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We Tested 20 Citrus Juicers to Find the Best for Making Freshly Squeezed Juice
We juiced hundreds of lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits to determine our top picks.
Tested by Nicole PapantoniouKitchen Appliances Lab Director
Juicers can do a lot. In fact, they're great for making recipes like lemon tahini-marinated chicken and lemon layer cake, spicy margaritas with fresh lime juice, vanilla citrus sangria with just squeezed orange juice or a simple glass of vitamin C-boosting grapefruit juice.
There are so many types of citrus juicers on the market — electric and manual models, handheld and tabletop pitchers, some with and without built-in juice storage and all in a variety of sizes. Depending on your budget, storage options and favorite recipes there's a citrus juicer out there for your needs.
Our top picks:
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, our analysts have tested more than 70 of the best juicers on the market in the past two decades, including masticating juicers, centrifugal juicers (a.k.a. cold-press juicers) and, most recently, 20 brand-new citrus juicer models. When we evaluate citrus juicers, we test to see which models produce the highest percentage of lemon juice, whether they can also juice limes, oranges and grapefruits and how easy and fast they are to operate and of course clean. A good citrus juicer is versatile, easy-to-use and produces enough juice for all of your favorite recipes.
You can read more about how we evaluate citrus juicers in our Lab — plus everything you need to know to shop for your perfect citrus juicer — at the end of this guide. If you're considering buying a new blender as well for frozen margaritas and citrus-packed smoothies, check out our guides to best personal blenders, immersion blenders and blender-food processor combos.
Pros
- Affordable pricepoint
- Two nesting reamers with imbedded spring technology
- Measuring cup has measurement markings, pour spout and handle
Cons
- Hand wash is recommended
This Chef'n manual citrus juicer performed well in Lab testing, boasted a lot of great ease of use features and costs under $20.
It features two nesting reamers, one for lemons and limes and another for oranges and grapefruits. We appreciated that the reamers push down thanks to an imbedded spring while juicing which helps make the juicing process easier and that the reamer is taller than the measuring cup's edges which protects your knuckles.
With this citrus juicer we yielded a higher percentage of lemon juice compared to most other models we tested, including some expensive electric models. All parts are removable for cleaning and the measuring cup base has easy-to-read measurement markings, a pour spout and handle. Keep in mind that the brand recommends that you hand wash this juicer.
| Type | Manual citrus juicer |
| Weight | 11 ounces |
| Dimensions | 6.7 x 5 x 6.7 inches |
| Material | Plastic with a non-slip silicone ring on the bottom |
Pros
- Adjustable pulp strainer
- Auto-reversing juicing feature
- Cover and cord wrap for storage
Cons
- Noisy
Black + Decker's lightweight but sturdy electric citrus juicer features two sizes of reamers for small and large citrus and is a great value at just around $30.
In testing, this model yielded a high percentage of lemon juice and features automatic reversing which helped extract more juice. The strainer allows you to control your desired amount of pulp whether you like orange juice with no pulp or some pulp. The juice collection jug is removable for cleaning and has easy-to-read measurements, pour spot and handle.
The electric juicer features a cover and a cord wrap at the bottom for compact storage. Plus, the removable pieces are dishwasher-safe. Take note that we did find this juicer to be loud during testing.
| Type | Electric citrus juicer |
| Weight | 2.4 pounds |
| Dimensions | 6.4 x 6.4 x 8.9 inches |
| Material | Plastic |
Pros
- Comes in a variety of colorways
- Versatile reamer for juicing all sizes of citrus
- Ability to juice directly into your juice cup or measuring cup
Cons
- Expensive
Smeg's electric citrus juicer produced the second largest percentage of juice in our test and took 26 seconds (compared to others that took up to 50 seconds) to juice a whole lemon which was completely hollowed out after testing. T
he stainless steel reamer is also a versatile size to fit all sizes of citrus. This easy-to-use and intuitive model feels high quality in design and comes in a variety of colorways to match your kitchen's aesthetic — trust us, you're gonna want to keep this on your countertop.
During testing, juice poured down the spout immediately — we didn't need to tip it over slightly to release juice like other models tested. This model doesn't come with a container to juice into, but you can directly juice into your measuring cup or juice glass of choice. It does come with a lid to cover the juicer when it's not in use.
| Type | Electric citrus juicer |
| Weight | 5.5 pounds |
| Dimensions | 6.5 x 6.5 x 11 inches |
| Material | Stainless steel reamer, strainer and base with some plastic interior parts |
Pros
- All parts are dishwasher-safe
- Juice collection cup features a variety of measurement markings
- Has performed well in long-term testing
Cons
- Not designed for larger citrus
The OXO Good Grips Small Citrus Juicer features a small tapered tip and strongly tapered ridges for ultimate juicing. The strainer fits nicely on the cup and feels secure when juicing.
We found this easy to juice small citrus quickly, both lemons and limes in our Lab testing. One of our analysts has also been using this at home for years. It features a juice collection cup with a pour spout and measurement markings in tablespoons and parts of a cup as well as milliliters and ounces.
All parts are dishwasher-safe and this compact citrus juicer doesn't need much space for storage either. Keep in mind that this small juicer isn't designed for larger citrus like oranges and grapefruits. If you're looking for a citrus juicer for both small and large citrus OXO also offers the Good Grips 2-in-1 Citrus Juicer.
| Type | Manual citrus juicer |
| Weight | 2.4 ounces |
| Dimensions | 3.6 x 3.7 x 7.5 inches |
| Material | Plastic |
Pros
- Speedy and high yielding results in Lab testing
- Unique design that allows for easy juicing
- Wide feet on the bottom that allows it to rest on countertop
Cons
- Less citrus versatility compared to other models
We are a fan of many of Chef'n citrus juicers, which are intuitive to use and yield great results, but the FreshForce Plus Citrus Juicer is one of our favorites. This handheld juicer performed well in Lab testing and is also a model we reach for in our home kitchens. In testing, it produced a higher yield of lemon juice compared to most of the other handheld models we tested and juiced a lemon in 20 seconds flat.
Compared to other handheld models which can require extra force, this juicer makes even the firmest lemons easy to juice. This juicer features an interesting, more intricate design with handles made of plastic and a metal pusher piece. Inside of the citrus juicer there are ridges and a star-shaped set of holes for juicing. The bottom features wide feet, which allows for you to rest it on the counter without it rolling over.
Chef'n recommends you hand wash this, but they say you can also put it on the top rack of the dishwasher. While this model is designed specifically for lemons, they also sell the Chef'n FreshForce Lime Juicer and Chef'n Citrus Orange Squeezer and Juicer.
| Type | Handheld manual citrus juicer |
| Weight | 1 pound |
| Dimensions | 13.2 x 5.1 x 2.9 inches |
| Material | Stainless steel and plastic |
Pros
- Non-messy citrus juicer
- Dishwasher-safe
- One-year replacement and lifetime limited warranty
Cons
- Some lemon oils did spray out while squeezing it during testing
In the market for a handheld citrus juicer, but also want it to store the juice for you? The KitchenAid Citrus Juice Press Squeezer features a seed strainer and a juice storage compartment with a pour spout.
We found it non-messy in testing, but also discovered it can only juice half a lemon at a time before it starts to spill out of the pour spout. The bottom of the juice also can sit flatly on your countertop for even better leverage while juicing. We did find that some of the lemon oils sprayed out while squeezing, which slightly altered the taste of the juice. It's dishwasher-safe and uniquely offers a one-year hassle-free replacement and lifetime limited warranty.
| Type | Handheld manual citrus juicer |
| Weight | 15.5 ounces |
| Dimensions | 2.3 x 3.5 x 8.1 inches |
| Material | Aluminum and plastic |
Pros
- Hollowed out lemons in Lab testing
- Adjustable pulp strainer
- Open and close lever to mix juices
Cons
- Slightly slower to operate compared to other models on this list
Cuisinart Citrus Juicer with Carafe is an electric citrus juicer with a glass carafe ideal for making a large batch of freshly squeezed juice.
We juiced up lemons, limes, grapefruits and oranges with this model and then were able to store the carafe with the included lid — perfect for prepping for Sunday brunch. In testing, the citrus juicer completely hollowed out lemons, getting as much juice removed as possible. We did find that this model took about 40 seconds to juice a lemon, a bit longer compared to other options on this list.
If you prefer a certain amount of pulp, this model also features an adjustable strainer, with three pulp variations. There is also a lever that allows you to open and close the juicer into the carafe which is nice so there isn't dripping into the machine when you're not juicing and so you can mix fruit juices first before releasing them into the carafe.
| Type | Electric citrus juicer |
| Weight | 1.5 pounds |
| Dimensions | 6.9 x 8.2 x 12.3 inches |
| Material | Plastic juicer with glass carafe |
Pros
- Comfortable design
- Tip of the reamer can help remove seeds
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons
- A strainer isn't included
If you don't have much space to store a citrus juicer or simply want a tool to juice at your home bar, Williams Sonoma Citrus Reamer is an affordable and lightweight option to help remove the juice out of your citrus.
We like this reamer for its comfortable design that allows you to easily juice citrus and yield optimal results. One of our analysts has been using this in their home kitchen for years and has gotten a lot of use out of it. The tip of the reamer helps you remove seeds, but to ensure there isn't pulp or seeds in your lemon juice we recommend juicing over a fine mesh strainer. When you're done juicing, this model can be placed in the dishwasher.
| Type | Citrus reamer |
| Weight | Less than a pound |
| Dimensions | 3.8 x 8.8 inches |
| Material | Plastic |
How we test the best citrus juicers
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab we've tested many types of juicers over the last decade, but recently we did a side-by-side Lab testing of over 20 citrus juicer models. We included electric countertop, manual countertop (as shown in this image) and handheld manual options. We even included a reamer and a stand mixer attachment into the testing mix.
Using lemons of similar size, we weighed out their starting weight, how much juice was released, the amount of pulp left in the strainer and remaining lemon pieces. We calculated the percentage of juice that was yielded from each citrus juicer and also timed the operation to see how little or how long it took. We also sampled the lemon juice to see if too many oils were expelled during the operation or if it tasted bitter.
If a citrus juicer could juice more citrus instead of just lemons, we also juiced limes, oranges and grapefruits. This also included trying out different reamer attachments if a model came with it.
We also evaluated each citrus juicer based on ease of use, special features/settings and ease of cleaning. The best models didn't require too much force on the machine and were intuitive to operate.
What to look for when shopping for the best citrus juicer
✔️ Type: There are a variety of different types of citrus juicers based on your culinary needs, space and budget.
- Electric citrus juicers in general are the largest versions of citrus juicers, ideal for bulk citrus juicing thanks to their speedy operation. They tend to be more expensive than their non-electric counterparts.
- Manual citrus juicers are small, compact countertop containers that are topped with a reamer and strainer. They usually house the juice and have measurement markings for navigating a recipe.
- Handheld manual citrus juicers usually don't utilize a reamer, instead through pressure they help you squeeze out citrus juice. Some newer models even come with attached juice storage.
- Citrus reamers are small, compact handheld tools that are used for you to manually juice a piece of citrus, but you will want to have a measuring cup and strainer nearby for juicing into.
✔️ Size: Citrus juicers vary in size depending on how much juice storage they provide or what types of citrus they can juice. Lemon and lime citrus juicers tend to be smaller, while juicers that can accommodate all sizes of citrus tend be on the larger size.
✔️ Material: In general the citrus juicers we tested were either made out of plastic, stainless steel, aluminum or glass. Most were made out of a few different materials. We didn't find a huge difference in materials through operation; plastic reamers performed just as well as stainless steel reamers. However, with handheld models we appreciated models that utilized metal or sturdy plastic over thin plastic that felt like it was going to break when squeezing a firm lemon.
✔️ Versatility: If you want to be able to juice more than just lemons look for a model with a versatile reamer or one that has attachments that can be swapped out. If versatility isn't important to you, then simply stick to a small lemon juicer to keep costs low.
✔️ Cleaning: Being able to pop your citrus juicer into your dishwasher for cleaning is convenient. Most of the picks on this list are dishwasher-safe, which came in handy while testing so many citrus juicers.
What kind of juicer is best for citrus?
If you're primarily looking for a juicer to juice citrus, look for a model that is marketed as a citrus juicer. Citrus juicers usually come with a reamer that is designed to hollow out your citrus fruits and a strainer to ensure that seeds and pulp aren't released into the juice.
While there are manual handheld models that don't come with a reamer, they're design to simply press out all of the juice. We did find from this test that models with reamers are gentler and allow for citrus oils to gently release without spraying all over your countertop like with some manual handheld models we tested.
Is it worth buying a citrus juicer?
It's worth buying a citrus juicer if you juice a lot of citrus or want to include more citrus juice in your household. Thankfully, there are a variety of citrus juicers on the market at all different price points and with different storage requirements. If you just need a citrus juicer for making salad dressing or the occasional recipe, a handheld or manual option will do the trick. However, if you love drinking freshly squeezed citrus juice often opt for an electric option that will juice multiple fruits quickly.
What is the difference between a juicer and a citrus juicer?
Masticating juicers and centrifugal juicers are solely electrical juicers which either press or cut up fruits and veggies and then squeeze or spin out juice into a juice pitcher. They are designed for a variety of fruits and veggies and while they can juice citrus, you wouldn't buy one just for citrus fruits.
These types of juicers tend to be more expensive and require more cleaning compared to citrus models. Even electric citrus juicers are less complicated than their masticating and centrifugal counterparts and they tend to be more compact as well.
Here, a masticating juicer is shown on the left next to an electric citrus juicer and handheld citrus juicer on the right.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
As director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab, Nicole Papantoniou oversees all content and testing related to kitchen appliances, tools, gadgets and gear. She's been testing kitchen appliances professionally since 2013 and has worked at kitchen appliance companies where she helped develop some popular kitchen appliances as well as many recipes for them. She is trained in classic culinary arts and is a professional recipe developer. Nicole has recently tested many of the citrus juicers included in this story.
Eva Bleyer has professionally tested all kinds of kitchen equipment, from oven ranges to kitchen scales to blenders. In fact, in the past two years alone, Eva has tested over 25 different juicers, including citrus juicers in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab. As a trained chef with a background in health-supportive cooking, she also has years of experience using both juicers and citrus for everything from cocktails to salad dressings.
Nicole (she/her) is the senior director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab. She oversees all content and testing related to kitchen products, food, and recipes. She has worked at GH since 2019, and is a trained cook, published recipe developer, and seasoned product tester with nearly 15 years of experience. She has worked in test kitchens for national magazines and kitchen appliances brands, where she also helped develop products for the home cook. She earned a degree in journalism from SUNY New Paltz, graduated with a Grand Diplome in Classic Culinary Arts from the French Culinary Institute, and studied culinary nutrition at the Natural Gourmet Institute (both now part of the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City.)
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