Ranked on fit for small loads: a basket sized to the job, a footprint that stores anywhere, and a mechanism that works at small scale.
The Best Small Salad Spinners (2026)
Small salad spinners for one or two people, herbs, and berries: compact picks that store easily and dry small loads well.
Our top picks at a glance
Best small overall
OXO Good Grips Little Salad and Herb SpinnerCooks who spin herbs, berries, or a small side salad and want the full-size spinner experience in a cupboard-friendly size.
Best small budget
Cuisinart Salad Spinner 3-Qt, CTG-00-SSASOne- or two-person households, and anyone who wants a small spinner for berries, herbs, and side salads.
Best small for tiny kitchens
Prepworks by Progressive 4 Qt Collapsible Salad SpinnerSmall kitchens, flats, and caravans where a full-size spinner would eat a whole cupboard shelf.
The OXO Good Grips Little Salad and Herb Spinner is the small pick: the same pump and brake as the large OXO, sized for herbs, berries, and salads for one or two. The Cuisinart 3-Qt CTG-00-SSAS is the budget alternative, and the Prepworks 4 Qt Collapsible is the pick when cupboard space is the deciding factor.
The picks, ranked
| Pick | Size | Mechanism | Material | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best small overallOXO Good Grips Little Salad and Herb Spinner | Small, for single servings, herbs, and berries | One-hand pump with built-in brake | BPA-free plastic | Check price |
| Best small budgetCuisinart Salad Spinner 3-Qt, CTG-00-SSAS | - | Easy-to-turn spin knob | - | Check price |
| Best small for tiny kitchensPrepworks by Progressive 4 Qt Collapsible Salad Spinner | - | Spin knob | BPA-free plastic | Check price |
 Best small everydayAmazon Basics Salad Spinner 4.2 Qt, Linen Gray | - | Spin knob | BPA-free plastic | Check price |
Best small overall
OXO Good Grips Little Salad and Herb Spinner
The small one: the same pump and brake in a size built for herbs, berries, and salads for one or two.
Strengths
- It keeps the same one-hand pump and brake as the large OXO, so small loads dry just as easily as large ones.
- The small footprint fits in a cupboard or on a shelf where the large spinner would not, and it is light to lift with one hand.
- Herbs, berries, and small batches of leaves spin without being crushed, since the basket is sized to the load.
Limitations
- A family salad needs two or three loads, which turns a quick job into a slow one.
- The small bowl is less useful as a serving dish than the large spinner bowl.
- It is a second spinner if you also own a large one, so it only earns its place if you spin small loads often.
What owners report
Commonly praised
- The small size is ideal for a handful of herbs without wasting water on a big bowl
- The pump feels just as smooth as the large model despite the smaller scale
- It tucks onto a shelf where the full-size spinner would never fit.
Common complaints
- Family salads need several loads, which turns a quick job into a slow one
- The small bowl is too shallow to serve a side salad at the table
- The lid feels light and less solid than the large model.
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
| Size | Small, for single servings, herbs, and berries |
|---|---|
| Mechanism | One-hand pump with built-in brake |
| Material | BPA-free plastic |
| Base | Non-slip base |
| Care | Dishwasher safe |
Best for: Cooks who spin herbs, berries, or a small side salad and want the full-size spinner experience in a cupboard-friendly size.
Skip if: You regularly spin a whole head of lettuce or a family salad, which will need several loads in this size.
Best small budget
Cuisinart Salad Spinner 3-Qt, CTG-00-SSAS
The compact Cuisinart: the same crank and locking lid in a 3-quart size for one or two people.
Strengths
- The small size stores easily and fits in a sink for washing, which the large spinners do not.
- It keeps the large model locking lid and the opening for adding and draining water without removing the lid.
- It is the cheapest way into a proper spinner from a known kitchen brand.
Limitations
- Three quarts is small for anything beyond a side salad, so family meals need repeat loads.
- There is no brake, so the basket coasts to a stop like the large model.
- The crank knob is small, so large hands may find it fiddly.
What owners report
Commonly praised
- The compact size fits in the sink for washing and on a small shelf for storage
- The locking lid and water opening work just like the large model
- It is the right size for a side salad for one or two people.
Common complaints
- Family salads need repeat loads, which is slow on a busy night
- The small crank knob feels fiddly for larger hands
- There is no brake, so the basket keeps turning after the knob stops.
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
| Capacity | 3 qt |
|---|---|
| Mechanism | Easy-to-turn spin knob |
| Lid | Locking lid with opening to add and drain water |
| Base | Non-slip base |
| Care | Dishwasher safe |
Best for: One- or two-person households, and anyone who wants a small spinner for berries, herbs, and side salads.
Skip if: You cook for a family, since three quarts means several loads for a full salad.
Best small for tiny kitchens
Prepworks by Progressive 4 Qt Collapsible Salad Spinner
The space saver: a 4-quart spinner that folds to a third of its height, then pops back up when salad is on the menu.
Strengths
- The bowl collapses to a third of its height for storage, which no rigid spinner in this list can match.
- The basket doubles as a colander, so washing and spinning happen in the same piece.
- At 4 quarts it still handles a proper side salad, not just a garnish.
Limitations
- The collapsible bowl is less rigid than a solid bowl, so it needs a flat surface and a steady hand while spinning.
- It uses a spin knob rather than a pump, which is slower and takes two hands.
- Four quarts is a middle size: too big for herbs alone and too small for a large family salad.
What owners report
Commonly praised
- The bowl folds flat for storage and pops back up in seconds when needed
- The size is right for a side salad without taking over the cupboard
- The basket works well as a colander for washing before spinning.
Common complaints
- The collapsible bowl flexes while spinning and needs a flat, steady surface
- The knob is slower than a pump and takes two hands to work well
- The folding seams trap water and need a good shake before the spinner is put away.
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
| Capacity | 4 qt |
|---|---|
| Storage | Collapses to one third of its height |
| Mechanism | Spin knob |
| Material | BPA-free plastic |
| Care | Dishwasher safe |
Best for: Small kitchens, flats, and caravans where a full-size spinner would eat a whole cupboard shelf.
Skip if: You spin large family salads every day, or you want a pump mechanism rather than a knob.
Best small everyday
Amazon Basics Salad Spinner 4.2 Qt, Linen Gray
The no-frills pick: a 4.2-quart spinner with a spin knob, a non-skid base, and nothing to learn.
Strengths
- It is the simplest spinner in this list to understand: load, turn the knob, tip the water out.
- The removable basket doubles as a colander, and the non-skid base keeps it still on the worktop.
- At 4.2 quarts it suits a side salad for two or three without taking a large cupboard shelf.
Limitations
- The knob mechanism is slower than a pump, and there is no brake to stop the basket.
- Four quarts is a middle size that will not cover a family salad in one load.
- The grey finish and plain design will not win any prizes on an open shelf.
What owners report
Commonly praised
- The knob is simple to turn and there is nothing to learn or break
- The basket lifts out easily and works as a colander for rinsing
- The size suits a side salad for two or three without taking much shelf space.
Common complaints
- There is no brake, so the basket coasts and each load takes longer
- The knob is slower than a pump and needs a steady rhythm to build speed
- The plain grey finish looks dull on an open shelf.
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
| Capacity | 4.2 qt |
|---|---|
| Mechanism | Spin knob |
| Basket | Removable basket colander |
| Base | Non-skid base |
| Material | BPA-free plastic |
Best for: First-time spinner buyers and renters who want a cheap, honest tool without brand markup.
Skip if: You want a pump or a brake, since this is a knob spinner, or you need a family-size bowl.
Questions, answered
Why buy a small salad spinner instead of a large one?
Because a small load rattles around in a large basket and dries unevenly. Herbs and berries need a basket sized to the load, and a small spinner stores on a shelf where a large one would not fit. A large spinner is better only if you also spin family salads.
Can a small spinner wash berries?
Yes. Rinse the berries in the basket, lift it out, tip the water away, and spin gently. The OXO Little and the Cuisinart 3-quart are both sized for a punnet of berries, and the basket holes are small enough that berries do not slip through.
Do small spinners dry as well as large ones?
At their own scale, yes. The OXO Little uses the same pump and brake as the large OXO, so a small load dries just as well. What changes is capacity, not drying power: a small spinner simply holds less per load.