Top 5 compared
The best electric salt and pepper grinders
Freshly ground salt and pepper at the press of a button, with one hand left free to keep stirring the pan.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How this works
The top 5 at a glance
An electric salt and pepper grinder is a mill with a small motor and a battery inside, so the motor does the grinding instead of a twist of the wrist. That helps anyone who finds turning a mill hard on the hands. Most come as a pair, one for salt and one for pepper, and charge over USB or take AA or AAA batteries; some start grinding when tipped over.
Every set here charges over USB, by cable or on a base, and lights up as it grinds, so you can see how much lands in the pan. None comes with a wall plug, so each charges from a phone charger or a computer. The grind adjusts from a fine powder for soups and sauces to coarse cracked pepper for a steak.
What matters
- About 100 mL (3.4 fl oz) a mill or more, for fewer refills.
- Five or more grind settings, not just two or three.
- Stainless steel, if the mills will live on the dinner table.
#1FORLIM Rechargeable Electric Salt and Pepper Grinder Set (black and white)
$30–$50
One mill is black and the other white, so salt and pepper are told apart at a glance, and each has a clear cup that shows when it’s running low. A ceramic core does the grinding, and FORLIM rates the motor at under 68 dB.
What owners say: Owners say it works right out of the box, is easy to fill and use, and holds its charge so long that some haven’t recharged it yet; they’re pleased with what it costs.
Heads up: Only one USB-C cable comes in the box, to share between the two mills.
A closer look: Covers fit over the grinding ends, so the mills can stand on a shelf or lie in a drawer without leaving pepper behind. Lift off the clear cup to refill it, and clear any salt from the ceramic core with the brush from the box.
- Motor rated under 68 dB
- Ceramic grinding core
- Covers for the grinding ends
- Cleaning brush included
Best for: Seasoning as you cook
- Charging
- USB-C cable, one for both
- Holds (each mill)
- 100 mL (3.4 fl oz)
- Grind settings
- 7
- Body
- Black and white plastic, clear cups
#2TLYSXPRO Rechargeable Electric Salt and Pepper Grinder Set (black)
$50–$75
A slim pair in nine colours, sage, greige and buttercream among them, so it can match the kitchen. The grinding parts inside are stainless steel, and each mill opens in seconds for filling.
What owners say: Owners like the look and the colour, find a charge lasts a very long time and say it grinds both salt and pepper well; how well it holds up over time is where they differ.
A closer look: Each mill holds less than the others here, so fill both before a big cook rather than halfway through it. TLYSXPRO covers the set for 18 months, so keep the order details somewhere easy to find.
- Nine colours to choose from
- Stainless steel grinding parts
- 18-month warranty
Best for: Kitchens with a colour scheme
- Charging
- USB-C cable for each mill
- Holds (each mill)
- 50 mL (1.7 fl oz)
- Grind settings
- 6
- Body
- Black plastic
#3ThermoMaven Rechargeable Electric Salt and Pepper Grinder Set (110 mL, silver)
$50–$75
Stainless steel mills that look at home on the dinner table as well as by the stove, with chambers big enough for about 70 g (2.5 oz) of peppercorns before a refill. ThermoMaven says one charge lasts about a month of daily use.
What owners say: Owners rate the build and the grind, rarely need to charge it and would buy it again; they like the sleek steel and how easy it is to use.
A closer look: The parts that touch the seasoning can be washed, so let them dry fully before the salt or pepper goes back in. The two USB-C cables charge both mills at once, so the pair returns to the table together.
- Charge lasts about a month
- Inner parts can be washed
Best for: On show when guests come over
- Charging
- USB-C cable for each mill
- Holds (each mill)
- 110 mL (3.7 fl oz)
- Grind settings
- 6
- Body
- Stainless steel
#4CIRCLE JOY Rechargeable Electric Salt and Pepper Grinder Set with Charging Base (black)
$30–$50
Both mills stand on one base that charges them together and catches stray grains, so there’s no cable to find and nothing to wipe off the counter. They fill from the top through a wide opening, and a dial underneath each mill sets the grind.
What owners say: It works without trouble, owners report, and they like how well it’s designed and how simple it is to use; the light divides them.
A closer look: A five-minute charge covers a day’s cooking and a full charge takes about two hours, by CIRCLE JOY’s figures, for over 20 minutes of grinding. The mills aren’t washable, so wipe them and the base with a damp cloth and keep them out of the sink.
- Base catches stray grains
- Wide opening for top refills
- 5-minute charge for a day
Best for: Keeping the counter tidy
- Charging
- Base charges both (USB)
- Holds (each mill)
- 110 mL (3.7 fl oz)
- Grind settings
- 5
- Body
- Matte black plastic
#5Uvellgift Rechargeable Electric Salt and Pepper Grinder Set with Charging Dock (stainless steel)
$30–$50
Brushed stainless steel mills with a small window in each body, so you can see how much salt or pepper is left without opening them. Each grinds on an adjustable ceramic core, and the top twists off for a quick refill.
What owners say: Owners call it good-looking, say it works well and find it easy to use; battery life and how long the mills last get mixed reports.
A closer look: The two mills look alike, so check the side windows to tell salt from pepper before seasoning. Uvellgift says the steel bodies resist rust, so the pair can stand on its dock by the range between meals.
- Window shows what’s left
- Twist-off top for refills
- Ceramic grinding core
Best for: Steel mills docked by the cooktop
- Charging
- Base charges both (USB)
- Holds (each mill)
- 110 mL (3.7 fl oz)
- Grind settings
- 5
- Body
- Brushed stainless steel
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1FORLIM KYMQ-45AT01 | #2TLYSXPRO PM-003A | #3ThermoMaven KYMQ-32A | #4CIRCLE JOY KYMQ-64C | #5Uvellgift KYMQ-67C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Runner-up | Best stainless steel | Best charging base | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 8.9 |
| Price | $30–$50 | $50–$75 | $50–$75 | $30–$50 | $30–$50 |
| Charging | USB-C cable, one for both | USB-C cable for each mill | USB-C cable for each mill | Base charges both (USB) | Base charges both (USB) |
| Holds (each mill) | 100 mL (3.4 fl oz) | 50 mL (1.7 fl oz) | 110 mL (3.7 fl oz) | 110 mL (3.7 fl oz) | 110 mL (3.7 fl oz) |
| Grind settings | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Body | Black and white plastic, clear cups | Black plastic | Stainless steel | Matte black plastic | Brushed stainless steel |
| Best for | Seasoning as you cook | Kitchens with a colour scheme | On show when guests come over | Keeping the counter tidy | Steel mills docked by the cooktop |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
Photos are illustrative, some computer-generated. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How we pick · How this works.
