Pottery has been a popular (and incredibly messy) hobby for generations; whether you’re looking for something new and creative to indulge in or keen to upgrade your current ceramic-making setup, you may be wondering where to start looking.
Even amateurs testing the water will find that a potter’s wheel is a decent investment, cash-wise, so picking out the model most suited to your skill-set and artistic ambitions is important if you don’t want to be disappointed.
Luckily, we’ve done the hard part for you, and gathered up a list of five of our favorite pottery wheels available to pick up right now, being careful to select versatile options, appropriate for a range of different abilities and budgets.
If you’re brand new to throwing clay and you’d like to learn more about the features that make a good wheel, from beginner’s level all the way to professional, have a look at our concise and clear cut Buyer’s Guide.
And if that isn’t enough for you, we’ve also scoured the web for common customer queries and concerns when it comes to picking out a new pottery setup, which could help allay any last-minute fears before you click add to cart.
You’ll be recreating that Ghost scene before you know it!Wheel-y In A Hurry? Here’s Our Top Pick:
Top 5 Best Pottery Wheels
OUR TOP PICK
One of the more affordable wheels on our list, this wheel from the folks at SKYTOU might be small, but it’s still powerful, with a rotary speed of between 0 and 300 RPM, operating smoothly and stealthily with minimal noise.
Although this wheelhead is only 9.8 inches in diameter, if you’re not planning on any massive crafting projects, it should provide plenty of space for your work, and it comes with several shaping tools to try out when you’re making stuff, too!
With both a manual hand crank and a high quality brushless motor and foot pedal, you can use this machine automatically or power it yourself, depending on your preference any given day - beginners could start manually and work their way up!
A removable, easily cleaned ABS basin keeps things nice and tidy while you work, shielding you from flying globs of clay and super simple to sluice down with water inbetween sessions.
Compact and cute, with a pretty orange base, you’ll be able to set it up on any solid surface, so it can be used all over the house and is more than portable; you can take it with you anywhere, for throwing on the go!
Pros
- Incredibly lightweight at only 30 pounds (in comparison to other models!)
- Smaller wheelhead is great for beginners
- Manual or automatic rotation
- Removable high-quality plastic basin
Cons
- Much smaller than the Brent and Shimpo models
EDITORS CHOICE
Another manufacturer popular with potters everywhere, Brent also have a name for making high-quality wheels, and their C model is no different, built with industry-grade aluminum, steel and plastic for a product you can rely on.
Those who struggle to keep things nice and steady will be grateful for the unique three-legged design, which secures your wheel even when the 3/4 horsepower motor is running as fast as it can.
A deep, plastic splash pan is wipe-clean and can be easily removed when it’s time to scrape the detritus away, which is great if you’ve got a big project on the books and don’t have time to scrub up in between sessions.
Thanks to a double layer of protective ball bearings, your wheel rotates smoothly and almost silently; though they are small and unsuspecting, this minimalistic approach keeps everything in motion for years to come.
With a whopping 225 pounds of centering capacity, you can take on any size of project, from a teeny-tiny teacup to an enormous vase, which is great if you’re planning to work commercially and use it on a regular basis.
Pros
- High quality materials make a sturdy, steady wheel that’s built to last
- Simple to maintain and even easier to clean
- Assembly that even a beginner can handle
- Reverse switch built-in
Cons
- Not as widely-reviewed as other contenders on our list
BEST VALUE
One of the more affordable wheels on our list, this wheel from the folks at SKYTOU might be small, but it’s still powerful, with a rotary speed of between 0 and 300 RPM, operating smoothly and stealthily with minimal noise.
Although this wheelhead is only 9.8 inches in diameter, if you’re not planning on any massive crafting projects, it should provide plenty of space for your work, and it comes with several shaping tools to try out when you’re making stuff, too!
With both a manual hand crank and a high quality brushless motor and foot pedal, you can use this machine automatically or power it yourself, depending on your preference any given day - beginners could start manually and work their way up!
A removable, easily cleaned ABS basin keeps things nice and tidy while you work, shielding you from flying globs of clay and super simple to sluice down with water inbetween sessions.
Compact and cute, with a pretty orange base, you’ll be able to set it up on any solid surface, so it can be used all over the house and is more than portable; you can take it with you anywhere, for throwing on the go!
Pros
- Incredibly lightweight at only 30 pounds (in comparison to other models!)
- Smaller wheelhead is great for beginners
- Manual or automatic rotation
- Removable high-quality plastic basin
Cons
- Much smaller than the Brent and Shimpo models
RUNNER UP
Another mini but mighty machine, and the most budget friendly on our list, this pottery wheel from Mophorn is pretty to look at, super portable, and practical for working on anywhere you want to set it up.
Rotating clockwise or counterclockwise at the flip of a switch, the 9.8 inch aluminum wheelhead is solid and rustproof, rotates smoothly and nestled in a removable plastic basin, which catches flying clay with ease and makes cleanup simple.
Much quieter than its larger counterparts, it creates less than 60db of sound when in use, so you’ll be able to work for hours without getting a headache, and the built in feet protect your surfaces from scratching whilst holding things steady.
Control the speed of rotation with a flick of your wrist using the easy-turn knob, increasing or decreasing as much as you need to, though there aren’t any measurements to indicate how fast or slow you’ll go, so trial and error helps.
Weighing in at a tiny thirty three pounds, it’s easily lifted up and taken wherever you want to go, so if you work at a rented studio or attend pottery classes, you won’t have to share with someone else or wait your turn.
Pros
- A great first wheel - you get what you pay for
- Wipe-clean plastic tray
- Attractive, stylish design
- Control the speed and change direction in seconds
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a foot pedal
RUNNER UP
Boasting an LCD, touch-screen control as well as a pedal for instantaneous speed and direction changes, this wheel from SEAAN is mid-range price-wise, and a great middle ground for those between beginner and advanced stages.
Though it’s only packing a 9.8 inch aluminum alloy wheelhead, it’s a speedy system that can be adjusted to rotate from 0-320 times per minute, and you’re able to change the direction of turning at the touch of a button.
With a simple, removable splash pan made from sturdy ABS plastic, cleanup becomes much less difficult; you can take it off easily when it’s time to tidy, or leave it off altogether if you’d rather work without it.
Choose the speed you want and stick to it, as this wheel maintains it for you, so you can focus on the task at hand. Don’t worry - even when your hands are full of clay, you’ll still be able to use the LCD screen to make adjustments.
You can also manually rotate with a foot pedal if you’d prefer to have more control over your wheel whilst you work, and intricate, up-close adjustments or decorations are possible with the included 10 piece toolkit.
Pros
- LCD control panel, manual and automatic rotation
- ABS removable splash pan
- Sturdy three-legged design
- Bonus 10 piece toolkit
Cons
- Still on the small side
Best Pottery Wheels Buying Guide
Even the most simple-looking pottery wheel can be deceptively complicated, so it’s important to consider all of the following factors before you commit to your purchase, as this will guarantee the greatest possible satisfaction.
Manual Kick Wheel Vs Electric
The biggest question to answer when making your mind up about your new wheel is this: do you want an electrically powered set-up, or a manual kick-wheel that’s solely controlled by you?
Electric wheels tend to be much more lightweight than their manual counterparts, which improves their portability, great if you don’t have your own fixed studio or foresee yourself relocating anytime soon.
Of course, if you plan on plenty of practise, that does mean you’re likely to see an increase in your monthly bills, and the noise of the motors whirring could break through the serenity of your new and relaxing hobby.
Manual kick wheels on the other hand are incredibly low-maintenance machines that last far longer than any electric varieties; sometimes simple can be better, and if you’re a beginner, it’s much easier to get to grips with the throwing process.
You’ll find transitioning between clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation is much smoother (with some electrical machines not having a dedicated switching function in the first place), so you seamlessly switch between left or right handed throwing.
However, the manual wheels will also be far heavier, making them difficult to relocate, so if you want to move your art studio to a new location you’ll need a team of helpers or a hired moving van to help you out.
Wheelhead
Otherwise known as the circular, usually metal, flat surfaces on which you throw your clay, and they come in varying sizes and diameters. The size you opt for depends on your intention, but they are typically available between eight and fourteen inches.
When you’re planning on making sizable pots and bowls, or ceramics with a flat base, you should opt for the biggest wheelhead possible to ensure it will offer you enough space to perform your work.
The material of your wheelhead is also important to consider - a steel or aluminum alloy is your best bet, as they are going to be stronger and heavier, allowing you throw more clay and increasing the longevity of your machine.
Likewise, if you’re going to be using bats - small, thin discs that you fasten to your wheelhead with pins in order to help you remove larger pieces -you’ll want a potter’s wheel that accommodates any bats you already have or will get in the future.
You can do this by making sure that the pin configuration on your new potter’s wheel matches up with the pins you already have, as well as being the right size and distance from the center of the wheel.
Other wheels feature removable bat pins, allowing you to trim and decorate your pieces whilst they’re still on the wheelhead - ensuring that your new device has or can be upgraded with these pins is imperative if you plan on doing so.
Horsepower
When it comes to a manual kick wheel, this can be calculated by the heaviness of the wheel and how strong your legs are. Put simply, heavier wheels produce more potential torque and are therefore able to spin for much longer.
Electric wheels are of course fitted with motors, which will proffer horsepower between 1/4 and 1 HP; the amount of power it can produce determines how much clay you can throw, with 1 HP machines being capable of holding over 150 pounds!
The heavier your projects are, the slower your wheel will become, so if you’re wanting to make a massive masterpiece regularly, aiming for a more powerful motor is your best bet, or you’re looking at injuries!
Weight Capacity
You’ll find that this varies from machine to machine; depending on a variety of other factors, wheels can typically hold between twenty five pounds of clay right up to a hundred and fifty, even two hundred pounds.
Beginners seeking to make smaller ceramics like mugs and bowls will be absolutely fine on the lower end of the capacity scale, whilst professional potters looking to craft larger creations should aim for as large a capacity as possible.
You should bear in mind that exceeding a wheel’s weight limit is asking for trouble, either slowing your wheel down until it’s unusable or causing damage to the motor or other internal parts, rendering it unusable, so we really don’t recommend you do it.
Extra Features
Some potter’s wheels come with a built in reverse switch, which allows you to throw clay or trim it in the opposite direction instantly - if you like to throw clockwise AND counterclockwise, or want to work out which way you prefer, we’d recommend this.
Thinking about protecting your workspace is also important, as pottery is an especially chaotic and untidy hobby, so wheels that have built in splash pans, which will stop you covering yourself and everything you own with wet and sticky clay.
Worry not, though - you can buy a splash pan separately and affix it to your wheel whenever you like, so if you find a model you’re interested in and it’s not well equipped, you can still get it, just be sure to pick up a pan after!
If you’d like a wheel that has space for your accessories and addition surfaces that prove useful whilst working, consider opting for one with built in shelving or storage, helping you to keep all of your tools in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best pottery wheel for beginners?
Our biggest and best piece of advice is to set a budget and stick to it, especially if you have a fickle personality and tend to take up hobbies on a whim only to lose interest very quickly.
As you will have seen, pottery wheels range from $200 to upwards of $4,000, which even at the lower end is a pretty big investment, so be willing and committed to the hobby before you hit buy.
Looking for a small, electric wheel with an average horsepower and aluminum wheelhead is your best bet, as these will allow you to practise and improve your skills before potentially trading them in for a pricer model.
Can you do pottery without a kiln?
It is possible to fire your clay creations and turn them into pretty pottery pieces, but this is only achievable if you can hit 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, though most modern kilns can reach up to 2,400 degrees for additional imperviousness.
If you have a safe outdoor space in which you can build a fire - that adheres to your local fire safety legislation of course - that won’t be able to spread, essentially building a pit in which you will drop your pottery once the flames are hot enough.
This guide from The Ceramic School teaches you how to make a DIY Raku Kiln from a steel trash can, step by step!