The 8 Best Cheese Boards of 2023 | by The Spruce Eats

Maybe you’re hosting a family gathering. Maybe you’re having a romantic date night at home. Or maybe you just don’t feel like cooking tonight. Whatever the occasion (or non-occasion), making a beautiful cheese board suddenly makes it feel like a party.

But of course, we eat with our eyes, and the cheese board may matter just as much as the delicious cheese laid out on it. A sleek gray slate or a dark-stained wood board somehow makes it look like you put a lot of effort into the evening, even if all you did was cut up cheese and arrange it. When you’re working with such simple, high-quality ingredients, every detail matters. That’s why we did some digging and found the best cheese boards the internet has to offer so you can ensure your spread is on point for any occasion.

So grab those cheese knives, slice some bread, get out the wine, and take a gander at our picks for the best cheese boards.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

CTFT Cheese Board and Knife Set at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Slate:

Williams Sonoma Brooklyn Slate Cheese Board, Grey at Williams-Sonoma

Jump to Review

Best for Instagram:

Anthropologie Agate Cheese Board at Anthropologie

Jump to Review

Best Marble:

Williams Sonoma Marble Honeycomb Cheese Board at Williams-Sonoma

Jump to Review

Best for the Vintage Lover:

ChaseVintage Reclaimed Wood Cheese Board at Etsy

Jump to Review

Best Cloche:

LSA Hand-Blown Glass Cloche and Walnut Base at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Personalized:

Sugar Tree Gallery Personalized Cheese Board at Etsy

Jump to Review

Best Wooden:

Pottery Barn Olive Wood Rustic Edge Cheese and Charcuterie Board at Pottery Barn

Jump to Review

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look for
FAQs
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Amazon

View On Amazon

What We Like

Set of stainless steel tools included
Two serving bowls included
Versatile
Compact

What We Don't Like

May need occasional oil conditioning

This easy-to-clean bamboo board includes two ceramic bowls, two slate labels, two chalk markers, four cheese knives, and even a manual. At first glance, it looks like a standard cheese board, but the hidden drawer keeps the knives, chalk, and markers stashed so you’re always ready for a cheese party. While there are certainly fancier boards out there, this one is perfect as a gift, a starter cheese board, or to keep in your car for those spontaneous cheese picnics. You’ll need to season it once it arrives, then it should last you for years. It's a great one to keep around for any occasion.

Price at time of publish: $30

Material: Bamboo | Dimensions: 13 x 13 x 1.4 inches | Care: Hand wash and dry thoroughly

Williams Sonoma

View On Williams-Sonoma

What We Like

Versatile for hot and cold items
Nonporous surface
Attractive
Soapstone chalk included for labeling cheese

What We Don't Like

A bit small

If you want a cheese vessel vetted by an army of cheesemongers, you’ll need a slate from Brooklyn Slate. It’s nonporous, food-safe, and easy to throw in the dishwasher. It comes with anti-slip cork feet that help anchor it on the table, even if folks are grabbing at it throughout the evening to refill their plates. The dark background helps make the cheese atop it pop, and you can write the names of the cheeses being served directly on the slate with chalk. You don’t have to watch over it quite as much as a wooden board. If you’re someone who makes a lot of cheese boards, buy yourself this slate immediately and thank us later.

Price at time of publish: $50

Material: Natural slate slab | Dimensions: 10 x 14 inches | Care: Dishwasher safe without cork feet, hand wash if attached

Anthropologie

View On Anthropologie

What We Like

Heavy duty
Elegant
Versatile piece of serveware

What We Don't Like

Color may vary

Looking for something a little more distinctive? An Agate Cheese Board from Anthropologie is the answer. It comes in the following colors: white quartz, dyed blue, green, rose quartz, and amethyst. Each hand-hewn natural board will be a tad bit different. In between cheese parties, you can use it to brighten any room of your house, either as a standalone piece or as a holder for other items. This is the perfect dreamy background to your cheese for that Instagram post or TikTok video.

Price at time of publish: $62

Material: Agate stone, brass electroplating | Dimensions: 11 x 7 inches | Care: Wipe clean with damp towel

Williams Sonoma Marble Honeycomb Cheese Board

Courtesy of Williams Sonoma

View On Williams-Sonoma

What We Like

Tiny details
Matching collection available
Hand-carved board and etchings

What We Don't Like

Small grooves may be hard to clean

This Williams Sonoma cheese board is sure to make a statement. It's crafted from premium white marble that's hand etched with a sweet honeycomb pattern and accented with gold-finished zinc honeybees. Marble is a fantastic material for cheese since it is naturally cooling and won't absorb odors the same way as boards made of wood. Just place the board inside the fridge to pre-chill before arranging your cheese on top.

The hand-carved design means that each cheese board will vary slightly in hues and markings, making each piece completely unique. We love that it coordinates with the brand's matching collection of Honeycomb coasters and cheese knives. There is also a round version of this cheese board available with a slightly smaller surface area for smaller parties and get-togethers.

Price at time of publish: $70

Material: Marble and gold-finished zinc | Dimensions: 9 x 16 x 3/4 inches | Care: Wipe clean with a soft, damp cloth. Do not place in dishwasher or submerge in water.

Courtesy of Etsy

View On Etsy

What We Like

Crafted from reclaimed wood
Attractive patina
Versatile
Comes already oil-conditioned

What We Don't Like

Requires extra care

Wish you could raid the kitchen of a chic Provencal grand-mère to find something perfectly vintage for your magnificent cheese spreads? Etsy has you covered with this reclaimed wood board. The vendor, ChaseVintage, specializes in discoveries from French and European Flea Markets, bringing one-of-a-kind finds to your kitchen table. Each board is cleaned with kosher salt and lemon, dried, then wiped down with a food-grade butcher block conditioner oil. In other words, even though these are true vintage items, each will be in its best possible condition by the time it reaches your table.

Price at time of publish: $53

Material: Reclaimed/repurposed wood | Dimensions: 11-12 x 14 inches | Care: Wipe clean and condition with oil; do not submerge in water

LSA Hand-Blown Glass Cloche and Walnut Base

Courtesy of Food52

View On Amazon View On Neiman Marcus

What We Like

Crafted from hand-blown glass
Versatile
Accommodates larger portions
Good humidity control for cheese

What We Don't Like

Pricey

If you’ve ever romped around the French countryside, you’ve likely seen a cloche or two. If you haven’t, we’re thrilled to introduce you to a genius cheese storage/display system. If we were actually French, we’d probably keep our cheese for the next few days out on the stunning walnut board and under the hand-blown glass dome until we’d finished eating it. Since we’re in America, just take your cheese out a few hours before you plan to enjoy it and keep it under the dome (that’s the cloche, meaning “bell”) until you’re ready to enjoy. It’s rumored to keep the humidity at exactly the right levels for the cheese. Maybe it does that, but even if that’s not true, it is 100 percent a beautiful way to display your cheese.

Price at time of publish: $260

Material: Glass and walnut wood | Dimensions: 12.52 x 12.52 x 11.46 inches | Care: Hand wash

The 9 Best Cutting Boards of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Sugar Tree Gallery Personalized Cheese Board

Courtesy of Sugar Tree Gallery

View On Etsy

What We Like

Available in variety of wood options
Available in two sizes
Handcrafted
Customizable

What We Don't Like

Narrow width

Constructed and engraved in the USA, the boards from Sugar Tree Gallery come in a choice of four types of wood, and two sizes for ultimate customization. The stunning wood grain is sanded, and conditioned for functionality and longevity. And each piece is handcrafted for a one-of-a-kind gift.

Though narrow in width, this model is plenty long to handle whatever cheeses you serve plus some tasty jams, marcona almonds, and zesty olives. And the thick depth gives great heft and stability when loaded up. Because of the solid wood construction, these boards require a quick wipe clean and some occasional oil conditioning.

Price at time of publish: $41-$51 depending on wood type

Material: Hickory, white oak, maple, or mahogany | Dimensions: 6 x 15 x 0.75 or 8 x 22 x 0.75 inches | Care: Wipe clean, occasional oil conditioning

Courtesy of Pottery Barn

View On Pottery Barn

What We Like

Handcrafted
Sustainably sourced materials
Heavy duty
Attractive rustic bark edge

What We Don't Like

Pricey

Crafted in a family-owned woodshop in Sfax, Tunisia, this model reflects the town’s respect for the sacred olive tree which grows for hundreds of years. Each board is shaped and sanded by artisans from sustainably-sourced olive wood from trees that no longer bear fruit. The gorgeously-grained wood is then polished with olive oil for maximum conditioning.

The generous surface area is a major advantage of the Pottery Barn Olive Wood board—at 15 inches long and almost 7 inches wide, plenty of stinky blue, nutty manchego, and creamy Saint-Andrés cheese can be piled on. Plus, the rustic bark edge adds an organic beauty to the piece. There is a little extra care with this board. Be sure to hand wash and condition with oil occasionally to maintain the vivid finish.

Price at time of publish: $59

Material: Olive wood | Dimensions: 15.75 x 6.5 wide x 0.75 inches (may vary slightly) | Care: Hand wash and condition with oil

The 7 Best Carving Boards of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Final Verdict

For a versatile cheese board that also makes a great starter set, we recommend the CTFT Cheese Board and Knife Set. Prefer a nonporous cheese slate? Brooklyn Slate's grey cheese board is for you.

What to Look for in a Cheese Board

Material

Wood, bamboo, and marble are common materials for cheese boards. Certain woods will absorb the smell of cheese, so select ones that are a nonporous, harder wood such as teak, walnut, maple, or cherry. Bamboo and marble are both easy to clean materials and provide a distinguished look for a cheese display. Other materials you will find these boards made from include slate, glass, and even agate.

Size

What will you be serving on the cheese board? What type of event are you preparing it for? A romantic night for two? A small arrangement for a few people? Or are you're preparing for a party? One size does not fit all, and you might find yourself with a number of these convenient boards. A standard-sized cheese board is around 9 x 13 inches and can hold a nice assortment of cheeses, meats, and crackers.

Shape

When looking for a cheese board, you will see them in various shapes, including rectangular, square, and round. One with a unique shape could become a decorative centerpiece when not being used as a cheese board.

FAQs

How many types of cheeses should go on a cheese board?

Three types of cheeses are a good number to place on a cheese board. Slices of hard cheese such as cheddar and a semi-firm cheese like Gouda are good choices. Plan on 1 ounce of cheese per guest.

What should accompany cheese on a cheese board?

Fresh fruits, including grapes and strawberries; crackers and a sliced baguette; rolled-up slices of meat, including ham, salami, or prosciutto, work well on cheese boards.

Can you prepare a cheese board ahead of time?

Save yourself a bit of time and prepare the cheese board ahead of time. You can make it up the night before or the morning of your event if you'd like. Wrap it with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator; take it out 30 minutes before you want to serve it.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Writer and professional cheese eater Christine Clark teaches cheese and pairing classes throughout the U.S. and is dedicated to helping people expertly get their cheese fix. Her cheese adoration is so strong that she has a whole podcast dedicated to it. She is a Certified Cheese Professional through the American Cheese Society.

Carrie Honaker is a food writer who always orders the cheese board when dining out. As a restaurateur and avid home cook, she knows the importance of an attractive, reliable vessel for serving cheeses. She personally owns two boards from this list and uses them regularly. Her work has appeared in many publications, including Bon Appetit, Allrecipes, and Wine Enthusiast.

The Best Places to Order Cheese Online

Updated by

Sharon Lockley

Additional reporting by

Carrie Honaker