The 9 Best Kitchen Islands of 2023

Best Overall

Crate & Barrel Belmont Kitchen Island

4.6

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It’s easy to see why the Belmont Kitchen Island is such a popular choice. It has a classic aesthetic that closely mirrors more permanent built-in designs. It also comes in two colors: a bolder black and a timeless white, so it’s versatile enough to fit into both more traditional and more modern homes. 

The island doesn’t just look good. It’s topped with a piece of solid rubberwood butcher block that’s been treated with a food-safe oil finish, making it the perfect prep space. If you find yourself wanting even more room? This bestselling kitchen island has a drop leaf on one side that can be folded up to accommodate two bar stools for eating—perfect for couples who live in small spaces without a formal eating area. 

There’s a fair amount of storage, too. You can hang a seasonal tea towel on the side and use the large under-island storage space for pots and pans or as an extra pantry. The doors slide open effortlessly to reveal an adjustable interior shelf you can customize to your preferences. Above that, the unit has two drawers for cooking utensils and silverware. And if you need to shift things around? Though the island is supported by tapered wooden legs, it can be mounted on caster wheels for improved portability—they’re sold separately.

Price at time of publish: $599

_{Dimensions: 36.5 x 44.25 x 20.5 inches | Material: Engineered wood and solid rubberwood | Weight: Not listed | Wheels: Sold separately | Colors Available: Black, white | Assembly Required: Yes}

Best Budget

Gracie Oaks Delesha 48'' Wide Prep Table

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You don’t need to spend a ton of money to get extra prep space in your kitchen. This budget-friendly option easily does the job and has a unique industrial aesthetic that looks great in transitional homes of all styles. It has a metal base, exposed screws, and faux wood accents that all add to its charm. Plus, it has two open shelves—one solid and one slatted—to give you ample room for storing pots, pans, small appliances, cookbooks, and more. 

Of course, you do have to make a few sacrifices due to the price point. Namely, its top is made from manufactured wood, so it can’t withstand heat or wetness the same way a solid wood like butcher block can. Avoid placing hot or wet objects directly onto the surface to increase the usable lifespan of the furniture. Each shelf can only support up to 30 pounds, so you may want to find an alternate spot for heavy appliances like a stand mixer.

Price at time of publish: $481

_{Dimensions: 36.25 x 48 x 20 inches | Material: Manufactured wood, metal | Weight: 61.71 pounds | Wheels: No | Colors Available: Black | Assembly Required: Yes}

Best Splurge

Williams Sonoma Barrelson Kitchen Island with Marble Top

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It may not be the most durable option as far as countertops are concerned, but there’s nothing that says luxury quite like marble. The Barrelson Kitchen Island is topped with just that—solid marble straight from Italy. And like the built-in islands it so closely mirrors, it’s made of solid wood and supported by stately columns on each end. It’s also available with two hardware finishes for a more custom look. 

The high-end piece doesn’t just look grand, though—it’s a whopping 7 feet long and has ample storage throughout. It has four large open shelves, plus four drawers for concealed storage. Each side also has a towel bar. There’s plenty of space to comfortably arrange two chairs on the one side of the island—perfect for chatting with your partner or kids while you chop the night's veggies or prepare a pot of soup. We think this island is just simply gorgeous, if you're willing to make the investment.

Price at time of publish: $5,995

_{Dimensions: 36 x 84 x 34 inches | Material: Marble, solid and engineered wood | Weight: 442 pounds | Wheels: No | Colors Available: White with black or polished nickel hardware | Assembly Required: Yes}

Best Small

Winston Porter Macy 22.88" Wide Rolling Kitchen Cart with Granite Top

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If you have a small kitchen, the Winston Porter Macy Island is extremely compact, measuring just shy of 23 inches wide and about 16 inches deep. That doesn’t render it useless, though—far from it. Despite its small form, this piece of furniture features all kinds of cool storage possibilities, thanks to a pull-out drawer for utensils, a four-bottle wine rack, and a pull-out wire basket that’s great for produce or even rolls of aluminum foil and parchment paper. 

While you can’t exactly spread out when prepping on this island, anyone with a small kitchen will appreciate the space it does provide—especially because it’s made of durable granite. The whole thing is also on wheels, so you can easily move it into and out of your main space, depending on your immediate needs. 

If there’s any downside, it’s that assembly is fairly complex and time-consuming. It’s hard to decipher exactly what you’re looking at in the instructions, so be prepared to spend a little extra time taking it one step at a time. 

Price at time of publish: $165

_{Dimensions: 33.88 x 22.88 x 15.75 inches | Material: Solid and manufactured wood, granite | Weight: 49.15 pounds | Wheels: Yes | Colors Available: Gray, green, natural, white, wenge | Assembly Required: Yes}

Best Large

Pottery Barn Reed Kitchen Island

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The Reed Kitchen Island may be expensive, but this high-end piece is a worthy splurge. It’s manufactured from kiln-dried mango wood and has a gorgeous antique umber finish complete with a moody charcoal granite top. 

The island isn’t just easy on the eyes. It has a double-sided design with three drawers—two in the front and one in the back. It also has two expansive open shelves that are nice and heavy duty, making them perfect for hard-to-store pots and pans. Unfortunately, there’s no concealed storage for larger items, but it’s a small sacrifice to make for such a statement-making piece. 

The island also has levelers on the bottom of all the legs for stability on uneven flooring, lending a more built-in look to the piece. It comes with delivery, so you can let the pros handle the finessing. 

Price at time of publish: $2,599

_{Dimensions: 72 x 34 x 36 inches | Material: Solid wood, granite | Weight: 357 pounds | Wheels: No | Colors Available: Dark wood | Assembly Required: No}

Best Portable

West Elm Yamazaki Tower 3-Tier Kitchen Cart With Handle

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For an island that you can effortlessly move around your kitchen as needed, it’s worth considering the Yamazaki Tower 3-Tier Kitchen Cart with Handle. The three-tiered steel frame sits atop four synthetic rubber wheels and has a handle that makes for effortless pushing. 

It may not have any concealed storage or bins, but it does have three large open shelves that are suitable for things like a mixer or a couple of pots and pans. You can even stack your favorite cookbooks for easy access. On the cart’s exterior, you’ll find multiple hanging hooks for stashing dish towels or utensils like ladles. 

The whole thing has a sleek industrial look that suits most decor styles. And the combination of portability and shelf space makes it just functional enough for everyday use—especially for renters. The only downside? For what you’re getting, this piece is relatively expensive. Fortunately, the steel will hold up for many years to come. 

Price at time of publish: $148

_{Dimensions: 19.3 x 15 x 32.1 inches | Material: Steel | Weight: Not listed | Wheels: Yes | Colors Available: Black | Assembly Required: Not listed}

Best Outdoor

Pottery Barn Indio Metal Outdoor Kitchen Island

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Love hosting al fresco? The Indio Metal Outdoor Kitchen Island will level up your patio, turning it into the ultimate space for entertaining. Not only is the unit entirely practical, but it’s also extremely stylish. The whole thing is crafted from weather-resistant aluminum and stainless steel that won’t rust in the elements. Still, it’s set on caster wheels for portability, should you need to move it. 

Like indoor kitchen islands, this one features enviable prep space that doubles as a spot for a buffet. It has plenty of storage—the unit has one storage drawer, as well as a lower slatted shelf. You can even remove half of the top to reveal two removable ice troughs to keep beverages chilled when entertaining. 

Pottery Barn offers a wide range of matching furniture—including outdoor cabinets—if you want to create a cohesive outdoor kitchen.

Price at time of publish: $2,499

_{Dimensions: 35.5 x 58 x 25 inches | Material: Aluminum, stainless steel | Weight: 115 pounds | Wheels: Yes | Colors Available: Aluminum | Assembly Required: No}

Best with Seating

August Grove Larchwood 48'' Wide Rolling Kitchen Island Set with Solid Wood Top

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The Larchwood Rolling Kitchen Island Set may be more expensive than some other small kitchen islands, but it comes with everything you need to create a true prep space, including two matching stools. 

It’s a relatively well-made piece, too. Assembly is complex—especially since the solid wood and granite countertop is so heavy—but once you get it assembled, you’ll be impressed by the wood construction and its attractive distressed finish.  

The top of this kitchen island is worth calling out, as it has a unique split finish—one side is solid wood for dining; the other is granite for prepping. At the bottom, you’ll find enough storage for any extras you don’t know where to stash. The island has a two-door cabinet with two interior shelves and two drawers above it.

Price at time of publish: $1,985

_{Dimensions: 36 x 48 x 25 inches | Material: Solid wood, granite | Weight: 427 pounds | Wheels: Yes | Colors Available: Distressed white wood | Assembly Required: Yes}