The 10 Best Lazy Susans for Style, Storage, and Sharing Food
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Food & Wine / Kevin Liang
While the origins of the lazy Susan are hazy, this rotating round tray has been used for decades to help serve food to an entire table without anyone having to reach across or pass dishes. It's not limited to table service, though. If you’re searching for a smart solution to sifting through a packed cabinet to find a condiment or canned good, smaller versions of these turntables have become popular for organizing kitchens, from cabinets to countertops. We compared the features, construction, and overall aesthetics of many lazy Susans on the market before narrowing our list.
Best Overall: Williams Sonoma Hold Everything Lazy Susan
You won’t want to hide this stylish lazy Susan. Made of sustainably sourced walnut or ash wood, it’s finished with a clear, food-safe lacquer that shows off its natural grain. Use it to house and display your favorite cooking oils and spice blends on the counter while keeping them within reach, or let it live in the center of your dining table to hold a salt cellar and pepper mill. A gently raised edge keeps items from falling off as it turns, and the quality mechanism lets it spin smoothly. Maintaining it is easy: just wipe it down with a damp cloth whenever needed.
Price at time of publish: $50
Material: Ash wood or walnut wood
Dimensions: 10 x 1.5 inches
Related: The 14 Best Spice Racks to Organize Your Kitchen or Pantry
Best Value: Neat Method Acacia Turntable
This simple 10.5-inch turntable resembles our Best Overall for about half the cost. Made of acacia wood, it would make an attractive addition to a counter or tabletop, but we would also recommend it for organizing your pantry, laundry room, or anywhere else you need to maximize space. The turning mechanism is quiet and smooth, offering an attractive and easy solution for stowing spices, bath accouterments, or whatever needs sorting. It's also available in a larger size with a 13.5-inch diameter.
Price at time of publish: $23
Material: Acacia wood
Dimensions: 10.5 x 0.8 inches
Best Splurge: Arhaus Sur Metal Lazy Susan
Part lazy Susan, part sculpture, this extra-large turntable is artisan-crafted in Mexico. Each piece is made of metal and oxidized to create a unique and beautiful finish. Because of its handmade nature, there will be some variation in size and weight, but you can estimate this piece to measure 23 inches in diameter and weighing 20 pounds. It would be a gorgeous (and functional) centerpiece for a grand dining table or a large coffee table. The patina finish is durable, and you can easily wipe away spills or debris with a damp cloth.
Price at time of publish: $269
Material: Oxidized metal
Dimensions: 23.6 x 2 inches
Best Marble: Creative Home Marble Lazy Susan
Made of natural marble, this lazy Susan stands out as a sophisticated option for countertop storage and organization. Its 12-inch diameter is large enough to hold a number of kitchen essentials, from vinegar to barbecue spice rubs, and you can easily wipe it down if it gets greasy or dusty. You can also utilize its stay-cool, nonstick surface as a serving platter for hors d’oeuvres, dessert, or cheese. Since marble is a natural material, each piece is unique. The base is padded with felt to prevent it from scratching its resting surface. It’s easy to maintain, too: gently hand wash with mild soap and water then dry with a soft cloth.
Price at time of publish: $47
Material: Natural marble
Dimensions: 12 x 1 inches
Best Stainless Steel: RSVP International Stainless Steel Turntable Lazy Susan
Stainless steel is a low-maintenance material that seamlessly blends into most kitchen schemes. This turntable is made of high-quality brushed 18/10 stainless steel, and measures 10.5 inches in diameter, ideally sized to sit on the counter and hold your favorite cooking oils and condiments. It can hold up to 25 pounds, so you can also stock it with canned goods in the pantry, keeping them easily accessible and organized. The smart ball bearing mechanism makes this lazy Susan turn smoothly, and the slightly raised edge helps keep contents from falling off. To clean, hand wash it with gentle dish soap to maintain its luster.
Price at time of publish: $16
Material: Stainless steel
Dimensions: 10.3 x .75 inches
Best Two Tier: Lipper International 8302 Bamboo Wood 2-Tier 10" Kitchen Turntable
If you’re searching for a two-tiered lazy Susan for an open cabinet setup, this classic wooden design beats its plastic competition. Made of sustainable bamboo, it’s naturally antimicrobial and durable. The 10-inch diameter is large enough to hold many containers to keep them organized and accessible. You can use the 5-inch high lower shelf for shorter jars and the top shelf for taller items, taking advantage of often underutilized vertical space.
Price at time of publish: $18
Material: Bamboo
Dimensions: 10 x 6.88 inches
Best for the Refrigerator: Williams Sonoma Hold Everything Metal Powder Coat Lazy Susan
Part of the Williams Sonoma Fridge Organization collection, this lazy Susan can be just as useful outside of the refrigerator, too. The white powder-coated finish would look at home in nearly any style kitchen, yet it’s utilitarian enough to use in a pantry or other space. The high sides of the turntable keep taller containers from falling over, while contents remain easily viewable. The finish also makes cleaning easy. Wipe it down with a soft, dry cloth to brush away dust and debris.
Price at time of publish: $35
Material: Powder-coated steel
Dimensions: 11 x 3.5 inches
Best for Cabinets: Copco Non-Skid Two-Tier Pantry Cabinet Lazy Susan Turntable
To make the most of a cabinet or shelf with lots of vertical space, opt for a two-tier turntable like this version by Copco. It’s equipped with a grippy surface to prevent slipping and the raised edges keep contents from toppling over while turning. This particular model has a generous 12-inch surface to load with canned goods, nut butter, and more. This popular lazy Susan comes in a single-tier version of the same size, and is backed by a lifetime warranty against defects. It also comes in an array of colors.
Price at time of publish: $14
Material: Plastic
Dimensions: 12 x 7.5 inches
Best for Corner Cabinets: Rev-A-Shelf 2-Tier Almond Plastic Adjustable Height Pie-cut Cabinet Lazy Susan
The corner shelf of a kitchen cabinet system can be difficult to keep organized without the right fittings. This two-tiered molded polymer shelf is just the answer, maximizing the often awkward space in the lower corner of your kitchen cabinets. It comes ready to install and has a telescoping bar that expands from 26 to 31 inches, allowing you adjust its height for a perfect fit. Each shelf holds up to 20 pounds, which you can take advantage of to store anything from baking essentials to pots and pans.
Price at time of publish: $99
Material: Plastic, metal
Dimensions: 28 x 26 inches
Best With Dividers: iDesign Linus Collection Turntable Organizer with Dividers
A turntable with compartments can take your organizing efforts a step further, whether it’s separating different types of tea or grouping similar seasonings. It can also work well as a storage solution for cleaning sprays, beauty products, craft items, and more. This particular model measures 11 inches in diameter, but it’s also available in a 9-inch option for smaller spaces. Durable BPA-free plastic is sturdy and easy to keep clean with a bit of mild dish soap and water.
Price at time of publish: $25
Material: BPA-free plastic
Dimensions: 11 x 4.38 inches
Factors to Consider
Size and Shape
When picking out a lazy Susan for organization, you’ll want to consider how much space you have to work with and what you’re trying to keep tidy. It needs to be large enough to be comfortable hold the items you’re organizing, such as canned goods or spices, but not so large that locating smaller items becomes hard. If you’re searching for a turntable to sit on your dining table, you want it to be large enough for people to be able to reach while leaving plenty of room around its edges for place settings.
Cleaning
The material of your lazy Susan will largely determine how easy it is to keep clean. Metal or marble options will be the easiest to wipe down but tend to be heavier and more costly than their plastic counterparts. Wooden versions should be wiped down with a damp cloth and dried right away to prevent damage to the surface. Plastic turntables can typically be easily cleaned with mild soap and warm water, but you will want to avoid using anything abrasive that will scratch its surfaces. Always be sure to read the care instructions provided by the manufacturer for the final say on how to clean your turntable.
Assembly and Installation
Most turntables come ready to use. For fixed lazy Susans, like the kind that are installed into corner cabinets, you may need to do a little bit work and measuring. Prepare yourself for a DIY install by reading installation instructions thoroughly and gathering all the right tools to ensure secure attachment for your new piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you measure for a lazy Susan?
Measure the width, depth, and height of its intended space to find out how much room you have to work with. You’ll want enough clearance so it can turn freely while leaving your cabinet door space to close. So, allow about a half an inch on all sides. For two-tiered and high-walled versions, you want to make sure you can can remove items without running into the shelf above.
How do you organize a lazy Susan?
The easiest way to get started is to store similar items together. For example, spices and seasonings, especially if they’re in identical containers, should live on the same lazy Susan, making it easy to locate the exact one you need. Some lazy Susans are already equipped with dividers, which you can use to sort your wares right away (and add an adhesive label, if you want to take it a step further). Smaller items can also be contained in bins or baskets in order to keep cabinet turntables sorted.
Our Expertise
Bernadette Machard de Gramont is an LA-based freelance writer specializing in food, wine, and kitchen products. After a two-year stint at Williams Sonoma headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and interviews field experts for their insight.
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