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Increase your countertop space without a major renovation with one of these must-have pieces.

If you want to upgrade the aesthetics and functionality of your kitchen, adding a kitchen cart or island is the fastest and easiest route to success. Kitchen carts and islands not only add space for preparing meals, but many include shelving and storage, which you can use for frequently-used equipment or easy-grab pantry items. Even more, they can be used as extra space for hosting larger groups of people—especially if you have barstools or other chairs to place around them for more seating.

A kitchen cart or island is a serious purchase, because they're items that you will likely not just use but look at every single day. Keep the following in mind, and you’ll end up with a great fit for your needs and space.

Measure your kitchen carefully to determine how much real estate a cart or island could take up without compromising your family’s ability to move around comfortably. If you can, cut paper or cardboard in a similar size and tape it to the ground to get a sense of how much space your kitchen cart or island will take up. Most of our options are on wheels, so you can move them around to find the best location in your kitchen.

If you want to match the overall look of your cart or island with your space, select the material (generally wood, wood composite, granite, or a form of metal) carefully. Also keep the finish color in mind.

We've included carts and islands with open shelves, as well as those with shelves behind closed doors. Keep what you’ll be storing (and whether you want people to see it all the time) in mind before making your final choice. How many items do you need to store? Several of these carts and islands come with copious space, and include options to store wine and spices.

We reviewed hundreds of kitchen carts and islands, and kept a variety of space, price, design and user needs in mind. We only included items with both positive critical and customer reviews, and all of the kitchen carts and islands you'll find below have average customer ratings of four out of five stars or higher.

For more great additions to your culinary space, check out our picks for the best kitchen cabinet organizers, pan organizers, and dish racks.

This kitchen cart comes in black or white, and wins in terms of both form and function. The island features clean lines, raised wood cabinet detailing, a wooden cutting board, and oodles of space. There are three drawers, a towel rack, and closed-door shelving for utensil, pantry, and equipment storage. The island also features a drop-leaf, so you can pull up a stool and have breakfast, and reviewers praise its simple assembly and affordable price.

This kitchen island has an average rating of 4.6 stars from more than 2,000 reviewers on Amazon, and it’s easy to see why with just a glance. The timeless construction features a distressed oak finish and raised details on the cabinet doors. The island comes in white, oak, and black finish.

Each island is made of durable hardwood with antique nickel hardware and features a drop-leaf extension, a gliding storage drawer, adjustable interior shelving, and open storage on both ends for pantry essentials. Counter stools up to 24 inches can be paired with the island.

Reviewers love the quality, and say that putting it together takes a few hours, despite the “overwhelming” look of the initial box delivery.

For minimalists, this cart is a dream. It’s easy to set up, features adjustable shelving, a towel holder, and a removable wooden butcher block countertop. The two open shelves adjust in one-inch increments, allowing you to store items of different heights.

The island is made from heavy-duty chromed steel, and is easy to clean, with the added benefit of being very durable. The island comes with a 10-year limited warranty, and reviewers love that no tools are needed to assemble it.

This roomy kitchen island is extremely durable. Overall, the cart can hold up to 200 pounds, and the shelves can hold 50 pounds each. The island is constructed from rubberwood and features a stainless steel countertop. It also comes with two storage drawers for utensils and other small items, plus two open shelves; the one in the middle is adjustable.

Reviewers say the quality is “outstanding,” “perfect” and “flawless,” but warn that the assembly takes some time.

This kitchen island is made with hardwood solids, brushed nickel hardware, and a stainless steel top. Below, there are two adjustable shelves behind two cabinet doors, three storage drawers, a towel bar, and a spice rack, making it a fantastic option for those in need of more space in the kitchen.

Reviewers warn that there are a “lot of little pieces” to assemble, but once the cart is complete, they rave about its sturdiness and excellent quality.

This kitchen cart features a natural wood finish, chrome-finish hardware, an elegant granite top, and a slide-out storage basket and drawer. There is also one fixed shelf and a four-bottle wine bottle storage rack. Reviewers love how versatile this island is, especially for space-challenged apartments.

This straightforward kitchen island has a solid metal frame construction, two-tier metal grid shelving, and a smooth and durable wood cutting board top.

Reviewers say it works well in kitchens, living rooms, garages, and bedrooms because of its practicality and industrial charm. Like the other simple metal islands we feature, assembly is easy. Several reviewers say they enjoy the beauty and durability of the island, and appreciate the two shelves for storage.

If you have a tiny kitchen and are in need of extra workspace, this kitchen island is a fantastic find. It is constructed of beechwood, with brushed nickel hardware. The island also has a lot of storage for its size, including a utensil drawer, an open shelf, and a two-door storage cabinet.

It also has a drop-leaf design, which means you can stretch the prep space an extra 20 inches when needed, but keep the size small when the island isn’t in use. Reviewers say the kitchen island is a “good bargain” that provides a significant amount of additional workspace to their kitchens.

This kitchen island features a contemporary design, with plenty of storage options. The multifunctional island has an open shelf, a double-door cabinet, a drawer for utensils, and three hooks for towels or hanging larger items. Reviewers say it’s a “great product” at an affordable price point, but warn that assembly can be tricky.