Best electric toothbrush

Every electric toothbrush will clean your teeth, but some come with extra features and accessories that can bump up the price. 

Find out about the best electric toothbrush features and whether they're worth paying more for. Our round-up of some of the best electric toothbrushes to pass our tough tests will help you make the most of your budget.

Find the perfect electric toothbrush using our electric toothbrush reviews.

The best electric toothbrushes from our tests

Only logged-in Which? members can view the electric toothbrush test results below. 

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.

The electric toothbrushes we tested

All the electric toothbrushes we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best electric toothbrushes from our tests.

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.

Oral B iO Series 3

Pros Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Cons Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Most recently tested May 2024

Type Circular oscillation

Battery charge time 10 hours

Need to know Two minute timer, interval timer, pressure sensor, battery level indicator, travel case

Oral B iO Series 7

Pros Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Cons Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Most recently tested May 2024

Type Circular oscillation

Battery charge time Thee hours

Need to know Two minute timer, interval timer, pressure sensor, battery level indicator, travel case

Oral B iO Series 9

Pros Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Cons Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Most recently tested May 2024

Type Circular oscillation

Battery charge time  Two hours and 52 minutes

Need to know Two-minute timer, interval timer, pressure sensor, battery level indicator, travel case, Ultimate Clean brush head, a magnetic charging stand, a brush head refill holder

Oral B iO Series 10

Pros Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Cons Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Most recently tested May 2024

Type Circular oscillation

Battery charge time Just under 14 hours

Need to know Two-minute timer, interval timer, pressure sensor, battery level indicator, an interactive smart charging base

Oral B Pro 3 3000 

Pros Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Cons Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Most recently tested May 2024

Type Circular oscillation

Battery charge time Two and a half hours

Need to know Two-minute timer, interval timer, battery level indicator, pressure sensor

Oral B Vitality CrossAction

Available from Amazon.

Pros Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Cons Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Most recently tested May 2024

Type Rotating

Battery charge time 16 hours

Need to know Two-minute timer

Oral B Vitality Pro

Pros Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Cons Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Most recently tested May 2024

Type Oscillating-rotating 

Battery charge time 16 hours

Need to know Two-minute timer, interval timer

Ordo Sonic+ Toothbrush

Pros Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Cons Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Most recently tested May 2024

Type Oscillating to the right and left

Battery charge time Five hours

Need to know Two-minute timer, interval timer, battery level indicator

 Find out how to choose the best toothpaste.

Philips Sonicare 2100 Series

Pros Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Cons Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Most recently tested May 2024

Type Oscillating to the right and left

Battery charge time 20 hours

Need to know Two-minute timer, interval timer, battery level indicator

Philips Sonicare 3100 Series

Pros Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Cons Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Most recently tested May 2024

Type Oscillating to the right and left

Battery charge time 20 hours

Need to know Two-minute timer, interval timer, battery level indicator

Philips Sonicare 4100 Series

Pros Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Cons Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Most recently tested May 2024

Type Oscillating to the right and left

Battery charge time 21 hours

Need to know Two-minute timer, interval timer, battery level indicator, pressure sensor, travel case

Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige

Pros Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Cons Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Most recently tested May 2024

Type Oscillating to the right and left

Battery charge time 8 hours

Need to know Two-minute timer, interval timer, battery level indicator, pressure sensor, travel case

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9400

Pros Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Cons Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Most recently tested May 2024

Type Oscillating to the right and left

Battery charge time 24 hours

Need to know Two-minute timer, interval timer, battery level indicator, pressure sensor

Superdrug ProCare Advanced Clean

Available from Superdrug.

Pros Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Cons Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results

Most recently tested May 2024

Type Roatating

Battery charge time 14 hours

Need to know Two-minute timer

How we test electric toothbrushes

We rigorously test each electric toothbrush in our lab by assessing key aspects such as plaque removal and battery life. Each model is also tested by our panel of trialists who rate how comfortable and convenient it is to use.

• Cleaning power: To see how good an electric toothbrush is at removing plaque, we enlist a panel of 30 triallists to clean with each brush and measure the results. When a triallist arrives at our lab, our dental expert measures the amount of plaque on the inside and outside surfaces of each and every tooth. The triallist brushes their teeth for two minutes – the amount of time dentists recommend we brush our teeth for – and we then measure how much plaque is left behind. This is repeated over several weeks until each triallist has brushed with each brush – a total of 200 teeth-cleans overall.
• Battery charge: To see how long the battery lasts, we see how many two-minute brushes a fully charged battery gives. We test in the way you use toothbrushes, so we leave a 12-hour gap between each run, just as you would when you’re brushing twice a day. We also add a weight to the head of each brush to mimic the effect that the pressure you use when brushing has on the battery.
• User experience: Changing from a manual toothbrush to an electric model, and switching between different types of electric toothbrush, can take some getting used to. To help you find the brushes that feel best, our panel of triallists rates how comfortable each model is to brush with. They also rate how noisy they are during use to help you pick a quieter brush if you clean your teeth while other members of the household are sleeping.

We regularly revisit the electric toothbrushes on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing.

Find out more about how Which? is not influenced by product manufacturers or retailers and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.

What are the different types of electric toothbrush?

• Rotating – These have a set of bristles that turn. Bristles can be arranged in a circle that rotates, or individual tufts of bristles can spin. Rotating-only brushes are usually the cheapest type of brush you can buy.
• Rotating-oscillating – These electric toothbrushes have small, round heads and are among the most popular brushes in the Oral B range. The head oscillates – rotates in one direction and then the other – around one tooth at a time to sweep away plaque.
• Pulsing – Some rotating and rotating-oscillating electric toothbrushes pulsate to make the head move backwards and forwards against teeth while it’s spinning. This helps dislodge plaque and is a technology typically found on pricier rotating brushes.
• Counter-oscillating – These electric toothbrushes have the same head shape as oscillating brushes, but the tufts of bristles rotate in different directions simultaneously – with each tuft rotating in the opposite direction to those next to it.
• Dual head – As the name implies, these electric toothbrushes combine two heads in one – one part rotates and the other sweeps from side to side.
• Side to side – Rather than spinning, these toothbrushes sweep from side to side at such high speeds that they vibrate against your teeth. Philips Sonicare electric toothbrushes clean in this way.
• Sonic and ultrasonic – These are brushes that vibrate at certain high speeds and frequencies to help break down plaque. Manufacturers of sonic brushes claim that they also drive cleaning fluid (a mixture of toothpaste, water and saliva) between teeth to help dislodge plaque. Vibrating brushes are generally more expensive than rotating models.

How to brush with an electric toothbrush

1. Clean thoroughly and evenly: Brush your teeth twice a day – morning and night – and brush for at least two minutes each time. Clean both sides of your teeth – the outside (next to your cheeks and lips) and the inside (next to your tongue or palate). Make sure you clean evenly across all your teeth: top and bottom, inside and outside.
2. Angle the brush head: Tilt the brush head at 45 degrees to where teeth meet the gum – this is where most plaque builds. Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste that contains fluoride .Using a fluoride toothpaste is the best way of preventing tooth decay – it can protect against holes forming in your teeth that will need filling by your dentist.
3. Clean one row of teeth at a time: Start with back outer surfaces and lightly brush each tooth from top to bottom until you reach the middle of your mouth. Don't brush too hard – the bristles should lightly sweep across the tooth. Brush too hard and you risk brushing away the enamel which is protecting your teeth. This leads to heightened sensitivity. Repeat for the same row on the other side of your mouth.
4. Clean inside surfaces: Again, start at the back, cleaning from the top to the bottom of each tooth, and work towards the centre on each side of your mouth. Tilt the brush and use the tip to brush the insides of front teeth.
5. Brush the biting surfaces: End your brushing routine by cleaning along the biting surfaces of your teeth. When you've finished brushing, spit out the toothpaste but don't rinse – this will help keep more of the fluoride in your mouth and working against cavities.
6. Floss regularly: Your toothbrush won't reach into the gaps between your teeth. Flossing every day will help dislodge bacteria and plaque that takes hold between teeth.