All-Clad D3 vs. D5: Which Stainless Steel Cookware Is Better?

If you’re in the market for new cookware and are planning to go with All-Clad, you’ve already made a great choice.

They’re well-known for making the highest-quality, most durable, and best performing cookware money can buy—and they’ve been doing it for decades.

But now the question is:

Should you buy the D3 collection (also called Tri-Ply) or the D5 collection?

What’s the difference between All-Clad D3 and D5?

The key difference between All-Clad D3 and D5 is that D3 has 3 bonded layers (steel, aluminum, steel), and D5 has 5 (steel, aluminum, steel, aluminum, steel). D3 heats faster and is more responsive, while D5 heats more evenly and is more forgiving. Due to its added layers, D5 is more expensive.

That’s the short answer, but there’s much more to know before you decide which collection is right for you.

In this in-depth comparison of All-Clad D3 vs. D5, you’ll learn how these two cookware collections are similar, how they’re different, and why those differences matter.

You’ll learn exactly how they compare in terms of cooking performance, design, product options, price, and so much more. 

By the end, you’ll have all the information you need to decide which All-Clad cookware is right for you.

If you’re looking to quickly compare the price of All-Clad D3 and D5 cookware, both are available on Amazon at these links: All-Clad D3, All-Clad D5, or you can skip ahead to the price comparison chart.

Let’s dive right in!

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Use the links below to navigate this article:

• All-Clad D3 vs. D5: Quick Summary
• Quick Comparison Chart
• Cooking Performance: Tri-Ply vs. 5-Ply
• Design
• Product Options
• Price
• Bottom Line: Which Cookware Should You Buy, D3 or D5?

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Quick Comparison Chart

	All-Clad D3	All-Clad D5
Where It’s Made	Canonsburg, Pennsylvania	Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Bonded Layers	3	5
Exterior Material	18/0 Stainless Steel	18/0 Stainless Steel
Cooking Surface	18/10 Stainless Steel	18/10 Stainless Steel
Core Layers	Aluminum	Stainless steel wrapped in 2 layers of aluminum
Thickness	3 mm	3 mm
Weight (12-inch fry pan)	2.8 pounds	3.2 pounds
Lids	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel
Handles	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel
Handle Length	8 inches	9 inches
Oven Safe Temperature	600°F	600°F
Induction Compatible	Yes	Yes
Cleaning	Hand wash	Hand wash
Appearance	Only available in polished finish	Available in polished and brushed finishes
Lid Handles	Thin, no logo	Thick with logo
Flared Rims	Yes, on most pieces	Yes, on all pieces
Cooking Performance	Quick temperature response	Gradual temperature response
Warranty	Limited Lifetime	Limited Lifetime
Price	$$$ (Amazon, All-Clad.com)	$$$$ (Amazon, All-Clad.com)

Cooking Performance: Tri-Ply vs. 5-Ply

Every All-Clad cookware line, including D3 and D5, is constructed by bonding (or cladding) layers of different types of metal together.

You might be wondering, what’s the purpose of layering different metals?

They do it to create cookware that has the optimal mix of heat conduction and durability.

Aluminum conducts heat more effectively than steel but is not very durable. Aluminum alone would make a weak pan and terrible cooking surface. Steel, on the other hand, is durable but heats up slowly, unevenly, and doesn’t retain heat well. Aluminum and steel are opposites on the spectrum of heat conduction and strength.

All-Clad figured this out decades ago and, since then, constructs all of their cookware, including the D3 and D5 collections, with a steel exterior for strength and durability and an aluminum core for fast and even heat transfer.

So, how are D3 and D5 cookware constructed differently?

The most significant difference between D3 and D5 cookware is that D3 cookware is constructed with three layers (Tri-Ply), while D5 cookware is constructed with 5 (5-Ply).

The D3 line uses a standard cladding procedure, layering a stainless steel cooking surface with an inner layer of aluminum and magnetic steel exterior. The magnetic steel exterior makes this cookware safe for induction cooktops. The three layers provide exceptional conduction without sacrificing durability.

If you hold an All-Clad D3 pan and look closely at the rim, you can see the three layers:

The D5 line uses a more experimental cladding. You get the same stainless steel exterior, steel cooking surface, and an aluminum core, but instead of just one layer of aluminum, there are two separated by a thin steel core. So from the outside in it goes steel, aluminum, steel, aluminum, and back to steel.

Again, if you hold an All-Clad D5 pan and study the exterior of the rim, you can clearly see all five layers.

Here’s another look at the differences between the construction of All-Clad D3 and D5 cookware.

So we now know that D3 cookware has three bonded layers, and D5 cookware has five, but what difference does it make?

With D3 cookware, the single aluminum core layer heats up quickly and transfers that heat evenly to the steel cooking surface. When you turn on the burner, you can expect your pan to be ready for action within a couple of minutes.

D5 cookware heats slower because the steel core defuses heat. Steel has a much lower thermal conductivity than aluminum; therefore, it slows the heat transfer from the burner to the cooking surface. Heating slower sounds like a downside, but D5’s unique construction has both positive and negative effects on cooking performance.

Positive impacts of the additional layers in D5 cookware

Even Heating: The extra core layer of steel creates a barrier that slows heat transfer to the cooking surface. This ensures that heat is spread evenly across the entire pan by the time it’s ready to go. The way All-Clad explains it is, “The alternating layers of higher and lower conductive metals promote the lateral flow of cooking energy and eliminate hot spots.” This is not to say that D3 cookware heats up unevenly, it’s just that the additional layers in D5 are an extra measure to ensure it happens every time.

Forgiving: Since D5 cookware heats up and cools down slower than D3, you’re less likely to overcook or burn your food when you accidentally turn the temperature too high. This doesn’t mean that you can’t burn food with D5 cookware; it just means that you have a little more leeway.

Durability: The extra layers add heft that improves its durability, although D3 cookware is nearly indestructible too, so there not much to gain with a couple of additional layers of metal.

Negative impacts of the additional layers in D5 cookware

Heats Up Slow: Compared to D3, D5 cookware heats up about 10% slower. This might not seem like much, but throughout your lifetime (yes, this cookware lasts that long), that 10% can add up. Besides, when you’re in a rush, a slower heating pan is not helpful.

Less Responsive: D5 cookware won’t react quickly to changes in temperature. As I mentioned, this helps you avoid burning food but doesn’t give you the precise temperature control you might need for certain dishes.

Heavy: The steel core makes D5 cookware slightly heavier and more difficult to maneuver than D3. To give you an idea, when comparing a 12-inch fry pan without a lid, D5 weighs 3.2 pounds, and D3 weighs 2.8 pounds.

Bottom line—D3 and D5 cookware are both high-performing and dependable in the kitchen. It’s why you pay the premium for All-Clad, and it’s why professional chefs across the globe put their trust in the brand.

The truth is, the differences in cooking performance between Tri-ply (D3) and 5-ply (D5) cookware are difficult to notice if you’re not paying close attention. However, if you’re serious about cooking and plan to use your cookware for a very long time, it’s essential to understand these small differences and know every detail about what you’re getting.

To learn more, check out my deep dive into the differences between 3-ply and 5-ply cookware.

Design

From a design standpoint, D3 and D5 cookware have four main differences: their exterior finish, lid handles, rims, and panhandles.

First, the exterior of D3 cookware has a traditional polished finish, which is shiny and beautiful, what you expect with stainless steel cookware.

On the other hand, D5 cookware has a brushed, matte finish, which is dull but gives it a modern and elegant look.

All-Clad creates this unique brushed finish by lightly sanding the exterior with a non-abrasive pad towards the end of the production process.

The difference is purely aesthetic and has no impact on cooking performance. Below is a look at brushed and polished finishes side-by-side.

One important thing to note, with D5 cookware, you have the option to buy individual pieces and sets with a polished or brushed exterior finish. However, D3 cookware is NOT available with a brushed finish regardless if you’re looking for individual pieces or sets.

The second difference between the design of All-Clad D3 and D5 cookware is in the lid handles.

Both are stainless steel and firmly secured with steel rivets; however, the lid handles on D5 cookware are significantly larger, more substantial, and feature an engraved All-Clad logo while the D3 handles are thinner and smooth with no logo.

You can see a side-by-side comparison below.

In theory, the larger, heavier handles on D5 cookware are easier to grab and keep the lid more firmly in place, but in reality, it doesn’t have any noticeable impact on cooking performance or handling.

The third design difference is in the flaring of the cookware’s rims.

Both D3 and D5 cookware have flared rims, but D5 rims are more prominently flared than D3 rims.

Also, while all pieces in D5 sets have flared rims, only the frying pans, skillets, and a few of the saucepans in D3 sets have flared rims. The other saucepans and stock pots have straight rims that make it somewhat tricky to pour liquids.

Unlike the other two design differences, the rims actually have an impact on performance. The distinct flaring on the rims of all D5 cookware allows you to easily slide food, like eggs, sauce, or glaze onto a plate.

While flared rims allow you to move food out of a pot or pan easily, the downside is that they make it more challenging to keep food contained inside.

When you need to shake, stir, or flip whatever it is that you’re cooking, you’re more likely to accidentally send an egg flying or spill sauce all over your stove with the prominently flared rims of D5 cookware.

The last design difference between D3 and D5 cookware is the panhandles.

Although the shape of the handles is the same, D5 handles are longer than D3. For example, the D3 handle on the 12-inch fry pan is 8 inches long, but the D5 handle is 9 inches. The extra length lets you keep your hand a little further from the heat.

D5 handles feature a small bump on the bottom side to warn you when your hand gets too close to the heat. Most D3 handles are completely straight, they don’t have this bump.

You can see what I’m talking about in the photo below. The D5 pan is on top, and the D3 pan is on the bottom. 

2023 Update: All-Clad recently added the small bump to D3 frying pan handles:

Product Options

All-Clad not only offers many different cookware collections to choose from, but they also have unique variations within their collections.

Let’s take a look at the variations within the D3 and D5 collections, so you know what options you have to choose from and the core differences between each.

D3 Product Options

D3 cookware comes in two varieties: D3 Stainless and D3 Everyday.

D3 Stainless

D3 Stainless is All-Clad’s most popular and best-selling cookware by far. It’s their original bonded stainless steel collection, and millions of home cooks and professional chefs across the globe use it every day.

In total, there are 54 D3 Stainless Steel products available, including eight different sets ranging from 5 to 14 pieces and 46 individual pieces. Check out all D3 Stainless Steel options on Amazon, All-Clad.com, or Curated.com.

D3 Everyday

This cookware is like D3 Stainless Steel, but it has a larger cooking surface and rounder, more comfortable handles.

Although the classic D3 is still the best seller, this is All-Clad’s “new and improved” version.

This collection is only available on All-Clad.com.

D5 Product Options

D5 cookware also comes in two varieties: D5 Brushed and D5 Polished.

D5 Brushed

D5 Brushed is All-Clad’s signature 5-ply collection. It features a beautiful and unique matte exterior that is sure to draw compliments from your guests while entertaining.

Some people say that the brushed exterior hides scratches better than a polished exterior, but I’ve been cooking with polished cookware for years, and, as long as you take care of it, it will stay shiny and gorgeous too.

All-Clad offers a total of 26 D5 Brushed products, including five sets ranging from 5 to 14 pieces and 21 individual pieces. Check out all D5 Brushed options on Amazon, All-Clad.com, or Curated.com.

D5 Polished

D5 Polished cookware is the same as D5 Brushed except it has a polished exterior finish instead of brushed.

There are dozens of D5 Polished products available, including individual pieces and sets (the sets aren’t as easy to find in stores, but they are available on All-Clad.com and Amazon). 

Price

Whether you go for the D3 or D5, it will be a hefty upfront investment. However, I genuinely believe that All-Clad is worth the high price because it will last a lifetime and, since you won’t have to replace it, you’ll end up saving money long term.

I analyzed the prices of D3 and D5 cookware (sets and individual pieces) across several different retailers and found D5 cookware to be anywhere between 10% and 35% more expensive than D3 cookware. Individual pieces tend to be closer in price, but the margin increases when you look at more extensive and more expensive sets.

Use the chart below to compare the current prices of D3 and D5 cookware across a few popular sets. 

Note: These prices are pulled in real-time from Amazon. You can click on the image or the price to check out more details and read dozens of reviews on Amazon. 

D3 Stainless Steel and D3 Everyday cost almost the same.

The D5 Brushed and Polished collections cost about the same (in some cases, I found D5 Brushed to be slightly more expensive), although the Brushed collection offers more bulk options, and the Polished collection has a limited number of sets.

D5 Brushed will be cheaper if you’re buying a set, but if you’re picking individual pieces, they’ll cost about the same.

Bottom Line: Which Cookware Should You Buy, D3 or D5?

The fact is, both All-Clad D3 and D5 are excellent options. Choosing the right cookware comes down to performance, design, and price, and it’s up to you to decide which factors are the most important.

In terms of performance, D5 cookware heats up slower and retains heat longer than D3 cookware. It’s also more forgiving and less responsive to changes in temperature, so you’re less likely to overcook or burn your food if you accidentally turn the stove too high.

If you’re the type that wants precise control over your cooking, go with D3. If you’re a multitasker in the kitchen and don’t have the patience to hover over the stove, you might want to consider D5.

Although the design doesn’t have an impact on performance, it’s important to choose cookware that you’ll love looking at and showing off to guests—especially since you’ll have this cookware for decades.

Although D5 cookware has larger lid handles and more pronounced pouring rims, the real difference in the design of D3 and D5 cookware is the exterior. If you love the brushed, matte look, D5 is your only option. If polished is your thing, you can choose between either, but keep in mind that there are only a handful of D5 polished sets to choose from.

Last but not least is the price. Both are quite expensive, but you get what you pay for. If you’re trying to stay within a specific budget, D3 is less costly and gives you more options. But as I mentioned, in some cases, the difference in price is only about 10%.

If you’re looking for a nudge in one direction, I highly recommend D3 cookware. It’s All-Clad’s best-seller for a reason. It heats up fast and evenly, it has a traditional and elegant polished finish, and your options in terms of sets and individual pieces are nearly limitless.

If you’re ready to buy, or you just want to check out more reviews and compare prices, All-Clad D3 and D5 cookware are both available on Amazon at the links below.

• All-Clad D3 on Amazon, All-Clad.com, and Curated.com
• All-Clad D5 on Amazon, All-Clad.com, and Curated.com