The Best Aprons for Home Cooks, Vetted by BA Editors

I recently sent out a Slack poll to find out if and why my fellow staffers wear aprons at home, and the results led me to two conclusions: One, that many home cooks choose to go apron-free. Two, that those who do wear aprons do so in two primary scenarios: when doing messy tasks like frying (duh) and/or when having company over.To that end, the best apron should be durable and stain-resistant enough for everyday wear, but also chic enough to don for a dinner party, capable of both protecting and complementing your cutest outfit. I must attest that in my personal experience, owning a stylish apron also makes me more likely to reach for one before I start cooking, rather than as an afterthought once I’ve already stained my shirt.Our top picksBest apron for basically everyone: Hedley and Bennett Essential ApronThe IYKYK, pro chef-approved upgrade pick: WhiteBark Workwear Full Cross-Back ApronCargo Crew Boston Bib ApronFor the griller who takes pride in their denim collection: Gustin Indigo Selvedge Denim ApronIn an effort to figure out which aprons best marry form and function, my colleagues and I put over a dozen options to the test in our own homes. After wearing the aprons for countless weeknight cooking sessions and exposing them to plenty of spills and splatters, these are the 13 that won us over.Hedley and Bennett Essential ApronHedley & BennettEssential ApronTester: Olivia Tarantino, senior shopping editorWhat we love: I own five Hedley & Bennett aprons, which tells you most of what you need to know. The denim one is my grilling and pizza-making apron. It’s durable, and I never worry about staining it, since even red sauce and turmeric either wash out or disappear into the fabric. The cotton one feels substantial enough that I always feel well protected, and that’s my everyday pick. The cotton twill is lighter, so I reach for it when I’m washing dishes or doing something quick that won’t get messy.The pockets earn their keep. A top pocket holds my instant-read thermometer, and the two on the bottom are big enough for my phone. Some people drape a kitchen towel over a shoulder or tuck it into the waistband, but I like having a dedicated towel loop. The neck strap adjusts, and the fit is flattering. I’m short, so I fold the apron over once at the waist, and it still looks sleek.What we’d leave: Hedley & Bennett recommends hanging these to dry rather than tumbling them. That’s a small extra step, though it does preserve the fabric.Cargo Crew Boston Bib ApronCargo CrewBoston Bib ApronTester: Alaina Chou, commerce writerWhat we love: I added this apron to my collection two years ago, and it’s since become my most reached-for option (and I say that as someone who owns upwards of 10 aprons). I love the way the vibrant Sweet Pea color pops, that it’s made of sturdy 100% cotton canvas, and that it costs less than $60. But most of all I love the pockets. There are eight of them: three wide ones on the bottom and five slim ones on the top, which are perfect for holding tasting spoons, chopsticks, or plating tweezers if I’m feeling fancy.The Cargo Crew also washes well. After two years of consistent use and many splatters and spills, my apron still looks good as new.What we’d leave: While I believe it used to be available in more colors, the Boston Bibb style is only currently available in Distressed Denim, Rose Pink, and Sweet Pea.Alaina ChouGustin Indigo Selvedge Denim ApronGustinIndigo Selvedge Denim ApronTester: Noah Kaufman, senior shopping editorWhat we love: Since I started testing it out this has become my every day apron. The indigo denim looks gorgeous and hides stains incredibly well (not unlike some of the jeans I’ve loved and had to leave over the years); it’s also very lightweight, which I found a pleasant surprise. The pockets are useful; the two small ones at the top are good for holding things like cake testers or thermometers, the big ones lower down I use to hold my phone if I’m cooking from an app. Finally, considering that it isn’t a crossback apron, it doesn’t put any uncomfortable pressure on my neck.What we’d leave: Gustin has a…different sort of production model. They crowdfund their all their production runs. I totally understand why that is safer than producing in large quantities you aren’t sure you can sell, but it does mean that a Gustin apron (or a pair of Gustin selvedge denim) isn’t always in stock. As I write this, the Selvedge apron is so snap it up while you can. If you miss it you’ll have to sign up to get notified when they produce another round.Ooni Pizzaiolo ApronTester: N.K.What we love: I think it’s still pretty rare that a company focused on making one thing can sell quality pieces that are far removed from that thing. And in the case of Ooni, I’d say putting out textiles like aprons is pretty far from the pizza ovens that made the brand famous. But the pizzaiolo apron a tough canvas piece that holds up to more than a few stray tomato sauce spills. It’s thick, but still pliable and the large pockets can simultaneously accommodate tools like spoons, scrapers, and turners, and a phone if you’re using it as a cookbook. I also used the leather strap on the regular to hold a kitchen towel for cleaning smudges and cooktop spills.What we’d leave: It pulls on the neck a little. Not so much that it bothers me, because I regularly use this style of apron as opposed to a smock or crossback (I think it’s a little easier to get on and off and hold in place), but I was aware of it while wearing. I think the utility of the rugged canvas more than makes up for that though.WhiteBark Workwear Full Cross-Back ApronWhiteBark WorkwearFull Cross-Back ApronTester: Alaina Chou, shopping writerWhat we love: I never really understood why someone would spend over $100 on an apron until I tried one from WhiteBark Workwear. The brand has been long beloved by professional chefs (including our own Chris Morocco) and it’s easy to see why: their aprons are made from butter-soft blend of organic hemp and cotton and are incredibly comfortable for all-day wear thanks to the cross-back strap design, which limits neck-pulling. Each apron has two deep lap pockets and two skinny chest pockets great for pens or small utensils, and long straps that are meant to be cut to your desired length. WhiteBack also offers complimentary hemming if your apron is too long.The aprons are available in pretty much every color under the sun, but I went with French Indigo, a purple-tinged bright blue that brings me joy every time I put it on. I’ve been wearing mine nonstop since I got it, and have found that stains wash out with no issue.What we’d leave: At $124 a pop, these aprons are a bit of an investment. That said, you really do get what you pay for when it comes to the look, feel, and durability.Hedley and Bennett Smock ApronHedley & BennettSmock ApronTester: Hana Asbrink, deputy food directorWhat we love: Forgive me if I sound like a broken record here, but the smock apron is the one I'll reach to time and time again. For someone who doesn't care for an apron period on most days, it's the least cumbersome and formal style of apron I can tolerate as you just slip yourself into its criss-crossed (not flailing) arms. They may not be as popular of a style, but I keep tabs on the brands that do them well. Hedley & Bennett's smock apron is the one I turn to at work the most often. After several years of Test Kitchen use, it finally asked to be retired; lucky for me, the latest generation of smock aprons is even sturdier and cuter than its predecessors. The one I've been using is a deep blue shibori-style pattern, beautiful on its own but truly fantastic at hiding stains. It's a nice, thicker weight fabric than the one I used previously, one that takes well to laundering on normal (low tumble for drying to best maintain its shape).What we’d leave: One potential downside to a smock style apron that I haven't been able to avoid 100% is the occasionally slipping arms. Positioned just right, however, you can manage to spare yourself 90% of the time.Hana AsbrinkSur la Table Linen Smock ApronSur La TableLinen Smock ApronTester: Cristina CorreaWhat we love: This apron is so lightweight that I sometimes forget I’m wearing it. The pockets are deep enough to hold my phone and whatever other random things I’m carrying back and forth from the kitchen to the dining table when dinner is almost ready.Sometimes what keeps me from wearing an apron is the whole process of adjusting the straps, tying it around my back, and then having to undo it when I’m done. I appreciate that I can simply slip this one on and get to cooking. It’s comfortable, stays out of the way, and looks cute.What we’d leave: I wish it had a strap for a kitchen towel.Hexclad Eco Modern ApronTester: O.T.What we love: This is one of the sturdiest aprons I’ve tested, and it’s my go-to for grilling. The fabric is thick without being boxy. It drapes rather than hangs, so the fit is flattering. The pockets are the other reason I love it. They’re deep and wide and evenly distributed across the front, so the apron never feels weighed down on one side no matter what I load into it. The top two are especially roomy.What we’d leave: The top pocket is more spacious than what you'd need for a thermometer, pen, or cake tester, so you may lose small, skinny items up there.Olivia TarantinoWilliams Sonoma Classic Solid ApronWilliams SonomaClassic Solid ApronWhat we love: Made from thick, sturdy cotton (all the better to wipe wet hands on!), this apron feels like a steal at $30. It's a simple tie-back style with an adjustable neck strap and deep pockets in the front, and it comes in a rainbow of colors. It's machine-washable, thank god, because who wants to tackle cooking-grease stains by hand?What we'd leave: No downsides here! There are more stylish options on this list, but this guy will totally get the job done if you're prioritizing function over fashion.Hawkins Essential ApronHawkins New YorkEssential ApronTester: Wilder Davies, senior commerce writerWhat we love: The aprons from Hawkins New York’s essentials line are made with the same textiles as their table cloths and napkins, so they have a lighter, soft feel than an apron made from performance fabric. I really like the brand’s overall design choices—simple geometric patterns in vivid autumnal hues. This would definitely be more of a fashion apron; you're getting it for the vibes not the design, as it is pretty basic.What we’d leave: I have reservations about the long term durability. The plating on the D ring fasteners rubbed off very quickly, and the fabric, while beautiful and soft, feels somewhat delicate.Carhartt Firm Duck ApronWhat we love: True to its foundations, this Carhartt apron is unapologetically workwear. The apron is built to take a beating—oils and rogue splashes barely register, practically rolling right off the surface. And even if they did, the design of the apron is casual enough that stains and wear built over time would likely enhance its utilitarian charm. On that note, the apron comes with plenty of pockets, which make it feel useful beyond the kitchen—I could see it easily lending itself to a slew of hands-on hobbies (speaking for myself, I've gone to pottery studio with this happily in tow).What we’d leave: The heft of the fabric can feel limiting. With my shorter stature, the firm fabric of the bib juts tight at the throat especially when hunched over the counter during cooking prep. After three washes, it's still as tough as it came, so much like a pair of work boots, I suspect this is an apron that begs daily wear to truly break in. In an ideal scenario, this will eventually feel a bit less like protective gear and more like second skin, with how much time I spend in the kitchen.Ingu ChenEast Fork Alles ApronTester: Alaina ChouWhat we love: East Fork’s Alles apron is constructed of a sturdy linen-cotton blend. It feels well-made and like it will hold up well to longterm use—but let’s be honest, the real reason to opt for this apron is the gorgeous plaid pattern. The blue and orange hues feel very fall-coded, and have me excited to mix up batches of pumpkin bread and cozy braises without splattering any food on my clothes.What we’d leave: While stains came out with no issue, the apron was quite wrinkled after I machine-washed it and would benefit from ironing.How we tested apronsTo test these aprons, each tester brought theirs home and wore it for several weeks’ worth of cooking. We made sure to get plenty of splatters on them (I even smeared gochujang all over mine) before running them through the wash at least once to see how they held up and whether the stains came out.What to look for in an apronAprons generally come in one of two styles: neck strap/halter or cross-back. Neck strap aprons have the benefit of being fully adjustable (usually) and easy to put on, but can weigh down on the back of your neck, particularly if you’re storing things in the pockets. Cross-back aprons can be a bit confusing to put on, but have the benefit of distributing weight evenly across your shoulders.We tended to like aprons that were made of sturdy canvas, though linen makes for a nice lightweight alternative. Whatever the case, an apron should be made of durable fabric that doesn’t stain easily and can hold up to extensive wear and washing.Extra design features like pockets and towel straps can take an apron from functional to genuinely useful. That said, we tested some aprons where innovative features we were excited about ultimately fell flat, like a version with towel-lined pockets that proved difficult to actually make use of.