The 8 Best Pepper Mills of 2025

Pepper mills are available in a number of styles: knob-twist, cranks, ratchets, or electric. However, their basic construction hasn’t changed much since they were first introduced by Peugeot (the same company that later made cars) in the mid-1800s.

The most common type of pepper mill has a knob at the top that attaches to a spindle, which spans the length of the shaft. Gravity guides the peppercorns down the shaft into a set of burrs (the grind mechanism) located at the base. The burrs, which look like a grooved cone set inside a grooved ring, are similar to the conical burrs of some coffee grinders.

Here’s what we looked for when choosing models to test:

Sharp and durable grind mechanisms: The best grinders have mechanisms made from ceramic, high-carbon steel, or case-hardened steel. They’re more expensive but worth the extra cost since they’ll likely provide you with decades of use. Ceramic mechanisms are harder than steel or even case-hardened steel, but longevity doesn’t seem to be an issue regardless of the style of mechanism — the bearings or bushings are more likely to wear out first. Salt doesn’t corrode ceramic grinders as it does with steel ones, and depending on the model, ceramic mills may also be used to grind dried herbs and some spices.

We’d avoid acrylic mechanisms, as the material could potentially flake off into your food.

Easily adjustable coarseness settings with a consistent grind: Some models allow you to adjust the coarseness of your pepper by twisting a dial to clearly marked settings. These are very precise and take the guesswork out of finding the desired coarseness setting.

However, these are less common, so we also tested the more common style of mill where you adjust the coarseness of your grind by twisting a screw at the top or bottom of the mill. Often these mills have a hard time keeping a consistent grind, because the movement required to turn the knob often loosens the screw, widening the space between the burrs. It can also be hard to gauge how much to turn the screw to get the exact-size grind you want. With that in mind, we looked for models with tight-fitting screws that held their positions well.

Easy-to-fill chambers: Most pepper mills have relatively narrow openings for filling the grinder, which can make refilling a pain (though we have tips for making this process easier).

Some models have pop-out chutes that allow you to fill the mill from the side without needing to unscrew the top. Other models can be filled from the bottom under a screwed-on lid. But after testing these styles, we think traditional mills that allow you to remove the head are the easiest to fill.

We also prefer mills with plastic or metal braces that secure the spindle in place because this makes filling the shaft easier. If the spindle is off-kilter while you’re filling the mill with peppercorns, the rod won’t align properly with the head.

A comfortable shape with decent capacity: We prefer mills 10 inches and under — if you go taller than that, your peppercorns will likely go stale as they wait to be ground. Super-tall pepper mills (like those you might see at a restaurant) make a dramatic show, but they’re precarious and too easy to accidentally knock off your counter.

We also took into account the diameter of each mill we considered for testing. If a pepper mill is too wide, it can be difficult to grip, especially if your hands are greasy.

Since not everyone can use a traditional hand-crank pepper mill, we also looked at electric models. But the experts we spoke with were lukewarm about them. The chief complaints: Most have slow output, are more prone to breaking, require batteries (up to six), and make considerably more noise during use.

That said, some people with hand-strength issues or chronic hand pain may find an electric push-button pepper mill easier to operate. Electric mills can also be used with one hand (though disassembling or replacing the batteries requires two hands, and often a healthy dose of patience).

A reasonable price: We tested pepper mills costing up to $200, but in most cases you’ll reach a point of diminishing returns, offering nothing better than models costing considerably less. The sweet spot is between $30 and $50. Beyond that, you’re likely paying for an interesting design or aesthetic.

A generous warranty: Most pepper mills offer very long or even lifetime warranties on the grinding mechanism. However, if you use your mill properly, longevity and breakage don’t seem to be big issues anyway.

We tested pepper mills by adjusting their coarseness settings to various positions to see how consistently and evenly they could grind. We also gave our wrists a workout by seeing how long it took each grinder to crank out a teaspoon of pepper and whether the grind was concentrated or sprayed.

Additionally, we checked to see the amount of peppercorns each model could hold. Using wet and oily hands, we gauged how difficult it would be to use the grinders in messy cooking situations.

For electric models, we took note of how noisy the motors were while grinding. Since pepper mills get equal play in the kitchen and on the table, we also took aesthetics into account. Ideally, we want pepper mills that aren’t an eyesore and that are nice enough to place on the table for a dinner party.