There are 5 Instant Pot sizes across the different model lines: 3 quart, 5 quart, 6 quart, 8 quart, and 10 quart. Not all quart sizes are available in all series.
There are 3 primary Instant Pot sizes for you to choose from: 3 quart, 6 quart, and 8 quart. The 5 quart model was an earlier size with has some availability.
The most common, and most popular of the 3 sizes is the 6 quart model. And for the most part, the 8 quart is the largest Instant Pot available for most models, except for one series that also has an 10 quart option.
The largest Instant Pot size available is a 10 quart, released in August 2019 as part of the new Instant Pot Duo Nova series.
Instant Pot Sizes by Models
For the main Instant Pot series models, they are available in each of the 3 sizes (3 quart, 6 quart, and 8 quart). There are a few Instant Pot models that are currently only available in the 6 quart models (Max, Nova Plus, Smart). And the Duo Nova is also available as a 10 quart. It’s currently the largest and only model available at that size.
| 3 Quart | 6 Quart | 8 Quart | 10 Quart | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instant Pot Lux | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Instant Pot Duo | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Instant Pot Duo Nova (new in 2019) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Instant Pot Duo Plus | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Instant Pot Ultra | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Instant Pot Viva | Yes* | Yes | Yes | |
| Instant Pot Max | Yes | |||
| Instant Pot Nova Plus | Yes | |||
| Instant Pot Smart Wifi | Yes | |||
| Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus (new in 2019) | Yes | Yes |
* Note, as I saw noted in a few places the Smart Bluetooth was discontinued, I removed it from the comparison.
Instant Pot 3 Quart Models
The 3 quart Instant Pot is available in 5 models. You may also see this size referred to as the Instant Pot Mini. The 3 quart models include:
- Instant Pot Lux Mini
- Instant Pot Duo Mini
- Instant Pot Duo Nova Mini
- Instant Pot Duo Plus Mini
- Instant Pot Ultra Mini
The Duo Nova Mini is the newest 3 quart released by Instant Pot.
There is a Viva 3 quart is listed on the Instant Pot website, but I haven’t found where it’s available for sale yet.
Instant Pot 6 Quart Models
The 6 Quart Instant Pot Similar to the 3 quart models, the Instant Pot 6 quart is available in the core series models along with a few additional versions. The 6 quart models include:
- Lux 6 Quart
- Duo 6 Quart
- Duo Nova 6 Quart
- Duo Plus 6 Quart
- Ultra 6 Quart
- Max
- Nova Plus
- Smart (WiFi)
- Duo Evo Plus 6 Quart
The Instant Pot is generally available in black with stainless steel. There are a few special color options for the Lux and Viva 6 quart models. The Lux is available in a Pioneer Woman series and the Viva has 3 additional colors to choose from. Instant Pot also started to release the Duo 6 quart in a few colors including white, coral, and teal available through Amazon.
And for some of the additional models, they are exclusive to specific stores, such as the Nova Plus at Costco.
Instant Pot 8 Quart Models
For most of the Instant Pot models, the 8 quart Instant Pots is the largest available. The seven options available for the 8 quart include:
- Lux 8 Quart
- Duo 8 Quart
- Duo Nova 8 Quart
- Duo Plus 8 Quart
- Ultra 8 Quart
- Viva 8 Quart
- Duo Evo Plus 8 Quart (released September 2019)
Instant Pot 10 Quart Models
The 10 Quart Instant Pot is the largest available as of early September 2019 one model currently available. This one is easy to overlook because it’s not listed with the rest of the series on Amazon.
Choose the Instant Pot Size and model that works for you
Fortunately, there are multiple sizes and models for you to choose from, depending on how many people you usually cook for, how you plan to use it, how much space you have available, and how much you want to spend.
The 6 quart model is the most commonly recommended size to choose as it gives a greater range of flexibility, most recipes are written for the 6 quart, and has a wider range of accessories available.
I personally went with a 3 quart model to start because I have limited kitchen storage space (including in the freezer), and I am generally only cooking for 1.
One thing to note about the smaller 3 quart models, they don’t usually have all of the smart programs available in the larger 6 quart sizes. For example, if you want the Cake Smart Program, you’ll need a 6 or 8 quart Instant Pot.
Choose the best size that works for you. Don’t worry, many people expand their collection of Instant Pots over time. And you usually can cook using more than 1 Instant Pot at the same time.
How to figure out which Instant Pot size you have
Not sure which Instant Pot size you have? Here’s a quick trick to figure that out.
Check the sticker on the back of your Instant Pot. While the print is a little small, it will tell you the model you currently have along with the volume (size) in terms of quarts: 3, 6, 8, or 10. If you have an older model Instant Pot, it’s also possible you have a 5 quart version.
With the 6 quart model being the most popular, it wouldn’t be surprising if you have that one. But it’s always a good idea to double-check if you have any questions.
Over to you. What other questions do you have about the Instant Pot sizes?
Have you chosen your first Instant Pot or are you in the market for another one? What are you focusing on when making your decision?
Need help comparing the models? Check out the following:
Check out our following Instant Pot comparisons to help you choose between the models available.
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