Along with attractiveness, style, and drive systems there are yet other important things to consider when choosing a spinning wheel.

One important thing to consider is the size and type of orifice. 3/8th to ½ inch diameter is pretty standard for round orifices these days though some wheels go up to 1" in diameter, while some wheels have orifices of less than 1/4" diameter. There are also delta orifices, so called because they are shaped like that Greek letter. There is one make of wheel which features a hook for the orifice. The size of the orifice determines the maximum thickness of the yarn you can spin because the yarn must be thin enough to pass through the orifice in order to wind onto the bobbin. While 3/8 to ½" is suitable for most purposes, if you want to spin mainly fine linen yarns, then the smaller orifice would be suitable. But if your passion is really thick yarns then look for a wheel with a larger orifice. For many novelty yarns, especially for those with heavy textures, look for a delta orifice of a hook.

Ratios are also important. Ratio tells you how many times the flyer will turn for each time the drive wheel turns once. This is important because every time the flyer turns, it inserts one twist into the yarn. A ratio of 1:10 tells you that 10 twists will be inserted into the yarn every time you treadle the wheel. The more ratios you have, the wider the range of sizes of yarn you can spin. Look for a wheel with a minimum of 2 ratios. Many wheels come with at least 3 ratios, some have more flyer pulleys available as extras. Some brands have interchangeable spinning heads available as a way to increase the number of available ratios.

A further consideration is the number of treadles. Single and double treadle wheels are both readily available so pick the one that you are most comfortable spinning on. A double treadle wheel may be easier on the ankles, but it also forces you to sit at the wheel in a certain position.
Some double treadles will allow treadling with only one foot, others will not. Thee are also single treadle wheels that have extra large treadles, allowing space for both feet to be placed on the single treadle.

Look to see what accessories come with the wheel. Ideally, a wheel will come with 3 bobbins and a lazy kate at a minimum. Three bobbins allows you to spin a 2 ply yarn, the lazy kate holds the bobbins for plying and for storage. There are some brands of wheels that come with only 1 bobbin and no kate so be sure to ask. Another accessory that often comes with a wheel is an orifice hook, provided that one is needed for that particular brand of wheel. Wheels with large orfices, delta orifices, or hook type orifices do not need orifice hooks for threading. Occasionally, you may find a wheel that also comes with a little bottle of oil to keep it running smoothly (not needed if the wheel has sealed ball bearings); a bottle of polish for the wood; or extra drive and break bands. While most new wheels come with assembly instructions, sadly lacking is a good manual explaining when and where to oil, drive/brake band replacement, and basic operating instructions.

The best thing to do is to try as many types and styles of wheels as possible before investing in one. Shops, sheep shows, and guild meetings all present opportunities to try different types of wheels.