Elfa Kids Closet

Elfa Kids Closet

The 8 Best Kitchen Carts of 2021

Make your kitchen even more functional

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Storage is a necessity in any kitchen. But if you weren't blessed with tons of built-in shelves and cabinets, it can be hard to figure out what to do. Thankfully, there are tons of temporary ways to add more storage to your space—and buying a kitchen cart is one of the most budget-friendly options around.

Kitchen carts are just portable storage carts that you can use in your kitchen. They're often lined with shelves, cabinets, and hooks, and they can range from sleek sets of shelves to full-blown kitchen islands. No matter what kitchen cart you score, you can expect extra storage space. And a lot of the time, you can expect extra counter space, too.

When looking for a kitchen cart, consider why you need one in the first place. What is it that you need to store? Since storage set-up can vary a lot from kitchen cart to kitchen cart, knowing what you need can help you pick the best option. You'll also want to consider things like size and material. After all, your kitchen cart needs to fit inside your kitchen—and ideally, it needs to look good inside it, too.

To help you understand all your options, we've rounded up some of the best kitchen carts you can score.

Our Top Picks

Crafted from solid wood with a white painted finish, this chic kitchen cart will elevate any space and offer plenty of storage.

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This cart includes four hooks, two shelves and a removable cutting board.

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This folding cart is ideal for small kitchens and is easy to store when it's not in use.

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This mini island will provide not only more storage, but also counter space and handy butcher block.

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With a drop-leaf countertop, a removable tray and a wheeled base, this cart is a versatile piece.

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This kitchen cart's granite top offers a sleek touch while it's wheeled base allows for plenty of flexibility.

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Crafted from steel and painted white, this cart is durable, modern, and sleek.

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This cart features five drawers and plenty of other storage options to choose from.

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Size: 32 x 35 inches | Material: Solid wood | Weight Capacity: 150 pounds

What we like

• Classic design

• Butcher block

• Variety of storage

• Includes wheels

What we don't like

• Available in one size

• Available in one color

If you're looking for a classic design, you can't go wrong with Andover Mills' Raabe Kitchen Cart. The cart is sleek, minimalist, and simple. Plus, its muted palette would make a seamless addition to just about any space.

The cart is crafted from solid wood, which has been painted a crisp white. Its butcher block top promises to hold up to heat exposure, impact, and the regular wear and tear of a kitchen, so you'll be able to use it to prep meals. The wheeled cart boasts two spacious shelves, which you could easily line with must-haves, and includes a built-in rack you can use to keep tea towels at the ready.

Size: 21 x 15 x 36.7 inches | Material: Chrome-plated steel, wood | Weight Capacity: 50 pounds

What we like

• Budget-friendly

• Variety of storage

• Removable cutting board

What we don't like

• Low weight capacity

• Available in one size

Searching for a well-rounded kitchen cart that won't break the bank? Amazon has you covered with its Amazon Basics Kitchen Cart. At 3-feet tall, the cart is big enough to offer ample storage space—but not so huge that it'll disrupt your space. And since it comes on four rolling wheels, you can easily move it around your space until you find a spot for it that's just right.

The kitchen cart is crafted from durable chrome-plated steel, and it's topped with a removable slab of wood that you can use as a cutting board. The cart comes complete with two metal shelves, as well as a series of built-in hooks you can use to hang pots, pans, towels, and more.

Size: 25 x 19 x 36 inches | Material: Rubber wood, steel | Weight Capacity: 50-100 pounds

What we like

• Butcher slab

• Foldable design

• Compact size

• Built-in transport wheels

What we don't like

• Available in one size

The Container Store's Origami Kitchen Cart offers a small-space-friendly way to add a little storage to your space. At 3-feet tall and 2-feet wide, the cart is compact but still large enough to be meaningful. And, its built-in transport wheels make it easy to move around your space.

The kitchen cart boasts two metal shelves, which can handle 50 pounds of weight apiece, and is topped with a thick butcher block slab that can handle a whopping 100 pounds of weight. The coolest thing about this kitchen cart isn't its efficiency, however—it's its foldability. The cart can be folded in half whenever it's not in use, so it's a great space saver for smaller kitchens that could use the extra room.

Size: 31 x 35 inches | Material: Solid oak, particleboard | Weight Capacity: Not listed

What we like

• Butcher slab

• Variety of storage

• Pre-treated with hard wax oil

What we don't like

• Available in one size

• Available in one color

• Expensive

IKEA's Vadholma Kitchen Island is more of a portable kitchen island than a kitchen cart—but it's still one of the sleekest options on offer. The island is crafted from a blend of particleboard and solid wood. And, it's topped with a seriously stunning butcher board slab.

Since the island is 3-feet tall, nearly 3-feet wide, and 2-feet deep, it will demand a fair amount of space in your kitchen. But in return for this precious real estate, you'll get two shelves, a drawer, a towel rack, and some extra counter space.

Size: 22 x 15 x 38 inches | Material: Bamboo | Weight Capacity: Not listed

What we like

• Removable tray

• Variety of storage

• Leaf design

What we don't like

• Assembly required

• Available in one size

If you're trying to save space anywhere you can, a drop-leaf kitchen cart is an excellent choice. Take Urban Outfitters' Bamboo Rolling Kitchen Cart, for example, which is crafted from solid bamboo. A 3- feet tall and nearly 2-feet wide, it should give you plenty of storage space to play with.

The cart comes equipped with two shelves—a built-in shelf, and a removable shelf that doubles as a tray. It also boasts a drop-leaf countertop that you can expand any time you need some extra counter space.

What we like

• High weight capacity

• Granite top

• Variety of storage

• Available in two colors

Size: 27 x 18 x 36 inches | Material: Solid and manufactured wood, granite | Weight Capacity: 300 pounds

Looking for a luxe kitchen cart? Andover Mills has your back. The brand's Elsie Kitchen Cart is crafted from a blend of solid and manufactured wood, and it's topped with a slab of sleek granite. This detail leaves the kitchen cart feeling sturdier (and heavier) than most. Since granite is a go-to kitchen countertop material, you can rest assured knowing this cart can hold up to whatever you're doing in the kitchen.

The cart comes complete with a shelf, a cabinet, a drawer, and a towel rack. So snag it, and your storage options will abound. And since the cart comes in two versatile shades—sleek black and crisp white—you can easily find an option that suits your space.

Size: 15.7 x 15 x 32.1 inches | Material: Steel, wood | Weight Capacity: Not Listed

What we like

• Space-efficient design

• Durable material

What we don't like

• Limited storage

• Available in one size

Yamazaki Home is known for its sleek, space-efficient products, and the brand's Rolling Kitchen Storage Wagon Cart is no exception. The cart is crafted from durable steel, which has been painted white to look sleek and minimalist. And it's topped with a thin slab of wood, which you can easily use as a cutting board.

At 3-feet tall, 15-inches wide, and 15-inches deep, the cart is generally tall and narrow. And its built-in transport wheels make it easy to move around. The cart comes complete with one built-in shelf, but the rest of it is left completely empty. This gives you the chance to customize your storage set-up by stocking up on hooks, wire baskets, and more.

Size: 19 x 23 x 37 inches | Material: Epoxy-bonded steel, wood | Weight Capacity: Not Listed

What we like

• Variety of storage

• Butcher slab

What we don't like

• Expensive

Most kitchen carts come lined with shelves, hooks, and towel racks. But the Container Store's Elfa Platinum Mesh Kitchen Cart comes lined with mesh drawers, instead. It also boasts a series of hooks and a butcher block top for good measure.

The 3-foot cart comes equipped with five drawers—two of which are narrow and three of which are deep—giving you plenty of storage options to play with. And since all of these drawers are crafted from durable steel, you can rest assured knowing they'll hold up to the wear and tear of your kitchen.

What's nice? Whereas most drawers are opaque, these are designed to be relatively transparent. This makes it easy to keep track of what you've put where, so you don't have to open all five drawers every time you're looking for a utensil.

Final Verdict

Overall, we recommend the Andover Mills Raabe Kitchen Cart (view at Wayfair) because the classic design features a butcher's block and storage shelves that make cooking easy. For a budget-friendly option, consider the Amazon Basics Kitchen Rolling Microwave Cart (view at Amazon) because it's ideal for small spaces yet includes a variety of storage options.

Size

When you're adding storage to your space, size is a key consideration. For starters, you want a kitchen cart that's small enough to fit into your space. But you also need something that's big enough to give you the storage space—and the counter space—that you need. If you're working with a small kitchen, you may want to consider a more flexible kitchen cart—like a rolling or foldable option—which you can move out of the way to free up space.

Storage Set-Up

Though all kitchen carts are designed with storage in mind, many of them boast different kinds of storage features. When shopping for kitchen carts, you'll see everything from cabinets and drawers, to hooks and racks. And figuring out what you need to store before shopping can help you determine which of these features to prioritize.

Material

Kitchen carts can be crafted from a range of different materials. On the budget-friendlier side, you'll see lots of metal. And at the higher end, you'll find everything from solid wood to granite. Each is a durable option, however, so you really can't go wrong. Just be sure to consider what the rest of your kitchen looks like, and decide which materials best suit your space.

FAQ

• Are kitchen carts stylish?

  Kitchen carts can be a great way to add storage space to your kitchen. And while they're chiefly practical, they can definitely be stylish, too. Plus, kitchen carts come in a range of sizes, styles, colors, and materials, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding one that suits your space.

• Can you put a kitchen cart next to an oven?

  As far as heat safety is concerned, you should be able to put a kitchen cart next to an oven. But keeping traffic flow in mind, you might not want to. According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association design guidelines, you don't want to separate work centers (where you prep, cook, or store food) with tall obstacles (like a set of cabinets or a kitchen cart). Doing so can make it hard to move around your kitchen fluidly and conveniently. So depending on how your kitchen is laid out, placing a kitchen cart next to an oven may not be the best choice.

As a seasoned lifestyle writer, Lindsey Lanquist understands what a difference a great product recommendation can make. That's why she makes sure to recommend products that are sleek, reliable, and well-reviewed by those who've tried them. She is a Nashville-based writer and editor who covers décor, health, food, and lifestyle.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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Elfa Kids Closet

Source: https://www.thespruce.com/best-kitchen-carts-4153907