Electric vs kick wheel is a choice between a motor and your leg. An electric wheel holds whatever speed you set and fits in a corner; a kick wheel stores energy in a heavy flywheel that you push with your foot, and runs without power or noise. Price, space, upkeep and how you like to work decide which one suits you.
This comparison is research-based: we compared maker spec sheets and manuals from Laguna (Lockerbie), AMACO (Brent), Shimpo, Skutt and Speedball, plus dealer listings. It does not pick models. For those, see our kick wheels guide, the Lockerbie kick wheel review and our best pottery wheels roundup. If you are buying your very first wheel, our beginner guide has a short kick wheel vs electric wheel for beginners section too.
Electric vs kick wheel at a glance
| Factor | Electric wheel | Kick wheel |
|---|---|---|
| Power | Motor on a grounded 120V outlet; Brent motors are rated 5 to 10 amp, and Speedball asks for a 15-amp circuit | Your leg; a heavy flywheel stores the energy; no outlet |
| Noise | Motor and belt hum; Shimpo sells its direct-drive Whisper wheels as quiet but publishes no decibel figure | No motor; you hear the bearings and your foot |
| New price (US, Oct 2026) | About $400 to $750 tabletop, $1,000 to $1,400 entry full-size, $1,500 to $2,900 studio wheels | Lockerbie Model K about $1,700 to $1,800 at Laguna, plus a $90 crating fee and freight |
| Used market | Common; maker parts support for Brent, Shimpo, Skutt and Speedball | Most US kick wheels for sale are used (Lockerbie, Brent, Thomas Stuart) |
| Weight | Speedball Clay Boss 68 lb; Shimpo VL-Whisper 120 lb (147 lb shipping) | Lockerbie flywheel alone 89 lb; 272 lb shipped |
| Footprint | VL-Whisper 23 1/8 x 27 1/2 x 22 3/4 in, plus a stool | Lockerbie 36 x 42 x 30 in, plus room to swing a leg |
| Speed control | Pedal or lever holds a set speed; 0 to 240 rpm (Brent, Clay Boss) or 0 to 250 rpm (Shimpo) | Speed rises with each kick and falls as you work; top speed not published by the maker |
| Direction | Reverse switch on most full-size wheels; some reverse by plug or not at all | Turns whichever way you push the flywheel |
| Seat | Your own stool; leg extensions for standing | Built-in seat (Lockerbie: adjustable red oak) |
| Routine upkeep | Wipe-down, belt checks, brushes on brushed motors; electrical work by a dealer | Wipe-down plus bearing grease and oil; Laguna says yearly for normal use |
| Warranty | 5 years (Shimpo) to 10 years (Brent, Speedball) | 5-year limited (Lockerbie) |
Our potter's wheel guide explains how each type turns the head, if you want the mechanics first.
Price: new and used
Buying new
Electric wheels span a wide range. In October 2026, US dealer prices run about $400 to $750 for branded tabletop wheels, $1,000 to $1,400 for compact and entry full-size wheels such as the Shimpo VL-Lite and Speedball Clay Boss, and $1,500 to $2,900 for studio wheels from Skutt, Shimpo, Speedball and Brent. Check the live price, because dealers change them often.
A new kick wheel sits in the middle of that range. Laguna lists the Lockerbie Model K at about $1,700 to $1,800 before tax and shipping, adds a $90 crating fee, and quotes freight on a 272 lb crate. So "no motor" does not mean cheap: a new kick wheel costs about the same as a mid-range electric wheel. Our guide to how much a pottery wheel costs explains what drives those prices.
Buying used
The used market favors kick wheels more than the new market does. Most kick wheels for sale in the US are used Lockerbie, Brent and Thomas Stuart wheels from schools and studios, and they can be slow to sell because they are so heavy. Used electric wheels are easier to find and to collect. Neither type has a published used price guide, so price a listing against the new price of the same model, then subtract for wear and missing parts. Our pottery wheel for sale guide has the inspection checklist.
Warranties rarely follow a used wheel. AMACO and Speedball both say their wheel warranties are non-transferable, so a used Brent or Speedball comes without one, and a used kick wheel's bearing work is on you.
Power, outlets and noise
Home electric wheels run from a standard grounded 120V outlet. Speedball's manual asks for a 15-amp circuit, or a 20-amp circuit if that circuit runs near full capacity, and AMACO lists Brent motors at 5 to 10 amp and says not to use an extension cord. If the circuit is shared with other loads, or you want a 220V wheel, have a licensed electrician check or install it.
A kick wheel needs none of that. It works in a garden studio, a cabin or a room with no spare outlet, and Blick notes it can serve as a backup wheel when the power is out.
On noise, a kick wheel wins outright: the only sounds are the bearings and your foot. Electric wheels vary. Belt-drive wheels hum, and budget wheels tend to be the loudest. Direct-drive brushless wheels such as the Shimpo Whisper models have no belt, and Shimpo markets them as quiet, but it publishes no decibel figure. If quiet is the main goal and you still want a motor, our Shimpo VL-Whisper review covers that middle path.
Space, weight and moving the wheel
This is where most home potters decide. The flywheel is the kick wheel's energy store, so it has to be heavy: the Lockerbie's concrete flywheel is 27.5 in across and weighs 89 lb, the whole wheel measures 36 x 42 x 30 in, and it ships at 272 lb. You need a solid floor, ideally on the ground level, a delivery path without stairs and helpers or a pallet jack on the day. Once it is placed, it stays.
Electric wheels are smaller and lighter. Speedball lists the Clay Boss at 68 lb, and Shimpo lists the VL-Whisper at 120 lb with legs that come off for storage or tabletop use. Tabletop electric wheels are lighter still. If you rent, share a room or expect to move the wheel between a closet and a table, electric is the practical choice.
Learning curve
The extra skill on a kick wheel is speed management: kicking up to speed, throwing as the flywheel slows, then kicking again. Centering and pulling are the same skills on both wheels; the new part is timing kicks so they do not disturb the clay. On an electric wheel, you can drop to a crawl for a delicate rim and hold it there. Our beginner guide covers what that means for a first wheel, linked above.
Trimming, speed control and reversing
Trimming wants a steady, moderate speed for several passes. An electric wheel holds that speed while you work, and a reverse switch lets you trim in either direction or throw left-handed; full-size Brent, Shimpo and Skutt wheels reverse by switch, the Clay Boss reverses by turning a plug, and the Speedball Artista turns one way only. Brent, Skutt and Speedball all say to let the head stop before you change direction.
On a kick wheel, trimming means giving the flywheel a push between passes, and its momentum keeps it turning smoothly while the tool cuts. The flywheel turns whichever way you push it, so there is no switch to forget. Slow, controlled turning for banding lines or decorating is natural on both: Shimpo notes the VL-Whisper head turns freely like a banding wheel when the pedal is at stop, and a kick wheel can be eased round by foot.
Upkeep and lifespan
Kick wheels have very little to maintain. Laguna's Lockerbie care sheet asks for bearing grease and oil once a year for normal use, every 6 months for heavy use and every 4 months outdoors. Bearings are the main wear point, and forum potters note they can be hard to reach on older wheels.
Electric wheels add a motor and controller. Many have sealed bearings that need no grease (Skutt and Speedball say so), but belt-drive wheels need an occasional belt check (AMACO says every five years for Brent), brushed motors need new brushes in time (AMACO says every 5,000 hours), and controller or motor faults go to an authorized dealer. Our pottery wheel maintenance guide covers routine care for both types.
Both types last for decades with care. The difference is what fails: a kick wheel's bearings are mechanical and slow to wear, while an electric wheel's controller and motor are electrical parts that only a dealer or technician should repair.
Accessibility and comfort
Kicking is repeated work for the hips, knees and lower back, so try a kick wheel at a studio before buying one if a joint gives you trouble. The built-in seat also fixes your position relative to the head, although the Lockerbie seat adjusts.
Electric wheels offer more ways to fit the potter. You choose your own stool, leg extensions raise most full-size wheels for standing, and hand-lever wheels free your feet entirely. For wheelchair users, AMACO's Brent Model 16 Adaptive raises or lowers its 14 in head from 21 to 35 in by crank and takes a hand lever or a floor- or tray-mounted pedal; our Brent wheels guide covers it.
Motorized kick wheels: a middle ground
Some makers sold factory motor kits for kick wheels; Skutt still lists one in its legacy accessories. A motorized kick wheel gives you the flywheel's smoothness with a motor to bring it up to speed. Use only the maker's own kit, fitted and wired by a qualified technician, and never an improvised drive. Our kick wheels guide covers adding a motor.
Choose an electric wheel or a kick wheel
Choose an electric wheel if
- You need to move, store or carry the wheel upstairs.
- You want a set speed you can hold for trimming and a reverse switch.
- You want the widest choice of new models, warranties up to 10 years and local dealer support.
- You want height options for standing, or a hand lever instead of a pedal.
Choose a kick wheel if
- You want a silent studio, or you work where power is limited or unreliable.
- You have a ground-floor space and help to place a 272 lb crate.
- You like the rhythm of a manual wheel and want almost nothing electrical to fail.
- You can find a well-kept used one nearby, where kick wheels are often the better value.
Sources: Laguna Clay potter's wheels page (Lockerbie Model K specs, price, crating fee and warranty) and Lockerbie care document; Shimpo VL-Whisper spec page and instruction manual (shimpoceramics.com); AMACO Brent wheel pages, Model 16 Adaptive page, warranty page and owner's manual; Speedball Clay Boss page and Boss Series Pottery Wheel Owner's Manual (June 2026); Skutt Potter's Wheel Operating Manual and legacy kick wheel motor attachment page; Blick "Purchasing a Pottery Wheel" guide; Big Ceramic Store "Choosing a Pottery Wheel"; Tiny Workshops pottery wheel buyer's guide; Ceramic Arts Network forum threads on used Lockerbie wheels. Specs checked October 2026.