We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Beauty The 7 Best Teeth Whitening Kits for a Brighter, Whiter Smile Instead of sitting through a 90-minute procedure at the dentist, get whiter teeth from the comfort of your home—for a fraction of the price—with these kits. By April Benshosan April Benshosan April is a writer, editor, and content strategist with a Master’s degree in Publishing. Her byline appears on Women's Health, VeryWell Fit, Health.com, LIVESTRONG.com, Business Insider, and more. Shape's editorial guidelines Updated on April 22, 2024 In This Article Expand In This Article Our Top Picks ReviewsWhat to Know About LED Teeth Whitening Kits Why Trust Shape Photo: Shape / Tamara Staples Bright, pearly whites are so coveted that teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dental procedure in the U.S., according to the Cleveland Clinic. While your dentist can professionally whiten your teeth in-office, those treatments can be incredibly pricey (up to $1,200 bucks a pop). The good news is that at-home teeth whitening kits have gotten really good, says Jessica Lee, DDS, president-elect of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Not to mention, teeth whitening kits are affordable, easy to use, effective, and convenient. Ready to try your hand at a brighter smile at home? Below, find the best teeth whitening kits for everyone (even folks with sensitive teeth). The TL;DR on Teeth Whitening Kits We tested 19 different teeth whitening kits for a 6-week period, relying on Dr. Lena Varone, DMD, FIADFE, on-site during testing for expert guidance. During our testing, we rated each kit based on ease of use, comfort, efficacy, convenience, and value. Our best teeth whitening kit overall is the Crest Whitening Emulsions with LED Accelerator Light. Testers raved about its comfort and ease of use, and we could even take a Zoom call while using the kit. For a budget-friendly pick, we recommend the Cali White Teeth Whitening Strip Kit. The active ingredients mirror the ones in more expensive options, and it's only a ten-minute treatment. Our Top Picks Best Teeth Whitening Kit Overall: Crest Leave-on Teeth Whitening Kit with LED Light at Amazon ($49) Jump to Review Most Effective Teeth Whitening Kit: Linhart The Whitening Collection at Amazon ($95) Jump to Review Most Comfortable Teeth Whitening Kit: Colgate ComfortFit LED Teeth Whitening Kit at Amazon ($50) Jump to Review Best Teeth Whitening Kit Under 20 Minutes: Byte BrightByte Pro at Byte.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best Teeth Whitening Kit with Whitening Strips: Crest 3DWhitestrips 1 Hour Express + LED Light at Amazon ($58) Jump to Review Best Teeth Whitening Kit with Whitening Pens: Periosciences LED² Teeth Whitening Kit at Amazon ($110) Jump to Review Best Budget Teeth Whitening Kit: Cali White White Teeth Whitening Kit at Amazon ($11) Jump to Review Best Teeth Whitening Kit Overall Crest Leave-on Teeth Whitening Kit with LED Light PHOTO: Crest $49 at Amazon $53 at Walmart $50 at Target Why We Liked It: It provides quick, impressive results and is super comfortable to use — we even took a Zoom call with it on and no one noticed.It's Worth Noting: It comes with a stand for storage, but we would've loved it if this came with a travel case instead. Treatments per Kit: 14 | Suggested Duration: 33 minutes The Crest Whitening Emulsions With LED Light is super easy and comfortable to use, and results in quick and impressive whitening. In our tests, we appreciated that the instructions are very easy to follow, and we didn't feel any immediate discomfort when applying the whitening solution.We especially loved how lightweight the product felt on our teeth. Unlike teeth whitening strips, these didn't shift around on our teeth or create a foamlike mess that starts bubbling up. Instead, this teeth whitening kit boasts a "barely there" feel and not one bit of goopiness. Shape/Tamara Staples Shape/Tamara Staples Shape/Tamara Staples Shape/Tamara Staples Most Effective Teeth Whitening Kit Linhart The Whitening Collection PHOTO: Linhart $95 at Amazon View on Linhart.nyc Why We Liked It: We were able to achieve a color 16 shades lighter, and the whitening gel felt gentle and didn't cause any sensitivity. It's Worth Noting: It left a slight tingly sensation for about 15 minutes after finishing the treatment. Treatments per Kit: 3 to 4 | Suggested Duration: 16 to 64 minutes The Linhart Whitening Kit is easy to use, and we achieved a color 16 shades whiter relatively quickly. This kit includes the LED teeth-whitening tray (which is rechargeable), a whitening gel (that you can use with your whitening toothpaste), and four syringes that each contains the whitening gel that you apply to the tray. The whitening solution didn't irritate our gums or lead to any sensitivity, but it did cause a little drooling, so you might not want to necessarily take a meeting with it on. Overall, we found it to be a very good value considering the results. Shape / Tamara Staples Shape / Tamara Staples Shape / Tamara Staples Most Comfortable Teeth Whitening Kit Colgate ComfortFit LED Teeth Whitening Kit PHOTO: Amazon $40 at Amazon $50 at Walmart $53 at Target Why We Liked It: The process was quick, simple, and straightforward — and the tray was so comfortable and fitting to the mouth that we actually forgot we had it in.It's Worth Noting: We wished it came with more whitening pens for repeated treatments. Treatments per Kit: One | Suggested Duration: 10 minutes If you've used whitening strips before and hate how messy they are (and how much gel you end up swallowing throughout the whole process), you'll appreciate this teeth whitening kit. In our tests, we loved that the kit was completely hassle-free, and we could hardly feel we had gel on our teeth. The LED device fits very comfortably thanks to the flexible tray that molds to your mouth. Unlike other trays that are bulky and can even cut your lips, this product didn't make us feel like our lips are being stretched to hold the device in place. We achieved a color two shades lighter. Shape/Tamara Staples Shape / Tamara Staples Shape/Tamara Staples Best Teeth Whitening Kit Under 20 Minutes Byte BrightByte Pro PHOTO: Byte View on Byte.com Why We Liked It: It comes with a desensitizing gel and a travel case.It's Worth Noting: Using the LED device takes some getting used to and causes some jaw soreness; but over time, it got more comfortable to wear and stayed in place with minimal effort. Treatments per Kit: One | Suggested Duration: 16 minutes for at least 3 days Byte BrightByte Pro's on-the-go kit lets you whiten your teeth in the car, on a plane, or on a train in just 16 minutes. The process is quick and simple as you'll just apply the gel and the LED device while it's connected to your phone to power it up — so no need to ever charge the device — and then let it work its magic. Plus, this kit comes with a handy travel bag that makes this easy to take with you anywhere. Shape / Tamara Staples Shape / Tamara Staples Shape / Tamara Staples Best Teeth Whitening Kit with Whitening Strips Crest 3DWhitestrips 1 Hour Express + LED Light PHOTO: Walmart $58 at Amazon $60 at Walmart Why We Liked It: The results were impressive and the LED device was comfortable to wear.It's Worth Noting: It requires a bit of a long time commitment: About one hour for 19 consecutive days Treatments per Kit: One | Suggested Duration: 65 minutes for 19 days These tried-and-true Crest 3DWhitestrips get a whitening boost thanks to the LED light that fast-tracks you to Pearly White Town. In our tests, we noticed that these strips are easy to use and the LED device fit perfectly in our mouths for a fully comfortable experience. We loved that the strips stick well without sliding around or off and they're pretty comfortable to wear. The brand recommends using the entire kit, so you'll apply it every day for 19 consecutive days (and you can use up to two kits per year). We get that this is a bit of a time commitment, but we saw noticeably impressive results after about a week, and we achieved a whopping seven shades lighter after the full treatment course. Shape / Tamara Staples Shape / Tamara Staples Shape / Tamara Staples Best Teeth Whitening Kit with Whitening Pens Periosciences LED² Teeth Whitening Kit PHOTO: Amazon $110 at Amazon View on Periosciences.com Why We Liked It: We were blown away with the whitening results (about 15 shades lighter!) and the process is very simple. It's Worth Noting: You have to charge the LED light device, and it didn't initially seem to hold a charge very well. Treatments per Kit: 12 to 15 | Suggested Duration: 15 minutes for 10-15 days If you want a gentle, seriously effective system that doesn't feel overwhelming to use, get your hands on the Periosciences LED Whitening Kit. This kit's instructions were extremely simple and streamlined, and we were very impressed by achieving about 16 shades lighter (coming from a frequent coffee drinker). In fact, we found not a single thing about this process complex or annoying. The tray fit snugly against the gums thanks to the silicone inner ring, and our only complaint is that it holds a lot of saliva, so pulling it out can get a little gross. While we didn't feel any initial discomfort, tingling, or burning, after using it for a few days, we noticed some very minor increased sensitivity, so we slowed down to using it three to five times per week and that did the trick. The sensitivity faded with continued use, and the LED light didn't seem to exacerbate it. Shape / Tamara Staples Shape / Tamara Staples Shape / Tamara Staples Best Budget Teeth Whitening Kit Cali White White Teeth Whitening Kit PHOTO: Amazon $11 at Amazon $17 at Walmart Why We Liked It: This kit is budget-friendly, quick, and easy to use, and has a pleasant minty taste. It's Worth Noting: The only requirement that needed some effort was attaching the mouthguard to the led light. Treatments per Kit: One | Suggested Duration: 10 days This budget-friendly teeth whitening kit brightens your teeth with 35% carbamide peroxide gel, the same active ingredient concentration as some other, more expensive options on our list, such as the Linhart kit. This Cali White kit comes with a medical-grade silicone mouth tray that you'll use in conjunction with a minty-fresh whitening gel that actually tastes pretty good. We found the whole whitening process to be quick and simple — just add the gel to the tray, put the tray in your mouth, turn on the light and the light will turn off automatically in 10 mins. The automatic timer made the whole process even more seamless, and the product didn't irritate our gums. All we felt was a slight warmth from the LED light, yet zero pain or discomfort. Shape / Tamara Staples Shape / Tamara Staples Shape / Tamara Staples What to Know About LED Teeth Whitening Kits Treatment types: Teeth whitening kits take many forms, and the one you choose ultimately depends on preference. Whitening gel trays involve filling a mouthguard-like tray with a whitening gel containing peroxide. You then wear the tray over your teeth for a designated period of time. Whitening strips are thin, flexible strips coated with a peroxide-based gel. You apply these strips to your teeth for a specified amount of time, usually once or twice a day for a few days to two weeks. Whitening pens are small, portable applicators that you can use to apply a whitening gel directly to your teeth. They are often used for touch-ups or spot treatments. Some kits come with an LED light mouth tray that you put on after applying a whitening gel. LED light is believed to boost the whitening process by accelerating the chemical reaction of the gel.Recommended usage: The recommended usage depends on your kit. Some kits on our list require one application for three days while others require you to use the kit for up to 19 consecutive days to achieve the desired result. Key ingredients: The main ingredients in teeth whitening kits are carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide, which are both bleaching agents. Hydrogen peroxide is usually the main ingredient in at-home whitening kits because it breaks down quickly and releases the majority of its whitening effects within the initial 30 to 60 minutes. Carbamide peroxide is more popular for professional whitening treatments because it breaks down slower than hydrogen peroxide (over about 6 hours). Why Trust Shape April Benshosan is a health journalist and editor who graduated with a Master's in Publishing. She's interviewed countless doctors and other medical professionals throughout her career, and her work highlights her passion for arming people with the information they need to make informed decisions about their health and purchases. When testing these teeth whitening kits, we consulted Dr. Lena Varone, DMD, FIADFE, an NYC-based cosmetic dentist, for expert guidance. We also interviewed two other dentists for this story: Jessica Lee, DDS, president-elect of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Pia Lieb, DDS, founder of Cosmetic Dentistry Center NYC Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit