The right dinnerware can be tough to find, whether it’s an update on your current set or for your new home. There are a ton of different style options: everything from fine china to glass, stoneware, and more. We set out to find the companies that are doing it right and making dinnerware in the USA. Below, you’ll find our research and shopping tips for finding the country of origin and differentiating domestically made dinnerware from the other stuff. Happy hunting!
Complete List of Dinnerware Brands Made in the USA
HF Coors has been making ceramic dinnerware in the U.S. since 1925 and moved from their original site in Inglewood, California, to Tucson, where they now manufacture, in 2003. “We recognize the value to restaurants and consumers of having a product made in the USA,” said HF Coors President Dirck Schou. He loves that they can work so closely with their suppliers and trust that they are putting the highest quality materials and effort into their products. Their American white dinnerware stood out from the competition primarily because of its durability. This line of bowls, plates, platters, and other items is commercial quality and extremely chip-resistant – fit for any restaurant or dining room table. It’s “the same strength dinnerware that we supply to restaurants nationwide,” said Schou – a quality that he says consumers love about them most. Each piece is vitrified (impervious to water), lead-free, and cadmium-free – passing FDA standards with flying colors.
East Fork Pottery is an awesome maker in the mountains of North Carolina that has bowls, plates, and a variety of dinnerware sets. Everything is handcrafted and dishwasher safe, and they have a lot of colors to choose from.
Lenox is second to none when it comes to high-quality fine china – they did it for over 125 years, but sadly went out of business in the U.S. However, you can still buy their old American made china from a few retailers.
Pickard is America’s oldest fine china company, making dinnerware in America since 1893, now based in Chicago. Pickard gives you 37 different options for purchasing sets or individual pieces.
Bauer Pottery has been handmaking beautiful dinnerware and other pottery in Los Angeles, California, since 1910. They make a ton of different pottery outside of just dinnerware, too – everything from dog bowls to pitchers and carafes. Bauer Pottery’s dinnerware comes in a ton of different color and size options, perfect for anyone to mix and match pieces you want for your home. Each piece is made with earthenware clay that is hand-pressed, fired in a kiln, glazed by hand, then fired again. Dinner plates, bowls, and other items come in 18 color options ranging from earthy tones to bright greens and blues. This Bauer Pottery clay dinnerware is built to last with great durability and fun style – a phenomenal option!
Fiesta Tableware is an American staple and has a ton of fun, colorful dinnerware options. Their history dates all the way back to the mid-1800s, and they are still kicking today, mostly selling factory-direct. They’ve come a long way with sustainability, too, producing lead-free dinnerware since 1992 and rethinking their packaging to reduce cardboard waste. 99% of their products are made in the USA.
Bennington Potters is based in Vermont and has been making stoneware pottery there for nearly 70 years. Their dinnerware pieces are particularly impressive, especially when it comes to buying in bulk – they give you a 10% discount when you buy four or more place settings! For most households, you’re going to buy at least four sets anyway, so the 10% discount is a great perk. Each set comes with four pieces: a dinner plate, lunch plate, medium bowl, and tankard mug. This stoneware has a wonderful matte, natural look, no matter what color option you choose (there are eight varieties). No two pieces are exactly the same either – each one is handmade! The Bennington Potters dinnerware is great if you want to bring a cozy and earthy feel to your dinner table, and it comes with a great discount for buying multiple sets.
Rowe Pottery Works started in Cambridge, Wisconsin, in 1974 and has been cranking out high-quality stoneware from their factory ever since. Each piece is handmade by local artisans who have perfected their craft over the years.
Simon Pearce has a lot of options for a more modern feel to your kitchen and dinner table. Their Alabaster series is a crowd favorite. Their stoneware pottery is lead and cadmium-free and handmade by the potters at Simon Pearce. All of their pieces are dishwasher and microwave-safe; just make sure to bring any plates or other items that you want to stick in the oven up to room temperature first, so you don’t risk cracking anything.
Hanselmann Pottery makes beautiful stoneware dinner plates, bowls, and other essentials out of their headquarters in New Mexico. Everything is handmade from scratch and has a modern and minimalistic look. Check out their other home goods and kitchen items too.
Farmhouse Pottery handcrafts amazing dinnerware sets from 100% American-mined clay. They have plates, bowls, mugs, and lots of other kitchenware that have a classic stoneware style. Everything is oven, dishwasher, and microwave safe.
Mike’s YouTube Video on American Made Dinnerware
How to Find Dinnerware Made in the USA
We don’t just want to present you with American made dinnerware; we want to help you shop smarter. Let’s talk about the dinnerware industry—from sourcing materials to reading labels and finding top-notch sets made in the USA. First, let’s dive into what “made in the USA” really means and how to interpret it.
What Does “Made in the USA” Mean?
When a product is labeled as “made in the USA,” it means that all or virtually all components and labor used to create the product were sourced from the United States.
The “all or virtually all” part is important. For a product to be genuinely American-made, it must be completely or nearly completely made within the United States. That means that all of the raw materials used to create the product must be sourced from the United States, and the product must be assembled in the United States.
The “made in the USA” label is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which has a set of strict guidelines that must be followed for a product to be able to use the label. For more information, check our detailed guide.
Materials
There are a few different materials that are commonly used in American-made dinnerware, including porcelain, glass, and stoneware. To fully understand where a particular product comes from, it is worth first researching the raw material and how easy it is to source a particular material from the United States.
Porcelain
Porcelain dinnerware is found in both American-made and foreign-made products. While porcelain originating from China has been used in dinnerware for centuries (hence the synonym “china”), American-made porcelain dinnerware has only been produced since the late 18th century. A lot of the porcelain used in American-made dinnerware today is sourced from the United States. However, since porcelain sourced in China tends to be much cheaper, many manufacturers opt to use Chinese-made porcelain instead.
Glass
Like porcelain, glass dinnerware is found in both American-made and foreign-made products. China is a leading manufacturing country when it comes to glassware as well. However, the United States comes in third, so a lot of glassware is still produced here too.
Stoneware
Stoneware is often considered more durable and heavy-duty than dinnerware made of other materials like porcelain or glass. Stoneware is a part of the ceramic family, and the production of ceramics, in general, is dominated by China. Unfortunately, the United States doesn’t play a big part in the world’s stoneware manufacturing. But with that said, it is still entirely possible to find stoneware made in the USA.
Labeling
One of the best ways to tell if dinnerware is made in the USA is to look for the “made in the USA” label. This label is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and can only be used on truly American-made products. You can find the label on the product’s packaging or a sticker affixed to the product itself.
Beware of other words and phrases that may hint that the product is made in the USA but are not. Words like “designed” and “manufactured” are used quite a lot. And the phrase “made in America” is used by many companies as well. However, “made in America” does not necessarily mean a product is made in the United States, as it can mean Mexico or Canada as well.
While the “made in the USA” label is protected and regulated by the FTC, in reality, the FTC doesn’t do the best job of policing the usage of this label. So, if you see a product with the label “made in the USA,” it is worth doing additional research to ensure that it is truly American-made.
Other Tips
Here are a few other tips to keep in mind when you’re looking for American-made dinnerware.
Check Out The Website
Most brands list where their products are made on their websites. You can usually find this information under the “About Us” or “Our Story” section. This section will tell you where the company is based and where its products are made.
Online retailers also list where products are made in the product descriptions. You can usually find this information under the “Product Details” or “Specifications” section.
If the company flat-out doesn’t mention where its products are made, it’s likely that the product is not made in the United States. Companies are not required to state where their products are made in their online materials, so that silence can speak volumes. If a product is truly made in the USA, this is a fact that companies would be happy to advertise as a great selling point.
Call Them
If you can’t find any information about where a product is made, the best thing to do is contact customer service. They will have the necessary knowledge to answer your questions about where their products are sourced and manufactured.
Do Your Research
Before making a purchase, it’s always a good idea to do your research to make sure you’re getting what you want. There are various ways to research products, including reading online reviews, checking social media, and visiting the brand’s website to ensure that a product is made in the USA.
Dinnerware Not Made in the USA
When doing our research into dinnerware brands, we came across several that are not making their dinnerware in the USA. We’ve included the full list of these brands below as well as where they’re manufactured and will continue to update this list.
- Gibson Dinnerware – Made in China, Thailand, Vietnam, and India.
- Wedgwood – Made in Indonesia and the UK.
- Fable – Made in Portugal.
- Our Place – Made in Thailand, China, and Mexico.
- West Elm – Made in Portugal, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the USA (states where in the product description).
- Pfaltzgraff – No longer made in Pennsylvania, but is now made in China.
