Many homeowners regard the kitchen as the heart of the home. It’s a multipurpose area meant for cooking, bonding, and socializing.
With all the use and foot traffic it’s getting on a daily basis, kitchens need to have enough space to do stuff and move around in. Cookware and utensils need to be organized inside drawers. Appliances should be arranged on top of kitchen counters to maximize space.
Speaking of maximizing space, adding a kitchen island is a great idea if you have the extra square footage for it. Kitchen islands are typically freestanding cabinets that have a countertop with storage options underneath. However, in some homes, they’re permanent structures outfitted with a stove and sink.
Does your own roomy kitchen need a quick makeover? Have a look at our recommendations for the best kitchen islands on Amazon.
Best Kitchen Islands Comparison & Rating
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Want to Learn More?
Our aim is not just to inform but help buyers make the best decision when purchasing a movable kitchen island. Below you’ll find more detailed information on each of our recommended products, complete with specifications as well as pros and cons. Be sure to go through each one and then click the yellow buttons to see their best deals on Amazon!
Home Styles Liberty Kitchen Cart with Wood Top
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 18 x 53.5 x 36 inches |
Weight | 134 pounds |
Top Material | Rubber Wood |
Finish | Black |
The Home Styles Liberty Kitchen Cart is really attractive. The pictures don’t do it justice. For this class of furniture, it is exceptionally well constructed. You get plenty of storage space for all those pots and pans. Plus, the rubber wood countertop is great when you’re entertaining and are doing lots of cooking. They packaged the product really well too. Each part is individually wrapped with foam, and plenty of packing material to keep it from moving around during shipping.
Linon Kitchen Island Granite Top
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 22.8 x 15.6 x 33.8 inches |
Weight | 46 pounds |
Top Material | Granite |
Finish | Natural |
This cart was a total joy to open and assemble. The box was carefully labeled and pack. All parts were sent and were separated into groups and clearly marked. The multipage instructions were filled with sketches that clearly showed the step by step process. Yes, even the drawer easily was assembled. The casters don't just get rammed into the wooden leg, there is a hole for them with a liner and then the caster is inserted. The cart rolls easily. Everything lined up and all screws had pre-drilled holes that made sense.The granite top is great either as additional counter space or to use as a designated food prep area. Overall, a great value and fairly nice quality.
Soges 3-Tier Kitchen Storage Cart Workstation Shelf
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 35.4 x 15.7 x 32.7 inches |
Weight | 30 pounds |
Top Material | Wood |
Finish | Walnut |
This Soges rack is the perfect addition to my apartment kitchen. Since you’re able to put smaller appliances on the cart, you can clean up your primary counter space for food prep and cooking. It’s fairly easy to put together. Plus, it holds a lot for taking up such a small amount of space. Quality for price is really fair too.
Home Styles Americana Black and Distressed Oak Kitchen Island
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 26.5 x 49.75 x 36.5 inches |
Weight | 75 pounds |
Top Material | Asian Hardwood |
Finish | Black and Distressed Oak |
This product takes about an hour for two people to put together. The instructions are clear and really easy to follow. Since it is made with real wood, you can customize it to your liking. Maybe sand and stain it to fit your existing cabinets better. We also love that the cabinets are deeper than we thought. We were able to put 2 crockpots, of different sizes, inside plus a rice cooker and some pans. So it held everything we wanted inside and more.
Dorel Living Kitchen Island
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 19 x 32 x 35.5 inches |
Weight | 52 pounds |
Top Material | Wood |
Finish | Natural |
You’ll be happy to know that this product comes with all the hardware organized and labelled on a shrink wrapped card. Everything was easy to find so it was quite easy to assemble. They look great in a predominantly wood-furnished kitchen. The top might be a little fuzzy but nothing that a good butcher block conditioner can’t fix. The casters are metal, not plastic, and seem like they will hold up well over time. Overall, for the price, the quality is great.
Kitchen Island Buyer's Guide
An island ought to have enough counter space to meet your needs, look proportional within the kitchen, and have ample pathways around its perimeter. For smaller kitchens, a worktable or rolling cart may be a better choice than a built-in.
Consider what you can afford. Adding a kitchen island adds costs for cabinetry and countertop, plus any appliance or sink and fixtures you’re considering.
A 36-inch-high counter is standard, but 30 inches is best for kneading and rolling out dough because you can apply more downward force.
The higher a counter, the less overhang it needs. (Knees bend less on tall stools). The distance between the seat and the top of the counter is always 12 inches, putting the surface at a comfortable height for eating.
FAQs
Kitchen islands fall under 6 different categories.
Rolling Cart Island - while this is typically used as a kitchen island, it is more like a portable prep area that you keep to the side of the kitchen rather than being featured prominently alongside other primary counters/
Non-Portable Kitchen Island - this resembles the Rolling Cart Island but does not have wheels. At 38", they are the right height for prepping food. They don't have the annoying tendency of those rolling carts to slide away when you're trying to cut something.
Base Cabinet With Countertop - a type of kitchen island built out of pre-existing materials. You have a base cabinet topped with countertop material.
Kitchen Island Table - basically this is a long table that you use as a kitchen island. You can add a slab of plywood underneath to hold pots, pans, trays, or baskets.
Fully Functional Kitchen Island - this has all the bells and whistles of an electrical, sink, drainage, and ample countertop space.
Kitchen islands are used to work more efficiently in the kitchen. They can also be additional storage, a prep and wash area, or an area that combines cooking and dining.
You get more counter space, more storage, an eating area, and possibly room for an appliance or small work sink.
The first kitchen islands in America date to the colonial era. These simple worktables, situated near the hearth of the home, were where families prepped meals and then sat down to break bread.