The Best Weed Grinders of 2022: $25 to $150

When it comes to buying herbal cannabis grinders, there are so many options that the process can be quite daunting. They have 2 piece grinders, 3 piece grinders, electric grinders and that’s just the types.

Beneath these umbrellas is a world of different materials and teeth – or no teeth, like grinders on a grater – and shapes that can all make it quite difficult for cannabis novices or even seasoned veterans to know which grinders to use really use to mine that good ass weed.

Luckily, we can help you figure out what qualities to look for in a well-made grinder, and a few companies that are absolutely killing it in this area.

The qualities that make a good grinder

The first thing to do when buying a grinder is to consider the needs you are trying to fill. If you just want something quick and easy that will separate your bud easily, and don’t worry too much about how the grinder affects the bud or your smoking experience, then any regular old grinder from any head shop will technically do the job.

But will it do the job well? Definitely not as good as the grinders from companies that really care about their relationship with cannabis and their products.

When buying a high-quality grinder, there are many characteristics to consider. These include the materials the grinder is made of, the shape of its teeth, how it grinds, its durability and overall ease of use.

“Actually, it’s how it’s made,” said Matt Hansen, co-founder of Santa Cruz Shredder, when I asked him about the qualities that make a good grinder. “There are a thousand grinders out there that just have different branding; they will all be cheap.”

What you should look for in a high-quality grinder:

• How the mill is made
• The materials used to build the mill
• The shape of the grinder teeth versus your preference
• How it grinds (i.e. the texture of your flower afterwards)
• durability
• user friendliness

How the mill is made

We will never escape the fact that quality always depends on how a product is made. “The most important thing that makes a good grinder is the accuracy in how the grinder is manufactured, meaning the tolerances on the blade edges, where the blades are, how high/low they are and the overall structure of the machine that will be used to grind your material said Dave Richmond, chief innovation officer for Banana Bros, makers of the OTTO grinder.

The materials used to build the mill

There are so many different materials that people use to make grinders. You have grinders made out of plastic, wood, metal, and even hemp – just to name a few. Most of the grinders in people’s storage boxes and travel bags are made out of metals like aluminum and titanium. That’s because metal grinders tend to be the most durable and safe to consume, meaning chunks of it won’t break off into your bud and leave you smoking contaminated weed.

Like everything in the world, the “best” choice comes down to personal preference. We recommend choosing a four piece metal grinder with kief compartment from a reputable company if you are in the market for a quality grinder. The decision is really up to you, your needs and your wallet.

The only really wrong answer is to buy a plastic grinder – never buy a plastic grinder. They are extremely cheap, fragile and poorly made. With each use, more pieces of plastic break off the grinder and end up in your weed (and lungs). Don’t be out here smoking Plastic Piece OG, man.

The shape of the grinder’s teeth

There are so many different types of teeth, such as pyramid teeth, diamond teeth, and nail teeth. There are also blade systems that slice your buds apart, as well as grater-grinder systems that, instead of using teeth to shred your weed, use a method of grinding against the grain.

In the end, deciding on the “best” comes down to personal preference, but it’s important to realize that, in general, metal grinders with diamond-shaped teeth are the most common.

How it grinds your flower

The effect a grinder has on your buds might be the most important consideration when buying a grinder. You never want a grinder that turns your buds into superfine weed powder that just rushes down your throat with every inhale. These types of grinders absolutely destroy the trichomes on the bud, where all the good cannabinoids and terpenes live.

You also never want a grinder that leaves behind such huge chunks of weed that you might as well just use your fingers. These will get your joints rolling and burning weird. The goal is to find one that produces a fine break that will maintain the quality of your flower.

durability

Grinders are like cars and people: they can only cover a limited number of kilometers before they break down. That always depends on the materials used. Plastic grinders are the least durable of all – they become super bonded immediately after use, and even more undesirable, parts of them start to peel off as the number of uses increases.

You want a grinder that will stand the test of time, especially if you are an everyday smoker. Double down especially when you’re backing some big bucks. Metal grinders are the most durable grinders on the market, but they are definitely not all created equal.

user friendliness

Ease of use is paramount in a good grinder. You want it to roll easily no matter how much cannabis is in there. Some grinders will get stuck if you stick a super frosty or sticky flower in them, completely defeating the purpose of buying a grinder in the first place. Then you’ll have to crush your hands trying to take the lid off to free that weed that just cost you $50.

The best cannabis grinders you can buy right now

Here are some of the best grinders you can get today. Whether you’re looking for the best grinders for kief, joints, or within a specific price range, these brands will have you covered.

Santa Cruz Shredder 4 piece grinder

The Santa Cruz Shredder name rings history bells. If you ask anyone what the best grinder is, this brand will always be on the list. That’s because its patented tooth design grinds up bud but doesn’t ruin the weed’s terpene-filled trichomes, while still producing a bud consistency that burns just right every time you smoke.

“When we developed our grinder, the only grinder available had a diamond-shaped tooth design. We had a NASA engineer bring out this inverted square with serrated blades that no one had ever seen before. We’ve only been innovating, we’re not copying anyone,” said Hansen, co-founder of Santa Cruz Shredder.

The 4-piece grinders are made of anodized aluminum with SC Shredder’s patented and recognized tooth design. They are available in a variety of colors with either a gloss or matte finish.

Price: $54.50

The Flower Mill Standard Edition

The Flower Mill is my favorite grinder ever. Instead of “grinding” the weed, it “grinds” it through a screen. This grinding system not only preserves the bud’s trichomes, but allows for a much higher bud capacity than traditional grinders. It allows you to grind so much more weed at once – and fast.

Additionally, since the flower is pushed down rather than rotated side to side, the sides of the flower mill rarely become so caked that the device gets stuck. This way you can go a long time without having to clean your grinder. Sure, the price of a flower mill will put about a hundred bucks in your pockets between purchase and shipping, but it’s worth it because it works so great.

The Standard Edition Flower Mill comes with 3 parts: the upper mill, the grater and the lower chamber. For those who want to improve it, the Premium Edition Flower Mill comes with an additional mesh screen that turns the flower chamber into a kief chamber.

Price: $74.99 – 99.99

Banana Bros. OTTO Go

If you want something quirky, the Banana Bros OTTO Go is a great option. It is an electronic grinder that uses a grinder system to grind up your buds. Richmond told me that the technology in the Banana Bros OTTO allows it to adapt to any condition of cannabis, super wet, dry, airy, dense, you name it. He also told me that since the interior is spring loaded, the grinder never pushes down and grinds your buds into too fine a consistency. “[Weed]ain’t cheap, man. We want you to enjoy it, it’s a beautiful thing to have in our lives. Take care of it while you mill it,” he said.

If you want additional automated pre-roll features, the OG Otto comes with a cone packing system that dumps your ground bud straight into a cone-filled tube. For the flashy folks who want to stunt with an electronic grinder that everyone will recognize, this might be it.

Price: $99.99

HOJ: CLIP

HOJ’s KLIP is a grinder with blades that crush your buds. It allows for a fluffier consistency that smokes well and burns well. It has four magnetic parts: the top, blades, flower chamber, and kief chamber – it’s also extremely easy to clean. Just pull all the pieces apart and drop them in some alcohol.

I know you are looking at the price and wondering if $150 is worth it and I would never force you to. But I will tell you that this grinder works very well and people will definitely say “wow” when you pull it out.

If you like stunts, the KLIP might be worth it for that.

Price: $150

Zeus Bolt 2

If you’re looking for kief, the Zeus Bolt 2 is one of the best grinders you can buy. It’s a 4-piece, 3-chamber grinder with an airtight, magnetic top. It is made of aluminum and grinds with diamond-shaped teeth. I used to toss a coin in the middle of mine and just a few little shakes absolutely covered the lower chamber in pollinated trichomes. Of course, you expect this trick to work with any grinder, but sometimes even the coin won’t let your kief fall through that little screen.

The Zeus Bolt 2 wasn’t even advertised as a great kief grinder, but the results are there. Also, it’s pretty cheap for a quality grinder that will definitely last for years. I’ve had mine for over three years now and she’s still busting up buds like the best of them.

There’s also a larger option called the Zeus Bolt XL for just $10 more. It’s worth the investment if you’re rolling huge blunts or joints.

Price: $24.99