The OXO Good Grips Steady Paper Towel Holder is the best stainless steel paper towel holder here for most kitchens. It has a weighted base, a one-hand tear, and the strongest rating of the five on a large review count. If you would rather clear the counter, the simplehuman wall mount holder is the pick.
Paper towel holders never touch food, so the stainless question here is about construction and finish, not food contact. Several listings say “stainless” for a finish over a different body, and a few name only the base. Each pick below says which part the listing or maker actually calls stainless.
Ratings and review counts are Amazon snapshots from October 23, 2026. No prices are shown.
Our top picks at a glance
| Pick | Mount | Stainless parts named | Tear method |
|---|---|---|---|
| OXO Good Grips Steady | Countertop | Brushed stainless construction, weighted base | One-handed |
| simplehuman Wall Mount | Wall or under cabinet | Steel body, brushed stainless finish | One-handed, tension spring |
| OXO Good Grips SimplyTear | Countertop | Weighted stainless base only | One-handed, spring arm |
| niffgaff Countertop | Countertop | Stainless steel, brushed nickel finish, silicone base pad | Tear bottom to top |
| simplehuman Tension Arm | Countertop | Weighted stainless base | One-handed, tension arm |
1. Best overall: OXO Good Grips Steady Paper Towel Holder
The Steady holder is a freestanding stand with a weighted, non-slip base, a raised lip that keeps a jumbo roll in place, and a carrying knob on top. The listing describes brushed stainless steel construction and its material field says stainless steel. It weighs 2 pounds and measures 8.1 by 7.8 inches.
The tradeoff is a plain look, and the listing gives no mounting option, so it only suits counters.
OXO Good Grips Steady Paper Towel Holder
4.8 out of 5 (17,369 ratings, as of October 23, 2026)
A freestanding holder with a weighted, non-slip base, a raised lip for large rolls, and a carrying knob.
- Brushed stainless steel construction per the listing
- Weighted, non-slip base
- Raised lip keeps jumbo rolls contained
Pros
- Highest rating of the five, on more than 17,000 reviews
- Carrying knob lets you move it between rooms
Cons
- Countertop only
- Plain styling
Considerations
The material description comes from the Amazon listing, so confirm the finish on the listing before you buy.
2. Best wall mount: simplehuman Wall Mount Paper Towel Holder
This holder mounts under a cabinet or on a wall, horizontally or vertically, and a tension spring gives the one-hand tear. simplehuman’s wall mount page lists a brushed finish, a 5-year warranty, and 1-inch screws in the box. It notes that concrete needs different anchors.
The Amazon listing calls the body solid steel with a brushed stainless finish. The maker page names the finish and does not name the metal, so treat “stainless” here as a finish description and not as proof of a solid stainless body. For a small kitchen the space saved matters more than that distinction.
simplehuman Wall Mount Paper Towel Holder
4.7 out of 5 (11,670 ratings, as of October 23, 2026)
A wall or under-cabinet holder with a tension spring and a quick-release knob.
- Mounts horizontally or vertically
- Tension spring for a one-hand tear
- 5-year warranty per the maker
Pros
- Frees the whole countertop
- Spring tension stops the roll from unraveling
Cons
- Needs drilling and the right anchors for your surface
- Maker page names the finish but not the metal
Considerations
Check your wall or cabinet surface before ordering. The maker says concrete needs different anchors than the included screws.
3. Best for one-hand tearing: OXO Good Grips SimplyTear Paper Towel Holder
The SimplyTear uses a spring arm that holds the roll against a cutting edge so a single sheet tears cleanly. The listing names the weighted base as stainless steel. It does not say what the arm and post are made of, so this is a stainless base on a holder that may use other materials above it.
With more than 31,000 reviews, it has the largest feedback pool in this roundup.
OXO Good Grips SimplyTear Paper Towel Holder
4.6 out of 5 (31,524 ratings, as of October 23, 2026)
A countertop holder with a weighted stainless base and a spring arm that tears one sheet at a time.
- Weighted base named as stainless in the listing
- Spring arm holds the roll for a one-hand tear
Pros
- Largest review count of the five
- Weighted base keeps it steady
Cons
- Arm and post materials are not stated
- A spring arm adds a moving part
Considerations
If you want the whole holder to be stainless, the Steady above is the better documented choice.
4. Best simple countertop: niffgaff Stainless Steel Countertop Paper Towel Holder
This is a plain countertop post and base with a silicone pad underneath. The listing says stainless steel with a brushed nickel finish. A nickel-look finish can be a plating over the base metal, so confirm the material in the listing before you rely on it for rust resistance.
You tear sheets from bottom to top, which takes a little more practice than a spring-arm model. It has the lowest rating of the five, though it still sits at 4.4 on more than 10,000 reviews.
niffgaff Stainless Steel Countertop Paper Towel Holder
4.4 out of 5 (10,721 ratings, as of October 23, 2026)
A post-style countertop holder in stainless steel with a brushed nickel finish and a silicone base pad.
- Stainless steel body per the listing
- Silicone pad under the base
- No spring or arm
Pros
- Simple, with nothing to wear out
- Over 10,000 reviews
Cons
- Finish may be plating, so the surface may differ from the body metal
- Bottom-to-top tear is less convenient than a spring arm
Considerations
The material statement rests on the Amazon listing alone, so read the finish description before you buy.
5. Best weighted stand: simplehuman Tension Arm Standing Paper Towel Holder
The Tension Arm is a countertop stand with a weighted base and an arm that applies pressure for a one-hand tear. simplehuman’s Tension Arm page describes the weighted base and a finger loop for carrying, lists a brushed finish and a 5-year warranty, and shows the current model as KT1203.
The listing names a weighted stainless base. The maker page names the finish and does not name the metal. Seller availability on Amazon can change, so check the listing.
simplehuman Tension Arm Standing Paper Towel Holder
4.6 out of 5 (9,386 ratings, as of October 23, 2026)
A countertop stand with a weighted base, a tension arm for a one-hand tear, and a finger loop for carrying.
- Weighted base named as stainless in the listing
- Tension arm for single or multiple sheets
- Finger loop for carrying
Pros
- Maker-backed 5-year warranty
- Heavy base stays put
Cons
- Base is the only part the listing calls stainless
- Seller availability on Amazon can change
Considerations
simplehuman lists the current model as KT1203, so check that the listing matches the model you want.
How we chose
This is a research-based comparison, not a hands-on or side-by-side test. We did not tear towels with these holders or compare them on one counter. Ratings and review counts are as of October 23, 2026.
We started from the listings that rank for stainless steel paper towel holders and kept five that each name a stainless part, a clear mount type, and a one-hand tear or a simple post design. We used the Amazon listing for material, size, and mount details, and checked simplehuman’s own pages for two of its holders. The two OXO holders and the niffgaff rest on Amazon text alone, because we found no working maker page for them.
For each pick we asked three questions.
- Which parts does the listing or maker actually call stainless?
- Is the rest of the body steel with a finish, or something else?
- How does the roll tear, and does the holder stay put while you do it?
Countertop, under-cabinet, or wall mount
A weighted countertop stand is the easiest to live with because you can move it and it needs no tools. A wall or under-cabinet mount frees counter space but needs a hole in your cabinet or wall. If your counter is crowded, mount it. If you rent, pick a stand.
Stainless steel holders also show fingerprints and water spots. Our guide to fingerprints and streaks covers the usual fixes, and the best stainless steel cleaners roundup lists products that suit the brushed finish. If you are filling out the counter, our pick of other countertop pieces matches the same look, and the stainless steel trash can roundup and dish rack roundup cover two more pieces for the same area.
How do you clean a stainless steel paper towel holder?
Wipe it with a damp microfiber cloth and a drop of dish soap, rinse the cloth, then wipe again and dry the holder right away. Rub along the brushed grain and skip abrasive pads, which scratch a brushed finish. If a holder has a silicone pad or a spring arm, lift the pad and wipe underneath, since crumbs and moisture collect there. For heavier spotting, see our guide to making stainless steel look new again.
Frequently asked questions
Is stainless steel better than wood or plastic for a paper towel holder?
Stainless steel resists water and wipes clean quickly, and most kitchen splashes do not stain it. Wood can warp and stain near a sink, and plastic can crack or yellow. Stainless is heavier and shows fingerprints, but that weight helps a freestanding stand stay put.
Will a stainless holder rust?
Stainless steel resists rust but is not rust-proof, and a holder that is only plated or painted steel can rust once the finish wears. Dry it after wet wipes and keep it away from salt and harsh cleaners. Our guide on whether stainless steel rusts explains why.
Do these fit jumbo rolls?
The OXO Steady listing says it secures any size roll and has a raised lip for jumbo rolls. For the others, the listings do not give a clear roll size limit we could confirm, so check the listing’s measurements against your usual roll.
