I Tested 18 Spice Racks to Find the 5 Very Best Storage Solutions

When it comes to spices, it pays to be prepared. For example, this Indian spiced chickpea dish would be little more than garbanzo beans in tomato sauce without the right ingredients. As long as you have a well-stocked spice library, a flavorful dinner is within reach. The more you cook, the more spices you accumulate. My current arsenal contains 38 various powders, leaves, extracts, and essences, and I need every single one of them. Keeping the containers organized can be a chore, but it pays off whenever I have a sudden urge for pandan essence-spiked pudding or spicy green beans with Sichuan peppercorns. 

Luckily, spice storage is a problem with a simple solution: a good spice rack. There are plenty of high-quality products for storing spices all over the kitchen—on counters, in cabinets, in drawers, and so on. I tested 18 different spice racks and found the five best options for cabinets, drawers, and everywhere else.

The Winners, at a Glance

The Best Drawer Spice Rack

Lynk Professional Expandable Spice Drawer Organizer

$35 at Amazon $35 at Home Depot $43 at Wayfair

The Lynk drawer spice storage rack is made from durable alloy steel that resists staining and warping. It’s easy to install—just place it inside an empty drawer and slide to expand. This model can hold up to 64 spice bottles when fully extended, and the flat display style makes it easy to identify jars.

I loved this model’s minimalist construction. The Container Store 20-Bottle spice rack is made from clear acrylic—the transparent material is easy to clean and blends into any style kitchen. This spice rack is designed for versatility. It can be stored on a countertop or mounted on a wall.

Another Great Spice Rack for Cabinets

Zri Bamboo 3-Tier Expandable Spice Rack Kitchen Cabinet Organizer

$22

$17 at Amazon View on Walmart View on Kmart.com

The Zri Bamboo spice rack is simple and versatile. Its expandable design adds flexibility—this model fits neatly in spaces ranging from 12 to 22 inches. When fully extended, it can hold up to 30 spices. The bamboo construction is solid and offers an aesthetically pleasing alternative to plastic.

The Best Magnetic Spice Rack

HuggieGems 4 Pack Magnetic Spice Storage Rack

$20

$17 at Amazon

The Huggie Gems spice storage rack converts any magnetic surface into storage—it’s a convenient way to keep spices on hand without eating up valuable counter or cabinet space. This set includes four separate shelves so you can customize the arrangement to fit your space. The magnets are strong and the shelves didn’t slip or slide, even when fully loaded.

The Best Spice Rack for Narrow Spaces

Lynk Slide Out Double Upper Cabinet Organizer 20 Jar Spice Rack

$50

$40 at Amazon View on Williams Sonoma $43 at Target

The Lynk Double Spice Rack features sturdy metal construction and solid wood shelves. This model requires installation—it’s intended to be mounted in a cabinet where it can be pulled forward and tucked away as needed. This design helps maximize space efficiency without sacrificing visibility. When it’s pulled forward, it’s easy to read labels and identify spices through the slatted walls.

The Tests

• Installation Test: I assembled and installed each spice rack, evaluating the material, instructions, and how easy it was to set up. 
• Spice Filling Test: Once assembled, I filled each spice rack with bottled spices to verify the capacity.
• Use and Durability Test: To check functionality, I opened and closed drawers or cabinets, placed and removed spices, and tested out any special features, checking to ensure that spices were easy to access and identify. This also tested the racks' durability.

What We Learned

Visibility Was Key

Imagine lining your spices up like bowling pins. In this arrangement, it would be easy to identify the front jar, but the pins in the front row would block the spices in the back. The best spice racks arrange spices so that all of the labels are visible. 

There are several different ways to achieve this. If you have the space, I found that in-drawer storage options offered the best visibility. Spice racks like the Lynk Professional Expandable Organizer and Marie Kondo Narrow In-Drawer Spice Organizer store jars on their side in a single row, making it easy to see each label. I also liked the mDesign Plastic Shelf Expandable Spice Rack, which used tiered shelving—the same basic principle behind stadium seating. Spices on the back shelf are elevated, and the labels show over the front bottles.

Other models, like the Copco Non-Skid Turntable and YouCopia SpiceStack Adjustable Spice Rack Organizer, were less successful. The Copco uses a lazy Susan design to increase visibility, but this only allows access to jars on the outer edge—spices in the center were hidden from view. The YouCopia kept jars out of sight entirely on three drawer-like plastic shelves, making it difficult to pinpoint that jar of cumin you’re looking for.

Look for a Solid Base

Standard spice jars aren’t wide enough to remain stable on slatted shelves like those found on the Honey-Can-Do Cabinet Door Spice Rack, Home Complete Over the Door Organizer, The Container Store Pull-Down Spice Rack, and Simple Houseware 2-Tier Spice Rack Kitchen Organizer. During testing, bottles jostled around and tipped over when placed inside or removed from them. I found that spice racks with solid bases and shelves, like our winners, offered better stability, keeping spices upright. 

Simple Spice Racks Stored Better

When trying to maximize space, it’s tempting to get creative, but not all innovations are successful. For example, the Honey-Can-Do is designed to hang over a cabinet door and create additional shelves. When installed on an upper cabinet, this placed spices just out of reach for our 5’6” tester. But when installed in lower cabinets, it felt awkwardly low and bumped into the existing shelves. The Container Store Pull-Down Spice Rack also tried to spice things up (heh); it promised to swing forward and down, lowering spices from cabinet height to eye level, but the resulting motion, combined with wire construction, sent bottles tumbling.

The Spicy Shelf Deluxe, another in-cabinet solution, attempted to create an additional shelf around the perimeter, but assembling and fitting the rack into a space was overly complicated, and one of the brittle plastic legs snapped during installation. Our winning models were easy to install and use and favored simple, solid construction. 

Choose Flat Shelves for Universal Storage 

A household spice collection might contain several different types of jars. Standard grocery store spice containers hold four ounces. Some spices, like cloves or pumpkin pie spice, typically come in smaller bottles, usually two ounces. Spice blends and other spice-adjacent ingredients, like sesame seeds, often use eight-ounce vessels. Container shape can vary as well; my local grocery store stocks round plastic jars and rectangular glass options with a round lid. 

Spice racks with flat, open shelves, like the Lynk Double Spice Rack and Huggie Gems Metal Magnetic, offered the most versatility. With a totally clear shelf, I could place cylinders next to rectangular cuboids without a large gap. Other models, like the Deco Brothers Spice Rack, were designed with delineated spaces for each bottle. These worked well for round four-ounce jars, but didn't fit smaller or larger jars. The worst offender was the Kamenstein Revolving Countertop Spice Rack, which featured 20 round cubbies designed to hold one container each. Storing anything other than this model’s included, pre-filled spice jars would be a nightmare. 

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Spice Rack

First, consider your available space: do you have more room in drawers, on counters, or in cabinets? This can help narrow down your choice. Also before purchasing, evaluate your spice collection and your personal commitment to organization. Racks that rely on manually marking spices are best suited for those with a preexisting affinity for label makers (or painter's tape and a Sharpie). I also liked racks that weren’t overly complicated to install or use; simple is better. Finally, prioritize finding a spice rack with a solid base—a firm platform reduces the risk that bottles will tip over. 

Our Favorite Spice Racks

The Best Drawer Spice Rack

Lynk Professional Expandable Spice Drawer Organizer

$35 at Amazon $35 at Home Depot $43 at Wayfair

What we liked: The Lynk spice storage system is constructed from durable, high-quality alloy steel and can store upwards of 60 spices when fully expanded (it also comes in other sizes, so measure your drawers before deciding). Storing spices horizontally in a drawer made it easy to quickly read labels and identify bottles. The expandable construction is seamless and should fit nicely in any drawer between 13.25 and 26.5 inches wide. 

What we didn't like: Drawer storage offers the easiest access to spices, but it’s not practical in kitchens with limited drawer space. Depending on the depth of your drawers, it may be tough to accommodate wider bottles or large tins (although narrow tins should be fine). 

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 16.5 x 13.25 x 1.5 inches
• Style: Drawer 
• Capacity: Up to 64 bottles when fully expanded
• Material: Alloy steel

What we liked: This model features a sleek, minimalist design and versatile storage options—it can be stored on the countertop or affixed to a wall or door. The rack comes with a set of labels for commonly used spices as well as blank labels. If you purchase bulk spices, the included bottles are perfect for storage. 

What we didn't like: This system requires decanting all of your spices into the included bottles—standard bottles are too large to fit in the slots. This is ideal for bulk spices but may be tedious for smaller amounts. The included bottles come with small sprinkle caps—it would be difficult to shake red pepper flakes or dried rosemary out of the small holes. 

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 4.5 x 11.125 x 10.5 inches
• Style: Countertop or wall-mounted
• Capacity: 20 large bottles (included)
• Material: Acrylic stand, glass bottles

Another Great Spice Rack for Cabinets

Zri Bamboo 3-Tier Expandable Spice Rack Kitchen Cabinet Organizer

$22

$17 at Amazon View on Walmart View on Kmart.com

What we liked: The ZRI Bamboo spice rack is simple and effective. I loved the bamboo construction, and if you also don’t like the look or feel of plastic, this model is a great alternative. The open shelves offer versatile storage. They can accommodate larger items, like peanut butter jars, and small products, like vanilla extract, in addition to standard spice bottles. This model requires minimal installation. Just place it in a cabinet and slide to expand it to your desired width, ranging from 12 to 22 inches.  

What we didn’t like: Compared to plastic, bamboo is more porous and absorbent. This model might discolor with normal wear and tear or in the event of a turmeric overflow.

Key Specs

• Materials: Bamboo
• Dimensions: 7.7 x 12 to 22.2 x 4.29 inches
• Storage capacity: 18 to 30 standard spice jars  
• Style: Expandable shelf 

The Best Magnetic Spice Rack

HuggieGems 4 Pack Magnetic Spice Storage Rack

$20

$17 at Amazon

What we liked: The HuggieGems spice rack offers an elegant storage solution for small kitchens, essentially adding a new shelf to your space. With this four-unit model, I could store up to 24 spices on any magnetic surface, like a fridge. Installation was simple, and the strong magnets stayed put under the weight of full spice jars. Each shelf is a separate unit, so you can stack and align them in the arrangement best suited to your space. The metal construction feels durable, and the slatted shelf design increases visibility, making it easy to identify bottles at a glance. This set includes four detachable hooks for hanging kitchen towels, matcha whisks, tasting spoons, or anything else your heart desires. 

What we didn’t like: Storing spices on your refrigerator means keeping them on full display. Depending on your personal taste, this might seem a little visually noisy. If your refrigerator isn’t magnetic (not all stainless steel models are), installation options may be limited. 

Key Specs

• Materials: Metal
• Dimensions: Include 4 shelves measuring 11.8 x 4.3 x 4.3 inches
• Storage capacity: 24 standard spice jars
• Style: Magnetic 

The Best Spice Rack for Narrow Spaces

Lynk Slide Out Double Upper Cabinet Organizer 20 Jar Spice Rack

$50

$40 at Amazon View on Williams Sonoma $43 at Target

What we liked: The Lynk Double Spice Rack is constructed from heavy, sturdy materials that feel high-quality. Once installed, the two-tier pull-out design offered unparalleled space efficiency. I could store up to 20 spices with just four inches of (horizontal) shelf space. The gliding mechanism was smooth, so it was easy to pull the entire rack forward, look through my spices, and push it back into place. This spice rack would be an ideal solution for narrow cabinets.

What we didn’t like: With the Lynk Spice Rack, ease of use varies depending on your cabinet height. It might be difficult to access and see your spices if installed significantly above or below eye-level. The model may not be renter-friendly—installation requires mounting inside a cabinet with screws. The process isn’t complicated, but it does require a power drill. 

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless steel, wood
• Dimensions: 10.25  x 4.25 x 9.25  inches
• Storage capacity: 20+ spice jars
• Style: Mounted pull-out 

The Competition

• mDesign Plastic Shelf Expandable Spice Rack: We really liked this spice rack but it has been discontinued since our first round of testing.
• Honey-Can-Do Honey Can Do Cabinet Door Spice Rack: This compact spice rack had wide slats at the base—spices wobbled and tipped over whenever the cabinet door was opened or closed. Depending on the heights of your cabinets, an over-the-door model may not be practical.
• Home Complete Over-the-Door Organizer: This rack provides an abundance of storage. In addition to spices, it can hold larger bottles, like vinegar. Unfortunately, the wide slats failed to keep spices in place while opening and closing the door.
• YouCopia SpiceStack Adjustable Spice Rack Organizer: This plastic spice rack felt cheap and brittle. The drawer system protects spices from light, but unless you have a rigorous labeling practice, you’ll end up hunting for cinnamon. 
• Simple Houseware 2-Tier Spice Rack Kitchen Organizer: This is a simple, no-fuss storage rack that holds approximately 25 standard spice bottles. I liked the minimalist design, but it lost points because it only included one shelf liner—the slats on the other shelf left room for wobbling. 
• Marie Kondo Narrow In-Drawer Spice Organizer: The Mari Kondo in-drawer spice organizer provides easy access and optimal visibility. This model lost points because of its limited capacity (it holds up to 15 standard bottles) and material—any spice spillage could stain the light wood (be careful with your turmeric). 
• The Container Store Pull-Down Spice Rack: The combination of movement and slat construction in this rack was a recipe for disaster; spices slid and tumbled when this spice rack was set in motion. 
• Copco Non-Skid Turntable, 2-Tier, 12-Inch, White/Gray: The solid base of this model provides a stable resting place for spices, but it was difficult to access and identify bottles stored on the lower tier. 
• Spicy Shelf Deluxe: This model lost points because of its brittle plastic construction and complicated assembly. During testing, I snapped one of the legs by accident.
• Yamazaki 4-Tier Slim Spice Rack Organizer: This is a sleek, minimalist spice rack with durable white metal construction, but storing non-standard bottle sizes on the solid metal shelves created awkward spacing. 
• Copco 3-Tier Nonskid Spice Rack: The Copco plastic spice rack felt cheap and flimsy—bottles rattled around on the slightly warped shelves.
• Kamenstein Revolving Countertop Spice Rack: This rotating spice rack wobbled around on my countertop. 
• Deco Brothers Spice Rack Holder: The Deco Brothers spice rack includes 18 empty spice jars. For those not committed to bulk spice purchasing, working with the provided jars adds an extra step and limits flexibility.  
• Bellwood Expandable 3-Tier Shelf: This rack’s expandable shelf felt flimsy and brittle.

FAQs

Are spice racks worth it?

A good spice rack is a worthwhile purchase, preventing you from losing spices to the back-of-the-pantry void. Spice racks don’t have to be expensive—our favorites range from $26 to $37—and they can help you get the most out of your kitchen space (not to mention they make a frantic, mid-cook search for oregano easier).

What kind of spice rack is best? 

Like other pantry storage, the best type of spice rack depends on your space—countertop racks, drawer inserts, and cabinet shelves can all help keep things organized. Look for a solution with solid shelves or racks (instead of slatted). This will help keep your bottles upright. 

How should you organize a spice rack?

Organize your spice rack so that the labels on each bottle are visible. Depending on the type of storage you choose, it may be helpful to label the tops of the bottles as well as the sides. Other organizational systems, such as alphabetizing or arranging according to use, are purely optional. 

How long do spices stay fresh?

Spices lose their potency over time. Ground spices will remain fresh for 6 to 10 months. Whole spices have a longer shelf—these may remain useable for up to two years.

What’s the best spice rack for small kitchens? 

This depends on the type of small kitchen you have. Spices can be stored in drawers, in cabinets, on the countertop, or even mounted to the wall. If kitchen space is at a premium, a wall-mounted shelf may be a great way to create more room. 

What’s the best container for whole spices? 

For whole spices, choose a glass jar with a wide opening. Large ingredients like whole nutmeg or star anise could bottleneck at a small opening. Glass is non-porous—this material will keep oxygen out and prolong shelf life. 

What’s the best way to store spices? 

Spice storage should be concerned with both longevity and access. To prolong shelf life, keep spices in tightly sealed containers in a cool, dark space. For easy access, label containers clearly and store them in single rows.

Why We're the Experts

• Madeline Muzzi is a writer, editor, and video producer.
• She has written many reviews for Serious Eats, including wine decanters, mini mortar and pestles, and countertop ice makers.
• For this review, Madeline tested 18 spice racks. She installed them, then filled them with spices and placed and removed spice bottles to test their ease of use and visibility.