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The Spruce Eats / Lecia Landis
Baker’s racks originally appeared in home and bakeshop kitchens as consummate multitaskers. These shelved structures provided extra storage space for jarred goods, and counter space for rolling out dough, all in an easy-to-clean package. Nowadays, baker’s racks tend to be aesthetic features as much as they are utilitarian ones, and home shoppers seek out units that match their decor while also offering up plenty of shelves and compartments for cookware, utensils, and even wine bottles.
Whether you need a few extra corner shelves or something to hold your favorite stand mixer, here are the best baker's racks to suit your home kitchen.
Best Overall
SEI Furniture Kitchen Dome Bakers Rack Storage Organizer
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Overstock
Attractive design
Includes a wooden workspace and nesting baskets
Narrow enough to fit in smaller kitchens
Heavier than several competitors
Requires assembly
If you’re going for the best baker’s rack, you’ll want a durable yet attractive option that can handle all of your storage needs. For a baker’s rack with elegant lines, plenty of functionality, and an overall look that feels more decorative than many other racks on the market, consider the SEI Furniture Kitchen Dome Baker’s Rack.
The window-inspired back panel features a graceful top arch, center rack space for the included adjustable nesting baskets, and side racks for hooks. The glossy wooden tabletop is an aesthetic match for the black metal frame, and underneath is space for five wine bottles, which you don’t see on many models. The bottom two sturdy metal shelves can hold up to 20 pounds each, more than enough strength for your plates, small gadgets, and any assorted knick-knacks.
The SEI Furniture rack still accomplishes the practical needs of a top-notch baker’s rack, but its chic silhouette and attention to detail make it a strong choice for visually oriented shoppers.
Price at time of publish: $102
Dimensions: 25.75 x 17 x 68 inches | Weight: 43 pounds | Maximum Capacity: 110 pounds
Best Industrial
Amazon Basics Kitchen Storage Baker's Rack with Wood Table
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Amazon Basics
Lightweight
Includes shelves, hanging hooks, and counter space
Shelves can bear substantial weight
Industrial aesthetic won’t suit all decor schemes
A piece deliberately designed for storage capacity and overall function, the Amazon Basics baker’s rack is a favorite of Christina Russo, creative director of The Kitchen Community. "The Amazon Basics unit is a godsend," she says. "It’s the right size for most kitchens, has all the rack space that a home cook will ever need, and it doubles up as a utensil storage area and has its own work surface. And the price point [makes it] a culinary bargain."
This rack is made of chrome-plated steel and natural wood, which makes it an easy item to clean and maintain. It’s also highly useful and well-structured, particularly for storing larger appliances and pieces of cookware. The wood shelf and the lower metal shelves can each hold up to 270 pounds, while the hanging hooks can handle up to 10 pounds each. But, since the rack is fairly sizable and has a specific, industrial-inspired look, it might not be an aesthetic fit for every kitchen.
Price at time of publish: $121
Dimensions: 36 x 14 x 63.4 inches | Weight: 32 pounds | Maximum Capacity: 880 pounds
Best Budget
VASAGLE Baker's Rack with Wire Basket
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Amazon
Expansive capacity
Easy assembly
Simple and rustic aesthetic
Wood can peel off with time
Extremely durable with plenty of storage space, this fairly priced rack is a prime example of a rack that covers all of these requirements. It is equipped with multiple tiers, as well as a sturdy drawer and six steel hooks. The main counter has plenty of space to set up a microwave or coffee machine station if you desired.
Reviewers were impressed by how straightforward and easy it was to assemble this rack, everything is labeled clearly. The budget price and quick assembly do not take away from quality though—this baker's rack is a powerhouse fixture in your kitchen that will last years.
Price at time of publish: $87
Dimensions: 15.7 x 35.4 x 52 inches | Weight: 34.6 pounds | Maximum Capacity: 165 pounds
Best Compact
Zipcode Design Jarrod Iron Standard Baker’s Rack
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Wayfair
Easy to fit in narrow spaces
Lightweight
Includes several shelves of various sizes
Made of easy-to-clean metal
Only comes in black
Shelves aren’t adjustable
A compact baker’s rack will come in very handy for any home cook forced to make do in a small kitchen. And the sleek Jarrod model from Zipcode Design provides ample storage and workspace in a lightweight and narrow package.
Reviewers praise the 25-inch-wide Jarrod’s sturdy shelving, which can be used to store anything from toasters to microwaves to blenders to your favorite margarita glassware. The lower shelves are also deep enough to accommodate baskets, opening you up to more storage options while giving you the chance to add some extra decorative flair. Hooks can be added to the sides of the rack for hanging utensils, and the forgiving matte-black hue makes this an easy piece to maintain.
Price at time of publish: $75
Dimensions: 24.75 x 16.75 x 67.25 inches | Weight: 26 pounds | Maximum Capacity: Not listed
Best Wrought Iron
Fleur de Lis Living Saundra 31-Inch Wrought Iron Standard Baker's Rack
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Wayfair
Beautifully designed
Easy to assemble
Can be indoors or outdoors
Expensive
Can only hold up to 50 pounds of weight
Doesn’t include baskets or hooks
Wrought iron has a lot of advantages in the home-decor sphere: It’s durable, it’s beautiful, and it works both indoors and outdoors. For shoppers who want an antique-inspired rack that doesn’t compromise on sturdiness, the wrought iron Saundra model from Fleur de Lis Living amply delivers.
The mellow dark-sage hue of the rack feels more unique than standard black or silver, but it still meshes with enough other colors to function as a neutral. The five shelves are wide enough to hold glassware, serving ware, or plants. It doesn’t have any place for hanging hooks, though. Reviewers do warn that, because the rack can only hold up to 50 pounds of weight, buyers shouldn’t try to add heavy (and pricey) appliances like stand mixers and microwaves.
Price at time of publish: $410
Dimensions: 31 x 16 x 68.5 inches | Weight: 40 pounds | Maximum Capacity: 50 pounds
Best Corner
Verdugo Gift Rustic Corner Baker's Rack
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Amazon
Visually pleasing
Compact for small spaces
Lightweight
Easy to assemble
Corner baker’s racks are quaint, space-saving pieces suited for smaller kitchens or for homes that already feature plenty of shelving and counter space. This version from Verdugo Gift comes in warm and welcoming wood, with a metal frame and shelves made of rustic pine. Though it’s very compact, at its widest point, the rack reaches out about 14 inches from the wall, giving you enough room for a little extra storage.
While the rack’s shelves aren’t wide enough or deep enough to hold appliances or larger pieces of serving ware, they work nicely for small plants, smaller kitchen gadgets, decorative knick-knacks, delicate glassware, or even as a corner home bar. Another thing to keep in mind is that, though this is metal, it’s not suitable for outdoor use.
Price at time of publish: $107
Dimensions: 14 x 3.15 x 47 inches | Weight: 12 pounds | Maximum Capacity: Not listed
The wooden counter and small wine rack are what made the SEI Furniture Kitchen Dome Bakers Rack Storage Organizer our top pick for a kitchen rack. With ample storage space and a high maximum weight capacity, the Mr. Ironstone Kitchen Baker’s Rack & Utility Storage Shelf is an affordable pick.
How We Selected
When evaluating the baker’s racks included on this list, our writer considered each rack’s value (both their cost itself and the features provided for that cost), its structural integrity, design, and the ease with which buyers can clean and maintain these racks to keep them in good shape for years to come. She also reached out to design experts for their advice on what makes a great kitchen rack.
What to Look for When Buying a Baker's Rack
Styles
Baker’s racks come in a plethora of styles, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to browse through the various options and choose a version that best suits your decor scheme. Popular styles include farmhouse, industrial, and rustic. Farmhouse baker’s racks feature natural wood, neutral-toned metal, and/or wicker baskets. Industrial options will feature silver or black metal frames, grid detailing, and straight lines, while rustic ones have antiqued ironwork.
Function
Baker’s racks may once have served an entirely utilitarian purpose for bakers in need of surfaces to rest sheet pans and cooking racks, but their usefulness can now extend far beyond that. The “table” panel of a baker’s rack can offer home cooks with limited counter real estate an extra surface for chopping and assembling. The shelves on baker’s racks are great for holding toasters, microwaves, glassware, serving ware, stand mixers, wine bottles, and pantry ingredients—the possibilities are endless.
They can also be used for extra decoration. Some might choose to use an especially pretty baker’s rack as a display stand for sculptures, tchotchkes, lamps, framed art, or other decorative items. Baker’s racks can also be excellent places to rest potted plants of different sizes. If you purchase a baker’s rack made of metal (especially wrought iron), these pieces of furniture can also hold plants and gardening equipment outdoors.
Features
All baker’s racks include shelving, but some also incorporate special features that allow for increased storage potential. You’ll definitely want a work table; that’s key. If there are hanging grids, that can be useful for storage hooks. Nesting racks and wine racks will make the kitchen rack more versatile, while adjustable shelving will make it modifiable to fit your needs.
FAQs
How should you organize your baker’s rack?
As a general rule, you should always verify the total weight capacity of your baker’s rack before you start loading it up. Once you’ve determined that, place the heaviest items on the lower shelves or on the work table. If your rack includes a hanging grid, check the instructions to figure out whether you can hang pots and pans from said grid, or whether it’s more suited to spoons, tongs, and other lightweight items. Finally, save the lightest items (like decorative glasses/mugs or spice jars) for the top shelf.
Are baker’s racks only for the kitchen?
In spite of their name, baker’s racks certainly don’t need to be restricted to the kitchen. They work wonderfully in an outdoor garden (as long as they’re weatherproof), they can provide storage in a home workshop, and they can even give you extra table space and shelf space in a laundry room or a kid’s playroom. Baker’s racks can effectively work in any room that could benefit from more shelving
Can you anchor a baker’s rack to the wall?
The simple answer is yes. The majority of baker’s racks on the market can be affixed to a wall, and in some situations—like if you’re planning to use a baker’s rack to hold toy bins in a child’s nursery—anchoring makes more sense than allowing the rack to stand freely. That said, the racks on this list were all designed to stand without wall mounting, so there’s no need to pull out your drill.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
This article was written by Taylor Tobin, a freelance journalist who covers cooking, product reviews, and recipe content for outlets like Simply Recipes, HuffPost, Insider, and Allrecipes. She loves multi-tasking furniture items, and the industrial garage shelving unit that she uses as a bar, a bookcase, and a side table counts among her absolute favorite pieces of home decor.