6 Cheap Pottery Wheel Options for Your Home Studio

When it comes to pottery, there exists one universal truth: pottery is good for the soul, not for the wallet. When I envision my pottery “bill” throughout my 3-year tenure, my itemized list includes (but is not limited to), 20+ classes, 30+ tools, dozens of glazes, multiple 25 lb bags of clay, 3 miniature wheels, a personalized stamp, a tool bag, an apron, a rolling pin…the list goes on. TLDR: pottery is pricey. But if it’s your passion, you’re likely scheming on how to take your studio home with you. Ceramicists everywhere know the “should I buy a pottery wheel” dilemma all too well, and many decide to stick to the studio when they see the dollar signs. Lucky for you, we’ve done the research and rounded up the best cheap pottery wheel options. With these wheels, you’ll be ready to throw to your heart’s content, without throwing money down the drain. Let’s get into it our top options from most affordable to most expensive. 

VEVOR 30W Mini Pottery Wheel ($36.99)

Think you can’t find a wheel under $50? The Vevor Mini is here to prove you wrong. If you’re willing to go bite-sized for your home studio creations, this mini cheap pottery wheel is a great beginners option. 

My first experience with this wheel dates back to 2024. With the price being what it is, I bought it on a bit of a whim after falling down the mini pottery rabbit hole. And let me say, it lives up to the hype. I am a self proclaimed mini maniac, obsessed with throwing small trinkets, cups, and bowls from the comfort of my kitchen table. While centering and throwing small does have a tiny learning curve, it’s pretty easy to get into a groove. Plus, it comes with everything but the clay—for $40, you get the wheel, a full tool set, and an apron. 

The downsides? You’re limited in what you can throw—the wheel head measures 3.94-inch, so if you want much wider than that, you’re out of luck. Other cons include the lack of torque and a too shallow splash pan, but for only $40, it’s a no-brainer purchase. 

If you want to learn more, you can read our full Vevor Mini Pottery Review here!

VEVOR 11in Pottery Wheel ($159.99)

Surprise! We’re “throwing” another Vevor in the mix for this list. While they don’t hold a candle to the Shimpos or Brents of the pottery world, they are so darn affordable. If throwing small sounds like a nightmare, Vevor offers pretty decent wheels for under $200. Scour the web for pottery wheels—you’re hard pressed to find a cheap pottery wheel at a better price. There’s a lot to like about this wheel—it’s large wheel head, multi-directionality, pedal, and removable splash pan provide you with all your basic pottery wheel needs. It also comes with a base toolset to start throwing ASAP. 

What’s missing here? It lacks the superior torque or quiet hum of more premium wheels—you’re probably only throw up to 5 lbs, and expect the experience to be a bit noisy. It’s also a cheaper design—a plastic foot pedal won’t stand the test of time, and you’ll need some type of blocks to raise the rather short wheel. 

However, to dip your toe into starting a home studio, the Vevor 11in pottery wheel isn’t a bad place to start. 

Small Ceramics Wheel ($199.99)

What can we say—we’ve got a soft spot for a small, but mighty wheel. If you want a more advanced version of the Mini Vevor, we can’t sing the praises of the Small Ceramics Pottery wheel enough. Potters designed The Small Ceramics wheel, and you can tell. From the deep, magnetic removable splash pan to the superior torque, it truly is a joy to throw with. I also love the thoughtful features like the bat system for ease of throwing, and the additional mini tools Small Ceramics creates. The only downside? The wheel head measures a bit smaller than the Vevor—only 3 inches across. But while you’re limited to throwing small, this wheel provides a big opportunity to make your throw from home dreams a reality. 

Check out our full Small Ceramics pottery wheel review here.

Speedball Artista Potter’s Wheel ($560.00)

Don’t let the $560 price tag scare you. While this certainly isn’t a cheap pottery wheel by a regular joe’s standards, it certainly is amongst the premium wheel brands. Artista is a known and respected name in the pottery world, and the price of this wheel falls on the lowest end of premium wheel spectrum. 

And while you shell out more up front, you will definitely get a longer life out of this wheel than a cheap Vevor. By investing up front, you save money in the long run.

Okay, I’ll get off my ceramic soapbox now. The Speedball Artist’s Potter’s Wheel is a perfect option for potters that need a wheel to grow with them. It can handle up to 25 lbs of clay, and boasts a durable steel wheeled, a removable splash pan, and a tray for up to two 2-1/2 quart buckets. While the wheel itself features a knob for speed control, you can purchase a foot pedal to set up a more traditional at home wheel. So, if you’re looking to channel your inner professional artist, the Artista is the way to go. 

Shimpo VL Lite ($890.00)

If a tabletop wheel isn’t your jam, the Shimpo VL Lite is a great option to truly bring the studio experience home with you. It’s your classic belt-driven wheel—i’ts got three legs with a bulit-in table, a removable splash pan, a metal foot pedal, a 12-inch wheel head and a 25 lb throwing capacity. While more advanced Shimpo models will run you 4 figures, this lighter model is under $1,000. Again, while this isn’t a cheap pottery wheel per se, our thinking if that if you buy a wheel you trust, you’ll love it for years to come. Whether you’re throwing hobby pieces or prepping for your next big market, the Shimpo VL Lite handles it all. 

Check out our thoughts on the Shimpo VL Lite here.

Wrapping Up

From true budget options to slightly-more-affordable premium options, you can’t go wrong with any of these cheap pottery wheels. If you’re willing to go small, the Vevor Mini and Small Ceramics Wheels are perfect options for petite pottery at home. If you’d rather go big on a budget check out the Vevor 11 in. But for the pottery-obsessed, we highly recommend investigating the Speedball Artista and Shimpo VL Lite—they are excellent middle ground options to save some money on brands that potters know and love. Whatever your budget or interests, finding a way to throw at home is certainly within reach with any of these options. Happy potting, and let us know what you pick!