We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. What to Buy Hosting & Dining The 9 Best Beverage Tubs for Any Hosting Occasion Keep your guests hydrated and their drinks chilled with our favorite picks. By Jennifer Zyman Updated on May 29, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Factors to Consider Our Expertise Photo: Food & Wine / Crate and Barrel Hosting can be a lot of work, but a beverage tub is a great party trick for keeping guests hydrated and happy. Though we love quality coolers for hot days, they can feel too casual indoors. Our usual ice buckets are just too small for bigger groups, and no one wants to refill ice and swap out bottles every 30 minutes. The best beverage tubs add a stylish touch to your party decor while providing guests with all the necessary refreshments. As a frequent host, I prefer a selection of acrylic tubs for entertaining. I place multiple tubs filled with champagne and wine and another with canned cocktails. I build a drink station with drink pitchers or drink dispensers full of pre-batched cocktails and another full of ice water. Entertaining a crowd is all about working smarter, not harder. Wherever your skills lie on the hosting spectrum (no judgment here), you'll find the best beverage tub for your entertaining needs on this list. Whether it is a simple acrylic tub or a sleek silver double-decker model that can double as an oyster tower, that next gathering will be super chill. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Williams Sonoma Final Touch Stainless Steel Insulated Beverage Bin at Williams Sonoma $200 Jump to Review Best Value: Prodyne Big Square Acrylic Party Tub at Amazon $31 Jump to Review Best Design: Crate & Barrel Bash Silver Beverage Tub at Crate & Barrel $120 Jump to Review Best Insulated: Tablecraft Round Double Wall Stainless Steel Beverage Tub at Webstaurantstore.com Jump to Review Best Modern: SALE Oggi Stainless Steel Double Wall Party Tub at Amazon $250 $189 Jump to Review Best Versatile: Frontgate Arctic Chill Beverage Collection Tower Set at Frontgate $210 Jump to Review Best with Stand: BirdRock Home Metal Beverage Tub with Stand at Amazon $279 Jump to Review Best Large-Capacity: YETI Tank 85 Bucket Cooler at Amazon $250 Jump to Review Best Rattan: Tava Handwoven Rattan Party Bucket at Pottery Barn $329 Jump to Review Best Overall Williams Sonoma Final Touch Stainless Steel Insulated Beverage Bin PHOTO: Williams Sonoma $200 at Williams Sonoma The Final Touch Stainless Steel Insulated Beverage Bin looks like an extra-wide Champagne bucket, but it has the added benefit of insulated double walls that both hold in cold and prevent condensation. You'll never need to worry about leaving rings behind on your dining room table or hardwood floors. It can comfortably hold around eight bottles of wine cold for up to 6 hours, enough for just about any gathering. On top of that, the inner bowl is made from a single sheet of metal and is entirely leak-proof. You can use it as a punch bowl, and then just wipe and rinse the easy-clean stainless steel surface. (It's not dishwasher-safe, however.) Dimensions: 17.5 x 9 inches | Capacity: 15 quarts | Material: Stainless steel Best Value Prodyne Big Square Acrylic Party Tub PHOTO: Amazon $31 at Amazon When I'm setting up lots of separate beverage options for my parties, I turn to inexpensive acrylic: You can pick up three or four of Prodyne's tubs for the price of a single metal one. They're light and strong, and the unobtrusive look of the Big Square model can blend easily into a sleek and modern or more ornate decor. The integrated handles also make it easy to carry, even when full of ice and beverages. While acrylic is durable, it can scratch, so don't use anything abrasive when cleaning. It is also not the most insulating material, so you'll need plenty of ice on hand, especially for an outdoor gathering. Each Big Square can chill and hold about eight wine bottles, or a 12-pack of beer or soda. Dimensions: 14 x 8 inches | Capacity: 17.75 quarts | Material: Acrylic Best Design Crate & Barrel Bash Silver Beverage Tub PHOTO: Crate&Barrel $120 at Crate & Barrel Whether you're a professional caterer or amateur host with a strong sense of style, this sophisticated metal tub is a must-have. The hand-hammered texture is distinctive, and the aluminum material is durable, corrosion-resistant, and leak-proof. Plus, it comes in gold, silver, copper, and graphite finishes. From beer and wine to spritzes and nonalcoholic spirits, this versatile vessel can hold a variety of drinks, making it a convenient choice for any gathering. Expect it to fit around 14 bottles of beer or 10 of wine. But you don't have to use it only for drinks: The multipurpose tub can hold a flower arrangement, store cloth napkins or linen tablecloths, or even serve as a garden planter. Dimensions: 19.5 x 14 x 9 inches | Capacity: 25 quarts | Material: Aluminum Best Insulated Tablecraft Round Double Wall Stainless Steel Beverage Tub PHOTO: WebstaurantStore View on Webstaurantstore.com Upgrade your party game with Tableware's huge yet elegant brushed-stainless-steel tub. The double-wall construction offers extra insulation, and the 27-quart capacity should hold an entire 12-bottle case of wine, plus ice to keep it cold. The ring handles are secure to carry and add a nice decorative touch. Whether serving up ice-cold beer or refreshing lemonade, this party tub is a chic and easy way to chill your drinks and keep them cold for hours. The smooth interior is also easy to clean, so you can use it as a serving vessel for a punch, or to hold a bed of ice for oysters and other shellfish. Dimensions: 19 x 10 inches | Capacity: 27 quarts | Material: Stainless steel Best Modern Oggi Stainless Steel Double Wall Party Tub PHOTO: Amazon $250 $189 at Amazon $250 at Macy's This stunning drinks bucket will add a touch of class to any occasion — especially if you fill it with Champagne. It has some serious insulation that can keep up to a dozen wine bottles chilled for hours during an indoor or outdoor party. It's versatile for the backyard, beach, boat, or block parties. Dimensions: 16.5 x 9.75 inches | Material: Stainless steel Best Versatile Frontgate Arctic Chill Beverage Collection Tower Set PHOTO: Frontgate $210 at Frontgate This three-piece set offers versatile setup options that can be worthwhile for large gatherings. There's a tub that holds 48 standard cans, another that will hold 24 cans, and a stand for the small tub that sits inside the big one. You can put together one enormous beverage station or put the stand away to use the tubs separately. On top of that, each tub has a set of removable compartments for garnishes like lemon wheels, olives, or cherries — or for mignonettes, sauces, and other condiments in a seafood tower. The stainless steel pieces are all insulated and won't leave water rings. The heavy-duty built-in handles aid carrying when full or assist in emptying at the end of the event. Dimensions: 35.25 x 20 x 6.5 inches (large tub); 23.25 x 20 x 6.5 inches (small tub); 29 x 15.25 x 14.25 inches (stand) | Material: Stainless steel Best with Stand BirdRock Home Metal Beverage Tub with Stand PHOTO: Amazon $279 $250 at Amazon Add a little fancy-restaurant ambiance to your dinner party with this stylish stand. At 40 inches tall, it's the right height to sit next to a table to save space, and the tub that tops it can hold up to 11 wine bottles or 24 soda cans. The double-walled tub is fully removable to keep beverages cold without sweating on the counter or bar cart. You also get a matching bottle opener and ice scoop, making this an all-in-one beverage solution. Dimensions: 20 x 11.5 inches (tub); 20 x 51.5 inches (tub with stand) | Capacity: 20 quarts | Material: Stainless steel Best Large-Capacity YETI Tank 85 Bucket Cooler PHOTO: Amazon $250 at Amazon View on Yeti View on Lowe's Planning to pick up a keg of beer for your next backyard bash? This is the rugged vessel you need to keep it cold all day long. From the insulation experts behind our favorite wheeled cooler, YETI's Tank 85 holds a staggering 20 gallons (or 100 pounds of ice), and the brand claims it can fit 111 cans. It's what you need for tailgating, hosting the whole neighborhood, or hydrating an entire Little League tournament. The military-grade polyester rope handles will not break no matter what you carry, and there's a convenient drain plug in the bottom for easy cleanup. There are even nonslip feet and tie-downs to keep it stable on any surface. A bonus of the Tank 85's polyurethane foam insulation is that it works as well with heat as it does with cold. It's an excellent serving tool for crawfish boils, clam bakes, fish fries, and more. (For the same construction and capabilities but half the capacity — and a somewhat lower price — you can also check out the YETI Tank 45.) Dimensions: 25.7 x 19.4 inches | Capacity: 80 quarts | Materials: Plastic, polyurethane foam Best Rattan Tava Handwoven Rattan Party Bucket $329 at Pottery Barn The Tava Handwoven Rattan Party Bucket brings a bit of natural fiber and an organic look to your next gathering. The beautifully crafted basket hides a leak-proof aluminum tub, has carrying handles, and adds solid insulation to keep drinks cold. The setup holds about four bottles of wine or a dozen cans on ice, but when it's not party time you can also use the rattan basket and metal tub separately for any kind of storage. Their versatility means you can hold cold beverages from beer to soda to canned cocktails, as well as store linens, blankets, throw pillows, and other indoor or outdoor decor. Whether hosting a party or enjoying a casual evening with friends, this woven beverage tub is a functional and stylish choice that will make you the envy of all your guests. Dimensions: 9 x 11 inches | Capacity: 20 quarts | Materials: Rattan, aluminum Factors to Consider Size & Capacity Beverage tubs come in all different sizes, with enough room to hold anywhere from just a handful to more than 100 cans or bottles. To keep room for a generous amount of ice that can keep things cold for hours, you need about 2 quarts of capacity per bottle of wine, or about 1.5 quarts per can of beer or soda. In other words, a 5-gallon tub can hold 10 wine bottles or 14 cans. That's a great size for a small party, though there are beverage tubs much, much bigger. Keep in mind that the more capacity a tub has, the more space it will take up on a table or counter. Material Stainless steel is a popular option for beverage tubs because it is highly durable and can retain cold better than other materials. Aluminum is another metal option that transfers heat (and cold) efficiently, but it's lighter, cheaper, and not quite as durable as steel. There are also tubs made of plastic, and even durable fabric like rattan. Each material has its pros and cons regarding durability, temperature control, and style; it's mostly matter of personal taste. Insulation Some beverage tubs are insulated to keep drinks cold for longer than with a single layer of material. Many insulated metal tubs have two separate layers of material, similar to an insulated water bottle. That has the added benefit of preventing condensation from forming on the outer layer of metal and leaving rungs or spots on tables. There are also plastic tubs that work like a standard insulated cooler, with insulating foam between the inner and outer layers. Our Expertise Jennifer Zyman is a Senior Commerce Writer for Food & Wine and a former restaurant critic with a culinary school degree and over 15 years of food writing experience. Her work has appeared in Atlanta Magazine, Bon Appetit, Eater Atlanta, The Kitchn, Local Palate, National Geographic, Simply Recipes, Southern Living, and Thrillist. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit