Do you need extra storage or counter space (or both) for your kitchen? You can solve this all-too-common problem by investing in a kitchen island or kitchen cart. Kitchen carts can help free up space in your cabinets and counter with their available drawers and shelves, giving you extra room to store kitchen essentials such as cooking tools, bowls, a coffee maker and even your microwave. 

Kitchen islands are different in that they are double or triple the size of a kitchen cart, offering additional storage, plenty of space for meal prep, and if there is a built-in space to accommodate bar stools, an additional place in your home for dining. Another notable difference is that kitchen islands stay put, while kitchen carts often come equipped with wheels. Both are free-standing furniture pieces that don’t require professional installation.

We know what game-changing additions these pieces of furniture can be in your kitchen, so we rounded up our five favorites in 2024 based on functionality, style and size. Check out the best kitchen islands and kitchen carts from popular retailers such as Amazon, Wayfair, Anthropologie and more. 

Best kitchen islands and kitchen carts in 2024

All the kitchen islands and carts below are reviewer-loved.

Best kitchen island: Grayson kitchen island

This green kitchen island from Urban Outfitters is a stunner. Kitchen islands aren’t usually colorful, which is why we love this one so much. The rich green combined with the island’s polished, rustic style will add vibrancy to anyone’s kitchen. You’ll enjoy prepping on the butcher block countertop and appreciate the two roomy exposed shelves for storage. 

The Grayson kitchen island has a 4.5-star rating on Urban Outfitter’s site. One reviewer wrote, “If you have a tiny kitchen and are always running out of counter space just do it! It’s honestly so cute in person and is really sturdy. The extra storage space is an added bonus too!”

Best splurge kitchen island: Fern kitchen island

The Fern kitchen island takes its style up a notch with its beautiful design details, including ballooned feet, brass hardware, a Carerra marble countertop and beautifully finished wood. In addition to its striking good looks, we also love the ample storage space available. You get two elongated drawers as well as two display shelves (protected by tempered glass doors) that can store stacks of bowls, plates, and pots and pans. There’s also space for two tools on the other side of the island. 

This kitchen island has a 4.8-star rating on Anthropologie. One reviewer wrote, “This piece of furniture is worth every penny! It’s solid and elegant, so if you consider buying it, do not wait!”

Best budget kitchen island: Sheryl wide kitchen island

The Sheryl wide kitchen island from Wayfair manages to be both stylish and functional. It features an interesting cane exterior that isn’t often found on other kitchen islands. We also like the varied storage space available; you get four exposed shelves, including one built specifically to store wine bottles (there’s space for four). 

You can utilize the two metal racks under one of the shelves to store stemware and the towel rod to hang tea towels. What’s more, the countertop is expandable, creating extra dining space, which may come in handy when hosting. 

Right now, you can get this 4.0-star-rated kitchen island for 38% off at Wayfair, saving you $230 on your purchase. 

Most affordable kitchen cart: Yaheetech kitchen island cart

If you’re shopping purely for additional storage space, get yourself a kitchen cart. This affordable option from Amazon offers two large exposed shelves, including one with slats that allow you to easily store wine bottles. You also get a drawer that is wide and deep enough to fit some plates as well as plenty of kitchen tools. The cart is outfitted with wheels for easy maneuvering, two of which can lock in place if need be.  

Right now, this kitchen card is a whopping 64% off when you apply the available $15 coupon toward your purchase. 

The Yaheetech kitchen island cart has a 4.5-star rating on Amazon. One reviewer wrote, “This has been a great cart, and a good value for the money. So far it’s held up for about a year with no issues. Very happy about this purchase. Installation probably took about an hour or two, but it was simple enough to follow the instructions. Love the extra counter space and the fact that the cart is maneuverable due to the wheels.” 

Most versatile kitchen cart: TMS lima kitchen cart

What this kitchen cart lacks in size it makes up for in versatility. This kitchen cart comes with storage options standard in other kitchen carts, including a drawer for tools and a towel rack, but what it has that others often don’t is a compartment for your trash can and exposed shelving designed to hold ingredients such as vinegar and spices. 

Position your commonly used oils to fit through the holes located above the top shelf, so that when you’re prepping a salad dressing, you can easily pull them out. There’s also a slot on the countertop that allows you to store your knives, plus two wheels on the bottom of the cart that lock in place. 

Because of its relatively compact size, this would be great for someone with a small kitchen that is lacking in counter space. You can get this in one of three colors, including grey, white and a really fun shade of pink. Prices vary by color.