This is The Best Mini Pottery Wheel on the Market

If you’ve landed here, chances are you’ve been swept up in the mini ceramics craze that’s been all over Instagram. Same here. Whether it’s the charming creations from @minipotteryproject’s studio or the mesmerizing mini Raku fires by @adamceramic, the miniature pottery world is addictive. Naturally, I had to dive in and find the best mini pottery wheel to try it myself.

Over the past year, I’ve tested two popular contenders in the mini pottery wheel game: The Vevor Mini Pottery Wheel and the Small Ceramics Pottery Wheel. My mission? Create 80 mini pots (yes, eighty!) for a recent market and see which wheel reigns supreme. Spoiler alert: I’ve got some strong opinions. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty and find out which wheel is truly the best mini pottery wheel for your creative adventures.

How I Judged the Best Mini Pottery Wheel

This wasn’t just any casual pottery session—it was a full-on showdown for the title of the best mini pottery wheel. I wanted to crown the TRUE champion, and that meant putting in the work. Before writing this review, I gave each wheel its fair share of time in the spotlight.

I started with the Vevor Mini Pottery Wheel in February 2024, and by August, I added the Small Ceramics Wheel to my arsenal. Over the course of several months, I made 40 mini uniform pots on each wheel for my market. It was important to give both contenders equal “playing time” in this head-to-head competition.
Here’s how I set the ground rules for judging:

Functionality

Just because it’s mini doesn’t mean I’ll settle for mediocre. I tested each wheel for torque (how much pressure they can handle without slowing down), speed control, mess management, and overall reliability.

Ease of Throwing

The big question: does it feel as natural and efficient as using a standard-sized wheel? I tracked my speed, effort, and tool usage to see if either wheel made the process unnecessarily complicated or frustrating.

End Result

Finally, I let the finished pieces speak for themselves. Which wheel consistently delivered pots I was proud to display at my market?

With these criteria for best mini pottery wheel in mind, it’s time to dive into the evaluation. Let’s see which wheel comes out on top!

First Impressions

The Vevor Pottery Wheel

The Vevor Pottery Wheel was my first foray into the mini pottery wheel world after some intense internet scouring. What caught my eye? Solid Amazon reviews and, let’s be real, the price tag. At just $40, it was an easy “why not?” moment to test out what could quickly become an addictive hobby.

When the package arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by the extras. It came with a full beginner’s tool set and sculpting tools to get started on those mini masterpieces. The square design made it super compact and easy to store, which is a huge plus if your crafting space is limited. Bonus points: it included two wheel heads. The 3.94-inch turntable felt like it had potential for making tiny cups, mugs, or even mini vases.

Another standout feature? The splash pan. Most of the mini wheels I saw on Amazon in early 2024 didn’t include one, so this felt like a major win for keeping things (somewhat) tidy. Overall, my first impressions were solid—it checked a lot of beginner-friendly boxes right out of the gate.

The Small Ceramics Pottery Wheel

The Small Ceramics Pottery Wheel first caught my eye during a mid-Instagram scroll as it’s the wheel of choice for @adamceramic. Watching Adam effortlessly throw on this wheel and fire the results in Raku kilns had me immediately intrigued.

I spent some time lurking on the Small Ceramics Instagram account, admiring their cute and colorful pottery wheels, but I hesitated to pull the trigger. Why? The $200 price tag gave me pause. At the time, I was eyeing budget-friendly options and wasn’t sure I could justify spending that much on a mini wheel. But the more I thought about it (and the more I scrolled), the harder it became to resist.

So, what finally convinced me to take the plunge? First and foremost, the aesthetics. Mini pottery is inherently fun and quirky, and this wheel’s vibrant color options felt like the perfect match for the vibe. Beyond its charm, the design boasted some clever features.

The bat system was a game-changer—it’s the only mini wheel I’ve seen with removable bats, meaning no need to wire off your pieces. The magnetic splash pan was another standout, offering practicality and easy cleanup. And let’s not forget the custom mini pottery tools Small Ceramics sells alongside the wheel—mini ribs, specialty tools, and other accessories that felt designed to elevate the whole experience.

In the end, it was the combination of smart design, thoughtful details, and irresistible style that made this wheel worth the investment.

Functionality

So, did these wheels live up to my first impressions? Well, at least one of them did…

The Vevor Pottery Wheel

When I unboxed the Vevor Pottery Wheel, I was genuinely excited to fire it up and start churning out mini pots. The reality check came fast—making mini pottery is hard. Centering the clay required some serious creativity, I quickly learned the importance of leaving plenty of clay at the bottom (wiring off more than a few pieces in the process), and I went through an entire lineup of sculpting tools before finding the right ones to pull clean walls. In short, there was a lot of trial and error.

As for the wheel itself? You really can’t beat it for the price. The knob worked well for speed control, it stayed steady on my table, and the included sculpting tools were surprisingly useful for a beginner. That said, some of the features I was initially excited about didn’t quite hit the mark. The snap-on splash pan, for example, turned into a slip-filled disaster. Removing the plastic pans sent clay flying everywhere, making the mess worse rather than containing it.

And then there’s the torque…or lack thereof. The Vevor struggled under pressure, making it hard to work with firmer clays or apply much force. That said, this wheel is only $40. For the price, it delivers a solid beginner experience—you just have to know its limits.

Small Ceramics

When I first reviewed the Vevor Mini Pottery Wheel in my “Best Mini Pottery Wheel” article, I crowned it the victor. But that was before I had the chance to try the Small Ceramics Pottery Wheel. This wheel is a total game-changer, packing a serious punch in both design and functionality.

The design of the Small Ceramics Wheel is what caught my eye first, and it did not disappoint. It’s small, curved, and strikes the perfect balance between lightweight portability and sturdiness when placed on a tabletop. I chose the green option, and I’m absolutely in love with how sleek and cohesive it looks, especially with the matching green bats. It’s a mini pottery aesthetic dream.

The Small Ceramics Wheel doesn’t just look good—it performs like a pro. Three key functionalities make it stand out:

1. Torque
This wheel handles pressure effortlessly. It can take on a lot without slowing down, making throwing on it a smooth and seamless experience. Compared to the Vevor, the Small Ceramics Wheel is miles ahead in torque and reliability.

2. Magnetic Splash Pan
The magnetic splash pan is a standout feature. It’s deep, circular, and easy to snap off, making cleanup a breeze. Unlike the Vevor’s splash pan, which often added to the mess, this one keeps everything tidy and controlled.

3. Bat System
The bat system is an absolute game-changer. Being able to throw a piece, snap off the bat, and snap on a new one makes the process so much faster. It eliminates the stress of wiring off tiny, delicate pieces, which is a huge win for mini pottery production.

The Small Ceramics Pottery Wheel goes above and beyond expectations. From its thoughtful design to its exceptional performance, this wheel redefines what a mini pottery wheel can do. If you’re looking for the best mini pottery wheel, this is it.

Ease of Throwing

Vevor Pottery Wheel

While the Vevor Pottery Wheel isn’t a terrible throwing experience, it’s definitely not optimal. To get the best results, your ball of clay should be no larger than 0.25 lbs, and it’s crucial to place it perfectly in the center. With limited torque, it’s tough to correct a misshapen ball of clay or one that’s even slightly off-center. That said, the Vevor does have one useful feature: concentric lines on the turntable. These lines are a big help when it comes to aligning your clay and starting the centering process.

For centering, we found the wheel works best at its highest speed. Since the Vevor tends to lag under pressure, starting fast helps offset this limitation.

Once the clay is centered, the shaping process is manageable. You can use ribs, pull walls, shape necks, and create basic forms without too much trouble. It’s not the smoothest experience, but for a $40 wheel, it gets the job done.

The Small Ceramics Pottery Wheel

Throwing with the Small Ceramics Pottery Wheel is a completely different story—it’s an absolute dream. The torque is exceptional, making it easy to center the clay without any fuss. Shaping, pulling walls, and adding intricate flourishes feels effortless, thanks to the wheel’s smooth and reliable performance.

That said, even this near-perfect wheel has a couple of minor drawbacks. First, the bats don’t have concentric circles like the Vevor, which makes finding the exact center a bit trickier. Second, while the bat system is a standout feature overall, it can be a little finicky. Some of our bats didn’t snap securely onto the wheel, which was mildly frustrating. This is something we’d love to see improved in future iterations.

Despite these minor issues, the Small Ceramics Wheel still offers an unmatched throwing experience. It’s the clear winner as the best mini pottery wheel.

End Result

Both the Vevor and Small Ceramics wheels helped me craft beautiful mini pots for my market. As you can see from the results, these little creations turned out amazing! That said, the Small Ceramics Wheel earns extra kudos for its attention to detail. I used their micro ribs for profiling the pieces, and they made all the difference in refining the shapes. It’s clear this brand truly understands what mini potters need.

Conclusion

If you’re shopping for the best mini pottery wheel, both the Vevor and Small Ceramics Wheel are solid options. Each has its own strengths and quirks, but both are capable of producing stunning, Instagram-worthy mini pots once you get the hang of them.

The Vevor Pottery Wheel is the best mini pottery wheel for beginners or those who want to dabble in pottery without a big upfront investment. At just $40, it’s an accessible and budget-friendly way to dip your toes into the world of mini pottery.

The Small Ceramics Pottery Wheel, on the other hand, is the best mini pottery wheel for experienced potters. While it’s more of an investment, the added functionality and thoughtful design make it well worth the price for those who know their way around a wheel. From the torque to the bat system, it’s packed with features that elevate the throwing experience.