Last Updated on March 29, 2023
Are you searching for the best pottery wheel?
I’ve used a number of potters wheels over the years and when I wanted to have one at home I took a lot of time pouring over the most popular pottery wheels available. In this article you will see my picks for the top pottery-wheels, and whether you are a beginner or a seasoned artist you will find the right model for your needs.
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Check out the quick list below for links to customer reviews and prices for the best clay wheel picks or read on for the full review:
- Speedball Clay Boss Pottery Wheel
- Speedball Portable Artista Table Top Pottery Wheel
- U.S. Art Supply HP Table Top Pottery Wheel
- Mophorn Pottery Wheel
- Flbetyy Pottery Wheel Forming Machine
- VEVOR Pottery Wheel
Best Pottery Wheel Top Picks
A high quality clay sculpting wheel does not have to cost a fortune. While I have owned and used a number of amazing commercial quality wheels, having a top performing model for the home or classroom can be obtained without spending thousands of dollars. When looking at the banding wheel models available on the market today I looked at performance, durability, features, and value. The top performing potters wheels were surprising at times as I did not expect some of the lower priced models to perform as well as they did. As a matter of fact, there are a number of lower cost options on the market that will offer you great performance and durability. You will find those top performing models below.
Speedball Clay Boss Pottery Wheel
This electric potters wheel is a top choice for intermediate and advanced users. It is a very sturdy unit that offers great performance with a 1/2 horsepower motor. It can handle up to 100 pounds allowing for throwing larger clay projects. It has a large 14 inch wheel head included which works well for large vases and other large base projects.
It offers a foot pedal controlled variable speed. The base feet are adjustable for optimal height placement and even has a splash pan. This potters wheel comes with two bats and sample glazes allowing for a quick start setup. There is a five year manufacturer warranty as well. This is one of the top pottery wheels for home use.
- Ideal clay wheel for intermediate and advanced users
- 1/2 horsepower electric motor
- Adjustable speed control foot pedal
- 14 inch wheel head
- Includes instructional DVD, 2 bats, and sample glazes
- 5 year manufacturer warranty
Speedball Portable Artista Table Top Pottery Wheel
This is the best portable pottery wheel and I was impressed with it’s performance. It is lightweight and pretty easy to transport so if portability is important to you, you will like this unit. It has a 25 pound centering capacity making it great for most small and medium size projects. It would do very well in a classroom setting as it stores away without taking up much space. The 1/3 horsepower electric motor provided consistent performance and was relatively quiet. The speed is adjustable and it comes with a splash pan, which other potters wheels do not. This is also a great pottery wheel for home use if you are an artist that likes the flexibility of moving from a tabletop setup to the floor. It can be operated by hand or with a foot pedal.
- Best portable clay wheel
- 1/3 horsepower electric motor
- Hand or foot pedal controlled
- Adjustable speed
- Lightweight and stores away easy
- Great for home and classroom use
- Excellent value
U.S. Art Supply HP Table Top Pottery Wheel
This is another great option for those seeking a high quality portable pottery wheel. This model is bit heavier which forced me to place it as the second best portable pottery wheel but it performs exceptionally well. This potters wheel comes with a powerful 3/4 horsepower motor that can handle up to 25 pounds of clay. The speed is adjustable and can be controlled with the knob by hand or with the included foot pedal. It has an LCD screen showing your speed allowing for accurate RPM adjustments. The included wheel head is 11 inches and it additionally comes with a 11 inch plastic bat and a cup. The spin direction can be adjusted for left and right handed artists. This pottery wheel would excel at home and the classroom.
- Excellent portable pottery wheel
- Ideal for home and classroom use
- 3/4 horsepower electric motor
- Spin direction is reversible
- Comes with wheel head bat and cup
- Excellent value
Mophorn Pottery Wheel
This is a great little sculpting wheel that would work well at home and for instruction. It offers a quiet operation with adjustable speeds up to 300 rpm. The 10 inch wheel head can handle most clay projects which is why I really like it in the classroom or even for a clay bar. My unit came with some shaping tools which is a nice touch. The rotational direction can be reversed allowing for both lefties and righties to use this potters wheel. The basin is easy to clean and overall this is a great pottery wheel for beginners up to experienced clay throwers.
- Excellent pottery wheel for home and the classroom
- Quiet and consistent electric motor
- Adjustable up to 300 rpms
- 10 inch wheel head included
- Reversible direction spin
- Easy to clean
- Excellent value
Flbetyy Pottery Wheel Forming Machine
This is another excellent home pottery wheel. The motor is quiet and the spin speed was consistent. This pottery wheels speed is adjustable up to 300 rpms and was quiet at the high end as well as when running at slower speeds. The direction is adjustable and is controlled with a hand operated switch. You can also use a pedal for speed adjustments which is my preferred option. The pedal adjustment is responsive which is not always the case with lower quality pottery wheels. This pottery wheel will excel in home ceramics use.
- Ideal pottery wheel for home use
- Adjustable speed can be controlled by hand or foot pedal
- Quiet electric motor
- Takes up little space
- Excellent value
Vevor Pottery Wheels
This is one of the top pottery wheels for users seeking excellent performance with a lower price tag. It is a great wheel for throwing clay projects up to medium size. The electric motor runs smooth and quiet with adjustable speeds to 300 rpms. The wheel head is alluminum and it includes a water basin that is leak proof. In spite of the lower price point this model will work well for beginners to intermediate clay throwers and will be suitable for teaching children on as well.
- Ideal for those seeking performance at a lower price point
- Quiet electric motor
- Consistent speed is adjustable
- Leak proof water basin
- Great for intermediate and beginner users as well as teaching children
- Excellent value
For more clay and ceramics guides and tips read these articles
- How to Make Pottery Clay
- Top Metal Clay Kiln
- Top Clay for Sculpting
- Top Pottery Tools
- Top Ceramic Kiln for Home Use
Top Pottery Wheel Frequently Asked Questions
How much does one of the top pottery wheels cost?
The cost of various models covers a fairly wide range depending on a number of factors. The cost goes from around $150 at the low end and can go above $1500 at the high end of the range. The big difference in potters wheels cost stems from quality and features offered. For our top picks the choices went to potters wheels that can be used in the home which tends to be on the lower end of the scale.
How long will my wheel last?
This also depends quite a bit on the model chosen. A unit can last you many years if well cared for and that is the case for the picks recommended above. One of the biggest factors is how often you will use your pottery-wheel. Anything with moving parts can break down in time and that correlates with frequency of use. One rule of thumb I go by is that an electric model, like the Clay Boss or Amaco, will last around ten years if well maintained and used an average amount. If you opt for a quality kickwheel model it very well outlive you.
Can I get a portable model?
I know many teachers who like having the ability to take their clay wheel with them for guest instruction and seminar settings and having a portable unit is the solution if you are of like mind. A couple of the top picks are portable models that will work well being taken with you on the go. Always take great care to transport your pottery wheel as to not cause any damage and you will be good to go.
What is a wheel head and what size do I need?
The wheel head is the revolving piece of your pottery wheel that is set in the center of the wheels. The head is where your clay will be formed and they range in size from eight inches up to fourteen inches in diameter. Wheelheads are always flat and circular and composed of metal.
When choosing the size of the wheelhead for your particular model, it mainly depends on what you will be creating. If you are planning to throw pieces with small bases then naturally you will only need a small wheelhead, but if you plan to work on projects with large bases you will need a wheelhead large enough to accommodate it.
You must also know what type of bats and bat pins will fit your wheelhead. The bats are the thin disks set to the wheel head and they are affixed using the bat pins. Bat pins not only come in different sizes but are also comprised of materials such as wood, plastic, and plaster.
Here is the quick list with the top pottery wheel picks one more time. To view prices and customer reviews see the links below.