To find the best spice racks, we thoroughly researched the various options available and considered factors like size, material, and installation process while coming up with our list. We also spoke with Alysha Fenn, founder and CEO of professional organizing company Making Space Today, for expert advice on how to organize your spice rack and what to look for when buying one. When shopping for spice racks, Fenn suggests considering factors like “spice volume, frequency of use, aesthetic and functional preference, and available space” to ensure that you pick up the organizer that best fits your specific needs. Our top pick is Allstar Innovations Two-Tiered Spice Spinner because it’s spacious enough to hold up to 40 spices, but still compact enough to save space in a cabinet or cupboard. Its unique design has so many helpful features, like the rotating base, adjustable heights, and D-shape that allows it to sit flush against the wall. Here are the best spice racks to organize your kitchen. Who it isn’t for: People who only cook with a few different spices. We think the best spice rack for most people is this fantastic organizer from Allstar Innovations. It’s a lazy Susan, so it has a built-in turntable that rotates to show off all your spices. The two-tiered design can hold dozens of spices (up to 40 jars total or 15 pounds!). There’s also room for a few tall bottles in the center, which helpfully rotates on its own, and the rack’s unique D-shaped design means that it can fit flush against a cabinet or cupboard without taking up any unnecessary room in your kitchen. Plus, this spice rack’s height is adjustable, with four settings for the top shelf that you can change based on the spices it’s holding or the size of your storage space. You can place the organizer in a cabinet, on a countertop, or even in the fridge because it can fit almost anywhere. And with its sleek design and two color options, it’s sure to blend right in with most kitchen styles. There’s also a three-tiered version available for home cooks with an even bigger spice collection. Product Details:
Dimensions: 10.4 x 12.5 x 6.5 inchesMaterial: PlasticColors: White, gray
Who it isn’t for: People who need an organizer to store a vast spice collection. You can’t beat the price of this three-tier spice organizer from Copco. The budget-friendly spice rack can fit up to 24 jars (or 15 cans) while saving precious space in your pantry. The three shelves are deep and sturdy, and they’re made from durable plastic with a non-slip lining to prevent the jars from falling over into one another. The varying heights of the shelves mean that you can see all of your spices and quickly find the exact one you need. It’s also worth noting that this spice rack’s overall small size will keep your kitchen tidy. What really makes this spice organizer stand out (other than its low price), is how many colors it comes in. Pick from more than 15 pastel hues, including light pink, cream, and sky blue. Plus, the rack’s plastic material is easy to clean, just requiring a wipe with a damp cloth if there’s ever a spill or crumbs. Product Details:
Dimensions: 9 x 15 x 3.5 inchesMaterial: PlasticColors: 17 options
Who it isn’t for: People who want a sleek and small organizer. If you regularly cook with a lot of spices, then you’ll benefit from buying an expandable spice rack, like this popular option from Gongshi. The three included shelves are of various heights, and they can expand for a total width of up to 25 inches. There’s no installation process or hardware needed; just pull the shelves out and they’ll stay at the size you need for as long as you want. Alternatively, you can use this organizer as two individual tiered shelves to create even more storage space for your items. The rack is seriously big, too, holding up to 36 spice jars on its three-inch shelves. It’s made from sturdy steel, with anti-slip mesh and a protective railing on each shelf to prevent spices from falling off. It can be tucked away in a cabinet or put on display on a countertop, and either way, it’ll help you organize your spices. Product Details:
Dimensions: 9.35 x 12.5–25 x 4.45 inchesMaterial: Alloy steelColors: Black, chrome
Who it isn’t for: People who want to store spices inside of a cabinet. If you’re looking to save as much space as possible, consider picking up a magnetic spice rack like this one from Thipoten. Just attach it to the side of your fridge, stove, microwave, or anywhere else in your kitchen where you want quick access to your spices—the strong, sturdy magnets will keep it in place, so no drilling or other assembly is required. The magnetic rack can hold up to six pounds, so it fits a hefty amount of spice jars that will no longer have to clutter your countertop. Each shelf comes with two removable hooks, which you can use to conveniently hold other cooking essentials (like measuring cups or pot holders) that you want within reach. Overall, it’s a sleek, supremely helpful organizational system that’s meant to keep your kitchen clutter-free and easy to navigate. The sleek shelf is also available in sets of two, and it comes in four color options so you can pick the one that best matches your kitchen decor. Product Details:
Dimensions: 4.35 x 9.7 x 3.4 inchesMaterial: MetalColors: Black, gray, red, white
Who it isn’t for: People who prefer spice organizers made of metal or wood. This three-tier organizer from iDesign, which is available in two different sizes, is ideal for storing spices in deep kitchen cabinets. The multiple levels make it easy to reach the spice jars that are behind everything else in your pantry, so nothing gets lost or forgotten. Each tier has a 1-inch thick edge to keep spice jars contained and prevent them from accidentally falling off. This spice rack is specifically designed for narrow spaces, making it a great choice for small cabinets and kitchens that don’t have a ton of pantry storage. The clear plastic makes it easy to differentiate your spices so you don’t accidentally grab the wrong one. Once you try this versatile spice organizer in your kitchen, you might want to stock up and use it for makeup, medicine, and other small items that need a home. Product Details:
Dimensions: 10.38 x 6.25 x 4 inches and 9.5 x 10.25 x 4 inchesMaterial: PlasticColor: Clear
Who it isn’t for: People who aren’t willing to drill holes into their pantry. This handy spice rack from Lynk Professional slides out from your cabinet so you can easily reach all of your spices—even the jars all the way in the back—without having to take everything else out of your pantry. It comes in multiple sizes (including two-tiered options), and they’re all adjustable, which means you can add an extra two inches of depth so it fits your cabinet. The smallest option holds up to 10 standard spice jars, but other sizes could work well for things like olive oil and pasta sauce, too. Thanks to a thick steel frame, this durable pull-out rack is sturdy and keeps your spices in place. Plus, it only takes a few minutes and two screws to install it. Simply screw the bottom tray into your cabinet, and you’ll be ready to make use of your fully organized spice collection. Product Details:
Dimensions: From 10.31 x 4.25 x 2.38 inches to 12.25 x 10.31–12.31 x 2.5 inchesMaterial: Alloy steelColor: Chrome
Who it isn’t for: People who want to have all of their seasonings within arm’s reach. Not everyone needs a spice rack in their drawers (depending on the number of spices you own, they all might be able to fit snugly when placed side by side). But no matter how big your collection is, it never hurts to be extra organized—and that’s where this bamboo spice rack from Seville Classics comes into play. Specifically designed to fit into drawers, this organizer can hold up to 12 standard spice jars. It works best with square-shaped jars, in which case four bottles should fit on each shelf. And you can always purchase two organizers and place them side by side to accommodate double the amount of spice jars. The bamboo rack itself is easy to clean; just wipe it down with soap and water and allow it to air dry before placing it back in the drawer. We love that it’s aesthetically pleasing and highly functional since the labels are always visible when the bottles are facing up. Product Details:
Dimensions: 15 x 8 x 1.5 inchesMaterial: BambooColor: Natural
Who it isn’t for: People who don’t want to spend time assembling and mounting a spice rack. Mounting a spice rack on the wall is a smart way to ensure that you get a full view of your go-to spices while saving necessary space on your countertops or in your cabinets. This beautiful option from Ikea is made from light aspen wood and requires just a bit of assembly to get set up on a wall in your kitchen. You can fill up a single shelf with your most essential spice jars or buy several racks to display your entire collection. This wooden spice rack is easy to clean; you just need to wipe it with a cloth when it gets dirty. You can sand or treat it as needed—and you can even stain or paint the wood to make it stand out even more in your kitchen. Product Details:
Dimensions: 3.8 x 15.75 x 3.5 inchesMaterial: Aspen woodColor: Natural
Who it isn’t for: People who would prefer a two-tiered rack to make the most of their space. This lazy Susan from Target is an excellent organizational choice for home cooks who have dozens of oddly shaped spices. The spice rack offers plenty of storage space, fitting numerous spices (and condiments!) in the center. Thanks to the rotating base, it will only take a few seconds for you to browse all the options and find the exact product you’re searching for. And with the organizer’s tall sides, you never have to worry about spices falling out while it’s in motion. It’s not the biggest lazy Susan on the market, but as long as you don’t have tons of spices to put away, it should do the trick and look nice in your kitchen. Product Details:
Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 2.88 inchesMaterial: Wood, metalColor: Natural, black
Who it isn’t for: People who don’t want to use the included spice bottles. While storing spices on a countertop is great for visibility, it can also mean that you lose out on coveted space for the rest of your kitchen gadgets. Not with this handy spice rack, though—its tall, thin design takes up very little space, but it still holds plenty of spices on its rotating base. Best of all, the rack comes with 16 sealed glass jars that are pre-filled with popular spices, like black pepper, oregano, and chili powder. The flip-top lids make it easy to pour out the spices without making a mess. Even though this spice rack was meant to be put on display on the countertop, you can always stash it in a cabinet if that’s your preference. Either way, its sleek design and rotating base make it stand out from other spice racks on the market. Product Details:
Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 12 inchesMaterial: Glass, plasticColor: Black base, glass jars with stainless steel lids
How to Shop for Spice Racks Like a Pro
Size
Before shopping, make sure to measure the dimensions of the cabinet, drawer, shelf, or wall where the rack will go, advises Fenn. Many people mistakenly buy a rack “without measuring their available space, so they come home to find out it’s too big or too small for the cabinet or drawer,” she explains. Then, think about what you require in terms of volume—are you looking to store a handful of the most essential spices or dozens of gourmet spices that you’ve collected over the years? Not considering this factor can lead to either some bottles or the whole spice rack not fitting properly into your space, Fenn warns. You should also consider the “anticipated growth” of your spice collection; if you don’t currently own a lot of spices but plan to stock up, keep that in mind when choosing a rack size.
Installation
If you’re installing a spice rack in a cabinet, Fenn recommends opting for a standalone rack, a lazy Susan, or a three-tier shelf. For the latter option, “make sure you have enough available height to comfortably take the spices out and put them back,” Fenn notes. For installation in a drawer, you might want to pick up a spice drawer liner to “prevent rolling” or a tiered drawer rack, Fenn advises. And on countertops, go for a lazy Susan or a tray so the spices are kept in one small space. Otherwise, “utilizing wall space with thin floating shelves can be a great option, especially for those short on cabinet space,” says Fenn.
Material
According to Fenn, the best materials for spice racks are “anything that has a flat surface like wood, bamboo, steel, or acrylic. “Without a flat surface, your spices are destined to topple and make a mess.” That said, plastic can work too, especially if the rack has a non-slip bottom and/or protective siding to keep spices in place.
Questions You Might Ask
How should you organize your spice rack?
The most important thing is to “make sure your spices are accessible and visible so you know what you have at all times and you can reach them,” Fenn says. Beyond that, how you organize your spice rack depends on factors like the available storage space in your kitchen and how often you use spices when cooking. If you only own a few spices, for instance, a lazy Susan in a cabinet might work perfectly, while someone with dozens of spices will need a much more complex rack. Fenn also recommends placing spices in the same type of jar with “cohesive labels” to make for a more pleasing aesthetic, and organizing them “alphabetically, by color, or by frequency of use” depending on your individual needs.
Do spices expire?
“Spice expiration is distinct from most other food expirations in that they don’t really ‘go bad’ or get moldy,” says Fenn. Typically, a spice’s expiration date indicates when it “loses most of its flavor or potency,” she adds, not when it’s no longer okay to use. Even if you don’t want to use them for cooking, there are still plenty of ways to use old or expired spices.
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Rachel Simon, a writer for Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, The New York Times, and many other publications. She frequently covers home products and did significant research on spice racks for this story, including speaking to Alysha Fenn, founder and CEO of Making Space Today.
