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Whether you're serving guests, organizing your counters, or looking for a functional centerpiece for your kitchen table or island, a napkin holder might be just the thing to add to your living space. "You can find napkin holders made of wood, wicker, acrylic, or metal," advises professional organizer Tracy Bowers. "Just be on the lookout for ones that are aesthetically pleasing" and that pair nicely with the style of your home, and you won't be able to go wrong.
With expert guidance from Bowers in mind, we researched napkin holders with various materials and styles.
Below, the best napkin holders to add to your table, kitchen countertop—wherever you'd like!
Best Overall
OXO Good Grips SimplyPull Napkin Holder
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Sleek yet functional
One-handed refilling
Good for indoor and outdoor use
Only one finish available
Napkin holders are relatively simple products, and there's not a whole lot of variation among designs. But when it comes to balancing functionality and aesthetics, the OXO Good Grips SimplyPull is tough to beat. It's made of sleek and shiny stainless steel, with a weighted non-slip base. It also has a weighted arm with a rubberized grip to ensure your napkins won't fly away or slide off. This makes it a great choice for both indoor and outdoor use.
The arm stays in place when you lift it, allowing you to refill the tray one-handed. Plus, when you want to store your napkin holder—say, in a pantry or picnic basket—the arm folds flat into the base for easy storage. Since the tray doesn't have walls, the SimplyPull can hold cloth or paper napkins of various sizes, as well.
This napkin holder only comes in one finish, but the stainless steel should match—or at least complement—the fixtures in most kitchens. The material is also super durable, rust-resistant, and easy to wipe clean. Notably, all things considered, the price is very reasonable, too, making this a standout pick in more ways than one.
Price at time of publish: $23
Dimensions: 8 x 6.63 x 1.25 inches | Weight: 0.92 pounds | Material: Stainless steel | Color: Silver
Best Budget
Mainstays Vented Tabletop Napkin Holder
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Holds different napkin sizes well
Versatile design
Good for serving or organization
Only one finish available
Hand-wash only
Looking for something more affordable? Check out the Mainstays Vented Napkin Holder. The upright design is made of stainless steel and features a versatile chrome finish that should match the style of most kitchens and outdoor spaces.
We like that it holds different napkin sizes, and you can use it for everyday countertop organization or serving a few delicious dishes to guests. One thing to note about this napkin holder is, while it is made of rust-resistant and heat-tolerant stainless steel, this product calls for hand-washing only. This can make caring for it a bit harder. However, it's not a dealbreaker in our eyes, since you don't typically wash your napkin holder often.
Price at time of publish: $4
Dimensions: 6 x 4.75 x 1.65 inches | Weight: 0.51 pounds | Material: Stainless steel | Color: Silver
Best Splurge
Nambé Stone Napkin Holder
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Artistic charm
Brand's 15-step casting process
Resists cracking and tarnishing
Hand-wash only
If you're open to splurging on a high-end design that'll sit on your table for years to come, you should definitely consider the Nambé Stone Napkin Holder. It's not actually made out of stone. The flat napkin holder is made of metal alloy. However, it features a pebble-style weight in the middle that gives the piece a lot of artistic charm. As you can see, the weight helps keep paper napkins in place, too, while adding an interesting detail to a living space.
As we mentioned, this product is crafted from the brand's signature metal alloy. It's formed through a 15-step casting process to prevent cracking, chipping, and tarnishing, while ensuring a long-lasting finish. Still, hand-washing is best for preserving the material.
Price at time of publish: $85
Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 3 inches | Weight: 2.6 pounds | Material: Metal alloy | Color: Silver
Best Upright
Yamazaki Tower Napkin Holder
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Minimalist appeal
Two colors available
Anti-scratch base
Somewhat narrow
For those interested in an upright option, we recommend the Yamazaki Tower Napkin Holder. It's constructed from steel, and comes in your choice of black or white. The Japanese-made design features clean lines, sharp corners, and a minimalist appeal.
This napkin holder has small cushions on the base to keep it from scratching your table or kitchen countertops. One potential downside is that it's relatively narrow (1.26 inches), so it can only hold about 30 paper napkins. But this might be a plus if you're looking for a simple, compact option that takes up minimal countertop space.
Price at time of publish: $20
Dimensions: 5.71 x 5.71 x 1.26 inches | Weight: 0.29 pounds | Material: Steel | Color: Black or white
Best Wood
Threshold Wood Napkin Holder Black
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Natural finish
Weighted arm
Good for indoor and outdoor use
Larger than standard napkins
If you're drawn to wooden containers, you'll appreciate this napkin holder from Target's home decor brand, Threshold. It's made of—yes—wood and features a weighted metal arm with a black finish. The freestanding design is perfect for countertops, breakfast nooks, or outdoor dining. The wood finish also makes it a super versatile option, as the natural look will complement a variety of styles and aesthetics.
Filling it up is a breeze. Thanks to the arm, you won't have to worry about your paper napkins blowing away, either. This product is a 7.5-inch square. While slightly larger than standard luncheon napkins, the oversized dimensions don't affect the look much once it's full and make it a flexible option for other types of napkins as well.
Price at time of publish: $15
Dimensions: 7.5 x 7.5 x 3 inches | Weight: 1 pound | Material: Wood, metal | Color: Natural and black
Best Acrylic
Simply Glamr Acrylic Luncheon Napkin Holder
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Extra-thick material is durable
Modern yet versatile
Two sizes available
No center weight
We're also big fans of acrylic napkin holders. This one from Simply Glamr comes in two sizes to accommodate standard luncheon napkins, as well as paper or cloth napkins folded rectangularly. Acrylic is durable as is, and the extra-thick design makes this 1.7-pound piece even sturdier, too.
This napkin holder is crystal-clear with a modern yet versatile aesthetic. While it features clean lines, the edges aren't sharp, and non-slip pads on the bottom help it stay in place. If we could change one thing, we would add a center weight to prevent napkins from flying away when the napkin holder is used outdoors. Otherwise, it's a top-notch product.
Price at time of publish: $22
Dimensions: 7.7 x 7.7 x 2.8 inches, 9.4 x 5.1 x 2.8 inches | Weight: 1.7 pounds | Material: Acrylic | Color: Clear
Best Rattan
Dovecove Marionville Rattan Paper Napkin Holder
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Handwoven
Good for farmhouse-style homes
Two colors available
No center weight
Larger than standard napkins
Does your kitchen decor lean more farmhouse, boho, rustic, or coastal? Then, the Dovecove Marionville Napkin Holder might be your best bet. It's handwoven from natural rattan vines and comes in your choice of a brown or white-washed finish. The basket-style design flaunts a laidback charm without sacrificing versatility, too.
Now, since this napkin holder doesn't have a center weight, it's not ideal for outdoor use. Other than that flaw, we have no complaints about this product, though. It's a bit larger than standard napkins, but this also makes the product more flexible for storing and organizing other types of napkins you may use for dining or serving.
Price at time of publish: $28
Dimensions: 7.5 x 7.5 x 2.5 inches | Weight: 0.5 pounds | Material: Rattan | Color: Brown or white-wash
Best Marble
Williams Sonoma Marble Napkin Holder
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Reasonably priced
Hand-carved and polished
Sturdy, upright design
Slightly small
Only one color available
For a more upscale appeal, consider a marble napkin holder. We like this one from Williams Sonoma. It's hand-carved from real marbled stone and polished to a natural finish. However, despite it's durable and stylish finish and design, it's still pretty reasonably priced.
Weighing 2 pounds, this piece stands sturdily in the upright position. There's only one color available, but you should have no problem incorporating the neutral white tone into your kitchen counter decor. And, although it's on the smaller side, it can hold napkins of various sizes. This flexibility makes it perfect for using daily and around the holidays, when you might be entertaining more.
Price at time of publish: $30
Dimensions: 5 x 4 x 2 inches | Weight: 2 pounds | Material: Marble | Color: White
Best Metal
West Elm Metal Napkin Holder
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Clever center bar
Fits any napkin size
Two colors available
Expensive
We also like West Elm's Metal Napkin Holder. It's made of silicone-coated metal and comes in your choice of black or dove gray. The clever design stores napkins horizontally, while the center bar holds them in place and releases just one at a time.
This storage solution can accommodate napkins of any size. Thanks to the center bar, you can use it indoors or outside without worrying about your napkins escaping into the wind, too. The price is a little steep, but in the end, we think it's an excellent value given it's flexibility, quality, and thoughtfulness.
Price at time of publish: $45
Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 4.5 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Metal, silicone | Color: Black or gray
Best Decorative
Crate & Barrel Wood and Marble Napkin Holder
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Great for hosting and serving
Beautiful contrast of materials
FSC-certified mango wood
Interior could be sanded better
If you're interested in a decorative piece you can set out when hosting guests, Crate & Barrel has you covered. As the name suggests, the Wood and Marble Napkin Holder is made of solid mango wood and real marble. The former is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), so you know the lumber comes from responsibly-managed trees.
The natural materials contrast beautifully, while the style goes with just about any decor scheme, from modern to farmhouse to coastal. And you can pair it with matching serving pieces from the Wood and Marble collection, like a fruit bowl or lazy Susan. Now, the interior could be sanded better to prevent napkins from snagging—but, otherwise, this product is an all-around winner.
Price at time of publish: $30
Dimensions: 6.25 x 6.25 x 2.75 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Mango wood, marble | Color: Natural and white
Best Caddy
MaxGear Bamboo Napkin Holder Salt & Pepper Caddy
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Renewable material
Wide slot for napkins
Complements a variety of decor
No handle
Only one finish available
If you're trying to organize more items than just your napkins, you might want to consider a caddy. This one from MaxGear holds not only napkins, but also salt and pepper shakers (or anything else you'd like), keeping everything tidy and easily accessible at mealtimes. It's constructed from bamboo, a renewable material with natural moisture resistance.
While it only comes in a natural finish, the design will complement minimalist, mid-century, farmhouse, and modern kitchen decor schemes alike. The napkin slot is over 2 inches wide, so you can fit a thicker stack of napkins, and the other compartment can hold shaker bottles or condiments of various sizes. We wish this caddy had a handle, but other than that, we have no complaints.
Price at time of publish: $20
Dimensions: 7 x 6.5 x 6.3 inches | Weight: 1 pound | Material: Bamboo | Color: Natural
Our number one pick for a napkin holder is the OXO Good Grips SimplyPull Napkin Holder. Perfect for indoor and outdoor use, this sleek and functional stainless steel napkin holder features a non-slip base and a weighted arm. The Mainstays Vented Tabletop Napkin Holder is an excellent choice if you're on a budget, and holds different napkin sizes well.
What to Look for in a Napkin Holder
Material and Color
As professional organizer Tracy Bowers notes, napkin holders can come in a wide range of materials, including wood, metal, wicker, acrylic, bamboo, marble, and metal. While some materials are available in multiple colors, most often feature the natural finish of the material. For instance, a stainless steel napkin holder might only come in silver or chrome, and a marble design—including our "best marble" pick, the Williams Sonoma Marble Napkin Holder—may only come in white.
Material and color affect the style of a napkin holder, and how it will look in your space. "If you store napkins in an open pantry or shelf, you want the holder to be part of the surrounding decor so that they look tidy," notes Bowers. So, try to find a napkin holder that matches your personal style—plus, fits the size of the napkins you're hoping to put inside—for the best organization results.
Size
You'll also want to consider the size of your napkin holder. Flat or tray-style napkin holders can be anywhere from 6 to 10 inches on each side. Some are a bit bigger than standard-sized napkins to accommodate various napkin types—like, our "best rattan" pick, the Dovecove Marionville Napkin Holder. Upright designs tend to be slightly smaller, as the napkins are meant to extend slightly on each side.
In addition to ensuring your holder fits standard paper napkins (which are usually 6.5-inch squares) or rectangular napkins, if you prefer, think about how much space your napkin holder will take up on your counter, dinner table, or kitchen island. That way, it doesn't look too large or small, and doesn't take up room. you need for serving dishes, utensils, and more.
Organization Features
Many tray-style napkin holders feature center weights to prevent napkins from slipping off or even blowing away when placed outdoors, including our "best splurge" holder, the Nambé Stone Napkin Holder. And some have center bars that not only keep the napkins in place, but also ensure only one is pulled out at a time.
Then, there are caddies, which have a slot for napkins, plus an additional compartment (or two) for things like salt and pepper shakers, condiments, or flatware. Think about what you're hoping to put in your napkin holder and where you're planning to use it, to ensure you have the best experience.
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Do you need a napkin holder?
A napkin holder helps you keep your napkins organized and accessible, whether you place it on your countertop, kitchen island, or dining table. It's particularly useful when hosting guests, as they'll be able to easily find napkins, and dining outdoors, when you want to prevent the napkins from flying away.
But, according to Bowers, a napkin holder isn't necessarily something you use every day. "When it comes to paper napkins, I often create a spot in the same drawer or cabinet that holds other paper goods," she says, explaining that you can take them out and place them in a decorative holder when the occasion arises.
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Can you put cloth napkins in a napkin holder?
You can absolutely put cloth napkins in a napkin holder. Just bear in mind: you won't be able to fit as many cloth napkins in a napkin holder as paper ones, simply because they're thicker than their paper counterparts. We recommend a napkin holder with a flat design (rather than upright) without walls, as this will give you a little more space for a stack of folded cloth napkins.
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How do you make napkin holders for your table?
If you have a dinner party, holiday gathering, or another special occasion coming up, you can make your own napkin holders for the place settings. Napkin rings can be fastened out of anything from twine, fabric, and ribbon, to felt, beads, and strips of leather—the sky's the limit. All you really need to do is create a loop that cinches the napkin at the center.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Theresa Holland is a freelance writer and product tester specializing in storage solutions and home design within the commerce space. For this roundup, she interviewed Utah-based professional organizer Tracy Bowers of Organize Simply for buying tips and insight into the different styles of napkin holders. Next, she researched standout options for every budget, narrowing it down to high-quality, functional designs with versatile aesthetics.
Holland has been contributing to The Spruce since 2019, covering organizational products, decor, and kitchen gadgets. You can find more of her stories on MyDomaine, Travel + Leisure, and People.