The easiest way to avoid wasting £800–£1,500 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.
A note on Major Brands:
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 though, but it can be well worth it if you’re looking for a 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.
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 problems confidently ranking some of them here.
Best Overall Wheel – Shimpo RK-3E/VL
£1865
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 pottery UK scene, and for good reason.
They are high-torque, fine-control, smooth 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 are probably the most trusted UK brand, and this is their flagship model.
Best Home Wheel – The Home Studio Wheel
£899
Capacity: 10KG
Wheelhead: 32cm
Power: 200W
Having an industrial grade, premium £1800+ Shimpo is great, but 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 have recommend it as our best choice for home potters. Since it’s not always easy to predict how a wheel will look/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
£2400
Capacity: 136KG
Wheelhead: 35cm
Power: 1HP
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The Brent CXC wheel is hands down the best wheel if you regularly making extremely large pieces. It can handle a whopping 136KG clay (writing this now, I don’t even know how you would get this on the wheel!)
Brent wheels do 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
Most wheels under £1000 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 is rare at this price point.
Best Mini Wheel – The Small Pottery Wheel - Lite
£220
Capacity: 500G
Wheelhead: 10cm
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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 variable speed control and strong torque for a wheel of this scale, making it capable of handling up to around 500g of clay.
Its 10 cm aluminium wheelhead provides a solid, stable surface for miniature work, while the lightweight 1 kg 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.
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 power for regular throwing and is widely regarded for its reliability and longevity.
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 UK: Pacifica GT-800
~£900–£1,100 (US price, not UK available)
Capacity: 45kg
Wheelhead: 13 in
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. 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 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 or similar to the one that you learnt 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 | £899 | 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 help you make the best decision on buying a pottery wheel.
-What Type Of Pottery Wheel Is Right For You?
-Are Vevor Pottery Wheels Any Good?
-What makes a good home/beginners wheel?
As always, any questions, let us know!
