The 4 best pepper mills, tested and reviewed

Best overall: Peugeot Paris u'Select

• Material of grinding mechanism: Case-hardened steel
• Adjustable grind: Yes
• Size: 7.1 inches
• Operation mode: Manual 

Pros: Easy to adjust, even fine grind, attractive finish

Cons: Coarse grind in on the finer side

The Peugeot Paris u'Select Pepper Mill is a classic: intuitive to use and beautiful to display. You adjust the setting by rotating a labeled band of wood at the mill's base. Of the pepper mills with specific grind settings, it was the easiest to turn, and because the band is located at the base, you don't have to worry about the mill coming apart as you adjust it. 

The hourglass shape of the mill is easy to grip, and the texture of the wood feels more natural than others that were highly polished, which I preferred. No matter what setting you're on, the pepper comes out in a neat circle and doesn't spray wide. 

My Peugeot pepper mill sits next to my stove and has to contend with splashing oil and general cooking debris. I have been using this mill for six months and it looks as good as the day I got it. The dark matte finish doesn't show grime, and I can easily clean it with one swipe with a damp cloth. 

The coarsest grind was finer than others we tested and the Peugeot was average in terms of speed. We tested the 7-inch pepper mill, but multiple sizes are available if you're looking for one of the best pepper mills with more capacity.

Best easy-grind: PepperMate Traditional Pepper Mill

• Material of grinding mechanism: Ceramic
• Adjustable grind: Yes
• Size: 5.5 inches
• Operation mode: Manual 

Pros: Very easy to use and fill, adjustable grind, has a receptacle for easily catching and containing ground pepper

Cons: Receptacle has fallen off during grinding, resulting in spilled pepper; not the ideal design for serving at the table

Everything about the PepperMate's design is easy: its wide opening is easy to fill without peppercorns running all over the place; it's easy to adjust and crank; and a plastic receptacle at the base of the mill makes it effortless to corral, measure, and store ground pepper. It's no wonder this mill is a favorite of celebrity chefs like Ina Garten and is making it onto our list of the best pepper grinders. 

In my testing it took just 10 seconds to grind an entire tablespoon of peppercorns to a medium consistency. I also found the vertical crank design was more comfortable on my wrists compared to the horizontal twisting motion required of most traditional mills. 

I've been using this pepper mill for several months and my only gripe is that sometimes when I hold it in the air without supporting the base, the plastic receptacle falls off, leading to spilled pepper all over my floors. With time, I've learned to support the base if I carry the mill or grind in the air, but I wish that wasn't a lesson I had to learn. 

— Lauren Savoie, deputy editor of Insider Reviews

Best electric: Eparé Electric Pepper Mill

• Material of grinding mechanism: Ceramic
• Adjustable grind: Yes
• Size: 8.8 inches
• Operation mode: Electric

Pros: Motor isn't loud, can be operated with one hand

Cons: Doesn't come with batteries, bulky

This battery-operated electric pepper mill stood out for its modern design and simple operation. It was the only truly one-handed pepper mill I tested, which is a lifesaver if you're stirring with one hand and peppering with the other. The mill is top-heavy with four AA batteries stored in the upper portion, but the stainless steel construction is sturdy enough to keep it from tipping over. 

When you grind the pepper, a small LED light shines from the mouth of the mill. It is not obtrusive, illuminating a small area of the plate so you can see where your pepper is landing. The coarseness adjuster is underneath the mill, and provides an accurate range of fine to coarse. 

Especially with the finer grinds, efficiency was the main downside with the Eparé: it was among the slowest mills I tested. However, if you're looking for the best pepper mill that's easy to operate with limited hand strength, this was the best. 

Best ratcheting: Kuhn Rikon Ratchet Grinder

• Material of grinding mechanism: Ceramic
• Adjustable grind: Yes
• Size: 8.5 inches
• Operation mode: Manual

Pros: Side opening for easy filling, ratchet is easy to use and pull

Cons: Construction doesn't feel very sturdy, leaves pepper dust if set down after grinding

The only ratchet pepper grinder we tested, the Kuhn Rikon had a small but accurate range of grinds. The adjustment dial is under the mill's opening, with the directions for fine and coarse clearly labeled. You pour peppercorns through an opening on the side of the mill, so you don't have to unscrew anything or worry about losing small pieces.

The exterior of the mill does not feel particularly durable, but the internal grinding mechanism is ceramic. Wilkens says that ceramic grinders are likely to stay sharp and not wear down. The main issue with this pepper mill is that if you leave the ratchet handle in any position other than straight up, you will inadvertently grind pepper when you try to adjust it.