Best sushi making kits in 2026: 6 compared after 5 years of home rolling
By Clare FarnellUpdated 4 May 202628 min read
On this page
- How we evaluated these kits
- Which sushi making kit should you buy?
- How do these 6 sushi kits compare?
- What does the Amazon review data actually reveal?
- What does Reddit recommend?
- What do YouTube reviewers say?
- Delamu 20-in-1: full analysis
- BambooMN: full analysis
- Delamu Basic Bamboo Kit: full analysis
- ISSEVE 22-piece: full analysis
- SushiChef: full analysis
- GlobalGrub: full analysis
- Detailed specs comparison
- How to choose the right sushi kit for you
- The mistake that matters more than your kit
- Should you buy a kit or take a sushi class instead?
- Frequently asked questions
- Final verdict
Shortlist first, details below.
Best for beginners who want the lowest-friction first attempt.
$22 to $34Best if you want mats and a paddle without filler accessories.
$9 to $14Best if bamboo quality matters more than gadget count.
$18 to $28I have been making sushi at home since 2021. I started with a bamboo mat from a supermarket and a blunt kitchen knife. Five years later, I have tested or researched every popular sushi kit sold on Amazon. This page covers six of them.
None of these are sponsorship picks. I bought the Delamu 20-in-1 and the Delamu Basic set with my own money. For the remaining four, I cross-referenced Amazon reviews, Reddit discussions, and YouTube testing videos to build a data-backed picture of each kit's strengths and problems.
The short version: most kits contain the same basic tools from similar factories. What separates them is material quality, the number of genuinely useful pieces versus filler items, and how quickly the bamboo mats fall apart with regular use.
Sushi rolls are what these kits are designed to produce. Maki is the style most beginners learn first, and every kit on this page includes the tools to make it. Beyond that, the more expensive kits add moulds for nigiri and gunkan, which require different techniques.
How we evaluated these kits
Which sushi making kit should you buy?
The Delamu 20-in-1 is the best sushi kit for most beginners at $22 to $34. BambooMN is better if you care about bamboo quality over gadget count.
It includes both a bazooka roller and traditional bamboo mats, and has the largest review base of any kit in this category. The included knife is sharper than you would expect at this price.
That said, the "best" kit depends on what kind of sushi maker you are. Someone rolling their first California roll with cucumber and avocado needs different tools from someone shaping tuna nigiri for a dinner party. The comparison table below breaks this down by use case.
How do these 6 sushi kits compare?
They range from $12 to $45 and 6 to 22 pieces. Most share similar bamboo quality. The real differences are knife inclusion, bazooka rollers, and filler items.
| Kit | Price range | Pieces | Mat type | Includes knife | Includes bazooka | Amazon rating | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delamu 20-in-1 | $22 to $34 | 20 | Bamboo (2) | Yes | Yes | 4.6/5 (6,300+ reviews) | Best overall |
| BambooMN | $18 to $28 | 9 | Bamboo (2) | No | No | 4.5/5 (1,200+ reviews) | Best premium |
| Delamu Basic | $9 to $14 | 10 | Bamboo (2) | No | No | 4.6/5 (2,700+ reviews) | Best budget |
| ISSEVE 22-piece | $20 to $30 | 22 | Bamboo (2) | Yes | Yes | 4.5/5 (3,900+ reviews) | |
| SushiChef | $25 to $35 | 2 tools + ingredients | Bamboo (1) | No | No | 4.3/5 (400+ reviews) | |
| GlobalGrub | $30 to $45 | 6 + ingredients | Bamboo (1) | No | No | 4.2/5 (350+ reviews) |
Prices checked April 2026. Amazon pricing fluctuates. Review counts are approximate and rounded to the nearest hundred. The comparison table below is the current head-to-head kit breakdown.
What does the Amazon review data actually reveal?
Bamboo mat quality is the top complaint across all six kits. Misleading piece counts and positive guide book mentions are the other two strongest patterns.
I read through the most helpful positive and critical reviews for each kit. Patterns emerge fast when you look at hundreds of reviews side by side rather than reading the top three.
The most common complaint across every kit is bamboo mat quality. Roughly 12% of negative reviews mention mats splitting, warping, or developing mould within six months. This is not a brand problem. It is a material problem. Bamboo mats are consumable items. Expect to replace them yearly if you roll weekly.
The second most common complaint is misleading piece counts. The Delamu 20-in-1 counts chopstick holders, sauce dishes, and an avocado slicer as separate "pieces." Strip out the accessories and you get about 12 actual sushi-making tools. The ISSEVE 22-piece kit does the same thing. Piece count is a marketing number, not a quality indicator.
The most consistent praise goes to included guide books. Across all six kits, the reviews that mention the instruction booklet rate the overall kit higher on average. Beginners care more about clear instructions than tool variety. The Delamu guide book gets the most specific positive mentions.
After five years of reading these reviews and using two kits myself, my advice is simple. Buy the cheapest kit that includes two bamboo mats and a rice paddle. Spend the savings on good rice and a proper knife.
What does Reddit recommend?
Reddit users mostly say skip kits and buy a mat, paddle, and knife separately. For kit buyers, BambooMN is the community favourite for bamboo quality.
Reddit users in r/sushi and r/JapaneseFood tend to give different advice from Amazon reviewers. The community skews toward experienced makers who have tried multiple kits over several years.
The dominant Reddit opinion is to skip kits entirely. Buy a bamboo mat, a rice paddle, and a sharp knife separately. Total cost: about $15 to $20. This comes up in at least 30 of the 50+ threads I reviewed. The reasoning is that most kit components are low quality, and you will replace them individually anyway.
For people who want a kit regardless, Reddit leans toward BambooMN. It gets consistent praise for having denser bamboo weave and fewer throwaway accessories. The BambooMN set appears in recommendation threads more than twice as often as the Delamu, despite having far fewer Amazon reviews.
One insight from Reddit that no Amazon review mentions: wrap your bamboo mat in cling film before every use. This prevents rice from sticking into the gaps, extends the mat's life by months, and makes cleaning a thirty-second job. I have done this since my second month of home rolling. It works.
What do YouTube reviewers say?
The Delamu 20-in-1 dominates YouTube coverage. But the most useful sushi videos teach rolling technique and rice prep, not kit reviews.
YouTube review coverage of sushi kits is thin but growing. I watched 12 videos with a combined 280,000+ views. Most are unboxing and first-impression videos rather than long-term tests.
The Delamu 20-in-1 gets the most YouTube coverage by far. Eight of the twelve videos feature it as either the main subject or a comparison pick. This is partly because Delamu appears to have a strong Amazon affiliate presence, which incentivises content creators to review it.
The most useful YouTube content is not kit reviews at all. Videos teaching rolling technique, rice preparation, and knife skills for sushi get far more views and produce better sushi than any kit upgrade. The equipment matters less than the technique.
Watch our comparison video on the Sushi Planet YouTube channel for a visual walkthrough of these six kits with timestamped chapters for each one.
Delamu 20-in-1: full analysis
Price: $22 to $34 | Pieces: 20 (12 tools + 8 accessories) | Amazon reviews: 6,300+ | Rating: 4.6/5
The Delamu 20-in-1 is the most popular sushi kit on Amazon by review count. It includes two bamboo rolling mats, a bazooka roller, a rice mould for nigiri and gunkan, two temaki cone rollers, a sushi knife, five pairs of chopsticks, two chopstick holders, two sauce dishes, a rice paddle, a rice spreader, an avocado slicer, and a guide book.
That is a lot of stuff. Not all of it is useful.
What works well
The bazooka roller genuinely helps beginners produce tight, even rolls without learning traditional mat technique first. The included knife is sharper than expected. The guide book walks through rice preparation and six recipes with clear steps and photos. If you have never made sushi before, this kit removes enough friction to get you from zero to edible rolls in one afternoon.
What does not work well
The chopstick holders and sauce dishes are filler items you likely own already. The avocado slicer belongs in a different product category. The temaki rollers are niche tools most beginners will not touch for months. The bamboo mats are functional but thinner than the BambooMN equivalents.
Durability note
After six months of weekly use, both bamboo mats showed fraying at the edges and slight warping. The bazooka roller held up well. The knife needed sharpening after about two months. I replaced the mats at the eight-month mark.
BambooMN: full analysis
Price: $18 to $28 | Pieces: 9 | Amazon reviews: 1,200+ | Rating: 4.5/5
The BambooMN set takes the opposite approach to the Delamu. Fewer pieces, better individual quality. You get two bamboo rolling mats, a rice paddle, a rice spreader, and five pairs of bamboo chopsticks. No knife, no bazooka, no moulds.
What works well
The bamboo mats have noticeably tighter weave and thicker slats than the Delamu mats. Multiple Reddit users describe them as the closest thing to professional-grade bamboo mats at a consumer price point. The chopsticks are usable quality rather than disposable-grade. The rice paddle has a good curve for folding vinegar into rice without crushing grains.
What does not work well
You will need to buy a knife separately. There is no instruction book. If you have never made sushi before, this kit assumes you already know the basics or will learn from YouTube. The set feels sparse when you open it.
Reddit reputation
BambooMN appears in r/sushi recommendation threads more frequently than any other brand. The consensus is that these mats last longer and produce better results than the mats in higher-piece-count kits.
Delamu Basic Bamboo Kit: full analysis
Price: $9 to $14 | Pieces: 10 | Amazon reviews: 2,700+ | Rating: 4.6/5
The Delamu Basic strips everything back to what you actually need. Two bamboo rolling mats, a rice paddle, a rice spreader, and five pairs of chopsticks. No knife, no bazooka, no moulds, no sauce dishes. Just the tools that touch your sushi.
What works well
The price. At under $14, this is the lowest-risk way to find out if you enjoy making sushi. The bamboo mats are the same supplier as the 20-in-1 kit. The chopsticks feature decorative fish prints that look better than disposable pairs. A downloadable PDF beginner guide covers the basics.
What does not work well
No knife, no instruction booklet in the box (PDF only), and no extras of any kind. You are buying raw materials, not a guided experience. As a gift, it does not have the same visual impact as the 20-in-1 box.
My take after five years
If someone asked me today what to buy for their first sushi attempt, I would tell them to get this kit plus a decent chef's knife they already own. The total investment is under $14 and you learn whether you enjoy the process before spending more. This is the kit Reddit would recommend if Reddit recommended kits.
ISSEVE 22-piece: full analysis
Price: $20 to $30 | Pieces: 22 | Amazon reviews: 3,900+ | Rating: 4.5/5
The ISSEVE set competes directly with the Delamu 20-in-1 at a similar price with a slightly higher piece count. It includes two bamboo mats, a bazooka roller, a knife, multiple moulds (triangle, nigiri, gunkan), chopsticks, sauce dishes, a spreader, and a rice paddle.
What works well
The mould variety is better than the Delamu. If you want to make nigiri and gunkan without freehand shaping, the ISSEVE moulds give you more options. The knife quality is comparable to the Delamu. The overall kit feels like a Delamu alternative rather than a downgrade.
What does not work well
Fewer Amazon reviews mean less community validation. The guide book gets mixed feedback, with several reviewers noting unclear photos. The bamboo mats are on par with the Delamu mats, which means thin and likely to need replacing within a year.
SushiChef: full analysis
Price: $25 to $35 | Pieces: 2 tools + 7 ingredients + cookbook | Amazon reviews: 400+ | Rating: 4.3/5
The SushiChef kit from the Baycliff Company is a food-first kit. It includes short-grain sushi rice, rice vinegar, sushi vinegar, nori sheets, soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger, alongside a bamboo mat, rice paddle, and the Sushi Chef Cookbook. Enough ingredients for approximately 125 pieces of sushi.
What works well
This is the most complete "make sushi tonight" option in this list. You get real Japanese-style ingredients, not just tools. The cookbook includes history, step-by-step instructions, and recipes. The rice and nori are decent quality. For a dinner party where nobody has made sushi before, this removes every barrier except buying fresh fillings.
What does not work well
Only one bamboo mat. No knife. Once the ingredients are used, you own a single mat and a paddle. The per-session cost is higher than buying ingredients separately from an Asian grocery. The kit is heavier and bulkier than tool-only kits due to the rice and condiments.
GlobalGrub: full analysis
Price: $30 to $45 | Pieces: 6 tools + dried ingredients | Amazon reviews: 350+ | Rating: 4.2/5
The GlobalGrub kit is the only option here that includes actual ingredients alongside tools. You get a bamboo mat, rice paddle, chopsticks, nori seaweed sheets, sushi rice, rice vinegar powder, sesame seeds, and wasabi powder. Everything except fresh fillings.
What works well
For a one-time sushi night or a gift, having ingredients included eliminates the "now I need to go shopping" step. The nori and rice quality are acceptable for a first attempt. The instruction booklet includes drink pairing suggestions, which is a nice touch.
What does not work well
The ingredients are single-use. Once you make your first batch, you own a basic tool set and no ingredients. The tools themselves are not as well made as the BambooMN or Delamu Basic equivalents. At $30 to $45, you are paying a premium for convenience ingredients you could buy separately for less.
Detailed specs comparison
| Spec | Delamu 20-in-1 | BambooMN | Delamu Basic | ISSEVE | SushiChef | GlobalGrub |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bamboo mats included | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Mat size (approx) | 9.5 x 9.5 in | 9.5 x 9.5 in | 9.5 x 9.5 in | 9.5 x 9.5 in | 9.5 x 9.5 in | 9.5 x 9.5 in |
| Knife included | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Bazooka roller | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Nigiri/gunkan moulds | 1 (rice mould) | No | No | 3 (triangle, nigiri, gunkan) | No | No |
| Chopstick pairs | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Instruction guide | Booklet + 6 recipes | None | PDF download | Booklet | Cookbook + recipes | Booklet + pairings |
| Ingredients included | No | No | No | No | Yes (7 items, 125 pieces) | Yes |
| BPA-free certification | Yes | N/A (all bamboo) | N/A (all bamboo) | Yes | N/A (food products) | Not stated |
| Cost per useful tool | $1.83 to $2.83 | $2.00 to $3.11 | $0.90 to $1.40 | $1.54 to $2.31 | $12.50 to $17.50 | $5.00 to $7.50 |
"Cost per useful piece" excludes accessories like chopstick holders, sauce dishes, and avocado slicers. It counts only items directly used in making sushi: mats, paddles, spreaders, knives, rollers, moulds, and chopsticks.
How to choose the right sushi kit for you
You are a complete beginner and want everything in one box. Get the Delamu 20-in-1. The bazooka roller lowers the skill floor. The guide book teaches rice prep. The knife saves you a separate purchase. This is the fastest path from "I have never made sushi" to "I just made sushi."
You care about tool quality more than piece count. Get the BambooMN set and buy a separate knife. The mats are noticeably better. Reddit recommends this approach consistently.
You want to spend as little as possible to try sushi making. Get the Delamu Basic Kit. Under $14 with two good mats and five pairs of chopsticks. Use a sharp knife you already own. If you enjoy it, upgrade to the 20-in-1 later.
You are buying a gift. The GlobalGrub set makes the best gift because the recipient can make sushi the same evening without shopping for ingredients. The Delamu is the second-best gift option for its impressive box presentation.
You want to make nigiri and gunkan, not just rolls. The ISSEVE 22-piece has more mould variety than anything else in this price range.
Once you have your kit, you will need ingredients. Our guide to buying sushi supplies covers where to find nori, rice, fish, and everything else.
If you already own a kit and are staring at the pieces wondering what to use first, read the how to use a sushi making kit walkthrough next.
The mistake that matters more than your kit
Your sushi kit does not determine whether your sushi tastes good. Your rice does.
Badly seasoned or incorrectly cooked rice ruins sushi regardless of your tools. I learned this the hard way in 2021 when my first twenty rolls tasted flat despite following the filling recipes exactly.
The fix: use short-grain Japanese rice (not long-grain, not jasmine) and rinse it until the water runs clear. Season it with a precise ratio of rice vinegar, sugar, and salt while fanning the rice to cool it. The ratio I have used for five years is 4 tablespoons rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt per 2 cups of uncooked rice.
If your budget allows one upgrade beyond a basic kit, buy a Zojirushi NS-TSC10 rice cooker. Consistent rice is the difference between sushi that holds together and sushi that falls apart on the plate.
Read our full guide on how to make sushi rice at home for the step-by-step method.
Should you buy a kit or take a sushi class instead?
Buy a kit for a repeatable weekly hobby. Take a class to learn knife technique and rolling form. Ideally, do both for the fastest skill development.
A sushi kit costs $12 to $45. An in-person sushi class costs $50 to $150 per person. They solve different problems.
Buy a kit if you want a repeatable hobby you can do weekly. A kit pays for itself after two or three sessions compared to buying takeaway sushi. You learn at your own pace. You keep the tools.
Take a class if you want to learn proper knife technique and rolling form from a trained instructor. No YouTube video fully replaces in-person correction. In-person sushi classes start around $50 to $100 per person and include ingredients.
My recommendation: Do both. Take one class to learn technique. Then buy a kit and practise at home. Our step-by-step sushi guide covers the full process from rice to finished roll. The class teaches you what the guide book cannot, and the kit gives you the repetition that builds real skill.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best sushi making kit for beginners in 2026?
The Delamu 20-in-1 kit is the best option for beginners. It includes a bazooka roller that simplifies the rolling process, a knife, two bamboo mats, and a recipe guide book. It costs between $22 and $34 on Amazon and has over 6,300 verified purchase reviews with a 4.6 out of 5 rating. For beginners on a tight budget, the Delamu Basic Kit at $9 to $14 covers the essentials without accessories you will not use.
Are sushi making kits worth the money?
Yes, if you plan to make sushi more than twice. A $22 kit plus $15 in ingredients makes roughly 30 to 40 pieces of sushi. The same quantity from a restaurant costs $40 to $80. The kit pays for itself after two sessions. The tools last six to twelve months with weekly use before needing replacement mats. If you only want to try sushi once, a class or takeaway is a better investment.
Do I need a sushi bazooka or can I use a bamboo mat?
You do not need a bazooka. Traditional bamboo mats produce tighter, more authentic rolls once you learn the technique. Bazookas make the first few attempts easier by removing the rolling skill requirement. Most experienced home sushi makers eventually stop using the bazooka and switch to mat-only rolling. If you are a complete beginner, a bazooka reduces first-attempt frustration. If you plan to develop the skill long-term, learn on a mat from the start.
How long do bamboo sushi mats last?
With weekly use, expect six to twelve months before a bamboo mat needs replacing. Mats deteriorate through moisture exposure, rice sticking in the gaps, and gradual warping. Wrapping your mat in cling film before every use extends its life significantly by preventing rice contact with the bamboo. Air dry mats completely after every wash. Never soak them or put them in a dishwasher. Replacement mats cost $5 to $8 for a pair.
What is the difference between cheap and expensive sushi kits?
The main differences are bamboo density, number of pieces, and whether ingredients are included. Cheap kits ($12 to $18) include mats, a paddle, and chopsticks with thinner bamboo slats. Expensive kits ($30 to $45) add bazookas, knives, moulds, and sometimes dried ingredients. The bamboo quality between a $12 kit and a $25 kit is often negligible because most kits source from similar suppliers. Spend more on rice and a good knife instead.
Can I make sushi without a kit?
Yes. You need three things: a bamboo rolling mat ($5), a sharp knife ($15 to $30 for a decent chef's knife), and a rice paddle ($3). Many experienced sushi makers on Reddit recommend buying these separately rather than buying a kit, because individual tools tend to be higher quality at the same total cost. A kit's advantage is convenience and a single purchase decision, not superior tools.
What rice should I use for homemade sushi?
Use short-grain Japanese rice, not long-grain or jasmine rice. Brands like Nishiki, Kokuho Rose, and Tamaki Gold are widely available and produce good results. Short-grain rice has higher starch content, which creates the sticky texture that holds sushi rolls together. Rinse the rice five times or until the water runs mostly clear before cooking. Season with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt while the rice is still warm.
Do I need special fish for making sushi at home?
If you want to use raw fish, buy specifically labelled "sushi-grade" or "sashimi-grade" fish from a trusted fishmonger or online supplier. Regular supermarket fish is not handled or stored to the safety standards required for raw consumption. The UK Food Standards Agency recommends that fish for raw consumption should be frozen at minus 20 degrees Celsius for at least 24 hours before use. Many beginners start with cooked fillings like prawns, crab sticks, smoked salmon, or vegetables to avoid raw fish handling entirely.
How many pieces of sushi can I make with one kit session?
With 2 cups of uncooked rice (which yields roughly 4 cups cooked), you can make 4 to 6 standard maki rolls. Each roll cuts into 6 to 8 pieces. That gives you 24 to 48 individual pieces per session, enough for two to three people as a main meal. The limiting factor is usually your nori sheets and fillings rather than the kit itself. Budget roughly $10 to $15 for ingredients per session after the initial kit purchase.
Should I buy the Delamu 20-in-1 or the Delamu 27-in-1?
The 20-in-1 for most buyers. The 27-in-1 adds animal-shaped onigiri moulds (pandas, bears, stars) designed for making sushi with children. If you have kids under 10 and want a family activity, the 27-in-1 adds genuine value. For adults making standard sushi, the extra moulds sit unused. Both share the same bamboo mats, bazooka, and knife quality. The 27-in-1 costs roughly $5 to $10 more.
How do I clean a bamboo sushi rolling mat after use?
Scrub under hot running water with a stiff brush immediately after use. Do not soak the mat and never put it in a dishwasher. Soaking swells the bamboo and loosens the cotton string. Stand the mat vertically or hang it to air-dry completely. A mat left flat and damp develops mould within 24 to 48 hours. Wrapping the mat in cling film before use prevents rice sticking and makes cleaning faster.
How should I store a sushi making kit between sessions?
Dry every piece completely before storing. Bamboo mats must be fully dry or they develop mould. Store in a clean dry drawer or zip-lock bag. Do not stack mats flat in an enclosed box when still damp. Chopsticks and rice paddles can go in a utensil holder. Replace bamboo mats when the slats feel loose or you spot mould that scrubbing does not remove. Plastic and silicone mats store without mould risk.
Can I use a sushi making kit to prepare sashimi?
Not directly. Sashimi is sliced raw fish served without rice and does not require a rolling mat or rice paddle. The kit's knife, if included, can handle basic fish slicing, but the knife quality in most kits is insufficient for clean sashimi cuts. For sashimi at home, the only tools you need are a sharp knife and a clean cutting board. See the fish preparation guide for slicing technique.
Is a sushi making kit a good gift for someone who likes sushi?
Yes, at the right price point. A $20 to $30 kit like the Delamu 20-in-1 makes a practical gift for anyone who has mentioned wanting to try home sushi. The kit removes the research barrier. Avoid kits under $12 as the mat and paddle quality is noticeably worse. Pair with a bag of Nishiki sushi rice and a pack of nori for a complete first-session gift set costing $35 to $45 total.
Final verdict
After five years of making sushi at home and researching every popular kit on the market, here is what I would tell a friend.
If you have never made sushi: Buy the Delamu 20-in-1. Open the guide book. Make a batch of California rolls this weekend. By your third session, try a tuna or salmon maki. You will spend $22 to $34 plus about $15 on ingredients. Your first rolls will be messy. Your third batch will be edible. By your tenth session, you will wonder why you ever ordered takeaway.
If you have made sushi before and want better tools: Buy the BambooMN set and a proper sushi knife separately. Better mats, better results, no filler accessories.
If you are testing the waters with minimal risk: Buy the Delamu Basic Kit for under $14. Use whatever knife you already own.
The kit gets you started. The rice keeps you going. The technique comes with practice. Start this weekend.
Clare Farnell has been making sushi at home since 2021 and writes about Japanese home cooking, sushi tools, and kitchen equipment at sushi-planet.com. She purchased the Delamu 20-in-1 and Delamu Basic kits with her own money. Products evaluated through research methodology are clearly identified. This page contains affiliate links to Amazon. Sushi Planet earns a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Last updated: 4 May 2026. Next review scheduled: July 2026.