6 Best Countertop Ice Makers of 2026, Tested and Reviewed
If ice is a staple in your household, you'll find a countertop ice maker is a lifesaver. We made dozens of batches of ice, from nugget to bullet varieties, to determine the best machines on the market.
Taylor Murray
Tested by Taylor Murray
There's nothing that quenches your thirst and cools you down quite like an ice-cold drink. A steady supply of ice cubes can be a problem, though, depending on your kitchen setup. While some refrigerators come with automatic ice makers built-in, many do not. This leaves millions of Americans with no choice but to fill up plastic or silicone ice trays. While this process can work in a pinch, it quickly gets tedious and time-consuming. Enter the countertop ice maker. These relatively compact machines can churn out batches of ice in minutes, ready to make a cocktail or fill your water bottle.
Many of the machines on the market make different kinds of ice, from nugget to bullet varieties, with some offering faster cycles or smaller countertop footprints. We tested 13 of the best models on the market, all ranging in price from $40 to $500.
Our Top Countertop Ice Maker Picks
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
How We Tested
To find the best countertop ice machines on the market, we first removed all the packaging material and followed the instructions dictated by the manufacturer to complete the first cycle of ice-making. We timed the very first cycle, from pressing the "on" button to hearing the noise of those first cubes dropping into the machine. The spread was huge, with some machines able to produce ice in as little as a few minutes, while others took almost half an hour.
We then let the machines run for a full hour to determine how much ice the machine could make in that time. After an hour, we dumped the ice into a bowl and weighed it.
Taylor Murray
After the machine had made a few batches of ice, we took notes of ice performance and quality. All while the machine was running, we took note of how noisy it was (and if it made any weird noises) and if it had any errors. We tasted the ice the machine produced, noting if it was dense or chewable, what size of ice was made, if the cubes melted quickly, and if we’d be happy to use them in a drink.
Finally, we cleaned the machines thoroughly according to the manufacturer's instructions, using the built-in cleaning cycle if there was one. We also noted how tricky it was to drain the ice maker of any excess water.
- Great quality ice
- Fast ice making
- Portable
- Some cycles can be noisy
Of all the machines we tested, the Chefman Iceman Dual-Size Countertop Ice Maker produced ice the fastest, with cubes dropping into the basket in just six minutes. It can make up to 26 pounds per day and holds a substantial amount of ice in its basket before switching off. The machine offers you a choice between two ice sizes, small and larger, plus a self-cleaning option. This leaves the button interface clean and uncluttered, with simple, intuitive labeling and no unnecessary frills. The handle comes in, well, handy for toting the machine around your house or for storing when not in use.
- Ice Shape Bullet
- Weight 17.5 pounds
- Dimensions 12” x 9” x 12.75”
- Yield of Ice Per 1 Hour 1 pound 4 ounces
- Yield of Ice Per 24 Hours 26 pounds
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
- Affordable
- Compact
- Simple controls
- Slow ice making
- No self-cleaning option
Prices can get high for these single-use machines and many of us are looking to get ice without breaking the bank. The AGLUCKY Countertop Ice Maker does a comparable job to many much more expensive machines for just $80 (in certain colorways). The machine is compact and has simple, easy-to-understand controls. The only downside we ran into with this machine is the slow ice-making. The first cycle of ice took over 18 minutes to enter the basket, for just under 15 ounces in an hour. Still, this is a great budget option for those who don't mind a bit of waiting.
- Ice Shape Bullet
- Weight 17 pounds
- Dimensions 12.5” x 8.75” x 12.5”
- Yield of Ice Per 1 Hour 14.7 ounces
- Yield of Ice Per 24 Hours 26.5 pounds
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
- Extra-large water tank
- Excellent design
- Easy cleaning features
- Expensive
- Heavy
- Bulky
While most of the ice makers we tested have roughly the same design with a few slight variations, the GE Profile Opal 2.0 dares to be different. This design-forward machine takes aesthetics into account and is something you would be proud to display on your counter or wet bar. While it is by far the most expensive option, it comes with several notable features that make it stand out. First, it has a built-in UV light with three brightness settings that allows you to both see your ice and helps kill bacteria. It comes with a 0.75-gallon water tank that feeds the machine with a constant supply of water so it can churn out a whopping 38 pounds of ice per day.
When it comes to cleaning, this maker has a particularly effective built-in cleaning system. The unit is heavy and not intended to be portable, but luckily it comes with hoses pinned onto the back that can be fed away from the machine and into a sink or bucket when you need to drain water or cleaning solution — no heavy lifting required. It comes equipped with Wi-Fi capability and smart features, like reminders to clean it and a scheduling interface. Beyond all the fancy features, the machine makes perfect nugget ice that is wonderfully chewy without being dense. While this ice maker is certainly a splurge, you'll be more than happy with this ice when its cooling your drink.
- Ice Shape Nugget
- Weight 38 pounds
- Dimensions 17.5” x 13.5” x 16.5”
- Yield of Ice Per 1 Hour 1 pound 2 ounces
- Yield of Ice Per 24 Hours 38 pounds
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
- Portable
- Lightweight
- Built-in cleaning cycle
- Small water reservoir
- Lower ice-per-hour yield
If size is the top concern when choosing an ice maker, the Iceman by Chefman Compact Portable Ice Maker packs a punch in a smaller-than-average package. While many countertop ice makers claim to be portable, the Iceman Compact actually delivers on this promise with a low weight and a sturdy handle. It's at least an inch smaller in each dimension than any other machine we tested and still manages to produce a batch of ice every seven minutes. That being said, this model doesn't have the water or ice capacity of some other models and can only produce about 10 ounces of ice an hour. The ice did tend to melt more quickly than some other machines but was wonderfully chewable and will cool your drink just as well as any other cube.
- Ice Shape Bullet
- Weight 13 pounds 7 ounces
- Dimensions 11.25” x 9” x 11”
- Yield of Ice Per 1 Hour 10 ounces
- Yield of Ice Per 24 Hours 22 pounds
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
- Great quality ice
- High daily output
- Expensive
- Small water capacity
The popularity of nugget ice has skyrocketed in recent years, propelled by certain food and beverage brands like Chick-fil-A and Starbucks. This pebble-shaped ice cools a drink fast and is delightfully chewy (if crunching ice is your thing). Even if you have an ice maker built into your refrigerator, you might find the appeal of a separate ice maker just for nugget ice. The best pick is this model from Ecozy, which is compact and produces a ton of ice in a 24-hour period (up to 33 pounds daily). There's a handy built-in self-cleaning function and the controls couldn't be simpler.
- Ice Shape Nugget
- Weight 21 pounds 8 ounces
- Dimensions 11.25” x 8.5” x 12.5”
- Yield of Ice Per 1 Hour 1 pound 14 ounces
- Yield of Ice Per 24 Hours 33 pounds
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
- Large ice cubes produced
- Fast ice making
- Smart connectivity
- Loud alerts that can't be turned off
If you're interested in an ice maker with some high-tech features that rings up at a fraction of the cost of the top-of-the-line models, the GoveeLife Smart Countertop Ice Maker could be a great option. This model comes with app connectivity that can be connected to other smart hubs like Alexa and Google Home, so you can program it to start making ice when you're on your way home, for example.
Other than the app, the machine is still one of the better ones we tested. It made a ton of ice after an hour of use and has a built-in cleaning feature. The only downside we found with the GoveeLife is that it has a few loud alerts that signal for different cycles that can't be turned off.
- Ice Shape Bullet
- Weight 17 pounds
- Dimensions 12.5” x 8.75” x 12"
- Yield of Ice Per 1 Hour 1 pound 6 ounces
- Yield of Ice Per 24 Hours 26 pounds
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
What to Look for When Buying a Countertop Ice Maker
- Size: While many of us wish we had more counter space in our kitchen, most must make-do with the area we have. Countertop ice makers are designed to live on your counter, so size should be a primary concern before purchasing. If you plan to store your ice maker in a cabinet when not in use, make sure the ice maker will fit in there first. Size will also play a role in portability, as larger machine will be quite cumbersome to carry around.
- Ice Type: Of the machines we tested, there are two predominant forms of ice. The first is bullet ice which is shaped like a bullet or gumdrop with a hollow center. This shape comes from ice forming around freezing cold rods that are dipped into water. The hollow center means that this shape will melt faster than a solid cube but they are still plenty good enough to cool your drink. The other type of ice is nugget ice, which is formed from layers of flaked ice (like a snowball). This texture makes the ice chewable, without cracking your tooth, and melts quickly to give your drink a more slushy texture.
- Speed: The best ice makers will be able to produce more ice faster, with various types of technology used to accomplish that. The fastest machines can produce a cycle of ice (usually about 9-10 cubes) in as little as four minutes. Total ice per hour is also a factor, as not all machines produce ice in the same consistent cycles.
- Capacity: When we talk about countertop ice maker capacity, we're referring to a few different figures. One is the capacity of the water tank. The more water you can initially put into the machine, the longer you can go (and more ice you can get) before you have to refill. We also consider the ice capacity, or how much ice can fit in the basket before the machine switches off. (All countertop ice makers we tested have an auto-off function to avoid overflow). Finally, some ice maker manufacturers claim a certain number in terms of pounds of ice produced in a 24-hour period and use this number as the machine's "capacity."
- Care & Maintenance: One of the most important things you should think about when considering an ice maker is cleanliness. Because ice is a consumable item, you want to use a pristinely clean machine every time. Because an ice maker holds a lot of moisture but is not inherently a freezer, this creates an environment where mold and bacteria can thrive. The solution to this is to clean the machine frequently. The best ice machines have built-in cleaning cycles that work effectively and efficiently. You also want a machine that is easy to drain water out of, as any cleaning session will involve a few cycles of water draining.
Taylor Murray
Frequently Asked Questions
How do countertop ice makers work?
Countertop ice makers function by pulling water from a built-in reservoir and drawing it via a mechanical pump to a freezing unit. The unit will often use either metal prongs or a grid that gets extremely cold to create ice. This is where the size, shape and texture of the ice is determined. Once the ice is formed, the machine detects that it is ready to dump it into an ice reservoir or basket. This process repeats until either the ice basket is full, the water is out or the machine is stopped manually.
Will a countertop ice maker keep the ice frozen?
Most countertop ice makers cannot keep ice frozen indefinitely. While some are more insulated than others and will maintain frozen ice for a long time, the machine is ultimately just a storage bin and not a freezer. For long-term storage, transfer your ice to your freezer using a plastic bag or reusable bin.
How often should you clean a countertop ice maker?
While many factors can influence the frequency of cleaning required for a countertop ice maker, a good rule of thumb is to plan to clean the machine every one to two weeks and before and after any prolonged period of non-use. If you live in an area with very hard water, you may want to consider more frequent cleaning to avoid mineral build-up.
Taylor Murray
Why You Should Trust Our Tester
Taylor Murray is a graduate of Johnson and Wales University with a degree in Culinary Nutrition. She worked as a professional chef for over 10 years before moving into recipe and product testing and development. She has tested several hundred products for Food Network and other brands over the last six years, covering everything from carbon steel pans to food dehydrators.
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Food Network Shopping Experts believe the best method for testing products is based on how our fans are going to use them in the real world. In each of our Tested and Reviewed stories, products are tested in real home kitchens that reflect real-world use cases. Our testers follow rigorous testing rubrics designed by our expert editors and take copious notes during the testing process. When choosing the best products, our testers evaluate all of the testing data and take into consideration many factors including ease of use, price, product availability and practicality. The products covered on FoodNetwork.com are chosen completely independently by our editors without any outside influence. Our editors do not accept products in exchange for a positive review or promised coverage.
