Rice is commonly ground into coarse or fine flour to make a variety of rice-based foods and drinks. Rice can be ground using small domestic grinders in home settings or using high-capacity rice grinders on an industrial scale.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the basics of rice grinders, how they differ from rice millers, and showcase some of the machines available in 2025.
Table of Contents
The global market for rice grinders
What are rice grinders?
Rice grinding vs. rice milling
Rice milling
Rice grinding
Types of rice grinders
Commercial rice grinders
Dual function millers and grinders
Industrial-scale rice grinders
Small commercial and domestic rice grinders
Final thoughts
The global market for rice grinders
The global market for rice is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.42%, from USD 298.26 billion in 2023 to USD 369.94 billion by 2032. Ands producer of 90% of the world’s rice as well as its largest consumer of rice and rice products – with over 2 billion people consuming rice daily – Asia leads the charge when it comes to this market.
Rice is consumed whole or also ground to make flour and smaller granules rice for baking, etc. To achieve this, rice grinders are used and are a the go-to tool to do so in homes and commercial settings. Currently, the global market for rice grinding machines stands at around USD 10.6 billion, and that is projected to grow at a robust CAGR of 14.92% to USD 24.42 billion by 2031.
What are rice grinders?
The act of grinding rice into flour has been around for centuries, with rice flour continuing to be used across the world to make food, drinks, and other rice-based products. Historically grinding was done manually with a hand-cranked grinder. These could be used for various grains, beans, and spices.
Although manual grinders are still in use, most modern versions use an electric motor. On a domestic scale, grinders are usually small and compact, but industrial-sized versions are also available for large-scale commercial rice processing.
Rice grinding vs. rice milling
Although similar, rice milling and grinding require different machinery, so it’s wise to first understand the differencce between you make a purchase.
Rice milling
Rice milling involves processing rough rice from harvest to market-ready rice grains. Therefore, rice milling machines tend to be designed to undertake several distinct functions, including cleaning, shelling (or dehusking), polishing, and separating the grains.
Rice grinding
Meanwhile, rice grinding involves grinding processed rice grains into coarse or fine finishes. The latter product is used for rice flour, which can be, for example, used to make rice noodles, pancakes, a gluten-free alternative to wheat flour for baking, and as a thickener for soups and stews.
Types of rice grinders
Commercial rice grinders
The machine above is described as a good quality powder grinder and flour mill, which can be used for a variety of grains, including rice. This small domestic version of a rice grinder highlights the fairly simple processes involved in rice grinding, with an input hopper and machinery to grind the grains into either a coarse or fine flour, depending on how the setting wheel at the front is set. The finished product is then dispensed through a nozzle on the underside of the setting wheel.
A small rice grinder suitable for home or small commercial applications can be found above. It is described variously as a rice, sugar, turmeric, chili crusher, powder grinder, universal pulverizer, and spice crushing machine, demonstrating the ubiquitous usage scenarios of these grinding machines. As with the previous example, the grain (or spice) is added into the hopper to be ground into a coarse or fine flour or powder.
Commercial grinders come in a variety of designs. The above rice and grain grinding machine adopts the familiar hopper, grinder motor, and outlet flour dispenser design. It also features simple legs rather than an enclosed base.
The above rice grinder for home or commercial use is suitable for beans, such as soy and coffee, and for rice and other grains, including wheat, maize, corn and millet. The grinder is driven by a belt motor to the left of the grinder drum, with the ground material being dispensed through an outlet shute below the drum.
Dual function millers and grinders
The combined rice milling machine shown here offers a different approach, combining a milling and peeling functions with grinding. The machine features two hoppers and two separate outlets, one for unprocessed rice grain for milling, and one for adding processed rice for grinding. And the machine’s milling and grinding functions are completely separate mechanisms, driven by the same electric motor.
This 4-in-1 mini milling and grinding machine, as with the previous example, has discrete milling and grinding functions that are only connected by a shared motor. The milling machine, on the left, has a vibrating screen that separates stones and other foreign objects from the grain before dispensing the milled grain. Meanwhile, the grinder, on the right, has its own hopper and output tray.
Industrial scale rice grinders
The above rice milling machine is bigger, more powerful, and has a larger processing throughput than can be achieved by smaller home/commercial machines. These larger, industrial-scale machines can be combined with rice mills to grind the grains after milling.
The combined rice mill above integrates both milling and grinding, as well as husking, milling, and polishing. Therefore grinding would require an additional machine.
Small commercial and domestic rice grinders
The small commercial grinder above has a sleek look that adds a touch of style for commercial home use. It features a closable lid with side clips – helpful in preventing grains escaping the hopper and causing unwanted mess.
The machine comes in 800g, 100g, 1,500g, 2,500g, or 4,500g capacities and is suitable for grinding rice, corn, soybeans, coffee, pepper, and sesame, emphasizing the multipurpose use of these grinders.
This mini home and commercial flour mill and powder grinder is another example of a stylish and design-forward grinder for rice, corn, cocoa, soybeans, and coffee.
Final thoughts
Rice grinders are an important part of the rice and grain production process. Many varieties are available on the market, from small home or retail shop versions to large-scale industrial grinders for part of a wider industrial grain processing plant or mill.
It is important to first determine whether you require milling or grinding capabilities, as the former mostly relates to preprocessing. Machines that are advertised as milling and grinding are usually separate machines within a production line or may feature separate functions within the same machine but driven by the same motor.
For more information on the wide range of rice grinders available in 2025, check out the Chovm.com showroom.
