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The easiest way to avoid wasting £1,000+ on the wrong wheel: Our free 30-second quiz.
There are lots of options for pottery wheels on the market, and it can be difficult to work out which ones are great and which ones to avoid.
Not sure which wheel is right for you?
Use our pottery wheel comparison tool to compare wheelhead size, motor power, capacity and price side-by-side.
Pottery Wheels for Sale in the UK
It’s worth first pointing out that when going for a pottery wheel from one of the major brands (Shimpo, Skutt, Brent etc.), you can be confident that you will be getting a good-quality, well-built pottery wheel.
This level of trust and reputation does come with a larger price tag, but it can be well worth it if you’re looking for peace of mind. While it can be difficult to get help from the brands themselves (they are large companies and not based in the UK), you can normally get good support from their authorised distributors.
That said, other lesser-known brands can also provide great value. Just make sure that the company you buy from has good reviews and offers a full warranty and returns policy.
While kick wheels are available, if you are a beginner, we would definitely recommend starting with an electric pottery wheel.
For full transparency: We do sell pottery wheels (some of which will be featured on this list), but we will be looking at all pottery wheels available in the UK fairly and honestly. Our ethos as a business is to provide clarity to help people make an informed decision – not to be salesy or pushy. That said, we have a lot of faith in the products that we sell due to our great experience with them, so we have no problem confidently ranking some of them highly here.
Best Overall Wheel – Shimpo RK-3E/VL
£1,865
Capacity: 45KG
Wheelhead: 35cm
Power: 400W
Well, what can we say? If you’ve been doing pottery for a while, you’ll have seen plenty of these wheels around. Shimpo RK-3E wheels are ubiquitous in the UK pottery scene, and for good reason.
They are high-torque, offer fine control, run smoothly and can handle more clay than a typical potter would ever want. These wheels last a very long time and can handle intense use.
Shimpo is probably one of the most trusted pottery wheel brands in the UK, and this is its flagship model.
The Home Studio Wheel
Price: £1000
Capacity: 10KG
Wheelhead: 32cm
Power: 200W
Having an industrial-grade, premium £1,800+ Shimpo is great, but it can be overkill for the majority of people. Home potters have slightly different priorities, including ease of use, build quality, aesthetics and ergonomics.
Loved by potters around the UK, The Home Studio Wheel ticks all of those boxes, which is why we recommend it as our best choice for home potters. Since it’s not always easy to predict how a wheel will look or feel once you are using it in your home, we offer a free trial period where you can return the wheel even if you have used it.
If you're looking for a wheel for your home studio, check out our home studio wheels collection.
Best Wheel for Large Work – Brent CXC
£2,400
Capacity: 136KG
Wheelhead: 35cm
Power: 1HP
The Brent CXC wheel is hands down the best wheel if you regularly make extremely large pieces and want a powerful motor. It can handle a whopping 136KG of clay (writing this now, I don’t even know how you would get this on the wheel!).
We also really like the foot pedal on this one.
Brent wheels can last an extremely long time as well, with reports of them lasting 10–20 years in some cases!
Best Value for Money Wheel – Home Studio Wheel
£1000
Most wheels £1,000 or under in the UK market are either compact hobby models or imported units with limited after-sales support.
The Home Studio Wheel was designed to change that.
It delivers full-size proportions, strong centering capacity and UK-backed warranty support while remaining accessible for home studios.
That combination, along with the high build quality, is rare at this price point.
The Home Studio Wheel is one of the best beginner-friendly pottery wheels available in the UK.
Best Mini Wheel – The Small Pottery Wheel – Lite
£220
Capacity: 500G
Wheelhead: 10cm
See More
The Small Pottery Wheel – Lite is a thoughtfully designed miniature wheel created specifically for throwing very small pieces. Despite its compact size, it offers smooth, adjustable speed and strong torque for a wheel of this scale, making it capable of handling up to around 500g of clay.
Its 10cm aluminium wheelhead provides a solid, stable surface for miniature work, while the lightweight 1kg design makes it easy to move between workspaces or store when not in use. The removable drip tray also helps keep your work area clean during throwing. It has great build quality for its size.
Designed and produced in the UK using durable 3D-printed components, the Small Pottery Wheel – Lite is a well-considered option for potters interested in miniature throwing, experimentation or working where space is limited.
Best Tabletop Wheel – Shimpo RK-5T
£750
Capacity: 9KG
Wheelhead: 17.8cm
Power: 100W
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The Shimpo RK-5T tabletop wheel may be small, but don’t underestimate its power. Despite its compact size, it has enough motor power for regular throwing and is widely regarded for its reliability and longevity. It's designed for ceramic artists in small spaces who need enough power to throw real pots.
While it is not designed for large-scale work, many potters value it as a long-term, dependable wheel for small to medium pieces, particularly where space is limited or a tabletop setup is preferred.
Best Wheel Not Available in the UK – Pacifica GT-800
~£900–£1,100 (US price, not available in the UK)
Capacity: 45KG
Wheelhead: 13in
Power: 1HP
The Pacifica GT-800 is worth mentioning because it consistently comes up in experienced potter discussions as a well-built, sensibly priced alternative to higher-end studio wheels. It can handle large amounts of clay and is suitable for any skill level. In the US market, it is often positioned between entry-level wheels and premium options like Brent and Shimpo, offering strong performance without the highest price tags.
While the GT-800 does not have the brand prestige or resale value of some competitors, it is frequently recommended as a dependable, no-frills workhorse. Unfortunately, it is not currently available through authorised distributors in the UK, which makes parts, servicing and warranty support difficult. For that reason, despite its reputation, it is not a realistic option for most UK-based potters.
Which Features to Look Out for in a Wheel
There are some features that are nice-to-haves and others that genuinely make a big difference to your enjoyment and ease of using the potter's wheel.
- Removable splash pan: This makes it much easier to clean the wheel. A splash pan that is fixed in place may hold water slightly better, but we find that a removable one makes cleaning easier.
- Adjustable legs: What are the chances that a fixed-height wheel will be exactly the right height for you? We think being able to change the height of the wheel is a really important feature.
- Reversible direction: Some people will never use this; for others, it's a must. If you throw anti-clockwise or are sharing the wheel between multiple people, we recommend making sure it has a reversible direction.
- Noise levels: The Shimpo Whisper wheels are among the quietest out there, but most wheels shouldn't be loud. An annoying buzz can get on your nerves and deter you from throwing.
- Hall-effect foot pedal: All electric pottery wheels will have either a foot pedal or hand lever to control their adjustable speed. However, not all foot pedals are created equally. On some cheaper models, the speed can only be adjusted in increments, with the foot pedal clicking as you press up and down. A Hall-effect foot pedal uses a magnetic sensor to adjust the speed of the potter's wheel smoothly.
Best Pottery Wheel for Beginners
In our opinion, there are two standout options for beginner pottery wheels: the Shimpo RK-55 and the Home Studio Wheel.
These wheels are very similar in spec, and both are fantastic starting points to set you in good stead for your pottery journey.
Which Wheel Should You Buy?
There are plenty of good options out there; it's about finding the right one for you.
Our tips:
- Avoid the ultra-cheap 'toy' wheels from Amazon.
- It can be worth choosing a wheel that is the same as or similar to the one you learned with.
- Buy from a company that offers post-purchase support and a full warranty.
But most importantly: choose a wheel that you love – one that you are excited to use!
We have a summary table of some of the best pottery wheels on the UK market below:
| Model | Price | Max Capacity | Wheelhead | Best for |
| Shimpo RK-5T | £764 | 9KG | 17.8cm | Small Spaces |
| The Home Studio Wheel | £999 | 10KG | 32cm | Home Potters/Small Businesses |
| Shimpo RK-55 | £1,042 | 10KG | 30cm | Home Potters/Beginners |
| Shimpo RK-3E | £1,865 | 45KG | 35cm | Professionals |
| Brent CXC | £2,095 | 136KG | 35cm | Very Large Work |
We also have supporting articles that can help you make the best decision when buying a pottery wheel.
- What Type of Pottery Wheel Is Right for You?
- Are Vevor Pottery Wheels Any Good?
- What Makes a Good Home/Beginner's Wheel?
- Shimpo RK-55 vs The Home Studio Wheel
As always, if you have any questions, let us know!
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