manual. You press down or pulse until the texture looks right.
Making juice with a Ninja blender is another reason presets help. These machines don’t separate pulp the way a juicer does, so you’re really making a thick blended juice. Run the Smoothie or Frozen Drink preset once, then strain if you want it thinner. The timed cycle stops before the motor overworks and the drink gets warm.
The KOIOS blender takes a different approach: it has no buttons at all. You twist the cup onto the base to operate it. Some people find that simpler, especially if they only ever make one kind of smoothie. You trade flexibility for fewer choices.
Presets are good for
Frozen fruit and ice that need timed cycles to break down evenly
Anyone who wants the same result every morning without watching the clock
Thick blends like smoothie bowls and frozen drinks
Manual is better for
Soft ingredients that only need a few quick pulses
People who like to stop and check the texture as they go
Small batches that a preset cycle may over-blend
An immersion blender method for smoothies works too, but it’s a different tool. You blend in the cup or jar you’ll drink from, which means less to wash. The trade-off is power: most stick blenders struggle with large frozen chunks unless you cut them small first. If you mostly make soft-fruit smoothies, a stick blender can be enough. For daily frozen-fruit smoothies, a countertop blender with presets is the more reliable route.
Clean It in Under a Minute
The best blender for smoothies easy to clean is one you’ll actually use every day. A personal blender with a twist-on blade can be rinsed and ready in under a minute. A full-size pitcher takes closer to three, including taking it apart and washing the lid, jar, and blade assembly.
For the rinse-and-blend method, fill the cup or jar halfway with warm water, add a drop of dish soap, and blend for about 20 seconds. Rinse everything, and it’s done. This works well for the Ninja Fit, KOIOS, and Nutri-Blender Pro cups. For the Professional Plus pitcher, you’ll need to remove the blade assembly first, then wash the jar and lid separately.
Model
Dishwasher-safe parts
Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher
Jar, lid, and blade assembly (top rack)
KOIOS Smoothie Blender
Cups, lids, and blade base (top rack)
Ninja Fit Compact
Cups, lids, and blade assembly (top rack)
Ninja Professional Plus
Pitcher, lid, and blade assembly (top rack)
Ninja Nutri-Blender Pro
Cups, lids, and blade assembly (top rack)
What you can put in the dishwasher for each blender.
Glass jars are heavier to lift and louder when you set them down, but they don’t absorb odors or stains the way plastic can. If you blend turmeric or beet smoothies often, that matters. The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher has a glass jar, so you trade some weight for a jar that stays clear.
Cleanup checklist
Rinse the jar or cup right after blending, before residue dries
Use warm water and a drop of soap for the rinse-and-blend method
Unplug the base before wiping it down
Dry the blade assembly completely before storing
In short
A personal blender can be clean in under a minute with the rinse-and-blend method. A full-size pitcher takes about three minutes, and glass jars stay odor-free but weigh more.
What to Do Next
1
Decide between personal and full-size
Count how many smoothie servings you make at once. If it’s just one or two, a personal blender like the Ninja Fit Compact saves counter space and cleanup time. For family batches or meal prep, a full-size pitcher such as the Ninja Professional Plus holds up to 72 ounces.
2
Check counter space and storage
Measure the height under your cabinets. Personal blenders often fit neatly on the counter, while full-size models need about 17 to 18 inches of clearance. If storage is tight, choose one with cups that double as travel mugs.
3
Match power and presets to your ingredients
Frozen fruit and leafy greens need at least 700 watts; ice and nut butter are easier with 1000 watts or more. Auto-iQ presets on models like the Ninja Nutri-Blender Pro handle the timing for you, which helps on busy mornings.
4
Read the warranty and return policy
Check the fine print before you buy. Hamilton Beach covers its Wave Crusher with a 3-year limited warranty, while many competitors offer just one year. A longer warranty often signals a motor built for daily use.
5
Run a test batch after buying
Blend a cup of ice with a handful of frozen berries. The texture should be smooth within about a minute. If you see chunks or hear the motor strain, return it within the store’s window and try a best blender for frozen fruit smoothies.
In short
Pick the size that matches your servings, confirm it fits your space, and check the warranty. Then test it with ice and frozen fruit within the return window.
Questions People Ask
Can I make ice cream in a smoothie blender?
Yes, if the blender has a powerful motor and a tamper. Blend frozen fruit with a little milk or yogurt, using short pulses and the tamper to push the mixture down. The result is a soft-serve texture, not a hard scoop.
Which blender is best for vegetable smoothies?
Look for a blender with strong blades and a narrow pitcher, which creates a better vortex for breaking down fibrous greens like kale and celery. A 1000-watt motor or higher handles raw beets and carrots more smoothly. Presets with a longer blend cycle help reduce grittiness.
Can I use a Ninja blender to make juice?
A Ninja blender can make a thick, pulpy juice, but it is not a juicer. Blend the fruit or vegetables with a little water, then strain through a nut milk bag or fine mesh. You keep the fiber, which is a plus for some diets.
How do I clean a blender after making a smoothie?
Rinse the pitcher right away, then fill it halfway with warm water and a drop of dish soap. Run the blender on high for 30 seconds, rinse again, and let it air dry. For stubborn residue, remove the blade assembly and wash it separately with a brush.
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