The Best Cookie Sheets for Nicely Browned, Well-Baked Desserts

If you’re into perfectly baked, fresh-from-the-oven, homemade cookies (and let’s be honest, who isn’t?), you need more than a recipe: You need great cookie sheets. The material and construction matter, so we’ve spent years testing and re-testing cookie sheets. The one you use can make or break your favorite chocolate chip cookie, and you shouldn’t have to learn that the hard way. It’s worth noting that all of our favorites can go beyond baked goods—we use them for roasting all sorts of vegetables and meat, toasting nuts, cooling grains, making pizza, and more.

Things to Consider

What Is a Cookie Sheet?

A traditional cookie sheet is a thin, edgeless pan made from steel, aluminum, or a mixture of both. It’s good for one thing and one thing only: baking cookies. Cookies easily slide from the pan onto a cooling rack, and the lack of sides helps you maneuver a food turner around. Kitchen unitaskers aren’t bad—in fact, we recommend quite a few—but since baking sheets can bake cookies and roast vegetables and meat, we think they’re a much better option than traditional cookie sheets.

Rimmed sheet pans have one-inch walls and rolled edges on all sides. The height keeps food and hot fat contained, and the rolled edges serve two purposes. First, they make the pan easier to grip, especially when wearing pot holders or oven mitts. They also help prevent warping from extreme temperature changes. Still confused about the difference between cookie sheets and baking sheets? Check out this article for an in-depth look at them. 

Nonstick vs. Regular Cookie Sheets

Which is better: nonstick or regular cookie sheets? Here’s the top-line answer: Usually, regular ones.

We prefer cookie sheets without nonstick coatings because this coating wears away over time. Even with the most fastidious care, nonstick cookware (like skillets) will scratch and peel. Regular baking sheets are better long-term investments and can withstand higher oven temperatures. 

But there are some times when nonstick baking sheets are nice to have. If you’re baking and don’t have parchment paper to use as a liner, a nonstick pan will ensure your cookies slide off easily. A rule of thumb for nonstick bakeware: Choose lighter-colored pans. Darker nonstick coating will cause food to cook faster, which can mess up a recipe—picture an almost-burnt oatmeal cookie with a still-raw inside. 

How Big Is a Cookie Sheet?

The most common size cookie sheet is 18 by 13 inches, with one-inch sides. Quarter baking sheets are a step down from these; they measure 13 by nine inches. They’re ideal for baking a small batch of cookies—say you keep a stash of pre-rolled dough in your freezer and want to bake off just one or two. 

Our Favorite Cookie Sheets

What we liked: This is one sturdy pan. The aluminum base heats up quickly and cooks evenly, while the steel edges provide extra stability and make it extremely durable. Still, it comes with a lifetime warranty—just in case. The lack of a nonstick coating means it is broiler-safe, and the chunky rolled sides are easy to grab, even with bulky oven mitts. It’s sold in a set of two, and you’ll want more.

What we didn’t like: Nothing to complain about. This is a great pan.

Key Specs

• Materials: Aluminum, steel
• Dimension: 17 x 12 inches
• Edge Height: 1 inch
• Warranty: Lifetime
  

What we liked: In our review of nonstick cookie sheets, sticky ingredients slid right off this pan, including just-baked cookies and crispy Parmesan cheese. The rim is taller than most, which keeps splatters contained and makes it even easier to grab while hot.

What we didn’t like: It’s not broiler-safe and can only stand temperatures up to 450˚F. The bottom of this pan wasn’t the lightest-colored one we tested, which meant cookies browned a bit faster. But it was by no means the worst offender of all the nonstick pans. 

Key Specs

• Materials: Aluminized steel and nonstick coating
• Dimension: 17.1 x 12.1 inches
• Edge Height: 1 1/4 inch
• Warranty: Lifetime

What we liked: Everything we like about our overall top pick, this one has in miniature. It’s an ideal size for baking one or two cookies at a time. Its small footprint also makes it handy for prepping ingredients and roasting a batch of vegetables. You can buy lids that fit perfectly, so they double as baking vessels and cookie jars.

What we didn’t like: We can’t think of a thing!

Key Specs

• Materials: Aluminum
• Dimension: 12.1 x 8.8 inches
• Edge Height: 1 inch
• Warranty: Lifetime
  

FAQs

Is it “cookie sheet” or “cooking sheet”?

While both technically make sense, the term most commonly used is “cookie sheet.” Reminder: Cookie sheets have edgeless sides that help cookies slide off easily. We prefer baking sheets—they’re rimmed and can be used for baking and cooking.

How do you clean a cookie sheet?

Please don’t put them in the dishwasher, no matter what the manufacturer says. The high temperatures and cleaning solutions can degrade the finishes over time. To keep your pans in top shape, wash them with warm soapy water and a nonabrasive dish sponge. For stubborn stains, Bar Keepers Friend will work miracles.

Why We’re the Experts

• Rochelle Bilow is an editor at Serious Eats.
• She has been with the team since 2024 and has been testing kitchen gear professionally since 2021. 
• Rochelle is a culinary school graduate and former line cook and used to work as an editor at Bon Appétit magazine.
• Serious Eats has tested all manner of baking sheets, also known as cookie sheets: traditional, nonstick, and small.