The Best Bar Carts for 2026: West Elm, IKEA, Article, Pottery Barn and More
By Claire Whitmore. Last updated October 2026.
Disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links, including Amazon links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It doesn’t change what we recommend. Details are in our affiliate disclosure.
A bar cart is part furniture, part workstation. It keeps bottles, tools and glassware in one place, gives you a surface to stir a martini, and rolls to wherever guests gather. Chosen well, it’s also one of the easiest ways to add a polished, finished look to a living or dining room.
Bar carts aren’t lab-tested the way appliances are, so this guide combines editor and expert recommendations from three independent outlets. Serious Eats gathered picks from its editors (several have owned their carts for years) and interviewed two bar professionals, Noel Savoy, formerly lead bartender at Spring Place in Beverly Hills, and Ryan Bailey, a partner at Kato in Los Angeles. Better Homes & Gardens’ editors chose favorites by price tier with designer input, and Architectural Digest picked carts by style. We haven’t tested these carts ourselves.
Quick answer: the West Elm Mid-Century Bar Cart is recommended by Serious Eats, Better Homes & Gardens and Architectural Digest alike. For small spaces and small budgets, Serious Eats’ pick is the IKEA RÅSKOG. For a midcentury statement piece, Architectural Digest likes the walnut Article Cotu, and for serious collections, Serious Eats’ experts point to the four-shelf Timothy Oulton Empire.
Our picks at a glance
| Bar cart | Materials | Shelves | Who recommends it | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Elm Mid-Century Bar Cart | Solid eucalyptus, acacia veneer, brass-finish rails | 2 | Serious Eats: best overall; BHG: best under $500; AD pick | Most homes |
| IKEA RÅSKOG Utility Cart | Steel | 3 (adjustable) | Serious Eats: best affordable small cart | Small spaces, tight budgets |
| Article Cotu Bar Cart | Walnut, brass details | 2 | Architectural Digest: best midcentury | A statement piece |
| AllModern Rosario Bar Cart | Metal, glass | 3 | Serious Eats: best vintage-inspired | Art deco style |
| Timothy Oulton Empire Bar Cart | Stainless steel | 4 | Serious Eats: best extra storage | Large collections |
| Pottery Barn Delaney Marble Bar Console | Honed marble, steel, glass | 3 | BHG: under $800 pick | Glass storage (no wheels) |
| Ballard Designs Sterling Large Bar Cart | Stainless steel, glass, antique mirror | 2 | BHG: $800 and up | Big, glamorous spaces |
| Better Homes & Gardens Fitzgerald | Metal, glass | 2 | BHG: best under $200 | Built-in bottle holders |
Dimensions and materials are as listed by the outlets and retailers. Prices change often; check before you buy.
How we chose
We gave the most weight to carts recommended by more than one outlet or by working bartenders, then checked the practical details: footprint and height, number and depth of shelves, wheel quality and locking casters, bottle and glass storage, materials and how they age, and value. Because none of these outlets lab-tested carts, we describe their picks as recommendations and quote their reasoning.
What the experts look for
Size up. “Never go for a small cart. You’d be surprised how quickly they fill up and begin to look cluttered,” Ryan Bailey told Serious Eats. He suggests a cart that holds eight to 10 bottles, at least four to six glasses, an ice bucket and your barware.
Good wheels. Bailey recommends large, sturdy wheels and warns that small, flimsy ones break, leaving you with a cart that can’t move.
A clear top for mixing. Serious Eats suggests keeping the top shelf open enough for a few bottles, a jigger and a shaker.
Simple lines. Noel Savoy prefers carts with simple lines so the bottles shine.
Standard sizing. Better Homes & Gardens says most bar carts are 30 to 34 inches tall and about 16 inches deep, with widths from about 20 to 60 inches. Compact carts typically hold 25 to 40 pounds per shelf, while sturdier designs may hold well beyond 55.
The best bar carts
1. West Elm Mid-Century Bar Cart: best overall
Best for: most living and dining rooms.
The rare cart all three outlets recommend. A Serious Eats editor has owned hers for years and says the two wide shelves have never run out of room; with a little wood cleaner it still looks new. Better Homes & Gardens likes its mix of wood and metal finishes, and lists kiln-dried solid eucalyptus with acacia veneer. Architectural Digest lists antique-brass rails and casters. BHG notes the wheels don’t lock.
Pros
- Spacious shelves
- Handle and wheels
- Ages well
Cons
- Wheels don’t lock
- Heavy (AD lists 75 pounds)
Check current price at West Elm
2. IKEA RÅSKOG Utility Cart: best for small spaces
Best for: apartments and first bars.
Serious Eats senior editor Grace Kelly has used hers for six years. The shelves adjust for taller bottles, it rolls easily for tableside cocktail service, and it comes in black, white and gold. Serious Eats lists a footprint of about 13.75 x 17.75 inches. It’s under $50.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Adjustable shelves
- Tiny footprint
Cons
- Utility look
- Limited bottle capacity
Check current price at IKEA | Also on Amazon
3. Article Cotu Bar Cart: best midcentury statement
Best for: design lovers.
Architectural Digest’s midcentury pick is made of solid and veneered American black walnut with brass handles and casters, and each shelf has a distinctive asymmetrical incline: the wider edge holds small tools and glasses while the rest holds bottles. AD lists it at 27 pounds.
Pros
- Solid walnut
- Elegant brass details
Cons
- Premium price
Check current price at Article
4. AllModern Rosario Bar Cart: best vintage-inspired
Best for: art deco interiors.
Serious Eats’ pick has a minimal, art deco-ish design with rounded edges, sturdy metal and three shelves. “I love the shape of this All Modern bar cart since most liquor bottles are round,” Noel Savoy said. “It plays up the curves and complements them so well.”
Pros
- Three shelves
- Curvy, bottle-friendly shape
Cons
- Glass shelves need care
Check current price at AllModern
5. Timothy Oulton Empire Bar Cart: best for big collections
Best for: serious home bartenders.
With four shelves and a hanging rack for glassware on the lower level, the stainless steel Empire is Serious Eats’ pick for extra storage. “It’s quite large, but perfect for those who have a bit more of a liquor collection,” Ryan Bailey said.
Pros
- Four shelves
- Glassware rack
Cons
- Large
- Expensive
Check current price at Timothy Oulton
6. Pottery Barn Delaney Marble Bar Console: best for glass storage
Best for: dining rooms where it’ll stay put.
Better Homes & Gardens likes its three rows of stemware racks plus a shelf for other glasses, in honed marble, steel and tempered glass. It has no wheels, so think of it as a console. BHG cautions that marble and other natural materials need careful upkeep and can be damaged by sun and moisture.
Pros
- Stemware racks
- Honed marble top
Cons
- No wheels
- Marble needs care
Check current price at Pottery Barn
7. Ballard Designs Sterling Large Bar Cart: best splurge
Best for: large, glamorous rooms.
Better Homes & Gardens’ pick in its $800-and-up tier is about 60 inches wide, in stainless steel with glass and antique mirror, arrives fully assembled and has wheels for parties. The wheels don’t lock.
Pros
- Arrives assembled
- Generous surface
Cons
- Very wide
- Wheels don’t lock
Check current price at Ballard Designs
8. Better Homes & Gardens Fitzgerald Gold Metal Bar Cart: best budget glam
Best for: an expensive look for less.
BHG says its decorative metal frame and integrated bottle holders lend an expensive look for a fraction of the cost. It has two glass tiers and lockable wheels.
Pros
- Built-in bottle holders
- Lockable wheels
- Low price
Cons
- Glass shelves
Also on Amazon
Most of our top bar carts are sold by their own brands, but a few carts the same outlets recommend are listed on Amazon:
Linon Gina Midcentury Bar Cart. Better Homes & Gardens likes it for color lovers: a midcentury silhouette, a powder-coated tubular iron frame, two mirrored tiers, casters (two lock) and colors such as coral, mint and pastel pink. It has no hanging stemware storage. Architectural Digest also picks it for an Old Hollywood, Art Deco look. Check current price on Amazon
Origami Foldable Kitchen Island Cart. BHG’s pick for small spaces and occasional entertainers folds flat for storage, with a powder-coated steel frame, a solid wood top for prepping garnishes, two metal shelves and lockable wheels. Check current price on Amazon
Want something else? Browse bar carts on Amazon.
More picks by style
For outdoor entertaining, Architectural Digest likes the steel Business & Pleasure Co. Al Fresco cart with scalloped trim and an umbrella hole, and Better Homes & Gardens picks the Terrain Outdoor Teak Trolley. For industrial style, AD likes the Burrow Dram, with oversized wheels nodding to Alvar Aalto’s tea trolley. If you’d rather chill as you store, Serious Eats recommends the Rocco Super Smart Fridge, which has a flat top, a tray and two temperature zones.
How to stock and style a bar cart
Serious Eats suggests starting with one bottle each of gin, vodka, tequila, scotch, bourbon, an unaged rum and an aged rum, plus common liqueurs. Keep the top shelf mostly clear if you’ll mix drinks on it, and give each category its own zone below. Add a shaker from our best cocktail shakers guide, a few whiskey glasses and, for celebrations, champagne glasses.
- Group bottles by height, tallest at the back.
- Use a tray to corral bitters and small tools and to catch drips.
- Add something living, such as a bud vase or citrus bowl, for color.
- Keep the cart out of direct sun if it’s marble, wood or unlacquered brass.
FAQ
How much weight can a bar cart hold?
Better Homes & Gardens says compact carts typically hold 25 to 40 pounds per shelf, and sturdier designs well beyond 55. Liquor bottles add up quickly, so check the listed capacity.
Bar cart or bar cabinet?
A cart is mobile and open; a cabinet hides clutter and usually holds more. If you entertain in different rooms, a cart’s wheels win.
What size bar cart should I get?
Measure the spot first. Most carts are 30 to 34 inches tall and about 16 inches deep, per BHG.
Where should a bar cart go?
Somewhere guests gather and away from direct sun and heat: a living room corner, beside the dining table or near a kitchen island.
The bottom line
If you want one cart that works almost anywhere, get the West Elm Mid-Century; three independent outlets agree on it. On a budget or in a small apartment, the IKEA RÅSKOG is a proven workhorse. For a showpiece, choose the walnut Article Cotu, and for a big collection, the four-shelf Timothy Oulton Empire.
