Welcome to 420 VapeZone’s comprehensive guide to weed grinders, where we explore the must-have cannabis accessories for every vaping enthusiast. Gone are the days of breaking up nugs with your fingers or using scissors and a shot glass. Weed grinders provide a better, more efficient way to prepare your herbs without sacrificing precious trichomes in the process.
I love collecting weed grinders. My collection is massive and it grows by the month. Only a handful of weed grinders are remarkable enough to be considered the best.
I’ve put these grinders through rigorous testing and highlighted the best weed grinders below in a comprehensive guide.
Weed Grinders come in 2-piece, 3-piece, and 4-piece. A 4-piece grinder has a kief catcher and a screen to separate ground herb and the trichome heads that fall off during grinding. Both 4-piece and 3-piece grinders have a section that stores ground weed, while the 2-piece grinder does not. Most vapers prefer a 3-piece or 4-piece grinder because the grinder can double as weed storage in between sessions.
Weed Grinders are a MUST-HAVE accessory for dry herb vape smokers. Dry herb vaporizers perform best with nugs that have been ground using a grinder. While a few traditionalists may prefer breaking up their nugs with their fingers or using scissors and a shot glass, weed grinders do a better job without sacrificing trichomes to fingers and rolling trays.
My Favorite Grinder
The Old Mate Grinder is my absolute favorite cannabis accessory – ever. It’s a stainless steel grinder with an ultra-fast spinning top designed with a functional ball bearing reminiscent of a skateboard wheel. The Old Mate Grinder is sharp AF and it spins fast and long. It’s sharp teeth make quick work of the stickiest of nugs.
It’s functional and oh-so-satisfying.
»See my Old Mate Review
»Buy one (~$100 shipped from Australia)
The Best: Brilliant Cut Grinder
The Brilliant Cut was the first threadless grinder and it raised the bar for the rest of the weed grinders. This gem-cut aluminum grinder offers the smoothest operation and customized color options!
3 Customizable Grind Plates. 11 Customizable Colors. NEVER. NEEDS. CLEANING.
Sadly it’s pre-order only with a 6-8 week wait time.
Find the Perfect Weed Grinder for Your Vaping Needs.
Dry herb vaporizers perform best with a nice consistent grind. Fingers or scissors just won’t due. A high-quality grinder not only ensures a consistent grind for your dry herbs but also helps preserve the natural flavors and aromas of your cannabis. This is especially important for vaping, as a consistent grind leads to better vapor production and a more enjoyable experience overall.
Best 4-Piece Weed Grinders
Santa Cruz Shredder
Santa Cruz Shredder makes the best traditional 4-piece grinder. Their weed grinders are aircraft aluminum with multiple color options. This is a threaded grinder with the best grind consistency on the market and a great kief screen.
Odin (Stainless Steel)
The Odin is large and affordable at only $79
ZAM (Stainless Steel)
Zam Stainless Steel grinders come in 3 different sizes: 1.8″, 2.1″, and 2.5″
Zam are great grinders and a great value at their price.
4-Piece vs 3-Piece Weed Grinders
When it comes to choosing a grinder, there are two main types to consider: 3-piece and 4-piece grinders. While both types have their merits, the choice ultimately comes down to personal preference and your specific vaping needs. 3-piece grinders are simpler and keep any separated kief together with the ground weed. A 4-piece grinder offers more functionality with the addition of a screen, allowing for the collection of kief – the highly potent, crystal-like substance found on cannabis buds. These trichome heads sometimes fall off in the grinding process and a 4-piece grinder separates them, while a 3-piece lets them float freely with the ground herb.
As much as I loved having a stash of kief, these days I prefer 3-piece grinders.
Separated kief and trichome heads stay with the ground herb. Scoop for scoop, ground weed from a 3-piece grinder is stronger than the same scoop from a 4-piece grinder.
Vape users prefer 3 and 4-piece grinders over 2-piece because the 3 and 4-piece grinders can serve as weed storage. Grind a nug. Vape a bowl or 3. The rest stays fresh in the grinder.
Best 3-Piece Weed Grinders
Santa Cruz Shredder
The Santa Cruz 3-Piece is a classic threaded grinder with perfect functionality and perfect grind consistency. I’ve loved this grinder for years because it has a fluffy grind and a deep weed storage area.
This is an aluminum grinder.
Old Mate Grinder
As seen above, the Old Mate Grinder is my most used grinder of 2023. It’s a stainless steel weed grinder that’s fun as hell, crazy sharp, and surprisingly affordable.
The Old Mate Grinder stays on my desk as my weed grinder of choice, even while testing other grinders.
Brilliant Cut Grinder
The BCG has great grind consistency and a buttery smooth threadless operation. It’s made to order with 11 color options and 3 different grind plate options.
This grinder is aluminum and will take 6-8 weeks to ship. Factory seconds are sometimes available.
Many 4-piece weed grinders will also work as a 3-piece grinder simply by removing the screened section and threading the kief-catching section into the upper stage; however, this isn’t ideal because too much ground herb storage is sacrificed.
The 3-piece Santa Cruz Shredder has a completely different bottom piece than the 4-piece Santa Cruz.
Best Stainless Steel Weed Grinders
Stainless steel grinders have many advantages over aluminum weed grinders. Aluminum is soft and fragile. Aluminum teeth will wear and dull over time. Aluminum threads and connection points will take a beating.
Stainless steel is much harder than aluminum. Stainless steel grinders will stay sharp and they won’t dent when you drop them. Stainless steel grinders will last a lifetime. See my guide to stainless steel grinders to learn more.
Old Mate Grinder
- RECOMMENDATION: 95%
Benefits: Functional ball-bearing top is soothing and fun to play with. I could grind weed all day long with this.
Features: 304 Stainless Steel, Threadless 3-piece design, super sharp teeth, fast-spinning fidget-spinner top
Odin Stainless Steel Grinder
- RECOMMENDATION: 90%
Benefits: A great-looking stainless steel grinder in the traditional threaded 4-piece design.
Features: 304 Stainless Steel, Threaded Grinder with kief screen, Available in GOLD or Polished Stainless Steel
Zam Stainless Steel Grinder
- RECOMMENDATION: 89%
Benefits: 4-piece stainless steel with a great design and high-quality finish. Available in three sizes: 1.8″, 2.1″, 2.5″
Features: 304 Stainless Steel, Threaded Grinder with 100-micron kief screen. Lifetime warranty
There are a few other good stainless steel grinders available but nothing better or more remarkable than the ones listed above. Check out my guide to stainless steel weed grinders to learn more.
Best Cheap Weed Grinders
You don’t need to blow the bank to get a good grinder. There are several affordable options for metal grinders and even some high-quality plastic grinders.
PotV 4pc Aluminum Grinder - $25
Santa Cruz Hemp Grinder $12 - $20
Best 2-Piece Grinders
The traditional 2-piece grinder often couples with a rolling tray or dedicated surface for dumping the ground weed. Unlike multistage 3 and 4-piece grinders, 2-piece grinders have nowhere for the ground weed to go. It just keeps getting ground up more and more. Grinding longer will create a finer grind.
Cannabis Hardware 3" 2-Piece - $50
This massive 2-piece grinder is the smoothest 2-piece grinder I’ve ever used. It’s too large and too heavy to travel. This grinder is a desktop grinder and it quickly devours sticky nugs and turns them into a consistent grind.
Use code TROYTIME to save 5%
»Buy the CH 2-Piece
Santa Cruz 2-Piece -
The Santa Cruz Shredder is known for its fluffy consistent grind and killer color options.
Santa Cruz Shredders are available in 1 5/8″, 2 1/8″, 2 3/4″, and 4″. Medium and Large are the most common and most ideal.
» Buy at PotV ($28-43)
Frequently Asked Grinder Questions:
Are there good Grinders on Amazon?
Weed stuff isn’t allowed on Amazon, so weed grinders are sold as herb grinders. Santa Cruz is the best grinder on Amazon currently, but there are a few others that are decent.
Are Ceramic Coated or Metal Weed Grinders Better?
I’ve tested the SLX ceramic-coated grinder and didn’t find it more reliable or nonstick. Aluminum and Stainless Steel weed grinders perform better and last longer.
How Much Should You Spend on a Weed Grinder?
A grinder is an investment that should improve your cannabis experience. Shitty weed grinders gunk up and fail after a few 8ths. The best grinders can go months or years in between cleanings.
I recommend spending one month’s worth of weed budget on your grinder. If you’re smoking an ounce per month, invest in your sesh and buy the best. Spend $100-$200 on a high-quality grinder.
If you’re only smoking an eighth per month, get something cheap but good. Spend $20-$50 on a decent grinder.
What is a Good Size for a Weed Grinder?
Will you be carrying your grinder or traveling with it? Or will your grinder live on your sesh desk and never move? Small grinders travel better but suck to use. I find 2″-3″ the perfect size to carry in a case when I travel. The same size is also perfect for living on my desk.
Larger grinders like the 4″ Jumbo grinders are great for multi-user sessions but are often over-kill for casual vaporists.
What is the Most Common Grinder Size?
The most common weed grinder size is 2″-2.2″ – this is the size of the most common aluminum rod stock used in the mills that make these grinders. Most of the cheap grinders are 2″ and have the same basic diamond pattern teeth.
Stepping up to a 2.5″ grinder requires a larger metal bar stock and a larger machine, which is why larger grinders are often twice the price.
let me grind one out