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The 7 Best Rolling Pins of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

We found you some high-performers

A variety of rolling pins on a counter

The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie

Despite what you might think, not all rolling pins are created equal. And depending on what you like to bake, getting the right one can be the difference between a perfect pie crust and one that falls flat. When shopping for a rolling pin you’ll want to consider the length of the barrel, the material it’s made of, whether you need to roll your dough to a specific thickness, and how easy it is for you to handle. While many of these are personal preferences—like choosing between a French-style rolling pin and one with handles—there are a few good rules, like using a marble one for puff pastry, since the rolling pin itself can be chilled.

We sent popular rolling pins to the home of one of our product testers, where she used each one to roll out both pie crust and cookie dough. She scrutinized all of them on everything from how comfortable the handles were to how easy they were to clean, to find the best rolling pins for you.

Best Overall

J.K. Adams French Tapered Rolling Pin

J.K. Adams French Dowel Rolling Pin

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Performance
    5/5
  • Ease of Cleaning
    5/5
  • Durability
    5/5
  • Overall Value
    4.5/5
What We Like
  • Extra-long rolling surface

  • Lighter weight

  • Excellent for pie dough

What We Don't Like
  • Slight learning curve

A staple in many restaurant kitchens and in the home kitchens of professional chefs, the French-style rolling pin made from a single dowel with tapered ends and no handles is gaining popularity among cooks of all types. Why? Because the lack of handles gives you more control over the pin and makes it easier to get a feel for the texture of the dough.

This French-style model from J.K. Adams is made of maple and is handcrafted in Vermont. It’s the same brand as our best overall rolling pin since J.K. Adams knows a thing or two about rolling pins, thanks to more than 60 years in business in New England. Available in two thicknesses, the 2-inch-thick FRP-1 and the thinner FRP-2, this rolling pin is one of the longest on our list, measuring more than 20 inches. That means you can roll out a full rectangle of cinnamon roll dough without having to work in sections and worry about getting everything even.

In testing, we liked it for cookies, but even more so for pie dough, where the handle-free design and tapered ends made it easy to change directions to get a circular dough to fit a pie pan. This pin should be hand-washed and treated with mineral oil occasionally. If the surface gets too rough, you can sand it lightly and then wash and apply oil again to restore the finish.

Length: 20.5 inches | Style: French | Weight: 11.2 ounces

What Our Experts Say

"For most baking projects, I prefer to use a French rolling pin because of the wide range of motion it gives me in every direction, as well as more barrel length for slightly larger projects."Jenny Kellerhals, Baking Expert for The Spruce Eats

Runner-Up, Best Overall

Muso Wood Wooden French Rolling Pin for Baking

French Rolling Pin

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Performance
    5/5
  • Ease of Cleaning
    5/5
What We Like
  • Beautiful hand-polished sapele solid wood

  • Rolls round pie doughs smoothly

  • Designed with hole for hanging

What We Don't Like
  • Shorter than other options

The slight taper of the Muso Wood rolling pin makes it easy to maneuver while rolling out dough but isn't so extreme that there will be a steep learning curve for those new to using a French rolling pin. It's made from sapele wood, a hardwood similar to mahogany that's endemic to tropical African regions. The dense wood is hand-polished three times, and finished with food-safe mineral oil to protect the pin from additional moisture and sticking to dough.

We found that the Muso rolling pin was a pleasure to use while testing. It rolls a nearly perfect round of pie dough, without any dough sticking to the pin. The only issue that we noticed was that the pin is slightly shorter than some of the other rolling pins we tested, making it a little more difficult to use the pin to transfer dough from the counter to a pie plate. The slightly smaller length, diameter, and weight make this pin ideal for smaller hands and anyone who might need a lighter rolling pin.

We found it was very easy to clean by hand, although some flour sticks in the name embossed on the end of the rolling pin. Since rolling pins can be tough to store, given their length, we like that this rolling pin has a hanging hole drilled in the end.

Length: 15.75 inches | Style: French | Weight: 7.8 ounces

Testing Takeaway

"This rolling pin was a pleasant experience to use with a slightly tapered frame, although it's slightly too short for seamless transferring."

Best with Handles

J.K. Adams Maple Wood Gourmet Rolling Pin

J.K. Adams Maple Wood Medium Gourmet Rolling Pin

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Performance
    4/5
  • Ease of Cleaning
    3/5
  • Durability
    5/5
  • Overall Value
    5/5
What We Like
  • Comfortable size and weight

  • Will last decades with proper care

  • Easily smooths out dense doughs

What We Don't Like
  • May be hard to fit in some kitchen drawers

  • Hand wash only

This style of rolling pin, also called a "baker’s" or "American" rolling pin, is most likely the one you are familiar with. It has a wooden barrel that rotates around a dowel attached to two handles, usually wooden as well. This is by far the most common style you’ll find in home kitchens.

This pin is a large one, with a 21-inch overall length and a 12-inch barrel. It’s made in Vermont of solid maple, and the barrel is waxed to prevent sticking when you’re rolling out your dough. The rolling pin is easy to care for, thanks to the steel axle that runs through the middle. To clean it, scrape off as much dough as you can, and then wash it with warm soapy water and dry it immediately.

In home testing, this was a solid favorite due to the size and heft. It was great for rolling out larger doughs, since it covered more area, and it handled a dense pie dough with ease, thanks to the weight. It rolled smoothly, making it a pleasure to work with.

The one complaint from consumers has been that J.K. Adams puts a sticker on the rolling pin, and it can sometimes be challenging to remove all the residue. We didn’t have that problem with the test pin, but sticker residue is usually easy to remove with a bit of vegetable oil or an adhesive remover like GooGone. If anything does go wrong with your rolling pin, you’ll be happy to know it’s covered by a lifetime warranty.

Overall Length: 21 inches | Style: American | Weight: 1.2 pounds | Barrel Length: 12 inches

Testing Takeway

"I loved using this pin. It's wide enough but not too wide for comfort, and the weight is just right. Also, it spins easily."

Best Budget

Befano French Rolling Pin 18 Inch

Befano French Rolling Pin 18 Inch

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Performance
    4/5
  • Ease of Cleaning
    5/5
What We Like
  • Attractive acacia or beech wood

  • Options under $10

  • Lighter than similar models

What We Don't Like
  • Requires extra flouring to avoid sticking dough

If you're the kind of person who doesn't find yourself rolling out dough very often, but you still want to be prepared for a baking project with more than just a wine bottle, it wouldn't hurt to pick up one of these budget-friendly rolling pins. The Befano French rolling pins are available in either acacia or beech wood, with the beech wood option costing less than $10.

During testing, we noticed that the rolling pin stuck to the dough more often than the other rolling pins we tested. To cut down on the amount of sticking, we'd suggest generously flouring both the rolling pin and the dough you're rolling out. You may also consider seasoning the rolling pin with mineral oil to prevent wet dough from sticking as much.

The Befano rolling pin is a comfortable 18 inches in length but is noticeably lighter than other rolling pins of the same length. The lighter pin may mean you'll have to do more work to roll your dough out, but it's easier to handle for those with reduced hand strength. But even with it's flaws, it's worth it to have a rolling pin on hand when you need one, even if you don't invest in a more expensive option.

Length: 18 inches | Style: French | Weight: 8.4 ounces

Good to Know

Using a rolling pin correctly might feel awkward at first, but a little practice will make for smooth and even doughs in the long run. Beginning in the center of your dough, roll the dough toward you with even pressure across the pin. Lift the rolling pin and return it to the center of the dough. Continue moving towards yourself a handful of times before repeating the rolling motion in the opposite direction. After stretching the dough forward and then back several times, turn your dough 90 degrees, and repeat rolling toward, and then away from, yourself for the most consistent results.

Best for Measuring

Joseph Joseph Adjustable Rolling Pin

Joseph Joseph Adjustable Rolling Pin with Removable Rings

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    4.5/5
  • Performance
    3/5
  • Ease of Cleaning
    3/5
  • Durability
    5/5
  • Overall Value
    4.5/5
What We Like
  • Great for precise dough thicknesses

  • Length measurements on pin

  • Long barrel length

What We Don't Like
  • Slight learning curve

For bakers who like to be precise, but who might not be the best at eyeballing how wide or thick their dough is, the Joseph Joseph Adjustable Rolling Pin is the ideal solution. The barrel of the pin has engraved measurements so you can tell just how long your pastry is without having to break out the ruler.

Even better, this solid-beech pin helps you roll your dough to a precise thickness, so your cookies with bake evenly. Simply put one set of the colorful plastic rings on the ends of the pin, and you’ll roll the dough to that depth. The rings have US measurements on one side and metric on the other. They measure 1/16 of an inch, 1/6 of an inch, 1/4 of an inch, and 3/8 of an inch. In testing, those measurements came in handy when making cookies, but we found it puzzling that 1/6 inch was included, but 1/8 inch was not. Still, it was easy to use a thicker measure and then roll just a bit more with the rings removed. 

When we were less concerned about precise thickness, we removed the rings and used it as a straight dowel or Shaker-style rolling pin, which is similar to the French-style, but without the tapered ends. The barrel nicely long, making it great for our wide doughs. Finally, be sure to hand wash the rolling pin to keep it in good condition.

Overall Length: 17 inches | Style: Straight dowel | Weight: 1.23 pounds | Barrel Length: 13.6 inches

Testing Takeaway

"There's no need to guess how thick a dough is, or measure an edge and hope it's rolled evenly. Not only does this make even thickness easy, it also makes it simple to get the correct measurement."

Best Marble

Fox Run Marble Rolling Pin

Fox Run Polished Marble Rolling Pin with Wooden Cradle, 10-Inch Barrel, White

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    3.5/5
  • Performance
    2/5
  • Ease of Cleaning
    3/5
  • Durability
    4/5
  • Overall Value
    4/5
What We Like
  • Keeps dough cold while rolling

  • Powers through thick and heavy dough

  • Includes a base/stand

What We Don't Like
  • Much heavier than other rolling pins

  • May pick up oils and colors

Aside from being aesthetically pleasing, a marble rolling pin has a couple of major benefits. First, unlike wood, a marble pin can be chilled in the fridge or freezer, which is ideal for working with temperature-sensitive laminated doughs like puff pastry or pie crust. Second, marble pins are generally heavier than their wooden counterparts, so they can help flatten a stiff dough with ease.

This model from Fox Run has a 10-inch pin with 4-inch wooden handles on each end. It also comes with a matching wooden base to make it easier to store in a cabinet or on your open shelving. No more worrying about a heavy 5-pound marble pin rolling off the shelf and on to your toes.

During initial testing, we thought that the pin didn’t spin at all—that’s how tight the handles were. After some use, we felt the pin spinning, but it was still quite stiff, which made rolling harder than it should have been. Perhaps it will loosen even more with extended use, but it can also be used like a dowel-style pin, ignoring the handles altogether. If you're willing to overlook that, the weight, and the price, this is definitely a great rolling pin to have in your tool kit.

Overall Length: 18 inches | Style: American | Weight: 4.6 pounds | Barrel Length: 10 inches

Testing Takeaway

"Marble pins are great when dough needs to stay chilled, like pastry dough. This is fine for those occasional uses, but the super-stiff handles mean I wouldn't be reaching for this as my everyday pin."

Best Straight Rolling Pin

J.K. Adams Dowel Rolling Pin

J.K. Adams Dowel Rolling Pin

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Use
    5/5
  • Performance
    5/5
  • Ease of Cleaning
    4/5
  • Durability
    5/5
  • Overall Value
    4.5/5
What We Like
  • Long barrel length

  • Straight pin great for even rolled cookies

  • Sustainably sourced wood

What We Don't Like
  • Slight learning curve

If you’re making large pizzas, or you need to roll out large sheets of pastry or cookie dough, a long rolling pin makes it easier to get an even thickness. This straight rolling pin is 19 inches long and has no handles to get in the way. It’s made by hand in Vermont, from sustainably grown maple wood from local trees.

The pin is 2 inches in diameter and weighs just under 1.5 pounds, so it’s heavy enough to handle dough, but not so heavy to make it difficult to use. It is not dishwasher-safe and should be washed with warm, soapy water and dried immediately. Since this pin is so long, you might not be able to fit it into a standard-sized kitchen drawer.

In testing, I loved using this pin. The long length was great for working with larger pieces of cookie dough, and it let me rest my hands anywhere along the length of the pin to provide pressure where it was needed. Since it had no handles to worry about, it was also quite handy for thwacking a super-cold pie dough to get it ready for rolling.

Length: 19.25 inches | Style: Straight dowel | Weight: 1.43 pounds

J.K. Adams Dowel Rolling Pin displayed on a kitchen counter

The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie

Testing Takeaway

"The price might seem high for a simple dowel, but I've tried buying dowels and cutting them to rolling pin sizes, and they're not always straight. This one was totally straight. It was easy to use."

Final Verdict

For an all-purpose work-horse rolling pin that can roll out everything from sugar cookies to cinnamon rolls, the J.K. Adams Maple Wood Gourmet Rolling Pin is the perfect baking companion. For bakers who stress over getting the perfect result every time, the Joseph Joseph Adjustable Rolling Pin will relieve any doubts you may have about whether your dough is thick enough or wide enough. If you find yourself wanting a little more control when handling delicate doughs, try the J.K. Adams French Dowel Rolling Pin for perfectly round tart and pie shells.

Other Options We Tested

  • Faberware Classic Wood Rolling Pin: This rolling pin was previously included in our round-up, but after testing it out first-hand, we found that the construction wasn't as sturdy as we thought it would be. "I'm afraid I'm going to snap these handles off," was the first thing our tester noted, and it didn't get better from there. It was difficult to apply even pressure across the pin, making for uneven rolled dough. And while the pie dough we tested didn't stick to the rolling pin, it wasn't able to handle rolling it up and transferring it to a pie plate either, without sliding right off the rolling pin.
  • Good Cook Classic Wood Rolling Pin: We tested this rolling pin, thinking that it might be a suitable option for a budget-friendly rolling pin. Unfortunately, we encountered many of the same issues with the Good Cook rolling pin that we did with the Faberware model. It felt flimsy while rolling—like it would come apart with too much pressure. Since we were nervous about applying too much pressure, it was difficult to get an evenly shaped dough, and hard to form a nicely rounded pie crust.
Dough and a dough scraper displayed on a counter top next to the J.K. Adams Maple Wood Medium Gourmet Rolling Pin

The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie

How We Tested

Each of our selected rolling pins was tested hours on end by our product tester for the most authentic results. We paid close attention to the design of the rolling pin, including the comfort of the handle and any resultant wrist fatigue. The rolling pins were each tested on both chilled pie dough and chilled cookie dough. Each was given a careful rating for design, performance, durability, ease of cleaning, and overall value.

What to Look for in Rolling Pins

Ease of Use

Rolling pins are simple devices with a simple job: to flatten dough evenly. The perfect pin will have a length that can handle large sheets of dough without needing too many passes, it will be light enough to make it easy to handle, but with enough weight to make it easier to roll the dough without needing excess force. If the pin has handles, they should spin freely.

Design

The first rolling pin decision is to handle, or not to handle. Of the non-handled versions, you can choose tapered or straight. Whatever you choose, make sure it's long enough for your regular use and won't cause any wrist strain. A good pin should be able to roll dough to a uniform thickness, which also may require good technique from the user. It should also be able to work with different types of doughs without sticking or the need for excess flour. Perhaps most importantly, wooden versions should be free of cracks or splinters, and they should be smooth.

Cleaning

Most rolling pins will need hand-washing. Those made from one piece of wood are easiest to clean, while those with handles may need a bit of extra attention to make sure there’s no flour or dough stuck in the handle mechanisms. Well-made hardwood rolling pins can last many years, if not generations, as long as they’re cared for properly.

Rolled out dough with a J.K. Adams Maple Wood French Dowel Rolling Pin on top

The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie

FAQs

What is a rolling pin used for? 

Rolling pins are designed for flattening doughs, usually to an even thickness. While cookies may be the first dough that comes to mind, they’re also used for pasta dough, pie dough, and even some yeasted doughs. Rolling pins can also be used for crushing nuts or similar foods.

What material is best for a rolling pin? 

Traditionally, rolling pins were made from wood, and many still are today. Wooden pins are heavy enough to provide a good press on the dough, and with a dusting of flour, the dough doesn’t stick. Marble rolling pins are often preferred for pastry doughs, since the stone stays cold and helps keep butter from getting soft in the dough. There are also rolling pins made with silicone coatings, or those made from plastic or stainless steel. While some materials are better for specific doughs, the choice is often more about personal preference.

How do you clean a wooden rolling pin? 

Much like wooden cutting boards, rolling pins shouldn’t be soaked in water or washed in a dishwasher. However, they’re simple to clean. They can be wiped clean or rinsed if there’s just a bit of flour clinging to the surface, or washed to remove stuck-on dough, then dried before storing. Also like cutting boards, some wooden pins can be oiled to seal the surface. 

Embossed dough with a Embossed Rolling Pin on top

The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie

How do you clean an embossed rolling pin? 

Embossed rolling pins are cleaned just like any other wooden rolling pins, with a little special attention paid to the designs to make sure there’s no dough remaining. Wet dough can be removed with a soft brush under running water, or the pin can be set aside until the dough dries out so it’s easier to brush away. Stubborn bits in small designs may need a little more encouragement with a stiffer brush or a toothpick to pry the dough out of the design.

Can you use a regular rolling pin for fondant? 

A regular rolling pin can be used for flattening fondant, but plastic pins are usually preferred.

How do you keep dough from sticking to a rolling pin? 

The best way to keep dough from sticking to a rolling pin is to make sure the surface of the dough is dry rather than sticky. The best way to accomplish that is to lightly dust the surface of the dough with flour. However, it’s important to avoid adding excess flour that would incorporate into the dough.

What is a French rolling pin?

A French rolling pin is basically a long dowel with tapered ends. Since there are no moving parts and no seams or nooks that can collect flour or dough, it's easier to clean.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Donna Currie spent 16 hours testing rolling pins for this article. She specializes in product reviews and recipes, and is the author of the cookbook "Make Ahead Bread." Her search for the best cooking and baking gadgets is never-ending.

This roundup was edited by Jenny Kellerhals. Jenny is a food and beverage writer with over a decade of experience as a professional pastry chef in NYC. Pies are one of her favorite desserts to make, and she prefers a French-style rolling pin for most projects.

Anthony Irizarry, the original author, is a New York City-based freelance writer with extensive experience testing and writing about home and kitchen products for The Spruce and The Spruce Eats.

Originally written by
Anthony Irizarry

Anthony Irizarry writes about home and kitchen products for The Spruce Eats. Previously, he was a writer for Appliances Connection and Appliance Review Editor for BestProducts.com.

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