Best Whitening Trays (2026)

Teeth whitening is available in most U.S. dental clinics. One option they might offer is a custom tray, which usually costs a few hundred dollars.

It’s the cheapest whitening method offered by dentists. Once the trays are ready, you can also take them home to finish the rest of your treatment.

But there’s a catch—you still need to see a dentist for an initial consultation. Some people might find this inconvenient. Plus, it can add to the costs.

At-home whitening trays are a more affordable and convenient alternative. They’re usually much cheaper than dentist-made trays, and you can order them online.

Our smile experts only want what’s good for your teeth. So we evaluated different brands and picked the best trays based on these criteria:

• Whitening ingredients ⁠— Making sure they work and are safe
• Results — Whitening effects and how long they take
• Sensitivity — Whether or not it triggers sensitive teeth
• Convenience — Treatment duration and process
• Fit and comfort — Custom-fitted trays or a one-size-fits-all
• Ease of use — Pre-filled or reusable teeth whitening trays
• Customer feedback — Seeing what people say about them

4 Best At-Home Teeth Whitening Trays of 2026

Here are our top picks for over-the-counter teeth whitening trays:

Smile Brilliant Whitening Trays

Best Overall

Smile Brilliant Trays are made from at-home impressions, guaranteeing a perfect fit for even teeth whitening. You can choose from sensitive and non-sensitive formulas with 22% carbamide peroxide. They can lift light to heavy stains caused by coffee, tea, or wine without hurting your teeth.

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Smile Brilliant Highlights

• Typical price — Premium compared with most over-the-counter trays
• What’s included — 27 applications
• Wear time — 1 to 3 hours daily for up to 27 days

Smile Brilliant sits at the premium end of the at-home tray category, especially if you choose the sensitive system.

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BURST Teeth Whitening Trays

Best for Sensitive Teeth

BURST uses pre-filled trays that mold to the shape of your teeth. Each one is packed with vegan, enamel-safe ingredients like potassium hydroxide and xylitol to soothe the gums and reduce sensitivity. They deliver fast and effective results using a gentle 12.5% hydrogen peroxide formula.

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BURST Highlights

• Typical price — Varies by treatment pack size
• What’s included — 3 to 7 treatments
• Wear time — 15 mins daily for 3 to 7 days

BURST Whitening Trays are sold in smaller and larger treatment packs, so the total price depends on how many applications you buy at once.

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Opalescence Go

Best for Fast Results

Opalescence Go Trays are pre-filled and feature an UltraFit™ design for even whitening and a comfortable fit. Depending on how fast you want to whiten teeth, you can choose from 10% and 15% hydrogen peroxide. It also contains sensitivity-reducing ingredients like potassium nitrate and fluoride.

Opalescence Go Highlights

• Typical price — $84
• What’s included — 4 to 10 treatments
• Wear time — 15 to 20 mins daily for 4 days (15% hydrogen peroxide) or 30 to 60 mins daily for up to 10 days (10% hydrogen peroxide)

Opalescence Go Trays are sold in small and large treatment packs depending on the peroxide strength you choose.

Pricing as of Mar 20, 2026

Auraglow Complete LED Whitening Kit

Best Affordable

Auraglow Complete Teeth Whitening Kit has a 2-in-1 mouthpiece that acts as both a reusable whitening tray and an LED accelerator for fast results. It contains 35% carbamide peroxide gel, a professional-grade formula that lifts stains and brightens teeth by up to 10 shades in just 7 days.

Auraglow Highlights

• Typical price — $19.99–$48
• What’s included — 20 treatments
• Wear time — 30 mins daily for up to 20 days

The Auraglow LED Whitening Kit includes a rechargeable device with a built-in mouth tray and LED accelerator.

Pricing as of Mar 20, 2026

Get your brightest smile with NewMouth’s top teeth whitening picks for 2026.

Dentist vs. At-Home Teeth Whitening Trays

Here are the key differences between the custom whitening trays offered by licensed dentists and the at-home trays you can buy over the counter:

Custom Whitening Trays

Over-The-Counter Whitening Trays

How To Choose The Best Teeth Whitening Tray

Whitening ingredients, expected results timeline, and comfort are the three most important factors when choosing a tray:

Whitening Ingredients

Teeth whitening trays contain either carbamide or hydrogen peroxide, which are proven to lift teeth stains.

Dentist-prescribed trays tend to have these ingredients in higher concentrations. At-home trays have a less-concentrated formula.

Results

Dentist trays can lighten dark stains in 7 to 14 days. At-home trays can take anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks to lift light or moderate stains, but some kits may include an LED accelerator for faster teeth whitening.

Sensitivity

Trays with low hydrogen peroxide concentrations or carbamide peroxide and sensitivity-reducing ingredients are best for sensitive teeth.

Dentist trays may cause sensitivity due to their higher concentration of ingredients. But you can get professional guidance on how to avoid it.

Convenience

Most at-home trays require 15 to 30 minutes of treatment. You can buy them online or at drug stores, so you can start right away.

Dentist trays must be worn for 30 minutes to 1 hour. You also need to visit a dental clinic and wait for your trays before you can begin treatment.

Fit and Comfort

Custom trays are made to fit you so they’re comfortable and ensure the ingredients reach every surface for optimum results. They also keep gel away from your gums, lowering your risk for gum irritation.

Over-the-counter trays have a one-size-fits-all design that may not fit your teeth. However, some are designed for a snug and comfortable fit.

Ease of Use

Pre-filled trays are disposable, so you don’t have to worry about cleaning them. However, treatments tend to get messy.

Reusable trays have to be cleaned between uses, but since you can control the amount of whitening gel you put in, they’re usually mess-free.> See NewMouth’s top 10 teeth whitening products of 2026.

Are At-Home Whitening Trays Right For You?

If you want a convenient, affordable, and effective way to brighten your smile, at-home teeth whitening trays may be a good choice.

Most brands work on light to moderate discoloration. Although some contain strong formulations that can tackle yellow teeth and dark stains.

At-home trays can save you a meaningful amount compared with dentist-prescribed trays, which often cost several hundred dollars.

There’s no need for an in-person consultation or dental visits—you can lighten your teeth at your own pace from the comfort of your home.However, if you have heavily discolored teeth, professional teeth whitening may be better. We recommend asking your dentist about